The FDA is considering changing is stance on Acetaminophen.

Greetings

We all know that taking any thing prescribed by a doctor or even over the counter drugs have a slew of side effects that can scare the you know what out of us.

So now the all powerful FDA is rethinking it's position on Acetaminophens, and this surprises who???

Here is want I think... Always look for a natural alternative first.

I think we can agree that there is a time and place for regular doctors, but why not go the natural way first?

If you've been taking these dangerous medications, You Need to Detox Your Liver, Now!  

All the best,

Lou & Debbie

How is this for a headline?

The FDA is considering changing their recommendations for acetaminophen. 

So the question is why would they consider doing this?

Here is why...

 ACETAMINOPHEN IS THE LEASING CAUSE OF LIVER FALIURE IN THE UNITED STATES!

The advisory panel recommended banning hydrocodone and oxycodone products (like Vicodin and Percocet) that contain acetaminophen. Vicodin and its generic counterparts contain hydrocodone and acetaminophen.  Percocet and its generic formulations contain oxycodone and acetaminophen. 

Acetaminophen is not uncommon – it is in many over-the-counter drugs, including Tylenol and cold/flu medication.  For this reason, taking one of these OTC drugs combined with either Percocet or Vicodin could result in an overdose.

The FDA panel has recommended lowering the maximum recommended dose of acetaminophen from 1,000 mg per dose to 650 mg. 

They also recommended lowering the maximum daily dose, which is currently 4 grams (4,000 mg).  Although they didn't specify what the maximum daily dose should be lowered to, it would most likely be in the neighborhood of 2,600 mg per day.

The FDA is not required to take the recommendation of the advisory panel, although they usually do.  Since the vote to ban Vicodin and Percocet-type drugs was so close, perhaps they will give it some extra consideration.

In the past, an FDA advisory panel also recommended removing painkillers Darvon and Darvocet from the market.  The drug-maker then voluntarily pulled the drug, due to a potentially deadly link to heart rhythms.

Stay tuned to see what happens.  If you know anyone taking these drugs, you may want to pass along the link to this posting...

Lou

Greetings,

So I found this and thought, wow, can you believe that the best way to overcome arthritis is good old fashioned “diet and exercise”, who would have thought…

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry…

You might remember that Debbie and I used to own a health club, I guess they should’ve called to interview one of us, huh?

So let me see if we got this right, instead of having surgery, we should exercise and loose weight?

Remember that the New York Times is the –

how do they put it, “the paper of record…” so now it may start to catch on!

All the best,

Lou & Debbie

'Magic' arthritis treatment may be old-fashioned diet and exercise

THE NEW YORK TIMES EXPLORES ARTHRITIS TREATMENTS THAT CAN BE DONE AT HOME

What's the best treatment for osteoarthritis? Many patients are seeking out surgery, but simply losing weight and wearing the right shoes may offer more of a benefit, according to the New York Times "Well" blog.

Nearly 27 million U.S. residents currently live with life-limiting osteoarthritis, and they are "relying more and more heavily on surgery," according to David Felson, a rheumatologist and epidemiologist at Boston University School of Medicine. While Felson endorsed the benefits of hip replacement surgery, he told the Times that knee replacements can be significantly less helpful. Knee replacement surgery rose 800% among U.S. residents 65 and older between 1979 and 2002, but up to one-third of patients will never experience an improvement, according to Felson.

Though many patients turn to surgery to relieve pain, Felson says old-fashioned diet and exercise may have the same effect:

•   Weight loss combined with a well-design exercise program significantly reduced the pain of 450 men and women with osteoarthritis, according to a Wake Forest University trial;

•   Exercises that strengthen quadriceps, like leg presses, wall squats, and mini squats, can restore and preserve a range of motion, according to arthritis prevention expert Glen Johnson;

•   Wearing specially designed wedge-shape shoes may help take stress off arthritic knees and hips, according to the Times;

•   Bracing an arthritic knee can help, too—according to Felson—because an unloader brace can shift stress away from the damaged part of the joint; and

•   Eating foods rich in vitamin K, like broccoli, kale, and cabbage may benefit joints.

The severity of pain is directly "correlated with the degree of muscle weakness," Felson wrote in an article published in NEJM (Brody, Well,  New York Times, 7/9).

Greetings,

Wow, I have been busy with life and have neglected keeping my blog posts going.

There have been so many changes happening in my life, that I forgot to share some important stuff with you all.

I hope that you have been having a wonderful year and looking forward to reconnecting with you all.

I will get back to posting, everything and anything I can that helps us to grow and learn, and maybe some fun stuff too…

If you have anything you can share, let us know

God Bless

Lou & Debbie

Ibuprofen linked to irregular heart rhythm

Greetings,

There are so many people who self medicate to manage pain.  Let me ask you a question? How often do you read the warnings that come with them?  If you ever do, you won't like what you read.  

Many of our friends know that back in the 80's,  I was in an auto accident.  For years I lived on Aleve, sometimes taking a double dose.  It's a wonder my liver didn't fall out...

I was fortunate,  I found a great Holistic Doctor while we were living in Pittsburgh.  Dr Winer showed me how to stop taking drugs and treat the cause of the pain.  Would be happy to share with you how this helped me. Maybe I will be another post, let me know if your interested in that.

I originally article saw this in The Telegraph, and wanted to share this with you.  This is why we need to read the fine print on those pills we take.  We need to take responsibility and seek answers ourselves.

All the best,

Lou & Debbie

Ibuprofen linked to irregular heart rhythm

Commonly used painkillers including ibuprofen increase the risk of developing an irregular heart rhythm by up to 40 per cent, according to a new study. 

By Nick Collins, Science Correspondent 

The anti-inflammatories, which are widely available in supermarkets and pharmacies, have been previously linked to a higher chance of heart attacks and strokes.

But a new study has shown for the first time a connection between the drugs and atrial fibrillation, also known as irregular heart rhythm or flutter.

The condition is more common than heart failure and stroke, and is linked to a higher long-term risk of developing both.

Experts examined the records of 32,602 patients with flutter between 1999 and 2009 and compared each to ten randomly selected control patients.

People who had recently begun using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), which include ibuprofen, were found to have a 40 per cent higher chance of flutter, equivalent to about four extra cases per year per 1000 people.

Drug Ingredients and the FDA

Greetings,

So, do you trust the FDA to monitor the import of drug components from all over the world?  

Who believes that they're going to control the import from manufactures for the other 80% of ingredients in Prescription Drugs? 

Not Me!

I'll tell you something, I'm really glad that we don't take any medications.

Just got this today and thought you'd be interested.

All the best,

Lou & Debbie

Drug Industry Daily       June 28, 211

A recently released report from the FDA says close to 80 percent of the active ingredients found in pharmaceutical products originate abroad.

“Americans are not going to restrict themselves to seasonal and locally grown food. Nor will we limit ourselves to the drugs and devices that can be developed and manufactured using only ingredients and parts that come from within the U.S.,” blogger Steven Grossman says. Through international cooperation, the FDA has set up a plan to monitor the import of pharmaceutical ingredients by assembling global coalitions of regulators through partnerships with foreign counterparts, developing a global data system that will allow information to be shared and continuing to expand its capabilities in intelligence gathering.

Buy Better Fish

Greetings,

Summer time is officially here. 

With all the benefits that come from eating fish, thought we’d talk about how to get the best fish for your money.

Debbie & I love eating fish, probably eat more fish and anything else.

Here are 5 tips for fish !

1.  We are fortunate to live close water, but you may not be so lucky.  So it’s good to know that Flash Frozen Fish is almost as good as fresh. The catch (get it, the catch...) is, it needs to be frozen within 12 hours of coming out of the water.  Flash Frozen can actually be healthier than some fresh fish.  Most "Fresh Fish" has been sitting around for way too long.    Remember, the fresher the better.

2.  If you are buying fresh fish, you need to know two things.  Who your buying from and   “When did you get this?”  The answer you’re looking for is “today”.   Plan on cooking it the same day you bought it otherwise, why spend extra money for fresh fish?

3.  Any fish you buy should pass the Sight and Sniff Test.  Make sure that it looks shinny and has a nice luster, it shouldn’t look dull or damaged. If is smells fishy, it’s old and it's going to taste, just like it smells!  It should smell like where it came from, the sea.

4.  You don’t need anything added; make sure it's not loaded with salt or artificial colors.  Check the label on packaged fish and look for added brine. 

5.  Yes we like fried fish, but it completely ruins the nutritional value. Loading it down with things like butter or cream isn’t much better. There are lots of wonderful recipes out there to bake, broil, and grill it.  A quick internet search will turn up literally thousands, so experiment and find a new favorite recipe.

Now that it’s grilling time, here is one of my favorite ways to make a quick simple meal. Cut a lemon in thin slices. Lay them on a piece of foil, then put your fish on top and add some spices, lemon juice and a little olive oil.  Seal and throw it on the grill for a quick  tasty and nutritious meal.

All the best,

Lou & Debbie

Want to avoid paying extra fees when flying?

Greetings,

Have you had a chance to go to the airport lately?

If your planning on air travel being part of your travel plans, you may be in for a surprise, especially if you pack like my Debbie does.

The airlines have found a new revenue stream, charging extra for baggage, and it can climb fairly quickly.  You’ll be paying for any excess weight or extra bags you take along this time.

Depending on which airline you choose, your going to need to budget extra money, here are a couple of examples…

Alaska Airlines - $15 for the first bag and $25 for the second.

Delta – First one is free, second is $50.

Northwest - First one is free, second is $50.

US Airways – Better plan ahead, if you pay for it in advance its $15 but if you wait until your vacation, add another $5.

Think you can just carry on that extra bag like we used to? Forget about it… Now the TSA is helping the airlines by limiting the number of carry on’s allowed.

So what to do? Here are a couple of common sense things.

•       Do you really need to bring 17 different outfits?  Once we brought 4 suitcases to go on a beach vacation, all we wore was our bathing suits and tank tops…
•       Wear a sport coat / jacket on the plane to save room & weight in your bags.
•       Cut back on the toiletries.  You can get travel size lotions and potions now, or just transfer your favorites into smaller bottles.  Don’t forget to put everything into a zip lock bag.
•       Put your luggage on a scale at home, most airlines draw the line at 50 pounds per bag. You don’t want to have to go thru stuff at the counter then try to figure out where to put all that stuff to get under the limit.
•       Take advantage of frequent flyer programs, some airlines will wave fees for their cardholders, Ask about these discounts. Also if your active military, they are now waiving fees since they got bad press for changing military returning from overseas.
•       Sometimes airlines run specials that waive extra fees, remember that if you don’t ask, you won’t get it.
•       You can use the hotels laundry services instead of bringing more clothing. Many hotels now even have washers and dryers available if you want to save money
•       Check with your travel agent, hotels are hurting for business and many will reimburse for baggage fees, again you have to ask to receive.
•        If you must have to have something heavy, try mailing it to your destination.  While you may have to pay a little more, you can count on your stuff being there when you get there (have you ever had to stand in line when you bag didn’t show up?).

There are still some airlines that don’t charge for bags, like JetBlue and Southwest.  I know that for us we'll try to book our flights on these if we have to fly, personally I'd rather drive. (If you haven't read our posting on Naked body scanners, you'll want to read that one before you fly)

Hope these tips help, enjoy your travel.

All the best,

Lou & Debbie