Organic Food Has No Health Benefits

Currently the only thing I buy marked as "organic" would be eggs, mostly because I like the idea of free range birds. It does not shock me that organic food is nothing special but the organic veggie folks at work are not going to like it.

Organic food has no health benefits, study finds

Shoppers pay more for organic fruit, vegetables, chicken, beef and milk but the food gives no nutritional enhancement to people’s diet.

Why pay more?

Sunbeds Carcinogenic to Humans

Tanned skin is attractive but the idea of squishing myself into a box of sun lamps always seemed a bit dangerous. Apparently it's more than a "bit" dangerous...

Study: Sunbeds as harmful as cigarettes

It followed a review of research which concluded that the risk of melanoma -- the most deadly form of skin cancer -- was increased by 75 per cent in people who started using sunbeds regularly before the age of 30.

Seventy five percent increase in the risk of melanoma for sunbed users. That sort of a number is hard to ignore so perhaps we shouldn't ignore it.

Swearing Lowers Pain

Cursing to distract myself from pain has always been an effective strategy. Perhaps some other voices will convince my mother.

[BLEEP!] That hurts!

Thankfully, Dr. Richard Stephens and his team at Keele University in the United Kingdom just published a study that says swearing actually has a pain-lessening effect. (See Mom? It’s healthy!) When we swear, we increase our threshold for pain, meaning we can bear it longer and don’t feel it as much. Stephens is not sure why this happens, only that for some reason, “swearing appears to increase our pain tolerance.”

Dr Stephens is unsure as to why this effect takes place but I will take a shot. If you are busy cursing your face off then there is no remaining energy to focus on the pain. Works like a charm.

Stretching - Good for Therapy, Bad for Exercise

When participating in sports and exercise, warming up and performing activities at half-speed is recommended. Traditional stretching is still beneficial for increasing flexibility and medical therapy based on this article:

Traditional stretching doesn't help, studies find

In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed 361 research studies done by the epidemiology program office and found no evidence that stretching before or after exercise prevents injury or muscle soreness. Specifically, they were looking at traditional stretching, also known as static stretching, which involves holding a stretched pose for several seconds or more. Think splits or toe touches.

Looks like no more goofy looking stretches for me at the golf course.

Anti-smoking Drugs Carry Suicide Risk

Those with family or friends using one of these anti-smoking solution should take notice and consider an alternative.

FDA: Boxed Warning on Serious Mental Health Events to be Required for Chantix and Zyban

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that it is requiring manufacturers to put a Boxed Warning on the prescribing information for the smoking cessation drugs Chantix (varenicline) and Zyban (bupropion). The warning will highlight the risk of serious mental health events including changes in behavior, depressed mood, hostility, and suicidal thoughts when taking these drugs.

“The risk of serious adverse events while taking these products must be weighed against the significant health benefits of quitting smoking,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director, the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States and we know these products are effective aids in helping people quit.”

Similar information on mental health events will be required for bupropion marketed as the antidepressant Wellbutrin and for generic versions of bupropion. These drugs already carry a Boxed Warning for suicidal behavior in treating psychiatric disorders.