Mrs. Cranky's Blog

Maxacaiburn--the program that keeps on TAKING!

2009-08-21T15:25:00.002-04:00

It seems that hidden in the small print are trial memberships to 2 monthly subscription weight-loss support programs. I got charged by both because I didn't know to cancel them. Call BEFORE they pick your pocket.

888-332-2707 monthly charge $3.24

888-779-5303 monthly charge $7.14

Once the charge hits, it's NON-refundable.

Maxacaiburn contact info

2009-08-18T15:19:00.003-04:00

Phone number to contact Maxacaiburn customer service is 866-989-8945. You have to listen to a sales pitch about keeping the product before you get to a live person, but be patient. If you leave a comment requesting more info, please leave your email address or activate "share profile" on your blogger account so I can contact you.

Got the refund from Maxacaiburn

2009-08-17T12:30:00.002-04:00

I called them the Monday after the Post Office confirmed delivery of my return. they checked the tracking code and issued me a refund authorization code. They said the money would take 5-10 days to arrive in my account--but I had it the next day. Case closed.

Maxacaiburn--no refund--YET

2009-08-03T09:26:00.000-04:00

Called them this morning and gave them my post office tracking number. They see it's in transit, but won't refund my money until the post office confirms delivery. Next update when it arrives. The way they work, I can't recommend trying the product unless you are willing to pay for at least one month's supply. The "free trial" costs a lot more than $4.95 shipping and handling.

Beware Maxacaiburn

2009-08-01T10:32:00.003-04:00

I tried the 14 day trial for $4.95 shipping and handling. When I called to cancel future shipments, I was told to return the unused portion (32 capsules out of 60). It had to be returned insured and with a tracking #. That cost me $3.94 at the post office. The company has since charged me $58.76 while my return is still on its way to them. This is the ONLY time I have ever tried a trial offer and been told to return the product. The recording on their cancellation toll-free # says to give your unused portion to a friend to try, but once you reach a service rep, they tell you to return the product or pay! So, a $4.95 14 day trial has now cost me $67.65 and I only used 28 capsules. They are closed for the weekend, so I'll have to wait until Monday to contact them. Will I get my money back? I'll let you know.

Soy Can Be Hazardous to Your Fertility

2008-08-15T12:09:00.002-04:00

From Dr. Douglass

Soy saps sperm count
It appears that Darwinism has stepped in to prevent nature from allowing more soy fans to walk the earth. According to a new report in the Journal of Human Reproduction, consumption of even small amounts of soy products can lower a man's sperm concentration. Of the men in the study, those who ate the most soy had sperm counts far lower than those who reported eating no soy at all. On average, the soy eaters had 41 million fewer sperm per milliliter. The study found that the soy eaters consumed a relatively low amount of 15 soy-based foods including tofu, soy burgers, soy ice cream (yuck), soy energy bars, and even miso soup — an average of just one serving of every other day. And remember, if the vegetarian Nazis had their way, everyone would be eating soy at practically EVERY MEAL! Of course, the soy advocates are saying this reduction in sperm is no big deal (they must be women…). They claim that if you apply this 41 million sperm per milliliter reduction to a man with an average sperm count (in the range of 80 to 120 million sperm per milliliter), that a man is still left with a sperm count that's "well above" the 20 million sperm per milliliter that's the minimum count within the normal range. That's just pure rationalization in the face of the facts if you ask me. The study's lead researcher Jorge Chavarro of the Harvard School of Public Health claims that other studies have found that soy consumption actually boosts sperm counts (I doubt it). As a result, he says, "I think there is not enough evidence to reach any strong conclusion or advise men one way or the other on whether soy foods can affect their fertility." Nonsense! None of this should be a surprise. In addition to all of the other negatives about soy that I'm always telling you about, the isoflavones in soy have long been tied to infertility in animal studies. So why should humans be any different? Take my advice: steer clear of soy if you want to keep your health – or start a family.

Milk for Weight Control?

2008-08-13T10:24:00.002-04:00

A new reason to drink milk has been receiving attention in the news recently. Although the research is still in its early stages, some studies are finding that people who consume more calcium, particularly in the form of milk and other dairy products, tend to weigh less as they age. This is good news for milk lovers. And it may even get your teen to think about reaching for a glass of milk instead of a soda the next time he or she opens the refrigerator door.

New Research on Dairy and Weight
In the August 2004 issue of the Journal of Nutrition, researchers at the University of Hawaii reported on a study that analyzed how dairy and soda consumption affect weight and body fat among a group of teenage Asian and Caucasian girls.
The girls ranged in age from 9 to 14, and consumed about one and a half servings of dairy a day-well below the recommended three servings a day. Most of the dairy consumed was in the form of milk. Girls who drank soda averaged one large (22-ounce) bottle a day.
The authors found that some of the girls who drank milk instead of soda tended to weigh less and have lower levels of body fat, but this association was only noted in the Asian girls, who were already very thin on average. Still, the more milk they drank, the greater the effect on their weight. In contrast, girls who drank large amounts of soda tended to be heavier and have more body fat.
These findings join earlier studies that have shown similar results among other age groups. When factors like age, activity level, and total calories eaten are held steady, more and more studies are indicating that children and adults who consume more dairy products and calcium tend to have lower body weights than those in comparison groups. Keeping calcium levels high also appears to help people on diets lose weight more quickly.

Another Downside to Diabetes

2008-07-25T11:16:00.001-04:00

From Dr. Douglass:

Dear Friend,

Over the years, I've written tons of articles about the diabetes epidemic, and often it's to bring you some good news about victories in this war, or about certain vitamins (ginseng, for example) that can keep this awful disease at bay. Unfortunately, this is not one of those articles. I'm here to tell you about a new study that's found yet another downside to obesity and diabetes: infertility.

A new report recently presented at the conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology has concluded that the semen from diabetics actually contains damaged DNA. What's more, it appears that this damage is irreparable.

According to one of the study's authors, Dr. Con Mallidis of Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, "Diabetics have a significant decrease in their ability to repair sperm DNA, and once this is damaged it cannot be restored."

Tack this on to the long list of dangers and complications of diabetes, a disease that's blossomed into a full-blown American epidemic in recent years. But the study also found that obesity (which is, of course, closely linked to diabetes) and being underweight also cause problems with sperm. A separate study discovered that males with a high body mass index produce less seminal fluid, and more abnormal sperm.

"This is not simply a coincidence," Mallidis said. "We have shown for the first time that diabetes directly affects male fertility on a molecular level."

This damaged DNA can result in some devastating and tragic reproductive consequences, including higher miscarriage rates and debilitating childhood diseases – including some pediatric cancers.

The cause of all these nightmares? Sugar, of course.

During the study, Mallidis said the researchers "found a class of compounds known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the male reproductive tract" which are formed as the result of the addition of sugar, a process called glycation. Mallidis said that AGEs are dependent on lifestyle choices like diet, and play a role in the male reproductive system."

We still don't know how AGEs cause and contribute to DNA damage, but I'm willing to bet that the impact of AGEs on health may be a lot more far-reaching than just diabetes and its various complications.

For years I've told you how sugar and diabetes are joined at the hip. It's easy enough to avoid diabetes just by avoiding those sweet-tasting pitfalls. But easy or not, the epidemic keeps ballooning. And that means various complications from diabetes keep on growing too. Diabetes is associated with nerve damage, eye problems, and kidney damage – and now, apparently, irreparably mutated sperm. If that's not enough to get you to swear off Twinkies, I don't know what will.

"We must now try to develop strategies to protect sperm, and to diminish the accumulation of AGEs," said Dr. Mallidis. Such strategies could involve changes in diet, disrupting a step in the formation of AGEs, or increasing the body's protection against AGEs, possibly through the use of dietary supplements.

The problem is, things aren't getting better on the obesity front: the World Health Organization claims that the number of obese people will increase by a staggering 75 percent worldwide by 2015 – an estimated 700 million wide bodies. If Mallidis's study is correct, imagine the global health implications – not just of the increased number of diabetics, but of the exponentially higher number of children born with severe health issues (or not born at all) as a result of a global decline in the amount of viable sperm. It's a frightening thought.

Doling out the deal about diabetes,

William Campbell Douglass II, M.D.

Dr. Douglass on Stress

2008-03-07T10:51:00.001-04:00

Don't sweat it: More bad news about stress

Dear Friend,

Sometimes, the best advice a doctor can give you is this: relax. It's no secret that stress isn't just unpleasant, but more and more studies are proving that it's actually downright dangerous to your health. In fact, when you say, "man, this stress is killing me," you could be more right than you know.

This is nothing new, but it bears repeating. I've had a particularly crazy week, and so this topic occurred to me as I tried to juggle a nearly impossible schedule. I'm sure you know exactly what I mean.

When I say "stress," it's important that I don't just mean stress with a capital "s" (i.e., losing your job, divorce, major illness, etc.). The little, gnat-like stresses that gnaw at us nearly every day and at every turn of modern life—long lines, minor workplace politics, noisy neighbors, and bad traffic—can be just as brutally devastating to your health. Like lots of bad things, it's not the ones and twos … it's that the ones and the twos that add up to fours, fives, sixes, and tens. Stress is cumulative.

Believe it or not, stress and health were linked for the first time back in the 1930s by the scientist Hans Seyle. Seyle was actually the man who first applied the term "stress" to the struggle of all forms of life to adapt to and deal with changes within their environment. Prior to Seyle, stress was little more than an engineering term. But oh, how evocative a term! Anyone who's experienced stress knows that there's no better way of describing how it can push you physically, mentally, or emotionally to the breaking point. It's likely not a coincidence that Seyle conducted his study of stress at what was one of the most trying periods in human history: the era of the Great Depression.

Seyle found that the hormone cortisol – which is linked closely to the adrenal glands that are activated by "fight or flight" responses – has a taxing affect on digestion, reproduction, the immune system and even physical growth. So much so that its long- term presence can have an incredibly negative effect on those functions, even shutting them down. Thus, sustained stress can cause a very real deterioration throughout your body, exposing you to everything from a case of the sniffles to a deadly cancer. Think you're losing hair because you're stressed out? Well, you may be right. But as doctors have known for years, stress is most deadly because of its impact on your heart. Depressed? That could be stress, too.

Getting the picture? It's everywhere, and could be the root cause of so many bad things that it's impossible to ignore. How often have I told you about supposed wive's tales being proven to be true by recent studies? It's not just in your mind that you feel "restored" or "recharged" after a vacation or a weekend getaway. You likely are feeling the restorative effects because your brain and your body are getting that needed break from stress.

So now you're thinking, "well, no kidding Dr. D – now that you've told us that day-to- day life is wearing away at our health, what exactly do you suggest I do about it?" Keep reading…

4 tips for battling stress
In addition to all of the other guidance I give you, take some time to put the following tips into your daily regimen when you can. They won't make stress go away, and they're not exactly the equivalent of a two-week Mediterranean cruise, but they'll help. Remember: it's important to battle the cumulative effects of stress, and these tips should help.

GET ANGRY!

It's OK to be annoyed; it's human. And when you bottle things up, you're just adding to the pile of cumulative stress. I'm not saying you need to flip out and scream at everyone around you, but when the going gets tough, it doesn't mean that you should just nod quietly and accept your bad luck. Tell your spouse they've upset you. Advise that co- worker that you're not fond of how they're behaving or that they're making your job more difficult. By asserting yourself and your opinion without losing control, you're actually venting stress. (Hmm…maybe that's why I'm one of the least stressed out people I know.)

SHIFT YOUR FOCUS

Get a hobby, or don't be shy about throwing yourself into the one that you already have. Don't let your schedule deny you the outlet that helps you free your mind. By concentrating your mind on the thing that brings you the most joy – whatever that may be, whether it's stamp collecting, exercise, dancing, or pottery – you're actually sloughing off stress, and giving your mind and body the time to recover. It's like a mini- vacation, and will stop the stress build up.

PUT THE CLOCK TO WORK FOR YOU

Nothing's more stressful than a deadline, and it only gets worse the closer it gets. If you can turn yourself in a better time manager, even the biggest project can be tackled with less stress. By managing your schedule, you avoid being overworked, which is often one of the most common causes of undue stress.

LAUGH OR CRY

Yup, another cliché. But like so many, it's true. Both laughing and crying are enormously effective ways to vent stress. If you've ever just busted a gut or bawled your eyes out, you know that afterwards there's often a great rush of good feeling (with a laugh) or a sense of relief (with a cry). You're human, and emotions are what make you that way. They're there for a reason: use them. Bottling them up leads to more stress. Not the usual advice I dispense, I know. But something that's always important to remember.

Taking a "chill pill" as the kids say,

William Campbell Douglass II, M.D.

August Cranky Yankee Newsletter

2007-08-31T12:00:00.000-04:00

Avandia Warnings from House Calls by Dr. Alan Inglis
When the cure is worse than the disease

It's always with a sinking feeling that I tell you about the less-than-stellar results of drugs that have been out on the market for a while, because I realize those negative findings represent real folks who took those drugs in good faith. They followed doctor's orders to manage their diseases-and didn't understand that they were being used as guinea pigs.

A case in point involves the two popular drugs prescribed for type 2 diabetes. You've probably seen the headlines proclaiming that patients who are on either of these drugs are twice as likely to develop heart failure. Out of every 50 patients on either of these drugs, one will develop heart failure within 26 months.

There are more than 3 million diabetic patients in this country who are taking one of these prescriptions. Do the math. That's an unacceptable number of people being put at risk for heart failure.

Worse is the recent review that discovered Avandia's risks were higher than that of Actos-which I'll talk about in a minute.

While researchers knew there was a risk of heart failure associated with these drugs, they report that they didn't realize the extent of that risk. Nor, they say, did they know that the risk could occur even in the lowest dose given and among younger patients.

The risk also extends beyond patients on insulin and includes folks who were not flagged for any other heart-failure-risk factors. And even though Actos was not off the hook for higher risks, it was considered safer for insulin users compared to Avandia.

Researchers attribute the increased risk to the probability that the drugs cause fluid retention.

Unbelievably, the FDA's initial response was to dicker around, kick the dirt, and wonder if the "benefits outweigh the risks."

Apparently in its eyes, they do. But you have to read "benefits" as "profits" and "risks" as "lives."
The debate goes on about Avandia.
You have its maker, GlaxoSmithKline, kicking the ball back to the FDA regarding these newly found risks associated with their product. Take a look at this paragraph directly from the company's web site:

For some people taking Avandia, possible side effects include heart failure or other heart problems. Further information regarding potential heart-related risks is currently under review by the FDA. Talk to your doctor as FDA has made information on potential heart-related risks available to physicians on its website at www.fda.gov.

And a spokesperson for the company reportedly responded to the news of the increased risk of heart failure associated with Avandia by saying the company continues to believe in its safety. (What about Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy?)

Bickering and bull surround fate of diabetes drug

A federal drug-advisory committee got together to discuss the question of what to do about Avandia. By some appearances, it would seem that not everyone in the FDA is on the company bandwagon.

The dissenters were outnumbered, and I wasn't surprised to learn that the Big Pharma toadies won the day. They voted to recommend that the popular diabetes drug should remain on the market, despite strong evidence of its increasing heart-attack risk for diabetic patients.

I'm resigned to the fact that these FDA folks would say that the sun is a lukewarm star if their drug-company pals told them to say it. They seem to have absolutely no shame. Their justification for keeping this now more-than-questionable drug on the market? They thought that the recent studies about Avandia's inherent cardiovascular-disease risks were just too sketchy to justify yanking the drug from the market.

As I relayed to you in House Calls a couple of weeks ago, one out of every 50 patients on either Avandia or Actos will develop heart failure within 26 months. To hammer home the point that the drug is dangerous, one of the dissenters on the panel cited an estimate based on recently released studies that Avandia caused over 200,000 heart attacks and strokes over a seven-year period.

I hardly consider 200,000 heart attacks and strokes-some of them resulting in death-to be just a vague detail that can easily be dismissed! Also, bear in mind that there are many diabetics who suffer a host of health problems that can complicate even further their attempts to cope with various side effects of their disease. Now many of them take a pill that is supposed to help them but could kill them instead.

In addition, the same FDA dissenter I mentioned above estimates that for every month Avandia remains on the market 1,600 to 2,200 patients will be at risk of a heart attack or stroke.

It also seems that the FDA and GlaxoSmithKline hadn't communicated previously in order to keep their stories straight. The FDA reports that the drug company told it about these risks but that because of internal debate within the FDA (read: their fear of GlaxoSmithKline), the information never got into the hands of doctors and their patients. Meanwhile, GlaxoSmithKline continues to deny any problems with its drug.

GlaxoSmithKline, while on the one hand vehemently denying that there are any safety issues with Avandia, agreed on the other to add a "black-box" warning on the drug's label regarding the increased cardiovascular risk.

It was also revealed through agency records that Avandia has additional risks associated with it, such as liver failure and an increased risk of fractures.

But I'll bet you won't hear much about that for a while.

In the meantime, skip Avandia. There are other, safer ways to manage your diabetes. I recommend a heart-to-heart talk with your doctor. Frankly, there are very few cases of Type 2 diabetes that don't respond to careful diet and regular, vigorous exercise (including strength training with weights). Otherwise, in my opinion, metformin (Glucophage) is the preferred oral agent for diabetes. But please keep in mind that it can cause a loss of vitamins B12, folate and Coenzyme Q10, so you may need to supplement extra amounts of those nutrients.

Recipe of the Month: Quick and Easy Chocolate Pudding
A man rubbed a lamp and a genie popped out. “I can only give you one wish,”
said the genie, “so make it a good one.” The man thought for a minute and said, “Make me irresistible to women.” The genie smiled and said, “Poof, you’re a box of chocolates!”
Tools: measuring cups and spoons, mixing spoon, whisk, medium microwaveable bowl, microwave.

Ingredients:
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1½ cups 2% milk
Sugar substitute equal to 1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Directions:
Combine cocoa powder and cornstarch in the medium microwaveable bowl. Gradually whisk in the milk until mixture is well blended.
Microwave on high 2 minutes, then stir. Continue microwaving at medium-high (70% power) 3 to 4½ minutes or until thickened-stir every 1½ minutes.
Stir in sugar substitute, vanilla, and cinnamon (if desired). Let the pudding stand at least 5 minutes before serving. Stir occasionally to prevent a skin from forming on the top. Can be served warm or chilled.

Makes 4 servings @ approx. 80 calories each

Mother Nature is Cleaning up the Gene Pool?

2007-08-22T09:04:00.000-04:00

There's been some interesting medical news lately. First came the study that showed a strong correlation between cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction. Then came the news that Viagra impaired male fertility by making it more difficult for sperm to penetrate the egg to fertilize it. Sounds good to me--if you're stupid enough to smoke and then take Viagra to counteract the ED effects of the cigarettes, maybe you shouldn't be passing your genes on to the next generation.

Cranky Yankee April 2007 Newsletter

2007-04-23T11:57:00.000-04:00

How nutritious is YOUR diet?

Would you believe that nutritional deficiencies are common in overfed people? Many micronutrients that help prevent disease and many of these get processed out of much of what we eat. Farmland in the US and many other parts of the world no longer contains many of the nutrients that plants used to absorb, which leaves those who consume the plants lacking in nutrition.
It has long been common knowledge that some forms of protein are more nutritious than others, but the authors of Superfoods Rx analyze the nutrition in various fruits and vegetables, showing that some provide more nutrition per calorie than others.
Most people are familiar with vitamins and minerals, the two best-known categories of micronutrients, and many have at least heard about phytonutrients. As their name says, these are nutrients found in plants. Many of these have been mentioned in the Drug-of-the-Week series in the weekly newsletter, but here’s a brief recap.

Polyphenols: antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and antiallergenic properties. Found in tea, nuts and berries.

Carotenoids: pigments found in red and yellow vegetables-includes beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene. These function as antioxidants, protecting from cancer and helping defy the effects of aging. (A recent news item said that 60 now is the equivalent of 40 a few generations ago in terms of health and longevity. No wonder Social Security is in trouble-when it was started, very few people lived long enough to collect, or only collected for a few years. Now people collect for 20 years or more.)

Phytoestrogens: estrogen-like chemicals found in soy, whole wheat, seeds, grains and some fruits and vegetables, which play a role in hormone-related cancers (such as prostate and breast cancers.)

As the body burns food for energy, it creates free radicals-atoms that are missing an electron. In trying to regain stability by replacing that electron, these free radicals damage the cells they contact. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, preventing cell damage. Medical research has shown that one of the major keys to longevity is the body’s ability to neutralize free radicals, because unchecked free radical activity has been conclusively linked to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, vision problems, Alzheimer’s and premature aging.

Are you taking a cholesterol drug?

Are you feeling tired? Muscles achy? A recent ad for CoQ10 claimed that, since CoQ10 which is needed for energy and cholesterol are synthesized by the same system, people on cholesterol drugs need to supplement their CoQ10 because their body can't make enough of it.
Since it was an ad, Mr. Cranky was skeptical, so we asked his primary care doctor. She, unlike many MD's, is trained in nutrition and alternatives to drugs and surgery as well as the traditional medical practices. She hadn't made the connection before, but said that it did make sense and told Brian to add the CoQ10 to his diet.

Fit or Fat?

According to The Myth of Obesity thin people who are sedentary are not healthier than those who are labeled overweight (BMI over 25) but are fit and active. The current societal standard for "healthy weight" in the western world is much lower than it has ever been before, and the medical evidence shows that in most cases trying to maintain a weight lower than your body's natural set point leads to yo-yo dieting which is harder on the body than staying at a stable weight. There are some cases where losing weight is beneficial. Many diabetics find that losing weight makes it possible to maintain healthy blood glucose levels without insulin or medication, and it is possible in a society where food is abundant for people to pile on the pounds to the point where the extra weight stresses the bones, muscles, and other systems to near collapse. In the absence of health problems, staying active seems to improve longevity more than losing weight, and losing and then regaining the weight does appear to decrease longevity.

Recipe of the Month: Scalloped Sweet Potatoes

Tools: Medium saucepan, medium sauté pan, measuring cups and spoons, sharp knife, cutting board.

Ingredients: 2 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 pound)
¼ cup fresh orange juice
¼ cup vegetable stock or water
1 teaspoon ground allspice

Directions:In the medium saucepan place the unpeeled sweet potatoes and add enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the potatoes just start to soften but are still relatively firm. Drain the water and let the potatoes cool until they are cool enough to handle.
Peel the potatoes and cut them into ½-inch-thick round slices (should produce about 16 slices.) Place 4 slices in the medium sauté pan, arranging them in a circle and overlapping the edges slightly. Repeat the pattern layering the rest of the slices. Mix the orange juice and vegetable stock (or water) and drizzle the mixture over the potatoes, then sprinkle with allspice. Cover the pan and set aside until ready to serve. May be reheated in the oven if needed.
Serves 4

Cranky Yankee January Newsletter

2007-02-24T12:40:00.000-04:00

Chicken Soup

Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach have found that chicken soup works better than any other liquid to break up the congestion and mucus of a cold. Researchers in the pulmonology department gave patients hot water, cold water, and chicken soup,and measured the clearance rate of nasal mucus. In each test, chicken soup won. Chicken soup also appears to be a mild antibiotic, helping the body fight infection.For best results, inhale the vapor from your soup for about five minutes before eating it.

Almond Update

Researchers have revealed even more secrets of the almond.
In November, I saw a Perdue University study that showed how regular almond consumption may help curb hunger while also delivering nutrients, such as vitamin E, calcium, magnesium (whichhelps your body absorb calcium), and flavonoid antioxidants.
A new study from the University of Toronto suggests that almonds might also have a beneficial effect on glycemic and insulin responses.
The Toronto team examined the effects of five different meals on 15 healthy subjects. In a NutraIngredients-USA report on the study,the meals were described as two control meals with white bread, one meal with white bread and 60 grams of almonds, one meal with parboiled rice, and one meal with instant mashed potatoes. All of the meals had the same amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Results showed that when almonds were eaten with a carbohydrate meal, glycemic and insulin responses were significantly impeded.Researchers noted that almond intake also protected proteins from oxidative damage.

Recipe of the Month: Chicken Corn Soup

Tools: large stockpot (with cover), measuring cups and spoons,knife, cutting board.

Ingredients:
1 chicken (about 3 1/2 pounds) cut into pieces
3 quarts water
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon saffron
4 oz. noodles
2 cups whole kernel corn (preferably fresh cut from the cob)
Pepper and parsley to taste
2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

Directions:
Chop or slice all the ingredients that require it. Put the cut up chicken, water, salt and saffron in the large stockpot and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered until chicken is tender--about 2 hours.Remove the chicken from the pot, separate the meat from the bones,chop the meat into bite-size pieces and put the meat back into the pot.Bring the soup to a boil, add the noodles and corn. Cook until the noodles are tender. Add salt, pepper and chopped parsley to suit your tastes, and the chopped eggs.Makes 10-12 servings.

Bonus for reading this far: Christmas Cookbook
Feedback is welcome at: newsletter@crankyyankee.biz
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The November Cranky Yankee Newsletter

2006-11-14T12:01:00.000-04:00

Coming soon: Look for a new section on the Cranky Yankee website--the ultimate cookbook collection. There are 48 recipe books in the collection. You can get them all for one low price, or just pick up the ones you want.

The "New" Weapon in the Fight Against Obesity

By Al Sears, MD

For decades, the real cause of obesity has escaped mainstream medicine. They tell you that the only way to lose weight is to cut your calories by eating low-fat food. Yet, despite eating less fat, more Americans are fat today than at any time in history.
As you've read many times in ETR, it's insulin that regulates weight gain and fat storage - not the saturated fats the media love to hate. And low-fat foods - which are usually high in carbs - will spike your blood sugar and trigger a flood of insulin. Excess insulin means excess fat.
But there's another hormone critical to weight gain - and weight loss. It's called leptin.
It tells your brain how much energy you have and how to use it. When your belly is full, leptin tells your brain to stop eating and start burning fat. When your energy is low, leptin tells your brain to increase your appetite so you'll start eating.
When it comes to obesity and diabetes, the role of leptin and insulin is nothing new. I've been telling my patients about it for years. But here's the problem: Leptin's message to your brain can be cut off by certain foods - like the high-fructose corn syrup found in sodas. And insulin can lose its effectiveness when too much is let loose in your bloodstream. When that happens, it leads to compulsive overeating and uncontrollable weight gain.
To help your body become more receptive to these hormonal messages, reduce your intake of carbs, eat foods low on the glycemic index, and supplement with cod liver oil.

Triglycerides:From the HSI eAlert.

Millions of people have high cholesterol, but only a small fraction of them understand why triglycerides are a dangerous part of the cholesterol picture, according to a new survey of doctors and patients.

And guess who the doctors blame for their patients' unawareness about triglycerides? Here's a hint: They don't blame doctors.

Lipids are fats, and they're essential for life. Your cell membranes would be lost without lipids. But when levels of triglycerides (a type of lipid) are elevated, you've got trouble. When triglycerides bind to carrier proteins, lipoproteins are created and may leave fat deposits in coronary arteries. Several studies have shown that high triglyceride levels sharply increase heart disease risk, even when no other risk factors exist.

So with all the hype about cholesterol, why aren't more people familiar with triglycerides? Simple: There's no drug that effectively lowers triglycerides, so consumers haven't been bombarded with nearly two decades of advertisements that would have seared the word "triglycerides" into their brains. Cholesterol? Got it - we all know what that is. Triglycerides? Not so much.
According to the results of a survey conducted this past summer by the National Lipid Association (NLA), only five percent of patients who use cholesterol-lowering statin drugs said they were aware of the guidelines for normal triglyceride levels. What's more amazing is that nearly one in five doctors admitted they didn't know what those guidelines were either.

More than 2,000 patients and 510 doctors were surveyed.

What I found most annoying about the doctors' responses was the general attitude about their patients' triglyceride knowledge. According to an Ivanhoe Newswire report, more than 90 percent of the doctors said, "patients need to learn more about lipid management." And one doctor told Ivanhoe, "Unfortunately, patients don't get the message."

Well, let's see. Where could they learn more? Who could give them the message? You've got a patient and a doctor in an examining room. They're talking about heart health. Gosh...if only there were someone with a medical education present who could share triglyceride information - THAT might solve the problem!

Don't get me wrong; I'm all for patients becoming active participants in their own health care and health knowledge. But those nine out of ten doctors who believe their patients don't know enough about triglycerides only need to do two things: 1) Schedule a blood test, and 2) Discuss the test results that pertain to triglyceride levels with their patients.

There. Now wasn't that easy?

Recipe of the Month: Easy Turkey Fajitas--save this one for your Thanksgiving leftovers.
Tools: 12-inch skillet with cover, wooden spoon, measuring cups and spoons, oven or microwave, sharp knife.

Ingredients:
6 flour tortillas
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 medium green pepper, cut in strips or rings
1 medium red pepper, cut in rings or strips
1 medium onion, cut in rings
1 to 1 1/4 pounds cooked turkey, sliced in strips about 1/4 inch wide
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning or 1 tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 cups shredded lettuce
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes

Directions:
Slice, chop, or shred all the ingredients that require it,
Warm the tortillas in the oven or microwave. Do not overheat.
In the skillet, over medium heat, saute the peppers and onion in the oil for 2 minutes. Add the turkey and seasoning, stirring until everything is well mixed. Cover and heat thoroughly for about 5 minutes.
Fill each tortilla with the meat mixture, top with lettuce and tomato, and roll it up for easy eating. Or set out the ingredients and let each person assemble their own.
Makes 6 servings @ approx. 253 calories each
Bonus for reading this far: Christmas Cookbook

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The September Cranky Yankee Newsletter

2006-09-28T20:15:00.000-04:00

Good News For Diabetics
A plan of basic therapies including education, a personalized meal plan, nutritional supplements, and ongoing monitoring and support can reduce the amount of insulin and oral medications needed to manage the disease and decrease the symptoms and complications of diabetes. When you are empowered by knowledge, you can learn to effectively manage this potentially devastating disease. To read the complete article entitled "Is Your Type 2 Diabetes Really Under Control?" - By Dr. Tina Marcantel, go to http://www.naturalhealthweb.com/articles/Marcantel3.html

Perils of "Cardio"
By Al Sears, MD
Look at any rack of fitness magazines and you'll see dozens of covers telling you that you need "cardio." Go to any gym and the trainer will insist on devoting some of your time to "cardio." You probably don't like doing it, yet you feel compelled to comply. After all, who doesn't want a healthy heart?
Common parlance has even accepted the term "cardio" (short for cardiovascular endurance training) as synonymous with exercise for your heart. But shouldn't exercise make the targeted body part stronger?
When you study the heart's changes as a result of cardiovascular endurance training, you find it getting weaker in some critical capacities that simulate the changes caused by stress and aging.
Routinely forcing your body to perform the same continuous cardiovascular challenge by repeating the same movement, at the same rate, thousands of times - without variation, without rest - is unnatural. By that, I mean our ancestors didn't regularly stress their cardiovascular systems in this manner. They may have put this type of demand on their hearts - but rarely, and not in the context of the daily environment of a native society in balance with its surroundings.
Yet nature designed your body to adapt to whatever environment it encounters. If you ask it to perform an activity repeatedly and routinely, it will gradually change the systems involved to meet the challenge more effectively.
But what adaptive changes does continuous cardiovascular activity cause?
Continuous-duration exercise that taxes your endurance produces some unique challenges your body must overcome. It must not run out of fuel, overheat, or be overwhelmed by metabolic wastes. Its primary adaptation will be to become more efficient at light, long, continuous, low-energy output. One of the ways your body does that is by gradually rebuilding your heart, lungs, blood vessels, and muscles to be as small as possible, while maintaining the minimum "horsepower" required to perform the activity.
You waste fuel and raw material with a Ferrari-sized engine going 20 miles per hour. Forced, continuous-endurance exercise induces your heart and lungs to "downsize," because smaller allows you to go further ... more efficiently ... with less rest ... and less fuel.
The Danger of "Downsizing" Your Heart's Capacity
So what's wrong with increasing durational capacity through downsizing? Instead of building heart strength, it robs your heart of its vital reserve capacity. Your heart's reserve capacity is that portion of its maximal output that you don't use during ordinary activity.
Let's go back to the car analogy. Say you normally drive at a speed of 40 miles per hour, but your car has the ability to reach a top speed of 140 miles per hour. If you think of your heart as the engine, your reserve capacity is the difference between your normal cruising speed and that top speed.
So if you downsize your heart and lungs, you have traded reserve capacity for efficiency at continuous duration. That forces those organs to operate dangerously close to their maximal output when circumstances challenge them. This is a problem you don't need ... especially for your heart.
Heart attacks don't occur because of a lack of endurance. They occur when there is a sudden increase in cardiac demand that exceeds the heart's capacity. Giving up your heart's reserve capacity to adapt to unnatural bouts of continuous prolonged-duration output only increases your risk of sudden cardiac death.
A ground-breaking study of long-distance runners showed that, after a workout, their blood levels and the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides increased. (High triglycerides dramatically increase your risk of heart disease.) The researchers also found thatprolonged running disrupted the balance of blood thinners and thickeners, elevating inflammatory factors and clotting levels - both signs of heart distress.
These changes do not indicate a heart that's becoming stronger with long-duration exercise.
Exercising for long periods makes your heart adept at handling a 60-minute jog, but it accomplishes this feat by trading in its ability to provide you with big bursts when circumstances might demand. The real key to preventing heart disease and protecting and strengthening your heart is to induce the opposite adaptive response produced by continuous cardio and increase your heart's reserve capacity. Bigger, fastercardiac output that's readily available is what you really need.
Recent clinical studies show us the benefit of avoiding long-duration routines and exercising in shorter bursts. Researchers from the University of Missouri found that short bouts of exercise were more effective for lowering fat and triglyceride levels in the blood. Another study revealed that the duration of exercise routines predicts the risk of heart disease in men. They found that several shorter sessions of physical activity were more effective for lowering the risk of coronary heart disease.
The Secret to a "100-Year Heart" Is Millions of Years Old
Our ancestors lived in a world where their food fought back. Predators attacked without notice. Humans had to run or fight - fast and hard. These short bursts of high-output activity fine-tuned their bodies and kept them fit.
We still have the same physiology.
How do you recreate that kind of physical challenge? The key is to create an "oxygen debt." Simply exercise at a pace you can't sustain for more than a short period. Ask your lungs for more oxygen than they can provide. The difference between the oxygen you need and the oxygen you get is your oxygen debt. This will cause you to pant and continue to breathe hard even after you've stopped the exertion. (Until you replace the oxygen you're lacking.)
Here's an example: Pedal a bike as fast as you can for 15 seconds. When you stop, you'll continue to pant. This is the kind of high-output challenge you can't sustain for very long. You will have reached a supra-aerobic zone. This is very different from doing an aerobic workout for 45 minutes.
Another example: Do one-minute intervals - either running or riding a bike. Work yourself up to a speed that you cannot sustain for very long. After one minute, rest. You can rest by slowing down to a very slow speed or (if you need to) you can stop altogether. Do this 3 or 4 times.
With these types of interval exercises, you'll quickly start to build up reserve capacity in your heart. This is exactly what you need to prevent heart attacks and heart disease. [Ed. Note: Building up reserve capacity in your heart is the basis of Dr. Sears' PACE® program. Learn about it, in detail, in his book The Doctor's Heart Cure .]

Special Offer for my Readers:
I recently got my hands on a 239-page collection of Delicious Diabetic Recipes. I'm selling it on the Book Shelf for $14.95. But here's a secret link just for you:
On this page, you can get a F R E E copy of Delicious Diabetic Recipes just for subscribing to my weekly newsletter for only $12 per year.
You can also read a recent issue there. I don't know how long I'll be able to keep this offer open, so get your copy while you can.

Recipe of the Month: Tomatoes with Mozzarella
Tools: Sharp knife, measuring spoons, non-stick baking pan.

Ingredients:
Olive oil spray
4 slices of tomato
Pinch of salt
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
2 teaspoons grated Permesan cheese
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Directions:
Preheat the broiler in your oven or toaster oven.. Spray the non-stick baking pan with the olive oil spray
and place the tomato slices on the pan. Sprinkle salt on the tomato slices, then broil for 4 minutes.
Remove the tomatoes from the oven and spread them with the garlic, mozzarella, and Parmesan--layered in that order. Broil again for 5 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown. Sprinkle the parsley over the melted cheese. Makes 2 servings at 38 calories each.
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Mr. Cranky is Selling Kids' Clothes

2006-09-14T11:46:00.000-04:00

Now YOU can save BIG on kids' clothes.

Magic Kids buys overstock brand name first quality children's clothes and sells them for a fraction of what the big retailers charge. Log on to their website at: http://www.magickidsusa.com and click the log in link at the top left of the page. Create your account and type MK26601-B3-000 where it asks for a discount code. Then you can shop and save to your heart's content. Never again will keeping your kids clothed stress your budget!

The Cranky Yankee August Newsletter

2006-08-24T15:32:00.000-04:00

Artificial Sweeteners can be Hazardous to your Health
When people decide to lose weight, one of the first changes many make to their diet is to add artificial sweeteners in place of sugar. We have been told by the government that artificial sweeteners are safe, but are there hidden dangers to this additive? Let’s take a closer look at artificial sweeteners, specifically aspartame.

Aspartame is made up of three components. Fifty percent is phenylalanine, forty percent is aspartic acid, and ten percent is methanol, or wood alcohol. Phenylalanine and aspartic acid are both amino acids. Amino acids are naturally found in the food we eat, specifically in the proteins. They are the building blocks for our bodies, and help us build tissue and muscles. But, in nature, amino acids are not ingested singularly. Many types of amino acids are joined together to form protein chains, and that is what we ingest when we sit down to eat. In aspartame, Phenylalanine and aspartic acid are the only amino acids being introduced to the body. There is no protein chain, just singular amino acids. It has been found that aspartic acid (when not bound into a protein chain) enters the central nervous system in high concentration and causes the neurons to begin firing rapidly. Many times, it excites the neurons so completely, that the cell dies. High levels of aspartic acid have been found to cause headaches, mental confusion, balance problems, and even seizures. And the rest of your body fares no better. Outside the central nervous system, isolated aspartic acid has been found to accelerate diseases such as cancer, coronary artery disease and arthritis. Fortunately, the effects are cumulative. So, if you stop ingesting isolated aspartic acid, then the continuing damage will also cease.

High levels of isolated phenylalanine can be quite dangerous as well. Research has found that excessive levels of this isolated amino acid cause a decrease in the amount of serotonin in our brains. Decreased serotonin often leads to depression and other emotional disorders. When phenylalanine is exposed to warm temperatures, or is stored for a long time, it breaks down into diketopiperazine (DKP), which is a known carcinogen. It is also important to note that in pregnant women, phenylalanine easily crosses the placental barrier, and in children under one, also crosses the blood-brain barrier. Infants exposed to high levels of phenylalanine during the pregnancy and later through their mother's milk, have an increased risk of birth defects and irreversible brain damage.
The third component of aspartame is methanol. Methanol is commonly known as wood alcohol. It is a colorless liquid and is both poisonous and flammable. Long-term exposure to methanol causes blindness and death. Early symptoms of methanol poisoning include headaches, ear buzzing, dizziness, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, chills, memory lapses, and numbness in the extremities. One particularly scary aspect of methanol is that at cold temperatures it creates formaldehyde. The EPA considers methanol a "cumulative poison", and recommends a limit of no more than 7.8mg per day. To put this in perspective, one liter of diet soda contains 56mg of methanol; over seven times the EPA stated limit. By combining several diet sodas, a couple of packages of aspartame in morning coffee, and consuming "diet" food during the day, most consumers are exposed to considerably more methanol than the 7.8mg per day limit.

With what we know so far, you may be wondering why the FDA would approve it if it wasn't safe. Instead of giving you a straight answer, I'm going to outline just a few of the events that occurred during the FDA approval process of aspartame. In 1965, James Schlatter, a chemist at the G.D. Searle Company, stumbled across aspartame while attempting to create a new ulcer drug. It was initially approved for use in dry goods on July 26, 1974. But researchers questioned the practices of the G.D. Searle Company, and the FDA put the approval on hold pending further investigation. A task force was created to examine aspartame. The ultimate report from that task force found that there were serious deficiencies in the research done by the Searle Company. The task force recommended that G.D. Searle face a Grand Jury for further inquiry in their testing procedures. In 1976, a second task force was created, this time finding the G.D. Searle Company guilty of faulty and fraudulent product testing, and knowingly misrepresenting product testing and findings. Officials at the Searle Company turned to Donald Rumsfeld, who had worked with both the Nixon and Ford administrations, and elected him as chairman, hoping to smooth the way and avoid criminal prosecution. In 1977, the FDA appointed U.S. Attorney Samuel Skinner to investigate Searle's testing procedures. After a meeting with the Searle attorneys, Samuel Skinner left the FDA and accepted a position with Searle's law firm. The FDA then appointed U.S. Attorney William Conlon to take Skinner's place. Mr. Conlon sat on the case and did nothing, until he left the FDA in 1979 and also joined Searle's law firm. In 1981, FDA Commissioner Arthur Hayes, Jr., approved aspartame for use in dry foods and as a tabletop sweetener. At that time, three FDA scientists came forward to oppose the approval, based on their in-house studies of the additive. Hayes ignored these reports and aspartame was approved. Arthur Hayes then left the FDA and took a position as a senior medical consultant for the public relations firm for the G.D. Searle Company. Ultimately, the statue of limitations ran out on prosecuting the G.D. Searle Company for wrongdoing.

So, the question remains. Are there hidden dangers associated with the use of artificial sweeteners? You decide. As I've noted before, the human body is designed to regulate caloric intake at least partly on perception of sweetness. When you feed it sweetness without calories, you interfere with this mechanism. A number of studies have shown that people consuming artificial sweeteners often gain weight.

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I recently got my hands on a 239-page collection of Delicious Diabetic Recipes. I'm selling it on the Book Shelf (http://www.crankyyankee.biz/Book Shelf.html) for $14.95. But here's a secret link just for you: http://www.crankyyankee.biz/weeklybonus.html
On this page, you can get a F R E E copy of Delicious Diabetic Recipes just for subscribing to my weekly newsletter for only $12 per year.
You can also read a recent issue there. I don't know how long I'll be able to keep this offer open, so get your copy while you can.

Recipe of the Month: Egg Drop Soup (Mr. Cranky's latest masterpiece)
Tools: Sharp knife, large saucepan or stock pot, whisk, wooden spoon

Ingredients:
5 cups chicken broth
1 2" piece of ginger--peeled and sliced thin
1 teaspoon soy sauce-regular or low sodium
2 tablespoons cooking sherry
1 garlic clove--crushed
2 eggs--beaten
1 scallion--thin sliced
1 teaspoon sesame oil

Directions:
In the large saucepan or stock pot, combine the chicken broth, sliced ginger, soy sauce, sherry, and garlic. Bring to a boil.
Start stirring the soup in a circular motion and add the beaten eggs slowly.

Remove from the heat. Add the scallions and sesame oil.
Makes 4 servings. (About 10 minutes to prepare ingredients; 15 minutes cooking time.)

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Saturated Fats may be Good for you

2006-06-27T03:13:00.000-04:00

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that women with heart disease improved their condition by eating saturated fats. It also revealed that saturated fats boosted their HDL (good cholesterol) and lowered triglycerides (blood fat). Just the opposite of what mainstream medicine claims to be true.

The Cranky Yankee June Newsletter

2006-06-19T07:45:00.000-04:00

The Cranky Yankee June Newsletter

Easy Summer Cookout--Relax and Enjoy
Summer and grilling. What could be better? You throw the burgers on the grill ... wait - the kids want hot dogs. And Jimmy (not his real name) wants chicken. Chicken? How about steak? Rachel (not her real name) won't eat meat. Are there vegetables around here somewhere? Hey - where's dad? The burgers are burning. Oh well, you weren't going to eat them anyway. Now Charlie (ok, that's his real name) informs you he's on a diet - so forget that potato salad. Where are those vegetables? Never mind. That pizza delivery number is around here somewhere.

Is that is your summer grilling experience? This plan is for you. A fool-proof, Everyone Gets What They Want No One Gets Stuck Behind the Grill Mild Stomachs to Heat Freaks Are All Happy, SUMMER GRILLING PARTY PLAN. Did I mention it's healthy? And vegetarian friendly? Read on for all the details.

THE PLAN

You are going to host a shish kabob bar-b-que. Everyone picks their own meat and vegetable combination, and everyone spices and cooks their own kabobs. You are going to sit back and enjoy your party.

THE MEAT

Pick your meat. Your meat needs to be a thick cut, and easy to skewer. For instance, London broil or boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

The easiest way to prepare the meat is to cut everything into about 1" cubes. It is easier to cut if it is partially frozen, plus the meat will stay fresher while grilling.

Since the meat will be combined with vegetables, you will only need about 1/4 pound per person.

THE VEGETABLES

Now choose your vegetables. You will need some onions and peppers, as well as milder vegetables like zucchini and summer squash. Mushrooms do not work well - they tend to crumble on the skewer. If you use potatoes, use small canned ones - regular raw potatoes take too long to cook on a skewer.
Everything can be cut ahead of time.

Cut everything into chunks that will be easy to skewer. Onions and peppers work best if they are cut in half, then cut each half into four sections. Squash should be sliced into 1/2 inch slices. When you use tomatoes, pick large cherry tomatoes that can be added whole - slices do not work well on skewers.

THE SPICES

Here's the fun part of this grilling party - spicing your kabobs. Have several different types of sauces and spices available for guests to choose.

You will need the basics like pepper, various salts, lime, chili powder, cilantro. Also include bottled marinades, bbq sauce, even some salad dressings. Be sure you cover the whole range of spices, from hot and zesty to mild and sweet. There are some Chinese stir-fry sauces that also work well.

THE SIDE DISHES

Because you already have meat and vegetables, you will need only a few side dishes. Pasta salad works well, and fruit platters. Keep it light to complement the meat and grilled vegetables.

THE SUPPLIES

You don't need anything fancy for this grilling party. Just skewers, and the usual utensils.

Bamboo skewers work well, and you can throw them away. You will need a shallow pan of water to soak them in 15 minutes before the grilling starts. If they aren't well moistened, they WILL burn.

One note about plates, since the kabob will be straight off the grill, Styrofoam plates do not work. They melt. Use paper if you want a disposable plate.

THE PARTY

Pre-cut all the vegetables and meat, and prepare the side dishes ahead of time. Now, all you have to do is cook your own kabob.

To assemble the kabobs, just add whatever meat and vegetables you want to the skewer. Now, add spices. Grill until the meat is cooked to your taste. Slide the kabob off the skewer, and you're ready to eat.

And you get to enjoy your guests, rather than running around pleasing Jimmy, and Rachel, and Charlie, and...

Special Offer for my Readers:
I recently got my hands on a 239-page collection of Delicious Diabetic Recipes. I'm selling it on the Book Shelf (http://www.crankyyankee.biz/Book Shelf.html) for $14.95. But here's a secret link just for you: http://www.crankyyankee.biz/weeklybonus.html
On this page, you can get a F R E E copy of Delicious Diabetic Recipes just for subscribing to my weekly newsletter for only $12 per year.
You can also read a recent issue there. I don't know how long I'll be able to keep this offer open, so get your copy while you can.

Recipe of the Month: Potato Salad (a low-fat, low-cholesterol version of a classic favorite)

Tools: Medium saucepan with cover, knife, large bowl, small bowl, whisk, measuring cups and spoons, mixing spoon

Ingredients:
2 lbs. small red potatoes
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
2 green onions (green and white parts), chopped
1 small red or green bell pepper, chopped
4-5 small radishes, minced
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

Dressing:
1/2 cup plain nonfat or low-fat yogurt
1/4 cup fat-free, cholesterol-free mayonnaise
2 tablespoons cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh dill weed or 1 teaspoon dried
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
Fresh ground pepper to taste
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon paprika

Directions:
Place potatoes in the saucepan with enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower to medium. Cover the pan and cook until the potatoes are tender--about 30 minutes. While the potatoes are cooking, chop the other ingredients and make the dressing.

In the small bowl, combine the dressing ingredients (except the parsley and paprika) and use the whisk to mix them gently.

When potatoes are done, drain them immediately and set the aside to cool. Once they are cooled, cut them into 1/2-inch cubes and place in the large bowl. Add the celery, green onions, bell pepper, radishes, and parsley. Stir to combine.

Add the dressing and mix gently until everything is well coated. Sprinkle with the paprika and remaining parsley. Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Serves 8 @ 114 calories per serving.

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FDA Strikes Again

2006-06-08T13:52:00.000-04:00

From the HSI eAlert

They say there's no medicinal benefit of smoking pot, but . . .

"Has the FDA opened the door to the black market sale of synthetic pot on the Internet?

How ironic would that be?

--------------------------------------------
Half baked
--------------------------------------------

If you'd like to buy generic versions of Lipitor, Celebrex or Ambien, they're easy to purchase without a prescription through online sources. But here's the catch: No generic versions of those drugs are available yet. That is, no LEGAL generic versions are available, so you'll be purchasing drugs made by outlaw manufacturers.

As I mentioned in yesterday's e-Alert ("Doobie Brothers" 6/7/06), the FDA recently gave Valeant Pharmaceuticals International an approval to resume selling Cesamet, a prescription drug for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. (Cesamet was on the market for a while in the late 80s, but was removed due to "commercial reasons," according to the Associated Press.)

The active ingredient of Cesamet is a synthetic version of THC, the chemical in marijuana that causes people to become "drowsy, dizzy, or lightheaded, or to feel a false sense of well-being." (Actually, that's the Mayo Clinic's description of how you might feel when taking Cesamet.)

Now...if you can purchase a handful of Ambien pills that have been manufactured in someone's basement, what are the chances that a "generic" Cesamet will soon be available? Considering the worldwide demand for THC products, I'd say the chances will be pretty good. And I expect that many college students (and, sure, even some old timers) will be saying: Whoa! Thanks, FDA!

--------------------------------------------
Something's burning
--------------------------------------------

Less than two months ago, out of the blue, FDA officials announced that research does not support the medicinal use of marijuana. And as I noted in yesterday's e-Alert, this position completely contradicts the conclusions of a 1999 report by the Institute of Medicine.

So how can the FDA reconcile that position with their decision to bring Cesamet back to market? Here's a statement from FDA spokesperson Susan Bro, quoted in the New York Times last April: "Smoked marijuana has no currently accepted or proven medical use in the United States and is not an approved medical treatment."

Did you spot the key word? It's "smoked" - which completely ignores the fact that marijuana can also be eaten with food or placed in a capsule and swallowed.

Those inconvenient omissions aside, apparently the "logic" goes like this: When THC is burned and inhaled it has no medicinal value. But when THC is synthesized, allowing it to be regulated by the FDA, THEN it has medicinal value. See? The trick is to think like the FDA. It's all about regulation. The science is no problem: It can be tweaked, bent, shaped and dismissed as needed.

--------------------------------------------
Didn't see THAT coming
--------------------------------------------

Ah, but sometimes science just stubbornly refuses to cooperate.

Researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles were sure that they would discover an association between marijuana use (the smoked kind) and lung cancer when they asked more than 2,200 people in Los Angeles about their lifetime use of marijuana, tobacco and alcohol. A little more than half of the subjects had cancers of the lung, neck or head.

The researchers defined moderate-to-heavy marijuana use as smoking between 11,000 and 22,000 marijuana cigarettes. Heavy use was anything over 22,000 - that's more than two marijuana cigarettes per day for 30 years! How do these people tie their shoes?

The results were surprising: Not only was heavy marijuana use NOT associated with an increased incidence of any of the three cancers; there was even what one researcher called "a suggestion of some protective effect." According to the Washington Post, UCLA pulmonologist Donald Tashkin speculated that THC might kill aging cells, preventing them from becoming cancerous.

--------------------------------------------
Face value
--------------------------------------------

I'll repeat my disclaimer from yesterday: I'm not opening a debate about whether or not marijuana should be legalized. Marijuana is a controlled substance and that is the law.

BUT...taken at face value, marijuana is an herb, a plant...like so many others that natural medicine has come to rely on. This one contains a chemical that has been found to give some cancer patients relief. But, because it also happens to give college students and others a different kind of relief, it's been demonized and dismissed - until the FDA found a way to make it patentable, that is.

**************************************************** "

Remove soda from Schools--HSI eAlert

2006-05-10T13:58:00.000-04:00

You've GOT to be kidding me!

Remove sugar-laden soda pop from school vending machines and we'll be taking an important step in curbing childhood obesity - right?

Well, no, it's actually more like...wrong.

--------------------------------------------
Soda, soda everywhere...
--------------------------------------------

You probably heard the announcement last week, that former President Bill Clinton and the American Heart Association (AHA) brokered a deal to limit the sale of high-calorie, sugared soft drinks in elementary, middle and high schools. This was heralded by the media as a BIG deal. Finally! Someone is doing something about our ever-widening kids.

On one hand you could view this as a step in the right direction. It's not going to end childhood obesity, but it will remove part of the problem. Or will it?

Exceptions to the new "100-calorie" limit will be made for milk and other drinks with "higher nutritional value." Oh please! We'll never convince the AHA or school administrators that the milk moustache is anything but wholesome, in spite of all the antibiotics and bovine growth hormones found in commercial milk.

But what really got me riled up is that DIET soft drinks will still be available in high schools. Most of these diet drinks are sweetened with aspartame, which (according to a 1994 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) may cause adverse reactions that include chest pains, asthma, migraine headaches, insomnia, tremors, vertigo, and...weight gain.

Weight gain!

Given the choice, I think kids would be better off consuming sugar than aspartame. Or better yet - I know, this sounds like a crazy alternative, but hear me out - how about water? H2O! It's refreshing, thirst quenching and 100 percent free of calories, sugar, hormones and aspartame.

--------------------------------------------
Follow the money
--------------------------------------------

Here's the really telling detail of this new deal: Clinton and the AHA made their arrangement with soft drink companies, not school districts. They've appealed to Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Cadbury Schweppes executives to show some restraint in how they stock school vending machines. But it's school administrators who allow soft drink distributors to put those machines on school property in the first place.

Maybe it's time for administrators to think about the kids and JUST SAY NO to soft drinks altogether. But they can't afford to do that because most school districts are already strapped for cash, especially with gas prices on the rise. (Those school buses don't run on switchgrass and corn. Not yet, anyway). So school districts need soft drink revenue now more than ever.

But all this ruckus about beverage access in schools is really a very small part of the obesity problem. Kids can always bring high calorie, fully sugared soft drinks from home. And many high schools allow students to leave campus for lunch. Good luck to Mr. Clinton and the AHA when they try to convince fast food restaurants to curb soft drink choices for kids.

And finally, there's still a problem back at school. When this new deal takes effect, high school kids will step up to the soft drink machines, choose milk, a sports drink or a diet soda, and then they'll move over to the snack machines where plenty of candy and pastry treats are still available.

If they're snacking on Mars bars and Ring Dings, a diet soda isn't going to do much to solve the obesity problem.

Excellent New Book

2006-05-08T14:50:00.000-04:00

I was browsing the new arrivals at my local library and picked up a copy of The fat Resistance Diet by Leo Galland, M.D. His research shows that, because of the normal American eating habits, most people live in a state of low-grade inflammation that messes up the body's built-in weight regulation mechanisms.
The first half of the book explains the mechanisms that make the eating plan in the second half of the book effective. I've got a copy on order through my Zooba Book Club, and here's the link to order it from Amazon.

For more of The Cranky Yankee's best book choices, visit our book shelf.

The Cranky Yankee May Newsletter

2006-04-30T15:03:00.000-04:00

Water: A Neccessary Nutrient
It has been estimated that our bodies consist of over 600 trillion cells, each one containing seventy percent water. Now, without getting into a lot of medical mumbo jumbo, the basic fact is that nature never does anything without a reason, so that water is there for a purpose, and that purpose is to keep us healthy. It is now an undisputed fact that the quantity and quality of our water intake is one of the major contributors to how we feel and to the functioning of the control center, our brain.
Dead Cells and Toxins.
Dead cells and toxins must be flushed from the body or they will accumulate and cause disease. Place a rotten fish in a refrigerator and it will contaminate all the other food. This is exactly what happens when your body fails to cleanse itself of debris and toxins, it becomes contaminated and disease sets in. Your body relies on you to provide it with water to flush this debris out. Not alcohol, not soft drinks, not tea or coffee, not milk but water. Put dirty fuel in your car and it will misfire, cough and splutter. Drink anything except pristine water and chances are you will do much the same. There never has been or ever will be a better substance than pure water for internal cleansing.
The Immune System
The power of the immune system is located in the blood where protection is found from foreign pathogens (an agent that causes disease, especially a living micro-organism such as bacterium or fungi). Antibodies within the blood search out and destroy these pathogens attached to organisms within the body. When blood, which is ninety percent water, becomes contaminated with toxins the antibodies become sluggish and unable to function properly. By providing our bodies with the best possible water we enhance its ability to heal and repair. Modern medicine can indeed cure us of many ailments, however quite often it can only be a "quick fix." If the antibodies cannot do their job properly it is only a matter of time until another disease strikes.
How Much Water Do We Need?
Your lungs expel between two and four cups per day, another two to four cups are expelled through perspiration (not including exercise induced perspiration) and on average another six cups when you go to the toilet. You need a minimum of two liters per day. To some this may seem to be an impossible task, however, taken in small quantities throughout the day, it is not hard at all.
In the weekly newsletter:
(available by subscription at http://www.crankyyankee.biz)

I've been running a series on various substances that could be defined as "drugs" according to Federal law.

Did you know that any substance that "prevents, treats, or cures a disease" is defined as a drug? That's why there's a disclaimer on all your supplement bottles "These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." Recently the FDA went after the cherry growers for publicizing the USDA studies that showed antioxidents and bioflavonoids in cherries, and pointing out the benefits of these nutrients, especially for people with gout. Want the rest of the story? Subscribe to the weekly letter.

Recipe of the Month:Beef-Musroom Spaghetti Sauce
A lot of the commercial sauces add sugar, which we don't need. Pasta, cooked al dente, is fairly low on the glycemic index, and this sauce is thick, rich, and safe.

Tools: 5 to 6 quart Dutch oven or heavy pot, wooden spoon, strainer, knife, measuring cups and spoons.

Ingredients:
12 ounces LEAN ground beef
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup finely chopped onions
2 4-ounce cans mushroom stems and pieces, well drained
3 1/2 cups (29 oz. can) tomato puree
2 cups tomato juice
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/1 teaspoon dehydrated garlic
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Directions:
Place beef in the Dutch oven or heavy pot. Cook and stir over medium heat until it is separated and lightly browned. Put it in the strainer to drain off the fat and let it sit and drain.
Rinse out the pan with hot water and return it to the stove.
Put the oil in the pan. Add onions and mushrooms. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the onions are soft.
Add the remaining ingredients and the meat to the pot. Cook over low heat for 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Serve hot over pasta. Makes 14 servings @ 1/2 cup each.

The Cranky Yankee April Newsletter

2006-04-20T15:02:00.000-04:00

Energy Drink or Liquid Caffeine?

A recent study, published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology, analyzed the caffeine and nutritional content of the 10 most popular brands on the energy drink market. Researchers concluded that on average, the most popular energy drinks on the market contain between three and four times the amount of caffeine as a typical carbonated soft drink. While researchers did not single out any one of the energy drink brands, they noted with some alarm that one of the brands in question contained as much as 150 milligrams of caffeine per serving. In many European countries, beverages with such high concentrations of caffeine are required to carry a "high caffeine" warning label to caution those whose health may be affected by the detrimental effects of caffeine.

The authors of the Florida study identified several sub-populations who should be especially wary of the detrimental effects of caffeine, and watch out for "liquid caffeine" beverages such as those marketed as energy drinks. These populations included pregnant women, young children and those with heart disease. Previous studies have shown that the detrimental effects of caffeine may raise the risk of miscarriage among pregnant women, as well as lead to sleep and behavioral problems in children. People with heart disease, or those identified as being at high risk, are urged to avoid high dosages of caffeine due to the known detrimental effects of caffeine on the heart rate.

Another popular ingredient in energy drinks is guarana, a South American herb that has been used for centuries among the indians there. It contains a tiny amount of natural caffeine. I keep the Herbalife n-r-g s (Nature's Raw Guarana) in stock, because it banishes fatigue. I've had times I felt so worn that it hurt; I've taken a couple of n-r-g, and felt the fatigue literally drain out of me. Back when I was working the 11pm-7am shift all the time, that n-r-g was the only thing keeping me going some nights. And when it REALLY got bad, I'd wash down the n-r-g with Herbalife Herbal Concentrate for a little extra lift. (The Herbal Concentrate helps perk up the metabolism and has been nicknamed "drink and shrink.")

Pickles to Help Control Blood Sugar?

There was a report in my local newspaper about a study showing that vinegar slows down the absorption of carbohydrates. It referenced a study in the March 2000 issue of the Journal of Nutrition which reported that acetic acid has the ability to suppress the activity of a specific carbohydrate-digesting enzyme (disaccharidase). Their results suggested that this effect was behind observations that vinegar has the ability to blunt the expected rise in blood sugar after eating carbohydrates.

The phenomenon was affirmed most recently in the December issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. In this study they gave subjects a couple of tablespoons of vinegar in cranberry juice to make it more palatable. This was followed by a meal consisting of orange juice. a bagel, and butter. Those receiving the vinegar drink experienced improvements in their glycemic response to the meal, and those who were pre-diabetic had the best results. As an interesting side effect, the people using the vinegar also lost a couple of pounds during the four-week study.

Vinegar is a dilute solution of acetic acid, and any vinegar appears to work. The study recommended adding 2 tablespoons of vinegar daily, either by using an oil and vinegar salad dressing, or eating pickles. Read the labels and make sure that vinegar is the second or at least the third ingredient listed and that there is no high fructose corn syrup on the list. Mountolive brand has a line of no-sugar-added sweet and bread-and-butter pickles that use Splenda. Vinegar is number 3 on the ingredients label (behind cucumbers and water) and a one ounce serving is ZERO calories.

I've been sipping a mouthful of apple cider vinegar a day, and have seen a huge reduction in heartburn symptoms. Dr.Jonathan V. Wright in his "Nutrition & Healing" newsletter says that most digestive problems he sees are a result of a LACK of stomach acid, not an overabundance. When I start to get heartburn, I now reach for some vinegar or grapefruit juice instead of the antacids. It seems counter-intuitive, but it works.

A basic rule with carbohydrate is: Complex = good; simple/refined = bad. The more there is to it above the sugar, i.e. whole fruit vs. fructose, the more time it takes to turn into sugar in the blood stream.

Warning about artificial sweeteners and weight control: Some research shows that a perception of sweetness is one of the mechanisms the body uses to regulate caloric intake. Calorie-free sweeteners can interfere with this natural regulator, leading to overeating.

Srawberries are in season and abundant here in Florida, so here's a recipe for a fresh strawberry pie that's easy and safe. The recipe was created by a diabetic chef, the grandaughter of a French chef who was well-known in his day, and died of diabetes at the age of 41, before insulin treatment was discovered.

Strawberry Pie

Tools: measuring cups and spoons, paring knife, potato masher or large fork (to mash the berries), 2 medium mixing bowls, nonstick saucepan, wooden or plastic spoon, 1 pie pan, or a frozen piecrust in its own foil pan, prebaked according to package directions.

Ingredients:

7 1/2 cups fresh whole srtawberries

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar substitute

2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon sugar substitute

1 prebaked single pie crust, cooled

Directions:

Prepare and bake the crust according to package directions. Set it aside to cool.

In a bowl, cut and mash enough berries to make 1 1/2 cups. Keep large, nicely-shaped berries out to use as the topping. Stir 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar substitute into the mashed berries. Spoon out 1/2 cup of the juice. (It's okay if you get some pulp in with the juice.) Add the cornstarch and mix carefully until smooth--no lumps allowed!

In the nonstick saucepan, combine the mashed strawberries and the juice and cornstarch mixture and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes or more, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil until it thickens--it will change from a milky color to clear. Let it cool while you do the next step.

In another bowl, lightly toss the whole strawberries with 1 teaspoon of sugar substitute--just enough to lightly coat the berries.

When the cooked mixture has cooled a little, spoon it into the pie crust and spread it evenly. Push the whole berries into the mixture--make it look nice--be creative. Let it finish cooling and serve with an optional garnish of whipped cream.

Exchanges: 1 bread, .22 fruit, 2.5 fat

Feedback is welcome at: newsletter@crankyyankee.biz

Thanks for subscribing,

Cranky Yankee and Mrs. Cranky

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Showers may be Hazardous to your Health

2006-04-09T16:40:00.000-04:00

Chlorine: Added to most municipal water supplies, this disinfectant destroys proteins in the body, irritates skin and sinus conditions, and aggravates asthma, allergies, and respiratory problems. Chlorine is used almost universally in the treatment of public water supplies because of its toxic effect on harmful bacteria and other waterborne, disease-causing microorganisms.

But there is a growing body of scientific evidence that shows that chlorine in drinking water may actually pose greater long-term dangers than those which it was used to eliminate. These effects of chlorine may result from either inhalation or absorption through the skin during showers.

Some authorities recommend a bath rather than a shower, to cut down on inhaled chlorine and other chemicals. A whole-house water purification system can be worth the cost, especially for people with breathing problems.

The Cranky Yankee March Newsletter

2006-03-20T12:24:00.000-04:00

The Cranky Yankee March Newsletter

Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet

I've always been a meat eater, but this article makes a good argument for cutting down on the animal protein. (One caution for Christians involved in spiritual warfare: Remember that the Old Testament priests were the spiritual warriors of their day and look at the diet God prescribed for them.) I still include high quality animal protein in my diet, but have been adding more fruits and vegetables. The added fiber helps my digestion, and fills me up on fewer calories.
The Truth about Vegetarian Diets

In our Western society, a common nutritional belief is that meat and animal products must be consumed in order to maintain a well-balanced, muscle-building healthy diet.

Those who turn away from this traditional way of eating and choose a vegetarian diet are often considered "granola-head hippies"...or even just plain odd.

But more and more people these days are discovering the many health benefits of a vegetarian diet. Additionally, more physicians and scientists are prescribing and endorsing plant-based meals in order to promote health, prevent and treat certain diseases, and even to reduce weight.

Although vegetarianism may seem like a modern fad, in reality, its health benefits have been known for centuries in many cultures world-wide. India and many Asian countries make up the largest percentage of the world's vegetarians, both for health and spiritual reasons. One group of people, the Hunza -- who live near the Himalayan Mountains -- have an exclusively vegetarian diet. Members of their community reportedly often live to be over 100 years old.

The American Dietetic Association states that the benefits of a vegetarian diet include: 1) lowered cholesterol; 2) lower levels of saturated fat; 3) higher levels of important minerals and antioxidant vitamins; 4) lower body fat; 5) lower rates of heart disease; 6) lower blood pressure; 7) lower rates of type-2 diabetes; and 8) lower instances of some cancers.

Obesity, one of the major health concerns in this country, can be addressed with a vegetarian diet, one that eliminates excess protein and animal fat consumption, and increases fiber in the form of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Those who consume a vegetarian diet maintain a lower body mass index (BMI), which significantly aids in the treatment and management of other chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes.

One common question asked by anyone considering a vegetarian diet is: "Will I get enough protein?” That is certainly a valid concern, as protein is necessary for the building, maintenance and function of all body cells. However, according the American Dietetic Association, a varied and well-balanced vegetarian diet provides all the protein the body needs from eating such things as whole grains, beans, nuts and soy products.

In fact, meat-based diets typically provide excess protein, which may actually be harmful. A leading gerontological journal reports that too much protein can cause a person to lose about 30% of their kidney function by the time they become elderly. It can also cause systemic acidity, which the body attempts to counter by pulling calcium out of the bones. This can, unfortunately, lead to osteoporosis.

Becoming a vegetarian does not mean you are limited to eating celery sticks, apples and nuts. There are many types of vegetarians that eat meatless diets in a variety of combinations. Some of the more common types include:

Lacto vegetarians, who do not eat meat or eggs, but do eat dairy products such as milk and cheese.

Lacto-ovo vegetarians do not eat meat, but will eat dairy products and eggs.

Ovo vegetarians do not eat meat or dairy products, but will eat eggs.
Vegans do not eat meat, dairy products, eggs, or any animal products at all.

There are many medical and health organizations that promote, endorse, and support people on a path toward changing their dietary lifestyle to one that includes more plant-based foods.

Additionally, many restaurants and grocery stores provide meals and products to vegetarians, making it simpler to choose this healthy lifestyle.

Research and information exists out there on the internet, as well as through medical providers and vegetarian organizations.

The bottom line: it's OK to be vegetarian, and the benefits may very well enhance or even save your life!

Personal Lifestyles Affecting National Security
From Dr. Douglass
"Back in the fall (Daily Dose, 9/26/2005), I wrote to you about how weight problems were plaguing the nation's military - so much so that thousands every year are routinely dismissed because of excess heft. This hasn't been the case until relatively recently.
In that article, I lamented the likelihood that the standards for soldiering would change to accommodate lard-butted military wannabes long before the day when we'd see a thinner, healthier pool of potential recruits in America. And it looks like this may happen sooner, rather than later. Here's what I mean...
According to a March 12 Associated Press article, recent DoD studies (that's Department of Defense, to non-military types) indicate that as much as 75% of this country's prime recruiting demographic - the 17-24 age bracket - would likely be rejected for military service, should they apply.
Now, there are many reasons a recruit could be rejected, not just fatness. Those who are popping Ritalin for ADD don't make the cut for combat (heck, that's several million disqualified right there), those with conspicuous tattoos don't get to serve, and those who are too fat simply can't...
Some sources cited in the article are highly skeptical of this DOD estimate. They claim it's the feds trying to cover up declining recruitment by blaming the pool of possible recruits. The AP piece claims that approximately 32 million Americans fall between ages 17 and 24. So let's do the math a bit, shall we?
As near as I could pinpoint, the modern rate for teenage obesity is over 15% - that's for true teenagers (kids 13-18). That rate only goes up with age, and since more than 25% of the adult U.S. population is clinically obese (more than 65% are either overweight or obese), I think it's very safe to say that a full 20% of the 17-24 demographic is obese, and therefore ineligible.
But hold the phone. The military's guidelines for BMI (a person's weight/height ratio) in recruit are quite a bit more stringent than mainstream medicine's clinical obesity thresh-hold. One can't be more than a small amount overweight and expect to carry a heavy pack, rifle, and rations on 10-mile forced marches. So let's guesstimate that 40% of the 17-24 year olds in the U.S. couldn't join the military even if they wanted to, for weight reasons alone...
Is it really such a stretch to think that another 35% of that demographic doesn't qualify for various other reasons? Keep reading...
Don't forget, millions of teenagers take ADHD drugs - and these kids are 4 times as likely to be male as female. Coincidentally, male recruits outnumber females by a 4 to 1 ratio as well.
That means if even half the 10 million+ prescriptions written for Ritalin and other ADHD meds are being taken by 17-24 year olds (a prime demographic for these drugs), that translates into 5 million more of these young adults being unfit for service, 4 million of them males...
5 million is about 16% of 32 million. So already we're up to 56% ineligible, right?
Add in those with criminal records, those with visible tattoos, those with flat feet or crooked spines or bad eyes or disabilities or with a low IQ or with mental illness and it's easy to see how 75% of our young people couldn't serve even if they wanted to. The DoD number is probably low, in my opinion. Sooner or later, standards WILL change to accommodate heftier recruits that are ill-suited to the rigors of soldiery.
What's all this add up to?
A country that couldn't defend itself or its interests if it HAD TO in another decade or so. And all because of drive-thru junk, the Food Pyramid, and a made-up disease treated with very real mind-altering drugs...
Encouraging picture, isn't it?
Exposing our soon-to-be flabby frontlines,
William Campbell Douglass II, MD "
March Recipe

Srawberries are in season and abundant here in Florida, so here's a recipe for a fresh strawberry pie that's easy and safe. The recipe was created by a diabetic chef, the grandaughter of a French chef who was well-known in his day, and died of diabetes at the age of 41, before insulin treatment was discovered.
Strawberry Pie
Tools: measuring cups and spoons, paring knife, potato masher or large fork (to mash the berries), 2 medium mixing bowls, nonstick saucepan, wooden or plastic spoon, 1 pie pan, or a frozen piecrust in its own foil pan, prebaked according to package directions.
Ingredients:
7 1/2 cups fresh whole strawberries
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar substitute
2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon sugar substitute
1 prebaked single pie crust, cooled
Directions:
Prepare and bake the crust according to package directions. Set it aside to cool.
In a bowl, cut and mash enough berries to make 1 1/2 cups. Keep large, nicely-shaped berries out to use as the topping. Stir 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar substitute into the mashed berries. Spoon out 1/2 cup of the juice. (It's okay if you get some pulp in with the juice.) Add the cornstarch and mix carefully until smooth--no lumps allowed!
In the nonstick saucepan, combine the mashed strawberries and the juice and cornstarch mixture and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes or more, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil until it thickens--it will change from a milky color to clear. Let it cool while you do the next step.
In another bowl, lightly toss the whole strawberries with 1 teaspoon of sugar substitute--just enough to lightly coat the berries.
When the cooked mixture has cooled a little, spoon it into the pie crust and spread it evenly. Push the whole berries into the mixture--make it look nice--be creative. Let it finish cooling and serve with an optional garnish of whipped cream.
Exchanges: 1 bread, .22 fruit, 2.5 fat

Feedback is welcome at: newsletter@crankyyankee.biz

Thanks for subscribing,
Cranky Yankee and Mrs. Cranky
P.S. Blogs available at:
http://crankyyankeesbiz.blogspot.com
http://mrscrankysblog.blogspot.com
http://crankyside.blogspot.com
http://proofreaderscorner.blogspot.com
All are RSS Feed enabled with "Add to MY Yahoo" buttons

Dr. Douglass--shrinking pool for the military

2006-03-20T11:09:00.000-04:00

Draining from a shrinking pool

Back in the fall (Daily Dose, 9/26/2005), I wrote to you about how weight problems were plaguing the nation's military - so much so that thousands every year are routinely dismissed because of excess heft. This hasn't been the case until relatively recently.

In that article, I lamented the likelihood that the standards for soldiering would change to accommodate lard-butted military wannabes long before the day when we'd see a thinner, healthier pool of potential recruits in America. And it looks like this may happen sooner, rather than later. Here's what I mean...

According to a March 12 Associated Press article, recent DoD studies (that's Department of Defense, to non-military types) indicate that as much as 75% of this country's prime recruiting demographic - the 17-24 age bracket - would likely be rejected for military service, should they apply.

Now, there are many reasons a recruit could be rejected, not just fatness. Those who are popping Ritalin for ADD don't make the cut for combat (heck, that's several million disqualified right there), those with conspicuous tattoos don't get to serve, and those who are too fat simply can't...

Some sources cited in the article are highly skeptical of this DOD estimate. They claim it's the feds trying to cover up declining recruitment by blaming the pool of possible recruits. The AP piece claims that approximately 32 million Americans fall between ages 17 and 24. So let's do the math a bit, shall we?

As near as I could pinpoint, the modern rate for teenage obesity is over 15% - that's for true teenagers (kids 13-18). That rate only goes up with age, and since more than 25% of the adult U.S. population is clinically obese (more than 65% are either overweight or obese), I think it's very safe to say that a full 20% of the 17-24 demographic is obese, and therefore ineligible.

But hold the phone. The military's guidelines for BMI (a person's weight/height ratio) in recruit are quite a bit more stringent than mainstream medicine's clinical obesity thresh-hold. One can't be more than a small amount overweight and expect to carry a heavy pack, rifle, and rations on 10-mile forced marches. So let's guesstimate that 40% of the 17-24 year olds in the U.S. couldn't join the military even if they wanted to, for weight reasons alone...

Is it really such a stretch to think that another 35% of that demographic doesn't qualify for various other reasons? Keep reading...

Don't forget, millions of teenagers take ADHD drugs - and these kids are 4 times as likely to be male as female. Coincidentally, male recruits outnumber females by a 4 to 1 ratio as well.

That means if even half the 10 million+ prescriptions written for Ritalin and other ADHD meds are being taken by 17-24 year olds (a prime demographic for these drugs), that translates into 5 million more of these young adults being unfit for service, 4 million of them males...

5 million is about 16% of 32 million. So already we're up to 56% ineligible, right?

Add in those with criminal records, those with visible tattoos, those with flat feet or crooked spines or bad eyes or disabilities or with a low IQ or with mental illness and it's easy to see how 75% of our young people couldn't serve even if they wanted to. The DoD number is probably low, in my opinion. Sooner or later, standards WILL change to accommodate heftier recruits that are ill-suited to the rigors of soldiery.

What's all this add up to?

A country that couldn't defend itself or its interests if it HAD TO in another decade or so. And all because of drive-thru junk, the Food Pyramid, and a made-up disease treated with very real mind-altering drugs...

Encouraging picture, isn't it?

Exposing our soon-to-be flabby frontlines,

William Campbell Douglass II, MD

HSI eAlert on the Glycemic Index

2006-03-08T11:43:00.000-04:00

Elizabeth Mayer-Davis says the glycemic index is bunk.

As you may recall from previous e-Alerts, the glycemic index (GI) is a scale that categorizes food items according to their effect on blood sugar levels. Low GI foods (such as meat and most fruits and vegetables) prompt a slow increase in blood sugar levels, while high GI foods (such as foods with added sugar, processed baked goods and starchy foods) produce a quick spike in blood sugar levels.

A steady intake of foods that rate high on the GI promotes a gradual insensitivity to insulin - the precursor of type 2 diabetes. But some nutritionists don't agree that the GI is a useful indicator. Enter Ms. Mayer-Davis who recently led a study that found the GI to be an ineffective measure. According to an Associated Press article about the study, Mayer-Davis "says the use of the index should be ended altogether."

When you make a claim as bold as that, you'd better have bold data to back it up.

--------------------------------------------
Sugar measured
--------------------------------------------

Ms. Mayer-Davis and her team studied the diets and blood sugar levels for more than 1,250 adult subjects. The study lasted five years. Taken at face value, those two details promise the possibility of an exhaustive study. But in the end, it wasn't exhaustive at all.

As reported in the February 2006 issue of the British Journal of Nutrition, the researchers asked subjects to fill out only two food frequency questionnaires: at the beginning of the study and again at the end. Blood sugar levels were also tested only at the beginning and end. Along the way, more than 440 subjects dropped out of the study.

When the dietary information was analyzed for glycemic index rankings and compared to the results of the blood sugar tests, researchers found no association between glycemic index levels and blood sugar levels.

And that's it. Based on that, Ms. Mayer-Davis would advise us to ignore the "flawed" (as she puts it) glycemic index.

--------------------------------------------
Pieces in a larger puzzle
--------------------------------------------

Let's take a quick look at another glycemic index study I told you about last year. This one comes from the Children's Hospital in Boston.

Twenty-three obese subjects were divided into two groups. One group of 12 subjects followed a conventional low-fat, reduced calorie diet. The other group of 11 subjects followed a low-GI diet, avoiding starchy foods and consuming protein along with any carbohydrates they ate. In addition, subjects in the low-GI group were unrestricted in their calorie intake. Subjects in both groups were also urged to exercise regularly.

One year later, the low-fat subjects had lost a little more than six percent of their body weight on average, while low-GI diet subjects lost an average of nearly eight percent of their body weight. That difference may seem minor in whole numbers, but it's a change of 33 percent.

More importantly, markers for heart disease were significantly improved by the low-GI diet. Low-fat dieters reduced their triglyceride levels by less than 20 percent on average. Subjects on the low-GI diet, however, reduced triglycerides by nearly 40 percent. And concentrations of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (a coagulation factor that increases blood clot risk) increased by more than 33 percent among the low-fat dieters, but DECREASED nearly 40 percent in the GI-diet group.

--------------------------------------------
Which way is up?
--------------------------------------------

Neither the Children's Hospital study nor the Mayer-Davis study provides the last word on the usefulness of the glycemic index. Both have strengths and weaknesses, and both lay the ground word for future research.

In other words, to isolate the Mayer-Davis study and insist that it represents a final verdict is way off the mark.

In a press release posted by the University of South Carolina (Mayer-Davis is a researcher in the university's Arnold School for Public Health) Ms. Mayer-Davis states: "Several recent studies show that dietary fiber is important to heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Typically, foods high in fiber have a relatively low Glycemic Index."

The press release adds: "This means that, in some studies, the Glycemic Index may have been related to good health because of dietary fiber, not because of a unique characteristic of food called the Glycemic Index, Mayer-Davis says."

Is it just me, or does that sound like a pretty good argument in SUPPORT of the glycemic index?

If you'd like to see what all the fuss is about, go to glycemicindex.com, where you can access a large database that lists foods and their GI rankings.

The Cranky Yankee February Newsletter

2006-02-14T14:19:00.000-04:00

Thanks to my web host's going out of business and only giving me a few hour's notice, I've had to re-create some of my pages, move my lists to a new autoresponder (which is still in process) and a few other chores. Between that and bountiful overtime at work, the January newsletter never got written. I'm still scheduled for 6 nights a week, but after 20 nights in a row, I did get last night off. Yesterday Mr. Cranky went to see his pulmonologist--it was the prednisone for his breathing that increased his insulin resistance and made him a diabetic. His pulmonologist had him admitted to the hospital and I don't know when I'll get him back. At least, so far, it looks like I will get him back. But enough of my news--here's your February letter. If you haven't gotten a confirmation email about your subscription, please go to the website and resubmit your information so you don't miss anything. I'm manually sending this letter through my Yahoo account to make sure I don't miss anyone, and it will be posted on Mrs. Cranky's Blog: (http://mrscrankysblog.blogspot.com)

Calcium and Magnesium
With all the calcium enrichment in processed foods these days, some studies are warning that we are getting too much and that this overdose is increasing the incidence of arthritis. Getting enough magnesium to balance the calcium seems to do the trick. Does your calcium supplement include magnesium?
Many health care professionals don’t see the need for supplements of vitamins and minerals, but it is possible to become deficient in these building blocks for the human body when we are under the stress of illness, pregnancy or aging. Children can often eat junk foods to excess and miss out on their daily nutritional requirements. The unborn child makes heavy nutritional demands on the mother, while those in the older age bracket often find their stomach doesn’t absorb nutrients like it should.

Adolescents and young adults often have stress of an emotional kind with school exams and late hours for whatever reason. Mothers of young children rarely have a moment to call their own so their bodies are under constant stress and often they have to cope with sleep deprivation too. Sometimes we can go for years feeling overtired or with other minor problems without realizing that they could be alleviated by the addition of certain dietary supplements
Cramps in the lower limbs, restless leg syndrome and sleeplessness are all eased by the addition of calcium and magnesium to the diet. Magnesium is more easily absorbed by the body in the form of dolomite, or with the addition of calcium. People who are too busy to eat properly, nursing or pregnant mothers and children who refuse milk and are picky eaters should all take calcium supplements. Children need lots of calcium to build strong bones and teeth that will serve them faithfully for the rest of their lives.

Calcium taken by the older age group will help to prevent osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to become brittle and honeycombed. Fractures and broken bones in old age take so long to heal that the unfortunate victim sometimes never recovers fully from the results of a fall. It makes sense to prevent the problem rather than wait until it happens, to do something about it. Why not have a bone density scan to see if you are at risk of osteoporosis?

Magnesium helps to support a strong immune system and maintains normal muscle and nerve function. It is also known to be involved in every metabolism and protein synthesis and is needed for over three hundred biochemical reactions in the body, so it is very important.

One of the benefits of magnesium is its muscle relaxing properties. The heart is a muscle and high blood pressure is often caused by the heart not relaxing sufficiently on its outward (diastolic) beat. There is increasing interest in the role magnesium can play in managing hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

If irritable bowel syndrome is the problem, a magnesium supplement will help to reduce the cramping of the intestine by relaxing it. Add a little peppermint oil in a chelated capsule to aid in the removal of painful flatulence and gas build-up and the two main symptoms of this disease are disposed of or reduced significantly.

If you are taking prescription medication, always consult your health care professional before taking supplements.

What's the biggest organ of the body? Your skin! A few winter care tips:
1. The skin on your hands is thinner than in other areas of your body, and it needs extra protection and care. Make sure that after washing your hands you dry thoroughly and use a good hand cream. Wearing gloves outdoors will also protect them and keep your skin soft.

2. Elbows, knees, and feet are completely covered in the winter months, and usually forgotten until spring. Clothing and boots can cause friction that creates a buildup of thick skin. A good scrubbing with a natural lofah sponge, followed by a rich cream will remove any problems here.

3. Sun protection is very important in the winter months, just as it is year-round. Many people forget to use sunscreen, but sun reflects off snow and ice, and you can actually get double the sun exposure.

4. Protect your lips with a good lip balm, and avoid licking your lips as much as possible, since that will cause your lips to crack and chap. If you get a bad case of chapped or cracked lips, use some Vaseline Intensive care before bed, and you should be good to go in the morning.

5. Winter winds and low humidity are also hard on your hair, and using a rich, deep hair conditioner is important to restore moisture to your hair.

6. One way to keep your skin in great shape is getting a massage. You don't have to go to a specialist for this: just get out your favorite massage oil and ask a family member to give you a quick massage. Then relax and enjoy the experience and the benefits.
Here are some of the best natural beauty ingredients available for winter skin and hair care:

Baking Soda - can be used as a deodorant, bath powder, or tooth whitener. Mixed with water, it helps remove residues from hairstyling products, making your hair clean and shiny.

Beans - Finely ground until powder-like, beans make a great cleanser for your face and body: just add the powdered beans to your favorite cleanser and massage into damp skin. Dry beans are rich in protein, potassium and iron, all good ingredients for healthy skin.

Citrus Fruit - contains citric acid, which kills bacteria on the skin. Also, the fresh scent is a known energizer. Rinse your hair with lemon juice mixed with water when you hair is dull and tired.

Maple Syrup - can be used as a facial mask, or hair conditioner, and it's one of the best natural moisturizers. For best results, make sure you look for syrup marked 100% pure.

Tea Tree Oil - this oil has very powerful antibacterial and antiviral qualities, and it's easily absorbed by the skin.

February Recipe
Chicken and Cheese One-Pot Dinner
Tools: 12 inch skillet with a cover, sharp knife, wooden or plastic spoon, measuring cups.
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 1/4 pounds skinless chicken breasts, chopped into bite-sized chunks
2 large carrots, sliced crosswise into bite-sized pieces
1 medium zucchini, sliced like the carrots
2 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium if needed)
8 medium green onions, sliced like the carrots and squash
2 cups shredded sharp reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
Directions:
1. Heat skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and swish it around to coat the bottom of the pan. Add chicken and stir-fry it until it's no longer pink (about 4-5 minutes). Remove the chicken and set it aside in a clean bowl.
2. Add carrots and zucchini to the pan and stir-fry about 4-5 minutes until they are crisp-tender. Add chicken and soy sauce and mix well so the sauce coats everything.
3. Sprinkle onions and cheese on top. Cover the pan for a minute or two until the cheese melts.
Any other low-fat cheese can be used. You can also substitute any fresh vegetables that you like, and even use this basic recipe for leftover meats--beef or pork roast, turkey--the combinations are only limited by your imagination.

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Senior Citizens Dealing Drugs

2006-01-13T09:17:00.000-04:00

A recent Associated Press article reveals that authorities in Kentucky have busted a drug peddling syndicate that rivals a New York narcotics ring - among senior citizens in dirt-poor Appalachia!

As it turns out, a large number of elderly patients in that region have been selling their prescription painkillers and other medications to young pill addicts, in some cases for years. According to the piece, a Bluegrass State anti-drug task force has charged more than 40 senior citizens with criminal re-selling of prescription drugs - including the sometimes deadly OxyContin (the same painkiller that some tabloids linked with larger-than-life talk show host Rush Limbaugh several years ago).

Apparently, the drug-related arrests of these seasoned felons have been so frequent that the already-taxed local jails have struggled to adapt to the increased cost of servicing the needs of elderly inmates. And according to sources cited in the article, the practice is almost certainly not limited to the Appalachian region.

Other sources in the piece all but absolve these geriatric felons of their closet sales enterprise - insisting that for many, the supplemental income garnered by selling off their pills for as much as $10 a pop is necessary for those on fixed incomes to help make ends meet. The irony of this is so thick: If you buy into this twisted logic, these seniors are being forced to deal drugs in order to pay for the high cost of living...

Especially their ever-more expensive PRESCRIPTION DRUGS!

Doctor Douglass--garlic for fighting cancer

2005-12-30T13:46:00.000-04:00

Some "well done" cancer research

Just a few days ago, I wrote to you about a pair of cancer-fighting foods, the pomegranate and garden-variety broccoli. But that's not ALL the news in the world of natural foils for that most dreaded of all diseases.

A few years ago, I wrote in my newsletter about the cancer-fighting benefits of garlic consumption - especially for stomach and colorectal cancers. Now, garlic's back in the cancer news, this time because a new American study has shown that this powerful herb is likely able to counteract the possibly carcinogenic effects of over-cooking meat and eggs. First, some background about the cooking part:

I've always stressed that the closer you can eat your meats and eggs to raw, the better they are for you - provided they've been handled sanitarily, of course. This is true on multiple counts.

The first is that the more you cook anything, the more you burn, boil, or braise away the healthy nutrients. The second is apparently this: Cooking eggs and meat at high temperatures (overcooking, in other words), produces a chemical compound called PhIP, which many believe can cause DNA changes or metabolize common, harmless bodily enzymes into carcinogens - especially those that cause breast cancer.

Now here's the interesting garlic-cure part: A component of ordinary garlic called DAS (diallyl sulfate) has been proven to inhibit these killer PhIP enzymes. A team of scientists at Florida A&M University infused human breast epithelial cells with both DAS and PhIP. At every stage of study in the test, the PhIP did indeed increase the _expression of the suspected cancer-causing enzyme - at times up to 40-fold. But the added DAS completely prevented the enzyme from becoming carcinogenic by triggering a genetic alteration in the enzyme that renders it harmless...
The results of the study were presented at a recent American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.

My Advice: Always eat steak as rare as you can take it (and eggs as runny). But if you can't stomach beef unless it's well done, a liberal sprinkle of garlic may help keep it as healthy as it can be - especially for you gals. And, as you know, over cooking meat creates homocysteine which is highly atherogenic - take 800 micrograms of folate in tablet form with your over cooked (yuk!) meat.

And in even more good news for food-cures that help fight cancer in women...
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Ovarian protection that suits to a tea!

According to a recent Associated Press report, some Swedish research suggested that daily consumption of several glasses of tea may have a profound effect on the incidence of ovarian cancer - the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in women. The survey-type study involved over 61,000 Swedish women over a period of 15 years. The results:

Those who drank 2 or more cups of tea every day enjoyed as much as a 46% reduction in their risk of developing ovarian cancer. Drinking less than this amount still helped measurably, but not nearly as dramatically as the 2-cups-and-up crowd.

Though the research didn't isolate benefits by tea types, most respondents were habitual drinkers of the black tea varieties. However, both black and green teas contain the powerful antioxidant polyphenols thought to slash cancer risk. These compounds are found in tea, wine, coffee, some fruits, chocolate (sugar-free) and other sources. But then, you already knew that if you've been a reader of mine for more than a fortnight.

Now if only they'd make some garlic tea to drink with overcooked meats, we'd really have something...

Always looking out for the ladies,

William Campbell Douglass II, MD

Are Direct-to-Consumer Drug Ads Effective?

2005-12-21T11:29:00.000-04:00

Consider:

* Duke University research concluded that 80% of those questioned could clearly remember what the advertised drug was intended to treat, but only 20% could describe any of the side effects disclosed in the ad.
* A Prevention magazine study concluded that 65 million people have talked to a doctor as a direct result of DTC ads - 29 million of these discussing a condition for the FIRST TIME.

Think drug ads aren't getting their message out and convincing people to self-diagnose?

The Cranky Yankee December Newsletter

2005-12-16T09:32:00.000-04:00

Going Bananas--from the HSI eAlert
Today we sing the praises of the humble banana.

An HSI member named Howard offers a list of banana perks, which includes this nutritional comparison to apples: "Four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron and twice the other vitamins and minerals."

Additional banana virtues include:
Provide enough energy for a 90-minute workout
Contain tryptophan, which your body converts to serotonin to help relieve depression
High potassium content helps address high blood pressure, has a cooling effect on the body and may help relieve stress
High in soluble fiber, which aids bowel function and makes for easy digestion (even for ulcer patients)
Natural antacid effect may help relieve heartburn
High B vitamin content
Regular consumption may help reduce stroke risk, according to a study
A member named JonB writes: "Howard, I come from a banana growing area in Australia called Coffs Harbour, and I know about all the healthy attributes of bananas, and you have missed one very important point. They taste GREAT."

But what about the sugar content? A member named Marianne posts this comment:

"My husband, who is considered 'pre-diabetic' has been told to limit fruits, especially the sweeter ones, like oranges and bananas. This just never made much sense to me, as these are whole foods that are easily digested and just full of good stuff. How bad could they be? Then I ran across an article written by Dr. Tim O'Shea. In his chapter called 'Sugar: the sweet thief of life' he states that people, such as with cancer, are told unnecessarily to avoid fruits, because of the sugar content. An excerpt: 'Natural fruit sugar, or fructose is generally low on the glycemic index. Fructose is quickly and easily used by the cells and thus removed from the blood.'"

The Value of Cranberries

When is the last time you ate cranberries? Was it with a turkey dinner? With all the research pointing to the amazing health benefits of this simple berry, shouldn't cranberries be more than a once a year side dish?

How Cranberries Are Proving Their Strength:

The Cranberry Institute provides the results of studies and research that highlight the fantastic health benefits of the humble cranberry.

Cranberries have been used for thousands of years by Native Americans as a source of food and to extend the shelf life of dried meats. Colonial sailors also made use of the natural preservatives in cranberries (from benzoic acid) which allowed them to last through long sea voyages, and the high Vitamin C content which prevented scurvy.

Perhaps they were on to something since new research suggests that cranberries may prevent the adhesion of the e.coli bacteria - a common cause of food poisoning from contaminated meat - to the urinary tract. This 'anti-adhesion' effect may also help in preventing bacteria from causing stomach ulcers and gum disease.

Vitamin C is also a known powerful antioxidant and is being widely accepted as a means of combating the effects of free radicals in the body which can cause cancer, heart disease and other health problems. Antioxidants from cranberries are being researched for prevention of kidney stones and lowering cholesterol.

While many fruits contain antioxidants, according to research cranberries have more antioxidants than 19 commonly eaten fruits. With this news it makes sense to include cranberries into a balanced diet throughout the year.

How Can You Include Cranberries Into Your Diet?

Fresh, frozen or dried, cranberries can be eaten anytime of the year.

Adding dried cranberries to baking (such as scones, breads and cookies) is an easy way to enjoy their tart sweetness. Adding frozen cranberries to smoothies or soups can lend a mild tang to your creations. Fresh cranberries make excellent garnishes and dressings.

The easiest way to add cranberries to your diet is to drink cranberry juice. While sweetened juices have less antioxidants than unsweetened, the benefits of adding cranberry to your diet are still there. If you add unsweetened juice to sparkling water you can enjoy a refreshing spritzer.

While studies are still being conducted on the health benefits of cranberries there is no doubt that increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables in your diet will lead to a healthier body. Choosing to use a variety of berries, citrus and other fruits will ensure you are giving your body everything it needs for optimum health.

Product Note: I was recently given a case of Betty Crocker Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes. They are quick and easy and Cranky LOVES them.
December Recipes: Gourmet Green Beans and Sweet Onion Sauce for ham
The beans are an easy treat--a great way to get your veggies and enjoy them. The sauce really dresses up a basic ham. Cranky made it yesterday and I keep going back for the leftovers.
Gourmet Green Beans:
Tools: microwave bowl, large frying pan, wooden spoon.
Ingredients: 1 1/2 lbs. fresh green beans
8 oz. sliced baby portobello mushrooms
3/4 cups water
2 tablespoons garlic butter (or butter with garlic powder added to taste)
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
Directions: Place beans, mushrooms and water in a microwave-safe bowl, cover and cook on high 12-14 min. Stir once while
cooking.
Preheat frypan on medium high. Add butter (and garlic powder if needed). Let it melt and swirl the pan to coat it with
the butter. Add the sesame seeds and brown them lightly.
Drain the beans and mushrooms and add them to the frypan. Sprinkle with seasoned salt. Reduce heat to medium,
cover, and cook 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beans are as tender as you like them.

Sweet Onion Sauce:
Tools: Medium saucepan, wooden spoon.
Ingredients: 1 package onion gravy mix
8 oz. can crushed pineapple in juice (do not drain)
1/4 cup sherry
1/3 cup honey
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Directions: Combine ingredients in saucepan, mix well. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat; stir and serve over ham.

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P.S. Blogs available at:
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The Cranky Yankee November Newsletter

2005-12-16T09:30:00.000-04:00

The Price You Pay for an Extra 20 Pounds
Over the past few decades, there has been an explosion in the number of people who are overweight or obese. Some experts are calling it an "epidemic" - albeit, one that is self-inflicted. Here are the numbers from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), put out by the CDC:
65% of the population are overweight.
31% of the population are obese.
27% of the population engage in no physical activity whatsoever.
Another 28% engage in no regular physical activity.
Even if you're only slightly overweight, here's a good reason to do something about it. According to the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, gaining just 20 pounds in adulthood will double your risk of diabetes and more than double your risk of hypertension.
- Jon Herring
Plan to Eat and Eat Your Plan
Poor nutrition has been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and many other diseases. We can reduce our risk by choosing well-balanced meals. Balance, moderation and variety are the keys to eating well to maintain a sound mind and body.

Fast foods and eating out in restaurants have become so prevalent in our society that eating healthy meals are somewhat difficult. Understandably, it is easier to take the kids to a fast food restaurant or drive through after an exhausting day at work. No doubt there are more convenient choices but they are killing us and our families. Like with any change, it is challenging to adopt a new way in the early stages, but not impossible.

First begin with a plan. You have heard many times that if you fail to plan, then, you plan to fail. It is the same with eating. Plan your meals at the beginning of the week. Breakfast is as simple as whole grain cereal, whole-wheat toast, fruit, low-fat yogurt, 100% juice, and skim milk. Pack your lunch the night before so you will not make excuses or be tempted to run to the hotdog vendor. Pack leftovers from dinner, a veggie or tuna sandwich with low-fat mayo, fruit or soup. Purchase ready-made salads [without dressing mixed in] for a quick and easy dinner. Store readily available vegetables with low fat dip for easy snacking. Children love to dunk food into dips, this is a great way to get them to eat a healthy snack.
Prepare meals that can be stored in the freezer such as casseroles, pasta dishes, etc. Before you go to work, take a dish out of the freezer to thaw out. When you come home from work, all you need to do is throw the thawed dish in the oven for about 35-45 minutes and dinner is served without much effort.

Eating healthy on a regular basis does take planning and discipline. At first, it may seem rigorous because you are learning how to prepare meals. Grocery shopping may also feel like a chore. But, within a couple of weeks, it will become a habit and second nature. You will feel more in control knowing exactly what ingredients are being used. Therefore, you do not have to worry about hidden fats or too much salt, that are likely present in most restaurant foods.

Be a good role model for your family. You will be serving them by providing both healthy meals and educating them about leading a healthy lifestyle. This is huge because you are setting the example for your kids and passing it on to their kids, and down the line. So, if there was any evidence before of family history health problems, feel well that you decided to take charge and end the madness or at least decrease the risk for your family's future generations.

The goal here is to enjoy nutritious and tasty foods. Remember, moderation is key so do not be too obsessed or restrictive as you may sabotage your success resulting in binge eating. Many of you can probably relate to forcing yourself not to eat a certain type of food such as a cookie, only to find a whole box devoured later. Have the cookie to prevent overeating down the road.

Plan your meals to incorporate servings of protein, whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. RDA suggest for daily intake of carbohydrates: 55-70%, fats: 20-30%, proteins: 15-20% and the World Health Organization suggests 40-50 grams of fiber daily. A varied diet is essential to good health. Concentrate on foods that are high in vitamins, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, unrefined carbohydrates, high fiber, low in sugar, low in fat, low in sodium, and limit alcohol consumption. Eating well and limiting your use of salt, sugar, caffeine, fats, can reduce stress and disease. American Cancer Society has stated that as much as 60% of cancer is related to diet.

You must start by making a decision to live a healthy, less stressful life by developing good eating habits. Come up with a plan and include your family by asking for feedback. Find out what healthy foods they want to try. Get them involved. It is easier to change when you are supported. Eating well will help you manage stress, reduce risk of disease and illness, control weight, and provide energy

Are You Getting ALL the Nutrients You Need?
You and I are facing a critical vitamin and mineral shortage. This health crisis has been growing at an alarming rate since the early 1900's. Of particular concern are folks on weight loss diets - especially low carb diets.

As a partial result, nutritionally driven chronic diseases have reached epidemic proportions. About 95% of people over 40 will suffer from one or more of these chronic diseases by the time they reach retirement. Diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, dementia, vision loss - to name a few. That's 95 people out of every 100.

For decades the medical community poo-poo'd the nutrition "fanatics" when they mentioned the importance of vitamins and minerals as a basis of our vital health.

Then, a real shocker.

In the June 19, 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association they announced: "Suboptimal intake of vitamins should be seen as a risk factor for chronic disease, especially in the elderly."

This tells us that today our food contains MUCH LESS nutrition and yet our needs for vitamins and minerals are MUCH GREATER than ever before in human history.

You'll discover, in this article, how this can be possible. And some simple steps you must take to protect yourself and your loved ones.

PLANTS ARE THE SOLE SOURCE OF ALL VITAMINS AND MINERALS FOR EVERY LIVING CREATURE. Even animals that eat nothing but meat - the vitamins came from somewhere down the food-chain - from an animal or fish that eats plants.

PLANTS CREATE BODY-READY VITAMINS AND MINERALS FROM NUTRIENTS IN THE SOIL. The richer the soil, the more vitamins and minerals are packed into the plants. On the other hand, vegetables grown in poor soil will have far lower levels of vitamins and minerals.

AND THE SOILS ARE BECOMING SAND - DEPLETING AT A VERY RAPID RATE. Commercial farming really started to expand as the ability to transport the produce to new markets increased - trains, then trucks. This was a boon for consumers. Now they didn't have to grow their own vegetables. And they could enjoy produce that was either out-of-season or wasn't able to grow in their area.

As commercial growers keep using the same fields year after year, the soils keep losing their rich nutrients. And, as soils deplete, so does the vitamin and mineral content of the vegetables grown in that soil.

Chemical companies have come to their aid by providing chemicals that will force the plants to grow in poor soil.

There are a couple of problems with this.

The vegetables look great but contain far fewer vitamins and minerals they once did. They also absorb some of these chemicals. Now our body needs even more vitamins to deactivate these toxins.

The vegetables we consume today give us far fewer nutrients than 100 years ago - yet create the need for more. A double whammy.

Genetic engineers have created vegetables that are more disease resistant, that grow faster, are more visually attractive, and are easier to harvest. For example: a new tomato was developed for growers primarily to take a 5-mile-per-hour impact from the faster picking machines. These are tough skin tomatoes - you've probably had some. Nothing is being done to increase the nutrient levels of the plants - or to enrich the soil.

Some vegetables and most fruits you buy in the store are picked before they're ripe, and often chemically treated so they ripen on the way to the grocer's shelf. This gives the produce a lot longer shelf life - less waste. As you probably know, produce picked at its ripe peak contain maximum nutrients - but spoil quickly. Vine ripened, fresh produce can be quite unprofitable for the grower and grocer. On top of all this, consider the higher levels of air and water pollution, lower oxygen levels in the air we breath, and our fast paced, fast food societies of today. You can easily see that our wonderfully created bodies are being taxed to the max - and need more protection than ever before.
WHAT DO WE DO TODAY?

1. Make fresh, whole fruits, vegetables, and grains a larger part of your daily diet. These are the absolute best quality vitamins and minerals you can buy. Eat them raw, uncooked as much as possible. If necessary, cook slowly at low heat to keep the nutrients at the highest possible levels. Simply put - the less processing the better. Most people do not eat even the minimum recommended amounts, yet we all need much more than that today.

2. Look for organically grown produce at your grocery store or health food store. Generally this produce will contain the much higher levels of nutrients - as they did a century ago - without the chemicals. They cost more but you get a LOT MORE nutrients and much more succulent flavor than commercially grown produce.

3. Grow some of your own produce - in a yard garden, patio pots, or inside the home in window pots. It's fun, very easy, decorative, puts oxygen in the air and the taste and nutrition is just tons better than store-bought.

4. No matter how perfect our diet, we ALL need to invest in a GOOD vitamin supplement today. Even nutrition experts, who eat an "ideal" diet, take vitamin supplements. A good vitamin will require you to take 3 large tablets or six medium size tablets or capsules per day minimum. Anything less is a waste of money.

Financially speaking, this is a critical part of our retirement program. If we don't have good health at retirement, nothing else will matter. Vitamin supplements are, by far, the cheapest health insurance and wisest retirement plan we can invest in. Herbalife's basic daily vitamins are designed to be taken three times a day. Just as the body thrives on 3 meals a day, it operates best with its vitamins on the same schedule. Make sure the tablets you take are water soluble for easy absorption. A tablet that goes in one end and out the other is literally money down the drain.

November Recipe:
Very Basic Turkey

Tools: Roasting pan or large baking pan (big enough for the turkey to sit inside, deep enough to hold juices), meat thermometer, aluminum foil.
Ingredients: Turkey, something to stuff inside, spices for the outside.
For food safety, it is recommended that a frozen turkey be thawed in the refrigerator. Allow a few days for the typical 12-16 pound bird. (Cranky has thawed ours on the kitchen counter overnight without any adverse effects, but this is not the safest way to do it.) Once the bird is thawed, unwrap it and remove the parts that are packed inside. You should find the neck, heart, gizzard and liver, usually in a bag inside the main body cavity. There are openings at BOTH ends, so be sure to stuff them both if you are using stuffing. The bird can be cooked without stuffing, but the meat will pick up flavoring from the stuffing so that's an easy way to add spice. With most turkeys, you can stuff the legs back into the skin flap after stuffing the bird. The top end has a long skin flap that you can fold over the opening and secure with a turkey skewer, a potato nail, or even a clean nail out of the toolbox.
While preparing the turkey for the oven, preheat the oven to 400. When you put the turkey in, lower the temperature to 350. Plan on cooking about 25 minutes per pound, but check the meat thermometer during the last hour or so to prevent overcooking. When you can wiggle the bone in the drumstick and have it come right out, the bird is a little overcooked, and the white meat will be dryer than usual. The thickest part of the drumstick is usually the best place to stick the thermometer--about halfway between the skin and the bone.
Stuffing: You can buy pre-mixed stuffing at the grocery store and just follow the directions on the package, or you can get creative. Almost anything can be stuffed in a bird. Our last 2 were filled with chopped apples and raisins. We added cinnamon to one and left the other plain. One Thanksgiving eve, my mother and grandfather had a few beers and decided that they would make the stuffing. They took over the kitchen and kicked everyone out. That stuffing was the best we ever had--unfortunately neither of them could remember just what they'd put in it!
Outside of the bird: Try any seasoning you like. We wiped one down with a hickory smoke seasoning, and used salt, pepper, and rosemary on the other. Sage was a favorite of my grandmother's and she usually put a bay leaf or two inside.
Why the aluminum foil? Unless you have a covered roasting pan, or cook the bird in a large roasting bag (follow directions on the package), the top of the turkey is going to brown very quickly and may overcook. You can slow this down by making a tent of foil over the turkey and leaving it there until the last hour. Wrapping the wing tips in foil helps keep them from getting too crisp. ( For beginners, the large roasting bags do a good job and help prevent splatters in the oven.)

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Thanks for subscribing,
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P.S. Blogs available at:
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Negative Effects of Caffeine

2005-12-16T09:25:00.000-04:00

Caffeine is big business. There are new coffee shops popping up
all over the place. You can?t go far without running into a
Starbucks. "Let's get together for coffee. Time for a coffee
break."

Coffee pot goes off before my feet hit the floor. Travel mugs for
sipping coffee on your way to work. I'll just have this chocolate
bar to pick me up this afternoon. Caffeine - It's everywhere!
It's everywhere!

Many people have grown so accustomed to having their morning
coffee or soda that they don't even consider the damaging effects
caffeine has on the body. On the contrary, most will tell you
that they NEED their jolt to get them moving in the morning or to
keep them upright throughout the day.

Caffeine is present not only in coffee, but also tea, soda,
chocolates and in certain pain relievers, such as aspirin or
acetaminophen. It is also sometimes used in combination with an
antihistamine to overcome the drowsiness caused by the antihistamine.

If you don't think it's addicting, try going off caffeine, cold
turkey. See if you don't have a headache for two to nine days.
That's caffeine withdrawal! You don't need to be a coffeeholic to
experience negative physical symptoms. Even as little as one to
two cups a day can negatively affect you.

You may be experiencing a number of physical ailments that could
be caused solely from caffeine. The most common side effects of
caffeine include dizziness, headache, irritability, muscle
tension, nausea, nervousness, stuffy nose, unusual tiredness and
jitters.

Too much (overdose) of caffeine can give you all sorts of grief
such as stomach pain agitation, anxiety, restlessness, confusion,
seizures, dehydration, faster breathing rate, fast heartbeat,
fever, frequent urination, increased sensitivity to touch or
pain, irritability, muscle trembling or twitching, vomiting,
sometimes with blood, fibrocystic breast disease, ringing or
other sounds in ears, seeing flashes of "zig-zag" lights, and
trouble in sleeping.

If you are diabetic or insulin resistant, caffeine causes your
body to produce more insulin and you don't want that. Caffeine
makes all aspects of a menstrual cycle worse. Isn't that bad
enough some months?

The next time you experience any of the above symptoms, try
cutting back on caffeine. That may be all it takes to take care
of the problem. Reduce caffeine intake gradually to prevent any
symptoms of withdrawal.

Cut back on your intake or combine a mixture of caffeinated and
decaffeinated beverages until you're totally weaned off. People
can, and do, survive ridding their bodies of all caffeine. And
they're feeling much better for it!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cody Moya writes about Health and Fitness in his
Health and Fitness Weekly Magazine. You can sign
up for his free Magazine and get additional information
at his website: http://www.healthandfitnessweekly.com/

More dietary fat, and longer needles--Dr. Douglass

2005-12-06T14:39:00.000-04:00

In defense of the all-American food

Excepting the kind you get at the drive-thru (which are nothing but soy-filled junk-patties), I'm a big fan of the cheeseburger - especially one made with fresh, high-quality grass-fed beef and cheese made from raw, un-pasteurized milk, served sans-bun, of course...

And finally, such a glorious meal is getting at least a little bit of decent press, albeit in the "trades" of the medical field. According to Dutch research published in the October 17th issue of The Journal of Experimental Medicine, high-fat foods (cheeseburgers were used as an example) helped reduce stomach inflammation, which in turn helps keep the gut resistant to penetration by harmful bacteria.

In layman's terms, here's what this means: The intestinal tract of an intelligent American cheeseburger-eater - with plenty of healthy animal fat - is MORE IMMUNE to bacterial assault (like deadly post-traumatic septic shock) than the digestive system of a vegan tofu-eater.

But that's not all the good "cheeseburger" news...

Another recent study has indicated that a higher fat content in the diet (coupled with lower carbohydrates) may have a beneficial effect in the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer's disease. This runs contrary to widely held notions about the relationship between diet and dementia. But that's because previous research correlating high fat to increased Alzheimers' risk also featured diets high in carbohyhdrates! This new study would seem to squarely implicate the carbs, not the fats.

Previous research has shown both a cognitive improvement and a decrease in mental decline from a diet high in fats - especially Omega 3's (plentiful in beef) and fish oils, which slowed dementia's progression by an impressive 10% PER YEAR in at least one body of research.

What this all means is: You'd have to have lost your marbles NOT to chow down on a cheeseburger or two for optimum gastric and mental gymnastics.

And speaking of fat and buns...

Maximus gluteus

In past Daily Doses, I've written to you about the super-sizing of medical equipment to meet the needs of our growing public. At various points, I've reported on new EMT stretchers and hospital beds meant to carry and hold at least 600 pounds - I've even made mention of the trend in outsize coffins (we certainly do need them)...

And in the latest story of that vein, there's this recent headline from Reuters health:

Longer needles needed for fatter buttocks

Yup, that's right. European researchers have concluded that standard needles used for injecting liquid forms of common drugs are of insufficient length to reach the muscle tissue buried under the blubber of many of today's plus-sized people.

In their 50-person study group (including 23 of the 25 women involved), a full dose of one liquid drug failed to reach the bloodstreams of two-thirds of patients via injections with standard-sized needles into their gluteus maximus regions. Instead, the drugs became lodged in pockets under their fat.

What's the solution? Of course, it's to cut out the refined grains, simple sugars, soy products (or by-products) and nutrition-less vegetables - and eating a few bun-less cheeseburgers instead. But if I know anything about the mainstream, they'll warn us to cut animal fats and cholesterol-heavy foods even further...

Oh, and they'll buy bigger needles, too.

Always "needling" the establishment,

William Campbell Douglass II, MD

The Cranky Yankee October Newsletter

2005-10-08T10:50:00.000-04:00

The Secret to Preparing the Perfect Paella
According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, paella is a saffron-flavored dish made with varying combinations of rice, vegetables, meat, chicken and seafood. The Dictionary also explains that in the Old French and Catalan languages, paella means frying pan or pot. The traditional paella pan is flat and of large diameter, it can also have handles on each side.

In fact, paella is one of the most versatile dishes to make. Paella also has the advantage of being great to clean out the fridge and use up leftover meats and vegetables. Any combination will eventually be great the secret is in the chemistry. Paella is a dish that is generally made to feed several people. Moreover, paella is quite flavorful the next day as the tastes have had time to mix together and become stronger.

This is not a recipe but rather an outline that describes the three basic steps to follow to make a wonderful paella while leaving the reader (the chef!) the latitude to be creative and to make the dish their own by customizing it to their taste.

First the rice.

Select a type of rice that you are comfortable using. Feel free to experiment but know that paella contains a lot of ingredients and if you are unhappy with the end result with a particular type of rice, you might end up with a lot of waste. Basmati, brown or a mix with wild rice can add great taste and texture. Follow the instructions on the package with regards to washing and cooking the rice. Finely chop some onion, garlic and tomato. Heat a saucepan and add olive oil once the saucepan is hot (make sure that the oil does not start smoking. Burnt olive oil is carcinogenic and quite unhealthy). Once the oil is hot, throw in the uncooked rice. Frying uncooked rice gives it a nutty taste. Let the rice fry in the saucepan for a minute or so. Add the chopped onion, garlic and tomato until they soften, mixing constantly. Spice with saffron, salt and pepper. Feel free to experiment. Cumin, Cayenne various fine herbs or even a bit cinnamon or cloves can easily be added for a flavoring of your own. This mixture should not be on the stove for more that three to five minutes. At high heat with constant mixing, none of the ingredients should stick but they should mix well together and soften. Once all the ingredients are combined, remove the saucepan from the burner and mix in some frozen peas. Add enough peas to make a well balanced mixture.

Second the meat.

In a frying pan at high heat, brown some pieces of chicken. Upper thighs, drumsticks, breasts...it's all good. Do not cook the meat completely but brown the outside. Once browned, set the meat aside. Lamb can also add great flavor to your paella.

Third combining it all.

Cover the bottom of the paella pan with the uncooked rice mixture. Add the browned chicken pieces on top. Add uncooked Merguez (spicy lamb sausages) and small fish filets rolled up and fastened with a toothpick or string. Use any type of fish but make sure that its flesh will hold well together. Pour some chicken broth on top (if the broth is warm the cooking time will reduce). Note that you can also add wine for more flavor. Cover the paella dish and cook for about 45 minutes at 350F or until the rice is cooked. At this point you can add raw shrimp or muscles and cook uncovered for another five minutes.

In short, the secret to preparing the perfect paella is to make it your own! Basmati rice and wild rice are both lower on the glycemic index than common white rice. Therefore, using one of these will slow down the body's glucose production as well as add flavor to the dish.

Is Fried a Bad Word?

KFC changed its image by retiring the slogan Kentucky FRIED Chicken. Instead, they became known as serving up Kitchen Fresh Chicken. Long are the days of Wesson Oil commercials that proudly encouraged yummy fried chicken for dinner. When was the last time you saw a splatter screen? How about a Fry Daddy? It must be a pretty big sin to eat fried foods these days. Or is it?

Look at the menu at Long John Silvers; nothing but fried foods. Look at any menu for that matter, deep fried beer battered shrimp, fried clams, french fries, fried potatoes, fried eggs. Outback restaurant has the Blooming Onion, that puppy is soaked in oil. Fried Fried Fried.

So perhaps no one is trying to say that fried foods are good for you, but nations sure are indulging in the grease laden foods, especially Americans. Perhaps this isn’t a good time to bring up the Obesity statistics. But here’s the kicker, “It tastes so good!” Granted, some fried foods are just too greasy, but a majority of them just taste delicious. That’s why loads of indulgers treat themselves to a so many artery-closing delicacies!

First there were the french fries, now there are deep fried dill pickles and deep fried Oreos? How did THAT leap happen? Don’t forget deep fried ice cream and deep fried peaches. Of course what menu isn’t complete without the deep fried mushrooms, deep friend cheese sticks, and deep friend cauliflower? Perhaps if you deep fry vegetables, it’s a little healthier? Is that how it works? Or if you deep fry already fattening nibbles, such as ice cream and Oreos, then it doesn’t really matter because you’re already cheating?

Nevertheless it continues. There’s deep fried strawberries, Snickers, potato salad, zucchini, tofu, cheesecake, rice balls, bananas, corn, shrimp, and even deep fried turkey. Product flyers claim the winged bird is “so much juicier when cooked in a deep fryer!” So we got rid of the little table top Fry Daddy and went for the floor model turkey fryer. Umm, ok.

Then there’s the big decision about what kind of oil to use? Olive, peanut, vegetable, canola, lard, butter, margarine or Valvoline 10-40? Certainly don’t forget to check out your saturated fats against your polyunsaturated fats versus the monounsaturated fats.

Maybe you should say fats. Did we ever decide if fried was a bad word? Perchance the better word is Sautéed. Indeed. Sautéed Oreos - much healthier!

Breakfast Recipes
Boiled Egg (from "One Million of the World's Best Recipes" copyright 1990)
The first thing you need is an egg, preferably one which has some relationship
to a chicken. Together with an egg, take some kind of a kettle or pan, and fill
it with water. Milk, coke and tomato juice all work, but they do nasty things to your kettle.
Pour enough water into the pan so it just about covers the egg, so you are not
tempted to reach in and pick up the egg with your newly scalded fingers. Once
the water begins to boil, the difficult part commences. Pay close attention to
this section of the recipe. If you live close to a stop light, you might consider using this as a guide. A good rule of thumb is three red lights and two greens
will boil your egg to perfection. That is unless you live in a place where the
light waits until a car comes along to change, you might then find your egg could become a pet rock instead of a meal. I would suggest from my vast experience that
a good strong three minutes is necessary for a soft boiled egg, especially if you keep a cover on the kettle or pan.
Five minutes would be about right for the medium hard boiled egg, and beyond that
for the hard, hard boiled egg. You are then ready for the crucial moment. Take
the kettle and pour cold water all over your poor egg, continue to do that until
you can pick it up with your finger, unless of course you are wearing rubber
gloves. Now that the egg is completed, you can use it in a variety of ways. The
egg will serve at least one person, unless that person doesn't like eggs, then
it would serve two. I would suggest you do not try to peel a soft boiled egg, but rather smash through it with your knife. Be sure you do this over a plate, because it can be runny. For the more hard boiled eggs you may peel it, unless you wish to paint it for Easter. This egg is especially good with either toast or just coffee, providing you like toast or drink coffee. One suggestion would be to mash it all up, add mayonnaise to it, and Velveeta cheese and then use it on toast. But there are countless ways to use your boiled egg, if only you use some of your creativity. If you follow the above steps, your efforts should be a complete success. Serves 1.

Cranky Yankee Bacon and Eggs:
Tools needed: large skillet, forks, spatula, large spoon.
Ingredients: 4 slices bacon, 2 raw eggs.
Directions: Place bacon in the skillet. If bacon slices separate easily, separate them and lay them out in the pan. If they don't separate easily, put the whole chunk in the pan. Place the pan on a large burner and turn stove to medium (arrow straight down on most electric stoves). If bacon is in one chunk, you can slide the slices apart as the bottom one starts to cook; first the bottom one, then working your way upward as each slice softens as it starts to cook. When the bottom of each slice starts to brown, turn the slice over to cook the other side. The bacon will wrinkle so that portions of the slice are not touching the pan. Press these areas down with your fork to get them to cook. Depending on taste, you can pull them out anytime after most of the fat has been lightly browned. If you want them WELL done, cook a little longer. If you aren't sure, pull out one slice, taste test, and decide from that whether or not to keep them cooking. When bacon is cooked, lay it out on a paper towel (a few layers thick) to drain the grease.
Now you're ready for the eggs. There should be a large amount of bacon grease in
the pan. Crack the eggs and drop one in each side of the pan (so they don't run
together into one big, 2 yolk egg.) As the eggs cook, spoon the hot bacon grease over
them. This cooks the top side of the egg without turning it over. For less grease,
drain the grease before adding the eggs, and cook them at a lower temperature to
keep from burning the bottoms.
Technique Tip: To pick up an egg with a spatula, slip the tip under the edge of
the egg, then wiggle the spatula back and forth while keeping a gentle forward
pressure on it, until the spatula slides completely under the egg. Also works on
pancakes and many other things.

Easy Oatmeal Single Serving
Tools needed: 2 cup microwaveable bowl, spoon
Ingredients: 1/2 cup Quaker Quick Oats, 1 cup water, dash of salt if desired.
Directions: Mix oats, water and salt in the bowl. Place bowl in microwave on HIGH for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Stir. If it's thickening, it's done. If not, give it another 1/2 minute. Microwaves vary enough in power that you'll have to learn by trial and error exactly how much time works best with your oven.
Stovetop method: Heat the water in a small saucepan. When water boils, stir in the
oats. Cook one minute, stirring 3-4 times while cooking. Cover the pan and take it
off the stove. Let it stand about a minute. If it's getting thick, it's done. If not, let it sit a little longer.

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New Viral eMail using RSS now in pre-launch

2005-09-15T23:12:00.000-04:00

It looks like an interesting concept. No cost sign-up. Take a look.

Viral Email Matrix With A Twist: Multi Level RSS Ads!

The Cranky Yankee September Newsletter

2005-09-10T08:19:00.000-04:00

Are all vitamins created equal?

Everyone has read the reports and seen the news. Our soil is depleted and lacks the necessary nutrients and minerals that our bodies need. The environment is toxic and wreaks havoc on our health. Free radicals attack our immune system. The only solution seems to be supplementation with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to compensate for environmental deficiencies.

After hearing all of this, what do most people do? They take a trip to the local supercenter or pharmacy, grab bottles of a popular supplement, and then think their job is done. It is a safe bet, however, that many people are not considering if what they consume is nutritionally complete and balanced. Not all supplements are created equal. Gazoo
Dr. Myron Wentz, Ph.D and founder of USANA Health Sciences has this to say in the company's "Health and Freedom" brochure: " I began testing health supplements in my analytical laboratory to measure their nutritional balance and their effectiveness in promoting and sustaining a healthy life. Many of the products I analyzed were not only nutritionally unbalanced, but had incorrect and misleading labels. My research proved many times that what consumers thought they were buying and what they were receiving were two different things."

What can people do to ensure they are purchasing supplements that are high quality and nutritionally balanced? Here are 5 tips to assist in this process:

1. Perform careful research! Don't just go along with the latest fads. A good book to purchase is "The Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements" by Lyle MacWilliam, BSc, MSc. MacWilliam is a former Canadian Member of Parliament and a current member of the Legislative Assembly for British Columbia. His book carefully analyzes over 500 products available in the US and Canada. The products that are listed at the top are best in the market today.

2. Look for a company who invests significant time and money in extensive scientific research, has worldwide scientific alliances, and who puts quality first.

3. Check to see if there is a guaranteed potency. Yes, there are companies who offer this and who follow stringent analytical and quality control procedures. In other words, what you see on a product's label is actually in the product.

4. Make sure the company's products follow pharmaceutical-grade good manufacturing practices (GMP). This is a step above FDA regulations. This means a variety of government agencies conduct periodic inspections and require control of procedures, as well as documentation.

5. Lastly, look to see if the company's products provide a money-back guarantee. Believe it or not, there is a company that is so confident about its products that if offers a revolutionary one million money-back guarantee to some professional and world class athletes.

Follow the above 5 tips for optimal health!

Is nighttime heartburn a problem? Try these 7 easy remedies.

Who hasn’t bolted upright in the night, awakened by a sudden and terrible burning sensation in the pit of their stomach? Whether you indulged in some overly spicy chili, or overdid it on those late-night leftovers, these quick heartburn remedies will soothe your fiery stomach and help you get back to sleep!

1. The first thing you’ll want to do when you’re awakened by heartburn pain, is to stand up. This helps keep the acid at bay while you go and get a full glass of cool water.

2. Drink the whole glass of water, and follow it with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and half a glass of water. Be careful though, if you have high blood pressure or are pregnant, this can cause water retention or increase your blood pressure.

3. DON’T drink milk or suck on mints to relieve heartburn. Milk might feel nice and cool going down, but it actually contains fats and proteins that cause your stomach to secrete MORE acid and make your heartburn worse! Mints, while they may feel soothing, actually relax the small valve between your esophagus and stomach, whose purpose it is to actually KEEP acid at bay! When this valve is relaxed, more acid can seep up and aggravate heartburn symptoms
4. This is going to sound strange, but downing a teaspoon of vinegar can help soothe heartburn immediately! Why give your stomach MORE acid when it already seems to have enough, you ask? Sometimes, heartburn is caused as a result of too little acid, and vinegar helps quell indigestion by giving your stomach a little extra “juice” (no pun intended!) to do its job!

5. Certain foods can cause nighttime heartburn, including: soda pop or beverages with caffeine (which you shouldn’t be drinking before bed anyway!), alcohol, garlic, chocolate (sorry!), citrus fruits, tomatoes and tomato-based products. Avoiding these types of food can help ease your indigestion if you frequently find yourself awakened with that intolerable burning!

6. Eating a banana each day works like an antacid to soothe heartburn. If you’re already stricken with indigestion, eating pineapple or papaya (or drinking the juice) can help settle your stomach naturally. Some people also claim that eating a teaspoon of mustard (yuck!) can work immediately.

7. Avoid eating at least two hours before you go to sleep. Those late night snacks can keep your stomach busy all night and prevent you from easing into a deep, restful sleep. You may also find that sleeping on your left side or sleeping at a somewhat upright angle can keep acid down where it belongs.

If you are awakened by heartburn on a regular basis, or the pain is severe, or if you have heartburn with vomiting, you’ll want to consult your doctor immediately as it may be a sign of a more serious condition such as an ulcer. Above all, avoid spicy, fatty and caffeine-containing foods before bed, and you should be able to drift off to sleep easily.

Sweet dreams!

Cooking Class

You open the cookbook and see a recipe title or a photo that tempts your tastebuds. Then you start to read the recipe, realize the preparation is more difficult than you first thought, and put the book back on the shelf.

Sound Familiar? Well here's a simple guide to help get you started:

1. Abbreviations for Measuring

Tsp. = teaspoon
Tbsp. = tablespoon, which equals 3 teaspoons
C = cup.

Tip: Get a set of measuring spoons. The set will usually have 1/4 tsp., 1/3 tsp., 1/2 tsp., 1 teaspoon and 1 tablespoon.

Dry measure cups look like little saucepans and can be leveled off with a knife or other straight-edged tool. They come in sets like the measuring spoons. Liquid measuring cups have ounce marking lines so you can measure however many ounces you need.

Tip: Some recipes require exact measurements to turn out right so learn to measure correctly.

2. Common Ingredients

Make sure you know what you need.

Tips:

- Baking powder and baking soda are not the same.

- Ask the produce manager at the market about fruits and vegetables, the meat manager about cuts of meat.

- When trying something new, buy ONE. You can always go back for more if it turns out well.

3. Common Terminology

- Bake: Dry heat in the oven. Set oven control to the desired temperature while you're preparing the dish to be baked. Once the light that says it's heating turns off, the oven is at the proper temperature. Then put in the food--for best results, center it in the oven.

- Boil: Heat a liquid until it bubbles. The faster the bubbles rise and the more bubbles you get, the hotter the liquid. Some recipes call for a gentle boil--barely bubbling--or a rolling boil--just short of boiling over. Watch so it doesn't boil over.

- Braise: A moist cooking method using a little liquid that barely bubbles on the top of the stove or in the oven. This is a good way to tenderize cheaper cuts of meat. The pan should be heavy and shallow with a tight-fitting lid to keep the liquid from boiling away. There's a lot that can be done for flavoring in your choice of liquid and of vegetables to cook with the meat.

- Broil: Turn the oven to its highest setting. Put the food on broiler pan--a 2 piece pan that allows the grease to drain away from the food. In an electric oven on the broil setting only the upper element heats, and you can regulate how fast the food cooks by how close to the element you place it. Watch your cooking time--it's easy to overcook food in the broiler.
- Brown: Cook until the food gets light brown. Usually used for frying or baking. Ground beef should usually be browned (use a frying pan) and have the grease drained before adding it to a casserole or meat sauce.

- Fold: A gentle mixing method that moves the spoon down to the bottom of the bowl and then sweeps up, folding what was on the bottom up over the top. This is used to mix delicate ingredients such as whipped cream or beaten egg whites. These ingredients just had air whipped into them, so you don't want to reverse that process by mixing too vigorously.

- Simmer: Heat to just the start of a boil and keep it at that point for as long as the recipe requires. The recipe will usually call for either constant stirring or stirring at certain intervals.

Now you are ready to do the shopping and prepare that recipe that you've always wanted to try!

Happy cooking...

September Recipes:

APPLE AND RAISIN SLAW

TOOLS: Large mixing bowl, medium mixing bowl, whisk, food processor or knife and grater.

INGREDIENTS:
5 cups coarsely chopped red cabbage (about 1/2 medium head)
5 cups coarsely chopped green cabbage (about 1/2 medium head)
1 cup coarsely grated carrots (about 2 medium)
1 large tart green apple (such as Granny Smith), cored, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup raw unsalted sunflower seeds, toasted
1 1/2 cups plain nonfat yogurt
1/2 cup chopped fresh dill or 3 tablespoons dried dill weed
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
DIRECTIONS:
Prepare ingredients, (the cabbage and carrots can be bought already chopped/shredded) core and chop the apple.
Combine cabbages, carrots, apple, raisins and sunflower seeds in very large bowl.
Whisk yogurt, dill, vegetable oil and vinegar in medium bowl to blend. Add dressing to cabbage mixture and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 3 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Yield: 12 Servings

Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Tools: Knife, small spoon, mixing bowl, hand mixer

Ingredients:
1 pint cherry tomatoes, washed
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
4 green onions, finely chopped
1 tsp. seasoned salt
Paprika

Directions:
Slice off the top of each tomato and gently scoop out pulp with a small spoon. Combine cream cheese, green onions and seasoned salt together and mix well with a hand mixer until smooth. Spoon mixture into tomatoes and sprinkle with paprika

The Skinny: Use light cream cheese.

Feedback is welcome at: newsletter@crankyyankee.biz

Thanks for subscribing,
Cranky Yankee and Mrs. Cranky
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Nail fungus, anyone? Try Vicks VapoRub.

2005-09-01T08:57:00.000-04:00

From the hsi e-alert--get your free subscription at:
HSI eAlert

"Vinegar, tea tree oil, corn meal paste, oregano oil - these were some of the natural treatments for toenail fungus I told you about in the e-Alert 'Get Off on the Right Foot' (8/4/05).

But the list doesn't stop there.

A member named Robert wrote to say that he'd tried one of the leading medications for toenail fungus with no success. And then... 'My dermatologist suggested Vicks VapoRub.... I tried it with 5 or 6 applications directly to the nail over 2 weeks and it worked!!! Several of my friends have had success with Vicks also.'

Judging from comments posted in the HSI Healthier Talk community forums, several HSI members have had good results using Vicks VapoRub, which contains eucalyptus oil and thymol (derived from thyme oil). These two ingredients are reputed to have anti-fungal properties."

Who would have guessed that the rub we all used for colds could also fight fungus?

The Cranky Yankee August Newsletter

2005-08-13T17:47:00.000-04:00

Are you getting enough exercise? ( from WebMD )
Fitness Level Declines Dramatically With Age: Exercise May Counteract Age-Related Decline in Physical Fitness *
July 25, 2005 -- Our fitness levels naturally begin a slow decline after our 20s and plummet once we reach our 70s, according to a new study. But the good news is that regular exercise may compensate for some of those natural losses and help your body feel years yoünger. (Go to this link for complete news story) http://my.webmd.com/content/article/109/109179.htm

Recent studies have also shown that staying mentally active can help prevent memory loss and senility as we age. So go read a book, do a puzzle, memorize something. Give your brain some exercise instead of letting it vegetate in front of the TV. Speaking of which, did you hear about the study that showed households with internet access watched less TV than those without? And the gap was bigger with broadband access than dial-up.

How do you react to what you eat?
Some studies suggest that the combinations of foods that we eat can be a factor in how well we
digest them, as well as the timing. In this article, Paul Akerman asks,
Could the food you eat be causing you problems?

"Do you class yourself as having a 'cast iron' digestive system? Or do you seem to have digestive problems after eating certain foods?

Much research has been carried out on foods and there is a belief in certain quarters that certain foods, eaten together, could be the cause of many potential dietary problems.

Of course, the reasons for dietary problems can be complex, but since we are organic beings, should we not be aware that eating foods, in any order, might just be the cause, or at least, part cause, of any health or dietary problems?

When you eat your food, your body has to digest it, but have you ever stopped to think whether different food combinations may be harder to digest than others?

Eating a large meal can make some people sleepy and lethargic (something a lot of us feel like at Christmas, after the Christmas day meal!). More interestingly, eating a smaller meal, for example, a sandwich, can create a similar effect, especially if it contained a protein filling. (A lazy British Earl with the surname of Sandwich invented this ubiquitous snack. He was not a dietician!)

This tiredness or lethargy after eating a meal is your body 'shutting down' while it concentrates on digesting the food (forget the Christmas alcohol for the moment).

But what happens when we are reasonably healthy and we eat, say a cheese sandwich or two?

For some, there may be nothing noticeable. But there may be some people out there that wonder why they get indigestion, or feel tired, after a reasonably small lunch, and cannot figure out why.

More surprisingly, it has been shown that some people's allergies show improvement when food is eaten in a certain (correct?) order.

Why are so many babies intolerant to milk? Milk is extremely hard to digest! You may think that your digestive system is not affected by milk, but are you 100% certain of this?

Some children suffer from Eczema in their early childhood, and then find that they 'grow out' of it. Later in life they then suffer from something else, like asthma. Could this just be a result of food intolerance over a long period of time?

Many people suffer from various health problems due to their body being unable to function as well as it should. Could part of this be due to unseen digestive problems? Could your body be less efficient if it has difficulty in digesting the food that it is given? Could your health start to improve if you changed your eating habits?

Eating a mixture of foods, that may not be 'perfect partners', might not show an immediate adverse effect.

Medical problems aside, do you know whether your everyday diet is helping your body, or hindering it? Muesli, Brown bread, Healthy salads are all supposed to be healthy foods, but they can still make you tired! Why is this?

Although your diet may not be one of the 'High protein or 'High fibre' varieties, and you might believe you have a healthy balanced diet, could you still be eating your choice of foods in such a way that it is making digestion difficult for you?

We are what we eat. It seems that we may have to watch how we eat it."

August Recipe: This was a difficult choice, because I had 4 recipes saved.
But this pie is sooooo good that we've had it twice, and Cranky is making another one as I write.

Hamburger-Pepperoni Pie (tastes like a crustless pizza)
Makes 6 servings at 320 calories each, but we usually cut it into 4 at 480 each

Tools:
Mixing bowl, wooden spoon, 9" pie plate (at least 1 1/4" deep), knife

Ingredients:
1 pound extra lean ground beef (the leaner the meat, the less grease)
1/3 cup dry bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves (or 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh )
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg (or 1/4 cup egg substitute)
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (can use more if you love mushrooms)
2 oz. (approx.1/3 cup) sliced or chopped pepperoni
1 cup spaghetti sauce
1 cup part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
optional extras: chopped onion, chopped green pepper, sliced olives, or whatever veggies you like on a pizza

Instructions:

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix beef, bread crumbs, oregano, salt and egg. (You can do the initial mixing with a spoon, but for best consistency, get your hands in it, squeeze it through your fingers, knead it, until it's all well mixed.) Spread the mixture ou along the bottom and sides of the pie pan. (This is the base of the pie, like a crust, so get it reasonably level so the toppings won't puddle in the low areas.)

Sprinkle mushrooms, pepperoni, and any optional veggies on top of the hamburger mixture. Pour spaghetti sauce on top.

Bake uncovered about 25 minutes or until meat is no longer pink in the center (make a small slit to check it) and juice is clear--no blood. Drain any grease. Add cheese on top. Bake about 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and light brown. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

Food exchanges: 3 medium-fat meat, 3 vegetable, 1 fat.

Feedback is welcome at: newsletter@crankyyankee.biz

Thanks for reading,
Cranky Yankee and Mrs. Cranky
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Dr. Douglass on drug studies

2005-08-05T11:52:00.000-04:00

For "scientific" drug studies, 2 out of 3 is the norm

One of the fundamental pillars of what's called The Scientific Method - the empirical standard which all research is supposed to strive for - is "repeatability." In other words, a study that yields a certain conclusion should ALWAYS yield that identical conclusion when repeated in the same way. If it does not, the research is flawed.

This concept is the backbone of science itself, really. Knowing this, guess what a review of 13 years worth of research published in three major medical journals revealed? I'll give you a clue: Much of this research has to do with the effectiveness of DRUGS.

Yep, you guessed it - a lot of it doesn't hold water.

According to a recent Associated Press article, 32% of the highest-profile research conclusions published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, The Lancet (my favorite) and the New England Journal of Medicine between 1990 and 2003 were either contradicted by later, more rigorous study or were found to be less concrete than the original studies led us to believe. Here are just a few of the reversals the article mentioned:
Hormones that were "proven" to protect menopausal women from heart disease were later shown to actually increase their risk of the disease.
Nitric oxide does not improve survivability of patients with respiratory failure, despite what an earlier study had shown.
A specific antibiotic treatment found in a small study to improve survivability in some sepsis patients was found to be meaningless in a larger study.
Although nothing revealed in this article is so Earth-shaking in and of itself, it still serves as a great reminder of something I've been saying for years: That many of the studies our FDA uses to determine the safety and efficacy of a drug are be just plain WRONG. A lot of them are routinely reversed in future research of a more stringent nature.

This is especially likely, because drug makers design and structure studies to try and cast the anticipated results in the most favorable light. That means a lot of studies may have a less-than-objective methodology from the get-go...

The net result, quite simply, is drugs that kill, cripple, and are not even always recalled.

Daily Dose Friday August 5, 2005

The Cranky Yankee July Newsletter

2005-07-08T23:18:00.000-04:00

Are You Getting Enough Zinc?
It's a brave man, they say, who first ate an oyster.

That earliest oyster-eater may have also improved his metabolic responses during moments of physical exertion, according to a new study. In other words, he wouldn't have tired as quickly as his non-oyster-eating buddies.

But this study isn't about oysters; it's about a multi-tasking mineral (abundant in oysters) that may improve endurance while also giving your body a very healthy vision-improving boost.

--------------------------------------------
Energy production
--------------------------------------------

The mineral is zinc which is one of the key tools in DNA reproduction and repair. There are also zinc-containing enzymes that are believed to regulate energy expenditure, although the effect of dietary zinc on metabolic response during exercise has not yet been thoroughly studied.

Enter a team of researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in North Dakota. The USDA team set out to examine what effect low zinc intake has on cardiorespiratory function and the activity of the carbonic anhydrase enzyme during exercise. (The carbonic anhydrase enzyme helps red blood cells deliver carbon dioxide to the lungs; a function that muscle cells require to produce energy.)

The researchers recruited 14 men between the ages of 20 and 31. For the first phase of this crossover study, half the group ate a low-zinc diet (about 4 mg per day) and half ate a high zinc diet (about 19 mg per day) for nine weeks. All the men returned to normal diets for a six week washout period, and then began the second phase in which they crossed over to either a low-zinc or a high-zinc diet for another nine weeks.

Peak work capacity of each subject was determined with a 45-minute physical test conducted during the second and ninth weeks of each of the two study phases. Work capacity was recorded with a cycle ergometer, which measures the effectiveness of muscles and muscle groups.

As reported in the May 2005 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the authors of the study write: "These findings indicate that low dietary zinc is associated with significant reductions in zinc status, including red blood cell carbonic anhydrase activities, and impaired metabolic responses during exercise."

In short: An inadequate intake of zinc may impair physical performance.

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Vision advantage
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In addition to improving metabolic response, research shows that zinc provides other key health benefits, such as enhancement of the immune system, assistance in the repair of damaged tissues, and inhibition of the abnormal clotting that contributes to cardiovascular disease.

And a daily zinc intake of 80 mg has been shown to help improve vision, while also reducing the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In the e-Alert "Oyster Goggles" (10/11/04), I told you about a clinical trial called the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) sponsored by the National Eye Institute. For more than eight years, researchers tracked nearly 3,600 participants between the ages of 55 and 80 to examine the effects that antioxidant supplements have on AMD.

The results: High levels of zinc and antioxidants significantly reduced the risk of AMD, and the same supplements (if administered in the early stages of AMD) may also significantly inhibit the total amount of vision loss that would normally be caused by advanced AMD.

The AREDS team recommended that anyone at high risk of developing AMD should consider taking daily supplements in the amounts used in the study:
Zinc (as zinc oxide) - 80 mg
Vitamin C - 500 mg
Vitamin E - 400 IU
Beta-carotene - 15 mg
For those who do include zinc in their daily supplement intake, it's also a good idea to add a little copper as well. In the e-Alert "Aim High" (5/7/03), HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., noted that zinc can create a copper deficiency, and vice versa. And Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., agrees, stating that, "Zinc supplements should usually be offset by a small amount of copper, 1-2 mg daily." Fortunately, many multivitamins already provide a low dose of copper, taking care of the necessary zinc/copper ratio.

And to add more zinc to your diet all you need to do is increase your intake of the food that has the highest zinc content: oysters. But if the prospect of swallowing an oyster makes you green around the gills, then you can also get zinc from red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, whole grains and dairy products. Zinc is generally best absorbed when the diet is rich in animal protein.

Diabetes and Exercise
There are two main types of diabetes, type I and type II. Type I diabetes is characterized by the pancreas making too little or no insulin. An individual with diabetes type I will have to inject insulin throughout the day in order to control glucose levels. Type II diabetes, also known as adult onset diabetes, is characterized by the pancreas not producing enough insulin to control glucose levels or the cells not responding to insulin. When a cell does not respond to insulin, it is known as insulin resistance. When a subject is diagnosed with type II diabetes, exercise and weight control are usually prescribed as measures to help fight insulin resistance. If this does not control glucose levels, then medication is prescribed. The risk factors for type II diabetes include: inactivity, high cholesterol, obesity, and hypertension. Inactivity alone is a very strong risk factor that has been proven to lead to diabetes type II. Exercise will have a positive effect on diabetes type II while improving insulin sensitivity while type I cannot be controlled be an exercise program. Over 90% of individuals with diabetes have type II.

Exercise causes the body to process glucose faster, which lowers blood sugar. The more intense the exercise, the faster the body will utilize glucose. Therefore it is important to understand the differences in training with type I and type II diabetes. It is important for an individual who has diabetes to check with a physician before beginning any exercise program. When training as a diabetic, it is important to understand the dangers of injecting insulin immediately prior to exercise. An individual with type I diabetes injecting their normal amount of insulin for a sedentary situation can pose the risk of hypoglycemia or insulin shock during exercise. General exercise guidelines for type I are as follows: allow adequate rest during exercise sessions to prevent high blood pressure, use low impact exercises and avoid heavy weight lifting, and always have a supply of carbohydrates nearby. If blood sugar levels get too low, the individual may feel shaky, disoriented, hungry, anxious, become irritable or experience trembling. Consuming a carbohydrate snack or beverage will alleviate these symptoms in a matter of minutes.

Before engaging in exercise, it is important to test blood sugar levels to make sure that they are not below 80 to 100 mg/dl range and not above 250 mg/dl. Glucose levels should also be tested before, during, after and three to five hours after exercise. During this recovery period (3-5 hours after exercise), it is important for diabetics to consume ample carbohydrates in order to prevent hypoglycemia.

Exercise will greatly benefit an individual with type II diabetes because of its positive effects on insulin sensitivity. Proper exercise and nutrition are the best forms of prevention for type II diabetics. It is important for training protocols to be repeated almost daily to help with sustaining insulin sensitivity. To prevent hypoglycemia, progressively work up to strenuous activity.

As with individuals with type I diabetes, carbohydrates should also be present during training to assist in raising blood sugar levels if the individual becomes low.

White Bread or Whole Wheat?
For any kid who grew up eating doughy, thick Wonder Bread for lunch, the encouragement by dietitians and nutritionists to switch to whole wheat bread can be a tough transition.

Bread, like any other part of our diet, is an acquired taste. Starting out early helps since children are much more adaptable to accepting foods than adults. This does not mean that children LIKE as many foods as adults - children are renowned picky eaters. But if you only expose them to healthy, whole grain foods they won't have the opportunity to develop a taste for white bread or other non-nutritious foods.

Adults, however, must learn to change their diet preferences because of knowledge. Understanding why whole wheat is superior to white bread can help you feel good about the compromise and encourage you to make it the standard for your children. Who knows - you may even like it!

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

The two biggest differences between white bread and whole wheat are the processing and the nutritional value.

Flour is made from wheat berries. The wheat berry is made up of the bran, the germ and the endosperm. All parts are filled with nutrients and are used in whole wheat flour.

White bread on the other hand, uses only the endosperm - the starchy inner layer. There is a total of 30 nutrients missing in white bread. The nutritional difference is immense and has measurable impact on our health.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF SWITCHING?

The fiber content of whole wheat bread has several health benefits.

Fiber helps the digestive system. It also creates a 'full' sensation and thus can help with weight control. Research has been conducted by Harvard and other organizations that shows men and women who eat high-fiber foods have fewer heart attacks and strokes than those who don't.

There is also an increased risk of diabetes in children who eat refined white flour - a risk that has been proven by the increase in cases of childhood diabetes.

WHAT DO I LOOK FOR?

Watch out for words like 'wheat flour' or 'enriched wheat flour' as they can be mostly made from white flour with just a small amount of whole wheat added in.

Look for 'whole wheat' or other whole grains, like oat. And don't be mislead by the name of the product. Names like wheat, whole bran, stoned wheat, 12 grain and others are still mostly white flour. The only way to know for sure is to read the label.
Feed and exercise your brain to keep it working.
Exercise your brain. Nourish it well. And the earlier you start, the better. That's the best advice doctors can yet offer to ward off Alzheimer's disease.
There's no guarantee. But more and more research shows that some fairly simple steps can truly lower your risk of the deadly dementia.
Also, if Alzheimer's strikes anyway, people who have followed this advice tend to do better -- their brains withstand the attack longer before symptoms become obvious.
The goal: Build up what's called a "cognitive reserve."
"Cognitive reserve is not something you're born with," Dr. Yaakov Stern of Columbia University told a meeting of Alzheimer's researchers Monday. "It's something that changes, and can be modified over time." In fact, there's now enough research backing this theory that the Alzheimer's Association is offering free classes around the country to teach people -- of any age, but especially baby boomers -- just how to do it. They call it "maintain your brain."
"There is tremendous interest in making sure that by the time you're 80, your brain is there with you," explains California psychologist Elizabeth Edgerly, who leads the program.
A healthy brain weighs about 2 pounds, roughly the size of a cauliflower. Networks of blood vessels keep oxygen flowing to 100 billion brain cells.
Branch-like tentacles extend from the ends of those cells, the brain's own specialized wiring to communicate. Under a microscope, they look like bushy hairs. A healthy brain can continue to grow new neurons and rewire and adapt itself throughout old age -- and you want your brain to be as bushy as possible.
That growth starts in childhood, when parents read to tots, and depends heavily on getting lots of education. The less educated have double the risk of getting Alzheimer's decades later than people with a college education. "Likewise, people who are less educated and have a not-so-challenging job have three to four times the risk of getting Alzheimer's," Stern says.
If you're already 40, don't despair. What's the advice?
Your brain is like a muscle -- use it or lose it. Brain scans show that when people use their brains in unusual ways, more blood flows into different neural regions, and new connections form. Do a new type of puzzle, learn to play chess, take a foreign language class or solve a vexing problem at work. Try to challenge your brain daily, Edgerly advises.
A healthy brain isn't just an intellectual one. Social stimulation is crucial, too. Don't sit in front of the television. People who are part of a group, whether it's a church or a book club, age healthier. Declining social interaction predicts declining cognitive function, new government research shows.
So do stress and anxiety. People who have what's called chronic distress -- extreme worriers -- are twice as likely to develop some form of dementia, reports Dr. Robert Wilson of Rush University Medical Center. Why? Autopsies show these people actually had fewer bush-like tentacles, or dendrites, linking their brain cells, meaning their brains were more vulnerable when disease struck.
It's not clear if someone can reverse a lifetime of worry and anxiety, but animal studies suggest exercise eases the effects of this kind of stress.
Getting physical is crucial also. Bad memory is linked to heart disease and diabetes, because clogged arteries slow blood flow in the brain. Elderly people who were less mentally and physically active in middle age are about three times as likely to get Alzheimer's as they gray. A study from Sweden found the obese are twice as likely to get Alzheimer's.
Go for the triple-whammy of something mentally, physically and socially stimulating all at once: Coach your child's ball team. Take a dance class. Strategize a round of golf.
And don't forget diet. The same foods that are heart-healthy are brain-healthy, so avoid artery-clogging saturated fat and try for omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish and nuts.
Eat dark-skinned fruits and vegetables, which are particularly high in brain-healthy vitamins E and C. Harvard researchers found eating dark green leafy vegetables like spinach improves cognitive function. Also, B vitamins and folic acid, found in cereals, breads and fruits like strawberries, are important for brain health.

July Recipe- GRILLED STEAK AND VEGGIE SALAD
INGREDIENTS:
1-1/2 pounds beef flank steak, fat trimmed and scored (that means slice some grooves in it)
1 medium sweet onion, cut into small wedges
6 medium Italian plum tomatoes, cut into wedges
4 ears corn, cooked, cut into 1-1/2 inch pieces
1 medium green pepper, sliced
Fresh Herb Vinaigrette (recipe follows)
DIRECTIONS: Grill steak over medium-hot coals to desired degree of doneness, about 20 minutes for medium, turning steak halfway through cooking time. Slice steak, diagonally across grain, into 1/4-inch slices. Combine sliced meat and vegetables in shallow serving bowl. Pour dressing over and toss. Serve immediately or refrigerate several hours and serve chilled.
Yield: 6 servings
Fresh Herb Vinaigrette
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced (chopped into very small pieces)
2 tablespoons sweetener
1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Combine all ingredients in covered jar; shake to mix.
Yield: Makes about 3/4 cup
Per serving : 1/6 recipe (3 oz. meat) with 2 tablespoons vinaigrette, 305 calories, 25 g protein, 18 g carbohydrates, 16 g total fat, 5 g saturated fat, 56 mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 255 mg sodium

This newsletter is also posted on Mrs. Cranky's blog:
http://mrscrankysblog.blogspot.com

Nancy McPherson, Mrs. Cranky Yankee.
P.S. I found an old picture I had on my ThirdAge homepage (http://home.thirdage.com/Hobbies/brianshoney) and added it to the About Us page on the website. I haven't gotten a useable picture of Cranky yet.

Check out our link partners: http://www.crankyyankke.biz/links
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I've located a few inexpensive programs that can bring in a little spare change for little or no investment. Check the banners on the site for more info.

Getting a CT scan or PET? Forget the caffeine!

2005-07-06T09:40:00.000-04:00

Source: HealthDay

(HealthDay News) -- Headed for a CT scan? If so, new research suggests it might be best to do without that cup of coffee beforehand.

Researchers at St. Louis University School of Medicine found that caffeine just before a CT scan or positron emission tomography (PET) imaging can obscure scan results.

The study authors noted that most scans to detect or evaluate malignancies are performed using imaging tracers called radiopharmaceuticals, with a tracer called FDG (fluorodeoxyglucucose) being the most common. These tracers go to the heart and provide an image of the heart's function during the scan.

The study found that drinking coffee causes the heart to beat faster and more FDG to appear in the heart region, obscuring the view during the scan. The same thing happens when people exercise before a scan, the researchers added.

This increase of FDG in the heart makes it more difficult to see lesions close to the heart, the study authors said. By avoiding caffeine and exercise before a scan, a patient can improve the likelihood of an accurate scan.

The findings were presented at the recent annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine in Toronto.

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More information: The Society of Nuclear Medicine has more about PET.

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For the latest health news & Health-Life Services like tools, calculators, & a physician locator, go to www.healthday.com.

More Tea News

2005-06-24T13:22:00.000-04:00

Green tea has become a Big Kahuna of alternative health care in the past few years. But if you love your black tea and just don't want to give it up, don't be concerned that you're making an unhealthy choice.

The American Journal of Cardiology has published a study from Japan's Osaka City University, in which researchers used ultrasound technology to examine the effects of black tea on coronary blood flow.

Ten male subjects drank either black tea or a beverage infused with caffeine. Those who drank black tea had a significant increase in coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) about two hours after tea time, compared to the men who drank the caffeinated beverage.

A good CFVR profile indicates that the heart is healthy enough to respond well when increased blood flow is required. The researchers believe that black tea flavonoids may help promote elasticity in the lining of blood vessels.

In spite of the modest size of the study, the Osaka researchers were confident enough in their findings to state: "Acute black tea consumption improves coronary vessel function, as determined by CFVR."

I'm not sure "acute" was exactly the right word here - possibly something was lost in translation. Let's just say it appears that regular consumption of black tea may help keep your blood vessels young and springy.

A Banana a Day Keeps the Doctor Away?

2005-06-23T13:52:00.000-04:00

After Reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way
again!

Bananas. Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and
glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and
substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas
provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder
the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can
also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and
conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst
people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a
banana.
This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the

body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your
mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains
regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of
hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in
potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood
pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just
allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's
ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were
helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast,
break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has
shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making
pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help
restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without
resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a
banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach
and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar
levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if
you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep
>>blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing

the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find
it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous
system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in
Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like
chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers
found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The

report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need
to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate
foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal
disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only
raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases.

It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the

lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling"
fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of
expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat
bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool! temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers
because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The
B6,
B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in
them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the
heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water
balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby
reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help
of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of
Medicine,"
eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by
strokes by as much as 40%!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you
compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the
carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A
and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals It is also rich in

potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its
time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day
keeps the doctor away!"

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS

Mr Cranky's lungs got checked

2005-06-21T12:35:00.000-04:00

They found a small area they want to keep an eye on. Found this article today--he fits the profile they're talking about. Have you had your lungs checked?

Lung scans could spot tumors early

Source: HealthDay

(HealthDay News) -- A specific type of CT screening may help doctors spot lung cancers early, when they are more treatable, a new Spanish study suggests.

"Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world," researcher Dr. Javier J. Zulueta, of the pulmonary medicine department at the Clinica Universitaria in Pamplona, said in a prepared statement.

"It is the most common cancer in many countries and because most patients are diagnosed in late stages, it is also the most lethal. Less than 20 percent of individuals suffering from this disease are diagnosed in stages in which curative surgery is an option," Zulueta said.

On the other hand, he said, "survival rates for early-stage disease are quite high, approaching 80 percent."

Using low-dose spiral computed tomography (CT) to screen for early-stage lung cancer can provide early diagnosis in many cases and possibly improve patients' chances of being cured, the Spanish team believes. After the initial CT screening, a possible second step would involve the use of positron emission tomography (PET) to analyze suspicious nodules 10 millimeters or larger, along with smaller-growing nodules more than 7 mm in size that were first detected by CT.

The use of CT and PET together could also help minimize unnecessary invasive procedures for benign lesions, the researchers contend.

All 911 participants enrolled in the study were considered at high risk for lung cancer. They averaged around 55 years of age and were long-term, heavy smokers.

Using the CT/PET protocol, the researchers detected lung cancer in 14 of the participants. Of those 14 cases, 13 were diagnosed as non-small cell lung cancers and one small cell lung cancer. Eleven of the 13 non-small cell lung cancers and the one case of small cell lung cancer were detected on the initial CT screening, they noted.

The findings are published in the June issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

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More information: The American Cancer Society has more about early detection of lung cancer.

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For the latest health news & Health-Life Services like tools, calculators, & a physician locator, go to www.healthday.com.
Copyright Â© 2005 ScoutNews LLC. All rights reserved.

The Cranky Yankee June Newsletter

2005-06-15T12:46:00.000-04:00

The Cranky Yankee
June Newsletter

Diabetes affects all the systems of the body and many of the interrelationships are clear and well-documented. Many diabetics with breathing problems are diabetics because the steroids they need for breathing increase insulin resistance. When Mr. Cranky was first diagnosed with diabetes, a doctor told him that he wouldn't be a diabetic if it weren't for the prednisone he was taking. Then he added that, without the prednisone, Brian wouldn't be breathing either. If you are on prednisone or a similar steroid and insulin dependent, you will have to increase the insulin whenever the steroid dose is increased. Steroids can also cause cataracts, but only an opthalmologist can determine whether the cataracts are from the steroids or the diabetes. This month's newsletter includes some news about heart disease and other ailments that can complicate a diabetic's health.
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White Blood Cell Count: Heart Disease Predictor

WBCs (also known as leukocytes) are an indispensable element of the immune system; WBC count rises when the body is fighting infection from bacteria or viruses. Now a new study shows that white blood cell count may provide doctors with an accurate and easy-to-use tool for predicting heart disease.

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The new red flag
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Over the past few years, research has revealed the significant role inflammation plays in the development of atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries). In previous e-Alerts I've told you about C-reactive protein (CRP), a key marker for inflammation that many mainstream researchers now regard as a far more reliable predictor of atherosclerosis than elevated LDL cholesterol. But now CRP may have met its match - literally.

Researchers led by Karen L. Margolis, M.D., examined data collected from the Women's Health Initiative, an ongoing study from the National Institutes of Health. More than 72,000 women participated, aged 50 to 79, who had no history of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

After an average of six years of follow up, researchers found that women with the highest WBC counts at the outset of the study were more than twice as likely to die from coronary heart disease compared to women with the lowest WBC counts. Those with the highest counts also had a significantly increased risk of stroke and nonfatal heart attack.

The researchers noted that the highest WBC counts in the study were considered to be only at the upper end of normal, which is not an extremely high count. They also believe the results demonstrate that WBC count may be just as reliable as CRP in predicting cardiovascular events linked to coronary heart disease. A CRP test generally costs about $75; three times the cost of a white blood cell test.

Writing in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Dr. Margolis and her team conclude that an elevated WBC count is a dependable predictor of CVD events in postmenopausal women, even when there are no other indications of CVD.

--------------------------------------------
Egg rolling
--------------------------------------------

Inflammation presents a chicken-or-egg dilemma. Researchers are not yet sure if atherosclerosis triggers inflammation, or if inflammation sets the stage for atherosclerosis. In either case, inflammation presents a problem that won't be solved with a one-size-fits-all quick fix. But that doesn't mean drug companies won't try.

In the e-Alert "Putting the C in CRP" (4/28/04), I told you how drug companies have started positioning some of their products to treat patients with elevated CRP, even though CRP is considered a MARKER, not the CAUSE of inflammation.

According to a report from Internet Broadcasting Systems (IBS), researchers for AstraZeneca (AZ) are currently testing the effects of their cholesterol-lowering statin drug Crestor on CRP. This study is titled JUPITER (Justification for the Use of statins in Primary prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin). And the title is revealing: "Justification for the use... " It would seem that the desired conclusion of the study is already written. Now if the results will just cooperate and "justify" the use of statins, the study will provide AZ with a useful marketing tool.

In a side note, the IBS report states that, "there are currently no guidelines to treat high CRP levels." What they're saying here, of course, is that there are currently no drugs that have been approved to treat high CRP levels. This is a typical mainstream reaction: If we can't treat it with drugs, there's nothing we can do.

So if further studies confirm the results of the Margolis research, we certainly won't be surprised to hear that a drug company has launched a study to test statins on elevated WBC count. In fact, I fully expect it.

In the meantime, if either your WBC count or CRP is elevated, talk to your doctor and examine all aspects of your health profile. Somewhere in there - among chronic problems, family history or subtle symptoms - lies the spark that sets off a potentially dangerous flame.

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How's your Spiritual Health?
As soon as Brian (Mr. Cranky Yankee) gets his cataracts removed so he can see again, he'll be starting online Bible lessons. They will be available as an RSS feed, and I will announce the URL once we get it set up. If you don't have a feedreader (downloadable for f r e e ) you can sign up for a f r e e My Yahoo page at yahoo.com. They have all the links set up to add RSS feeds to the content on your MyYahoo page, and we will have a button on the site that will add Brian's Bible Studies to your MyYahoo with just one click. How easy can you get? It should be up and running by fall.
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Tea for two...plus several hundred.

Laboratory research has shown that green tea may inhibit an enzyme that promotes cancer cell growth.

In 2003 a team of researchers from the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) took green tea research out of the laboratory and into the homes of hundreds of women, with promising results concerning the prevention of breast cancer.

The USC team interviewed almost 1,100 Asian American women (aged 25 to 74) living in Los Angeles. 501 women had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and 594 were cancer-free.

Between 1995 and 1998, each subject was interviewed in person to determine a wide variety of factors, including food and beverage intake, personal medical history, family health history, and general lifestyle details such as smoking habits and alcohol intake. An examination of the data showed that women in the non-cancer group were much more likely to be regular green tea drinkers. In fact, on average, those who drank at least 8.5 milliliters (less than half a cup) of green tea each day, had a reduced breast cancer risk of nearly 30 percent. Those who consumed more than 8.5 milliliters reduced their risk even more.

But while more may be better when it comes to green tea, a high intake comes with a note of caution. EGCG is a type of flavonoid that's abundant in green tea and is believed to be the active ingredient responsible for fighting cancer. But high levels of EGCG may reduce folate levels. The average green tea drinker can address this by increasing dietary sources of folate (chicken liver, lentils, asparagus and spinach) and by taking a folic acid supplement.

Pregnant women, however, should be cautious about green tea intake because low folate levels increase the risk of causing neural tube disorders to unborn children. Patients with cardiovascular problems also need to keep folate levels high.

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What kind of carbs are YOU eating?

(From the HSI e-Alert)
Are you tired of hearing about low-carb this and low-carb that? No problem. Today I'm going to tell you about "slow-carbs."

According to a study that appears in the May 2005 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, most of us can eat all the carbs we want - just so long as they're slow. And the slower the better.

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Slow vs. low
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I've actually covered slow-carbs in previous e-Alerts, but without the catchy name. A slow-carb diet is essentially a diet that restricts carbohydrates that rate a high glycemic index (GI).

A quick review: Low GI foods (such as meat and most fruits and vegetables) prompt a slow increase in blood sugar levels, while high GI foods (such as foods with added sugar, processed baked goods and starchy foods) produce a quick spike in blood sugar levels. A steady intake of high GI foods promotes a gradual insensitivity to insulin - the precursor of type 2 diabetes.

Researchers at Children's Hospital in Boston designed a study to test the effectiveness of a slow-carb, low-GI diet using two key measures: weight loss and cardiovascular disease risk.

Twenty-three obese subjects were divided into two groups. One group of 12 subjects followed a conventional low-fat, reduced calorie diet. The other group of 11 subjects followed a low-GI diet, avoiding starchy foods and consuming protein along with any carbohydrates they ate. In addition, subjects in the low-GI group were unrestricted in their calorie intake. They were allowed to eat their fill and snack between meals. Subjects in both groups were urged to exercise regularly, and they all received counseling to help them stick to their diet and exercise regimens.

After one year the results were dramatic: Low-fat diet subjects lost just over six percent of their body weight on average, while low-GI diet subjects lost an average of nearly eight percent of their body weight.

In addition, one of the key markers for heart disease was much improved by the low-GI diet. Low-fat dieters reduced their triglyceride levels by less than 20 percent on average. Subjects on the low-GI diet, however, reduced triglycerides by nearly 40 percent. Another heart health marker provided an impressive result. Concentrations of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (a coagulation factor that increases blood clot risk) increased by more than 33 percent among the low-fat dieters, but DECREASED nearly 40 percent in the GI-diet group.

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Keep it complex
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In the e-Alert "So Five Minutes Ago" (2/23/04), I predicted that the buzz about low-carb diets would eventually evolve into popular recognition of the glycemic index as a logical dietary guide. I really wasn't going too far out on a limb with that prediction. The glycemic index has been around for awhile, and it provides a convenient way to sort out simple carbs from complex carbs.

In a nutshell, simple carbs are fast (high GI), and complex carbs are slow (low GI). If your diet includes mostly complex carbs, you won't put undue stress on your pancreas (the organ that uses insulin to remove sugar from the bloodstream). A high intake of simple carbs, on the other hand, prompts an over-secretion of insulin and, in time, a cycle of extreme blood sugar swings as the body desperately attempts to auto-regulate.

The problem is further complicated when the simple carbs come from refined sources (and they mostly do). Refining strips away natural fiber that slows the release of sugar into the system.
As for the glycemic index, there are several sources on the Internet that estimate the GI value of different foods. One in particular - glycemicindex.com - provides a complete GI database. The slight drawback for those of us in the U.S. is that the database is sometimes specific about brand names, which are mostly Australian and European (the site is maintained by the University of Sydney). Nevertheless, the database offers an excellent guide for making low GI dietary choices.
The G.I. Diet by Rick Gallop is one of the featured items on the Cranky Yankee Bookshelf-- http://www.crankyyankee.biz/bookshelf.html

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A Testimony from an Herbalife Customer:
Herbalife Enhances My Life

"I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a debilitating disease of the nervous system. During this time treatment was very limited and there was no cure. Because, I was both physically and nutritionally fit the onset of the diseaseand symptoms were lessened. Over a period of time, I was able to regain my normal plateau and resume most activity.
Several years later a second traumatic event took place with my health and I was diagnosed with colon cancer. Again keeping myself physically and nutritionally fit gave way to positive outcome. Chemotherapy and Radiation took its toll on my energy and immune system to fight off even the common cold. The side effects of the drugs were unbearable at times, but I knew it was the only hope for a cure at the time.
Today cured of colon cancer and stable with the Multiple Sclerosis has given the hope to long a life ahead. Given a second chance, I looked into the Herbalife program and the benefits it offers. In November 2004 a starters kit was ordered, which contained everything needed to begin a healthy way of life. There was a rough beginning for me due to allergies and a few falls. Once under control, I continued the program.
It's been two months and many changes have taken place both mentally and physically. I have felt more alert and full of energy. Physical changes can be seen like loss of fat, new muscle, and better tone. The skin looks healthy and less drawn on the face. Other medical issues such as , diabetes, now have normal target reading of 110 every day. (ed. emphasis) Overall Herbalife has made a difference and continues to enhance the quality of life for me.
Looking back at my past medical there is no doubt in my mind that Herbalife would have made a difference. It is not a cure or meant to replace medical attention by a physician. However, it does give the body a healthy fighting chance to overcome even the impossible.
Debra Golob (used by permission)
In the seven months that I've been on Herbalife, I've lost 20 pounds and most of my clothes are too big for me. The belt I use on my uniform for work didn't quite go around me when I bought it. Now I'm comfortable in the 4th hole in. I went from a women's 16 for my uniform pants to a men's 32, and my medium shirts are getting baggy enough that I've asked for some small ones. And the best part of it is that I've never felt overhungry or deprived.

June Recipe: Pizza Pockets
An easy way to get the flavor of pizza in a healthy alternative.
Tools: Large non-stick skillet, wooden spoon, non-stick cooking spray (i.e. Pam), 2 large baking (cookie) sheets-recipe makes 10 pizza pockets, 1 sheet holds 5 comfortably. Half recipe measurements in parentheses.
Ingredients: 1/3 pound lean ground chicken or turkey (half recipe-about 3 oz.)
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt (1/8 teaspoon)
3/4 cup pizza sauce (6 oz.)
2 (7.5 ounce) tubes reduced fat, refrigerated biscuits (1Tube)
2/3 cups part skim mozzarella cheese -buy already shredded (1/3 cup)
10 slices Canadian-style bacon (5 slices) if Canadian Bacon is unavailable, lean ham may be used.
Directions:Crumble ground meat into a large nonstick skillet, add garlic salt and cook over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain any fat. Stir in pizza sauce and cook until heated through. Spray 2 large baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray. Flatten biscuits with hands to about 3 inches in diameter. Place half of the biscuits on a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Spoon 1 tablespoon of meat sauce onto the center of each biscuit, sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cheese and top with 1 slice Canadian-style bacon. Top with remaining biscuits and seal outer edges by pressing down with the tines of a fork. Bake at 425 degrees for 10-13 minutes or until golden brown.
Makes 10 Servings
Serving Size: 1 pocket
Nutrients per serving: Calories: 211 Total fat: 10 grams Saturated fat: 3 grams Cholesterol: 16 mg Sodium: 802 mg Carbohydrate: 21 grams Protein: 10 grams Dietary fiber: 1 gram

Green Tea for Cardiovascular Health

2005-06-08T10:41:00.000-04:00

Green or black tea may produce improvements in heart health according to a new study.
Salada has 2 new blends available sold as antioxident supplements. One claims to have "Green" antioxidents and has a vaguely citrus flavor. The other has "Red" antioxidents and has a delightful strawberry-orange flavor that needs no sweetener. What's the difference between green and black teas? (From the Real Age website)

Black, oolong, and green teas are made from leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The difference between green and black tea is the level of oxidation the tea leaves experience during processing. The longer tea leaves experience oxidation, the darker they become. Research suggests oxidation levels probably have little influence over the amount of heart-healthy flavonoids different teas contain, although there may be some variation. A recent animal study suggests both green and black tea may produce similar improvements in blood vessel health. According to the researchers, the average 150-pound person would have to drink two 5-ounce cups of green or black tea daily to get heart-health benefits similar to those achieved in the animal study.

Reference:
Green and black teas inhibit atherosclerosis by lipid, antioxidant, and fibrinolytic mechanisms. Vinson, J. A., Teufel, K., Wu, N., Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2004 Jun 2;52(11):3661-3665.

Thank You Bill Bennett

2005-06-01T09:59:00.000-04:00

This morning, on Bill Bennett's Morning in America, Bill used the phrase "fewer calories." This caught my attention because most voices I hear use "less" whether that is correct or "fewer" should be used. How can you tell the difference? If what you are referring to can be counted, you have fewer; if not, less. Some examples: less gasoline, fewer gallons; less milk, fewer quarts; less worry, fewer worries. Have you got it now?
My greatgrandparents came here from Germany and, since they had to learn English, insisted that their children learn to speak and write English correctly. My grandfather was a real stickler; my mother was a newspaper proofreader, editor and reporter; and I was taught so well at home that, when we had grammar and usage exercises in school, if it sounded right to me, it was. I often find myself wincing or shaking my head at the way American English is so regularly mangled today.
Henry Higgins had it right in "My Fair Lady." In the song "Why can't the English teach their children how to speak" there is a line that says, "In some places English completely disappears--why in America they haven't used it in years!" And how are children supposed to learn what is correct if the people they hear in the media as well as their friends and family speak incorrectly, and political correctness prevents their teachers from telling them what's right or wrong?

Cranky Yankee May Newsletter

2005-05-23T10:14:00.000-04:00

Nutrition is a key factor in health. Over half of doctor's visits are nutrition related, most degenerative diseases can be cured or at least prevented by proper nutrition, and a well-nourished body is more capable of defending itself against infections. And old joke says,"If I am what I eat, I must be cheap, fast and easy." On my Herbalife shakes, I've lost 25 pounds, and, for 2 meals a day, my total cleanup is washing out a large cup and my blender jar. It does take a couple of minutes to blend 2 scoops of shake mix, 1 scoop of protein powder, 8 oz. of soymilk, some fresh fruit , and a few ice cubes. Fast, easy, satisfying and VERY nutritious.

Extra fat around your middle can be a killer
Abdominal fat is such a typical characteristic of middle age that many people simply regard it as part of the middle age package.

But a new study shows that those who are diligent in finding a way to reduce abdominal fat may also help reduce the risk of one of the most serious health problems facing middle-aged and elderly people. Coincidentally, another study published this month demonstrates how a simple dietary change may help get rid of abdominal fat.

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Revealing ratio
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Study number one, from Tel-Aviv University in Israel, examines a potential link between the distribution of body fat and stroke risk.

During the 1960s, Tel-Aviv researchers recruited more than 9,000 male subjects over the age of 40 who were free of cardiovascular disease. Distribution of body fat was determined by comparing two measurements for each subject: skinfold thickness in the abdomen and skinfold thickness of the triceps. These measurements provided a ratio for trunk versus peripheral distribution of fat.

Over a 23-year follow up period, 316 subjects died of stroke. Researchers found that subjects with the highest ratio of trunk versus peripheral fat (in other words; those with excessive abdominal fat) were found to be one and a half times more likely to have a stroke compared to subjects with the lowest ratio.

In an interview with Reuters Health, lead author of the study, David Tanne, M.D., noted that excessive abdominal fat also raises the risk of other factors associated with metabolic syndrome, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

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Baggage claim
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When it comes to reducing abdominal fat, regular exercise is a must. There's no way to duck this one: To get rid of that extra baggage around the middle, you're going to have to get up and get moving.

But once you do get moving, there are other ways to help the cause.

Research shows that an intake of a fatty acid called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may provide a boost when it comes to getting rid of excess body fat, especially in the abdominal area. CLA is available in supplement form and from protein-rich dietary sources such as meat and dairy products.

This association between protein intake and a trimmer waist is confirmed in a new study published in the Journal of Nutrition. Researchers from Canada's Population Health Research Institute recruited more than 600 male and female subjects with a variety of ethnic backgrounds. After subjects completed food frequency questionnaires they were measured to determine waist-hip ratio (WHR). Energy intake from protein averaged less than 16 percent in subjects with the highest WHR (indicating excessive abdominal fat). Those with the lowest WHR averaged 17.4 percent energy intake from protein.

In their conclusion the authors wrote: "Substituting a modest amount of protein for carbohydrate may reduce abdominal obesity."

The key word here is "modest." For many people, a slight dietary adjustment away from carbohydrates (especially simple carbs from refined food products) may help tuck in that middle-aged spread.
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How to prevent bladder cancer, by Dr. Mindell (via UPI)
The American Cancer Society reports that 60,000 people will be newly diagnosed with bladder cancer this year alone. For some, genetics may be to blame. For others, the cause will be from smoking. So, if you are a smoker, please quit today. It?s one of the best things you can do not only to reduce your risk of bladder cancer, but to improve your health overall. A new study has also recently reported the promising roles of two nutrients in reducing the risk of developing bladder cancer: vitamin E and folate.
Research out of the Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas has shown that individuals with a higher intake of vitamin E (15 milligrams a day) showed a 42-percent reduced risk in bladder cancer. It is important to note that foods containing high levels of the alpha-tocopherol form of vitamin E offer better protection because they can reduce DNA damage. Those foods include red and green bell peppers, spinach, mustard greens, almonds, sunflower seeds, and vegetable oils. On the other hand, walnuts, pecans, and garbanzo beans contain a different form of vitamin E and don't offer the same protection against bladder cancer.
Another natural helper is folate, which studies show can cut the risk of bladder cancer nearly in half by assisting with DNA repair. Folate, a B vitamin that is found in nutritional supplements as folic acid, has received much attention over the past years for its beneficial use in reducing the risk of certain serious and common birth defects. To get enough folate each day, be sure to eat fruits, dark-green leafy vegetables, and dried beans and peas; eat folic acid-fortified enriched cereal grain products and breakfast cereals; and take a vitamin supplement containing folic acid.
----- To learn more about how Dr. Mindell can help you get into the best shape of your life, visit: http://freelife.com/Sites/keith/Redir.cfm?page=/info/nutrition/nu tritionhome.cfm
Source: United Press International

Eye disease-common complication of diabetes

LOS ANGELES (United Press International via COMTEX) -- A study has found U.S. senior diabetics have high rates of untreated eye disorders -- even among those who had seen their doctors in the past year.

Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles said the findings suggests the need for identifying ways to improve the management of eye care for older diabetic patients.

In the study, which appears in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, the researchers examined 418 patients 65 or older with type 2 diabetes -- 311 with managed care health insurance and 107 with fee-for-service health insurance. Both groups had high rates of untreated eye disease, but the managed care patients had higher rates of cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

The researchers noted the majority of study participants had been seen by an eye-care specialist in the previous 12 months, which suggests there may be a problem with the quality of eye care seniors receive.

Copyright 2005 by United Press International.
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From Dr. Douglas: Are you getting enough magnesium in your diet?
Government "of the people?" I hope not...

I spend a lot of time and spill a lot of ink railing about the government, I admit it.

It's for good reason, though. Every year, the Fools on the Hill waste billions of dollars of YOUR money while they pass endless stacks of nonsensical laws and regulations that are drafted not in your best interests, but solely to increase the flow of cash into their coffers. And while this is hardly a revelation, it bears repeating every so often so we don't forget who's really putting up the roadblocks that prevent us from living the lives and enjoying the rights our Founding Fathers envisioned.

Just the other day, I came across something in a years-old stack of papers that really served to hammer home the point that our government has lost touch with us - that they are no longer a government "of the people." It was a printed copy of an un-attributed e-mail that was making the rounds among us dissenters about the personal lives of the members of Congress, circa 2000. Here's what I mean:

According to the dispatch, of the 535 elected officials sitting on the 106th Congress...
117 had bankrupted at least 2 businesses
71 had credit issues so severe they couldn't get a charge card
21 were in the midst of lawsuits against them
19 had been accused of kiting checks
8 had been arrested for shoplifting
7 had been arrested for fraud
14 had been arrested on drug-related charges
3 had been arrested for assault
29 had been accused of spousal abuse
84 had been stopped for drunk driving IN 1998 ALONE!
If these statements are true (and I have no reason to think they aren't), it means that if this is a representative sample of our citizenry, 21% of us have been bankrupt twice, 13% of us aren't creditworthy in the least, and nearly 16% of us get pulled over for driving drunk every year. See what I mean about the folks we elect not being like us? To look at it another way, would you WORK for a company whose board of directors acted like this?

Now, in all fairness, I haven't verified this information. I'm just too busy, and I wouldn't know where to start anyway. But let's face it - based on the high jinks we see them pulling every day up on The Hill, would such a sordid history of rampant financial irresponsibility and arrogant disregard for the law among our Congress-persons really surprise us?

It doesn't surprise me at all. What DOES surprise me is the fact that the mass media doesn't seem to uniformly report on their foibles and legal troubles either before they're elected or after. With the exception of the credit info, everything on the list above should be public record for journalists or anyone else to see, if only they'd look.

But no, they're too busy looking the other way all the time...

Ahead of the curve, once again

Perhaps we'd all remember a little more of our elected officials' shenanigans (at least the precious few we actually HEAR about) if we were getting enough of one of my favorite minerals: Magnesium. At least, that's the gist of some exciting new research out of MIT.

Now, I've always been a big fan of magnesium for overall health - it's a great boon to bones and bodily tissues of all types, plus it helps release stored energy from your muscles. I've also recommended it for a myriad of more specific medical issues, like osteoporosis. I've also long known of magnesium's powerful effects on the brain. As far back as the 1970s, I used magnesium in emergency medicine to help limit brain damage in stroke victims - a practice which has since been validated by scientific studies.

But a new study conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has discovered that magnesium also helps to regulate brain receptors that play a crucial role in learning and memorization, according to a recent HealthDayNews article. The research shows that a deficiency of the mineral contributes to an impaired ability to learn and memorize, while an abundance of magnesium may actually boost cognitive function.

Apparently, the mineral enhances the plasticity (changeability) of synapses, the neural connections between brain cells. This action makes it a powerful ally in the war against cognitive decline and memory degeneration, the study's authors conclude.

It's currently estimated that more than half of Americans don't get enough magnesium...

That number must include every member of Congress and all of the mainstream media - it seems like none of them can remember what they're really supposed to be doing.

Always representing - and always remembering, too,

William Campbell Douglass II, MD
More on magnesium from www.americanheart.org
If you’re not getting enough magnesium, you may be a candidate for coronary artery disease. Researchers at Northwestern University School of Medicine recently found that calcium levels in coronary arteries, an indication that arteries may be narrowed or blocked, are higher when magnesium intake is low. Nearly 3,000 men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 participated in the study. The researchers assessed the subjects’ coronary artery calcium levels at the start of the study and again 15 years later. They also collected information about the participants’ magnesium intake. The investigators concluded that the lower your magnesium intake, the greater your chances of having high coronary calcium levels that could lead to blocked arteries. The study results were scheduled to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention in April 2005. Dark green leafy vegetables are the best dietary source of magnesium.

Source: www.americanheart.org
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Ad space available, reasonable rates. newsletter@crankyyankee.biz
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Is diabetes damaging your nerves?
Nerves send messages to and from your brain about pain, temperature and touch. They tell your muscles when and how to move. They also control body systems that digest food and pass urine. About half of all people with diabetes have some form of nerve damage. It is more common in those who have had the disease for a number of years. Nerve damage from diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy (new-ROP-uh-thee). It can lead to many kinds of problems. Controlling your blood sugar is essential to keeping this damage to a minimum.
What types of nerve damage can occur?
There are two common types of nerve damage. The first is sensorimotor (sen-so-re-MO-tor) neuropathy, also known as peripheral neuropathy. This can cause tingling, pain, numbness, or weakness in your feet and hands.
The second is called autonomic neuropathy. This type can lead to:
digestive problems such as feeling full, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation
problems with how well your bladder works
problems having sex
dizziness or faintness loss of the typical warning signs of a heart attack
loss of the warning signs of low blood glucose
increased or decreased sweating
changes in how your eyes react to light and dark
People with diabetes can also have what is called focal (FOH-kal) neuropathy. In this kind of nerve damage, a nerve or a group of nerves is affected, causing sudden weakness or pain. It can lead to double vision, a paralysis on one side of the face called Bell's palsy, or pain in the front of the thigh or other parts of the body.
People with diabetes also are at risk for compressed nerves. Something in the body presses against a nerve preventing it from sending a signal. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common cause of numbness and tingling in the fingers and can lead to muscle pain and weakness as well. Nerve damage can be hard to diagnose because its symptoms can be caused by other conditions. Symptoms can be very mild. Knowing the symptoms to look for and reporting them to your health care team can help. Make a list of your symptoms or use the checklists in this brochure. Your doctor will give you an exam and a number of tests to check for nerve damage.
What You Can Do If You Have Diabetic Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)
There's a lot you can do to prevent or delay nerve damage. And, if you already have diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), these steps can prevent or delay further damage and may lessen your symptoms.
Keep your blood glucose levels in your target range.
Meal planning, physical activity and medications, if needed, all can help you reach your target range. There are two ways to keep track of your blood glucose levels:
Use a blood glucose meter to help you make decisions about day-to-day care
Get an A1C test (a lab test) at least twice a year to find out your average blood glucose for the past 2 to 3 months
Checking your blood glucose levels will tell you whether your diabetes care plan is working or whether changes are needed.
Report all possible signs of diabetic neuropathy.
If you have problems, get treatment right away. Early treatment can help prevent more problems later on. For example, if you take care of a foot infection early, it can help prevent amputation.
Take good care of your feet. Check your feet every day. If you no longer can feel pain in your feet, you might not notice a foot injury. Instead, use your eyes to look for problems. Use a mirror to see the bottoms of your feet. Use your hands to feel for hot or cold spots, bumps or dry skin. Look for sores, cuts or breaks in the skin. Also check for corns, calluses, blisters, red areas, swelling, ingrown toenails and toenail infections. If it's hard for you to see or reach your feet, get help from a family member or foot doctor.
Protect your feet. If your feet are dry, use a lotion on your skin but not between your toes. Wear shoes and socks that fit well and wear them all the time. Use warm water to wash your feet, and dry them carefully afterward.
Get special shoes if needed. If you have foot problems, Medicare may pay for shoes. Ask your health care team about it.
Be careful with exercising. Some physical activities are not safe for people with neuropathy. Talk with a diabetes clinical exercise expert who can guide you.

Dairy has it's benefits for diabetes prevention.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Consumption of dairy foods, especially low-fat varieties, may cut the risk of type 2 diabetes in men, according to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine for May 9th.
Previous reports have shown an inverse relationship between dairy intake and the risk of insulin resistance syndrome in young obese adults, but it was unclear if dairy intake had a similar association with type 2 diabetes.
To investigate, Dr. Hyon K. Choi, from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and colleagues analyzed data from 41,254 men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. The subjects were free from diabetes, cancer, and heart disease at enrollment and were followed for 12 years.
A total of 1243 incident cases of type 2 diabetes were diagnosed during follow-up, the investigators point out.
After adjusting for BMI, physical activity, and dietary factors, men in the highest quintile of dairy intake were 23% less likely to develop diabetes than those in the lowest quintile (p = 0.003), the findings indicate. Each serving-per-day rise in total dairy intake was linked with a 9% reduction in diabetes risk.
Further analysis showed that the possible benefit of dairy intake was confined to low-fat items. Each serving-per-day increase in low- fat dairy intake cut the risk of diabetes by 12%, whereas intake of high-fat items had no significant effect.
"Our findings are most directly generalizable to men 40 years old and older with no history of type 2 diabetes," the authors state. Further studies are needed to determine if they apply to men with diabetes or to women.
In a related editorial, Dr. Janet C. King, from Children's Hospital Oakland in California, notes that the "role of dairy foods in health is very complex and probably varies with the genotype and phenotype of the individual. The study by Choi et al. is a further reminder of the potential importance of dairy intake and the continuing value of research in this area."
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New service from the Cranky Yankee: Proofreading.
Your ads, webpages, and other written work tell the world a lot about you. Though a lot of people nowadays can't tell if your spelling and grammar are correct, there are many who DO notice, and aren't so sure they want to do business with you. Reasonable rates. Guaranteed performance. proofreader@crankyyankee.biz
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RECIPE: BROCCOLI WITH LEMON SAUCE ~*~* INGREDIENTS: 2 pounds fresh broccoli, trimmed
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
6 tablespoons milk(use skim to reduce fat)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest (grated lemon peel)
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1/2 cup slivered almonds(almonds sliced thin-buy them already sliced)
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
DIRECTIONS: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the broccoli with a small amount of water in a 4-quart saucepan. Cook over medium high heat for 7 minutes or until tender crisp; drain. Arrange the broccoli in a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Combine the cream cheese, milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, ginger and cardamom in a large mixing bowl. Beat at medium high speed until smooth, scraping the bowl occasionally. Spoon over the broccoli. Bake for 15 minutes or until bubbly. Saute the almonds in the butter in a small skillet until golden brown. Sprinkle over the broccoli. Yield: 6 Servings

BROCCOLI COOKING TIPS Broccoli is available all year, with a peak season from October through April. Select a bunch that is dark green with tightly closed flowerets. The stalks should be firm, without leggy branches. The buds should be tightly closed and the leaves crisp. Also the stronger broccoli smells, the older it is. Refrigerate, unwashed, in a plastic bag, for up to four days. If you peel the tough fibrous outer layer off broccoli stems, it cooks faster, makes it esier to digest, and is more attractive. Broccoli stems can be cooked in the same length of time as the flowerets if you make "X" incisions from top to bottom through stems.

Editor's note: I've closed out my account on the mailer I was using, so I'm sending this letter manually. To continue receiving this letter, please log onto http://www.crankyyankee.biz and re-subscribe through the sign-up box. This newsletter will also be posted at:
http://mrscrankysblog.blogspot.com where there is a link to add the site feed to your Yahoo page if you have one. URL to add it to your RSS feedreader is: http://mrscrankysblog.blogspot.com/atom.xml
To contact me: newsletter@crankyyankee.biz

"Weird" businesses on the Web

2005-05-21T01:51:00.000-04:00

READ ABOUT *WEIRD* INTERNET BUSINESSES THAT MAKE
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Barbara J. makes a steady $8,500 a month telling people how
to rearrange their furniture... Jermaine G. makes over
$500,000 a year by teaching people how to play the piano
over the Internet... Rory M. takes in over $1 million a year
selling a little round gizmo for strengthening your wrist.

And now you can steal, duplicate, and shamelessly profit
from the exact same system they're using! To find out how,
go to:

http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/818379

PayPal's got another competitor launching

2005-05-04T12:51:00.000-04:00

If you have joined Paypal during their launching stage, would you have earned a lot by referring others? Who wouldn't? But that's history already, right? As you well know, I am always on the lookout for New Income Opportunities and I have just found one that I can proudly recommend to you. It's called TransactionPay and they are still in their launching stage.
Unlike Paypal, TransactionPay accepts ALL. No Country Exceptions. All you need to have is a valid email address and you can now SEND and RECEIVE money to/from anyone all over the world. And not only that, TransactionPay is now a huge income opportunity for you!http://tinyurl.com/c9bmq
With TransactionPay's free to join, hot new affiliate program, you can earn money from your referrals and from their referrals up to six levels deep! You can earn money deposited directly and instantly into your TransactionPay account. Each time a member in your downline makes a spend you will receive 2.5% of the fees collected by TransactionPay deposited directly and instantly into your TransactionPay account. TRANSACTIONPAY FEATURES:
* Secure Online Payment System For All Internet Transactions.
* Send or Receive Payment For Any Online Transaction Via E-Mail Anywhere In The World! -- Open to ALL with an email address anywhere in the world! No Exceptions! --
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* SUBMIT SITE TO TransactionPay SHOPS -- Add your website to TransactionPay SHOPS so that other members can visit your site. --
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TransactionPay is now one of the hottest income opportunities on the Internet!! Don't be left behind!

Busy Week Ahead

2005-05-01T10:33:00.000-04:00

Tonight--Sunday--7 pm , singing in the service at the City Rescue Mission.
Monday and Tuesday 7 pm Missions Conference
Wednesday 7:30pm more missions
Thursday 6:30 pm singing at the Trinity Rescue Mission.

Worked an extra shift Friday 3-11, went in last night at 7pm for a 12-hr shift-Thank God for overtime! Now if I could find enough time to keep up with my internet work and still get some sleep, I'd have it made. I wish I had internet acces at work, but I write a lot of my mail to floppy and I can read that on the company computers--late at night when it's quiet. Just had to spend time with my ISP's DSL tech support to get my modem working again--should have been asleep 15 minutes ago--but I'm back to high-speed surfing. The last few weeks it was getting almost as slow as dial-up.

The May newsletter will be going out (and posting) around the end of the week. Watch your inbox or check my blogs. Don't forget to add them to your Yahoo page or your feedreader.

Are you getting enough sleep?

2005-04-28T09:57:00.000-04:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27-APR-2005

Sleep Patterns Linked to Diabetes Risk

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Sleeping for less than six hours or for more than nine hours each night is associated with an increased risk of diabetes and impaired blood sugar (glucose) tolerance, researchers report in this week's issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

"There are a lot of people who sleep five or six hours per night who we generally think are not getting enough sleep," lead author Dr. Daniel J. Gottlieb told Reuters Health. His group hypothesized that people who do not get enough sleep may be at increased risk of developing diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance.

Gottlieb, of Boston University School of Medicine, and colleagues enrolled 1,486 subjects, ages 53 to 93 years, in their study. The subjects completed questionnaires regarding sleep patterns and underwent fasting glucose and glucose tolerance testing.

Diabetes was present in 20.9 percent of subjects and impaired glucose tolerance was present in another 28.2 percent. A usual sleep time of six hours or less was reported by 27.1 percent, including 8.4 percent who reported five hours or less. A total of 8.6 percent said that they slept for nine hours or more.

Compared with subjects who slept for seven to eight hours each night, the risk of diabetes was increased by 2.5-fold in those sleeping five or less hours, 1.66-fold for those sleeping six hours, and 1.79-fold for those sleeping nine or more hours. The corresponding increased risks of developing impaired glucose tolerance were 1.33-, 1.58-, and 1.88-fold. Blood glucose levels were not significantly affected by insomnia.

"These are strong associations suggesting that voluntary sleep restriction may cause impaired glucose regulation," Gottlieb said. "Probably those sleeping nine hours or more per night are doing so because of some underlying condition that may not be diagnosed but that puts them at increased risk of diabetes," he suggested.

The authors also noted that adequate levels of sleep should be tested as a non-drug treatment strategy in patients with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance.

Sleeping for at least seven hours a night, Gottlieb concluded, "is a good health practice for a variety of reasons, and this is one more reason."

SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine, April 25, 2005.

Add this blog to your Yahoo homepage

2005-04-16T12:21:00.000-04:00

The Cranky Yankee April Newsletter

2005-04-16T03:36:00.000-04:00

The Cranky Yankee April 2005 Newsletter

Why Low-Carb Diets Work

A new study by Temple University School of Medicine researchers has shown why the pounds melt so quickly on low-carbohydrate diets, and it's not related to water, metabolism or boredom. The research was conducted in a group of obese patients with type 2 diabetes who followed the Atkins diet.
According to lead researcher, Guenther Boden, MD, "When carbohydrates were restricted, study subjects spontaneously reduced their caloric intake to a level appropriate for their height, did not compensate by eating more protein or fat, and lost weight. We concluded that excessive overeating had been fueled by carbohydrates."
Almost 80% of diabetics are overweight or obese, compounding health risks such as heart disease and stroke. Boden wanted to examine how low-carbohydrate diets, which have been shown to produce rapid weight loss, affected weight, appetite and blood sugar in obese diabetics.
He discovered that study subjects did not eat less because they were bored with the food selection, and their weight loss was not attributable to water loss, two common speculations about low-carb diets. Further, weight loss could not be explained by a change in metabolism, another popular misconception.
The study, "Short-term effects of low-carbohydrate diet compared with usual diet in obese patients with type 2 diabetes," appeared in the Annals of Internal Medicine. It is the only study of the Atkins diet to have been conducted in the strictly controlled environment of a clinical research center where every calorie eaten and spent was measured.
After a week of typical eating, 10 obese patients with type 2 diabetes followed the Atkins diet for 2 weeks, with carbohydrates limited to 20 g per day and unlimited protein and fat.
"When we took away the carbohydrates, the patients spontaneously reduced their daily energy consumption by 1000 calories a day. Although they could have, they did not compensate by eating more proteins and fats and they weren't bored with the food choices. In fact, they loved the diet. The carbohydrates were clearly stimulating their excessive appetites," said Boden.
All patients stayed in the hospital for the length of the study to insure exact measurements of calorie intake and expenditure. In other studies of the Atkins diet, subjects were at home and reported their own diet and exercise, making it difficult to ensure accuracy.
In addition to the calorie reduction and weight loss, subjects experienced markedly improved glucose levels and insulin sensitivity, as well as lower triglycerides and cholesterol.
Treatment for diabetes centers on closely monitoring sugar levels, diet and medication. Weight loss can often reduce or eliminate the need for medication, including insulin.
Boden warned that the long-term effects of low-carbohydrate diets are not known. Whether other types of diets would have a similar impact also remains to be investigated.
This study was funding by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the American Diabetes Association. This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2005, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com.
To see more of the NewsRx.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.newsrx.com.
© 2004 NewsRx.com. All Rights Reserved.;;©Copyright 2005, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com

Obesity = Die Younger?

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- U.S. life expectancy will fall dramatically in coming years because of obesity, a startling shift in a long-running trend toward longer lives, researchers contend in a report published Thursday. By their calculations -- disputed by skeptics as shaky and overly dire -- within 50 years obesity likely will shorten the average life span of 77.6 years by at least two to five years. That's more than the impact of cancer or heart disease, said lead author S. Jay Olshansky, a longevity researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Arginine for increased insulin sensitivity

As reported in the journal Diabetes Care, a team of researchers from the UK and Italy mounted a study to examine the effect of arginine on insulin sensitivity.

The subjects included 12 type 2 diabetics with an average age of 58. None of the subjects were overweight and their only treatment for diabetes was diet modification. Ten non-diabetics served as control subjects, participating only in the testing portion of the study.

The 12-week study was divided into two phases. In phase one, subjects simply continued their normal diets for one month. In the second phase, subjects were randomly divided into two groups. One group remained on their diet and received a placebo for two months. The other group did the same for one month, but in the final month the placebo was replaced with an arginine supplement: three grams, three times each day. Insulin sensitivity was monitored throughout the study.

Analysis of the data showed a four percent increase in insulin sensitivity in the control group, compared to a 34 percent increase in the arginine group. And although the arginine didn't completely resolve insulin sensitivity issues, the change was a significant improvement. The arginine group as a whole also experienced a decrease in systolic blood pressure.

L-arginine's dietary sources include dairy products, meat, poultry and fish, as well as nuts, rice, whole-wheat, soy and raisins. It can also be taken in supplement form, available in most health food stores and through Internet sources.

If you talk to your doctor and decide that arginine supplements might help your insulin management, here are two supplementing tips from HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D.:

"In my opinion it is correct that arginine (or ornithine, or l-tryptophan, or l-carnitine, or whatever, if it's an amino compound) should not be taken with a protein meal. There are a limited number of receptors for protein substances (protein foods are composed of amino acids), so the supplement you paid good money for will be 'diluted' by the presence of other proteinaceous substances in the digestive neighborhood. That is not true of most other supplements, which should be taken with food.

"For serious users I go with 1000 milligrams twice/day to three times/day between meals, and I've found that most of the amino supplements work better with some degree of exercise."

One last note for those who are dieting and exercising; arginine has also been shown to facilitate muscle metabolism by reducing body fat while increasing muscle mass.

Tips for Eating Out

How to keep control and not succumb to restaurant temptations:
Kid-size it. If there are child-sized portions on the menu beyond the standard macaroni and cheese and hot dog fare, request a children’s size or a half-portion.
Call ahead. If you aren’t sure of the range of menu options at a restaurant, phone first and find out. Most will be happy to oblige you.
Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask your server if substitutions are available for menu items.
Analyze. Many popular national and regional eateries offer nutritional information for the asking, either online or at their restaurants.
Share dessert. Just can’t pass up the dessert cart? It’s okay to indulge once in a while, in moderation. Share one serving among several diners.

Monitoring your Blood Glucose
First you need a monitor:
There are a wide variety of blood glucose monitors to choose from, from stripped down single-reading meters to models with computer compatibility, alarms, and backlights. Think about the functions that are important to you. For example, if you like seeing trend data on your glucose readings, a meter that has extensive memory may be for you. People with vision impairment may prefer a large display, or an adaptive meter with voice reading capabilities. Size may also matter; if you prefer an unobtrusive glucose monitor that can be used discretely you’ll want something small and easy to handle. Your certified diabetes educator or pharmacist is a good source of information on what blood glucose monitor may be right for you.

Most meters on the market today read blood plasma, the same standard that is used in a clinical setting (many older meters provide whole blood readings). Consider the following features when deciding on a blood glucose monitor:
Size and user-friendliness. Is it convenient for your needs and easy-to-use?
Time to readout. How long does the meter take to display results?
Memory. How many test results will the meter’s memory hold, and does it have the capability of averaging results for a designated time period?
Trend data and computer compatibility. Does the meter interface with a computer and allow you to download meter results and generate blood glucose trend information?
Battery life and availability. Will battery power last a reasonable amount of time, and are the batteries easily available at a local store or must they be special ordered?
Blood sample size. Does the meter require a minimal amount of blood, or do you have to open a vein to get a reading?
Alternative site testing. Some meters allow you to test blood samples from the forearm and other sites beyond the fingertips.
Cost. Factor in the cost of test strips when evaluating your meter purchase.
Multitasking. Some blood glucose monitors double as blood ketone testers (Precision Xtra; MediSense) and insulin injection devices (InDuo; NovoNordisk)
Adaptive technology. If you have vision impairments, you may need a meter that “speaks” your results.
Bells and whistles. Glow-in-the-dark cases, backlighting, and swappable faceplates are just a few of the other features today’s blood glucose meters can offer.
What other supplies do you need?
All meters require test strips to operate—a small chemically treated strip that slides into the meter. After insertion, a drop of blood is placed on the opposite end of the strip that protrudes from the meter, and the meter reads the glucose level and displays the number on the screen.
Some monitors use test strip drums, which are self-enclosed spools of strips that automatically load without user intervention. Small children and adults who have difficulties with their fine motor skills may find this type of monitor easier to use.
You’ll also need a lancet (a small, fine needle) to get a blood sample for testing. Lancets are inserted into a lancet device—a spring-loaded mechanism about the size and shape of a pen. A dial allows the user to adjust the depth of the lancet stick. Typically there is a button that you push to release the lancet into a fingertip or other site to draw a blood sample. Lancets come in different gauges; the higher the gauge, the finer (i.e., thinner) the needle. Higher gauge needles are less painful, but they also may create a smaller blood sample.
Your blood glucose monitor may also come with control solution (for calibrating the monitor per manufacturer’s directions for use) and a carrying case.
Why self-test blood glucose levels?
Testing enables you to see how certain foods, activities, and situations may impact your blood glucose levels. It can also help you and your diabetes care team evaluate how effective, or ineffective, a new treatment routine or change in medication is. For people who take insulin, self-testing allows for more accurate dosage adjustments.

Target goals

The American Diabetes Association recommends the following general blood glucose testing goals for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes:

Preprandial* (fasting, or before a meal)—90-130 mg/dl (5.0-7.2 mmol/l)
Postprandial* (1-2 hours after the start of a meal)—<180 mg/dl (<10.0 mmol/l)
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists suggests slightly different targets:
Preprandial* - <110 mg/dl (6.1 mmol/l)
Two hours postprandial* - <140 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/l)

*Note: Measurements are for blood plasma; whole blood values would be approximately 15% lower.

These goals aren’t for everyone, and your personal testing targets may run higher or lower. Your diabetes care team will work with you to determine self-testing blood glucose goals based on your individual medical history.
How often should you test?
The ADA suggests that people with type 1 diabetes and pregnant women taking insulin test their blood glucose levels at least three times a day. There is no official recommendation for daily testing frequency for type 2 diabetes; however the ADA does state that testing should be frequent enough to achieve blood glucose goals, and both type 1 and type 2 patients should test more often when their treatment regimen is adjusted.

April Recipe: A healthy carrot cake
A sweet treat that uses olive oil, honey, and walnuts for a bit of omega-3 fats.
Tools: 2 mixing bowls, wooden spoon, non-stick 8-inch-square baking pan, measuring cups and spoons.
Ingredients:
2 cups firmly packed finely grated carrots
juice of 1 large (about the size of a softball) orange
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup light olive oil
1 cup honey, liquefied in microwave (30 seconds)
1/2 cup crushed or chopped pineapple, drained
1 cup unbleached white flour
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
2 teaspoons baking soda (not baking powder)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 taspoon ground allspice
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In one mixing bowl, stir together the carrots, orange juice, vanilla, olive oil, honey, and pineapple until well blended.
3. In the other bowl, stir together the flours, baking soda, cinnamon, and allspice. Then add the walnuts and mix them in.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients (second bowl) into the carrot mixture (first bowl), stirring until mixed (no clumps of the dry
ingredients).
5. Pour the batter into the non-stick 8" square baking pan and bake for 45-60 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes
out clean. Remove from oven, let cool slightly (still warm), and remove from pan. (It will come out of the pan more easily if
it's still warm.)

Serves 9 (so don't eat more than 1/9 at a time)
Nutrients per serving:
333.6 calories (so take it easy)
5.3 grams protein
1.2 grams saturated fat
5.1 grams monounsaturated fat
2.5 grams polyunsaturated fat
61.6 grams carbohydrates
4 grams fiber
no cholesterol
6,902.6 IU Vitamin A
1.3mg/IU Vitamin E
8.4 mg vitamin C

Thanks to all who returned the survey. The winner of the eBook is Nancy Ziegner. Keep up with current news at our blogs:
http://mrscrankysblog.blogspot.com
http://crankyyankeesbiz.blogspot.com and
http://crankyside.blogspot.com
All three are available as RSS feeds. Contact admin@crankyyankee.biz for details. See you next month.

Personal note: Cranky's disability has been approved. It's just a matter of time before we start getting his checks. He's already on Medicaid, which has saved us big bucks on his prescriprions. Soon I may be able to cut back a little on all the overtime I've been working and get back to my re-edit of the Cranky Yankee website. Cranky hasn't been able to do much online, because the prednisone he's been on for years now has given him cataracts. We're hoping to get a referral soon to an opthalmologist who can remove the cataracts.
Thanks to all who've prayed for us. Mrs. Cranky

Greenzap is giving away money

2005-04-06T11:33:00.000-04:00

Hello Everyone ...

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The website doesn't officially launch until this summer, but
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if you open an account now, you'll get $25.00 from me!

Move Over ... PayPal... GreenZap is similar to PayPal but
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Where PayPal only rewards you $5.00 for the one person you
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From the Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

2005-03-29T10:12:00.000-04:00

"I was doing some background research for a study of L-arginine (also known simply as arginine) that showed how dietary intake of this amino acid might be effective in lowering C-reactive protein levels and reducing heart disease risk.

That study is certainly of interest, but the details don't quite have the legs to support an entire e-Alert. Fortunately I stumbled across another arginine study, and although it's a few years old (from 2001), it offers valuable information for anyone with type 2 diabetes or a pre-diabetic condition.
In several e-Alerts and HSI Members Alerts we've told you about the remarkable benefits of arginine, known to reduce inflammation, repair skin and connective tissue, and regulate the thymus gland. Arginine is also a precursor of nitric oxide, an essential compound and neurotransmitter that promotes blood circulation by dilating vessels and stimulates secretion of insulin. As reported in the journal Diabetes Care, a team of researchers from the UK and Italy mounted a study to examine the effect of arginine on insulin sensitivity.

The subjects included 12 type 2 diabetics with an average age of 58. None of the subjects were overweight and their only treatment for diabetes was diet modification. Ten non-diabetics served as control subjects, participating only in the testing portion of the study.

The 12-week study was divided into two phases. In phase one, subjects simply continued their normal diets for one month. In the second phase, subjects were randomly divided into two groups. One group remained on their diet and received a placebo for two months. The other group did the same for one month, but in the final month the placebo was replaced with an arginine supplement: three grams, three times each day. Insulin sensitivity was monitored throughout the study.

Analysis of the data showed a four percent increase in insulin sensitivity in the control group, compared to a 34 percent increase in the arginine group. And although the arginine didn't completely resolve insulin sensitivity issues, the change was a significant improvement. The arginine group as a whole also experienced a decrease in systolic blood pressure.
L-arginine's dietary sources include dairy products, meat, poultry and fish, as well as nuts, rice, whole-wheat, soy and raisins. It can also be taken in supplement form, available in most health food stores and through Internet sources.

If you talk to your doctor and decide that arginine supplements might help your insulin management, here are two supplementing tips from HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D.:

"In my opinion it is correct that arginine (or ornithine, or l-tryptophan, or l-carnitine, or whatever, if it's an amino compound) should not be taken with a protein meal. There are a limited number of receptors for protein substances (protein foods are composed of amino acids), so the supplement you paid good money for will be 'diluted' by the presence of other proteinaceous substances in the digestive neighborhood. That is not true of most other supplements, which should be taken with food.

"For serious users I go with 1000 milligrams twice/day to three times/day between meals, and I've found that most of the amino supplements work better with some degree of exercise."
And one last note for those who are dieting and exercising; arginine has also been shown to facilitate muscle metabolism by reducing body fat while increasing muscle mass."

For more health news subscribe to the Cranky Yankee's monthly newsletter. We search the health news for you for items of interest to diabetics.

How to clog up an inbox

2005-03-26T18:27:00.000-04:00

Sign up for BigMoneyPro. I tried to uncheck the email permission and it kept rechecking itself. I tried to change my email box so it wouldn't keep filling up the box I use for PTR's. Nothing worked, and there was no return address or unsubscribe link in the emails. And there was no sense opening them because the headline was the whole message. Finally I put in a support ticket and, about 24 hrs. later got an email saying they'd opted me out. I threatened them with either deleting my account ofr filing a spam complaint if they didn't stop the mail. I was getting over 100 a day! So, if you want to try the program, make sure the email permission is unchecked and STAYS that way. If not, put in a support ticket before you get so annoyed with the emails that you want to shut down their server.

And that's my rant for today!

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http://www.freeadvertisingforum.com/webpage.php?referrerid=50203
http://www.realitymillions.com/index.php?ref=crankyyankee
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http://quantumgold.com/default.php?id=10578
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http://www.instantgurublog.com/index.php?ref_id=2900
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Praise God for friends!

2005-03-21T12:23:00.000-04:00

I missed the 30 day expiration of a free trial and got charged $100 that I didn't quite have. That left my account $31 in the hole. One friend lent me $13, and 2 others came up with $10 each. I called the company, and they wouldn't give me authorization to send it back for a full refund, but I did get a credit for $60, which is the maximum they are allowed to offer. So, I've ended up with a $100 package for $40. Now I'll have to open the CD's (couldn't return them if I opened them) and see if they're worth having. Now, if any other charges will hold off until Thursday, I'm safe.

Got a line on 2 fantastic limited-time deals

2005-03-19T13:16:00.000-04:00

Hi
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Not one single person who purchased this book has been
disappointed with it, though.
People are eager to pay $79 for this *without* the bonuses;
because, they know how much this information will be worth to
them over the years.
Why am I selling it for $9.95 with the bonuses this weekend?
Because I'm feeling generous :)
Also, Dr.Mani's letting his friends - including me and many ezine
owners - help promote it and wanted to give us a chance to offer
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This book could be exactly what you need to turn your life
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There's a reason people are going crazy for this book. Don't
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All the best,
Nancy McPherson (Mrs. Cranky Yankee)
http://www.crankyyankee.biz

P.S. Here are just a couple of the rave reviews Emotion Prism
is getting:
John Harricharan, best selling author and inspirational guide
to stars like Muhammad Ali said:
"Your book is a great way to bring "Universal Truths" to the reader.
Using the method of an "extended allegory" holds readers' interest
and makes it possible for them to remember more than by just
reading a how-to manual. As you recall, "PowerPause" uses a story-
telling method (nonetheless a true story) to explain the three
principles. Congratulations, Mani! You have produced a very helpful
book."
-- John Harricharan, award winning author of bestseller "Power Pause"
And here's what heart specialist Dr.Rich Fogoros says:
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While the ideas you present are not new, what is new is that your
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help to many, many people."
-- Rich Fogoros, Heart Disease Guide, About.com
Remember, you have no risk in trying... and you get to keep the
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AND
7 day sale of a fantastic audio library with ebook bonuses. $19 today 3/19, price goes up $10 per day. After 7 days, sale closes. Vendor says Nevermore!

The wait may be coming to an end

2005-03-17T12:22:00.000-04:00

Cranky got a Medicaid card in the mail yesterday. When we interviewed with a Medicaid rep, she said that he would have to be declared disabled by Social Security to qualify for Medicaid. we haven't heard from Social Security yet, but we're hoping that receiving the Medicaid meand the Social Security disability is on its way.

http://www.crankyyankee.biz/nutritionals.html for the best diet and nutrition program ever.

Latest medical news says that obesity is lowering expected longevity rates. Be an exception to the trend--lose weight now for the LAST time.

Great time at the Prison

2005-03-15T13:20:00.000-04:00

Had almost 100 men there, 5 saved. Brother Martin was preaching out of John 8 and John 6.

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http://www.ebizrotator.com/goto/NM9363.htm
http://www.reality-networkers.com/index.php?refid=208133
http://customsuperhomes.com/crankyyankee
http://xtremedlc.com/team/ncm1780
http://www.realitymillions.com/index.php?ref=crankyyankee
http://www.300dollarsmail.com/pages/index.php?refid=crankyyankee
http://www.sequential-mktg-grp.com/members/trak000136/
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http://www.castawaymail.com/pages/index.php?refid=crankyyankee
http://www.rivermails.com/pages/index.php?refid=crankyyankee
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http://www.25-dollars-mail.com/pages/index.php?refid=crankyyankee
http://JV-Network.com/JV/552
http://www.pearlsofwealth.com/MySweetLord/index.php?referrer=crankyyankee
http://www.pearlsofwealth.com/PeterWALKEDONWater/index.php?referrer=crankyyankee
http://www.mebluedragon.com/dragon/?id=brianshonye@yahoo.com
http://www.ultimatefreedownline.com/35562
http://www.emails-empire.com/pages/index.php?refid=crankyyankee

Progress on disability claim?

2005-03-11T23:40:00.000-04:00

Had a three-way conversation yesterday--Cranky, his lawyer, and a rep from the disability determination office. I think his telling them that he was on oxygen 24/7 may have been the key. Maybe now they'll accept that he's disabled. They said they'd have a determination shortly. If it's a no, we can then go for an appeal; if yes, praise the Lord! This waiting for the initial determination, knowing that most people then have to appeal, has been a real pain. I just hope this stage is almost over.

More Blessings

2005-03-06T09:02:00.000-04:00

Won 2 door prizes yesterday at the "Art of Being a Healthy Woman" event sponsored by a local hospital, and then got called in for 4 hours overtime. Got to get to sleep now--I'm singing at the City Rescue Mission in Jacksonville Fl in the 7 pm service tonight, and after working 12 hours, I'n a little bit tired.

I'm still in shock

2005-03-04T14:20:00.000-04:00

Last week I carted Mr. Cranky to my bank to get his signature notarized. While we were there, I joked with the branch manager that I'd love to have my car turn up on their bumper sticker contest. When you get one of their stickers, they take a picture of the rear of your vehicle, showing the sticker and your license plate. Each week they post a photo at the teller windows. If the owner of that vehicle come in and claims it, they get $100. If no one claims it, the next week's pot is $200, and they keep adding another $100 each week that there is no winner. Yesterday, I stopped by, shortly before they were supposed to open, just to check my balance at the ATM. They opened the door and invited me in. There was the photo of my pickup posted at the teller window! And the pot was up to $500! We still haven't gotten Mr. Cranky's Social Security Disability, but the Lord is providing. Our church paid for some prescriptions he needed and gave us a food package; his doctor gave us physician samples on some of his other prescriptions; I got an extra (unexpected) 4 hours of overtime; and now this gift. Praise the Lord!

Mr. Cranky made it home

2005-02-25T00:27:00.000-04:00

Picked him up around 7 pm. Got about 4 hrs sleep until I had to get up for the delivery of his new hospital-style bed--after I worked a 12 hr shift on about 4 hrs. sleep (thank God for Herbalife NRG energy supplement). Planned to get about 4 more hrs sleep before work 'cause Cranky was supposed to be released around 4. Didn't make it back to bed 'til 9 for about another hour's worth. Cranky's doctor wants him on the Atkins diet, but we're going to try a modified Atkins combined with Herbalife. Doctor gave him an antibiotic for the next 10 days, that cost about $80. What ever happened to inexpensive generic antibiotics? The dogs are happy now--they hardly leave his side. We have to get rid of all the birds. Their dander irritates Cranky's lungs and increases the chance of infection. Anybody want to adopt a parakeet, cockatiel, Quaker, or parrotlet? Come pick them up or pay for the shipping and they're all yours.

Mr. Cranky should be coming home today

2005-02-23T09:38:00.000-04:00

He's feeling better, but his lungs are very weak--that's what 46 years of smoking can do. They're delivering a hospital bed this afternoon, so I have to get some sleep--only got 4 hrs. yesterday before going in for a 12 hour shift. will try to post more later.

Mr. Cranky's still in the hospital

2005-02-18T00:31:00.000-04:00

He's breathing a little better, but only when he's horizontal. When he gets up, he's got problems. I suspect part of it is the massive hernia he has left over from his aneurysm surgery almost a year ago. With his intestines slipping down, he has no support under his diaphagm, which can't help his breathing. Since his intestines aren't strangled, they won't fix the hernia--it isn't a life-threatening condition. Maybe his pulmonologist can connect it to his breathing difficulty so that it can be upgraded to necessary. We can pray they'll find justification for the surgical repair. Don't know when I'll get him back. In the meantime, the dogs miss him and I have to feed the fish and all the birds. At least I'm not scrubbing down the computer desk before I can use it, mopping up coffee trails across the kitchen floor, or picking food out of the keyboard. P.S. Cheap way to protect your keyboard--Get a roll of plastic wrap and cover the keyboard. When the plastic wrap gets dirty or torn, throw it out and put on a new sheet. One inexpensive roll will last for months.

Social Security Disability

2005-02-16T12:36:00.000-04:00

Brian applied for disability a year ago. He's been sent to a number of doctors for tests and exams, and every one has said he qualifies. He is now on oxygen 24/7, and his eyesight is blurry part of each day because of his diabetes. And the medical disability board still can't figure out that he's disabled. I'm starting to think that they purposely delay approval for benefits hoping that the applicant will die before they have to pay off. One of my co-workers lost her husband a couple of years ago. His approval came in in the mail 2 days before he died, but since he didn't live long enough for a check to be issued, the family got NOTHING. We pay in for years, limiting our ability to save for our own needs, and then, when we need it . . . . . . You want something to be expensive and inefficient? Let the government do it!

Going to Prison tonight

2005-02-14T10:27:00.000-04:00

No, I'm not getting locked up--just going to sing in the chapel service. But that means I have to get to bed early so I can be up all evening, and overnight at work. I've got 3 hour-long tapes of my singing. Contact me for copies. Instant Buzz 4 day push is almost over--grab your copy while you can!

Four-day open enrollment in Instant Buzz

2005-02-12T09:47:00.000-04:00

I got in on Instant Buzz before the first 4 day open enrollment period. Now they've released IB2, which is even better. If you haven't gotten yours yet, grab now before it goes back to being invitation only. Here's my link:http://www.instantbuzz.com/CrankyYankee and a product review.

Product Review: Instant Buzz 2.0
Ratings: Ease of Use: 5 Stars Effectiveness: 5 Stars +! Features: 5 Stars Price: Free
Our Recommendation: Insanely Great Promotion Tool!
Instant Buzz 1.0 was clearly the sleeper hit of 2004. The 2.0 launch is something splendid on an entirely different level. Read on to discover the one feature in 2.0 that will prove to be a paradigm shift in Internet advertising. If you blinked, you missed the launch of Instant Buzz because it was only done so to a very limited group and then grew by invitation-only. Instant Buzz was created by the prolific software developer Mike Chen. Rumor has it that he hired the legendary Mark Joyner himself to oversee the marketing strategy and ad copy for the project. The combination has proven to be exceptionally effective. Quietly, while no one else was looking, this tool has developed a massive following of extremely loyal users. The loyalty is based on one thing and one thing only: it's free and it works like crazy. There are a great number of "free traffic building tools" on the market, but most are simply ineffective and frankly unprofessional. Instant Buzz stands out as a polished, professional tool for serious marketers and SOHO entrepreneurs alike. The 1.0 version of Instant Buzz was simple, but extremely effective. You simply downloaded the Instant Buzz bar on to your Internet Explorer and then as you surfed two things happened: 1. Instant Buzz Ads Appeared on the Bar They are quiet, attractive, and unobtrusive, but amazingly people click on them like crazy. 2. You Earned Ad Credits That's right. All you have to do is surf like you normally do and you earn credits. That was 1.0. 2.0 has all of that and more. Before I talk about the new features available in 2.0, here are some things that distinguish Instant Buzz from other tools in its class: 1. A Professional Company with Eager Support Instant Buzz is backed up by an 18 hour a day 6 day a week support staff. 2. Non-Coercive Clicks = High Quality Traffic Most other free traffic systems are based on either tricking or coercing people to click on links. Instant Buzz is totally voluntary so all of the clicks you get are generally of very high quality. Further, the voluntary clicking means that the traffic you get from Instant Buzz is in fact targetted (even though the ads are seen by an untargetted pool of people). 3. Multiple Traffic Sources With the release of Instant Buzz 2.0, there are now a total of three different ways you can earn traffic to your website. These are three completely complimentary and independent sources of traffic. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, but one is genuinely the most powerful web traffic generation method I have seen to date. (read on ...) What's New in 2.0 There are a number of minor to medium size improvements in 2.0 that make a huge difference in ease of use and stability in 2.0. However, there is one new feature that's so important and so powerful that I'm reluctant to mention anything else. The MailSpace Ad I don't think it would be a stretch to say that this is a revolutionary development for Internet advertisers. The patent-pending InstantBuzz MailSpace Ad is the world's first and only Email Ad Exchange system. What does that mean? Well, we have to look at the history of traffic exchanges. The trend was started with a now defunct site called "StartBlaze" - the very first traffic exchange program on the Internet (invented by Mark Joyner). This system allowed you to exchange traffic via your browser start page. You'd install the software and every time you opened your browser a start page from a different StartBlaze member would be displayed, and you'd earn credits. As your earned credits, your page would be displayed on the start page of other members. On top of that was a clever network-marketing style compensation system where you earned even more credits from the surfing activity of those you told about StartBlaze. It was a beautifully simple concept and it worked wonderfully. By extension, Joyner maintained one could turn virtually anything into a traffic exchange. He proved this with the subsequent release of "ExitBlaze" which allowed people to exchange exit traffic. Since then there have been literally hundreds of traffic exchanges based on this original core model. By far, the Instant Buzz system of exchanging email ads is the most powerful use of this original model to date. Here are two of the many reasons why: 1. Mass Email Advertising Minus all the "Bad" MailSpace Ads are only allowed in personal one-to-one email communications so you can always be sure your traffic credits are being spent on ads that are likely to be seen. This is mass email advertising without all of the problems normally associated with it. The recipient is willing. He's likely to see it. And because it rides along with an email from a friend, it's unlikely to cause any problems. 2. Built-In Viral Growth Because each MailSpace Ad is not only an ad exchange but an ad for Instant Buzz itself, over the people who "sign up" for Instant Buzz under you will grow, and thus you'll earn more and more traffic. Since the referral structure is based on the clever concept of the "Infinity Stream" there is no reason that the traffic you earn will not increase indefinitely. Instant Buzz is normally by invitation-only, but for the next four days they are opening up sign ups to the general public to showcase version 2.0. http://www.instantbuzz.com/CrankyYankeeNOTE: If when you click on the above link you get a notice saying "Instant Buzz is available by invitation only" it means that the open enrollment period for Instant Buzz has expired. I'm more than happy to send you an invitation, though, if I have any available. Please send me an email to: brianshonye@yahoo.com

Health News

2005-02-11T12:27:00.000-04:00

I saw an interesting item in my mail today. It seems that a recent study shows that the best measure of whether someone will succeed on a diet is whether they can stick to it. Most of the fad diets get old fast and get dropped. If they severely restricted calories, about all they did was slow down the dieter's metabolism so that the weight comes right back. An eating plan that satisfies and nourishes is the best bet; and having positive feedback and encouragement greatly increases success rates. Herbalife distributors have the products to nourish the body and rev up the metabolism. We also follow up on our customers, giving them guidance and encouragement every step of the way. Our long-term success rates are amazing! My coach went from a size 20 to a size 8 and has been staying slim for over 3 years. Proper nutrition can also allow the body to heal itself, while most drugs, while helping with one condition often cause another that requires another prescription . . .that requires another . . .
More info on health and nutrition and cooking for diabetics at http://www.crankyyankee.biz
Request your own custom diet plan at http://www.great2losewt.com

Short weekend--too much to do

2005-02-10T12:56:00.000-04:00

My "normal" weekend is Thursday and Friday nights off. Well, at least I've got tonight. Working Friday night, and going in a half shift early Saturday evening. One of my colleague is having minor surgery, so I'll be working her Friday night. Unfortunately, my supervisor is working the open Saturday night shift, so she'll be in charge (usually I am on Saturday night.)
But 12 hours overtime pay is 12 hours extra income, and I can use the money.
So far so good--got my safelist ads out; laundry done; books I sold on eBay shipped; another trilogy listed for sale (Aviary48 is my eBay ID if you want to look). Singing tonight at the Trinity Rescue Mission-downtown Jacksonville, FL--service at 6:30, followed by dinner (they let me sing for my supper), so I'll be pulling my usual Thursday 24 hours plus. I got up Wed. evening, worked all night, and will probably crash sometime after 9 pm.

David Allen (The David Allen Show on 1320 The Patriot) interviewed Mark Levin last night about his book "Men in Black". I called in while driving to work and got to add my 2 cents worth to the discussion. The judiciary has usurped power over the other branches of government and needs to be reined in. It's a testimony to the government schools that most people, including our legislators, have no idea what the constitutional limits on the judiciary are. Congress has abdicated its responsibility to maintain the checks and balances written into the Constitution.

Strictly for the birds

2005-02-09T11:59:00.000-04:00

We have 2 cockatiels in a cage by the computer desk. Both were hand-fed as babies, but one is fairly friendly and the other seems to hate people. Even the friendly one isn't too fond of me, but all the birds like Brian. I guess he really is "strictly for the birds" (and I've gone to the dogs.)

Introduction

2005-02-08T14:49:00.000-04:00

I'm Mrs. Cranky Yankee. My husband was given the CB handle "Cranky Yankee" by his friends, when he was a long-haul trucker. We started the crankyyankee.biz website to share his experiences learning to cook dishes suitable for his needs as a diabetic. I publish a monthly newsletter on health and nutrition, with a new recipe in each issue. You can sign up for it on the website http://www.crankyyankee.biz Brian raises birds and has a webpage at http://www.highlandaviary.com Our family also includes 2 dogs--each about 50 lbs. and both think they're lapdogs. All for now, Nancy