
Artificial tanning has been controversial for as long as I can remember. They give excellent results, and many people have been quite satisfied with having a tan all year round. Tanning beds have been given the green light by the Food and Drug Administration, but it seems that the issue is not over. Indeed, there is new research that shows that tanning beds are not as safe as they are being purported to be.
The World Health Organization recently released the findings of a study showing that indoor tanning machines can cause skin cancer just as much as the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Naturally, this piece of news has caused quite a stir in various sectors. Federal health officials are now running around like headless chickens calling for hearings and investigations. Of course, if WHO ...
Tags: FDA, Research, skin cancer, skin health, sun, tanning bed, UV rays, WHO

Have you ever seen that movie with Billy Bob Thornton? He works as a mall Santa Claus and set up robberies. THAT was a really bad Santa. The bad Santa I am going to talk about in this post is of a different sort though.
Recently, an article about how Santa Claus is a negative model for children around the world spread like wildfire. Titled "Santa Claus: A Public Health Pariah?," the article was published in the leading health journal of the UK. It was written by Nathan Grills, an Australian epidemiologist. Here are some points raised in the article, courtesy of
Newsweek:
"Epidemiologically there is a correlation between countries that venerate Santa Claus and those that have high levels of childhood obesity." The researcher warns that the British tradition of leaving brandy along with ...
Tags: Christmas health, Santa Claus

They say that without hard times, we cannot become better people. If you think about it, there are a lot of sayings from way back that run along a similar vein. No pain, no gain. You have to go through the fire to reap the benefits. You have to be polished and sanded to become a shiny gem. The list could go on and on.
But what about the economic crisis that we have been experiencing all over the world? Could it bring about something good as well? According to researchers, life expectancy increased during the time of the Great Depression – by 1.9 years to be exact. On the other hand, a 5 percent rise in the GDP lowered life expectancy by one or two months. Other studies have yielded similar ...
Tags: Great Depression, Health, life expectancy, Lifestyle, recession, Research

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a relatively common condition in women, although it is not often diagnosed. With advancement in technology and more awareness, more women are able to determine if they are suffering from this syndrome, also known as PCOS. The condition is characterized by numerous small cysts in the ovaries, which interfere with the production of hormones. As a result, the male hormone testosterone is produced in higher quantities. The effects are manifested in various ways, some of which include fertility problems, irregular menstruation, obesity, and even increased risk for type 2 diabetes and heart problems.
The exact cause of PCOS remains a mystery to doctors and researchers. However, the symptoms are clear and some researchers believe that it is closely linked to an over active sympathetic nervous system. This system is what controls ...
Tags: acupuncture, exercise, Health, PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome, Treatments, Women's Health

You’ve heard it, read it, and seen it – organic is the way to go. Not only do you do your part in helping out the environment, you also eat healthier and do yourself a favor. But is this really true? Does organic food really make you healthier?
According to the Food Standards Agency of Britain, eating organic food does NOT provide additional health benefits. As shocking as it may seem, the FSA strongly stands by its statement. Early this month, the agency made the announcement that the nutritional differences between organic and conventional food are insignificant – practically amounting to zero. The study was conducted by
Dr. Alan Dangour and his team at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
Naturally, this announcement sparked a debate all across the country. Organic food advocates ...

What do you normally drink when you’re thirsty? Water has always been the healthiest drink there is. In the recent years, however, drinking other beverages – especially the ones loaded with sugar and flavorings – has been the trend. Indeed, I know some people who will not drink any beverage unless it was loaded with flavor.
But did you know that some drinks contain way too many calories for your own good? Some drinks in the market actually contain enough calories to serve as a full meal! Yahoo Health recently featured some of the worst drinks there are. Let’s take a look at them, shall we?
Baskin-Robbins: Large Ice Cream Soda with Vanilla Ice Cream Float. This drink won the “Worst Float Award.” With 960 calories, 40 g of fat, and 136 g of ...

Fighting fat is something that most everyone engages in these days. Even those who are not really overweight have become more conscious of the battle of the bulge. What with the media focusing on being skinny and all, this is not a surprise. From weight loss pills to exercise regimens to diet programs – everyone has his own surefire product!
But what about taxing soda in order to help fight fat? Well, if the U.S. health authorities are to be followed, we will soon be paying a lot more for sodas and other similar sugary drinks. According to a
report by the AFP, the authorities think that getting these drinks out of the Americans’ menus would solve the problem.
Thomas Frieden, the head of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, says that the average American ...

I do not know if I have ever mentioned this before, but I do have a propensity for taking pills easily. That is, whenever I feel that something is wrong with me physically, I do not hesitate much when it comes to taking pills that will solve my problem. In fact, I have my proven medication for most any kind of minor health problem. Maalox for a bum stomach. Tylenol for a headache – or most any kind of ache, actually.
Recently, though, I have been hearing a lot of rumors about Tylenol being dangerous for you. Mass e-mails about the FDA saying that acetaminophen (the active ingredient of Tylenol) can damage your liver beyond repair have been flooding my Inbox(es) – yes, all of my e-mail accounts have been bombarded. Friends and colleagues, who ...

The next time someone tells you that you have gained weight, point them to this blog post. A recent study conducted in Canada has yielded some interesting results with regard to being overweight.
According to a story ran by
The New York Times, the study was done on over 11,000 Canadian adults. The results showed that people who are a bit overweight, but not obese, are less likely to die than those who are not overweight (READ: NORMAL weight). The category of overweight covers people who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9. In addition to this, people who are underweight – those who have a Body Mass Index of less than 18.5 – are more likely to die than the people who weigh normally.
Obviously, this finding is going to be well-received by ...

Botox is known to most everyone. Celebrities and the rich are always suspected of going to their doctor to get a shot to make them look better and younger. Whether or not these people actually do get Botox shots, the fact remains that this drug is usually associated with cosmetic applications.
But did you know that it can also be used to treat other conditions? I didn’t! I just read a story about how an Australian stroke victim was able to walk again because of Botox. Russell McPhee, 49, has been paralyzed for the past 23 years. He had a stroke that was so severe that his doctors told him that he would never be able to walk again. Or so they thought.
So how did this happen? Botox, or botulinum toxin, actually ...