Beware - Bad Food Additives

Relief from Knee Pain and Joint issues are not as simple as treating the symptoms. Nor is it as simple as providing your body with nutrients that will make the joints healthy and reduce pain. This is a total body issue with degenerative disease, and the key link being nutrition and effect that a lack of nutrients has on degenerative disease, hence the need to live a more healthy lifestyle if you want to make a difference without sucking down bunch of prescription drugs which may treat the symptoms and provide some relief, but they will also have consequences or what we call side effects.

A good article on bad food additives compiled from the book "Eat This, Not That".

Top 10 Scariest Food Additives
By David Zinczenko with Matt Goulding
Jul 01, 2011

The problem with additives runs deep. The FDA currently maintains a list of ingredients called Everything Added to Food in the United States (EAFUS), which features more than 3,000 items and counting. Thankfully, most EAFUS ingredients are benign, but a few of them do have potentially harmful effects. Why they're legal is a mystery to us. Some of them might be backed by powerful lobby groups, while others probably survive simply because some guy at the FDA has too much paperwork on his desk and hasn't made time to adequately review the data.

Below are 10 of the most dubious ingredients hiding in your food, compliments of Eat This, Not That!

2011. Even if you're not convinced of their danger, you have to admit this: The more filler ingredients you cut from your diet, the more space you have for wholesome, nutritious foods.

Scary Ingredient #1: Olestra
A fat substitute synthesized by Procter & Gamble. Because human digestive enzymes can't break down the big molecules, Olestra contributes 0 calories to your diet.

Why it’s scary: In the late ’90s, Frito-Lay released Olestra-enhanced WOW chips and Procter & Gamble introduced Fat Free Pringles. Both products were required to carry warning labels to notify customers about the risk of "loose stools." Within 4 years, some 15,000 people had dialed in to a hotline set up specifically to handle adverse-reaction complaints. Apparently the complaints didn't move the FDA, because in 2003, the administration revoked the warning-label mandate. If you want to take your chances with diarrhea, go ahead, but first consider this: Olestra also appears to interfere with the body's ability to absorb some crucial nutrients like beta-carotene and lycopene. To counteract the effect, processers add some nutrients back, but it's unlikely that all the blocked nutrients are adequetly replaced.

Where you’ll find it: Lay’s Light chips, Pringles Light chips

Scary Ingredient #2: Caramel Coloring
An artificial pigment created by heating sugars. Frequently, this process includes ammonia.

Why it’s scary: Caramel coloring shows up in everything from soft drinks and sauces to breads and pastries. When made from straight sugar, it's relatively benign. But when produced with ammonia it puts off 2-methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole, chemicals that have been linked to cancer in mice. The risk is strong enough that the California government, a bellwether for better food regulation, categorized 4-methylimidazole as “known to cause cancer” earlier this year. Unfortunately, companies aren't required to disclose whether their coloring is made with ammonia, so you'd be wise to avoid it as much as you can.

Where you'll find it: Colas and other soft drinks, La Choy soy sauce, Stove Top stuffing mix.

Sweet n LowScary Ingredient #3: Saccharin
An artificial sweetener discovered by accident in the 1870s.

Why it’s scary: Studies have linked saccharin to bladder tumors in rats, and in 1977, the FDA required warning labels on all saccharin-containing foods. In 2000, the agency changed its stance and allowed saccharin to be sold without warning labels. But that doesn't make it entirely safe. A 2008 Purdue study found that replacing sugar with saccharin in rats’ diets made them gain more weight, proving once again that you should be aware of these faux fat foes.

Where you'll find it: Sweet ‘N Low, TaB cola

Scary Ingredient #4: Potassium Bromate
A compound that conditions flour and helps bread puff up during baking.

Why it’s scary: Potassium bromate causes thyroid and kidney tumors in rats, and it's banned from food use in many countries. In California, products containing potassium bromate are required to carry a cancer warning. Fortunately, negative publicity has made the additive relatively rare, but until the FDA banishes it, you should remain on the lookout.

Where you'll find it: Johnny Rockets Hoagie Roll

OrbitScary Ingredient #5: Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)
Petroleum-derived antioxidants and preservatives.

Why they're scary: The Department of Health and Human Services says BHA is “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen," yet the FDA allows it to be used anyway. BHT is considered less dangerous, but in animal research, it too has resulted in cancer. Oddly, the chemicals aren’t even always necessary; in most cases they can be replaced with vitamin E.

Where you'll find it: Goya lard, Golden Grahams, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Orbit gum

McDonald's McChickenScary Ingredient #6: Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
A semi-solid fat created when food processors force hydrogen into unsaturated fatty acids.

Why it's scary: Partially hydrogenated fats are the principle sources of trans fat in the American diet, and a Harvard study estimated that trans fat causes 70,000 heart attacks every year. The good news: Partially hydrogenated oils are beginning to slowly retreat from our food. Progressive jurisdictions like New York City are starting to restrict the allowable amounts in restaurants, and many chains are switching to healthier frying oil. Still, the battle isn’t over. At Long John Silver’s, for example, there are still 17 menu items with more than 2 grams of the stuff. According to the American Heart Association, that's about the maximum you should consume in a single day.

Where you'll find it: McDonald’s McChicken, Long John Silver’s Broccoli Cheese Soup

Fig NewtonScary Ingredient #7: Sulfites
Preservatives that maintain the color of food, and by releasing sulfur dioxide, prevent bacterial growth.

Why it's scary: Humans have used sulfites to keep food fresh for thousands of years, but some people—especially asthma sufferers—experience breathing difficulties when exposed. In the 1980s, unregulated use resulted in at least a dozen deaths, prompting the FDA to slap warning labels on wine bottles and develop new guidelines for proper use. Now restaurants can no longer soak fresh ingredients in sulfites. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, there have been no known deaths since the new legislation took hold. The bottom line: If you're among the majority of people not sensitive to sulfites, consumption won’t hurt you. If you're not sure, ask your doctor for a test.

Where you'll find it: Wine, Sun-Maid Mixed Fruit, Jolly Ranchers, Fig Newtons

Dunkin Donuts BagelScary Ingredient #8: Azodicarbonamide
A synthetic yellow-orange dough conditioner.

Why it's scary: This chemical is used most frequently in the production of industrial foam plastic, and although the FDA has approved its use for food in the States, the United Kingdom has labeled it a potential cause of asthma. In a review of 47 studies on azodicarbonamide, the World Health Organization concluded that it probably does trigger asthmatic symptoms. The WHO concluded, “exposure levels should be reduced as much as possible.” I’ll put it more concisely: Avoid it.

Where you'll find it: Dunkin’ Donuts bagels, McDonald’s burger buns

CreamsicleScary Ingredient #9: Carrageenan
A thickener and emulsifier extracted from seaweed.

Why it's scary: Seaweed is actually good for you, but carrageenan is a mere seaweed byproduct. Through animal studies, it has been linked to cancer, colon trouble, and ulcers. It isn’t certain that carrageenan harms humans, but avoiding it is clearly the safer option. Most studies examined degraded forms of the additive, and research from the University of Iowa found that carrageenan could be degraded through the normal digestive process.

Where you'll find it: Weight Watchers Giant Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream Bars, Skinny Cow Ice Cream

Sandwiches, Creamsicles
Nature's Own Bread

Scary Ingredient #10: Ammonium Sulfate
An inorganic salt that occurs naturally near active volcanoes and is used commercially to nourish yeast and help bread rise.

Why it's scary: This nitrogen-rich compound is most often used as fertilizer, and also appears commonly in flame retardants. Thankfully, the ingredient only sounds scary—a 2006 Japanese rat study found the additive to be non-carcinogenic. Both the Center for Science in the Public Interest and the FDA deem it safe.

Where you'll find it: Nature’s Own bread, Subway rolls

Let the Consumer be Informed and the Buyer Beware!

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Weight Loss Tips,....Help Those Joints

Ahh, weight loss,...not only good for our spirits and how we see ourselves, but reducing the amount of weight you are carrying will help the joints as well. Remember, those extra 20 pounds feel like an extra 40 pounds to aching knees!

From Healthy Living, July 11, 2011, The Weight Loss Tips You're Not Trying

In reality, hitting the gym five times a week and sweating out major calories a la Britney Spears is on my priority list … it's just waaay down at the bottom with cleaning out my closet and watching "The Green Lantern."

I do care about eating right and burning more calories, but I just wish it didn't always feel like rocket science. Seriously, do I really have to read a 300 pager on some fad diet plan or learn army-worthy workout sequences just to decrease my "pooch"? There have got to be easier, sneakier ways to lose those stubborn pounds, right?

Fitness and lifestyle consultant Ashley Borden says absolutely. And while all these little tweaks may seem minor, they add up over time. Awesome.

No. 1

Limit your liquids to herbal tea and water only. Drinking even light juices or diet coke will still pack on pounds over time, says Borden. If you need a sweet fix, eat your fruit, don't drink it. You'll get more fiber and less sugar that way.

MyAchingKnees.com Tip: Slice up a cucumbers place in a quart of water then into the fridge. You'll have a good tasting drink after a couple of hours.

No. 2

Eat with chopsticks. "People who use chopsticks tend to eat way less and get fuller quicker because it takes longer to eat -- [chopsticks] slow you down," says Borden. This is one of the biggest rules of thumb when it comes to eating right. If you eat too fast your body doesn't register that it's full, so you'll keep eating unnecessary calories.

MyAchingKnees.com Tip: Eat with your hands - an even better way to eat less or eat by yourself.

No. 3

Take your workout to work. No time to exercise before or after work? Burn a few calories during your lunch hour instead. Borden likes the virtual jump rope for this purpose (try Airope Original, 34.95). It's easy to tote, you won't whip any colleagues, and two simple minutes of jumping will get you off your bum and blasting cals. Bonus: It'll give your back a much-needed break from hunching (and hurting), she says.

MyAchingKnees.com Tip: Go for a fast walk; 4 mph minimum for 20 minutes. This would be 1 1/4 miles. Include some stairs and even better if you can find a place to walk backwards. After a couple weeks, I'll be you lose at least an inch off your butt.

No. 4

Avoid low fat diets. "Fat is your friend, it will help you get fewer calories cravings," says Borden. Find good-for-you fats in avocado, olive oil and fish.

MyAchingKnees.com Tip: Learn the good and bad fats. Read the labels. Become an informed consumer.

No. 5

Do an activity that jumpstarts your lymphatic system, says Borden, like running, jump rope, and rebounding (jumping on a mini trampoline). These activities boost your circulation to help release built-up toxins, which in turn speeds up your metabolism. And you know what that means: More calories burned without any extra effort.

MyAchingKnees.com Tip: Do some exercise after you eat your final meal of the day (night). Doesn't have to be much. A short 20-25 minute fast walk,...don't forget about walking backwards!

No. 6

Sprinkle on the cinnamon. Flavoring your oatmeal, cereal, coffee -- you name it -- with cinnamon may actually control the insulin spikes that often occur after you eat, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture finding. These spikes can make you feel hungry, which isn't exactly ideal if you're trying to cut calories.

MyAchingKnees.com Tip: Honey is another good sweetener. Doesn't go bad in your pantry either. If it crystalizes, just put the jar in a pan of hot water.

No. 7

Avoid creamy foods. Example: Dairy or creamy dressings like ranch have more unhealthy fats and are harder to digest than olive oil-based fats found in vinaigrette-like dressings.

MyAchingKnees.com Tip: For a quick meal, cook some whole wheat pasta, then top with sprinkled extra virgin olive oil. Great anti-oxidant; good source of essential fats. Taste good too. You can add un-cooked or steamed onions, mushrooms or squash if you want to give it some body.

No. 8

Add more weight to your weight-training workout. It's a myth that women "shouldn't lift more than three pounds," says Borden. "The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism will be," she adds. So, don't be afraid to pile on the pounds (to your weight room routine, that is) and don't worry, contrary to popular belief, it's actually hard to add bulk. If you can do 15 reps of an exercise easily, add more weight until your last rep is an effort, she says.

MyAchingKnees.com Tip: 15 reps is a good figure, but a minimum number. Stack your exercises into a circuit with no rest in-between; add ab exercises between circuit runs. I'll bet you can get a good workout in less than 30 minutes. And remember that most diets fail because the person trying to lose weight does not give their body the nutrients it needs. Think high quality supplements.


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Top Killers of Men

Excellent article on 'What Kills Men from Men's Health',........however, when it gets to the "what to do about it" the article misses out on one very important "how". Men, and women for that matter,....and children as well, simply are not getting the quantity of high quality nutrients necessary to keep oxidative stress and therefore inflammation at bay.

The Top 5 Killers of Men
By Bill Phillips and the Editors of Men's Health
Jun 16, 2011

It was a sunny September day in the Pacific Northwest, and Jeff Hale had just closed a $1.5 million deal. To celebrate, he was taking the afternoon off, relaxing on his patio lounge, and playing ball with his dog. That's when he began feeling compression high in his chest, some pain in his left shoulder, and an unsettling sense of dread. At 44, he was in relatively good shape, although 15 pounds overweight and under a lot of stress from work. At first, he thought it was an asthma attack and took a hit off his inhaler. But when that didn't help, he remembered an article he’d read in Men's Health.

"There were two things from that article I recalled," he recounted to our reporter a few years ago. "One was that every heart attack is unique. My symptoms will be different from your symptoms. The other was, if you suspect you're having a heart attack, take an aspirin." Hale took two and drove himself to the hospital. He almost didn't make it. Doctors found blockages in three arteries and performed a triple bypass the next day. "They told me I'd saved my life," says Hale. "The
aspirin thinned my blood, and the inhaler dilated my arteries."

Heart disease is the number one killer of men, claiming the lives of nearly 400,000 fathers, friends, brothers, and sons every year. Often, the difference between life and death is razor thin—remembering to pop an aspirin, not delaying your trip to the E.R.

This week is National Men's Health Week, which was created by Congress in 1994 to raise the awareness of the health threats uniquely facing men. To commemorate, we’ve put together a list of the most popular ways to die as a man in America. Collectively, these diseases kill nearly one million of us annually. And, chances are, your lifestyle or genetic profile puts you at risk for at least one of them.

But, as Jeff Hale learned, our fates are not sealed. If you understand your risks, and learn how to negate them, you can outrun the reaper. Here’s how:

STROKE
Why you’re at risk: Each year, nearly 50,000 American men die of a stroke, according to the American Heart Association. I know what you’re thinking: But those are really old men. But you’re wrong. In fact, 1 in 14 stroke victims is younger than 45. As a neurologist I interviewed a few years ago told me: “If you did MRI scans on a hundred 40-year-olds, you’d see that a large number have already had a silent stroke.” And that’s scary because small, silent strokes often precede large,
debilitating strokes.

What you can do about it: Keep your blood pressure at 120/80 or lower. Every 20-point increase in systolic BP (the top number) or every 10-point rise in diastolic BP doubles your risk of dying of a stroke, says Walter Kernan, M.D., an associate professor of medicine at Yale University. The good news: Simple lifestyle changes can dramatically reduce your risk. Assess your stroke risk right here, and learn how to turn the odds in your favor.

CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE
Why you’re at risk: Nearly 60,000 men died from COPD—which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema—in 2006, according to the CDC. The chief cause: the Marlboro Man. In fact, smoking causes 80 percent of COPD deaths. Considering that tobacco use has also been directly linked to the other man killers on our Top 5 list—notably, heart disease (#1) and cancer (#2)—you have to ask:

Why are people still smoking?
What you can do about it: It’s pretty simple, really. You need to figure out how to kick butts for good. Improve your odds by joining a gym—smokers who are trying to quit often fall off the wagon during stressful moments. Regular exercise lowers levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the brain. Warning: Going cold turkey is one of the least successful ways of quitting. Find out how to tilt the odds of success in your favor by checking out Will You Be Able to Quit Smoking?

ACCIDENTS
Why you’re at risk: According to the CDC, 80,000 men die each year in unexpected tragedies, from sports injuries to fires to falls. But the most preventable accidental deaths are the 30,000 that occur on America’s roads every year.

What’s that? You’re a great driver? Not surprising that you think so. According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 72 percent of drivers regard themselves as more skilled than everyone else. Researchers trace the bias to a fundamental information imbalance, namely that the poorest performers are also the least able to recognize skill (or lack of skill) in themselves or others.

But fine, let’s say it’s true. Then consider the guys you’re sharing the road with: Surveys indicate there's a nearly 80 percent chance they speed regularly, and a 53 percent likelihood they talk on the phone while driving. There's a 4 percent chance they run red lights—on purpose—and a 2 percent chance they have driven after drinking too much. These guys make Evil Knievel look like a defensive driver.

What you can do about it: If you do one thing today, make it this: Stop texting while driving. You’ve probably heard that texting behind the wheel is just as dangerous as drinking and driving. Not true. Texting is way more dangerous. In fact, texting increases your risk of a crash by 23 times (versus 11 times for driving under the influence), according to a Virginia Tech study. Step into the
MH Driving Simulator and test how well you multitask behind the wheel.

CANCER
Why you’re at risk: The Big C killed nearly 300,000 men in 2010, according to the American Cancer Society. Lung cancer tops the list, accounting for 29 percent of all cancer deaths, followed by prostate cancer (11 percent) and colon/rectum cancer (9 percent). We all know that smoking causes lung cancer, but the risk factors for prostate cancer are less well known. Yet, it’s one of the most common—1 in 6 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetimes—and least understood killers of men.

What you can do about it: Take our quiz to determine your risk. If you’re at high risk, put certain staples of the Mediterranean diet on your plate. A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute shows that men who eat more than 10 grams of garlic or scallions (about three cloves of garlic or 2 tablespoons of scallions) daily have a 50 percent lower risk of prostate cancer
than those who eat less than 2 grams. Sound like too much of a good thing? Other studies have linked the lycopene in cooked tomato products to lower prostate cancer risk; aim for at least two servings a week. And if you really like coffee . . . Harvard researchers found that drinking 6 cups a day reduces your risk of developing advanced prostate cancer by 59 percent.

HEART DISEASE
Why you’re at risk: This is the deadliest disease known to man. More than 1 in 3 adult men have some sort of heart disease and more than 390,000 men died of the killer in 2007, according to the American Heart Association.

But you’re a fit, healthy guy, right? Why would you die of heart disease? Believe it or not, not every victim of the disease is overweight or inactive. Men’s Health Editor Peter Moore discovered this eight years ago. He was doing everything right: He was thin, exercised regularly, and ate a healthy diet. But none of that prevented one of the arteries in his heart from becoming 99 percent blocked.

Still think you’re risk-free? You can find out your heart disease risk by clicking right here. What you can do about it: Small lifestyle changes can yield big results when it comes to improving heart health. Here are four simple changes you can make today:

• Exercise for 30 minutes. Middle-aged men who exercise vigorously for two hours a week (aim for 30 minutes, four times a week) have a 60 percent lower risk of a heart attack than inactive men.

• Lose the spare tire. If you’re overweight, dropping 10 to 20 pounds lowers your risk of dying from a heart attack. In fact, a 10-year study found that overweight people had heart attacks 8.2 years earlier than normal-weight victims.

• Drink five glasses of water a day. Men who drink that many 8-ounce glasses are 54 percent less likely to have a fatal heart attack than those who drink two glasses or fewer. Researchers say the water dilutes the blood, making it less likely to clot.

• Count to 10. Keeping your cool under stress may keep you alive. Men who respond with anger are three times more likely to have heart disease and five times more likely to have a heart attack before turning 55.

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14 Year Old Baseball Player with Bad Knees

A Sports parent send me this question: ”Dear Myachingknees, my 14 year old son plays baseball and is very good, however the sport is taking a toll on his knees. He has to ice his knees after every game then he is stiff for 24-48 hours. Do you think the Glucosamine you recommend can help him? Dan, Phoenix , AZ. ”

At 14 years old I am not sure if all the bones, tendons and connective tissue is mature enough to handle the strain of sudden sprints, twisting turns, impact and other minor trauma on athletes. I would certainly consult with an orthopedic specialist on the pain or discomfort your son is experiencing. When I was 15 years old and playing summer ball (at 3B), I turned to my left suddenly to go after a ball and torn some cartilage in my knee – too me out for the summer. The spikes or cleats on the shoes can add to this problem.

I think the Glucosamine would help with cartilage health but would be maximized by ensuring your son received all the nutrients, in the proper amounts, for optimum cellular health. I see many people taking or wanting take just optimizers where the first priority in my opinion would be a complete nutritional formula, again in the right amounts (dosages) to provide what they body needs. So I would suggest trying a complete nutritional supplement and glucosamine optimizer for maybe three to six months,……maybe add in a Omega 3 Fatty Acid source as well,....really all you would have to lose is a small amount of money.

I would caution you on taking off the shelf supplements. Buy the best you can, pharmaceutical grade is best. I have no other reason, but pharmaceutical grade supplements, to attribute my greatly diminished knee and back pain and overall great health to.

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Menopause Weight Gain Hurting My Knees

MyAchingKnees.com received this e-mail question: "I am 48 years old and fairly active, walking and biking but lately I have been tired and my knees have been hurting. I have been taking Tylenol some. Although I am going through menopause my weight gain has only been 7 or 8 lbs in the last 9 months or so but I do get somewhat bloated. Would the bloating associated with menopause also affect my knees?"

Any significant weight gain can add stress to your joints. What’s significant? Well considering 5 lbs of additional weight is multiplied when your momentum such as when walking fast or jogging is done. I don’t think the bloating which is retaining water affects your joint much, unless for some reason the fluid is pooling or accumulating in your joints, which may be possible if sedentary for long periods of time. I am more concerned about you taking Tylenol. I have been completely off any pain meds for a long time now, reflecting my beliefs that 1 – pain medications are not good for you as they can affect your digestive tract and liver and cause other side effects, and, 2 – I’d rather work to treat the root problems rather than the symptoms.

Things you may want to consider is taking a high quality nutritional supplement; consider taking a phyto-estrogen (plant based) supplement; and look at a high quality Glucosamine supplement. My wife actually takes a phyto-estrogen product and she only takes 1/3 of the daily dose and it has stabilized her moods and her cycles. She also takes a daily multi-antioxidant and chelated mineral supplement and Glucosamine for her hips and thumbs and has seen significant improvement.

Some people just do not believe in nutritional supplements and optimizers, probably since they have not had a positive experience with quality products,…but I tell them “I know how you feel,…I felt the same way,…until I found the difference between pharmaceutical grade supplements and off the shelf, food grade ones.

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Energy Drinks Plus Alcohol equals Bad News

Mixing Energy Drinks with Alcohol,....from the "Pediatrics Report - Risks From Energy Drinks" a reader named ‘veins’ submitted the comment that “Today, a lot of humans tend to mix activity drinks with alcohol, which makes the furnishings (?) even worse. Drinking a lot of these types of drinks alloyed with alcohol can lead to many health risks.

While MyAchingKnees.com doesn’t understand what Veins meant by “furnishings”, he/she is correct that this can lead to many health issues. We submit to the notion that the commercial – conventional energy drinks, e.g..Red Bull, Monster, etc., are bad enough for anyone to consume,.....adding alcohol to them makes it worse, and dismayed to learn this is a trend with teenagers and young adults.

I can see the draw, seemingly consuming an alcoholic beverage with an additional energy kicker among friends at a party. But let’s look at this. Alcohol is a depressant, so while consuming a beverage that depresses your system and lifts constrains on your inhibitions you also want to spike your blood sugar and make your pancreas work very hard and take yourself closer to type II diabetes? Wow!! Sounds like a good idea to me....NOT!

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Government Ads - Graphic Images for Cigarette Packs

Cigarette smoke is one of the most toxic substances a person could expose themselves to. Keeping in mind that one of the four legs of health is avoiding toxins, MyAchingKnees.com does not understand why anyone would smoke or expose themselves to second hand smoke. I guess the FDA doesn't either and has developed some very graphic ads warning against cigarettes.

From HealthDay News, June 21 -- In a dramatic bid to get more Americans to quit smoking, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday released nine graphic warning labels that will appear on all packs of cigarettes by no later than September 2012.

One image shows a man's face and a lighted cigarette in his hand, with smoke escaping from a hole in his neck -- the result of a tracheotomy. The caption reads "Cigarettes are addictive." Another image shows a mother holding a baby as smoke swirls about them, with the warning: "Tobacco smoke can harm your children."

A third image depicts a distraught woman with the caption: "Warning: Smoking causes fatal lung disease in nonsmokers."

A fourth picture shows a mouth with smoked-stained teeth and an open sore on the lower lip. "Cigarettes cause cancer," the caption reads.

In addition to the images, the label on packs of cigarettes will include a phone number -- 1-800-QUIT-NOW -- so smokers will know where to go for help quitting.

By law, the labels must appear on every pack of cigarettes sold in the United States and on all cartons and in all cigarette advertising. The campaign marks the first major change to cigarette packaging in the last 25 years, the FDA said.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a news release. "These labels will encourage smokers to quit, and prevent children from smoking. "

Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, called the new warnings the "most dramatic change in cigarette warnings in the history of the United States . For the first time the warnings are large enough to be seen and graphic enough to catch the attention of consumers."

The labels will fill the top half of all cigarette packs.

Myers said the images on the labels are exactly the kind of measure that has been shown to be effective in encouraging children not to smoke and getting adults to quit. But, to keep the message vibrant, the images need to be changed regularly because as people get used to them, the impact of the warning weakens, he added.

"For the first time we have labels that not only tell people that smoking is dangerous, but provide them the kind of information they need to now how dangerous it is," he said. "The warning labels have the potential to dramatically reduce the number of our kids who start, but they will be most effective if they are complemented by comprehensive tobacco-control programs in every state."

Many such programs have been curtailed in recent years as cash-strapped states have diverted funding from tobacco-control efforts to pay for constituent services or to hold down tax increases. In states that have maintained funding, the number of smokers continues to drop, Myers said.

The new labels are a part of the requirements of the new Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, signed into law in 2009 by President Barack Obama, who has struggled for many years to quit smoking. For the first time, the law gave the FDA significant control over tobacco products.

The FDA hopes these new warnings will have a "significant public health impact by decreasing the number of smokers, resulting in lives saved, increased life expectancy, and improved health status."

Some fear that the images may be too graphic.

"The 'fear factor' of the negative message can lose its potency -- we become immune to the negative warnings over time, and if too graphic, we often hide behind the denial wall stating, 'This just can't possibly happen to me.' The more graphic the image, the more likely the message will become marginalized and thrown out as too wild and extreme a possibility for the smoker," say Dr. Whiteson.


Smoking is the leading cause of early and preventable death in the United States , resulting in some 443,000 fatalities each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and costs almost $200 billion every year in medical costs and lost productivity.

Over the last decade, countries as varied as Canada , Australia , Chile , Brazil , Iran and Singapore , among others, have adopted graphic warnings on tobacco products. Some are downright disturbing: in Brazil , cigarette packages come with pictures of dead babies and a gangrened foot with blackened toes.

Currently, the United States has some of the weakest requirements for cigarette package warnings in the world, David Hammond, an assistant professor in the department of health studies at the University of Waterloo in Ontario , Canada , told HealthDay. The text-only warnings on packages have changed little since 1984.

Elsewhere, graphic warnings seem to be helping to drive down smoking rates. In Canada , about 13 percent of the population smokes daily, a 5 percent drop since graphic warnings were adopted in 2000, according to Hammond .

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More Prescription Drug Side Effects

Would You Take This?.....or anything that reports these side effects or warnings?

Heart-related problems:
* Sudden death in patients who have heart problems or heart defects
* Stroke and heart attack in adults
* Increased blood pressure and heart rate
* Chest pain
* Shortness of breath or fainting

Mental (Psychiatric) problems:
* New or worse behavior and thought problems
* New or worse bipolar illness
* New or worse aggressive behavior or hostility
* New psychotic symptoms (such as hearing voices, believing things that are not true, are suspicious) or new manic symptoms

No way I’m taking something like this. Bet you won’t either, but many are taking this despite the warning signs. Oh, by the way,.....this is for a medication called Vyvanse.

Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine) is used as part of a treatment program to control symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; more difficulty focusing, controlling actions, and remaining still or quiet than other people who are the same age) in adults and children. Lisdexamfetamine is in a class of medications called central nervous system stimulants. It works by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain.

What’s my point you’re thinking? Don’t all medications have some side effect? That’s my point! Be an informed consumer. Do your own research. Take charge of your medical treatment plan. Ask questions of your Medical Professionals.


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Quotes on Changing

Great Quotes on Changing

"Life is about change, sometimes it's painful, sometimes it's beautiful, but most of the time it's both."
Unknown

"Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me."
Carol Burnett

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
Gandhi

"If warring is human, then why not declare a new kind of war: A War of education, love and friendship to win universal human well-being? I propose a brutal conflict against poverty, disease, ignorance, limitations. Imagine the troops, the regimens, the commanders, the soldiers, the discoveries, the heroes, the life!"
Vanna Bonta

"Change your thoughts and you change your world."
Norman Vincent Peale

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
John F. Kennedy

"A book is a loaded gun in the house next door...Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man (or woman)?"
Ray Bradbury

"If you don't like what you're doing, then don't do it."
Ray Bradbury


"The character of a strong person is one who never dwells on the past and stays in the present. The
past mindset imprisons you, the present mindset dis-imprisons."
Sheila St.Charles


"Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better."
King Whitney Jr

"The more emotional you are, the more emotionally manipulated you shall become."
Sheila St.Charles


"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead

"You are a reflection of nature. You should always be upgrading, refining, and improving."
Steve Maraboli

"Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives."
William James

"One man with courage is a majority."
Thomas Jefferson

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind."
William James

"The farther behind I leave the past, the closer I am to forging my own character."
Isabelle Eberhardt

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead

"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."
John F. Kennedy

"Your perception determines your reality."
The Prophet of Life in Revelations of 2012

"Come to accept that if your methods don't change, neither will your results."
Unknown

Maybe some one will find something within these quotes that sparks them to change their health,...not to accept pain or sickness but fight it through all means: educating themselves on foods and eating low -glycemic meals; taking quality nutritional supplements; getting some physical exercises; avoiding toxins;...and above all, using the indomitable spirit that all Americans should have just like our founders who stood up 235 years and declared Independence from Tyranny. 



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Nutrition is No Cure for Joint Pain

Regarding one of my clients, Danny, who increased his overall health and decreased pain in his hip and knee by ensuring he provided his body with the nutrients it needed through watching what he ate and taking high quality nutritional supplements, Tim commented "If nutrition could cure or reduce the pain due to joint or hip problem, then it's freaking awesome. It's true that millions of people are suffering from pains and a simple walk or bent is already an ordeal. And since not everyone could afford to pay that much, I'm almost certain that many are still relying to drugs rather than having a permanent solution. And considering the Depuy ASR hip replacement recall news, I'm beginning to doubt this option as well."

MyAchingKnees.com wants to ensure that in no way are we implying that nutritional medicine is a cure for any type of joint pain. Even using the word "treat" like we do is a stretch. But what is not a stretch is that all sorts of degenerative disease are greatly influenced by the nutrients or lack of nutrients that we provide our bodies.

Without the proper nutrients in the proper amounts any person is not doing all they can to ensure protection from oxidative stress and the resultant free radicals which can cause these degenerative diseases to include joint problems.

And NOBODY can tell me that my knees and back are not better and the only change I made was taking pharmaceutical grade supplements including Glucosamine and Omega 3 fatty acids.

Tim is right, drugs (medications) are relied upon by many. I hope they go into using these drugs knowing about the potential side effects which can be as devastating as the pain or condition they are taking these medications for.

And right again on joint replacement re-calls...seems everything you turn on the television you are seeing a class action lawsuit against some manufacturer or another on these implants. Take responsibility for your health; do your own research and let the buyer beware.

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