One unlucky day but not really!

Right after I’ve blogged about my swollen eye last week, I quickly headed off to Medical City’s branch in SM Fairview to see a doctor. However, upon reaching the clinic, I was informed that my health card is no longer accredited. (or is it vise versa?) I had no choice but to proceed to Fairview General Hospital, some 7 km distance from SM Fairview, as it is the next nearest accredited by my health card. However, in the hospital, I was told that no Ophthalmologist is available that day. I was again disappointed but I needed an eye specialist as I could feel my eyelid getting heavier.

I recalled having seen my health card’s clinic in the vicinity not too far from where I was. Thus I thought of giving it another try. I trekked the supposed short distance which turned out it wasn’t actually that short as I made it to the clinic quite exhausted. Still unmindful of the chains of disappointments, I was hoping I’d finally see the badly needed ophthalmologist. But only to be disappointed once again! In the health card’s clinic, I heard the same words, “There’s no available ophthalmologist”. I thought I’m gonna faint so I took a seat and rest for a while. I was just thankful they have their air conditioner in full blast. It helped me calm down.

Perhaps the receptionist saw my swollen eye that she asked if I want to be referred to an Ophtha who has clinic at the nearby Marian Medical Arts. I accepted the referral wholeheartedly knowing that it was only a tricycle away from the place and at the same time to get over with all these anxiety and frustrations. I was grateful the tricycle driver pulled over right in front of the Medical Arts Building. The Ophtha’s clinic is in the fourth floor so I went straight to the elevator. But the lift seemed immobile. I had pushed the lift’s button a hundred times (there’s exaggeration here) but no elevator door opened. I braved climbing up the stairs though tired from previous walking. I told myself, it’s easy, I’m used to it anyway. After dragging up my feet one step after another, I reach the fourth floor, ...wearily. I knocked on the room given at my referral paper, the door opened. there was a secretary.. but an ophthalmologist? ….There’s none.!! They had a change in schedules I was told. Omigosh! I felt a lump in my throat. Probably, I would have let loose of my tears if I wasn’t alone.

At home that night, I observed my swollen eye. The redness has diminished; the puffiness has lessened as well. And when I woke up the next morning, there’s just a trace of puffiness but on the whole, it’s almost gone.

My eye is back to normal now. No more redness and swelling. No treatment done No doctor seen. The frustrations and disappointments have been charged to experience! It was one unlucky day but not really!

Benefits of Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a fat soluble antioxidant vitamin that helps to neutralize potentially damaging free radicals in our body. It has eight different forms, d-alpha-tocopherol being the most active form and one of the most powerful biologically active antioxidants. Vitamin E is particularly important for the protection of our cell membranes as well as keeping your skin, heart and circulation, nerves, muscles and red blood cells healthy. One or more members of the vitamin E family may also reduce cellular aging, inhibit the potentially damaging radical, inhibit melanoma (skin cancer) cell growth, prevent abnormal blood clotting, synergize with vitamin A to protect the lungs against pollutants, protect nervous system and retina, lower the risk of ischemic and coronary heart disease, lower the risk of certain kinds of cancer, protect immune function and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin E also may block the formation of nitrosamines, which are carcinogens formed in the stomach from nitrites consumed in the diet. Some evidence links higher intake of vitamin E with a decreased incidence of prostate cancer and breast cancer.

Vitamin E is one of the most beneficial vitamins. It is important that it is obtained through foods daily to ensure the benefits. This is more so if you cannot absorb fat or are on a low fat diet as some dietary fat is needed for the absorption of vitamin E from the gastrointestinal tract. Vitamin E supplements are needed if one is diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, have had part or all of your stomach removed, or have malabsorption problems such as Crohn’s disease.

Lastly, it is important to note that Vitamin E should at least be taken at 400 IU to absorb the high quality benefits needed by the body.

What’s happening to my eye?

I wonder what’s happening to my right eye. I was concentrated on my laptop when I noticed a heavy feeling occurring in my right eyelid. I felt the trace of abnormality days ago but I just didn’t mind. When I woke up this morning and I looked in the mirror, I saw the area surrounding my eye to be a bit reddish and the eyelid is swollen. I was thinking what could cause the condition but I can’t recall any that could provoke the ailment. Initially, I thought that it was a normal physical change for growing old. But later, I found out it wasn’t so. I am getting a little worried as I feel and see my right eyelid swollen and covering part of my vision.

I supposed I have to see an ophthalmologist soon or I’ll be tormented for the thought of having a more serious eye condition. I think I have to prepare now for the Ophthalmologist.

Thank you for coming over. Will be back soon. See yah!

Health Hazards of Eating Pork

I have heard and read facts about pork or pig’s meat. I’ve found out how unhealthy it is for our diet. But despite the awareness, I still loved eating pork especially lechon (roast pork) and pork barbeque. Although I have no factual basis, I think my insensible eating habit brought me catastrophic consequence. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. ‘Twas a reality check for me. Right after the shocking clinical findings, I vowed to break off my joyful relationship with pork. From then on, no matter how crispy and delicious looking a lechon is served in front of me, I was never tempted to take a bite, ever!

I've read that pig’s bodies contain many underlying diseases. Although some of this infestations are present in other animals, modern veterinary studies say that pigs are more predisposed than other animals. This could be because pigs like to scavenge and will eat any kind of food, including dead insects, worms, rotting carcasses, excreta (including their own), garbage and other pigs.

Pig meat contains excessive quantities of histamine and imidazole compounds which can lead to itching and inflammation. It can also lead to gallstones and obesity probably due to its high cholesterol and saturated fat content. The pig is the main carrier of the Taenia solium worm, which is found in its flesh. These tapeworms are found in human intestines with greater frequency in nations where pigs are eaten. This type of tapeworm can pass through the intestines and affect many other organs and is incurable once it reaches beyond a certain stage.

Pigs are biologically similar to humans and their meat is said to taste similar to human flesh. Pigs have been used for dissection in biology labs due to similarity between their organs. People with insulin-dependent diabetes usually inject themselves with pig insulin. If you pour Coke (yes, the soda) on a slab of pork, and wait a little while, you will see worms crawl out of it.

In addition, burnt meat be it pork, beef or chicken produces toxic chemicals hazardous to our health.

Source: Online Truth

A Pet is Linked to Health and Well Being

Do you own a pet? Great if you do! Coz owning a pet is associated to health and well being specifically for older people and patients recovering from major illness, Pet ownership according to research is linked with a reduced risk of heart disease and lower threat of asthma and allergies in young children, but generally, everyone is a potential beneficiary.

Pets can contribute to improved health, but be aware that some pet diseases can be transmitted to humans. Proper care, cleanliness and attention to the animals health is a responsibility to the animal as well as insuring your continued good health.

Having a pet in the house specifically a dog, lifts up the spirit. This is based on my own experience with our own pet dog. Every morning whenever the door of our bedroom opens, our pet dog, Potpot, would be in there stretching his two front legs trying to reach me. As if I can hear him greeting me good morning. He won't alter his position unless I pat him on the head and back to acknowledge his greeting. Only then would he leave and go back to his own place. That single affectionate act from our pet dog every morning somehow gives a warm lift to face the new day ahead.

Mead Johnson, Maker of Enfamil, Loses Multi-Million Dollar False Advertising Case Against Store-Bran

This is a sponsored guest post written by a Press Release on behalf of PBM Products. Post powered by Sponzai.

GORDONSVILLE, VA., December 2 , 2009—PBM Products, LLC, a leading infant formula company that supplies store-brand infant formulas to Walmart, Sam's Club, Target, Kroger, Walgreens, and other retailers, has received a favorable jury verdict and a $13.5 million damages award in its false advertising lawsuit against Mead Johnson & Co., the operating subsidiary of Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (NYSE: MJN) (“Mead Johnson”), the makers of the national-brand Enfamil® LIPIL® Infant Formula. Mead Johnson is 83 percent-owned by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

PBM’s lawsuit claimed that Mead Johnson engaged in false and misleading campaigns against PBM’s competing store-brand of infant formulas, suggesting they do not provide the same nutrition as Mead Johnson’s brands. PBM’s store-brand infant formulas cost up to 50 percent less than Enfamil® LIPIL®. The $13.5 million in damages awarded by the jury in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is one of the largest damages awards ever for a false advertising case.

“This decision by a jury of the people confirms that Mead Johnson’s ads have been false in suggesting that there is a nutritional difference between our store-brand formula products and their products, when in fact the only major difference is price,” said PBM CEO Paul B. Manning. “Despite Mead Johnson’s scare tactics, parents are assured that PBM’s formula products are as high quality and nutritious as Mead Johnson’s.”

U.S. District Court Judge James R. Spencer issued his written rulings yesterday following the November 10^th jury verdict. Judge Spencer’s written rulings permanently enjoined Mead Johnson from making any false statements concerning PBM's infant formula, including the claims Mead Johnson previously made in Enfamil advertising that "It may be tempting to try a less expensive store brand, but only Enfamil LIPIL is clinically proven to improve brain and eye development," and "there are plenty of other ways to save on baby expenses without cutting back on nutrition." The Court also ordered Mead Johnson to retrieve from the public domain all advertising or promotional materials containing these or any other false claims about PBM's store brand infant formula.

The details of the decision and the complaint are posted online in full at:

· http://www.pbmproducts.com/docs/Order_Laches.pdf

· http://www.pbmproducts.com/docs/PBM_Complaint_MJ_III_LIPIL.pdf

The nutritional supplements under examination in the case are two fats, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid), which Mead Johnson calls “LIPIL®” solely for marketing purposes and touts as promoting infant brain and eye development. PBM’s claim focused on Mead Johnson’s direct mailing to more than 1.6 million parents of an alarming blurry picture of a child’s cartoon duck next to a clear picture of the same image which suggested that anything other than the Enfamil LIPIL® blend of ingredients is inferior and will result in poor eye and brain development. Other parts of the false advertising campaign consist of statements that only Enfamil LIPIL has been proven to confer visual and mental benefits on infants, and store-brand formulas are a “cut-back in nutrition” compared to Enfamil.

PBM successfully argued that these advertisements were false and misleading especially since PBM store- brand infant formulas have the same nutrients at the same levels as Enfamil. PBM infant formulas are formulated to contain DHA and ARA, and are sourced from the same supplier in amounts which equal or exceed the DHA and ARA in Mead Johnson’s Enfamil LIPIL®.

This decision marks the third time PBM Products has sued Mead Johnson for false advertising claims. On the prior occasions Mead Johnson admitted that it made false claims about PBM’s products. It is also the first false advertising case to focus on the issue of DHA and ARA nutritional ingredients in formula, which were introduced into the market in 2003 and have become a staple in recent years by many brands as key components for infant development.

“This jury verdict should send a significant and clear message to Mead Johnson about the way it conducts marketing and advertising for its brands,” said Manning. “This lawsuit also demonstrates our complete commitment to defending our products and the valuable brands of our retail partners.”

“As a parent and supporter of children’s medical research, I take a personal responsibility in assuring our customers that the products we produce are healthy and nutritionally equivalent to brand names like Enfamil® LIPIL®. It is important, especially now, for parents to know that there are lower priced yet highly nutritious store-brand formulas that will provide the same benefit to their children as any national brand name formula product,” Manning added.

The U.S. infant formula market is estimated at $3.4 billion and the global market is estimated at $7.9 billion.

All of PBM’s formulas, and for that matter all of U.S. infant formulas, are subject to the exacting standards of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), pursuant to the Infant Formula Act of 1980. This legislation vested FDA with the authority to ensure that all infant formula products sold in the United States provide the necessary levels of identified nutrients required for the growth of healthy babies. For more information, visit this FDA link.

PBM Products was represented by the law firm Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP. Partners from the firm’s advertising practice, Harold P. Weinberger and Jonathan M. Wagner in New York, led the team.

About PBM

PBM is privately owned and based in Gordonsville, VA. PBM companies specialize in manufacturing, distributing, and marketing consumer food, nutritional, and pharmaceutical products. For more information, visit www.pbmproducts.com.

Enfamil® LIPIL® are registered trademarks of Mead Johnson & Co.

Onion, Garlic and Leeks Fight Breast Cancer

Onions and other alliums are part of everyday cooking all around the world. When cut up, onions can make you teary eyed due to the sulphuric compound bursting. When placed on pan with olive oil over medium heat, it becomes aromatic though. Alliums are bulbous plants related to the lily family that have relatively long leaves and flower stalks. These plants include onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives. When cooked and eaten with other foods, alliums help lower your insulin peaks, reducing inflammation, and protect you against cancer. Dr. Richard Béliveau, , at the Charles-Bruneau Cancerology Centre in Canada, tested extracts from many foods on cancerous cells in a petri dish. For breast cancer, Dr. Béliveau lists "garlic, leeks and scallions [green onions]" as the top-three foods that inhibit cancer cell growth.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition