SODA TAX: New York Governor David Paterson is suggesting a 15 percent tax on soft drinks. This so-called “obesity tax”, will only be on soda that contains sugar and not on the diet versions of soda. Governor Paterson suggested that this might generate more than $400 million dollars in tax revenue and might lead to healthier choices for the people of New York.

Dr. Scott’s Comments: Taxes actually are a very effective way to curb consumption. Studies on cigarette consumption and taxes show that increasing the price of cigarettes is more effective at reducing smoking than any other campaign (including scare tactics). My thought would be: why stop at soda? If sugar is much more of a health burden than cigarettes (see my book Sugarettes), then its consumption should be curtailed by any means necessary.

original article

KEEP ACTIVE: Low-cost physical activity programs, such as those offered by senior centers and recreation centers was show to dramatically reduce disabilities in the elderly. 554 elderly persons who were not physically active were randomly selected to be in the exercise group or non-exercise group. The group that exercised has a much lower incidence of disability and had a larger amount of muscle mass than the non-exercisers.

Dr. Scott’s Comments: The importance of continuing an exercise program throughout your life cannot be overstated. The amount of lean body mass (muscle) you have is closely related to how long you are going to live. In fact, lean body mass is the best predictor for longevity we have. If you are not already exercising, get up from the computer right now and go do something!

original article

SLEEP AND EXERCISE KILL CANCER: A new study by the National Cancer Institute showed the women who exercised has a 25 percent reduction in the amount of cancer than non exercisers. But, the women who slept less than 7 hours every night (even if they were exercising) had twice the risk of women who slept more than 7 hours.

Dr. Scott’s Comments: Exercise is important, but so is sleep. A 25 percent reduction in cancer risk is HUGE and one of the best reasons to get off your butt and get some exercise. The benefits of exercise were cut short by not getting enough sleep. What I think this research shows is that there are many women out there who are excelling in their business lives, but who are not taking care of themselves. Sleep is where out bodies rebuild and repair and skimping on sleep can have dramatic results.

original article

BLOOD SUGAR SPIKES DESTROY MEMORY: The hippocampus, the area of the brain partly responsible for creating new memories has been shown to be especially sensitive to spikes in blood sugar.

Dr. Scott’s Comments: Many people know of the “brain fog” that occurs with eating too much sugar, and now science is beginning to back up this notion. The interesting thing about this study is that the problems with memory begin with only moderate rise in blood sugar and the scientists suggest that sugar may be the reason behind why so many older adults have problems with memory: because it is common for us to lose blood sugar control as we age. Could sugar be the “smoking gun” in dementia? Don’t wait to find out, get sugar out of your life today!

original article

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There are two ways to look at cold and flu season. The first is to think that there are bugs out there and if you are too close to someone who has those bugs, you are going to get sick. The second is to realize that there are bugs out there, but there are always bugs out there, and that you only get sick when the conditions are right for the bugs to thrive.

Growing Flowers in a Desert

The best way to understand the second way of thinking is to picture a desert and think about what can grow in a desert environment. Only certain plants and animals can thrive in the desert. If you take a plant from a tropical climate and put it in a desert, it will die almost immediately. The reason why the tropical plant will not thrive and grow in the dry desert is because deserts don’t provide the right conditions for the tropical plant to grow.

The same is true of bacteria and viruses.

If you provide the right conditions for the bugs to grow, then, yes, you are going to get a cold. If you body is more like a desert, then the bugs will never get a hold and you will avoid the cold altogether. There are ways you can prepare for cold and flu season so that you can avoid getting sick.

Tips for Growing Your Own Personal Desert

• Slow down: take time off and spend time with the ones that you love. Remember that winter is the time to slow down; everything in the natural world is getting slower. Take a hint from nature and take a break from your busy schedule. In talking with dying patients who may not have much time left, they often lament the time that wasn’t spent with family and friends. Fall offers us this opportunity to slow down, enjoy our meals, and focus on loved ones.
  
• Eat for Health: You want to focus on vegetables that have been growing all summer and are now ready to eat. The more hearty vegetables should start showing up on your plate. Beets, turnips, parsnips, rutabaga, and winter squashes such as Acorn, Butternut, Pumpkins are a welcome addition to any meal. Add more protein to your diet as you need the extra amino acids to boost your immune system. As always kick sugar out of your diet, it ruins your immune system (and remember to remove the foods that act like sugar too: see my book Sugarettes).
  
• Soup: Both Chinese and Indian culture’s placed high emphasis on what are called “tonifing” soups. These, like your grandmother’s chicken soup recipe for a cold, act to increase the body’s ability to fight disease. Choose fresh vegetables, with emphasis on garlic and onion, chicken or fish may be added to boost protein content. Add plenty of spices: turmeric, thyme, basil, all have antimicrobial properties and also help to support the body’s own healing mechanism.
  
• Sweat: As the weather turns cold, take advantage of any opportunity to enjoy a steam-room or sauna. Not only have this been shown to aid in detoxification, but it also allows you a chance to relax and take some time off. Massage is another good way to aid in detoxification and promote a relaxed atmosphere. I still think you should exercise in winter, but just take it a bit slower.
  
• Sleep: With more nighttime and less daytime it would make sense that we sleep longer. Sleep impacts health in so many ways, getting the right amount of sleep for you is essential to your health and your body’s ability to fight disease.
  
• Herbs and Vitamins: There are many herbs such as Echinacea and others that promote healing and make colds shorter and less painful. These are best when they are chosen for the individual and their particular illness. Consult a professional who can personalize an herbal and nutritional program just for you.
  

What if you do get a Cold?

Okay, even if you do get a cold, you might want to look at it another way.

From a more natural perspective, fall and spring are times for the body to clean junk out of your system and a cold or flu may be a companion to help you clear out that junk. From this perspective, when you get a cold, you are not going to battle it, but accept it as a friend. Take a cold for what it truly should be: a hint that you need to slow down, get more sleep, eat better and take care of yourself.

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