Big PhRMA Behind Millions in Medicare Fraud

This issue is close to me because I am sure Medicare fraud is involved in my late mother's care.  A person with a closed head injury and expressive aphasia needs a neurologist to be their primary care provider, not a questionable shrink who loaded her up on expensive psych drugs.  Hyatt surely made out like a bandit on this one too, yet my greedy, controlling brother in Vermont, her POA, did NOTHING to make a change.  My mother was warehoused in Florida at a so-called '5 star' facility.

Blowing the whistle on drug firms

Last December, a specialty pharmacy in Florida enjoyed its best month ever — posting a hefty $168.7 million in revenues.

But it wasn't filling prescriptions that made Ven-A-Care of the Florida Keys Inc. such a success.

Tiny Ven-A-Care has developed a lucrative niche market: blowing the whistle on drug companies that overcharge Medicare and Medicaid — and collecting tens of millions of dollars in reward money.

Unlike most whistle-blowers who help the government with one case after they encounter wrongdoing, Ven-A-Care has filed suits alleging fraudulent conduct against dozens of drug companies supplying pharmacies and healthcare providers. Complete Article

My Newest Favorite Smoothie

Ever since I snuck pumpkin into my kids' smoothies and they actually LIKED it, I have been slyly adding veggies in at every step. Part of me is conflicted about this. My children don't eat greens when they are presented with greens. But they will eat them pureed in a smoothie or some other such place. I am concerned that I will stop pushing them to eat greens and live contented knowing that they are consuming them in some way. But what happens when they get older? Will the magically come to a rational age where they will see me eating greens and they will try some and like them? Does that really happen? I am far more concerned that by not getting them to try some that they will grow up to hate greens, even though they may be the most important food to get into your diet. Perhaps I will simply table the issue. Next year after all, the Things will be 2 and 4. Our years of parenting are far from over. It is just that I don't know what is ahead, and I have a very intense sense of urgency on some parenting issues. This sense of urgency helps me at the office, but I am not sure how to turn it off when I get home.

Anyhow, I ran out of pumpkin puree last week and have not been feeling like staying up until 11pm to make more. So I came up with another combination!

PURPLE SMOOTHIE (makes two apx 6 oz kid sized smoothies)
1 Frozen Banana
Frozen Wild Blueberries (I never measure--I don't know, a quarter cup? A Third??)
One handful of Kale
Plain Whole Milk Yogurt (Again, it's a smoothie a half a cup??)
1 Tablespoon of honey
Vanilla to taste
Milk to thin it out if the mixture is too thick

I whirred everything together. It was the first time that I found a combination that tasted sweet without adding too much extra sugar. You could not taste the kale at all, which is a good thing. Also, the blueberries were purple enough to cover the color of the 'green puree' which I have been hiding with colored plastic glasses. It was nice to make something that I wasn't nervous about what the kids would do with it. They of course drank it. Be still my heart.

A note about the Blueberries:
Where I live in Manhattan, it is relatively easy to search out local honey, yogurt, milk and even kale if you are resourceful and can make it to one of the many farmer's markets. I do buy imported organic bananas. But the berries are trickier. There is a local farm that will sell frozen berries over the winter. But I know they are not organic, and they are $8 a pint!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is alot of money. But I found a company a long time ago, Wyman's of Maine. They sell frozen wild blueberries. The berries are billed as wild, which is almost a tag word for organic if it is true, because it basically means uncultivated. And most stuff that grows wild grows organically unless I guess if it is growing too close to a highway (I'm kidding). But I am not sure that 'wild' is a USDA regulated term. But they might? Regardless, the berries comes from Maine, the land of blueberries. And that is closer to me than California. And they come from a smaller manufacturer as opposed to some major brand name. They are $4.99 for 15 ounces. So I am okay with this choice. It is nice to find that some of the foods I have been eating for years actually pass the new rules.

Health Hero Passes

I am old enough to remember being a young mother and staying at home with my daughter, and following Jack LaLanne's exercise program pretty faithfully.

My daughter will be 49 later this year.  I hope some of what she learned from me has helped her.  She is an artist and a massage therapist now. 

I tried to pass on to her much of what I learned from Jack.  He will be missed, not only by me but by many I know whose lives he influenced.



Lung Health

A new study reports that beta-glucan is very helpful for protecting lung health, just as is vitamin A (oil based) and vitamin C.

UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION - Pleuran, Beta-Glucan, Glucan

Reference:"Pleuran (Beta-glucan from Pleurotus ostreatus) supplementation, cellular immune response and respiratory tract infections in athletes," Bergendiova K, Majtan J, et al, Eur J Appl Physiol, 2011, Jan 20; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address:Pneumo-Alergo Centrum, s.r.o., Uzbecka 16, 821 06, Bratislava, Slovakia).

Summary:In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 50 athletes undergoing strenuous physical training, results indicate that supplementation with pleuran, an insoluble glucan from mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, may exert beneficial effects. The athletes were randomised to pleuran or placebo for a period of 3 months. At intervention end, a significant reduction in incidences of URTI (upper respiratory tract infections) symptoms and increased number of circulating NK cells were observed in the pleuran group. Additionally, a significant reduction of phagocytosis was observed in the placebo group alone. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "These findings indicate that pleuran may serve as an effective nutritional supplement for athletes under heavy physical training."

More About Natural Cancer Treatments

from Krista Peterson in response to our post about supplements

More on immune system health

Natural Cancer Treatments

Traditional cancer treatments work by targeting the tumor with toxic chemicals or radiation, killing off the malignant cells – but also damaging healthy cells in the process.  For this reason, chemotherapy and radiation are extremely difficult on the body, causing side effects ranging from hair loss to nausea and vomiting to anemia.  Some of the most lethal cancers, such as mesothelioma, are not diagnosed until the late stages. Mesothelioma treatment generally includes traditional therapies like radiation, chemotherapy, and – more rarely – surgery, but these treatments are often of limited effectiveness by the time the cancer is diagnosed.

As a result, many cancer patients turn to alternative treatment as a method of alleviating symptoms or fighting the cancer itself.  There are many natural alternative remedies available, though most are used in conjunction with traditional therapies rather than replacements for them.  The reason these treatments are not part of standard medical care is that most have not been proven to show significant positive effects in clinical trials.  However, when even conventional medical treatment offers little chance of recovery, it is only natural to search for natural alternatives with fewer harsh side effects.

Vitamin C – an important nutrient found in citrus and other fruits and vegetables, given intravenously in large doses.  This therapy is based on a 1976 study that suggested the vitamin may increase survival time for terminal cancer patients.  However, other scientists have not been able to reproduce the results of this study.

Mushroom extract – the use of mushrooms for medicinal purposes.  Compounds called beta-glucans found in some mushrooms are thought to boost the body’s immune responses, allowing it to better fight the cancer.

Cat’s claw – the common name for Uncaria tormentosa, a vine found in the tropics of Central and South America.  The inner bark and root are used by indigenous cultures to treat intestinal ailments, and there has been some indication that it may also have a stimulating effect on the immune system in cancer patients.

Iscador – an extract of the mistletoe plant, especially popular as a cancer therapy in Europe.  Though the National Cancer Institute does not list it as an approved treatment, some tests have been promising and the extract is currently undergoing clinical trials.

Quercetin – an anti-oxidant flavonoid found in some fruits and vegetables.  Some in vitro studies have shown quercetin to suppress malignant cancer cells, and the National Cancer Institute highly recommends a diet rich in fruits and vegetables for cancer prevention as well as during treatment.

Macrobiotic diet – a diet that consists primarily of whole grains, vegetables, and beans while avoiding refined or processed foods.  Practitioners claim this diet is linked to the traditions of Chinese, Japanese, or Incan cultures and is based on the principle of balance in food and in life.

An Important Note

If you are receiving medical treatment for cancer or other serious illness, it is imperative that you speak to your doctor before beginning any alternative therapies to prevent possibly dangerous interactions or side effects.  Any changes in diet should also be discussed with a medical professional, since chemotherapy or radiation may change the way your body takes in nutrients and malnutrition can be a serious risk.

References

http://www.mesotheliomatreatment.net/

http://www.mesotheliomatreatment.net/alternative-therapies

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC431183/?tool=pmcentrez

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2011/01/supplements-and-cancer-what-works.html

Weekend Eating Highlights

It has bee quite a 2011 so far. The snow has been swirling and piling up in big black heaps on the corners of intersections. The Jets lost after a strong comeback in the second half. Cars are crusted in place with ice and I fear there may never be street sweeping again. The kids have been trapped indoors, and probably have been watching too much television. I haven't really asked the babysitter. People who live in glass houses....you know.

It is definitely winter. The temperature in New York City this weekend topped out at a chilly 22 degrees. The snow has gotten out of control. 2 more feet are supposed to be coming Tuesday, and my brother called me a few weeks ago to laugh at me and tell me that New York has now gotten more snow than them in Chicago this winter! Blah. And while we did leave the house to go to a few places (Boat Show!!), we took it easy and stayed in most of the time. Here are a couple of highlights in food:

* I found hot dogs at the farmer's market!! At the beginning of my blogging I decided to stop buying Thing One's favorite meat, hot dogs. Even though I was buying a brand that was no nitrates, he wouldn't touch the organic variety, and we started getting heavy into the CSA grass fed meat. Conventional hot dogs just kind of got pushed off the plate. The CSA has a hot dog, but their seasonings taste more like bratwursts and we just didn't favor them. I was so thrilled when I saw that Hawthorne Valley had frankfurters. We bought them even though they were pricey, $12.75 for 8 dogs (I am guessing about a pound and a quarter). The kids loved them! And I am happy that the meat is local and grass fed and ethically raised.

* I have a good new smoothie recipe!! I will be sharing tomorrow!

* I made the Things sausage patties and cantaloupe for brekkie on Saturday morning, and to my surprise, neither really ate it. My kids usually go for meat at any meal, and I have been trying out dairy and grain free meals (it is proving harder than it sounds). But they wanted no part of this meat. I was actually kinda sad about this. Perhaps the cantaloupe was too much of a distraction. They did eat all the fruit.

* I bought whole millet. I am not sure why, but I am really really excited to try it out. A new whole grain could be a nice substitute for rice or even oatmeal. It is gluten free a decent source of iron too. I think at the very least, this will be good to vary our diet even more. I can't wait to report my findings!

Let's Make it Easier

As the snow has melted and green fescue grass has revealed itself again in yards around the neighborhood, our thoughts turn to spring and the anticipation of new growth.  For some people, that anticipation might turn to dread – all those garden chores to start up again!  Perhaps I could suggest some ideas to reduce some of those chores - let's be lazy and do less work.

Mowing grass and grass choices – Depending on how much grass you have, dealing with your lawn can be a big chore: you mow it, you fertilize it, you water it.  If you have fescue, you may also over-seed it.  Here are some thoughts on reducing your effort to save time, money and natural resources:

• Don’t mow it as much.  I know many “industry” folk recommend mowing it regularly so that you don’t remove too much of the height at once.  I do not mow on a regular schedule, just when it looks like it needs it.  During dry times, I mow even less frequently so that the longer grass blades can provide shade on the soil to reduce evaporation.  Keep your blade sharp.
• Don’t fertilize it as much.  I actually do not fertilize at all and the grass is beautiful anyway. I save money and time! Consider getting a soil test to see if your soil needs nutrients if the lawn is doing poorly – don’t just assume that fertilizer will help.
• For new lawns, choose a low maintenance grass – for me that is Zoysia.  It is a creeper so it does not require over-seeding in the fall.  It goes dormant in the fall, so it does not need winter mowing like fescue might.  Do not pick Bermuda if you can help it – it is a very aggressive creeper and you will be digging it out of your beds for years to come. 
• Don’t put lawn in shady areas – grass needs sun and it will not do well in shade.  Convert those areas to a shade tolerant groundcover or just mulch.  Moss is a great groundcover - look at these beautiful patches of moss that are taking over these shady spots:

Moss in shady fescue lawn

Moss in shady zoysia lawn

• Watering – reduce or eliminate watering on established lawns (unless you are over-seeding fescue and the seeds are sprouting).  I do not water mine, not even during the drought of 2008-09, and it has done very well (it was planted in 2004).
• Reduce your lawn – consider how you use it and adjust the size to your needs, not what everyone else is doing.  I guarantee some people will be looking at your smaller lawn with ENVY.  A couple of years ago I realized that my sunniest areas were taken up by grass; I’ve been reducing it over the last two years.  I planted a Hawthorn and Crabapple in one area and fall perennials in another.  Lawn areas are not very botanically diverse - I was happy to add some diversity in my yard by replacing some grass.

Leaves, Limbs and Litter – You do want to pick up any litter that finds it way into your yard, but reconsider what you do with the leaves and limbs.  Leaves and limbs are nature’s way of returning nutrients to the soil.  Think of them as extended-release fertilizer!  Leaves on the lawn can often be chopped up with the lawn mower and left in place.  Or you can gather them up if they are too thick and use them as mulch around some trees and shrubs. Limbs and twigs can handled at least two ways: if they are small then break them up with your hands into little pieces and leave them right there; if they are large, pick an out of the way spot in your yard and start a pile.  Loose piles of limbs are a source of protection and shelter for many small animals and birds.  Of course both leaves and small limbs can be added to a compost bin but that’s a bit more work!

A pile of sticks for the critters that naturally decomposes over time

Pruning – Plants are not pruned in nature (unless you consider the browsing of deer or the harsh result of ice storms to be forms of pruning).  The only reason you should prune is because you WANT to do so for shape or to encourage more dense growth.  Pruning because the plant outgrows it’s spot simply means the plant isn’t right for that spot.  No need to make work for yourself - when choosing woody plants, research characteristics like these:

• The mature height of the plant.
• The mature width of the plant.
• The plant’s rate of growth. 
•  The plants sun/shade needs.

Annual color – Perennial plants are a great concept - after all, who wants to replant every year?  However, the “flower power” of annuals is hard to beat.  Therefore, most of us buy a few petunias or impatiens each year to boost the color in our yard.  Here are a few tips to maximize the impact and minimize the work:

• Make a few large groups instead of scattering the plants throughout the area.  Larger groups create a more eye-catching mass of blooms.

• Use just one color in each group - again the concentrated color is more noticeable.

• Grouping water thirsty annuals together allows you to spend less time (and money) watering by concentrating on fewer spots.

Group plants by water needs – Let me expand on that last tip.  The water needs of the plants you use should be considered when you are planning new installations. 

• Some plants need more water (annuals like impatiens need more water than annuals like petunias).  If you scatter those “thirsty” plants all over then you find yourself watering everywhere.  Put them together so that you can water them appropriately and leave other plants for another day (or not at all).
• Some plants tolerate more water. Take advantage of low places that naturally stay moist to plant water-loving things there – a "win-win" for you and the plants.  Many native shrubs are very tolerant of moist/wet conditions: Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia), Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), Possumhaw (Viburnum nudum), Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis), Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), and Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) to name a few. 

Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides - 
the berries turn from green to pink to blue

Wet tolerant trees include Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), Red maple (Acer rubrum), Silverbell (Halesia sp.), River birch (Betula nigra), Swamp white oak (Quercus michauxii), Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides), Sweet bay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), and American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana).

Magnolia virginiana, Sweet bay magnolia -
a small but intensely fragrant flower

When you group plants by water needs, you can tell everyone that you’re xeriscaping!  Because that is what xeriscaping means: Landscaping techniques designed to use water efficiently.

Weeds – While the technical definition of a “weed” is a “plant that is where you don’t want it”, mostly it means those pesky plants that create a zillion seeds and then germinate right where they annoy you the most! Some of the worst ones are non-native weeds like Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta).  I took this picture yesterday - look for it in your yard this month before it flowers.

Hairy Bittercress, non-native weed

Here are my tips for managing weeds:

• Remove them when they are small (and I prefer to remove them by hand if possible because it affords me some exercise and it does not require chemicals).
• Remove them when the soil is moist (after a rain) because they pull out easier that way (and a good weed fork helps with those that have tap roots).
• Remove them before they go to seed – or at least dead head them (and throw away the head, don’t just drop it on the ground).  This is the laziest thing you can do! One of my favorite sayings is: “One year’s seeding equals seven years of weeding.”  Seeds can lie dormant on the ground for several years before germinating. Keep them from going to seed and you'll have fewer next year.
• Use mulch around your plants to inhibit germination as many seeds require exposure to light in order to germinate.

I hope you find these ideas useful.  I practice most of them myself and strive to do better on others.  Not only are many of these ideas easier on you, they are often also easier on the environment too.  Who knew being lazier could be so good?

Friendly Skies? MRSA Risk Flying High

If TSA isn't bad enough, maybe your data base isn't as well informed about flying as it should be.

Get your copy of our well used, and effective Jet Lag Remedy

Places Germs Breed

Even coffee, magazines can be contaminated

from: CNN | December 22, 2010

• Airplane water has been under review for traces of E. coli for six years

• Purchase bottled water to bring on board and don't use ice cubes in your drink

• To avoid catching the cold or flu, don't stash things in the seat pocket

• Don't wash your hands after using the airplane bathroom -- use sanitizer instead

(Budget Travel) -- Flu season is in full swing, so it's more important than ever to protect yourself against illness. We dug deep to identify the major germ zones on planes (and tips to avoid them). No, you're not likely to contract meningitis, but better safe than sorry, right?

GERM ZONE: Water
FOR: E. coli, a common culprit behind stomach cramps

Your plane reaches 30,000 feet, the fasten-seat-belt sign switches off, and the flight attendant comes by to take your drink order: Coffee or tea? Ice water? They seem like innocent offers -- until you consider that airplane water has been under review by the EPA for traces of E. coli for six years.

A random sampling of 327 unnamed domestic and international aircraft caused a stir in 2004 when some water samples tested positive for E. coli, one strain of which is the leading cause of food poisoning in the U.S. Coffee and tea are brewed on board with such water and don't typically reach hot enough temperatures to kill E. coli. When bottled water runs out, some planes have been known to fill fliers' glasses from the tank.

One British Airways crew member confessed to the London-based Times that, in those cases, the crew first has to wait for any cloudy "floating stuff" to settle out. And onboard tanks are small to limit their weight, so planes sometimes refill at foreign airports, where water standards can be questionable.

The encouraging news is that water quality and control are improving: From 2005 to 2008, only 3.6 percent of samples tested positive for coliform bacteria, of which only a small fraction tested positive for E. coli. And in October 2011, the EPA's Aircraft Drinking Water Rule, with more standardized, stringent disinfection and inspection regulations, will go into effect.

TIP: Once you clear the security checkpoint, purchase a bottle of water to bring on board. When the flight attendant comes to take your order, stick to soda, juice and other prepackaged liquids, minus the ice. While ice cubes are usually supplied by an outside vendor, some large planes may have their own ice-making capabilities -- reliant on tank water.

GERM ZONE: Seat Pocket
FOR: Cold and influenza A, B, and C viruses

There's a familiar routine to settling in on a plane: Store your luggage in the overhead bin and deposit any personal items you want to be readily available in your seat pocket. But reaching into that pocket is akin to putting your hand in someone else's purse and rummaging among their used tissues and gum wrappers.

Toenail clippings and mushy old French fries are even nastier surprises that have been found in seat pockets. Consider that cold and influenza viruses can survive for hours on fabric and tissues, and even longer (up to 48 hours) on nonporous surfaces like plastic and metal -- and you realize that you might pick up more than that glossy flight magazine when you reach inside.

TIP: Bring a small, easily accessible carry-on bag so that you can avoid stashing things in the seat pocket. If you must use it, keep magazines and other items within a plastic bag for protection.

GERM ZONE: Tray Table
FOR: MRSA, a deadly superbug

Flight attendants have witnessed many repulsive misuses of the tray table, from parents changing dirty diapers to kids sticking their boogers underneath. Research confirms that the handy tray table is a petri dish for all kinds of health hazards, including the superbug Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), which is often fatal once contracted. It kills an estimated 20,000 Americans annually.

In 2007, University of Arizona researcher Jonathan Sexton tested tray tables from three major airliners, and an alarming 60 percent tested positive for the superbug. That's quite a revelation considering only 11 percent of his samples from the New York subway found traces of the bug.

TIP: Bring disinfectant wipes to clean off your tray table before and after use, and never eat directly off the surface. CDC guidelines tell you what to look for in a disinfectant and recommend checking a product's label to see if MRSA is on the list of bacteria it kills; Lysol disinfecting wipes is one reliable choice. And be sure to protect any cuts with Band-Aids -- the most common way of contracting an MRSA infection is through open skin.
GERM ZONE: Airplane Meal
FOR: Listeria, a microbe known to cause gastrointestinal illness and meningitis

In-flight meals have long had a bad reputation for consisting of bland, barely identifiable dishes. Then, in 2009, the meals made headlines when FDA inspections of the Denver location of LSG Sky Chefs -- the world's largest airplane caterer with clients including American Airlines, Delta and United -- found the kitchens crawling with roaches too numerous to count and employees handling the food with bare hands or unwashed gloves.

Test samples from the food preparation area also found traces of Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause gastrointestinal illness and meningitis, as well as cervical infection in pregnant women. Your likelihood of contracting illness from the microbe is very low, though it should be noted that one fifth of the 2,500 annual cases are fatal.

LSG Sky Chefs, to its credit, responded accordingly after the news broke and passed the FDA's follow-up inspection in January 2010.

TIP: It sounds like LSG has cleaned up its act, but you'll never really know where your meal has been. If you're concerned, eat beforehand and bring your own snacks onto the plane. For starters, choose a well-cured meat like prosciutto or salami.

GERM ZONE: Airplane Pillow and Blankets
FOR: Germs like Aspergillus niger that cause pneumonia and infections

Talk about sleeping with the enemy. You're snuggling with a blanket and pillow that have likely been used by many drowsy, drooling passengers before you. Unless visibly soiled, pillows and blankets are often reissued because of the frequency of flights.

A 2007 investigation by The Wall Street Journal revealed that airlines cleaned their blankets every five to 30 days. And don't assume your blanket is new just because it's wrapped in plastic. The Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile Employees made a big stink in 2000 when it accused Royal Airline Laundry -- which supplies pillows and blankets to clients like American, United and US Airways -- of repackaging pillows and blankets without cleaning them properly.

Its research found blankets with traces of Pseudomonas paucimobilis, known for causing lung and eye infections, and pillowcases with Aspergillus niger, which can lead to pneumonia and gastrointestinal bleeding. In the decade since, airlines like Southwest and Alaska Airlines have removed pillows and blankets completely, while JetBlue, US Airways and American now charge for them.

TIP: There have been no documented reports linking airlines to these infections. But if you're worried about staying warm -- and want to avoid potential germs and airline fees -- wear layers and thick socks, and consider bringing Grabber Warmers, small disposable hand and foot warmers. A travel pillow and compact blanket will help you sleep in comfort.

GERM ZONE: Airplane Lavatory
FOR: A smorgasbord of threats like E. coli or fecal bacteria

After a mid-flight nap, you wake up to nature's call and must face the airplane's biggest germ zone: the lavatory. With hundreds of people using the commode daily, the small boxy space is a natural haven for all kinds of germs and viruses, especially on the door handle (do you really think every passenger washes his or her hands?).

And that thunderous volcanic toilet flush doesn't exactly help the situation, spraying water and releasing potential germs into the air every which way. The CDC cited the lavatory as a major danger area for the spread of disease during the H1N1 flu and SARS epidemics.

TIP: Use a paper towel to close the toilet lid before flushing -- and then leave without washing your hands. Remember that cloudy tank water we described above? The sink water comes from the same source. You'll come away cleaner if you skip the sink and reach for hand sanitizer instead.

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