The Ultimate Guide to Understanding the Food Crisis: How it Started, Who it Hurts Most, and How to Solve the Problem

If you’ve picked up a paper the last few weeks, odds are you’ve seen a frenzy of stories about rising food prices. And if even if you haven’t, you’ve definitely felt the hit in your wallet. American grocery costs have risen around 5% over the last year, while salaries have only gone up 3.5%. That means we’re paying more for loaves of bread and our paychecks aren’t making up the difference. And in certain nations? The food situation is so bad, they WISH they had our problems.While some journalists are taking the age-old EVERYBODY PANIC! approach, most are calmly disseminating inflation information as best they can. Unfortunately, it’s complicated...

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Posted in: Buying Food,Do-Gooding,Frugality

FDA leaves cancer-causing foot gel on the market

Ever wonder what the Rockville rowdys are up to at tax-payer expense? Maybe it is just pushing harmful drugs through the revolving door, with not regard for your health.Maybe these folks enjoy a work environment where Big Pharma has a gun at their head and a hand in their wallet.And, of course, this is not the only example!There are very effective ways to prevent and heal skin ulcers that many people with diabetes suffer with from time to time. These are natural treatments so it is very unlikely that you will learn about them from mainstream medicine.You might do better to have a visit with a podiatrist. Here you might learn about a papaya based ointment.Even the most seemingly innocent drugs can carry fatal side effects. The FDA just announced a study showing that the foot gel Regranex...

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Consumers Exploring Homeopathy

What is it they say about back to the future or history repeats itself?Quite a lot when it comes to homeopathy.This happens to be my favorite method of care, and really what I devote so much of my time to these days through our educational programs.I am so convinced that homeopathy IS the medicine of the future that we chose this format- in our Simply4Health line - for the 21st Century version of BioSupplemente, in order to maintain it for perpetuity.We expect RK BioDrops to arrive soon, as the labels are currently being designed.NEW YORK—Rising numbers of consumers around the world are turning to homeopathy as an effective system of natural medicine, according to a new report from Global TGI; however, there is still considerable divergence of opinion. According to Global TGI, the highest...

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Where have these folks been all these years?

I guess I would attribute this latest oversight to health care providers who fail to read the literature about the drugs they prescribe to people for chemo.Really there is no excuse because if I knew this and warned people of these very risks for a few decades, why is it taking so long foe the oncologists to own up to this grievous error and breach of trust, not overlooking the issue of informed consent...Study Calls For Action On Heart Risks From Certain Anti-cancer DrugsConceptual representation of a constellation of factors that synergize with cardiotoxicity induced by a known cardiotoxic drug and make cardiac events occur at lower than expected cumulative doses of that drug. (Credit: Courtesy of P. Menna, E. Salvatorelli and G. Minotti)ScienceDaily (Apr. 28, 2008) — Heart damage from certain...

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Diagnostic Downfalls

I am always working on improving the process I use that helps identify nutritional weaknesses in body systems in order to help people understand what they can do to reverse their health concerns. My increased efforts of late seem to be focused on a planned patent application in the future.I arrived at this point because for years now I have met with people who have been to doctors and medical naturopaths (the hybrids) and have come away with less than happy results. Many of the complaints are a lack of diagnosis, an incorrect diagnosis, or no improvement in their health after spending a lot of money. Often, and maybe I should say 'always', I find that the person knows little or nothing about the drugs or treatments prescribed.And herein lies the reason I provide the kind of service I do....

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Big Pharma Player gets NO from FDA on Proposed Drug

Merck is told NO on it's application for the experimental drug MK-0524A. Another government agency also gave a NO on Merck's proposed trade name for the product, Cordaptive. Merck says it will continue to press on to get the drug approved and file for a different trade name.Now this is two strikes. The third strike already exists but is ignored by Big Pharma because it clings tightly to the cash cow category of unnecessary cholesterol lowering drugs.Cholesterol lowering is a category designed to allow for the sale of these drugs, many taken off the market because of deaths, and disliked by patients because of the untoward side effects.Ultimately, the drugs do little to protect your health, lead to cancer, Alzheimer's, liver failure, kidney failure, muscle wasting, cardiovascular problems...

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Tuesday Megalinks

It's a saucy batch of links today, folks. Opinions abound on the impending recession/ever-increasing grocery prices, and bloggers aren't afraid to get all up in ... uh, somebody's ... face. Read on and don't forget to express yo'self! (Note: Not necessarily Madonna-style.) (Note: Though, if you have a cone bra, go for it.)Chief Family Officer: No Surprise – Cooking at Home is CheaperCathy summarizes an LA Times article that discovers full-blown gourmet meals can be prepared in one’s kitchen for a little over half the price. THAT'S whaI'mtalkin'bout!The Digerati Life: Coupon Tips and Tricks That Can Cut Your Grocery Bill By 80%TDL presents the...

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Posted in: Links

Improving Hospital Health

For a very long time I have been monitoring the problem with hospital and community induced super infection, what most people refer to as MRSA.I proposed a natural treatment option, but because it is not drug based it has attracted little attention, except by those who needed help, used my options, and recovered.As I see it, the bickering still continues about "what to do". It is, I guess, like the Little Red Hen, and 'NO', the sky is 'NOT' falling.Here is something I find amazing. A hospital takes a novel approach to reducing those testy nocosomial infection rates, and seem to do it well. Where are all the others in this?I also have to admit chuckling a little bit because some years back the FDA attack me and my web site for material I posted about the history of the use of silver in medicine....

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Just Say YES to Vitamins

So you are one of those millions taking expensive drugs or you are in the next 'cash-cow' wave of Baby Boomers targeted by the pharmaceutical industry to be put on the drug wagon.You, like many people taking Rx drugs I hear from daily, complain about how you feel and you don't like it.So what's a body to do about it?Here is a short list of vitamin deficiencies created by commonly prescribed drugs. Reading this over you just might find a reason to look to supplements.We are here to help you and are able to offer our drug review service that includes recommendations based on our 50+ years of expertise in the natural health arena. You will also enjoy our selection of very high grade supplements at affordable cost.Just contact us for more information."A healthy diet that provides sufficient amounts...

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Roasted Chickpeas: Wrong Way, Right Way

Mornin’ everybody! Hope y’all had a lovely weekend, and that the weather was half as nice as it was here in Brooklyn: blooming trees, perfect skies, visible patch of grass – the whole nine. Even our neighborhood Incredibly Frightening Drunk Who Hangs Out 24-7 at the Last Remaining Pay Phone on Earth was suitably enchanted.My weekend was fantastic, spoiled only briefly by a botched attempt at Roasted Chickpeas. I got ‘em right the second time around, but wanted to transcribe the wrong directions, just in case anyone ever attempts them. Here goes:1) Comb Food Blog Search for acceptable Roasted Chickpea recipe.2) Settle on Roasted Chickpeas at Anne’s...

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Posted in: Desserts and Snacks,Vegan,Vegetarian

Comments of the Week! (Now With Extra !)

A bunch this week on the diet foods post, including Dani’s sugar substitutes, Anne’s Tasti D-Light observations, and Kelly’s inventive SnackWells sandwiches. Plus, check out Slinkystar2002’s solid, extensive comment on Touchy Subjects: Confronting Loved Ones About Weight and Money Problems. It’s a bit long to cut-and-paste here, but her stories provide some good insight on the subject. (It’s the last one.) Finally, three cheers for Elaine, who dropped 50 pounds! Nice!On Popovers and OutCollier: I woke up starving this morning with nothing in the house but egg whites, flour, skim milk and pam. so i made this recipe substituting pam for shortening and using three egg whites in place of one egg and two whites. they are delicious, and cooked in 20 minutes under 450. the batter made 12 popovers...

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Posted in: Reader Comments

Cantaloupe Soup: The Pop Quiz

Hey everybody! It’s multiple choice time! So gather your wits, sharpen your, uh, keyboard and let’s get going.Cantaloupe is:A) Surprisingly easy to chop, though the juice gets dang near everywhere.B) Difficult to spell, with that whole “loupe” thing.C) Something your roommate might confuse for a hatstand.D) Meant for better things than fruit salad.Orange juice is:A) Pretty friggin’ expensive, man.B) Orange.C) Being suspiciously cut back to 51 ounce containers (rather than 64) by some companies.D) A good base for any liquid with additional fruits.Soup is:A) Eaten with a spoon. Or a fork if you’re looking for a challenge.B) Blind Melon’s second...

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Posted in: Drinks,Soups and Stocks,Vegan,Vegetarian

Natural Health Care has Validation

In the states it often happens that when something good is available to the people, either some would-be elitist tries to establish a monopoly or the concepts are attacked.I suggest this is something likened to the on-going attack on supplements proffered by the FDA in conspiracy with the AMA and Big Pharma.It is also very much like the establishment of restricted access to traditional care by four schools of the new hybrid form of naturopathy, coined "naturopathic medicine".The schools also seem to want to control who practices using herbs, flower essences, aromatherapy and other related modalities.Of course the end result is less access to care, more control over what kind of care is offered and higher costs to users.Idaho is one state where the right of choice and access to care is protected,...

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CHG Favorites of the Week

Blog of the WeekFrugal DadThoughtful, well-written and often funny, Frugal Dad’s four-month-old site is quickly becoming a go-to for folks interested in everything from finance to square-foot gardening. Check out his 7-day turnaround plan for some neat ideas on how to kick-start a savings strategy, and don’t forget to chime in on his latest post about Kids and Allowance. The salary chart is genius.Comedy of the Week“Soup Nazi” from SeinfeldOo! Someone code-named AlasforAlas comped the best moments from the legendary “NO SOUP FOR YOU” episode! In a related story, the real-life Soup Nazi used to run his store a few blocks from my workplace, and...

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Posted in: Links

Peppermint takes on a Medical Mask

Peppermint Oil May Relieve Digestive Symptoms, Headaches Authors and DisclosuresLaurie Barclay, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.Charles P. Vega, MD, FAAFP, has disclosed that he has received grants for educational activities from Pfizer.April 13, 2007 — Peppermint oil is effective in treating digestive disorders and other conditions including headaches, although high dosages may cause adverse effects, according to the results of a review reported in the April 1 issue of American Family Physician."The medicinal use of peppermint and other mint plants probably dates back to the herbal pharmacopoeia of ancient Greece, where peppermint leaf traditionally was used internally as a digestive aid and for management of gallbladder disease; it also was used in inhaled form for...

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