14,436 Pounds of Unwanted Medicine Collected in NJ

That's more than 7 tons of prescription and over-the-counter medication, with a reported street value of $50 million. It was collected by the DEA last weekend as part of "Operation Take Back."

According to John G. McCabe Jr., acting special agent in charge of the DEA’s New Jersey Division:

“Prescription overdose deaths now account for more deaths than all hard drugs combined,” said McCabe. Unintentional deaths from many of the drugs collected Saturday increased 110 percent from 1995 to 2009, he added.

- Daily Life Wellness

www.dailylifewellness.com

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Can This Really Prevent the Common Cold?

Everyone is searching for the magic "cold-killer" bullet. Of course, at this point nothing but time itself can "cure" a cold, but here's one thing you can do to ease cold symptoms: gargle salt water...

I know...you're already well-aware of the salt water deal. (Who isn't?) But did you know you can use it to prevent upper respiratory tract infections from occurring in the first place? 

A study by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine had test subjects gargle salt water three times a day. The "garglers" had a 40 percent decrease in infections vs. a "non-gargler" control group. 

Easy enough to implement, cost-effective, and harmless.

Now go gargle some salt water.

- Daily Life Wellness

www.dailylifewellness.com

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The Secret to Avoiding Celiac Disease

Celiac, an autoimmune disease brought about by an intolerance to gluten (commonly found in grains), is on the rise.

Interestingly, a recent study indicates that "environmental factors cause an individual's immune system to lose tolerance to gluten." What about gluten itself causing intolerance to gluten? Couldn't that be a possibility?

Researchers hope to one day identify these mysterious environmental factors and develop a treatment. Hello? How about not eating gluten containing food? Another reason to give paleo (affiliate link) a shot.

- Daily Life Wellness

www.dailylifewellness.com

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Fitness Industry Strategy for the Digital Age

The bankruptcy filing of Blockbuster Video a few days ago should not have surprised anyone. It's been a long time coming. The "all things to all people" model is dying...and quickly. Plus, shutting a few stores, raising prices, and tightening the screws on returns -- as Blockbuster did several months ago -- does not make for a customer-friendly strategy.

But, you may be asking yourself, "How the hell does this relate to health and life wellness?" Glad you asked.

The niche player in health and fitness will be the successful player of the future -- as opposed to Blockbuster model.

The successful gym...the successful health food store (online or brick & mortar)...the successful fitness trainer of the future will be tightly niched and focused on serving a "tribe" (to borrow a phrase by Seth Godin) of raving fans.

In the past, content was filtered through publishers (books, newspapers, etc.) who were the lone arbiters of what we consumed.

These days, in most cases, there is no friction between content consumption and content production. Meaning, if you want to find a dude who specializes in healing lower back pain with yoga (or whatever solution you're looking for) it's just a few mouse clicks away.

Folks are finding solutions to problems they never knew they had. And as a result of interest generated through freely available information, new solutions spring up in response to meet the need. Witness the burgeoning popularity of CrossFit and Paleo (affiliate link), as examples of the free flow of information. 

However...because of the information overload that's happening, the trick will be weeding through the haystack to find the needle. But it's out there.

Daily Life Wellness

www.dailylifewellness.com

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What A Gym Really Needs

While this article by Louie Simmons of Westside Barbell has been circulating for some time (I know I've seen it before), it's recent re-publishing on ironbrutality.com is timely -- only because I wrote about what my own dream gym would look like in another post recently.

Lou gets into what a gym really needs, as the title suggests. His gym places far more emphasis on function over form -- a concept that too many gyms are straying from these days, in my opinion.

If you're not familiar with Westside, they get back to basics with equipment and training in general -- and they do it intensely. For example, they'll hang forearm thick chain lengths over barbells IN ADDITION to more than a few plates on each side, then rock some floor presses. The results speak for themselves: 500 lb. plus bench presses seem to be fairly common at Westside.

Needless to say, there's not much of that happening at my Gold's. In fairness to Gold's, though, I realize they're not set up for that kind of powerlifting crowd. 

But, damn, can't a guy expect there to be at least a single power rack...at a Gold's Gym of all places? Just take out 15 or 20 treadmills (you'll still have about 60 left)...then replace with some more iron.

- Daily Life Wellness

www.dailylifewellness.com

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Every 90 seconds a woman dies in childbirth somewhere in the world.

That's the grim -- and heartbreaking -- statistic from Amnesty International. The organization is highlighting this and other global health concerns to coincide with the United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals this week in New York City. Hunger, AIDS and clean drinking water are all on the docket for discussion.

90 percent of maternal deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, according to the New York Times.

But, even with all our westernized medical advances, the United States doesn't stack up so well...

"When it comes to mortality rates — measured as the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births — the United States ranked 50th on a United Nations list of countries, behind nearly all other industrialized nations and even behind not-so-prosperous ones like Serbia and Slovakia. In some respects, the American situation has worsened in the last two decades, said Nan Strauss, an Amnesty researcher."

Even though the death rate is a fraction of what it was a century ago, of major concern is that relatively little progress has been seen in the last two decades. 

- Daily Life Wellness

www.dailylifewellness.com

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Why You Should Demand Nap Time at Work

From the Harvard Business Review:

When pilots are given a nap of just 30 minutes on long haul flights, they experience a 16 per cent increase in their reaction time. Nonnapping pilots experience a 34 per cent decrease over the course of the flight. 

And, according to scientists, the best time for a nap is between 1 and 3PM -- right smack in the middle of your workday.

So, with this research in hand, walk over to the boss and explain the situation. Then, retire to your office or cube for 30 minutes of shuteye.

Let me know how it goes. 

- Daily Life Wellness

www.dailylifewellness.com

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Pot-Flavored Ice Cream Offered in Medical Marijuana Shop

The shop, Crème De Canna in California, sells half pint tubs Ben & Jerry's-style. The big difference is that the pot pints come packed with actual cannabis, the equivalent of smoking eight joints, according to the store.

Owner Jonathan Kolodinski says that customers often "come back for seconds, thirds and fourths" after sampling flavors like Banannabis Foster and Triple Chocolate Brownie.

Critics of the store say the product is "grabbing the wrong sort of attention." (Wrong. From a marketing standpoint it's genius.)

But, just in case, each pint is labeled "keep out of reach of children," and only doctor-blessed, card-carrying "patients" can actually buy the stuff. 

You just can't eat it in the store.

-Daily Life Wellness

www.dailylifewellness.com

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$2.7 Billion in Extra Fuel Needed to Transport Obese Americans

That's the finding of the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. This is the cost estimate of the additional annual fuel needed by noncommercial vehicles to transport the added weight of an increasingly obese population.

But it doesn't end there.

Brookings estimated several frictional costs on the economy related to obesity, including childhood obesity ($14.3 Billion) and work absenteeism ($3.38-$6.38 Billion), among others.

Total estimated cost on the economy across all categories studied: A staggering $215 Billion. 

Thanks to Health Habits for the link.

- Daily Life Wellness

www.dailylifewellness.com

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Reason Number 632 to Quit Smoking: Healthy Kids (Duh!)

...As if you didn't know that already.

A new study researched the effects of a four year old ban on smoking in all enclosed public places in Scotland. One of the happy results: An 18 percent reduction in hospitalizations for children with life threatening asthma episodes. That's good news. 

In addition, doctors also found that breathing problems fell for folks most likely to be subject to second hand smoke, namely bartenders and waiters.

Critics (who the hell would criticize something like this?) contended that smokers would simply smoke more at home. But, in fact, the law prompted many to ban tobacco use in the their homes as well, according to the study.

- Daily Life Wellness 

www.dailylifewellness.com

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Could This Be the Number One Most Ridiculous Fat Loss Method Ever?

Wow. Things just get sillier and sillier.

From the hallowed halls of the Wall Street Journal, of all places (emphasis mine):

"With Zeltiq's CoolSculpting device, you sit in a chair while a technician sucks a handful of fat into a gizmo the size of a paperback that holds on tight and starts chilling. The area goes cold, then numb while you read, sleep or relax for about an hour while your fat cells receive a fatal, freezing dose."

The idea is that this thing blasts your fat away by "crystallizing" those diabolical fat cells which then "die an early, natural death." Each treatment will set you back from $1500 to $3000, but "a large belly or muffin top may require two." Takes 3 to 4 months to see the results of this mysterious magical device.

Of course, what they don't tell you in the fancy four color brochure is that you could lose the weight without the Zeltiq in the same 3 or 4 months -- plus save three grand -- by eating properly and exercising. 

But that would mean work. And who wants that?

- Daily Life Wellness 

Photo: nemrah

Corn Syrup Producers Want Extreme Makeover

In a bid to wipe the slate clean and improve their much-maligned image, high fructose corn syrup makers are changing the sweetener's name to...corn sugar. And the Corn Refiner's Association is sparing no expense to get the word out.

Ridiculous? Yes. It's the same unhealthy stuff, no matter what name you slap on it.

Food producers have been trying to distance themselves from this albatross lately in favor of plain old sugar.  But, according to this guy (among others)...

"...sugar and high fructose corn syrup are nutritionally the same, and there's no evidence that the sweetener is any worse for the body than sugar, said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The bottom line is people should consume less of all sugar."

Wise words. 

- Daily Life Wellness

Photo: shanii 

Plenty of Flu Vaccine Available. So Get On It.

I've mentioned this already but it bears repeating: Go ahead and get your flu vaccine -- and soon. This year you get protected against swine (H1N1) and two more strains, including the potentially dangerous H3N2 variety -- all in the same single dose. 

Easy, right?

And many health plans, including Medicare, are now providing vaccinations without co-pays or deductibles. While I don't agree with every proclamation of the so-called "health officials," I think they're on the right track by recommending that nearly everyone get the shot. (Exceptions: children younger than 6 months and those with egg allergies.)

It also bears repeating that a diet with lots of vegetables and fruits -- and zero grains and cereals -- is your best first defense against many different ailments, including flu.

- Daily Life Wellness

Photo: Leonardini

When Does Old Age Start?

You can now breathe a sigh of relief if you were worried about getting older. Apparently scientists have discovered that old age no longer starts at 65!

With folks living longer and healthier these days, 65 just isn't the same as it used to be. This isn't really breaking news, of course. It's no secret that medicine has come a long way, and 65 year olds are, on the whole, healthier than they were 40 years ago.

The real question is how this obesity epidemic plays out in the coming decades. The trend above may very well head the other way at some point -- despite the advances of medicine.

- DLW

Photo: kevindooley

Experts say big egg farms can mean big problems - The Associated Press

Experts say big egg farms can mean big problems

Google_Health News

Kansas City Star

Experts say big egg farms can mean big problems The Associated Press CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — From the first days of the recent recall of 550 million eggs from two Iowa farms, one issue about large-scale agriculture has been clear: When something goes wrong on a big farm, it's going to be a big problem. ... USDA Graders Saw Bugs and Trash at Egg Producer; Didn't Tell FDAWall Street Journal (blog) MU avoids egg recall dangersUM Maneater USDA knew of problems at farm behind egg recall: reportReuters OregonLive.com -TopNews United States all 240 news articles »

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'Magic Mushroom' Might Help Cancer Patients

In a small study, researches gave a "controlled dose" of 'shrooms to folks with advanced cancers. Patients reported improved moods long after the single dose was administered. No one reported a bad trip -- in fact, "the trips tended to be good," according to the article. (Shock!)

According to the researchers, the biggest problem was getting the funding and "necessary approvals" for the study. Apparently no one realized that a quick trip down to the local college or university would have produced enough of the stuff for multiple studies -- approval free!

- Daily Life Wellness

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Study Suggests Vitamin D Better Than Flu Vaccine

A new study is suggesting that good old Vitamin D may be more effective at preventing flu...than an actual flu vaccine. And that goes for both the standard and swine varieties, in case you were wondering.

Vitamin D is getting a lot of press these days in the health community. It's been credited in the prevention of autoimmune disease to the construction of healthy bones. The "recommended" daily dosage of the vitamin is 200 IU (more for kids), but I'm seeing more and more proof for increasing that. 

Personally, I've been taking 2000 IU (international units) of Vitamin D for the past 6 months or so, to combat the effects of the limited amount of  grain/cereals I ingest these days, among other things.

But...in thinking about it now, I haven't had so much as a sniffle in those same 6 months. Coincidence? Who knows, but I'm happy to continue taking my Vitamin D supplement...and of course fish oil.

- Daily Life Wellness

Photo: techny

Henry Rollins implores you not to eat at McDonald's (in his own special way)

The always timely and useful Health Habits fired this one off today...and it's a good one. It's a slap-you-in-the-face kind of rant by Henry Rollins of Black Flag fame, (among others.) If you're somehow a regular at McDonald's this video will scare the pants off you, and at least cause you to think twice before going back -- lest Rollins show up at your door and beat the hell out of you.

And if the Rollins rant isn't enough to keep you away from the golden arches...then the movie Supersize Me definitely will...

Check this out...

Eat whole foods, lift heavy things, sprint , lose weight, feel better, live longer. Simple.

- Daily Life Wellness

Hartz Mountain recalls nearly 75,000 bags of dog treats

This one is for Fido. Hartz Mountain has recalled the treats due to salmonella concerns. The product in question? Hartz Naturals Real Beef Treats for Dogs, stamped with the lot code BZ0969101E. No reports of illness have been received...yet. So if you have 'em, toss 'em.

- Daily Life Wellness

Modified Salmon Is Safe, FDA Says

The other shoe has yet to drop on this one, I predict.

"Genetically engineered" salmon? This has catastrophe written all over it.

-Daily Life Wellness

Modified Salmon Is Safe, FDA Says - New York Times

via Health - Google News on 9/3/10

TheNewsTribune.com

Modified Salmon Is Safe, FDA Says New York Times A salmon genetically engineered to grow quickly is safe to eat and poses little risk to the environment, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday. A salmon genetically engineered to grow faster and an unmodified salmon of the same ... Genetically modified salmon safe to eat, FDA report saysLos Angeles Times Gene-Altered Salmon Won't Harm Other Fish, FDA SaysBusinessWeek US FDA staff--Aqua Bounty biotech salmon OK to eatReuters MyFox Chicago -DigitalJournal.com -Bay Area Indymedia all 65 news articles »

Michael Douglas and Throat Cancer

If you haven't seen the Letterman interview with Michael Douglas yet, get out from under your rock and check it out.

No doubt by now you've heard that Douglas has stage 4 throat cancer, and has been undergoing hardcore chemo since his diagnosis some three weeks ago.

Smoking is a major cause of oropharyngeal cancer, the type of "throat cancer" Douglas is suspected of suffering from. Heavy drinking is also a cause; both are things Douglas has been known for in the past. But oropharyngeal cancer can also stem from human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus.

Treatment can include radiation coupled with chemotherapy and, in the late stage variety, surgery, to remove the affected portions of the tongue.

Fortunately, Douglas' doctors say his odds of survival are 80 percent.

This particular cancer can be tough to detect, so see an ear, nose and throat doctor if any of the following last longer than three weeks:

• Throat pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Ear pain
• Bleeding in the mouth or throat
• Hoarseness
• A lump in the throat, or the feeling that something is stuck

-Daily Life Wellness

Too Fat to Fight? Army Revises Fitness Program

In response to recruits that are "too fat to fight" the U.S. Army has revised its basic physical training program.

How's this for a statistic:

“Between 1995 and 2008, the proportion of potential recruits who failed their physicals each year because they were overweight rose nearly 70 percent”

That's a lot of recruits -- and a lot of failing. No wonder they needed to switch things up.

The powers that be have incorporated more yoga-like stretching exercises to promote overall fitness. In addition, more sprinting has been added -- something dear to my heart -- and less distance running.

Also gone is the soda at the mess hall, replaced by milk and green leafy vegetables. It's a good start, but if they really want to ramp up weight loss, go heavier on the meats (for the non-vegetarians), vegetables, and fruit, and eliminate grains altogether.

- Daily Life Wellness

Photo: valike