Generic Lipitor Saves Money

Posted on December 7, 2011 by mikkel

Going generic on November 30, Lipitor is already saving patients money. Some pharmacies automatically dispense generic drugs unless told otherwise, but if you want to save money, you should make sure. Of course, there are some who believe that namebrand is better, but there are plenty of doctors who say that generic drugs may actually come from the same assembly lines as the namebrand drugs. There is no decipherable difference for most.

This generic version can be especially helpful for people who have not been taking Lipitor as regularly as recommended or for those who have even been going so far as to cut pills in half to save money. You should be taking the full dose as regularly as your doctor recommends to get the full effects.

According to Dr. Robert Kloner, an expert who has actually taken Lipitor himself, “Atorvastatin is a very good medication and quite effective at lowering LDL cholesterol. I think that having a generic will be a wonderful addition because, unfortunately, some of our patients have to make the very painful decision between paying the rent and taking their medication and any time we can reduce the cost without sacrificing efficacy, that’s a wonderful thing.”

Lipitor sales from January to June reached nearly $4 billion with 21 million dispenses in that time according to IMS health. In 2010, sales were at $7.2 billion for Pfizer with copays with insurance averaging $29 to $49. For the generic version of Lipitor, insurance carriers can expect to pay a mere $10 a bottle.

Even better, some experts suggest that this generic version of Lipitor may actually be more effective than other generic statins of the past. This generic drug may be more potent, which is more effective for patients with higher LDL cholesterol levels or more stubborn cholesterol problems, and it can therefore help many to reach their LDL goals more efficiently to protect heart health.

One Dr. Ostfeld does note, “It’s critically important to ensure that the patient has a healthy lifestyle. That means eating a whole-food, plant based diet and regular exercise.” However, he notes that even with a healthy lifestyle, some will still require medications.

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What to Eat if You Have Diabetes

Posted on November 26, 2011 by mikkel

The diabetic diet is a common idea, and it has been successfully used to lose weight (with the low-carb diet), and many who have used the “diabetic diet” have been able to either keep diabetes under control, or in some cases even eliminate type 2 diabetes. The truth however is not so strict as you may think. You don’t have to stick to special foods, and you don’t necessarily have to avoid what “everyone else” is currently eating. A diabetes diet can be more basic than you might think.

What a Diabetic Should Eat

It’s not so much about what you eat as how you eat. Yes, you could stay away from carbs, but it’s much more effective to eat a variety of different foods in sensible proportions. You should limit certain types of carbs, but moderation certainly won’t kill you. There is no one food that is a magic bullet to cure diabetes or for that matter a horrible food that should be avoided at all times. Just keep in mind, there are wiser choices.

Diabetics should embrace whole foods over processed foods, like any dieter really. In addition, consider plant foods such as vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains as well as low fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry, and good fats that can help you to keep control over your good cholesterol levels and therefore your heart health.

However, one of the best things that you can do for yourself is not so much about the diet. Many studies have found that reducing stress levels can make a significant difference, lowering the risk of diabetes or complications.

Diabetics can live a real life and a long life for that matter. There’s no reason to think of diabetes as a “life sentence.” You simply have to be smart about how you deal with it.

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How to Live to Be 100

Posted on November 11, 2011 by mikkel

I’ve never understood why people are so obsessed with immortality, but it is nothing new. People have been obsessed with living forever since ancient times, even creating tales in ancient Greek mythology about Tithonus, lover of minor goddess Eos. Eos asked for eternal life for him, but forgot to ask for eternal youth, and as it turned out, the devil is in the details.

Personally, I think of old age, specifically anything after maybe 70 or 80 as all downhill. Your memory goes, your eyesight goes, your health goes, maybe you end up on oxygen, you are dependent on your kids if you have any and the state if you don’t. However, people are starting to live to older ages, and surprisingly, those that live into their hundreds seem to be basically healthy.

I guess you have to be healthy to get that old in the first place, but most don’t suffer from Alzheimer’s (or at least not the cases we pay attention to), they don’t suffer from significant heart problems, and it is possible to live well in your old age. So how do you know who will live to 100 and who just won’t make it?

1. Genetics
If there are a lot of older people in your family tree, you have a significantly better chance of living to see 100. Obviously, your family background teaches you certain lifestyle habits that can help you to live longer, but old agers and 100 plussers clump in families.

2. How fast and how far you walk
It’s not quite as simple as are you in shape, though that does help. Faster walkers live longer, and yes you can learn to be a faster walker. Those who walk 3 feet per second or 2 miles per hour are less likely to live as long as those who walk just 2.25 miles an hour. Studies have found that adults between the ages of 70 and 79 who couldn’t walk ¼ a mile were more likely to die within 6 years.

3. Strong social ties
There are numerous studies that have shown that social health is better for your overall health. The more friends and family you have, the more likely you are to reach old age. Even older individuals with a plethora of health problems are more likely to hold on into their 90’s or even 100’s if they have a higher count of strong social ties.

4. Your sex matters
Right from the start, women do better. Premature babies who are female get out of the hospital faster, which doesn’t seem applicable at first, but it carries over even into old age. Women’s sex hormones may be protective, women have lower rates of heart disease, and menstruation may actually help, as inconvenient as it may seem now. Men also have higher rates of smoking, car accidents, and suicide. However, that gap is closing due to lifestyle changes in women.

5. Having a child after 35
Think about it. If your body is healthy enough to have a child after 35, it means that you are what they call a “slow ager.” For most, it’s inconceivable and more likely to cause birth defects to have a baby later in life, but it could be a sign that you have a good chance.

6. Your weight is normal or close to
If you are of a healthy weight or if you are only slightly overweight, you are significantly less likely to suffer from obesity related diseases, and you are more likely to live longer, even if you don’t live quite long enough to reach 100.

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5 Surprisingly Healthy Foods

Posted on October 31, 2011 by mikkel

While there is conventional wisdom about which foods you should and shouldn’t eat, some of that so called “conventional wisdom” is actually wrong. There are some foods that yes, may be seen as unhealthy, but as it turns out, you should have these in your diet, in their whole forms preferably.

1. Eggs
Some people only eat the egg whites because the idea is that the yolks are full of bad cholesterol which is therefore bad for your heart and bad for your weight. However, numerous studies have shown that while a single yolk does have a lot of cholesterol, it is also packed with zinc, iron, vitamin A, vitamin D, and choline, which can reduce breast cancer risk as well as a lot of protein.

2. Bananas
Bananas are higher in calories than other fruits, which is why a lot of people don’t think it’s a good diet option, and some consider them to be carb packed. However, bananas contain quite a bit of dietary fiber, which can fill you up faster without adding more pounds. Some also say that it can contribute and add to post workout fat burning.

3. Coconut Oil
Coconut is high in saturated fats, but it also has quite a few good fats. Its fats can actually be metabolized faster, meaning they don’t get stored quite as easily as some, and your body can use it for energy. About 2 tablespoons a day can actually significantly increase good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol while simultaneously fighting excess fat.

4. Red Meat
Red meat has long had a bad reputation for being rich in bad fats, low in vitamins, etc. However, red meat does come with plenty of protein, and moderate amounts can be relatively healthy, also containing the good fat CLA in some forms.

5. Peanut Butter
A sandwich staple, peanut butter has 16g of fat per 2 tablespoon serving. However, it comes with healthy monosaturated fat, which can actually be heart healthy. A study in the International Journal of Obesity has shown that people who eat peanut butter lose an average of 9 pounds over 18 months, which is significantly greater than those who did not.

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Why Americans Are So Fat

Posted on October 18, 2011 by mikkel

Blame it on the hormones, wait, that doesn’t work. After all, most Americans descend from other European, Asian, African, and other nations where the majority of the population is not obese. Therefore, it logically can’t be genes. Maybe it’s the area of the world, then again, there are so many different climates across the United States, and states that seem to be almost exactly the same (in climate) have varying rates of obesity.

In fact, in terms of the skinniest cities, most of the skinniest cities seem to be the vainest, not necessarily the warmest climates, coldest climates, or something else that might logically follow an environmental pattern. So how did Americans get so fat, and ultimately so sick (in part because of rising obesity rates)?

Extreme Portion Sizes

Yes, you can resist and just eat less, but some blame it on bad parenting. After all, we tell our children to finish what’s on their plate, even if they say that they’re not hungry. Science has shown that children are more likely to recognize when they are full, and this behavior management can lead to future overeating habits. In other words, when you see a huge portion of food at a restaurant, you are more likely to keep eating until you are done.

The Introduction of White Flour

This may seem obscure, in fact we think that it is, but there are plenty of people who blame it. According to some, our problems began at the Vienna World’s Fair of 1873. I would argue, why is it that the people of Vienna do not suffer the same problems with obesity, but that would make sense.

Anyway, at that time, the steel roller mill was introduced, and this eventually led to the age of “refined grains”, that we now recognize as “bad carbs.” White flour became more affordable and therefore more prevalent in our foods, and we get more empty calories in the American Diet. Add to that all the TV dinners spawned by this, and we’re screwed.

A Little Alcoholism

Okay, so there are studies that supposedly show that red wine is good for you. Personally, I can see why it might be another excuse to drink. Other studies have shown that the reservatrol in red wine can’t even be properly absorbed by the body, not to mention the fact that more reservatrol is actually found in grapes, the original source, which are completely non alcoholic.

Let’s face facts, most of us don’t stop at just one drink, and I suspect that the alcohol in red wine may actually contradict any potential benefits associated with reservatrol in the first place. Most tend to drink the hard liquors, the mixed drinks, and other high calorie drinks that will only add to your “beer belly” as it has been aptly called.

Inactive Lifestyle

This is the one that makes the most sense to me. While there are some in areas like New York that have an excellent public transportation system, horrible traffic (more motivation to just use public transportation with plenty of stairs), etc., most of us do not have that luxury. Americans are by choice less active than ever before. Yes, we like to encourage our children to get involved more and more every day, but the change is not significant enough in the general American public to really stomp out obesity.

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Can Foods Really Fight Cancer?

Posted on September 30, 2011 by mikkel

The short answer to this is…..yes! Technically, there are food that can fight cancer, but it’s not necessarily as simple as it might sound. Yes, there are certain foods that can fight cancer, but when we say “fight”, we more specifically mean “prevent.”

There are plenty of “superfoods” that have antioxidants, natural food extracts that fight free radicals that could damage cells. A lot of these foods have vitamins and minerals, and there is no reason to think that these ingredients couldn’t or wouldn’t improve health for most people.

The problem is that most of us misread this. We look to studies that health companies publish saying “acai fights cancer” or maybe “mangosteen fights cancerous cells”, and we read too much into it. Some believers have gone so far as to use these foods (and vitamin supplements) in lieu of medical cancer treatments, which WE WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND!

So far, studies have yet to prove that these foods actually fight existing cancer cells, and there are no studies showing that any food “cures” cancer per say. We are not saying that you should forget these foods. In fact, increasing your intake of certain foods combined with conventional medicine is highly encouraged. Just keep your expectations in check.

What Foods to Eat

If you want the best foods to potentially fight pre-cancerous and other harmful cells, there are a few to choose from. First, stick to anything with plenty of antioxidants, that’s the most basic part. Drinks like green tea are extremely rich in healthy antioxidants that can improve health even if you do not have cancer.

Second, you can look into superfruits and other foods that are also rich in healthy vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. These can add to the significant benefits of any healthy diet and exercise plan, and vitamins can support healthy cells while studies have confirmed that foods like garlic have active compounds (outside of antioxidants and vitamins) that have been proven to prevent some unnecessary health problems in the body.

Some other top picks include broccoli, cabbage, onions, leeks, tomatoes, resveratrol, soy, and turmeric to give you an idea of all of the options that you have.

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Is Apple Juice Safe?

Posted on September 19, 2011 by mikkel

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

While the nation has gathered around Dr. Oz in the past, the FDA is not his biggest fan. He has become known as one of Oprah’s biggest health experts, and a lot of people have followed his advice, like some kind of modern day health prophet.

So when he released a statement saying that apple juice has too much arsenic and is therefore unsafe, there was more than one person who stopped drinking apple juice, stopped giving their kids the age old staple, etc.

However, now the FDA is saying that everything Dr. Oz said about apple juice is false. We’re not saying that we trust everything the FDA says. After all, they also allow companies to use MSG and mask it under different names despite all of the studies that show that it’s bad for your health and some would even say dangerous.

However, in this case, we would say that this might just be a media ploy. The FDA refused to come on his show for a reason, and an FDA review of Oz’s statement stated on September 9th that it was largely false, actually completely false to be honest.

Arsenic can be found through a number of natural sources, and there are certain nuts that in their original form did have quite a bit of arsenic. Those nuts have since developed mutations that eliminate the arsenic, which means that farmers have to use specific seeds.

However, apples have never been known for being dangerous or having any arsenic at all. Moreover, apples have never been linked to cancer or other serious health problems.

Is it possible that the FDA is lying to us? Absolutely. The FDA has set up regulations before that allow certain legal amounts of toxic substances to be in our foods, but no more. However, the official stance of the FDA right now is that “We have been monitoring levels of arsenic in many foods including apple juice for several years, and the data we have shows there is really no cause for concern” according to the FDA’s official Yao.

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The Stages of Heart Failure

Posted on September 6, 2011 by mikkel

Sometimes called congestive heart failure, heart disease or failure comes in stages based on the damage that has already been done, much like cancer, Alzheimer’s, or any other major disease. If it is suspected or known that you have experienced heart failure, your doctor will test the size, structure, and strength of the heart and the blood it naturally pumps.

Stage A

Called pre-heart failure, this is the earliest warning sign of heart failure. In stage A, there is a high risk of heart failure, but the heart hasn’t actually reached that point and it is not experiencing any structural damage based on the tests. At this point, the best thing to do is to take preventative measures from diet and exercise to cholesterol lowering pills.

Stage B

Stage B means that there is some structural damage to the heart, but the patient is not yet experiencing any symptoms. At this point, you should take aggressive steps to treat the problem. If you take aggressive steps to control the problem, it is possible to slow the progression or reverse the problem under the right circumstances. The best thing to do is talk to your doctor about the right medications and the proper lifestyle changes.

Stage C

In this stage, tests reveal structural damage and you are more likely to experience mild to moderate symptoms. At this point, it is extremely important to be proactive as you are at a significantly higher risk. There is still hope here, and you don’t necessarily have to consider surgery or other extreme measures. The focus is on aggressive approaches to healthier living.

Stage D

At this point, there is structural damage and the symptoms are severe. You are at significantly higher risk for a heart attack, and you should set serious goals to change while also talking to the doctor about treatment options. This may require hospitalization, especially if the symptoms worsen. You should watch for the signs or symptoms of a heart attack or stroke at this point.

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How To Lose Weight

Posted on July 8, 2011 by mikkel

Studies have shown that the more fat you have on your body, the higher your metabolism is – simply because your body has to work harder. This is why it is usually easy to lose weight early on in a diet. Unfortunately, as you lose weight, your metabolism slows down, which is why the weight lost in a diet is usually gained back fairly quickly.

There are some factors about our metabolism that we cannot control, but the best metabolism booster pills will help emulate the kinds of reactions that are proven to make the most of the metabolic rate that you have. Some also have thermogenic properties designed to burn fat or appetite suppressants which help you decrease your calorie intake.

If you are taking a metabolism booster pill, you are probably already seeing results, but experts say that there natural ways to supplement that. Eating smaller meals more often in the day makes your body work harder, keeping your metabolism up. The worst thing you can do it eat huge meals with long breaks in between. Your body holds on to every calorie it can because it doesn’t want to starve.

Exercise is also a great way to boost your metabolism. Personal fitness trainer Kelli Calabrese MS, CSCS, ACE, notes that every pound of muscle in our bodies burns 35 calories a day, while each pound of fat burns just 2 calories per day.

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5 Most Common Bad Habits

Posted on June 3, 2011 by mikkel

Some of the worlds most common bad habits – things that you probably do or have done. We want to know how bad they really are. We know when we’re doing these things that we probably shouldn’t. Maybe it’s time we learn the truth about these common things – do we really need to feel guilty about these things? Are they a big deal?

1. Sleeping with Make-Up On. Chances are, if you are a girl, and you wear make-up on even a semi-regular basis, you have done this. It doesn’t feel nice the next morning when your mascara is in little black crumbles all over and in your eyes, but what does it do to your skin? According to dermatologists, make-up trapped on the skin doesn’t allow it to breathe, and it also attracts other impurities. This means bacteria in the skin. That’s bad news.

2. Knuckle cracking. For some people, this is a phenomenon that occurs multiple times a day, and involves multi-angular cracks of the fingers and toes. It’s pretty annoying to be in proximity of these marathon knuckle crackers, but does it do permanent damage? Every now and then doesn’t seem to produce negative effects, but over time, this can cause joint pain and has been linked to swelling and lower grip strength.

3. Nail Biting. This is one that I’ve never really understood, and yet it is a habit that besets millions. It is called onychophagia. The only real trouble with it, besides the fact that it communicates insecurity and instability, is the fact that children who chew their nails are more likely to contract lead poisoning. I guess putting your fingers in your mouth is not the safest.

4. Crunching on Ice. I’ll admit to this one. Especially it’s that ice that looks a little like macaroni noodles. I love that. But this habit actually is traumatic for the teeth, which can break or sustain damage. People who crunch on ice are more often than not suffering from an iron deficiency. What!? Yeah. It’s true. Also, ice has bacteria.

5. Reading in The Dark. This is something that most nerdy kids like I was did all the time. And my mom would come in and tell me to go to sleep, adding that reading in the dark would make me blind. I wasn’t particularly concerned about it at the time, since my horn-rimmed glasses were already about an inch thick, but she might have been onto something. Reading in the dark causes eye strain in some cases and headaches in most cases.

So there you have it. Go forth armed with the knowledge that might just made you hesitate before you go crunching on your ice, reading the last few chapters of Twilight in the dark, with make-up still on, cracking your knuckles and biting your nails in anticipation.

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