Why is Soda Bad For You?
As states and municipalities consider new taxes, one of the popular targets appears to be pizza and soda. A March report in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine explains that an 18% tax on pizza and soda could lower the caloric intake of Americans enough to shed an average of 5 pounds each year. Even a federal tax on soda is on the table.
It begs the question, what’s so bad about soda? (and pizza!?)
It comes down to calories. Water has zero calories and a regular can of soda has hundreds, mostly from sugar. Sugar and high fructose corn syrup are bad for you because they are empty calories and HFCS promotes weight gain.
Also, it appears that in addition to empty calories, soda can promote tooth decay as the acids and acidic sugar byproducts can soften tooth enamel. The softer enamel combined with improper brushing can lead to tooth loss. The diet versions, which don’t contain sugar, are less dangerous but the acid is still a factor.
On the whole, soda is bad for you. 
(Photo: fimoculous)
Brands Dropping High Fructose Corn Syrup
After the Princeton study that showed High Fructose Corn Syrup promotes weight gain, a lot of companies have taken it out of their products. Con Agra, makers of Hunt’s ketchup, have taken it out of the popular tomato based product. Kraft is taking it out of Wheat Things. Look for it in bottles of Snapple and you’ll be disappointed, they are taking it out too. Whether or not it promotes weight gain, whether or not high fructose corn syrup is bad for you, the reality is that families don’t want it anymore. If consumers don’t want it, companies won’t put it in.
The Death of High Fructose Corn Syrup [BNet]
What is Triclosan?
Triclosan is an ingredient included in a lot of products and it reduces or prevents bacterial contamination. It’s a common ingredient in antibacterial products, like soaps, body washes, and toothpastes, but has only been shown to be effective in reducing gingivitis in toothpaste. It’s not hazardous to people, according to the FDA, but it alters hormone regulation in some animals. Triclosan may be making bacteria resistant to antibiotics, which is one of the concerns of antibacterial soaps. As soaps kill off “weaker” bacteria, the stronger ones grow more resistant.
As a result of the animal studies, the FDA is reviewing the safety of triclosan and will report its results in 2011, but at the moment it is not shown to be hazardous.
To find out if your products include triclosan, review the Drug Facts box on the bottle, tube, or box. It will be listed as an active ingredient on these OTC drugs. For cosmetics, it’ll be listed in the ingredients on the label. You won’t be able to find out if it’s included in things like toys, clothing, etc. as they do not have drug labeling requirements.
Pure Maple Syrup is Good For You!
A research at the University of Rhode Island has discovered that there are more than 20 compounds in maple syrup beneficial to human health. Thirteen of the compounds are newly discovered plus an additional eight in the maple family. The story cites maple syrup from Canada, which is a little dicey considering the study was paid for by the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) program and I find it difficult to believe that it wouldn’t be present in maple syrup made in the United States. 
So what are these goodies? It’s been known to have had several anti-oxidants before the study but they discovered phenolics, which is the class of anti-oxidants found in berries, were produced as a defense mechanism. When the sugar maple is tapped for sap, the tree produces a small amount of phenolics, which is magnified when the sap is boiled down into syrup. The heating process also creates other bioactive compounds.
That being said, you probably should chug maple syrup a la Super Troopers but splashing a bit on your pancakes in the morning does have benefits!
Executive Physicals: CT Scans of Colon and Coronary Arteries
I learned today that two tests given to the President for his annual physical aren’t included in most other annual physicals – CT scans of both his colon and coronary arteries. A CT scan, also known as a CAT scan, stands for Computed Tomography scan and is a noninvasive scan using low radiation x-rays to product images inside the body. They’re increasingly being used in “executive physicals,” which is a fancy way of saying “extensive” because they include a large number of scans and blood tests.
Doctors are mixed on the issue because while they certainly could help, they’re mostly expensive (remember, doctors are in business too). The dispute isn’t on whether it’s helpful but whether it’s necessary given the cost, so no one is saying getting a CT is bad for you. The problem is that getting regular scans of your coronary arteries doesn’t prevent heart attacks and getting scans of your colon, a virtual colonoscopy, isn’t any better than a regular one (minus the radiation).
In this CNN story, they asked the Cooper Clinic, SCripps Health in San Diego, and the Cleveland Clinic for their prices on “executive physicals” and they ranged from $2,000 to $3,000!
HR 3590 Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act Passes
HR 3590, the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, passed the House of Representatives on Sunday after passing the Senate last December. HR 3590 becomes law today when President Obama signs it and it contains a lot of health insurance changes you need to be aware of. A summary of what’s in HR 3590 is available here, which is compiled from a Reuters and a Tax Foundation article.
Next up is a “fix it” bill, which was also passed by the House and awaits Senate approval.
High Fructose Corn Syrup Prompts Weight Gain
Princeton University researchers have demonstrated that rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained significantly more weight than those with access to table sugar, even when they consumed the same number of calories!
In addition to causing significant weight gain in lab animals, long-term consumption of high-fructose corn syrup also led to abnormal increases in body fat, especially in the abdomen, and a rise in circulating blood fats called triglycerides. The researchers say the work sheds light on the factors contributing to obesity trends in the United States.
Another reason to add to the list of why high fructose corn syrup is bad for you!
Are E-Cigarettes Safe?
An “e-cigarette” is an “electronic cigarette” that looks like a real cigarette but produces no smoke. It has a glowing red tip, to simulate the look, but is really just a stainless-steel tube that delivers nicotine to your system. When you puff on the ecigarette, the system delivers a mist that contains some flavoring and nicotine to simulate the “smoke” of a real cigarette. Just as there are menthol cigarettes, there are various flavors for ecigarette “smoke” like various fruits or even the mint of menthol.
Why do people use them?
They’re marketed a lot in airplanes (we were pitched one while flying Aer Lingus) because they produce no smoke, so smokers can enjoy the rush of nicotine while traveling on a plane, where most are non-smoking. With so many places banning smoking, from bars to hotels to airports, e-cigarettes offer an alternative way to get your nicotine without the smoke. You’re allowed to smoke an ecigarette indoors because there’s no smoke.
Also, since it’s water vapor with nicotine, it has none of the harmful effects of smoking. There is no tar because there is no smoke. There is still the risk of nicotine addiction but none of the smoke related carcinogens. In that respect it’s better than a regular cigarette.
In this way, it’s really no different than other nicotine delivery mechanisms like gums and patches. However, claims that it can help you quit smoking haven’t been backed up with data. Just as you can abuse gums and patches, you can abuse ecigarettes. The FDA has yet to make a ruling on ecigarettes, which are classified as drugs because they are a drug delivery system. Very recently, a federal judge ordered the FDA to stop the blocking of ecigarettes from China because they should be a tobacco product and not a drug device.
Are E-Cigarettes Safe?
In this Marketplace Money report, they take a closer look at ecigarettes, which cost around $100 a piece, and confirmed that there really isn’t enough information yet to make a decision on its safety. What we need is the FDA to take a long look at them, at the data, and issue a ruling on them.
If you want to learn more about e-cigarettes, this ebook has some more information.
Why Going to the Gym Saves You Money
There are many quality of life reasons for going to the gym, or at least being active on a regular basis, but there are also some clearly financial ones as well. While none of these require you to go the gym, the fact of the matter is that going to the gym is the easiest and most obvious way for most of us to get a workout. You don’t have to pay a pricey membership, but they provide the tools and the resources to be as efficient as you can with your time (if you go!).
Health Insurance
If you get insurance through your company, this won’t affect you quite as much (especially if you work in a large company). If you buy it independently, your weight will impact how much you pay for insurance. The more you weigh, as calculated by BMI, the more you’ll pay because you’re a greater insurance risk. This makes sense right? The more weight your body carriers around, the more wear and tear on your joints, on your organs, and that increases the likelihood you’ll need insurance for something.
Life Insurance
If you’ve ever been quoted life insurance, you probably know that the price you pay, in part, depends on how healthy you are. The healthier your weight, the cheaper your insurance is and can mean a savings of hundreds of dollars a year. If you have life insurance already, you can’t get it adjusted for your weight but if you haven’t purchased it, or have the opportunity to review it, hitting the gym and making yourself more attractive to insurers is a good idea.
Routine Maintenance
Think about all the things you sit in, the clothes you wear, and the things you use. How many are affected by your body size? It seems somewhat trivial but the more you weigh, the shorter your item’s lifespan. Chairs wear down faster, your shoes break down, your body creates indentations in your mattress faster, your car seats get worn down quicker, and your clothes fall apart sooner. The less weight you carry, the less wear you put on both yourself and the things you use.
Your Job
This isn’t fair but it’s true – better looking people get paid more, 12% more to be exact. “The main reason for the apparent victory of the lookers is that they are seen as more helpful and co-operative.”
There are four reasons why you should hit the gym to help your wallet, but don’t pay a pricey membership that you won’t use. Be smart about it since you can always run outside for free!
Why is alcohol bad for you?
You’ve probably heard about how red wine is good for you but also about how drinking alcohol is bad for you, right? If you’re curious like me, then you’ve wondered how wine could be good for you when it contains alcohol, which is bad… very very confusing. Today, we’ll take a look at why alcohol is bad for you in the hopes that we can put this contradiction to rest.
When you drink alcohol, your body has to work fairly hard to break it down in your body. One of the products created is acetaldehyde (ethanol is oxidized by alcohol dehydrogenase into acetaldehyde, which is then oxidized into acetic acid). Acetaldehyde has the potential to bind to proteins and form adducts, which can lead to organ disease.
As for processing alcohol, if you drink a lot, you can develop cirrhosis of the liver as it works overtime to process the alcohol. In addition, alcohol contains calories and the additional caloric intake can increase your weight. Finally, there are the effects of alcohol on decision making, motor function, and other core body functions that can lead to disaster.
Alcohol in moderation is generally acceptable but binge drinking can have a very bad effect on your body.
