April 2015

When I see commercials for Meta Health Fiber Bars I cringe.  If you believe the hype, Meta Health Fiber Bars are “the delicious and nutritious way to boost your daily fiber intake while you go about your busy day.”  But the reality is that the nutrition label on a Meta Cranberry Lemon Drizzle Health Bar reads like a candy bar:  corn syrup, invert sugar, sugar, honey, corn syrup solids, cranberries with added sugar and white coating with again more sugar.  The American Heart Association recommends limiting the amount of added sugar a woman consumes to no more than half of her daily discretionary dietary calories allowance.  That’s about 100 calories of sugar per day – 25 grams or 6 teaspoons. How could a Meta Health Bar be nutritious when it contains 12 g of sugar? Don’t reach for the Meta Health Fiber Bars . . . in my opinion they contain way too much added sugar to be a healthy snack.  If you are looking for that magic pill to stay regular or that super food that will insure you live longer and loss weight I’m afraid that I am going to disappoint you.  It’s not salmon, or Goji berries or green tea pills and it certainly isn’t Meta Health Fiber Bars.  Yes, Meta Health Fiber Bars contain psyllium fiber, which can help relieve constipation.   Unfortunately Procter & Gamble has chosen to wrap that fiber up in a sweet little package of processed sugar.

Today woman are embracing 50 shades of gray.  No . . . not what you’re thinking. I’m talking about shades of gray hair.  In the past gray hair was a privilege of the elderly but now it’s trending.  Some young female celebrities are even dying their hair gray to get the hot new look.  Beauty expert Bobbi Brown is saying yes to gray and offering woman tips on how to tweak their makeup to make you and your gray hair look your beautiful, healthy best.  I plan to pay to be a brunette for a little bit longer.  But, if you are tired of battling the gray it’s nice to know that you can feel good about rocking gray hair. 

Make the time to be good to you and take a walk in the rain.  It’s a great way to reconnect with Mother Nature and wash away the gloom of winter.

Good Health!

Terry

“Your body hears everything your mind says.” ~Naomi Judd

March 2015

The popularity of outpatient surgery centers has increased over the years because they are generally more convenient and cheaper for the patient. Today approximately two-thirds of surgical procedures are performed in an outpatient surgery center.  But, following the recent death of comedian Joan Rivers, whose death has been attributed to complications of a procedure performed in a surgery center, many are questioning whether or not surgery centers are safe and adequately equipped to handle emergencies.  Unfortunately, at this point in time a comparison of post-operative complication figures between procedures performed in a traditional hospital setting to procedures performed in a surgery center are not available. However, several public health organizations believe there is definitely cause for concern.  Dr. Kenneth Rothfield, a nationally recognized patient safety expert, a member of the board of the nonprofit group Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety and the chairman of anesthesiology at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, believes that the staff members of a surgery center might not be as prepared as they think they are and that hospitals are more likely to be fully equipped and to have staff members with greater experience handling emergencies.  The really scary part of this whole thing is that a 2010 report from the Centers for Disease Control said that two-thirds of the surgery centers they evaluated were not using proper infection prevention techniques.

So what do you need to know to protect yourself while receiving services at a outpatient surgery center? 

• It is critical that your overall health is evaluated before any procedure and that the medical/surgical staff is aware of any known drug allergies.
• Make sure that the facility is accredited by one of three agencies:  the Joint Commission, the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities or the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.
• Discuss emergency preparedness with the surgical staff.  Verify that a medical crash cart (wheeled cart containing a defibrillator, medicines and other lifesaving supplies that is standard in hospitals) will be present during a procedure and that the staff is fully trained. 
• Make sure your physician is board certified and has privileges at a local hospital.  And, that a board certified anesthesiologist will be present during the entire procedure. 

Believe it or not most people dedicate more time to shopping for a new car than they do to choosing a physician.  Make the time to be good to you and educate yourself regarding the credentials of the staff before any medical procedure.  You may like the convenience and the cost of a surgery center but it may not be the best facility to handle your specific medical needs.

Good Health!

Terry

"Careful who you show your crazy to."

D. A. Wendy Parks (Alysia Reiner) -- "How to Get Away with Murder"

February 2015

Some things you should know . . .

• Bad luck and random mutations are to blame for two-thirds of all adult cancers. 
• White wine is acidic and it etches teeth at a microscopic level making them more likely to stain.
• Low-fat yogurt can be healthy but you need to read nutrition labels carefully because many low-fat yogurts are loaded with added sugars. 
• The people who live the longest are the ones who participate in moderate exercise plans -- too much jogging is as bad for you as no exercise at all.  
• If you exercise in the morning before you eat you burn almost 20% more fat during your workout.
• Claims that green coffee extract can aid in weight loss are baseless and without supporting proof.  
• A French inventor by the name of Christian Poincheval claims to have created a capsule that eases indigestion and makes farts smell like chocolate. 

This month I am also very happy to share the news that five years after diagnosis and surgery to eliminate invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer I continue to be cancer free.  My oncologist used the “c” word -- cured.  But I'm taking nothing for granted and I continue to be vigilant about my health.  I encourage all of you to do the same and make the time to be good to you.

Happy Valentines’ Day & Good Health!

Terry

"I try to focus on who I am rather than who I'm not."

~Mariska Hargitay