Health

Clean safe water is the true staff of life

Thursday, 09 August 2012 02:52 Janice Nath

Push aside bread, water is the true "staff of life." Water, which carries oxygen to our body's cells, makes up more than half of our body weight and we can't live for more than a few days without it. While our bodies don't get water just from drinking water alone as any fluids we drink contain water as well as certain foods (think juicy peaches or ripe tomatoes), consuming pure, fresh, clean water is vital for our good health. How can we ensure that our drinking water is safe?

Why are some countries still whaling?

Thursday, 09 August 2012 02:38 EarthTalk® E - The Environmental Magazine

Pictured: Minke whale on a stick, at the Sea Baron restaurant in Reykjavik Harbour area, Iceland.

Dear EarthTalk: Commercial whaling was banned around the world years ago, but some nations continue to hunt whales. Why is this and what's being done about it? -- Jackie O'Neill, Hershey, PA

5 Weight Loss Myths Part 1

Thursday, 09 August 2012 01:43 Nicole Winbush MD

With over two-thirds of the population of US overweight or obese many people are wanting to lose weight. It is important to remember that the best motivation for losing weight should be improving health and not losing a "magic" number of pounds. Here I provide facts to dispel some common myths that stand in the way of people achieving healthful and long-term weight loss. This is the first of a two-part series.

Genetically engineered…mosquitoes?

Thursday, 09 August 2012 01:37 EarthTalk® E - The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: I couldn't believe my ears: "genetically engineered mosquitoes?" Why on Earth would they be created? And I understand there are plans to release them into the wild?
-- Marissa Abingdon, Sumter, SC

In a very controversial experiment, genetically engineered mosquitoes, which were bred to transmit a gene during the reproductive process that kills their offspring, have been used in three countries—the Cayman Islands, Malaysia and Brazil—to counteract the quickly spreading mosquito-borne viral infection dengue fever.
Credit: USDA

Lifting up all women

Monday, 06 August 2012 15:17 Valerie Jarrett

This week, the United States is hosting the 19th International AIDS Conference. As we welcome 22,000 leaders, advocates and experts from around the world with the goal of ending HIV/AIDS, I thought it was important not to forget those living with HIV/AIDS here in our home town. Among the 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States, African Americans make up almost half of all cases, despite representing only 14% of the U.S. population. Women comprise 23% of new HIV infections in this country, and African American women make up nearly two-thirds of these cases. Here in D.C., we have one of the highest HIV rates in the country, with 2.7% of all D.C. residents living with HIV/AIDS, and women comprise 28% of the cases. Of the 4,000 women living with HIV in D.C., 92% are African American. Compared with men in D.C., women living with HIV are still more likely to be tested later in the course of their disease, and are less likely to be linked to care.

Commerce chief cautions consumers on Mini-Med Plans

Monday, 06 August 2012 14:33

The Minnesota Department of Commerce is reminding consumers to fully educate themselves before purchasing Limited Medical Benefit Insurance, or Mini-Med Plans. Often these limited benefit plans are bare bones policies that cover specific expenses and have many more limitations than a comprehensive medical plan. Mini-Med plans may seem like a bargain, but may not always be the best or only option.

Bailey named President of National Medical Association

Monday, 06 August 2012 14:28

Dr. Rahn Kennedy Bailey, associate professor and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Meharry Medical College, will be installed as president of the National Medical Association (NMA) on July 31 during the NMA 2012 Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly in New Orleans.