What's the most common question?

I recently watched a commercial that asked what the most common question is. Can you guess?

It's "What's for dinner?"
The voiceover then goes on to say that the question that's not asked is "What's IN dinner?"

So true! Now, the commercial is for McCain's and I'm not sure I agree that they make the healthiest food options. It's been a long time since I've purchased any McCain's items, so I can't comment either way now, but the only thing I can think of by them are orange juice and frozen french fries.

Anyway, why is it that we don't focus enough on what's actually in the food that we eat? Read the ingredients on the food you eat. Do you know what's in there? How about when you go to a restaurant, or even worse (in most cases), a fast food joint? Many people pay more attention to the labels on their clothing (is it designer? is it a popular label?) than they do on the labels that report on the ingredients in their food!

I sometimes drive my husband nuts because I will put back a food that looks delicious on the package picture, but that has ingredients that are unhealthy. Just because it's labelled as "healthy", doesn't mean it is. It used to be that Captain Crunch and Fruit Loops were sold because of the colours they turned your milk and the toy inside and how yummy they are to kids. Now they sell those cereals with the idea that they are healthy because they contain fibre and vitamins. Too bad that they also contain all sorts of junk. Think Oatmeal Crunch is healthier? Sounds healthier. It's not. More sugar per serving size than Fruit Loops! Sunny D, Wonderbread, Nutella, Chef Boyardee, and more are all jumping on the "healthy" junk food bandwagon. Don't believe what they tell you. Read the labels.

UCLA Basketball player finds his rhythm with acupuncture

UCLA BASKETBALL: Honeycutt finds his offensive rhythm

By Jon Gold, Staff Writer

Posted: 01/22/2010 10:39:36 PM PST

LOS ANGELES - Trying to find some offense from Tyler Honeycutt has at times this season been like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Maybe all he needed were some needles in his shin - and his back - and his hip.

Honeycutt visited an acupuncturist on Wednesday and it paid off on Thursday in UCLA's 62-61 victory over Washington at Pauley Pavilion.

Honeycutt had 10 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block in what UCLA coach Ben Howland called his best performance of the season. In scoring double figures for just the third time, the freshman forward hit all four of his shots and both 3-point attempts.

"Body-wise, today was the first day I can remember since I've been here that I haven't had any pain," said Honeycutt, who is averaging 4.9 points and 5.9 rebounds in 12 games. "I've been having hip problems, so yesterday I got some acupuncture. Got it in my calf, my lower back - (Thursday) I woke up and everything is feeling good. I guess it works."

For the full article:

http://www.sgvtribune.com/sports/ci_14251804

Rescue Dog Rescued by Acupuncture

A search and rescue dog in Iowa able to run and jump and move without pain because of acupuncture treatments. After being nearly lame, they now believe he'll get two more years of rescue work. Check out the video: http://www.kcci.com/news/22308928/detail.html

5000 vs. 200 years

That's the difference between the number of years that Traditional Chinese Medicine has been in practice versus the number of years that conventional Western medicine has been in practice.

I liked this quote I pulled from an article:

'"To Westerners, scientific method consists of the collection of data through observation and experimentation, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses," says Chuang Shih-ming, a Chinese medicine doctor based in Taipei City.

"Chinese medicine also takes the same approach," he argues. "The only difference lies in the fact that Western medicine uses about 200 years of such 'scientific' methods of observation and testing of hypotheses to prove its effectiveness, while the Chinese version uses several thousands of years."'

http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1159633&lang=eng_news&cate_img=240.jpg&cate_rss=news_Supplement

President Obama Wants Acupuncture

Obama stated in a town hall meeting that he could use some acupuncture for a stiff back. When it was mentioned to him that alternative medicine is often more cost-effective and result-positive as conventional medicine, the President said, “it is pretty well documented through scientific studies that acupuncture, for example, can be very helpful in relieving certain things like migraines and other ailments — or at least as effective as more intrusive interventions.”

Obama also noted that the problem with implementing acupuncture and other alternative medicines into health policies is that the policy makers and insurance providers are thinking short-term. They recognize that preventative medicine may not show results immediately while policy makers and politicians are in office or while a person is employed with one company. That is part of the challenge.

http://www.healthcmi.com/index.php/acupuncturist-news-online/222-obamaacupuncturestlouis56398

Happy New Year! Learn how acupuncture can make 2010 even better...

This article was recently sent to me to show how acupuncture can help you to achieve some of your New Year's resolutions. Or, if you prefer not to make resolutions...how to make 2010 your best year yet...

5 Ways Acupuncture Creates Lasting New Year's Resolutions

An Article About How Effective Acupuncture is in Treating Hot Flashes

http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20091231/acupuncture-may-help-ease-hot-flashes?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Acupuncture May Help Ease Hot Flashes

Study Shows Acupuncture Offers Relief to Breast Cancer Patients With Hot Flashes

By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Dec. 31, 2009 -- Acupuncture not only cools hot flashes that occur as a result ofbreast cancer treatment but may offer a host of other benefits to boost women's well-being.

A new study shows acupuncture was as good as drug therapy with Effexor (venlafaxine) at easing hot flashes in breast cancer patients, but it also improved sex drive, energy levels, and clarity of thought.

"Acupuncture offers patients a safe, effective and durable treatment option for hot flashes, something that affects the majority of breast cancer survivors. Compared to drug therapy, acupuncture actually has benefits, as opposed to more side effects," researcher Eleanor Walker, MD, division director of breast services in the department of radiation oncology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, says in a news release.

According to the National Cancer Institute, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Typical treatment for breast cancer involves chemotherapy and five years of hormone therapy that often causes unpleasant side effects, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and decreased sex drive and energy levels.

Researchers say these side effects of breast cancer treatment significantly decrease a woman's quality of life and may cause some women to discontinue treatment.

Acupuncture has already been shown to reduce hot flashes in menopausal women, but researchers say this is the first study to compare acupuncture to drug treatment in easing hot flashes in breast cancer patients. The results appear in theJournal of Clinical Oncology.

Fifty breast cancer patients were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture or drug treatment for 12 weeks. The acupuncture group received acupuncture treatments twice per week for the first four weeks and then once a week for the remaining eight weeks; the drug group received 37.5 milligrams of Effexor each night for the first week and then 75 milligrams per night for the remaining 11 weeks.

All participants stopped their treatment after 12 weeks and kept a diary to record the number and severity of hot flashes; they were surveyed about their overall physical and mental health for one year.

Both groups experienced a 50% decline in hot flashes and symptoms of depression, but the acupuncture treatment appeared to have more lasting effects with fewer side effects.

For example, two weeks after the treatments stopped, the drug therapy group experienced an increase in hot flashes; the acupuncture group did not experience any increase in the frequency of their hot flashes until three months after treatment.

In addition, the Effexor group reported 18 instances of negative side effects, including nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, and anxiety, compared with no adverse side effects reported among the acupuncture group.

Most breast cancer patients treated with acupuncture also reported an improvement in their energy, clarity of thought, and sense of well-being. About 25% of women in the acupuncture group also reported an increase in their sex drive.

Anti-cancer drug to be added to junk food?

What do you think about Health Canada's thoughts to add an anti-cancer drug to junk foods that are carcinogenic?

a) Great idea. Try to prevent some self-induced diseases.

b) Do we really know what we're doing? Is this safe?

c) Why do we make excuses to live poorly? Why not just limit our junk foods and eat more healthy foods?

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20091222/junk_091222/20091222/?hub=TorontoNewHome

From my friend Desiree

I liked what she wrote in her first newsletter, so I've copied and pasted it here. This is all part of staying healthy!

My Three Sixty

The way I see it, our lives are becoming too serious. Our daily routines are full of tasks that need to be done and we move mindlessly through each one, just to get it done so we can move right onto the next. Before we know it, we pass through days, then weeks and months, until an entire year has blown right by us. Have you ever heard someone say “This year has gone by so fast!”? Of course, we all say it. We are too busy moving onto the next item on our list rather than being present and enjoying each moment.

I say it’s time to bring back the FUN. We all have tasks, projects, meetings, and work that needs to get done, so why not make them fun? Next time you are in a meeting, tell a joke or a funny story, introduce a bit of laughter and watch your colleagues loosen up. The meeting will be much more enjoyable. Next time you are grocery shopping, make a game out of it: time yourself and see how fast you can get it done. Or if you have time, strike up a conversation with the person picking grapes beside you – why not? Most importantly SMILE at the cashier; take time to speak with them and see how their day is going, I bet it will make you both feel better.

We will all get a lot more work done, teams will be more efficient/productive, and people will be happier if we are having fun. Life is short – take time to make it enjoyable!

A smile is very powerful – it’s even been known to break ice

Desirée Dupuis
778 245 2262
www.threesixtyfg.ca
VP BNI Morning City
www.twitter.com/threesixtyfg

It's your world, let us protect it.

Remember this...

"The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it."
Chinese Proverb.