Another step in Michelle Obama’s campaign to fight childhood obesity is to urge the nation’s largest food companies to make their food products healthier by reducing fat, salt and sugar in their products. She is also requesting that these same companies reconsider directing their marketing of unhealthy foods to children.

At a meeting of the Grocery Manufacturers Association last week, Michelle Obama told the food industry “to not just tweak around the edges but entirely rethink the products you are offering, the information that you provide about these products, and how you market those products to our children,” she said.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association, which counts Kraft Foods Inc., Coca Cola Co. and General Mills Inc. among its members, invited her to speak at its science forum this week.  Attendees gave her a standing ovation.

Welcoming the first lady and helping implement her campaign against childhood obesity could have its advantages. The food industry is in a situation where their profits are expected to decrease in the coming year, due to a child nutrition bill that is moving through Congress that could potentially remove all junk food in schools.

Former President Bill Clinton, who in 2005 partnered with the American Heart Association for a similar campaign against childhood obesity, said he was thrilled that Michelle Obama had joined the cause. “She’ll get visibility for it that I can’t get. She’s a lot younger than I am. She’ll relate better to a lot of the kids in the schools. They’ll relate better to her. I think it’s a really great thing for her to do this.”

Last week, Clinton announced that he has been able to reduce beverage calories shipped to schools by 88%.   His effort was aimed at replacing full calorie soft drinks with reduced calorie, smaller portion beverages in school cafeterias and vending machines.

Since the science forum last week, Kraft Foods Inc. has announced that they are going to make positive changes and reduce fat, salt and sugar in their products.  Michelle Obama expects that other companies will announce changes to their products in the coming weeks.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_michelle_obama_food_companies

According to the National Stroke Association, stroke is the number one killer of Americans.  These “brain attacks” occur when blood flow to the brain is interrupted (an ischemic stroke) or when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or bursts (a hemorrhagic stroke).  800,000 people annually are affected by stroke, and for an alarming 144,000 people, the result is death.

There are both controllable and uncontrollable factors that can lead to stroke, such as genetics, age and race.  However, research has recently discovered more of these risk factors, from your diet to where you live.

Being a Southerner

Also called the ‘Stroke Belt’, the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama show larger number of stroke incidences.  A study published in the journal Neurology in 2009 reported that among blacks, being born in the Stroke Belt increased the risk of stroke by 22 percent. For whites, the number was 30 percent. Part of the reason may be due to risk factors like poor diet, smoking and obesity, which may start earlier in southern states.

Diet High in Fat

Researchers from the University of North Carolina found that post menopausal women who consumed high fat diets had 40 percent more incidences of ischemic stroke than low fat eaters. Trans fats, found in processed foods increased risk dramatically. The group of women who consumed seven grams of trans fat each day had 30 percent more stroke incidents than those who ate one gram.

Being Single

A Tel Aviv University study of more than 10,000 Israeli men found that those who were married at midlife were 64 percent less likely to die of a stroke during the next 34 years than single men. The data was adjusted for other stroke risk factors like socioeconomic status, blood pressure and smoking.

Positive Attitude

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston reported in 2001 that among older individuals, positive moods and attitudes protected against strokes. Even incremental increases in happiness helped: For every step up on the researchers’ happiness scale, male participants’ stroke risk dropped 41 percent. Women’s risk dropped 18 percent per happiness unit.

Obesity

According to researchers from the University of Minnesota the more you weigh, the more likely you will have a stroke.  The relationship between weight and stroke is that your health is in jeopardy.  Obesity is linked with high blood pressure and diabetes, risk factors that increase your chance of stroke.

Smoking

According to the American Heart Association, smoking doubles your risk of stroke. Fortunately, quitting can drop that risk back down, even for heavy smokers. One 1988 study found that former smokers had the same rate of stroke as nonsmokers five years after quitting.

Demographics

Blacks have twice the incidence of strokes as whites, according to the American Heart Association.  Blacks have increased rates of diabetes and high blood pressure which could be a factor.

In addition, researchers at the University of Southern California reported that women aged 35 to 64 are almost three times as likely to have a stroke as men of the same age. The reason may be that women in midlife carry more abdominal fat than men, which is another risk factor for stroke.

SOURCE:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20100316/sc_livescience/7waystoraiseyourriskofstroke

In 1998 the government stepped in and made the tobacco industry promise that it wouldn’t direct their advertising and marketing towards underage teens.  However, recent studies have shown an increase in teen smoking and researchers found that the source is Camel cigarettes.

The controversial advertisements are for R.J. Reynold’s Camel No. 9 cigarettes and that were featured in popular women’s magazines like Vogue, Glamour and Lucky in 2007.  The ads were made to blend in with the pages of a fashion magazine. The cigarettes are featured with dresses, shoes, jewelry and purses.  Basically the cigarettes were mixed with fashion items that teen girls would find appealing.

“The ads had a lot imagery that is girl-like,” says Cheryl Healton with the American Legacy Foundation, an anti-tobacco advocacy group. “The cigarettes were described as light and luscious and featured pink packaging. Making them almost like candy.”

Over the course of several years, the girls were asked, “What is the name of the cigarette brand of your favorite cigarette advertisement?”  In 2004, 10 percent of girls chose Camel as their favorite brand.  In 2008, a year after R.J. Reynolds launched its new female friendly campaign, 22 percent of girls chose Camel as their favorite brand.

“The majority of these kids had not reported a favorite ad before,” says the study’s author, John Pierce with the University of Southern California-San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center.

This increase has public health officials concerned.  Studies have found that teens who can tell you the name of the brand of their favorite cigarette ad are 50 percent more likely to take up smoking in the next three years.

When asked their thoughts the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company said that it “adheres to numerous restrictions on how it markets its tobacco products and does not take any action to target youth.” The company’s statement goes on to say, “Camel No. 9 was developed in response to female adult smokers…who were asking for a product that better reflected their taste preferences and style.”

Pierce estimates Camel’s 2007 marketing campaign may have influenced 174,000 underage girls to start smoking.

SOURCE: http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/03/15/was-it-a-cigarette-ad-campaign-that-worked-on-teenagers/

Coca Cola and Pepsi Co joined former president Bill Clinton in announcing the results of an initiative they said had reduced the number of soft drink calories in American schools by 88%.

The announcement comes after Michelle Obama increased pressure on the companies by targeting them as one of the many causes of obesity in children.

One in five US children aged six to 19 are estimated to be obese, a condition that frequently leads to related health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.  Conditions that can follow obese children through adulthood.

Since soft drink companies are the biggest targets to preventing obesity in our children, their proactive approach by partnering with Bill Clinton may protect their future earnings as they are expecting a slide in profits as people continue to lead healthier lifestyles.

“It’s a brand new day in America’s schools when it comes to beverages,” said Susan Neely, the head of the American Beverage Association. “Our beverage companies have slashed calories in schools as full calorie soft drinks have been removed. The beverages available to students are now lower-calorie and are served in smaller portions.”

Under the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a joint initiative of the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation, full calorie drinks were removed from shipments to school cafeterias and vending machines.  Low-fat milk, diet soft drinks, flavored waters and teas replaced the sugary drinks.

Coca Cola and Pepsi Co also spent millions of dollars in retrofitting vending machines and repackaging products.

“School is a unique environment where students make food and beverage choices with limited supervision,” said Clyde Yancy, president of the American Heart Association.

In addition to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, there is an increasing urgency to impose a “fat tax” on soft drinks.  New York is in the forefront of the campaign, which the American Beverage Association vigorously opposes.

New York State Health Commissioner Richard Daines considers the “fat tax” as an opportunity to help our children. “The dramatic under pricing of sugar sweetened beverages, their widespread availability, and the ceaseless marketing of these products constitute a stumbling block to good health and are a clear and present danger to the future of our children,” Daines said.

SOURCE: http://health.yahoo.com/news/afp/ushealthobesitychildrendrinkschooltax_20100308220858.html

Adding urgency to Michelle Obama’s initiative to tackle childhood obesity is the release of two new studies published in the medical journal Health Affairs.  The studies indicate that American children are eating three snacks each day on top of three regular meals, a finding that could explain why the childhood obesity rate has risen to more than 16 percent since 2003.

Carmen Piernas and Barry Popkin of the University of North Carolina reported that children are snacking so often that they are “moving toward constant eating,” a habit that is putting our children’s health at risk for obesity related diseases.

Piernas and Popkin looked at 31,337 children aged 2 to 18 from four different federal surveys on food and eating.  ”Childhood snacking trends are moving toward three snacks per day, and more than 27 percent of children’s daily calories are coming from snacks. The largest increases have been in salty snacks and candy. Desserts and sweetened beverages remain the major sources of calories from snacks,” they wrote.

“Children have increased their caloric intake by 113 calories per day from 1977 to 2006,” they added. “This raises the question of whether the physiological basis for eating is becoming deregulated, as our children are moving toward constant eating.”

In a second study in the journal, Christina Bethell of the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland analyzed data from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health to find the rate of obesity for children 10 to 17 rose from 14.8 percent in 2003 to 16.4 percent in 2007.

Other studies have shown that obese children are more likely to stay obese as adults, and they develop chronic conditions at younger ages, burdening the healthcare system.

Michelle Obama told the School Nutrition Association that “Parents, educators and policymakers all hold responsibility for this childhood obesity epidemic.  Our kids didn’t do this to themselves.  From fast food, to vending machines packed with chips and candy, to a la carte lines, we tempt our kids with all kinds of unhealthy choices every day.  You see kids who are at higher risk of conditions like diabetes, and cancer, and heart disease, conditions that cost billions of dollars a year to treat.”

SOURCE:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100302/hl_nm/us_obesity_children_usa

We know that sex sells, we see it everywhere, everyday.  It’s on television and it’s in our homes.  In light of Tiger Woods’  indiscretions, we ask, how do you know when someone’s behavior has crossed the line from healthy sexual interest into addiction?

According to the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health, an estimated 3 to 5 percent of Americans fall in the category of having an addiction to sex.

The Sexual Recovery Institute and the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health has developed a checklist to help determine whether you have a sexual addiction.

If you answer yes to any of the questions on this checklist, you may have a problem.

Lying.  This is the number one way you know you’ve crossed the line.  If you have to make up stories to get sex or lie to your sexual partners,  you may be a sex addict.  This includes lying to your spouse or significant other about having sex with other people.

Sex Consumes Your Life.  If your interest in sex runs your life, you have a problem, says Robert Weiss, a social worker and founder of the Sexual Recovery Institute. He says that addicts “are always preoccupied with hitting on someone, picking someone up, planning or thinking about their next orgasm, or getting home to look at porn before their spouse comes home.”

You are Divorced, Dead, Fired or Arrested.  If you continue your sexual activities even under threat of being “divorced, dead, fired or arrested,” and ignore the consequences you may have an addiction to sex.

Interest in Pornography.  If you have an intense interest in pornography, you may have a sex addiction.  Planning your day around porn, or watching porn 2-3 times a day constitutes as an ‘intense interest’.

You Can’t Stop.  Sexual addiction is defined by a loss of control, Weiss says.  You want to stop, but you can’t and its controlling your life.

For the 3 to 5 percent of Americans that may suffer from an addiction to sex, there is help.  Please visit www.sexualrecovery.com for more information on sexual addiction and how to get help.

SOURCE:  http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/25/ep.sex.addiction.woods/index.html

SOURCE: http://www.sexualrecovery.com/services/

After 7 1/2 hours of debate and disagreement, President Obama concluded that an agreement between Democrats and Republicans may not be possible.

“We cannot have another year long debate about this,”  Obama said at the end of the full day marathon policy session.

Neither party gave any ground, sticking to arguing useless points and making egotistical comments.  The conversation veered between irrelevant details and bad tempers.  Disagreements were not expressed diplomatically, cheap shots and negative remarks continued throughout the day, and irritation was clearly visible on the faces of both parties.

Polls are showing that Americans want solutions to the biggest problems of high medical costs, decreasing access to coverage and inconsistent quality. However, many Americans are split over the Democrats’ sweeping legislation, with its 1 trillion dollar price tag pver 10 years and many complex provisions, including some changes that wouldn’t even take effect for eight years.

Obama and his Democratic party clashed with congressional Republicans over the right prescription for the nation’s broken health care system.  Republicans oppose this dramatically sweeping health care plan and favor small changes over a period of years.

The Democratic bills would require most Americans to get health insurance, while providing subsidies for others in the form of a tax credit. They would set up a competitive insurance market for small businesses and people buying coverage on their own. Democrats also would make numerous other changes, which include addressing a coverage gap in the Medicare prescription benefit and setting up a new long term care insurance program. Their plan would be paid for through a mix of Medicare cuts and tax increases.

“Not only are lawmakers polarized, the parties’ constituencies are far apart,” said Robert Blendon, a Harvard University professor who follows public opinion trends on health care. “The president is going to use it as a launching pad for what will be the last effort to get a big bill passed. He will say that he tried to get a bipartisan compromise and it wasn’t possible.”

SOURCE: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul

According to experts at the Institute of Medicine, high blood pressure is a neglected disease that needs significantly more attention from both doctors and patients.  David Fleming, an expert at the Institute of Medicine says that “Although hypertension is relatively easy to prevent, simple to diagnose and relatively inexpensive to treat, it remains the second leading cause of death among Americans.”

Experts say that in general, the higher the blood pressure, the greater the health risk.  Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, angina and dementia.

The shocking facts:

1 in 3 American adults suffer from hypertension

1 in 6 will eventually die from its consequences, which include heart disease and stroke

73 million Americans are affected by high blood pressure

65 percent of Americans with hypertension are NOT effectively managing the condition

The Institute of Medicine works with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the topic of hypertension is at the top of their priority list.  Last year, the CDC spent $50 million on hypertension-related outreach.

The Institute of Medicine wants the CDC to go for widespread policy changes rather than more small-scale education efforts. That means increased involvement with government agencies and private institutions. 

Together they want to highlight three specific recommendations that not only could save Americans over $18 million dollars in health costs annually, but save lives too.

1.       A simple reduction in salt intake could cut hypertension rates by 22 percent.

2.       If overweight Americans each lost 10 pounds, the panel predicts a 7 to 8 percent reduction in hypertension.

3.       Work with insurance companies to cut back on co-payments and deductibles for hypertension treatments, which can make medication prohibitively expensive.

Look for upcoming announcements sponsored by the CDC encouraging lifestyle changes, like weight loss and a better diet, which can greatly improve blood pressure.

SOURCE:  http://www.aolnews.com/health/article/americans-ignoring-serious-hypertension-problem-expertswarn/19370053?icid=main|main|dl4|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2Fhealth%2Farticle%2Famericans-ignoring-serious-hypertension-problem-experts-warn%2F19370053

The Social Security Administration recently announced that they have added early-onset and younger- onset Alzheimer’s to the list of conditions under its Compassionate Allowance Initiative.  This addition will give those with the disease expedited access to Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income.

Under this initiative, the Social Security Administration finds individuals with certain diseases and conditions eligible for Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits. While applicants still have to meet other criteria, they are considered eligible by virtue of the disease and fast-tracked for a favorable decision about their eligibility for benefits.

Many people with early-onset and younger-onset Alzheimer’s have faced challenges when applying for Social Security benefits. Individuals are often initially denied but usually win benefits on appeal, a process which can take several years.  These are critical years where financial help could provide the treatment necessary to potentially prevent the advancement of disease.

Alzheimer’s Association Advocates helped the Social Security Administration understand the impact of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease on individuals and their families and helped influence their decision to add early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias to their list of Compassionate Allowances.

This is an enormous victory for individuals with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and is a direct result of the hard work done by advocates of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Early-stage Alzheimer’s is the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease when problems with memory, thinking and concentration may begin to appear. Individuals in the early-stage typically need minimal assistance with simple daily routines.

Younger-onset Alzheimer’s refers to Alzheimer’s that occurs in a person under age 65. Younger-onset individuals may be employed and have family responsibilities. Issues facing families with younger-onset include financial security including job loss and helping children cope with the disease.

To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, including the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s or to learn more about becoming an Alzheimer’s Association Advocate, visit http://www.alz.org

SOURCE:  http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp#early

Reason to celebrate!  February is American Heart Month!  This initiative was created to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke, which is the number one killer of people in the United States.

The easiest way to prevent heart disease is through diet, and given that, we have highlighted five heart healthy foods that could potentially save your life.

Garlic.  Numerous studies have shown that regular garlic consumption benefits blood pressure, platelet aggregation, serum triglyceride level, and cholesterol levels.   In addition, by using garlic instead of salt to flavor foods you can reduce your amount of sodium intake, which will also keep your heart healthy.

Salmon.  This fish can help lower your risk of heart disease thanks to heart healthy fats.  Omega-3s can prevent erratic heart rhythms, reduce likelihood of blood clots inside arteries, improve the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, and prevent cholesterol from becoming damaged, at which point it clogs arteries.  Don’t like fish?  No problem!  Even though consuming salmon is your best bet to get the heart healthy omega-3s, supplement your diet with fish oil capsules and you can also reduce your risk of heart disease.

Berries.  Berries are high in polyphenols, which prevent cell damage that creates unhealthy blood vessels and heart.  Berries also contain heart healthy antioxidants.  If you are having a hard time finding berries in the winter, experiment with frozen varieties.  Thaw a bag of frozen berries in the refrigerator and use in smoothies and your morning oatmeal.

Quinoa.  This tiny miracle seed is an excellent source of magnesium, the mineral responsible for relaxing blood vessels. If you are one of the millions of people in the United States with low dietary levels of magnesium, you may be at an increased risk of hypertension, ischemic heart disease and heart arrhythmias.  Adding versatile quinoa to your diet can help protect your heart!

Hot Chocolate.  Surprised?  Hot chocolate is full of antioxidants!  It contains two times more antioxidants than red wine and three times more than green tea, which are also considered heart healthy foods.  To gain maximum benefit, avoid the sugary hot chocolate mixes and use 100% cocoa and a teaspoon of sugar.  In addition, recent studies have found that by eating a small piece of dark chocolate each day may also decrease your risk of heart disease, just note, the higher the cocoa percentages, the better for your heart!

SOURCE:  http://shine.yahoo.com/event/hearthealth/5-foods-to-prevent-heart-disease-577077/