Link: http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Health/Home-Remedies-Around-the-World.html

Pretty interesting article with a few of the classic home remedies ( some of which I never heard of ) do they work? Some of 'em do.

Native American Moms: Garlic Rub for Bee Stings

Dosage: Crush garlic bulbs and wrap them in a cloth. Rub the poultice onto the sting.
Verdict: Do it. Bee venom is acidic, and the natural components of garlic will neutralize the pain so you’ll feel immediate relief, says Ranella Hirsch, MD, clinical assistant professor at Boston University’s School of Medicine in Massachusetts

Link: http://alternative-cancer-treatments.suite101.com/article.cfm/health_benefits_of_chillies

If you like spicy food - keep on eating it. If you don't, maybe it's time to acquire a taste.

The compound that gives chilli peppers their heat – capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) – has been found in laboratory tests to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells. In studies carried out on animals it was found that tumours got smaller when they were given doses of chilli. It appears that capsaicin causes cell death by attacking mitochondria – the respiratory centres of cells.

Capsaicin is produced in glands at the stem end of the chilli pepper pod. It belongs to a group of compounds called vanilloids, which bind to proteins in the mitochondria of cancer cells, causing the cells to die. The compounds do not harm mitochondria in healthy cells because their biochemistry is quite different from that of cancer cell mitochondria.

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/18/movie-popcorn-has-shockin_n_361931.html

I actually don't go for the popcorn at the movies - and as it turns out this is a good thing...

Consuming a medium size popcorn and soda is the equivalent of eating three Quarter Pounders from McDonald's, along with 12 pats of butter

Holy crap - better to go with the 14 bags of sour patch kids, Super Size Mountain Dew, and some Sugar Daddies.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091031002321.htm

If you think you're doing yourself a favor by cutting out fats entirely, well you might be crippling your long term memory. Good news is that it's reversible but whats lost is of course lost.

The Hopkins team, reporting Oct. 29 in Neuron, reveals how palmitate, a fatty acid, marks certain brain proteins -- NMDA receptors -- that need to be activated for long-term memory and learning to take place. The fatty substance directs the receptors to specific locations in the outer membrane of brain cells, which continually strengthen and weaken their connections with each other, sculpting and resculpting new memory circuits.

Moreover, the researchers report, this fatty modification is a reversible process, with some sort of on-off switch, offering possibilities for manipulating it to enhance or even, perhaps, erase memory.

Link: http://www.wesh.com/health/21461824/detail.html

Trick-or-treaters should probably keep their hands out of the candy bowl this weekend because of the ongoing swine flu pandemic.

These folks raise a good point - aside from the slight risk of big complications - it's not cool to get the flu. you probably don't want the communal bowl this year, also keep that hand sanitizer handy.

It's just one way that experts suggest will keep children from getting swine flu on Halloween. Health officials hope parents will distribute candy instead of allowing children to grab their treats out of candy bowls.

That's because swine flu can be spread by touching something with the virus on it and then touching the nose or mouth. Swine flu is similar to seasonal flu and can be spread through coughing or sneezing by infected individuals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It's something I'll be considering when I take the lad out - keep in mind also that the virus can't live for long on a dry cool surface - so maybe that truckload of candy can wait until Sunday to be sorted?

Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Cat-owners-beware/articleshow/5050386.cms

This just in... if you got cats you have a higher risk of being eaten alive by a flesh eating antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Aside from that, nothing to see here - move along.

Researchers at the Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community at Simmons College in Boston studied homes and found MRSA in nearly half of the 35 residences they sampled, mostly on wet surfaces like baths, sinks and tap handles.

Whats the mitigation - I dunno, guessing some antibacterial spray on wet surfaces?

Chime in if you have info....

Um, well - yo, don't kiss pigs and stuff...

Sorry, it's almost a 3 day weekend and that's all I got... it's better than this guy tho.

Link: http://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/vitamins/285

Seems that in most cases you actually could be making things worse....

Mom always said to take your vitamins. But she didn't mean overdo it. Thirty-five percent of adults swallow a multivitamin on a regular basis, but several studies warn that an abundance of extra nutrients may not be as good for the body as previously suspected. Just check out the data.

Link: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/07/28/military.swine.flu/index.html

Well, this is kinda scary - are we gonna see troop carriers with bio hazard suits storm the cities?

The U.S. military wants to establish regional teams of military personnel to assist civilian authorities in the event of a significant outbreak of the H1N1 virus this fall, according to Defense Department officials.

The proposal is awaiting final approval from Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

The officials would not be identified because the proposal from U.S. Northern Command's Gen. Victor Renuart has not been approved by the secretary.

Link: http://www.physorg.com/news168026838.html

Listen up all you golden boys and girls.....

International cancer experts have moved tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation into the top cancer risk category, deeming both to be as deadly as arsenic and mustard gas. For years, scientists have described tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation as "probable carcinogens."

Link: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jul/25/40-of-americans-could-get-swine-flu/

No, it's not over -

Swine flu has already hit the United States harder than any other nation, but it has struck something of a glancing blow that's more surprising than devastating. The virus has killed about 300 Americans, and experts believe it has sickened more than 1 million, comparable to a seasonal flu with the weird ability to keep spreading in the summer.

Health officials say flu cases may explode in the fall, when schools open and become germ factories, and the new estimates dramatize the need to have vaccines and other measures in place.

I figure when back to school happens and kids start getting sick, all hell will break loose again and the news shows will eat it up...

Yeah, it's serious - but unless this mutates to something more deadly I don't think they should close schools for a couple sick kids again.

Link: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/can-you-get-fit-in-six-minutes-a-week/

It just might be possible.....

what researchers have been looking at recently is whether humans, like that second group of rats, can increase endurance with only a few minutes of strenuous exercise, instead of hours? Could it be that most of us are spending more time than we need to trying to get fit?

Everyone's got 6 minutes eh?

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE55N0C720090624?rpc=64

Here's a study we can all get behind (giggle) -

Carrying a little extra weight may actually be good for you, according to a Canadian study that showed a few pounds appear to protect people from an early death.

Researchers found that while underweight and extremely obese people die earlier than people of a normal weight, people who are slightly overweight actually live longer than those of a normal weight.

Yeah - so go out and get that extra burger and fries... just not every day eh?

Link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jTkkEKE5LtPih_5Jcc-3MpD0gOYQD98OJ9K80

Run for the hills! the WHO officially turned the volume knob to 11.

One good thing that will come out of this is that a vaccine will now be made - whether we need it or not.

Link: http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/08/turmeric-a-spice-for-life/

Hey - go figure there's another one of those easy to do health boosters out there this week... The spice Turmeric.

It's being evaluated for its ability to soothe skin disorders like psoriasis, calm the nervous system and PMS, and even fight cancer because of its active ingredient, curcumin, which works as a powerful anti-inflammatory.

It also is bright yellow and stains anything it comes in contact with

Pretty easy tho to add some here and there in your cooking...

Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-swineflu10-2009jun10,0,7659867.story

You remember that pesky little bug called the Swine Flu don't ya? Well, it ain't over yet.

The World Health Organization is inching closer to raising the infectious disease alert level for the novel H1N1 influenza outbreak to its highest level, indicating that a pandemic has arrived, but has delayed doing so in an effort to prepare national health organizations and populations for the impact of such an announcement, a top agency official said Tuesday in a telephone news conference.

Quick - start stockpiling spam and bacon! oh yeah - and duct tape, lots of duct tape.

Link: http://health.yahoo.com/featured/14/foods-you-should-be-eating-but-aren-t

Interesting little article here - and not all focused on bran, nuts and sticks either - I had no idea that coconut was darn good for ya. That's some advice I could take.

Fat is an essential building block for many important compounds in the body." This is why Bowden puts grass-fed beef, wild salmon and, yes, coconuts, on his top 10 list.

Salmon, in particular, is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, which are associated with heart and brain health as well as bringing down blood pressure and triglycerides, a risk factor for heart disease. Omega-3s have also been found to improve mood and reduce inflammation, says Bowden.

Aha - take that you non fat product lovers.

Link: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4632

Wow, if you don't - check out this study - maybe then, go and buy some of that fish oil stuff that's always in the sale flyers.

The link between omega-3 fatty acids and CVD risk reduction are still being studied, but research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids

* decrease risk of arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden cardiac death
* decrease triglyceride levels
* decrease growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque
* lower blood pressure (slightly)

And below is a neat (tho I don't know if it scientifically proves anything) video on fish oil eating through a Styrofoam cup - (supposedly the same way it eats through fat in your not so Styrofoamy arteries).

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090501/ap_on_he_me/us_med_diet_pill_recall

Government health officials warned dieters and body builders Friday to immediately stop using Hydroxycut, a widely sold supplement linked to cases of serious liver damage and at least one death.

The Food and Drug Administration said the company that makes the dietary supplement has agreed to recall 14 Hydroxycut products. Available in grocery stores and pharmacies, Hydroxycut is advertised as made from natural ingredients. At least 9 million packages were sold last year, the FDA said.

Today I woke up to the news that two middle schools near me had closed - once again it was students that had traveled to Mexico. Here's some updates...

The CDC Updated Today

Today, CDC reports additional confirmed human infections, hospitalizations and the nation’s first fatality from this outbreak. The more recent illnesses and the reported death suggest that a pattern of more severe illness associated with this virus may be emerging in the U.S.

Scientific American has coverage...

But just because the virus has so far caused only moderate illness in most of the world, that does not mean it won't reappear with a vengeance in the future, Fukuda warns, pointing to the 1918 Spanish Flu, which began as a mild epidemic.

And that one fatality in the US - An infant who died from swine flu in Texas was Mexican and had traveled to the United States for medical treatment. LINK

I'm sure more updates will follow....

Right, this is kinda big news... It's out of the box now and no longer just contained in Mexico. Everyone's worried to some extent so here's the deal.

- Yep, it could become pandemic - but so far there's no certainty to that.

- It's a killer, but as of this time there's no absolute confirm on if the folks that died weren't old or already compromised immune system wise.

- Same symptoms as the regular flu

I've found these links for ya ....

Deadly new flu strain erupts in Mexico, U.S. - Reuters

Mexico's government said at least 20 people have died of the flu and it may also be responsible for 40 other deaths.

The United States Declares a Public Health Emergency - NewScientist

Should I worry about this flu?

That depends on two things: how severe this flu is, and how far it spreads. Its severity is still unknown. Those who died in Mexico were young adults who don't often die of flu, so we know this virus can be serious.

Are you Prepared for this from an IT standpoint - Even SANS (software and network security institute) has chimed in

several readers have suggested to be on the lookout for phishing domains being established in anticipation of an outbreak. We'll do the same and will publish a future diary "naming names" if we need to.

Google has a realtime map of confirmed or suspected cases - so you can watch doom come to your city....
"hey theres a new red dot in my town... oh oh"

The Official Death Toll in Mexico City is 103 today.

Governments around the world move to contain the spread

Confirmed cases have now spread to America , Canada , New Zealand , Israel , Spain , and France.

Recommendation stays rather solid at

- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

- If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

.....

Keep an ear to the ground is the watchword - this particular strain is a variant of H1N1a and has jumped from pigs ( hence the name ) What is unusual is that it's then very quickly become human-human transmittable ( which isn't unheard of but is rare )

Going back to the 1918 pandemic you'll find that the initial strains aren't the big ones ... its the variants that follow -

Question is with instant news and technology can we prevent a pandemic?

Hope this helps - I'll keep ya all updated.. Links and articles that follow are intentionally more stupid to offset this news.

Link: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fflu%2Fswine%2F&ei=fvb0SYrBApj4Me6P2McP&usg=AFQjCNG9iKOfc1d-CUJ2mNQT6cx55ewyNg

American health officials [say]... that they had confirmed 20 cases of the disease in the United States and expected to see more as investigators fan out to track down the path of the outbreak. Other governments around the world stepped up their response to the incipient outbreak, racing to contain the infection amid reports of potential new cases from New Zealand to Hong Kong to Spain, raising concerns about the potential for a global pandemic. The cases in US looked to be similar to the deadly strain of swine flu that has killed more than 80 people in Mexico and infected 1,300 more.

GeeG will be covering this over the next week or two - hopefully this is not gonna turn pandemic.

Best things you can do -
1) tell your kids - get 'em to stop putting their darned fingers in their mouths and stop chewing on pencils. - Give 'em a hand sanitizer...

2) Everybody wash yer hands - go nuts... can't hurt.

3) Stay the hell away from sneezing pigs -

ok #3 is a joke, this could turn serious... stay tuned.

Link: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090413/121078146.html

This is a first...

Hey Doc, my chest hurts...

Don't worry you'll be pine.

Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30139487

A while back there was that study that pointed out the relative uselessness of multivitamins in most peoples diets.

This particular study - found that "More than 30 percent of multivitamins tested recently by ConsumerLab.com contained significantly more or less of an ingredient than claimed, or were contaminated with lead, the company reports."

What most people don't really think about, is that too much of anything - even a vitamin can be toxic ...

oh yeah - and that whole lead thing can't be all too healthy either.

Link: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126983.400-bird-flu-mixup-could-have-spelled-disaster.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

virulent H5N1 bird flu was sent out by accident from an Austrian lab last year and given to ferrets in the Czech Republic before anyone realised. As well as the risk of it escaping into the wild, the H5N1 got mixed with a human strain, which might have spawned a hybrid that could unleash a pandemic.

Fantastic - oops - I thought that was the jar marked "does not wipe out humanity!"

Sometimes I'm rather amazed we are still around as a species.

Link: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16653-hidden-weakness-could-yield-universal-flu-vaccine.html

We just might be on the verge of a Universal Flu Vaccine.....

Flu's main surface protein, haemagglutinin, looks like a lollipop. Our immune systems mostly produce antibodies to its rounded head, and it is this part that changes every year, making immunity short-lived. But in a large library of human antibodies, Wayne Marasco at Harvard University and colleagues found very few that bind its "stalk", which barely changes at all, either through time or between different flu viruses.

Link: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/feb/16/study-multivitamins-dont-improve-health/

You heard it right - studies show that those super expensive Multivitamins you are eating have about as much of an effect as doing a rain dance.

Mind you - malnourished folks or the elderly might need 'em but the good news is...

“Your average teen, your average 40-year-old, they’re eating enough every day to get all the nutrients they need,” Berstein said. “Even the wrong (foods) will provide those nutrients.”

Hmmmmm..... Vitamin B (for bacon?)

Link: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-reasons-to-have-sex-today.html

As if we needed reasons

Oxytocin, a naturally occurring chemical in the body surges during and after climax while working in conjunction with a few other endorphins to make sure you feel no pain

Link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5683643.ece

Conclusive evidence even- go vaccinate your kids people!

“Overwhelming biologic and epidemiologic evidence has demonstrated conclusively that there is no association between the MMR vaccine and autism, and yet this thing goes on.”

Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28981937/

Now enter the ELAD, powered by human liver cells. It "comes closer to replacing the amount of liver" people need, says Dr. Robert Brown of New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University, who has helped test most of the devices to date.

I tell ya pretty soon we will all be walking around with 40 pounds of robotics and going to the doctor will be replaced with stores like auto parts places.

Link: http://www.nutralegacy.com/7-health-benefits-of-cayenne-pepper-spice/

Might be one of the reasons that I have been able to leap tall capitol letters in a single bound ? Yup, Spicy is hella good for you.

btw bonus points for anyone that made the Electric Company Reference.

Link: http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=warning-vicks-vaporub-bad-for-tots-2009-01-12

Any of you doing the new parent thing might be well advised to read this article and avoid the vapo rub for the youngest... Maybe even for olders if they have any breathing related issues.

Link: http://health.msn.com/nutrition/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100220712&GT1=31036

Another article touting all the benefits for having the occasional beer. And no, you can't amplify the effects by quantity, so no - "I'm gonna drink 100 beers and live forever!"

If ya did though every woman in the world would be super fine.

Research suggests that it's the alcohol itself that lowers cardiovascular risk (by reducing inflammation, "thinning" the blood and improving insulin sensitivity). Here are six more reasons to cheer for beer!

Oh now, don't your religious folks go yelling - Jesus loved beer....

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE49O0W920081025?feedType=S&feedNa

Blaze pointed out that it's about time we all started getting paranoid about the pandemic again - so this starts the winters coverage of chickens with a fever.

"(There is) a growing feeling that the threat of an influenza pandemic has somehow diminished and that scarce resources could be better used elsewhere in the field of public health, in other words flu fatigue," she said."

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081029101201.htm

So the next time you are feeling miserable due to a cold thank your own immune system.