Parent Traps

Good Eating Starts with Sam

2007-10-09T08:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm back to harping on food -- specifically fast food, which has a death grip on millions of people. Sure, it's cheap and it's easy, but consider the trade offs. Instead of going into all the gory details, watch Morgan Spurlock's "Super Size Me!" (available on DVD) and see how fast food turned a healthy young man into a very sick person in just 30 days!! Seriously! Fast food should come with huge warning labels, and even then plenty of people would still buy it because it's convenient, tastes "good" and doesn't cost much. Then they wonder why they're tired, cranky, overweight and can't focus. Could it be because so few people realize that fast food is not only addictive but damages health even at the cellular level?

What's the alternative? Cooking your own food is a good place to start, but before you break out in a rash at the thought of turning on the stove, tune in to Discovery Channel's new show -- "Just Cook This with Sam the Cooking Guy." Here's Sam's "manifesto":

"If you cooked more, you'd eat out less and you'd eat better—it's that simple. I think a lot of people eat fast food or order out because they're just not comfortable in the kitchen. They think it's like this club and if you don't know the secret terminology and handshake, you can't belong. But that's just a bunch of BS.

"A lot of the problem comes from cooking shows that make things look complicated—too many steps ... too many weird ingredients. Just Cook This! is a show that demystifies what goes on in a kitchen. Why? Because I'm not a chef, I'm just a regular person who cooks like a regular person. The show is shot right in my home with my dogs, kids or whomever around. If I make a mistake—we leave it in. If I drop something—we leave it in. Because that's what goes on in a real home and the goal is not sophisticated culinary excellence that would go on in a restaurant—it's food that's big in taste but small in effort. Food you can make easily and really enjoy. Food that'll keep you from going out.

"It's cooking—it's not rocket science. If I have a goal, it's that you watch the show and say, "Hey, I can make that guy's stuff"—and you start cooking. That's the goal. Well, that and I also want to be King of the World someday ... that's all."

You can learn more about Sam and good food, plus download recipes, at the Discovery Health website (link above) or find out when the show is on locally. Even giving up a few fast food meals every week can make a difference.

Getting Things Done - Streamlined

2007-10-05T10:57:00.000-07:00

From the latest issue of the wonderful Wired magazine, a profile on Getting Things Done author David Allen. It covers not only his "colorful" background but includes a bare bones version of the complex organizing system, very helpful for those who are too bogged down in "stuff" to get through the book right now.

Free Burma!

2007-10-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

Millions of Iraqis are dead, wounded, maimed or displaced. The same is true in Africa, and now Burma. Why? Power, profits, greed. You can find details about what you can do to stop the slaughter of innocent monks at the link. Please act now. Every voice makes a difference. The situation is not getting better, and the U.S. and China are both profiting from it by looking the other way. Don't we have enough blood our hands already?

Getting Things Done: Yes, You Can!

2007-10-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

How many times have you heard people say "I can't get anything done!" or "There just aren't enough hours in the day"? Productivity expert David Allen has plenty of ideas on how to wade through the stacks of paper and other seemingly endless time-wasters we all face, and his best-selling book, Getting Things Done (Penguin Putnam, 2001) lays them all out, clearly and succinctly.

His website (linked above) is another good place to start, especially since the book can be a bit daunting on first read. But Allen's method can be distilled into a fairly simple notion: get tasks off your mind by putting them on paper (or on a computer or whatever works for you). Not on dozens of Post-Its, napkins and whatever's handy to write on, but in one place so they cannot "get lost." Once all the ideas swarming in your head are recorded in a safe place, stress levels drop, increasing memory and creativity, and accomplishing goals becomes easier. And if you read yesterday's post, you know that working toward a purpose, having and achieving goals and "getting things done" appears to minimize the risk of developing Alzheimer's, a very worthwhile goal in and of itself.

Organized, Accomplished People Have Lower Risk of Alzheimer's

2007-10-03T10:18:00.000-07:00

Having trouble getting things done? Feeling frustrated by that long to-do list? Can't even find the long to-do list? If these situations sound familiar, take heed -- MSNBC/Newsweek reports that researchers at Chicago's Rush University Medical Center have found that people who are task-driven, goal-oriented and conscientiously follow through on their plans have a significantly lower risk of being affected by Alzheimer's disease. So although autopsies showed that many of the study participants had changes in the brain identified as Alzheimer's, they were less likely to show symptoms of the disease.

If photograph above could have been shot in your own house, don't despair! There are loads of great organizing tools available, including software, books and even twelve-step organizations, like Clutters Anonymous.

If you decide to pursue a more organized life, tune in tomorrow, when we look at the work of David Allen, one of the leading gurus in the field, and author of the mega-best-seller, Getting Things Done (Penguin Putnam, 2001).

A Spicy Way to Fight Alzheimer’s

2007-07-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

Good news for anyone who enjoys curried food, according to a new report at msnbc.com! Turmeric, the spice responsible for the delectable flavor and gorgeous yellow color of curried foods, stimulates the body’s own ability to get rid of amyloid plaques, the sticky clusters of protein fragments that damage brain cells. Now the findings of this test-tube study need to be replicated in trials with Alzheimer’s patients.

You should know, however, that there is a growing body of research showing significant health-promoting properties in compounds derived from turmeric, particularly when it comes to Alzheimer’s. And India, where curry was created, has some of the lowest rates of Alzheimer’s in the world.

It's easy to cook with turmeric and there are plenty of cookbooks. Two favorites: Madhur Jaffrey Indian Cooking and Indian Home Cooking by Suvir Saran and Stephanie Lyness. In no time, you'll be making flavorful dishes, like the curried soup shown above.

For those who aren’t fond of the spice, supplements are a good option. Look for a product that contains standardized extracts at 90 to 95% curcumin. Typical dosage is 250 to 500 mg three times per day. Turmeric is not recommended during pregnancy, as it may cause contractions. Otherwise, turmeric is considered safe. If you are currently taking prescription medications and are concerned about possible interactions, consult your physician.

Health News Round-Up

2007-06-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

Experts say tests can reveal Alzheimer's disease in the early stages, allowing families to plan accordingly. This isn't the news we're all waiting for -- that a cure has been found -- but it's something. On the brighter side, the New York Times reported recently that ongoing research by a number of major drug companies looks promising. In fact, scientists have been able to cure the disease in animals. It may be years before any of the experimental drugs are on the market, though, so keep in mind that "use it or lose it" is still some of the best advice for protecting the brain deterioration that characterizes Alzheimer's. Mental challenges -- puzzles, learning a language or musical instrument, studying something entirely new -- may make a real difference.

Ovarian cancer, one of deadliest diseases women face, is notoriously difficult to diagnose in the early, treatable stages. Now experts have formulated a list of symptoms that should not be ignored. Unfortunately, with the exception of a high-fat diet and use of talcum powder, most of the risk factors for the disease cannot be easily modified. That makes it doubly important to get an annual gynecological exam and be aware of the symptoms.

The Easy Way to Manage Weight

2007-06-11T10:40:00.000-07:00

Still struggling to lose a few extra pounds? Try eating more, instead of less. That’s the advice of prominent Penn State researcher, Barbara Rolls, and her associates. Based on the findings of their latest study, obese women who increased the amount of fruits and vegetables in their diets lost more weight than a similar group that focused on cutting fat intake. Fruits and veggies tend to be low in calories but high in water content, explains Rolls, a combination that helps stave off hunger without adding calories.

Get Out of Town!

2007-06-08T20:46:00.000-07:00

Vacation time is here. If that makes you cringe because you haven’t made reservations, here’s some good news – there’s still time to book a Hawaiian vacation package. Why Hawaii? To me –and a lot of other people -- the word Hawaii is synonymous with vacation. Even when I’ve been there for work, each trip has been relaxing and rejuvenating.

Based on past experiences, skip the mega-hotels and go with a local agency, like Hawaiian Beach Rentals, that can book your stay in a rental condo, villa or private home. Avoiding hotels can be very economical, particularly if your group is large and you need multiple rooms. Staying in a condo or house also lets you experience Hawaii as a local, instead of as a tourist, and you’ll have way more flexibility, especially in terms of dining options. Shop at a local store, and everyone can have favorite foods whenever he or she likes, eliminating arguments about where to eat and when. (Anyone traveling with children or an extended family knows how difficult mealtimes can be.) Many units include washers and dryers, as well as other conveniences and amenities that can be hard to come by in hotels. Plus, for the eco-minded, remember that you’re not contributing to or supporting Hawaii’s “hotel sprawl” when you rent a vacation home.

Reputable operations, like Hawaiian Beach Rentals, are staffed by locals who know what makes each island unique and where you can find the kind of activities you’re looking for. Need airfare and a rental car? Once again, Hawaiian Beach Rentals can help. Check out the website and see what others have to say about their experiences. Then get ready to have a fun, relaxing vacation!

Thank You, Jitterbug!!

2007-05-31T21:23:00.000-07:00

I do not need a cell phone that can check my email.
I do not need a cell phone to txt my frnds.
I do not need a cell phone with GPS.
I do not need a cell phone with a camera.
I do not need a cell phone with 600 minutes of talk time every month.
I do not need a cell phone that stores music.

All I need is this.

Complementary Medicine for Menopause

2007-05-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

Lots of news on alleviating discomforts of menopause with supplements in the latest issue of the journal Menopause. First up, in an extensive review of previously published clinical trials, researchers found that St. John’s wort was effective for treating mild to moderate depression in five out of seven earlier studies. In addition, black cohosh provided relief for depression and anxiety in all studies that were reviewed, and kava reduced anxiety in half of the clinical trials that were examined. Finally, ginkgo and valerian were determined to be ineffective at treating anxiety or depression in middle aged women. There are other good reasons to take ginkgo, however, as I noted in a previous post.

The second study tested the effectiveness of isoflavones, compounds derived from soybeans, on women experiencing hot flashes and night sweats. During the three months of testing, those who were given a daily dose of 60 mg isoflavones reported a reduction of 57% in hot flashes and 43% in night sweats. Pretty decent results, and no side effects were reported.

Finally, both these studies are supported by a survey of nearly 1,300 Australian women between the ages of 45 and 65. More than half had reported using complementary or alternative medicine for menopause symptoms. Among the most popular supplements: soy, evening primrose oil, phytoestrogens (such as isoflavones and other plant compounds) and black cohosh. If you’re interested in adding any of these supplements to your daily regimen, talk to your physician or a knowledgeable alternative health practitioner first, especially if you are currently taking prescription medications or are being treated for a health condition. By and large, nutritional and herbal supplements are benign. But side effects and drug interactions can occur, so do your homework. If you need to locate an alternative health practitioner, check here or here.

It's Never Too Late to Get Healthy

2007-05-16T21:49:00.000-07:00

A good nuts-and-bolts article about how boomers can stay -- or get -- healthy. (NOTE: It's not that hard, seriously!)

Dear FDA: Thanks for Nothing!

2007-05-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

Why even bother issuing a statement about fish farms that may have used contaminated pet food, if this is all you're going to say?

Prepare to be Shocked...

2007-05-10T11:39:00.000-07:00

The FDA is lying. It seems there could be health consequences of eating melamine-tainted food, including the pork, chicken and fish that entered our food supply. How do I know? I looked it up on the Internets (actually, at PubMed, the government's own medical research database).

As far as I can tell, there have been only a handful of animal studies done on the effects of consuming melamine. In every case, the animals developed bladder and/or kidney problems, including bladder stones, enlarged bladders, and tumors.

But here's the real problem -- in a study from 1985, researchers called the melamine connection to the formation of bladder stones and related problems an example of the threshold effect, and added that "there is strong evidence linking bladder stones with the induction of tumors...." This same study also found that the youngest animals were the most susceptible to developing these problems. Here are the researchers’ conclusions:

"A decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concerning the levels of MA [melamine] allowed to occur in the food chain indicates that data regarding thresholds, even in the case of urolithiasis [stone formation], are not being utilized in the risk assessment process."

I could be wrong, but that seems to say that for the past twenty-plus years, the EPA has chosen to ignore evidence that melamine damages the bladder and kidneys, and, based on the results of the animal study, that children would be particularly at risk. Plus, let's not forget that tens of thousands of companion animals have been sickened and killed by the same food the pigs, chickens and fish ate.

It seems to me we should avoid chicken and pork for at least a few months. But as the FDA's newly appointed "food czar," David Acheson, told a Congressional committee today, the agency would need "proof of human illness" before it would issue a ban on imported fish. Apparently, it's too much of a stretch to believe that food poisoned with industrial waste might make humans sick, too.

As for farmed fish, melamine is just one more reason to stay away, given the chemicals that have been found in tested samples. To get the considerable health benefits of fish without the risks, buy fish oil that has been molecularly distilled to remove the toxins.

Optimists Live Longer

2007-05-07T15:42:00.000-07:00

How long will you live? There's an easy way to find out -- or at least get a ballpark figure. Visit Deathclock, answer a few questions and voila! -- you'll receive an exact count, in seconds, no less, of your remaining time on Earth. The amazing thing is the difference attitude makes. For example, when I listed "normal" in the mode box, Deathclock gave me twenty years to live. But change the mode to "optimistic" and -- whoa! -- I'll be here until 2049, as long as I look on the bright side! (By the way, Deathclock is not just a gruesome reminder that we're all "circling the drain" -- there's a lot of excellent health information there, too.)

Just in case you're not buying the "attitude is everything" line, a new study confirms it. Researchers found that older individuals (between the ages of 70 and 79) with the fewest signs of depression at the beginning of the study were nearly 40 percent less likely to be diagnosed with a health problem during the next five years. The emotionally healthy group was also 76 percent less likely to become depressed and they had a 30 percent lower risk of dementia.

The study, which involved more than 2,600 people, also measured the effects of physical health and mental functions. Not surprisingly, those in good shape were nearly 50 percent less likely to become debilitated during the study and 29 percent less likely to die. As for mental functions, those who were sharpest when the study began were a whopping 77 percent less likely to be diagnosed with dementia.

(Full disclosure: a hat-tip to www.owhata.com for the Death Clock link. Next time you feel you're not wasting enough of your life on the Internets, check out owhata -- loads of great stuff!)

Bad Medicine

2007-05-06T20:15:00.000-07:00

It looks like contaminated foods -- for both pets and humans -- aren't the only dangerous things China has been exporting, as this feature from the New York Times explains.

The Beauty Beat: or How to Have More Money to Spend on Good Food

2007-05-05T20:55:00.000-07:00

How many times have I heard people say that they can't afford to eat better? Way, way too many. The truth is, from a nutritional point of view, you can't afford not to eat better. Poor eating habits lead straight to the doctor's office, the pharmacy and eventually to the hospital. And none of those options are cheap, or even reasonable at this point. (The same is true for companion animals, by the way. And sadly, we've seen the catastrophic effects of cheap ingredients during the past few months.)

Instead of spending money on empty-calorie junk food, why not cut corners in the cosmetics department? If you use moisturizers, skin lotions and bath products, you're probably paying a hefty amount for what is basically water and a few other (often toxic) ingredients. Here are some alternatives:

Next time you're tempted to blow the budget on a product that promises to fix your most annoying problem, check out the Beauty Brains. The site is operated by two chemists who can tell you if that $100 bottle of shampoo can turn your hair into spun gold or not. Search their archives, sign up for a daily email or send them a question about a product. This is the site where I learned that good old (inexpensive) coconut oil can strengthen and moisturize dry hair as well as far more costly treatments. Whenever my hair starts to look like Sideshow Bob's, I grab the coconut oil. Plus, it's a great skin moisturizer, and you can cook with it, too!! Seriously, it's a healthy, "good fat," but be sure to get the food grade, virgin coconut oil. Nothing's better!

MakeupAlley is another good place to check out products before you buy. You'll have to register to use the service (it's free), but once you have an account, you can find out what other people have to say about specific products -- and potentially save yourself a bundle. Example: One of the most popular blemish treatments is a super-cheap aspirin "mask," and many users rave about their favorite moisturizer -- none other than good old Vaseline. Another nice feature -- if you bought a product that you wish you hadn't, you can offer it in exchange for something else on the site's "swap" list. Just think -- you might be able to unload that fuschia eye shadow for something you'll actually use.

Finally, you can find loads of information, recipes and ingredient resources for making your own cosmetics at the aptly named MakeYourCosmetics website. Enjoy!

(Photograph of Old English Sheepdog pup from www.bobtail.ru, because few things are more beautiful than a puppy.)

The Latest on the Pet Food Recall

2007-05-04T11:39:00.000-07:00

The pet food recall just keeps growing larger, making it tough to stay on top of what is and isn't dangerous for your dogs or cats. For a regularly updated list, check the ASPCA's website. There's lots of great information, including a page on "what to tell children" about the food problems (the link is named "Visit ASPCA Animaland," about halfway down on the right hand column, illustrated with a cute cartoon of a blue dog and brown cat).

How Far Has the Contamination Spread?

2007-05-03T21:14:00.000-07:00

When I started this blog, it was a place to let people know that assisted living facilities often fail to live up to their promises, especially when it comes to dealing with Alzheimer's patients. I know this because my sister and I lost our father due to negligence on the part of two different assisted living facilities. He became so severely dehydrated that when he went to the emergency room, the doctor there said she had never seen anyone in his condition who was not in a coma. So much for assisting him with living.

Dad recovered a bit in the hospital and went to a nursing home. But the dehydration had made swallowing difficult, so his diet consisted of "thickened" foods, products made specifically for people who can't swallow well on their own. In checking the ingredient list on some of these foods, I found a number of different products that made me think: Where are these ingredients from? If they came from abroad, did the FDA inspect the shipment? (Actually, that's highly unlikely, since only 1 container out of 100 is actually examined and that's when the container holds actual food. When it comes to ingredients, the inspection rate is even lower.)

Dad died from kidney failure, the same thing that has killed thousands of pets who ate tainted food recently. There don't seem to be any glutens in the thickened foods, but there are plenty of other ingredients that could have been bought in China on the cheap and been contaminated with who-knows-what. I could be way off base, but the tainted food scandal is far more widespread than the FDA wants you to think, so who wouldn't be wondering whether anything is safe anymore?

Why Do We Import Food From China?

2007-05-02T20:44:00.000-07:00

Money. That's the short answer. It's all about profits. And value. We are a nation of people who want to pay the lowest possible price for everything, including what we feed ourselves and our pets. In order to provide "value" priced pet food and still make a profit, manufacturers imported dirt cheap grain glutens from China that appeared to have a high protein content. The FDA, which physically inspects a mere one in 100 containers of foreign food entering this country, didn't discover that the "protein" was actually melamine, normally used to make plastic dinnerware and fertilizer. Some consumers saved a few bucks (but not in every case -- the Hill's Prescription Diet foods, for example, are not cheap). Manufacturers boosted profits. The pets paid the price. David Goldstein has more at Huffingtonpost.com.

Meanwhile, our food supply is loaded with ingredients from China, the vast majority of them uninspected. Gives new meaning to the phrase "you get what you pay for," yes? What can you do about it? For starters, make pet food at home or verify that yours is safe. The Simply Pets website has a long list of recipes, and you can find loads of others by Googling "pet food recipes." Also, check the updates at Howl911, as well as the FDA pet food recall page daily for updates. Given the FDA's track record, Howl911 would be my first stop.

Finally, since it's clear that humans and animals are at risk, consider shopping locally whenever possible. Farmers' markets are springing up everywhere. They feature locally grown produce, so you and your community both benefit. For more ideas on how to eat locally, check out the 100 Mile Diet book and website.

Pet Food for People who Love Their Pets

2007-05-01T17:02:00.000-07:00

For anyone who is concerned about contaminated pet food, check out the offerings at Flint River Ranch. This what my dogs and cats eat, and everyone is fine . There's plenty of information at the website on the ingredients, how to make the switch to a new food, and a lot more. If you want to talk to a real person, try their toll-free number. Another nice thing: the food comes to your house via UPS, so you don't even need to drive anywhere, a major advantage here in LA. (Just fyi, I am not receiving any free food or goodies for mentioning Flint River. We just like the food and company's transparency about where the ingredients come from.)
PS: Photo of Pup with chewable versions of Bush, Rove and Rumsfeld is courtesy of www.politicalpettoys.com. Yum!

Food Safety? What Food Safety?

2007-05-01T16:21:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to "Anonymous" for the link to a recent Sacramento Union piece on tainted food. Some excellent points in this article. First, as Anonymous points out, the contamination was intentional. That's right -- the melamine was added to the wheat gluten (and very likely other ingredients, as well) on purpose. Why? To make it appear to have a higher protein content so the manufacturers could charge more.

Second, finding out whether or not foods you or your family eat contain any of these tainted ingredients is going to be difficult, if not impossible, as the columnist who wrote this piece found. His quest for straight answers produced results that would be hilarious under other circumstances.

Third, here's how Menu Foods, the company that produced the pet foods -- and which, by the way, is based in Canada, reportedly to avoid paying corporate income taxes -- responded to reports of sickened and dead pets.

"... Menu Foods told the FDA that they began receiving reports of dogs and cats being sickened and dying on Feb. 20. They claim to have started testing their products a week later on Feb. 27. Menu fed suspect food to “40-50” dogs and cats. 7 of the animals died. In what he calls a “horrible coincidence” Menu Foods Chief Financial Officer, Mark Weins, sold 45 percent of his stock in the company on Feb. 26 and 27. The first public announcement and initial recall was made on March 16."

How shabby is that?? First, they wait a FULL WEEK to even begin testing the food. Then they test it on "40 to 50" animals, with seven dying, and still don't tell the public until March 16?? Plus, the "horrible coincidence" of the company's CFO dumping nearly half of his stock in the company -- does he seriously think anyone is going to believe that was a coincidence? Please.

This is nothing short of an atrocity. But it's the last few paragraphs that should make everyone's hair stand on end.

"A Final Footnote

On April 12, the FDA highlighted the largely honor-system style enforcement of U.S. food safety by announcing that contaminated pet food still appeared on hundreds of store shelves.

Two of Menu Foods’ largest customers are household names and manufacture hundreds of products including, probably, a large percentage of the items in your grocery cart. They are Proctor & Gamble and Swiss-based international conglomerate Nestle.

Nestle announced on April 12, 2007 the acquisition of Gerber Products. Gerber represents 79 percent of the US baby food market."

It's Not Just Pet Food Anymore

2007-05-01T11:02:00.000-07:00

Tainted pet food may seem to be a bit off-topic for a blog devoted to helping Baby Boomers stay healthy. But read on and you'll see that a) it's not just pet food that's being poisoned (as I noted in the previous post) -- it's food we eat every day, and b) the contamination has been going on for some time. Bottom line -- even people who are doing everything they can to stay healthy are likely to feel the effects of this BIG TIME!

From this morning's reading, here are a series of links for anyone interested in following the story:

From a diary at one of my favorite blogs -- dailykos.com -- breaking news on Congress holding hearings and sending investigators to the West Coast to pursue reports of widespread melamine contamination. Plus, an excellent round-up of related news on this enormous scandal.

From the current issue of USA Today, a story on the FDA finally -- FINALLY! -- taking action to limit Chinese imports. Plus, check out this sidebar on commonly used ingredients that could be contaminated. What's the likelihood that all of us have consumed at least one of these ingredients? Something like 99.9%?

And finally, at MSNBC, a piece about nearly 40 chicken farms in Indiana where tainted food was fed to chickens that were sold for human consumption. More area farms are likely to be added to the list, as well.

The point here is not to frighten people, but to make everyone aware of how widespread this contamination is. Clearly, the "self-regulation" this administration endorsed is not working. We need -- and should demand -- stringent controls on food and individual ingredients, whether they come from abroad or not. Write, call, fax and/or email your representatives in Congress. (Go to Congress Merge to find names and contact information.) Tell them you want strict oversight of our food supply and an FDA with the resources it needs to be fully functional. It's bad enough that thousands of innocent dogs and cats had to die to make us all aware of this issue. How many children are being sickened by these products? What about people with chronic illnesses and the elderly -- surely they shouldn't be eating food that's not fit for animals. Actually, none of us should. So let's do something about it.

Eat at Your Own Risk?

2007-04-27T09:49:00.000-07:00

The tragedy of tainted pet food is only one small part of our disastrous and unsafe food supply picture -- and it is not pretty. According to a recent Associated Press article, nearly 99 percent of food from other countries is not inspected by the FDA or USDA. Keep in mind this is food intended for humans as well as animals. And of the miniscule 1.3% that is tested, government agencies regularly find unhealthy levels of contamination, including everything from pesticides to salmonella. According to the report, food from China is especially likely to unsafe, so whenever possible check labels for country of origin information.

Furthermore, it's likely that the tainted ingredients that sickened and killed pets are in human foods, as well, according to another report in the International Herald Tribune. From the article:

"... the agency [FDA] will begin domestic tests of corn gluten, corn meal, soy protein, rice bran, rice protein concentrate, and wheat gluten imported from China to determine if those products are also tainted with industrial chemicals. Such ingredients are used in breakfast cereal, pizza dough, baby formula, and protein shakes, but Dr. David Acheson, chief medical officer at the food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said there was "no evidence" that any of those human foods contained contaminated ingredients."

No evidence? When only 1.3% of all imported food is being tested, that's not very reassuring. Of course, it may be unfair to single out imports when the FDA has been allowing food on grocery store shelves from domestic manufacturers with known contamination issues for years. During testimony before Congress earlier this week, we learned that the FDA has long known about spinach and meat tainted with E. coli and salmonella-laced peanut butter (pictured above, recalled Peter Pan peanut butter with product code 2111).

What can consumers do about the situation? For starters, stay informed. Check the news daily, because these stories do make headlines. Second, contact your representatives in Congress and let them know that the FDA, an agency that has been gutted in recent years, needs the budget and staff to oversee food safety properly. This is no longer a pet food issue -- it's something that affects everyone who eats.

Get Smart About Good Health

2007-04-26T11:03:00.000-07:00

Great summary in the latest online Revolution Health newsletter about cutting-edge treatments for common health problems. If you're not familiar with Revolution Health, it's a terrific internet resource for all things health-related, created by AOL founder Steve Case. In fact, there's so much information at this website, you may find yourself spending hours looking through it all. Fortunately, the time won't be wasted. The information is sound, science based and very well organized.

Eat Better, Feel Better

2007-04-06T15:50:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting article from MSNBC about tactics parents can use to get kids to eat a healthier diet. Funny thing -- you can use those same methods to get adults to healthier, too! ("Eating healthy" generally means trading fat, sodium, and the empty calories of white flour and sugar for nutrient-rich whole grains, fruits and vegetables.)

And here are a few other ideas. Just for the heck of it, try one new fruit or vegetable every week. Last week, for example, we bought shallots and went a little crazy, adding them to anything that could handle their onion-y flavor. This week, it's herb-marinated olives -- a remarkable change from the ordinary, pimento-stuffed versions. Why try new foods? Because the more varied your diet, the more likely you are to be getting a wide range of nutrients.

Here's another suggestion -- if you're getting tired of steamed or boiled veggies, try roasting them in the oven. So far, we've roasted green beans, beets, broccoli, peppers, asparagus and tomatoes. Yummmm! Just drizzle with some grapeseed oil (rather than olive oil, which has a low smoking point and does not hold up well to heat), sprinkle your favorite seasoning on and they're ready to go in a 350 degree oven. Cooking time varies, depending on the vegetable, so start checking for doneness after about fifteen minutes.

Finally, visit the local garden store and invest in some fresh herbs. They make superb companions to vegetables of all kinds, and herbs contain vitamins and antioxidants. Plus, they're quite low in calories, and help reduce the need for salt, butter and sauces that add fat and sodium to our meals. Start with the familiar ones -- basil, thyme, rosemary, and oregano -- and move into the more exotic fare, like the wonderful pineapple sage (shown in bloom in the photo above) and cilantro. Trust me, these are vegetables like you've never had them before!

Have a (Healthy) Heart -- Give Blood

2007-02-10T09:38:00.000-08:00

February is American Heart Month, and one of the simplest things you can do to save your own is to donate blood. Not only are you likely to benefit, but one pint of blood can save three lives! Blood donations are at tragically low levels in this country. Here in Los Angeles, a measly 3 percent of the residents are blood donors – 3 percent!!!!

Donating blood doesn’t take much time. Plus, you may be doing yourself a favor, too. Statistics show that blood donors have a lower risk of heart attack, leading some researchers to theorize that donating blood reduces the amount of iron in the body. That theory is supported by the fact that after menopause, when women no longer lose iron each month, heart attacks become far more common.

Do you and several other people a favor. For details, contact the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org and click on “Blood Service” in the left-hand column, or contact your local hospital’s blood donation division.

An Inconvenient Diet

2007-02-04T12:14:00.000-08:00

Is the key to reversing global warming in your kitchen? A growing number of experts say yes. And I don't know anyone who has said it better than Kathy Freston. If you feel the need to know more, author John Robbins has some thoughts on the subject, too.

Clean Up Your Act!

2007-01-17T21:52:00.000-08:00

How many decades has it been since President Richard Nixon declared war on cancer? Nearly four. Yet in spite of that, while the number of deaths from heart disease has dropped dramatically during those years, cancer death figures in America remain pretty much the same. Why?

One school of thought holds that environmental toxins are largely to blame. We are surrounded by enormous amounts of chemicals these days, in everything from food and drink to home furnishings, automobiles, clothing, and, of course, our air and water. Unfortunately, other than choosing organic food and purified water, it’s tricky to eliminate or avoid these substances. That’s why I was so excited to find this guide – “Alternative Household Product Recipes” – at the Los Angeles Department of Public Works (LADPW) website.

We can all do ourselves HUGE favors by not using toxic cleaning products in our homes and on our bodies. Plenty of the ingredients in common household products are known cancer-causing agents, and many are banned in other countries. (For more on this, get a copy of The Safe Shoppers Bible by David Steinman and Samuel Epstein, M.D. (Macmillan, 1995) – a very thoroughly researched book with tons of information.)

If you’ve ever tried to shop for the non-toxic variety, though, you may have noticed that they are not inexpensive. Some people are willing to pay the price to avoid the chemical soup that goes into most of these cleansers, but for others that’s out of the question.

So why not make your own? You’ll find non-toxic solutions to everything from window cleaners and drain openers to spot removers and hair shampoo in the Alternative Household Product Recipes. Print out the nine-page document and refer to it whenever you have a cleaning chore, garden dilemma (pesticides and herbicides are major sources of toxins), or cosmetic crisis (so much of what’s in beauty products is anything but pretty). With a few spray bottles, some baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and a handful of other fairly common substances, you can create your own products. Bonus: they’ll be earth-, animal and human-friendly.

Answers to Questions about Health and Aging

2007-01-15T19:00:00.000-08:00

For some basic, unbiased information on health issues facing us as we grow older, here's a good place to start. The National Institute on Aging (part of the federal government's National Institutes of Health) has a special website devoted exclusively to age-related health topics. The newest section is on depression, a problem that plagues millions of older individuals and often goes untreated.
The site has several user-friendly features, including adjustable text size, a sound option and your choice of dark or light background. They also have links to information on the Medicare prescription drug plan, but don't go so far as to claim to be able to make sense of it. Clearly, that's an impossible dream. Just in case you missed the story a few months ago, Mike Leavitt, the director of Health and Human Services, the agency that is in large part responsible for the plan, discovered that he'd signed his parents up for the wrong program. So if you're feeling bewildered by the Medicare Prescription Drug offerings, you have plenty of company!

2007-01-05T20:50:00.000-08:00

Alzheimer’s is such an awful disease. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. With the Baby Boom generation now approaching retirement age, experts are predicting a tremendous increase in the numbers of people with Alzheimer’s. About four million people are currently suffering with the disease, but that figure could soar to four or more times that many in the coming years. There’s no cure, and no housing for that many patients, who require a great deal of attention and care.

How the situation will play out is anyone’s guess. At this point, the only silver lining is at the Alzheimer’s Prevention Foundation International (APFI) in Tucson, Arizona. Established by Dharma Singh Khalsa, M..D., the APFI is leading the way in cutting edge solutions for preventing Alzheimer’s. I encourage anyone who is concerned about minimizing the risk of developing this dreaded disease – or who wants to help a loved one who may be dealing with it -- to visit the website, read the four recommendations and follow them carefully. There’s nothing particularly challenging, difficult or costly about them, and no one is selling anything. I’m planning on interviewing Dr. Khalsa in the near future, so check back in a week or so to see if our Q and A has been posted.

Dad is Gone

2007-01-04T20:27:00.000-08:00

My apologies to anyone who may have been checking this blog for updates and found none. After becoming dehydrated at an assisted living facility, my father spent several weeks in the hospital, much of it in intensive care. When it looked like he had stabilized, he was moved to a nursing home. Although the care there was far better than either of the assisted livings he'd been in, he took a turn for the worst in mid-December. On Christmas evening, he passed away. Here's his obituary, from the South Bend Tribune, which I wrote. I didn't realize how limited words are until I had to sum up the lives of my parents, two of the most extraordinary and wonderful people who ever lived. I didn't come close to doing either of them justice.

December 29. 2006 6:59AM

Robert L. Moneysmith

May 12, 1918 - Dec. 25, 2006

NILES - Robert L. Moneysmith, 88, of Isaac McCoy Drive, Niles, Michigan, died of natural causes at 7:38 p.m. Monday, Dec. 25, in Cass County Medical Care Facility, Cassopolis, Michigan.

Robert was born May 12, 1918, in Niles, to William and Louise (Carpenter) Moneysmith, the oldest of five children.

He attended Niles High School where he excelled at science and biology in particular. After graduation in 1936 he was offered a full scholarship to Michigan State University to study veterinary, but turned it down to stay at home and help his family.

At the outbreak of World War II, Robert joined the Army where he spent four-plus years and rose through the ranks to become sergeant. While stationed in Germany, he met the love of his life, Fenia Kryll, a Polish refugee, and the two married on April 24, 1946, in Mannheim, Germany. After Robert's honorable discharge, the young couple returned to Niles and began their new life together in a small home on ten wooded acres on Philip Road.

Over the years Robert's carpentry skills transformed the simple cottage into a three-bedroom home for his family, even while he worked full-time for the U.S. Post Office, rising to the position of supervisor. Robert displayed his devotion to his family on a daily basis, always putting their needs before his own, selflessly and without complaint. A quiet and private person with a quick wit and delightful sense of humor, he spent the time others would use for vacation working in the family's garden or on home-improvement projects.

In 1972 Robert retired from the Post Office after 22 years of service. Although he worked for several years in construction for a local builder, after retirement Robert spent most of his time with his beloved grandchildren or tending to his trees, birds, and animals on his property. To him, hunting season was the least favorite time of the year, simply because he did not like to see the animals harmed.

Patient, kind and always considerate of others, Robert as well as Fenia, who preceded him in death in 2005, will be deeply missed by their family.

Survivors include a brother, William Moneysmith, and a sister, Jean Mather, both of Niles; two daughters, Marcia (Ron) Hunt of Niles and Marie Moneysmith (Thomas Martin) of Beverly Hill, CA; three grandchildren, Jennifer Hunt and Kelly (Geza) Bruckner, and Robert Andrew Martin; and two great-grandchildren, Alex Hunt and Kyle Bruckner.

A private family service will be held today, December 29, 2006, in the Halbritter Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles or to the Alzheimer's Association.

Feed Your Brain

2006-12-10T19:59:00.000-08:00

No doubt the Jefferson Airplane wasn’t referring to the herb ginkgo biloba when they wrote those lyrics, but today the phrase has a whole new meaning. Hundreds of studies have shown that supplementing with ginkgo biloba can sharpen the brain, stimulate overall circulation, combat depression, reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and macular degeneration and improve digestion. Now a new study from Italy shows that ginkgo is as effective at slowing the development of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease as the commonly prescribed drug Aricept.
Here’s how it works: Ginkgo has been shown to provide the brain with more oxygen, while decreasing inflammation, and you don’t have to have Alzheimer’s to benefit from it. Healthy people can experience the same brain-boosting benefits.
When purchasing ginkgo supplements, don’t let price be your guide. Choose a product that is standardized to 24.0% ginkgolides, the active compound (which might also be listed as flavone glycosides or ginkgo flavonoids), and 6% terpene lactones, a related compound. The recommended dosage is 120 mg daily, but that total should be divided into three smaller doses of 40 mg and taken with each meal. Individuals with Alzheimer’s can increase the dosage to 120 mg twice daily. Ginkgo has minimal side effects in healthy individuals, but anyone who is under a doctor’s care and is being treated with prescription medication should check with their physician before taking ginkgo. Since this herb does enhance blood flow, those using blood-thinning products such as aspirin, ibuprofen or other anti-coagulants on a daily basis should not take ginkgo without a doctor’s supervision.

“Discover” a Better Way to Manage Weight

2006-12-05T10:51:00.000-08:00

I love the Discovery Channel. It’s smart, engaging and entertaining. As Stephen Colbert would say, the Discovery Channel "gets it." And now they’ve come with something even better than terrific programming – the National Body Challenge 2007! It’s a “FREE, eight-week comprehensive fitness and weight-loss challenge that provides the tools and inspiration to get in shape, shed extra pounds and adopt a healthier lifestyle.“ Join the Challenge beginning Dec. 29, 2006, and you get a customized meal plan, expert fitness and weight loss information, and a free health club pass! Don’t wait – or should that be don’t weight? – another minute. Click that link and do something good for yourself!

Why We Need Water

2006-12-02T20:46:00.000-08:00

This is a tough one to write about because it’s very close to home. But what’s the point of having information if you don’t tell anyone about it? Here’s what happened: our father went into the emergency room almost two weeks ago after he suddenly spiraled downhill. After a lot of tests, the doctors at the very fine Lakeland Community Hospital in St. Joseph, Michigan, determined that he was dehydrated. As a result, his kidneys were not functioning, blood sugar levels were sky high, he developed abscessed ulcers in his mouth that were so bad he couldn’t eat or drink, and pretty much everything else was out of whack. He’s been in the hospital for two weeks, dealing with pneumonia and a bacterial infection (both picked up at the hospital). When he leaves, he won’t be able to go back to the assisted living facility he had just moved into because he’s so debilitated. Now he’s heading for a nursing home. And all because he wasn’t getting enough water.

Since then, I’ve learned a few things about the elderly and water, things that might make a difference to others out there with older parents. First, older people may not feel thirsty, so they need to be encouraged to drink water. Second, individuals with dementia simply forget to drink water, just as they sometimes forget to eat. Third, dehydration is apparently quite common in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

What can be done about the situation? I can’t say I have a solution, but here’s what we’re trying. Many people, especially those who grew up during the Depression, just can’t get used to the idea of buying bottled water when you can get it from the tap and it’s free. Unfortunately, since he’s in a wheelchair, getting to the tap isn’t easy. Plus, a great deal of the tap water out there isn’t all that great. And I’ve seen articles that say some bottled waters aren’t much better.

As it turns out, a smart friend who happens to know about these things bought a Brita water pitcher, a simple device that filters a lot of the junk out of tap water. The pitchers start at about $35 and the replacement filters are about $20 or less online and in discount stores. Brita also makes a device that fits on the faucet, so you can get filtered water right out of the tap. (And, no, I’m not getting a nickel for recommending Brita. I just like the system.) So we got Dad a Brita. Now he has a pitcher of filtered water nearby, a good reminder to the nursing home staff to offer him water throughout the day.

Of course, plenty of people – old and young alike -- are not drinking enough water. How about you? Keep track of your water intake for a couple of days and see if you’re getting the recommended eight glasses per day. And no, coffee, tea, juice, beer, wine and sodas don’t count. In fact, most of those beverages are diuretics (meaning they tend to flush water from the body), so you need even more water to offset those effects.

Friday Book Blogging: The User's Guide to Good Fats and Bad Fats

2006-12-01T19:04:00.000-08:00

Fat just might be the most confusing aspect of nutrition. Not long ago, while roaming the aisles of a local vitamin store, another customer asked me for advice on omega-3 supplements. “Oh, I just wrote a book about that,” I told her, and proceeded to explain the difference between omega-3s and omega-6s. After about thirty seconds, her eyes glazed over and you could tell she really regretted asking the question.

Who can blame her? Fats are a complicated issue. Part of the confusion comes from the contradictory health advice of the past few decades. In the ‘80s, all fat was considered bad. Health-conscious people forced down dreadful fat-free foods (anyone remember the original Pritikin salad dressings – the ones that tasted like they had been siphoned from a load of laundry?) believing that they would be spared future health problems.

Then food manufacturers fine-tuned their approach, marketing “fat-free” snacks that were loaded with sugar, like the notorious SnackWells. At some point, the fake fats debuted and way too many people learned the definition of “anal leakage.” (Sorry, but it’s true.)

More recently, scientists have done an admirable job of sorting it all out. We now know there are good fats and bad fats and that the good fats have health benefits and the bad fats (saturated fats and trans fats) cause health problems. The public, however, seems weary of the discussion. Again, who can blame them?

Well, let’s try to break it down in a way that makes sense, without forcing anyone to buy my book (which, by the way, only costs $5.95 at Barnes and Noble, or $5.35, if you’re a club member). Fats are divided into different categories. Under the umbrella term “essential fatty acids” (EFAs) we have omega-3s, omega-6s and omega-9s. Our bodies cannot produce EFAs so we need to get them from our diet. And we do. Unfortunately, anyone eating the Standard American Diet (the aptly acronymed SAD) is getting way more of the omega-6s found in vegetable oils than the omega-3s, primarily found in fish. Experts say our current ratio of 6s to 3s is something like 20-1 when it should be more in the neighborhood of 2 to 1.

What happens when these two EFAs are out of balance? Developing heart disease becomes more likely, along with depression, inflammation, diabetes, cancer and other serious health concerns.

There are different ways to correct the imbalance. You could cut back on the processed and snack foods that contain lots of omega-6s. You could take EFA supplements. You could eat more fish.

Here’s what makes the most sense – do all three. Processed and snack foods are typically full of sodium and sugar, and lacking fiber, not to mention nutrition. Next, find a good omega-3 supplement, such as fish oil. Choose a product that is molecularly distilled to remove toxins from the oil. (If you’re a vegetarian, flaxseed oil or freshly ground flaxseeds appear to have comparable benefits.)

Finally, you can eat more fish -- but choose carefully. Mercury and other toxins have contaminated the water, and these substances accumulate in fish. Large fish – shark, orange roughy, and swordfish, for example – have the highest concentrations of toxins. Smaller ones, like salmon, shrimp, mackerel, and herring, are usually safer. You only need to eat fish a few times a week, and even then there’s no need to overdo it. A four-ounce serving (approximately the size of a deck of playing cards) is fine. These recommendations do not apply to everyone, though. Children and pregnant women should follow the guidelines of a knowledgeable physician in regard to fish consumption. For more details on which fish are safe for you and the environment (a whole other issue!) visit The Monterey Bay Aquarium website.

Improve Memory with Phosphatidylserine (PS)

2006-11-30T18:43:00.000-08:00

Today we’re not only living longer, we’re also looking younger, as millions of Baby Boomers turn back the clock with a little hair coloring, teeth brightening and the services of a good dermatologist. As for failing memory, it may be less obvious than crow’s feet, but far more worrisome. When the first signs of forgetfulness appear, usually sometime in the middle years, many people fear the worst -- the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease. More than likely, the problem is a far more common condition known as age-related cognitive decline (ARCD) or age-associated memory impairment (AAMI).

During the first three decades of life, a healthy brain is like a top-of-the-line computer, effortlessly processing vast amounts of information via a network of 100 billion neurons, some 200 billion brain cells and countless connecting points known as synapses. As we age, though, brain cells die and the number of synapses drops. The result is ARCD, characterized by forgetfulness and/or learning difficulties.

The important thing to remember (no pun intended) about ARCD is that it is not inevitable. One of the best ways to counteract it is with a naturally occurring substance known as phosphatidylserine (PS). Although PS is found in all our cells, the highest concentrations are in our brains. There, PS works as a sort of biochemical “traffic cop,” guiding information across the synapses from one brain cell to another. In fact, a recent review study from the Alzheimer’s Prevention Foundation in Tucson, Arizona, recommended PS as one of the key “brain specific nutrients” essential for enhancing brain longevity. (The others, by the way, are vitamin B complex, vitamin E, co-enzyme Q10 and ginkgo biloba.)

As the experts at the foundation point out, aging is not the only factor that compromises mental functions. Heredity plays a role, too, along with a high-fat diet, heart disease and long-term stress. Obviously, cutting back on “bad” fats (saturated and trans fatty acids) is a smart move, since both the brain and heart benefit. Try adding a small amount of “good” fat, like the omega-3 polyunsaturated fats -- found in grapeseed, flaxseed, walnut and fish oils as well as fresh deepwater fish -- to your diet, too. An animal study conducted in France found that subjects on a diet deficient in these essential fatty acids had reduced amounts of PS in the brain.

Dozens of clinical trials from all over the world have documented the benefits of PS when it comes to improving memory and mental functions. While many of them focused on Alzheimer’s patients, others have tested PS as a remedy for ARCD. Not surprisingly, PS has been shown to result in significant improvements in memory and learning ability for patients without Alzheimer’s, especially those with the most serious difficulties.

Extensive testing has shown that PS is safe as well as effective. So if you’re looking for a way to keep your memory as young as the rest of you, PS could very well be the key.

DOSAGE DETAILS

To improve memory and other mental functions, try 100 mg of PS three times daily. PS can be taken with or without food. Occasionally, people experience nausea when taking PS on an empty stomach. If that happens, try it with meals. Once improvements occur (usually after thirty days), it may be possible to reduce the dosage to 100 mg per day without losing the benefits. (NOTE: The PS product pictured above was randomly chosen. I receive no money from the company and am not endorsing that specific product.)

Sugar and Soft Drinks Are Not Your Friends

2006-11-24T22:06:00.001-08:00

If you have a sweet tooth, you might want to tame it before it turns around and bites you. The first bit of bad news about sugar comes from Sweden, where a very large study (80,000 men and women) found that as little as two soft drinks daily increased the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by 90 percent. Adding sugar to food or beverages, such as coffee, was equally risky. Pancreatic cancer is an especially deadly form of the disease, with an extremely low survival rate. Although the exact cause of pancreatic cancer isn’t known, it’s believed to be connected to increased insulin output, which can be caused by feeding the sweet tooth.

And forget about soft drinks. Not only are they loaded with sugar and devoid of nutritional value, a new report published at BeverageDaily.com says that the FDA has dropped the ball on getting manufacturers to remove benzene from sodas, even though the organization has had fifteen years to achieve the goal. Benzene is a cancer-causing agent created by the interaction of citric (or ascorbic acid) and sodium benzoate, two common ingredients in sodas, whether they contain sugar or not. So skip the sodas and put the lid on the sugar bowl.

If you’re really, really desperate for something sweet, try a bit of honey. Sugar is nothing but empty calories, while honey fights viruses, bacteria and fungus. In fact, years ago, before the development of antibiotic ointments, honey was the first choice for dressing wounds, and in many parts of the world it is still used to prevent infections in cuts and burns.

Put Down the Fork and No One Gets Hurt

2006-11-21T20:49:00.000-08:00

As we’re heading into the homestretch for Thanksgiving, keep one thing in mind. It’s much easier not to gain weight than to lose weight. By the time January rolls around, losing weight will be at or near the top of most people’s list of resolutions. Bad idea. It can take months to shed the pounds gained during the holidays, which is why so many people never manage to do it. Make yourself a promise right now – leave the gluttony to others during the next six weeks. And if you happen to slip up, you’ll exercise more to make up for it. Seriously, that’s all there is to it. There’s no law that says you have to eat two pieces of pie after a six-course meal. Have a bite of pie. Savor it. Move on. Eat to live, don't live to eat.

Elder Care in Crisis

2006-11-20T19:14:00.000-08:00

Don't miss tomorrow night's (November 21) Frontline segment, "Living Old," a look at the growing numbers of elderly people in the U.S. and the lack of resources to help them. If you miss the broadcast, you can watch it online.
One key point seems to be that what we’re seeing happening with our parents now is very likely going to be our future, as well. Right now, the best strategy is to stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible, which, in large part, is what this blog is all about.

CBS Evening News Slams Assisted Living Facilities!

2006-11-15T19:23:00.000-08:00

It's so great to see a major news organization tell a story about something you've been wishing they might take on! Last night, CBS Evening News ran a piece entitled "Assisted Living, Erratic Regulation" that really tells it like it is.
The story itself is great, but even more amazing are the comments. It seems that the assisted living industry mobilized members to criticize the story for being unfair, one-sided and inaccurate. NOT! The story was exactly right. But these people have so much to hide, no wonder they're nervous about being exposed. It's just tragic that the elderly, some of the most vulnerable members of our society, are the ones at risk. Bravo, CBS!!

The Trouble with Joe

2006-11-14T21:19:00.000-08:00

Although there is no such category as “national beverage,” coffee would likely win the title hands down. A staggering 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed each year worldwide, with Americans downing about 130 billion of them. We are so enamored of coffee that the U.S. imports more than 100 different varieties. In the global marketplace, the only commodity more popular than coffee is petroleum.

Plenty of people rely on coffee to get through the day. That may not be such a great idea for several reasons. First, unless you’re drinking organically grown coffee, be aware that coffee plants may be treated with as many as a dozen different petrochemical pesticides, including DDT and other products that have been banned in the U.S. or other countries. Of those that have not been banned, several are classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “probable” or “possible” human carcinogens (cancer-causing agents).

Another problem: Here we are up to our spare tires in an obesity crisis and there seems to be a Starbucks or other designer coffee outlet every 500 feet. And now you’ve got the above-mentioned pesticides, plus, if you don’t order judiciously, horrendous amounts of fat and sugar conveniently packed up in a go cup. Don’t take my word for it. Check out this handy website, where you’ll see that a 16 ounce Grande Latte with whole milk contains 260 calories, 14 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 55 mg of cholesterol, 200 mg of sodium and 19 grams of sugar. Order the same drink with non-fat milk and you shave off 100 calories and the cholesterol drops to 10 mg. But now you’re getting more sodium (220 grams) and more sugar (20 grams).

Of course, you could do worse. There’s something called a Grande Latte with Breve milk. I have to confess my ignorance here; I do not have a clue what Breve milk is. But you might want to have a medical team standing by if you drink one of these bad boys. The same 16 ounce cup supplies a mind-boggling 550 calories, 47 grams of fat, 29 grams of saturated fat, 150 mg of cholesterol and 170 mg of sodium. On the plus side, there’s no sugar in this particular heart-attack in a cup, but that’s hardly a reason to order it. In fact, I can’t think of any reason to order it. A cup of coffee should not contain 550 calories (roughly the same amount as Burger King’s Bacon Double Cheeseburger, which actually has less fat and cholesterol than the latte).

Seriously, people, if you’re hitting the coffee bars on a daily basis and wondering why your pants don’t fit, let me make a suggestion. Maybe it’s time to switch to tea. There is a growing list of health benefits associated with teas of all kinds, including weight loss. (More on tea tomorrow.) Plus, you’ll still get the caffeine rush, although maybe not as big a one. Still, you get to feel virtuous about doing something good for yourself – and the planet.

Saying “Thank You” to Caregivers

2006-11-10T16:17:00.001-08:00

If you’re providing care for a family member of any age, you’re far from alone. In fact, according to the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), there are 50 million of you in the U.S., and the month of November has been declared National Family Caregivers Month in honor of you! To find out more -- and to learn about different ways you can help share the burden for these under-appreciated individuals -- visit the NFCA website, where you’ll also find tons of useful information on related topics.

Got Aches and Pains? Get Cherries!

2006-11-09T18:33:00.000-08:00

That’s right, drop that aspirin and head for the nearest store that sells cherries (fresh, canned or dried) or cherry juice. Several recent studies have shown that tart cherries contain pain relievers powerful enough to ease arthritis aches and they can also prevent muscle soreness caused by tough workouts. Better yet, cherries don’t have any of the downsides of prescription or over-the-counter medications, such as the recently discovered tiny bits of metal in some brands of acetaminophen. Plus, they’ve been linked to a number of other health benefits, including fighting cancer. To learn more about cherries, go here.

Cherries aren’t the only fruit that can improve your health. Apples, for example, help lower cholesterol and combat Alzheimer’s disease. Blueberries are loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants. Raspberries contain powerful anti-cancer compounds. Get more juice on the good things in fruits at the Fruit Institute.

Do It Now!

2006-11-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

Vote!

Are You Getting the Nutrition You Need?

2006-11-05T20:01:00.000-08:00

A varied, plant-based diet is the best source of vitamins and minerals. If you'd like see which foods have the highest levels of nutrients you're looking for, check out this Superfoods Calculator, a handy little gizmo that can help you get the straight facts about what's in your meals.

The Simple Way to Search for a Nursing Home

2006-11-04T19:17:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the Internet, it’s easy to get a quick overview of nursing homes. Here are some links, courtesy of the Michigan Dementia Coalition, to get you started:

www.medicare.gov

A free, easy-to-use format based on geographical location and government inspections.

www.ElderCareLink.com

Provides free consumer referral service to help you find care close to home.

www.healthgrades.com

Fee-based service that allows you to instantly compare nursing homes and see detailed rankings, problems and complaints.

Attitude is Everything

2006-11-03T18:55:00.000-08:00

When Yale researchers announced the results of a study showing that a good attitude about aging added nearly eight years to subjects’ lives, many people were surprised. But not Barbara Morris. A registered pharmacist and author of Put Old on Hold, Morris is living proof that getting older can also mean getting better. Although she could pass for forty-something, Morris is actually in her 70s. Not only does she look far younger than her actual age, but she is also free of the diseases that so often tarnish the golden years. Morris’s secret? “Take control of your health and your life, starting now.”

Morris’s website – www.putoldonhold.com – is a superb launching pad for anyone who wants to stop – or at least slow – the clock. You can also download a copy of her book there, and sign up for her free monthly newsletter. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Morris for a magazine story about her. Here are a few excerpts:

Q: What’s the most common mistake that people make when it comes to aging?

Barbara Morris: Not thinking for themselves, and accepting our culture’s negative ideas about growing older. The truth is, we have an enormous amount of control over how we age. We don’t have to accept the mental and physical decline that everyone assumes comes with old age. Stop saying, ‘Oh, I’m getting old,’ when you forget something, or ‘I’m too old to do that.’ And don’t listen to your friends when they tell you that either.

Q: What’s the best way for people to start changing their attitudes toward aging?

Barbara Morris: First, decide that this is something you really want to do. After you make the commitment, take charge of your health and educate yourself. You’re going to have to change the way you eat, the way you think about food, and learn what anti-aging nutrition is all about. Get on the internet, look at the excellent publications in health food stores, go to the library and educate yourself.

Q: What about work? Many people can’t wait to retire, but you don’t think it’s such a great idea.

Barbara Morris: Retirement is a contagious, debilitating disease. After about six months of retirement, so many people are just bored to death. And they may have financial problems, too. So I encourage people to stay on the job as long as possible. If you’re unhappy with your situation, start planning an escape route as early as possible. Even if you’re in your sixties, you can go back to school or start a new business or career, as long as you have your health.

Q: What sort of supplements do you recommend?

Barbara Morris: If you take nothing else, at least take a multivitamin every day. You should also take antioxidants, like alpha lipoic acid, vitamins C and E, and DMAE [dimethylaminoethanol] several times a day. And, of course, calcium with vitamin D3 and magnesium for better absorption.

Q: What do you tell people who think supplements are too expensive?

Barbara Morris: I tell them staying healthy costs a lot less than being sick.

Very Scary!

2006-11-02T11:30:00.000-08:00

Halloween's over, but here's a statistic that could make anyone's hair stand on end: In the year 2000, annual health care expenditures in the U.S. totaled $1.31 trillion. By the end of the decade, that figure is expected to double, reaching a ghastly $2.6 trillion.

One of the best ways to slow spiraling health care costs is by keeping yourself as healthy as possible. Fitness expert Wayne Westcott has some good ideas on how to do that at MSNBC's Smart Fitness column.

Live Longer, Live Better

2006-10-31T21:39:00.000-08:00

Who wouldn’t want that? Now recent research shows how to make it happen – and save the planet at the same time!

First, a California study found that people who are obese in middle age are two to three times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. So maintaining a healthy weight is important, but how can we do that? According to a piece in the New York Times (the most-emailed story in today’s paper), calorie restriction is the answer.

During the past few decades, literally thousands of studies on calorie restriction have shown that it extends life and helps prevent – or at least slow the development of – chronic diseases associated with aging. Ideally, this sort of diet focuses on “nutrient dense” foods, which provide relatively few calories but plenty of vitamins and minerals.

If it’s starting to sound too complicated, here’s a simple way to accomplish the goal – focus on a plant-based diet. Not only does it eliminate the saturated fat and calories in animal products, but it also provides plenty of nutrients and fiber. (For anyone concerned about weight management, fiber can be your best friend, but that’s a subject for another day.) But wait…there’s more! Focusing on vegetables, grains and fruits also fights global warming in two ways!! First, when we eat fewer animals, there’s less farm-related pollution. Second, losing weight means greater fuel efficiency in our automobiles.

As the experts point out, you don’t have to get wear plastic shoes and become a total vegan to improve the situation. Just cutting back on meat and dairy products reduces the by-products that contribute to global warming. The bottom line: What’s good for you is good for the planet, too.

"Let Food Be Your Medicine...

2006-10-30T19:35:00.000-08:00

... and medicine be your food." Even way back in 400 B.C., Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, got it right. And we have gone so wrong. Today, we're being overwhelmed by an obesity epidemic and soaring health care costs, many of which are related to excess weight. Yet in spite of that, a new survey by ACNielsen finds that even when Americans know what they're eating is not healthy, they don't care, because it's all about convenience!

This seems odd, because even mainstream supermarkets now sell healthy frozen meals and snacks that are no more difficult to prepare than a Tombstone pizza (at least they got the name right) or the "heart disease in a bag" served by so many of the fast-food chains. Case in point: the Burger King Stacker, a 1,000 calorie coffin nail that's loaded with saturated fat and salt, but manages to avoid any actual beneficial nutrients.
Good food does not have to be boring or inconvenient. More on this tomorrow...

Small Changes, Big Results

2006-10-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it really is the little things that matter most. When it comes to improving your health, here are some simple changes that can make a difference, courtesy of Forbes.com.

We Pause Now for a Word from Our Sponsor

2006-10-27T22:11:00.000-07:00

Time for a little shameless self promotion... Seriously, Dr. Seidman is a world-class physician with first-rate credentials. His own research shows that hearing loss can be prevented -- and sometimes even reversed -- with the right antioxidants. He's been featured on "Good Morning America," and interviewed for articles in the New York Times, O, the Oprah Magazine, Men's Health and many other publications.

Hearing loss is becoming a huge issue for the Baby Boomer generation, and even their children are at risk, thanks to Ipods, car stereos, video games and the noise pollution that's become part of our daily lives. Even if I hadn't co-authored Save Your Hearing Now, I would recommend it. It's so easy to take good hearing for granted but not so easy to restore it after it's gone.

If you'd like to read a free sample chapter, click here.

The Empty Promise of Assisted Living

2006-10-26T19:28:00.000-07:00

So Mom’s not getting any younger and she’s really tired of dealing with all the upkeep on the house, not to mention hiring people to help out who either don’t know what they’re doing or don’t show up. Then one day she notices an ad in the paper. There’s a nice new community opening up on the other side of town. It’s an assisted living facility, so she can take her own furniture, park her car in the gated garage, and come and go as she pleases. There’s no yard to take care of, the cleaning people visit as often as she wants and she can cook for herself or have meals in the community room. They’ll even deliver meals to her apartment, like room service! How perfect is that?

For this person, who is basically healthy and fully functioning, assisted living is ideal. But more and more often, managers of assisted living facilities accept patients they are not equipped to handle and make promises that cannot be kept.

Exhibit A: Lifehouse Properties, which owns a number of assisted living facilities in the Midwest. According to the website, Alzheimer’s patients are welcomed by a staff specially trained in Montessori techniques for dealing with dementia issues. Plus, they offer a wellness program, spa therapies, a diet and exercise program, planned life enrichment opportunities, “compassionate care” and “personalized services.” Who would pass up an opportunity like that?

My father moved into a Lifehouse Property in February, 2006. And in the six months that followed, we (my sister and I) discovered that few of the promises made were going to be kept. To this day, we have seen no evidence of a wellness program. As for diet, our father’s file contains an evaluation sheet on which someone scrawled “likes sweets.” Spa therapies? Sorry, don’t think so. Life enrichment opportunities? Sure, if you consider Bingo an opportunity to enrich your life. I could go on, but I’m sure by now the point is clear. People can post anything on a website. They can create a brochure reminiscent of a resort. That doesn’t mean it actually exists.

No doubt there are some wonderful assisted living facilities out there, and I don’t mean to suggest that they all are disappointments -- or worse. But the problem is this: assisted living operations do not have to live up to the same standards as nursing homes, which are highly regulated. Actually, there are very few standards for assisted living operations in most states. That fact alone makes them appealing to certain business people. And it’s no coincidence that assisted living facilities are the fastest growing segment of the elder care market.

Here’s why: Most parents of Baby Boomers grew up in the Depression. Unlike the Boomers, they knew how to live frugally and they saved their money. In fact, elderly Americans have accumulated enormous wealth. Getting these people into assisted living situations is one way to tap that wealth. Not surprisingly, assisted living facilities offer rates that are considerably lower than those of nursing homes. Plus, they sound much less "end stage" than nursing homes, which are often viewed as God's waiting room. So not only are kids relieved that they aren’t putting a parent into a dreaded “home,” but there’s also the possibility that the savings accounts won’t be drained. Because there is so little oversight, though, an assisted living company can promise that Mom or Dad will be treated with dignity and respect, etc., and then pretty much do as they please. Most children are not able to visit very often and have no idea what is actually happening.

If you’re up for an in-depth read on the subject, here’s a long (20-some pages) report from Michigan State University, documenting some of these problems.

Here are a few tidbits from the report (italics added)–

"ALFs [assisted living facilities] also have significant advantage for providers. These include:
-- freedom from the burdens and expense of extensive regulatory requirements;
-- the absence of governmental involvement in facility development and operations, and,
-- the opportunity to respond to individual needs and to create innovative programs....
The lack of regulation also enables providers far greater flexibility in the development and operation of their facilities, although further study is required to determine if ALF facilities actually routinely offer flexible services to suit individual needs and preferences."

The entire report is easy to skim. And you’ll see that for people who are unhappy with an assisted living facility or who have had a bad experience, there is very little recourse. This is exactly what we found out when our father was given an emergency, 24-hour discharge, and asked to leave ASAP. The reason: “Continual combative and non-compliant episodes.” That’s right -- an 88-year-old, disabled World War II veteran who uses a walker and still can barely get around was too much for staff to handle. What could we do about it? Nothing. As we discovered, the typical assisted living contract gives management the option of removing any resident at will. So much for “compassionate care.”

Before too long, I’ll be adding links to several series of articles on assisted living that depict some of the more serious consequences this lack of oversight has caused, including abuse and fatalities. Over the years, there have been attempts to pass legislation that would require assisted living facilities to meet higher standards, but only a few states have actually passed these kinds of laws. Bottom line: Don’t believe everything the staff people tell you, and by all means, don’t assume that whatever’s on the website or in a glossy brochure bears any resemblance to reality.

Thinking Outside the (Gift) Box

2006-10-24T21:15:00.000-07:00

Tis the season …already. Not even Halloween yet and the mail order catalogs are stacking up, magazines are thick with ads for jewelry, furs, cars and all manner of excessiveness. Which made me think about alternatives to the mad consumerism that’s taken over the holiday season.

After all, compared to most everyone else in the world, we are a nation of Donald Trumps. Look at the lives of everyday people in any third world country, and you’ll feel like Paris Hilton. So this year, instead of squandering your hard-earned money on useless junk, why not give at least some gifts that improve a life? A couple of possibilities:

PlanUSA

Plan is a nonprofit, global partnership founded in 1937 to bring hope and help to the world’s poorest children. Since then the group has provided assistance to more than 10 million children and their families in poor communities around the world, giving them educational opportunities, clean water and so much more that we take for granted. Sponsoring a child can change a life and costs about as much per month as a nice dinner (for one person!) in this country. Learn more at: http://www.planusa.org.

North Shore Animal League

More than one million homeless pets have found loving homes thanks to the efforts of the North Shore Animal League, the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption center. Gift-wise, you can sponsor a dog or cat until it is adopted, or make a one-time donation. Check out the possibilities at: http://www.nsalamerica.org.

These are two of thousands of opportunities. You can donate to help Hurricane Katrina victims, give to literacy programs, contribute to research groups looking for a cure for breast cancer, or provide assistance to environmental organizations. For a look at a wide range of charities and effectiveness scorecards, visit http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm. (Remember, too, that your charitable donation may be tax deductible, so it's a real win-win situation.)

Getting a Handle on The Silent Killer

2006-10-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

Millions of Americans suffer from high blood pressure. Maybe “suffer” isn’t exactly the right word, though, because often people aren’t aware that their blood pressure is off the charts. Both heart disease and stroke, two of the nation’s leading killers, are linked to high blood pressure, so it makes sense to keep an eye on this easy-to-measure health marker and do what needs to be done -- medication, stress management, exercise, better diet -- to keep it at moderate levels. Prescription medications can make a big difference. But natural supplements and dietary changes show promise, too.

· For example, researchers in Israel tested a patented, proprietary product based on lycopene, a tomato extract, and found that individuals with slightly elevated blood pressure benefited from daily supplements of 250 mg.

· In Italy, scientists explored the theory that melatonin supplements could help reduce blood pressure, since it usually falls a bit at night, when the body releases the hormone. As they suspected, study participants’ night-time blood pressure was lower after taking melatonin, particularly in those people who did not normally experience a reduction while sleeping.

· Scientists in Finland tested a fermented milk product containing the “friendly” bacteria Lactobacillus helveticus (similar to the bacteria found in high-quality yogurt) on high-blood pressure patients. And once again, the results were positive.

If you’re not sure what your blood pressure is, make an effort to find out. Many pharmacies now offer free or low-cost screenings, and there are blood-pressure monitors that can be used at home. If your score indicates a problem, it’s time to see the doctor.

NOTE: Anyone who is taking medication for high blood pressure should not stop taking the medicine without a physician’s advice and approval. The
methods discussed above are not a substitute for medicine. And please remember, I am not a health care professional. I’m a reporter who specializes in alternative health topics. The information I’m presenting is just that – information. It is not a recommendation, endorsement or medical advice.

One more thing to remember: lycopene, melatonin and “friendly bacteria” (a.k.a. probiotics) have other health benefits. In fact, each substance is a real powerhouse when it comes to enhancing health. And each one is the subject of an upcoming post, so stay tuned….

New and Noteworthy

2006-10-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

What did you eat today?

The answer to that question is more important than you might think. A new study reports one more health advantage for the Mediterranean diet – it fights (or at least forestalls) Alzheimer’s disease. With an emphasis on vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, beans, “good fats” like olive oil, and fish, the Mediterranean diet has been consistently linked to better heart health in medical literature. Now a new landmark study has shown that the more closely people follow this type of eating plan, the less likely they are to develop Alzheimer’s.

At first glance, the Mediterranean diet may seem to be a real stretch for anyone hooked on the all-American cheeseburger and fries. But if you replace just one high-fat meal with a savory stew of lentils and vegetables, for example, you’re providing your brain with at least some of the nutrients it needs to remain fully functioning.

Actually, the real irony here is that Mediterranean cooking is absolutely delicious and satisfying. Don’t take my word for it. Here are a few excellent cookbooks that provide plenty of recipes.

The Mediterranean Diet: Revised and Updated Edition
By Marissa Cloutier and Eve Adamson
(HarperCollins, 2004)

The Mediterranean Prescription: Meal Plans and Recipes to Help You Stay Slim and Healthy for the Rest of Your Life
By Angelo Acquista with Laurie Anne Vandermolen
(Random House, 2006)

Mediterranean Vegetarian Cooking
By Paola Gavin
(M. Evans; 2005)

And while it’s not strictly focused on the Mediterranean diet, this book, by one of America’s leading nutrition researchers, is an education in itself:

Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating
By Walter Willett, M.D., and P.J. Skerrett
(Free Press, 2005)

If you’re still not convinced that it’s time to change your eating habits, read on. Saturated fat, cholesterol and animal protein are all fairly low in the Mediterranean diet. Not surprisingly, another new study found that when mice chowed down on meals loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol (in other words, the Standard American Diet), their mental functions failed as they grew older. Even worse, their brains showed accumulations of beta amyloid, a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer’s.

The number of Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s today is approximately 4.5 million, but experts estimate that by mid-century that figure will soar to a staggering 16 million! Bottom line: Do your brain a favor -- eat right.

Friday Book Blogging

2006-10-20T14:02:00.000-07:00

Two thumbs up for The Magic Teaspoon: Transform Your Meals with the Power of Healing Herbs and Spices by Victoria Zak (Berkley, 2006). This author has done her homework. The book is full of entertaining legends and lore about spices. But more importantly, it shows how you can use spices to improve your health by using them in place of salt and fats. Plus, spices are loaded with health-promoting substances, including antioxidants, the compounds that fight aging and disease.

The recipes alone are worth the price of the book. And one thing I learned is don’t be afraid to push the envelope. Example: Victoria suggests mixing coriander with honey for an afternoon pick-up. She was right – it’s scrumptious. But that led to the brainstorm of mixing coriander and honey into the morning oatmeal. Whoa! Try it and you’ll see why she calls coriander “manna from heaven.” The bland old steel cut oatmeal turned into an entirely new experience. Then I realized you could probably mix coriander and honey with lots of thing (yogurt, cottage cheese, tea, oatmeal cookie batter, chopped fruit salad, pancakes – okay, I’ll stop now) and end up with a winner. And that’s just one spice! A word of warning: Don’t even get me started on basil.

Breaking the Mold, Part 2

2006-10-19T19:09:00.000-07:00

The Baby Boomers are just starting to retire or at least qualify for senior discounts. But their own parents are more than likely moving into assisted living facilities or nursing homes. That means savings accounts are being drained. Inheritances are drying up. And health problems are becoming overwhelmingly complicated. To make matters worse, resources are few and far between. Our parents need our help, but who is helping us?

As middle-aged children of the elderly, it’s hard not to feel the pinch of being in these “parent traps.” How do we get out? After Katrina, who expects much help from the federal government? Long-term care insurance is one answer, but the Los Angeles Times just ran a major piece focusing on the difficulties some people are having collecting on their policies. (You can read it here.)

To paraphrase Sir Francis Bacon, knowledge is powerful. We need to share information and experiences, and become aware of the perils, pitfalls and possibilities we’re all facing. Maintaining our own health as we grow older has to be one of our highest priorities. In order to break the mold for growing old, we’ll have to work at it. Fortunately, we’ve got science on our side. Anti-aging research is a hot topic in the medical world. So what can you do to slow the aging process? A lot, actually.

Here’s one suggestion. Get moving. Medical experts seldom agree on anything, but when it comes to exercise, the majority of anti-aging specialists put physical activity at the top of the list. Forget about extreme sports, marathons or Iron Man events. Just go for a walk. Do it every day. Take the dog. (And if you don’t have a dog, get one – people who live with pets are way healthier than those who don’t. More on this later.) Just remember – being active is important. Really important. One recent study noted that sedentary lifestyles are now overtaking smoking as a cause of death, claiming something like 300,000 lives each year.

Aging well also requires some knowledge about eating well. That’s something else you’ll find here – short, easy-to-read reports on food, supplements and lifestyle research, and interviews with medical experts whenever possible. For now, all you need to remember is this: The Standard American Diet, with the apt acronym SAD, is literally killing people. Billions of dollars are spent each year treating chronic health conditions that are clearly linked to junk and processed foods, not to mention the excess pounds this kind of daily diet creates. And once you understand which foods promote good health and which ones don’t, eating well becomes much easier.

Here’s one quick way to age-proof your diet – curry up! A number of studies have shown that curry dishes, made with the spice turmeric, reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Curry is a popular ingredient in Indian cooking, and it’s worth noting that India has the lowest rates of Alzheimer’s in the world.

Curcuminoids, compounds extracted from turmeric, are hugely popular in medical research right now, but unlike some promising substances, they are easily obtained, both from food and supplements. Example: Curcumin C3 Complex®, from Sabinsa Corp., was used in a recent UCLA study on curcuminoids and Alzheimer’s. (In the interests of full disclosure, I am not endorsing the product, nor do I receive anything at all for mentioning them. I’m simply relaying the information from the study, which was published in the October 9, 2006, issue of Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.)

Stay tuned…there’s much more to come!

Breaking the Mold on Growing Old

2006-10-19T19:05:00.000-07:00

That's the point of this blog. That and providing readers with information on some of the perils, pitfalls and possibilities we'll all most likely be facing as we -- and our parents -- age.

One quick example: my father, an 88-year-old, disabled veteran of World War II who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, was recently given a 24-hour, emergency discharge from his assisted living facility. The reason -- he was a "danger" to the staff. Now we’re not talking about Mike Tyson here. My father is so frail and unsteady he can barely walk. But the assisted living supervisor claimed he had "chased some staff members with his walker," and had become difficult, so he had to move out. Please.

Ridiculous? Yes. But so were the alternatives, as my sister and I soon discovered. In fact, I can sum up our options in one word -- none. None of the state agencies dealing with seniors or assisted living facilities could do anything about the situation. Dad had to be moved.

Okay, so move, right? Well, it’s just not that easy. We’re talking about rural Michigan, where it can be a real challenge to find a decent, reasonably priced facility with a vacancy. But here’s the thing – even in major metropolitan areas, it’s a real challenge. A friend here in LA figured that she would find a good nursing home by researching which ones had no lawsuits against them. She found one. One out of literally dozens. That’s what we Baby Boomers with aging parents – hence the name “Parent Traps” -- are up against. It’s only going to get worse, as more and more people need full-time assistance. And let’s not forget that soon the people needing assistance will be us.

The good news is that we finally found a nice place for Dad. But during the search, I learned a LOT and want to share it with anyone who can use it. Here’s a very short list of topics of upcoming posts:

· What’s the real difference between assisted living and nursing homes?

· Why the Deficit Reduction Act that passed this year should have been called the Rob the Elderly and Their Children Act (and a few other things!).

· An easy way to research nursing home and assisted living violations.

· Why the Veterans Administration is a better resource than Medicaid (if you’re eligible), and how to take advantage of a little-known benefit that could provide a veteran or spouse with hundreds of extra dollars a month.

· Advances that are being made in finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

· How to slow the aging process, combat stress and maintain good health for as long as possible.

Things have to change. We have to find better solutions than what’s out there. That’s what this blog is for. Keep checking back. I’ll be posting new items as often as possible. And feel free to comment, correct me when I’m wrong and talk about your own experiences. I would love to hear from you!