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Retail pork products in the United States have a higher prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (MRSA) than previously identified, according to new research by the University of Iowa College of Public Health and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. MRSA can occur in the environment and in raw meat products, and is estimated to cause around 185,000 cases of food poisoning each year. The bacteria can also cause serious, life-threatening infections of the bloodstream, skin, lungs, and other organs. MRSA is resistant to a number of antibiotics. The study, … [Read more...] about Meat or meet your maker??

I thought this was an interesting article on Corporate Wellness, so I decided to share this. Corporate culture has started to change in a new direction. Health insurance costs are on the rise and no matter which provider you switch to, they all increase your rates. The best way to keep insurance costs at bay is to reduce the risk factors and the ideal way to do that is through exercise and nutritional changes. Diabetes and smoking are the number one and two health concerns that drive up the cost for health insurance. Some forward thinking business owners have decided to address these issues by … [Read more...] about Working for Wellness [Albuquerque Journal, N.M.]

  An electronic personal health record makes it easy to gather and manage your medical information in one accessible and secure location. By Mayo Clinic staff If you're like most people, you have a number of health concerns and visit multiple doctors and pharmacies. Keeping track of it all is a challenge. With a personal health record, you can gather — and manage — all that information in one easily accessible location. What is a personal health record? A personal health record is simply a collection of information about your health. If you have a shot record or a box of medical papers, … [Read more...] about Personal Health Record: A tool for managing your health

  Some herbal supplements can have dangerous interactions with heart medications. By Mayo Clinic staff Herbal supplements are natural, so they must be safe, right? Not necessarily. Herbal supplements can have strong effects in the body, and some can interact with prescription medications used to treat heart and circulatory problems, such as high blood pressure and heart failure. Some of these interactions can even be dangerous. Herbal supplements and prescription medications At least a quarter of adults who take prescription medications also take dietary supplements, including herbal … [Read more...] about Herbal supplements may not mix with heart medicine

  You can stretch anytime, anywhere. Just follow these tips to do it safely and effectively. By Mayo Clinic staff Stretching may take a back seat to your exercise routine. You may think that stretching your hamstrings and calves is just something to be done if you have a few extra minutes before or after pounding out some miles on the treadmill. The main concern is exercising, not stretching, right? Not so fast. Although studies about the benefits of stretching are mixed, stretching may help you improve your flexibility, which in turn may improve your athletic performance and decrease … [Read more...] about Stretching: Focus on Flexibility

  By Stacy Simon A new study reinforces the link between liver cancer and the risk factors of smoking, obesity, and heavy drinking. Researchers from the US and Europe studied 125 liver cancer patients to determine what risk factors were contributing to their disease. They compared them to 229 people without cancer who were matched by age, gender and other factors. The participants were all part of a European study group that was formed so researchers could investigate the role of biological, dietary, lifestyle and environmental factors in the development of cancer and other chronic … [Read more...] about Smoking dramtically increases the risk for liver cancer

Do you know what you are feeding your infant?? This is an interesting article written by Selena Keegan. Top baby formula brands sold in stores contain alarmingly high levels of corn syrup and sugar. In light of rising rates of childhood obesity and diabetes, parents need to read labels carefully to protect their children's health. Consumption of large quantities of sugar and high fructose corn syrup have been linked to behavioral disorders such as ADD as well as other issues such as anxiety, daytime drowsiness and nighttime insomnia. Feeding your baby sugar and corn syrup also increases … [Read more...] about What are you feeding your infant?

This is an interesting article that was posted in Women's Health. Women are hitting the weight room in record numbers, and a new study found that weight-training injuries among women have jumped a whopping 63 percent. Here are the most common slipups and how to fix them, so you leave the gym strutting — not limping. The mistake: skipping your warm-up You wouldn't launch into an all-out sprint the second you stepped onto a treadmill, so you shouldn't jump right into deadlifts the instant you hit the weight room. "Working cold, stiff muscles can lead to sprains and tears," says Morey Kolber, … [Read more...] about Weight room blunders that can really hurt