Holiday weekend

Greetings everyone,
Sorry to have missed a couple of days.....sometimes life just gets in the way! Hope everyone is enjoying the last days of summer. Barbara is really keeping the roads hot running from town to town!
We will not be having an event at the center next weekend. Imagine, we were bumped for management!

Have a great weekend
Dr. Janet

Kitchen first aid hints

4 first-aid remedies in your kitchen By Dr. Manny Alvarez

Some of the best first-aid tools can be found in your kitchen. While you should always have some Band-Aids and first-aid ointment in your bathroom cabinet, there are some things in your house you may not have thought about that could help out in a health crisis. Here are a few that will help out in a pinch.

1. Onions
Onions can be used as a topical treatment for burns. Apply a cut onion to the burn as soon as it happens, and it will help to alleviate the pain. It can also be used on bee stings.

 2. Green tea
Green tea has a laundry list of health benefits - from longevity and immunity-boosting properties to heart-healing power. But, did you know green tea can also be used to soothe puffy eyes? The caffeine helps reduce swelling and shrinks blood vessels.

3. Honey
Honey can sweeten a dish - and treat a hangover. It's true - honey helps your body metabolize alcohol quicker, and it's packed with potassium, which your body loses after a night of drinking.

 4. Salt
Salt is an excellent anti-inflammatory. Use it to combat a sore throat - gargling with salt water will ease the pain.

Dr. Manny Alvarez serves as Fox News Channel's Senior Managing Editor for Health News. Prior to this position, Alvarez was a FNC medical contributor. Follow Dr. Manny on Facebook.

Money for your old cell phone?

iPhone 6 release could drive the most old iPhone trade-ins ever

As the iPhone 6 launch approaches, more trade-in sites are clamoring for your old iPhone. eBay is leading the charge with the promise of a $100 coupon if you can't sell yours on the auction site.
by Eric Mack @ericcmack August 26, 2014 9:30

It's widely believed that Apple will introduce the iPhone 6 at a September 9 media event in San Francisco, making it prime-time for trading in current and older Apple smartphones. Plenty of big and small online names are already jostling to offer the best deal to take your old iPhone off your hands, and now eBay is sweetening the pot even more. A representative for eBay tells me that the auction site will be offering a $100 coupon to US sellers who are unable to sell their old iPhone between September 1 and October 24. Currently, a used iPhone 5s can fetch $500 or more on eBay.

The site notes that after the iPhone 5s and 5c became available last year, the average selling price for used iPhones (including the iPhone 4 , iPhone 4s and iPhone 5) was around $280. eBay also says that the number of iPhone listings continues to increase with each new generation release. Trade-in site NextWorth is also expecting to see a boom in its business with the release of the iPhone 6. The company anticipates double the trade-in volume in the coming weeks as compared to last year's launch of the iPhone 5s and 5c. Nextworth's historical data shows a 105 percent increase in trades when Apple introduces a brand new "numbered" model, versus the less dramatic changes that typically accompany an "s" version. (To be fair, the introduction of Siri in the iPhone 4s was perhaps a bigger deal than the iPhone 5).

 Nextworth has a partnership with Target that allows people to trade in their old iPhones in exchange for a Target gift card. At the moment, you can hand over an old iPhone 5s in exchange for up to $259 so long as it's fully functional without a cracked screen. Glyde.com, a kind of peer-to-peer hybrid of eBay and Nextworth (it helps facilitate price, shipping and money movements between individual buyers and sellers), also told me it has seen iPhone-related traffic more than double from last year's lead-up to the iPhone 5s and 5c launch. If you're hoping to get the most for your old iPhone, there's no time like the present, especially this year with so many other used iPhones hitting the digital streets.

Glyde currently suggests a sales price of $413 for a used Verizon 64GB iPhone 5s , which is down from a price of $487 the site was suggesting just a week ago.

Smoothie recipes by rewuest

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

(serves 2)

1 ripe banana

1 ½ cups frozen strawberries

3 tablespoons almond butter

¼ cup vanilla yogurt

2 cups soymilk

Coconut Kale Smoothie

(serves 2)

2 cups of fresh kale

1 ½ cup fresh coconut

½ cup of frozen pineapple

2 cups unsweetened coconut water

1 banana

Watermelon Smoothie

(serves 2)

1 cup Water

2 cups of diced and frozen Watermelon

1 cup frozen Strawberries

1 Banana sliced and frozen

Pineapple Mango Smoothie

(serves 2)

1 cup frozen pineapple

1 cup frozen mango

1 ½ cup orange juice

1 cup vanilla yogurt

Apple update

Apple announced the eighth major release of its iOS mobile operating system at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The latest version of iOS include improvements to the Siri voice assistant, a new health and wellness app, and revamped notifications, among other things.

With iOS 8 slated to arrive on devices in the coming weeks, now is the perfect time to ensure that your iPhone or iPad is prepared to receive the update. These tips will help make the transition to iOS 8 from iOS 7 as smooth as possible.

Check compatibility
If you've been holding on to the original iPad or iPhone 4, it may be time to update to a newer device. Not every one of Apple's devices is capable of being updated to iOS 8. The company has said the following devices will be receiving the update: iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPad 2, third- and fourth-generation iPad, iPad Air, fifth-generation iPod Touch, iPad Mini, and iPad Mini with Retina display.

Free up some space
The over-the-air iOS 7 update package was about 700MB depending on your device, however users were required to have at least 3GB of free space on their devices in order to actually install the update. You can expect iOS 8 to have similar storage requirements, which makes now the perfect time to free up some space on your device.

I recommend deleting unused apps (which can be done with a long press to the icon, then hitting the X which appears when the apps start shaking), and moving photos to iCloud or another cloud service such as Dropbox or Google Drive. You can also move photos and videos to your computer to free up space rather than having to delete old memories.

Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer using the USB cord, then, on a Mac or MacBook, use iPhoto to import all or select photos to your computer. From a Windows computer, enter My Computer, select your device under the Portable Devices section, click on the DCIM folder, and simply drag and drop which photos or videos you would like to transfer to your computer.

To see how much storage is remaining on your iOS device, enter Settings, click on General, and select Usage.

Check for updates
Now would also be a good time to install any lingering software updates you have been holding off on. You will need to be on the latest version of iOS to update to iOS 8. To check for updates, enter Settings, click on General, and select Software Update.

You should also install any app updates that are available before updating to iOS 8 to ensure that your apps will work properly after the move.

Back up your device
Although you are unlikely to run into any major problems when updating, it's always a good idea to have a backup of your device. You know what they say, it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

There are two methods for backing up your device. The first is with iTunes, which will store a backup file on your computer. For this method, you should have the latest version of iTunes installed. Start by connecting your iPhone or iPad to the computer with the USB cable. Then, select your device and click on the Summary tab in the top menu. Make sure that your computer is selected, and then click on the "Back Up Now" button on the right-hand side. If you rather back up your data to Apple's cloud service, select the iCloud option located above the computer option.

Data can also be backed up directly from your device to iCloud. Make sure Wi-Fi is enabled, then enter Settings, select iCloud, and click on Storage & Backup. From here you can choose which files and settings you would like to store on the cloud. Once you have made your selections, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the "Back Up Now" option.

A word to the wise
As we have seen in the past, sometimes these big updates can cause problems for older devices. Owners of the iPhone 4 complained of poor battery life and performance issues after updating to iOS 7. We all like new things, but it may actually be better to hold off on updating for a week or two if you own an iPhone 4S or an iPad 2. This should help you avoid some of the problems that can arise when updating your device.

Have an iPhone 5?

If you purchased an iPhone 5 between September 2012 and January 2013, then you may be eligible for a free battery replacement for your device. Apple  launched the battery replacement program after learning that some iPhone 5 devices “may suddenly experience shorter battery life or need to be charged more frequently.” It is unknown how many devices were affected by the defective batteries.

You can find out if your device is eligible by inputting the serial number at the iPhone 5 Battery Replacement Program website. The iPhone serial number can be found under Settings > General > About of the device.

This is not the first time that Apple had to issue a hardware recall. In October, Apple reached out to customers because there were several thousand iPhone 5S devices that had shipped with defective batteries, which was about a month after it launched. In 2006, Apple also recalled 1.8 million battery packs for iBook and PowerBook laptop computers due to overheating problems.

Apple will replace the defective batteries of the iPhone 5 devices for free at Apple Retail Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers. Eligible iPhone 5 owners that have already paid to replace the battery can contact Apple Technical Support to receive a refund. The battery replacement program does not cover the iPhone 5S or the iPhone 5C.

If the eligible iPhone 5 has damages that prevents proper battery replacement – which include cracked screens — the device owner will have to pay to fix that issue first. Apple recommends backing up the data of the iPhone 5 using iTunes and iCloud before bringing it to the store. Turning off the “Find My iPhone” app is strongly recommended as well.

Apple has a similar replacement program for the sleep/wake button for the iPhone 5 already in place. In that case iPhone 5 devices manufactured through March 2013 may have sleep/wake buttons that have stopped working or work intermittently.

Happy Sunday everyone

I am sure everyone is staying warm so I will just say be safe in this heat! Hope everyone has a great week, do something good and make each day count....we don't get do overs!
Until tomorrow,
Dr. Janet

Changes for narcotic prescritions

U.S. to tighten restrictions on common opioid painkillers
Published August 22, 2014


The U.S. government is tightening restrictions on hydrocodone, an opioid painkiller contained in Vicodin and other addictive drugs. The move comes as health and law enforcement officials try to curb a rising tide of prescription drug abuse. Nearly three out of four prescription drug overdoses are caused by opioid painkillers, according to federal data.

 "Almost seven million Americans abuse controlled-substance prescription medications, including opioid painkillers, resulting in more deaths from prescription drug overdoses than auto accidents," DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart said in a statement announcing the move on Thursday. In the future, products such as Vicodin that combine hydrocodone with another substance such as acetaminophen or aspirin, will be classed as Schedule II products, in line with the opioids oxycodone and morphine. Reclassifying the products will make them harder to obtain, both by addicts and legitimate pain patients.

Physicians will not be allowed to call in a prescription to a pharmacy. Patients will have to present a written prescription. Also, fewer refills will be allowed before patients must return to see their doctor. Opponents of the reclassification, which has been in the works for several years, argue that restricting pain products could cause hardship to patients with chronic illnesses, especially the elderly. Hydrocodone itself has been a Schedule II drug for decades, but combination products have had a less restrictive Schedule III designation.

The DEA said that products that combine hydrocodone with another drug - acetaminophen in the case of Vicodin - are still highly addictive. "Today's action recognizes that these products are some of the most addictive and potentially dangerous prescription medications available," Leonhart said. Vicodin is made by AbbVie. Other brand names containing hydrocodone in combination with another drug include Lortab, made by UCB.

Pomegranate benefits

Pomegranate compound may treat Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
Published August 22, 2014
FoxNews.com

 Researchers in the U.K. have found a compound in pomegranate that they believe may help slow the progression of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The compound, punicalagin, which is a polyphenol- a form of a chemical compound- may slow the onset of and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and may reduce inflammation that accompanies illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson's disease. Now, researchers at the University of Huddersfield in the U.K. have begun a new phase of research to explore development of drugs to treat neuro-inflammation.

Alzheimer's disease affects more than 5 million Americans. Globally, there are at least 44.4 million dementia sufferers. Researchers have been focused on the pomegranate compound for two years. While there is no cure for Alzheimer's, punicalagin could prevent or slow down its development by inhibiting inflammation in specialized brain cells known as micrologia- this inflammation leads to the destruction of further brain cells, progressively worsening symptoms for Alzheimer's sufferers. Currently, lead researcher Dr. Olumayokun Olajide, is working on pinpointing the required amounts of pomegranate needed to be effective. "...We do know that regular intake and regular consumption of pomegranate has a lot of health benefits - including prevention of neuro-inflammation related to dementia," he said in a press release. Olajide recommends juice products that are 100 percent pomegranate, meaning that approximately 3.4 percent will be punicalagin, the compound that slows down the progression of dementia. Most of the antioxidant compounds are found in the outer skin of the pomegranate, not the soft part, Olajide noted.

We all need potassium

By K. Aleisha Fetters
Published August 21, 2014

 Cross a finish line this summer and chances are you'll be handed a banana. What gives? One of your body's most important electrolytes, potassium helps carry electrical impulses throughout your body so your cells communicate and do what they need to do-like keep you living. Deficiencies are linked to muscle fatigue, cramping, constipation, and even heart irregularities. Plus, potassium helps your body convert carbs into glycogen-your body's form of stored quick-acting energy. So when you're running low on energy after a workout, some potassium give you some oomph and get your muscles the fuel they need for growth and repair.

 But 70 percent of your body's potassium is in your fluids (think: plasma, blood, and sweat). So the more you sweat, the more potassium you lose, and the more you need to take in after a workout. And chances are you need more than that banana's paltry 422 mg.

I may stop eating out!

These are the dirtiest things in every restaurant

By Dan Myers Published August 20, 2014

We tend to assume that when we go to a restaurant, everything will be spotless and sanitary. And for the most part, it is; no restaurant wants to make its customers sick. But some spots are more or less impossible to fully clean, and they're the dirtiest places in every restaurant.

We've asked several leading chefs and food personalities what the first thing they look for is when they walk into a restaurant, and just about all of them tell us cleanliness. If they're cutting corners in their front-of-house - with a dirty floor and cobwebs in the windows, for example - then they're most likely cutting even more corners in the kitchen. And even if the dining room looks clean, the best way to tell for sure if care is given to upkeep is to head to the restroom.

Odds are that this is the only restroom in the restaurant, so if there's no soap in the soap dispenser then the kitchen staff aren't washing their hands. A good rule of thumb? If places that are accessible to customers are dirty, then places that aren't - namely, the kitchen - are even dirtier.

It's good to keep in mind that when you sit down at a table in a restaurant, you're one of hundreds or thousands of people who've eaten a meal in that exact spot. The glassware, plates, and silverware are run through the dishwasher, obviously, but all the other stuff you might come in contact with - the table, chairs, and menus - are rarely thoroughly scrubbed. So if you want to limit exposure to bacteria and other germs in a restaurant, we recommend that you wash your hands before you eat anything, keep a bottle of hand sanitizer handy, or just try not to think about it too much. Read on to learn what the dirtiest things in every restaurant are.

1.  Toilet iStock While the toilet usually gets cleaned regularly, it's still obviously not something you really want to be touching with your hands. A study found that there are 295 bacteria on every square inch of the toilet seat, and 3.2 million inside the bowl itself.

2.  Ice iStock An investigation into fast food restaurants in the U.S. found that 70 percent of the ice in the ice machine contained more bacteria than the water in the toilet.

3.  Bathroom Floor iStock Public restroom floors have been found to contain about 2 million bacteria per square inch.

4.  Menu iStock Some icky news: menus are rarely if ever given a thorough cleaning, especially if they're paper. Recently, Good Morning America sent a team to swab items on the tables of 12 restaurants, and they discovered that menus carried the most germs, averaging 185,000 bacteria.

 5.  Doorknobs iStock The average bathroom doorknob gets cleaned daily (or as often as the bathroom is cleaned), but by the time dinner service rolls around it's usually filthy again. As for the main entrance door handle... don't ask.

6.  Salt and Pepper Shakers, Ketchup Bottles iStock The items that remain on the tables throughout all of service can get quite a germy buildup over the course of the day. Ever notice that they're sometimes sticky? Yeah, you don't want to be touching these very much.

Happy Hump Day

Good morning everyone,
I want to report on a great event last night. The 1st Lutheran Church hosted the monthly meeting for their Outreach Program for the blind and visually Impaired. What a wonderful group of loving and caring folks! They have prepared food and programs every month for 14 years! If you live in Little rock and have not attended, please plan to join this group. Links provides transportation and the event is free!

Last nights entertainment was our very own singing star--Johnye! She did a great job. Lots of familiar faces so I certainly enjoyed getting all my hugs! However, I must confess when Nivea told me she is now 31 I suddenly felt VERY OLD!

Mark your calendar for the 3rd Tuesday of the month!

Make today count...
Dr. Janet

Short and sweet, fun fact post

In middle age, our personalities are at their most stable, study says
By Elizabeth Armstrong Moore
Published August 18, 2014

There's no doubt about it: The human body goes through major changes in youth and old age. And these biological and social changes may be the reasons behind what researchers are calling less stable personalities at those life stages. In fact, according to a study of almost 4,000 New Zealanders between the ages of 20 and 80, the stability of one's personality increases through youth and into middle age and peaks in our 50s, before we slide back into less stable versions of ourselves, reports Research Digest .

As the Smithsonian puts it, "in some ways, our 80-year-old selves mirror our 20-year-old selves. Some traits peaked at different times; the most stable traits in one's 30s are extraversion and neuroticism, while in the late 40s and early 50s it is openness, honesty-humility, and conscientiousness. The only trait that showed "gradually reduced stability" throughout life was agreeableness; apparently we are simply less and less agreeable as we pack the years on. Still, one's most basic personality-introvert vs. extrovert, for example-tends to remain consistent throughout one's life, even if the stability of traits waxes and wanes, notes the Smithsonian . (Other researchers have even calculated the country's most extroverted city .)

Are we ready for smart?

Are smart homes just stupid?
By John R. Quain Published August 15, 2014 FoxNews.com

 Are we so lazy that we can't roll out of bed to push the button on a coffee maker? As part of the 'who-the-heck-needs-it' backlash against the Internet of things, critics are raising such questions about the so-called smart home. From door locks to thermostats and lights, everything is getting connected to the Web and using smart phone apps. And major companies are already fighting over the smart home real estate. Google and Apple are planning software introductions this fall, Lowe's and Home Depot are pitching their own DIY systems, and this week Samsung bought SmartThings, a startup that sells kits for connecting home devices to the Net.

Critics complain that instead of simplifying our lives, smart devices are making things needlessly complicated. It's certainly true that I've lost many hours of my life trying to connect door locks to my network and futzing with experimental Internet-enabled coffee pots, like Mr. Coffee's $150 WeMo smart machine (available this October). And I've installed more Web cams than most people have had hot dinners. When batteries die, locks can become inoperable, sensors can inexplicably malfunction, and just when the temperature drops, your smart thermostat can go offline. All this is true. And some smart home components seem like digital chimeras. There are, for example, the remote controlled lighting systems like Connected by TCP, which let you control networked LED lights from an online app. In the "it's a dessert topping and a floor wax" category, there's the AwoX StriimLight Mini Color, an LED bulb that not only can be controlled remotely but also changes color and doubles as a wireless Bluetooth speaker. But even these seemingly frivolous smart home devices have redeeming qualities. I can shut off the TCP lights as I fall asleep without having to get up, and the AwoX StriimLight does well in a bathroom, where speakers are not easy to install (the blue light setting is flattering, as well).

For the most part, however, it's the sensors, locks and monitoring devices that will be the cornerstones of the smart home. Furthermore, most of the people who've ridiculed the smart home of connected things haven't personally set one up themselves. Moreover, many connected or smart devices that were the butt of jokes for years are now a reality.

The Internet connected fridge was a source of derision in the computer geek community for decades. But today you can buy a $3,500 Samsung refrigerator with an 8-inch LCD screen and apps. It's one more step towards the day when I won't have to remember what's in my fridge. It'll tell me on my phone what to pick up at the grocery store or what things I could make for dinner from what's already there.

Only a few years ago, television manufacturers insisted that their sets would never come with Internet connections or loaded with software; they'll just end up crashing like Windows computers. Today, Netflix makes more money in subscriptions than HBO, and smart TVs are all but de rigueur.

The automobile industry is going through similar convulsions. There's plenty of grumbling from car companies and auto enthusiasts that all this connected car technology is just a distraction, a sideshow to the enjoyment of driving. The first car that crashes because its automatic lane centering failed, and critics will say, "I told you so. But the fact is that in a few years autobraking and similar technologies will respond to messages over the Internet ("Accident ahead!") , saving lives, money, and energy. The connected car of the future will change the transportation infrastructure as we know it, for the better. In a similar, although less revolutionary manner, the smart home will change our lives--once the problem of integration is solved.

The Mr. Coffee machine can talk to other Belkin WeMo devices, but not to the Lowe's Isis system or TCP lights or Roku box or to my car, for that matter. If they did all talk to each other, when I was 5 minutes from home, the coffee would start and when I opened the front door, the lights would go on in my office and my Fountains of Wayne Pandora channel would start playing. Critical security and healthcare monitoring systems will also benefit greatly from integration, which is why Apple and Google are desperately trying to position themselves as the great integrators. Someday it will be natural to have your medicine cabinet remind you to take a blood pressure pill or to get a message from grandmother's house that she hasn't been down to the kitchen this morning.

So in this way the steady digital creep of the Internet of things and smart homes will gradually change our expectations. In the future, the question isn't going to be, why would you want to connect that thing to the Internet? The question is going be, why isn't it connected to the Internet?

John R. Quain is a personal tech columnist for FoxNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @jqontech or find more tech coverage at J-Q.com.

Skeeter time in Arkansas!

9 things you didn't know about mosquito bites
By Amanda MacMillan
Published August 16, 2014

Thanks to West Nile virus, mosquitoes have been in the news lately-and likely all over your backyard-but how much do you really know about them and the risks they pose? We spoke with Dr. Jorge Parada, medical director of the Loyola University Medical System Infection Control Program and advisor to the National Pest Management Association, and learned some surprising facts about summer's least favorite insect and their bothersome bites.

Not all mosquitoes bite
There are about 170 different mosquito species in North America (and 3,500 worldwide), Parada said, but not all of them bite humans. Of those that do, it's only the females who are bloodsuckers-they use the protein to produce eggs. There are two species responsible for spreading disease in the United States: the Aedes aegypti and the Aedes albopictus, the latter of which is commonly known as the Asian tiger mosquito because of its black and white stripes. It's unclear whether the bugs are attracted to blood type.

 "Studies have claimed that people with Type O blood get bitten more than people with Type A or Type B, but these findings have been disputed," Parada said. There's also little evidence that wearing dark clothing attracts more mosquitoes, as is commonly believed. But we know they like CO2 More likely, mosquitoes are drawn toward people who exhale higher levels of carbon dioxide-like pregnant women or beer drinkers, as some studies have suggested.

"Mosquitoes find hosts by detecting body heat and chemical signals," Parada said. "It is possible that these factors contribute to increased production of carbon dioxide, making it easier for mosquitoes to sense human presence.

Some people itch more than others
Almost everyone will feel the itchy aftermath of a mosquito bite, Parada said, although it can be worse for certain people who tend to develop more pronounced bumps or hives. "The itchiness is due to histamine release in our bodies in response to the mosquito's saliva that's injected while they're drinking our blood," he explained.

Yes, scratching makes bites worse
If you can resist, try not to scratch those itchy bumps: It only stirs up the skeeter saliva and increases your body's histamine response, therefore making the itching worse, Parada said. "Additionally, over-scratching might cause breaks in the skin that can leave room for an infection. OTC meds can help After a mosquito run-in, the best course of action is to wash bites using mild soap and cold water, which can provide some relief and also help reduce infection risk. If the bites still itch, treat them with anti-inflammatories or topical antihistamines, like Benadryl gel or over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone cream.

 They can spread a scary new virus
 Chikungunya is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito and there is currently no vaccine or drug treatment. Although it was first reported in North America on the Caribbean islands, two cases in Florida were discovered in July. "It's likely only a matter of time before more locally transmitted cases are reported in the United States," Parada said. Symptoms typically start four to eight days after being bitten, last about a week, and include severe joint pain and swelling, fever, and headaches. "Chikungunya is generally not fatal," Parada said, "but the painful symptoms have led people to say 'It won't kill you, but it may make you wish you were dead!'

 West Nile is still a threat
If that's not enough to worry about, mosquitoes in North America still carry West Nile Virus, as well. "The total number of cases is down this year compared to recent years, but the disease is still a threat, especially in late summer and early fall when mosquitoes are most active," Parada said. Most cases of West Nile are mild and people will recover completely, but older adults, diabetics, and people with compromised immune systems are at risk of developing serious infections from the virus. Anyone experiencing a high fever, severe headaches, muscle aches, and nausea or vomiting should seek immediate medical attention.

Not all repellants are equal
Topical products containing the insect repellant DEET have been shown to keep mosquitoes at bay, but the concentration of this ingredient can vary widely-anywhere from 4 to 100 percent (Lower concentrations may need to be applied more frequently, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that amounts over 50 percent don't offer additional protection.) Alternatives to DEET include products containing picaridin (another synthetic compound) or oil of lemon-eucalyptus, Parada said. So-called "spatial repellants," like citronella candles or coils, may also help clear the air of mosquitoes, but there aren't any peer-reviewed studies to support those claims. And if those mosquito-repelling smartphone apps sound too good to be true, that's because they probably are: There's no evidence that the ultrasonic frequencies they emit will actually deter the bugs.

This article originally appeared on Health.com.

Weight problems?

12 surprising reasons you can't lose weight
By Julie Revelant
Published August 15, 2014 FoxNews.com

You've overhauled your diet, exercise most days and even though you've lost some weight those last few pounds just won't seem to budge. So what gives? Experts say despite your best efforts, there are some things that you may not even realize have a huge effect on weight loss. Here are 12 that may be messing with your slim-down plans:

1. You're sleep-deprived. According to a Gallup poll, 40 percent of people get less than 7 hours of sleep each night. Without that precious shut-eye time, the stress hormone cortisol- as well as blood sugar and insulin- all rise, which can make you feel hungry. Lack of sleep also causes insulin resistance, which makes it easier for your body to store fat, said JJ Virgin, a celebrity nutrition and fitness expert and author of the New York Times-bestselling, "The Virgin Diet.

2. You use a hard workout as an excuse to eat. Just because you torched 700 calories at the gym doesn't mean it's a free ride to eat whatever you want. You also can't eat something with the intention of burning it off later, because too much exercise can lead to overtraining and weight plateau, said Yuri Elkaim, a nutritionist and fitness expert, and author of "The All-Day Energy Diet. Instead, eat food that will fuel your workout and include a small snack for recovery.

3. Your thyroid is out of whack. Thyroid function is important for metabolism and experts agree thyroid problems are one of the most undiagnosed problems that can get in the way of weight loss. What's more, what many traditional medical doctors consider the norm for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels isn't and they also don't consider other symptoms when looking at thyroid function, Virgin said. Ideally, your TSH should be between .5 and 1 and an integrative or functional medical physician is your best bet.

 4. You eat small, frequent meals. You might think eating mini meals every 2 to 3 hours will help stabilize your blood sugar and prevent you from overeating, but it can actually drive your insulin up so you can't access stored fat for fuel, Virgin said. If you eat a combination of lean protein, low-carb fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats, you'll feel fuller longer and still lose weight.

5. You're eating too much sugar and you don't even know it. Blatant sugar isn't the only problem, it's the sneaky sugars in so-called healthy smoothies, yogurt, and processed foods that can wreak havoc on your waistline. Fructose is by far the worst because it goes straight to the liver where it makes fat. It also elevates your sweet tooth so you want more and bypasses satiety signals so you eat but you're still hungry, Virgin said. So read labels and slowly cut down on sugar.

6. You're stressed out. A recent study found that women gain 11 pounds a year when they're under stress. Stress raises cortisol, which breaks down muscle and lowers serotonin, so you crave more sweet foods. What's more, because cortisol lowers stomach acid, you don't digest effectively so you're left even hungrier.

7. You train too hard. You're a cardio queen but too much can actually backfire. Interval training is best for weight loss and you can also train less in a shorter amount of time. Be sure to keep cardio to 2 or 3 times a week, because it's psychologically and physically demanding, Elkaim said.

8. You don't eat enough fat. Your body needs fat to burn fat but the key is choosing the right type of fat to eat. Healthy fats like those found in fish, avocado, grass fed butter, olive oil, coconut oil, and nuts and seeds are best.

 9. You're vitamin D-deficient. Vitamin D is actually a pro-hormone that is responsible for many of the body's functions and without it, you can't burn off fat. So ask your doc to check your levels and eat vitamin D-rich foods like salmon, sardines and cow's milk.

10. You eat too late. You might have a bedtime snack habit, but it can prevent your body from burning fat at the ideal time at night so try to eat dinner at a reasonable hour and then close the kitchen. "One of the key things you can do to lose weight is extend your fasting period when you go to sleep," Virgin said.

11. Your body is toxic. Environmental toxins are everywhere and they can actually disrupt your hormones, lower your body temperate and makes your body hold onto fat. You can't completely eliminate toxins, but eating lots of fiber, protein, green vegetables, having good elimination, and reducing your exposure can help your body detox each day.

12. You yo-yo diet You try to "be good" or hop on the latest diet craze, but this isn't a good way to sustain weight loss and studies show it can even increase the chances for cardiovascular disease. Instead, put the focus on your health, not your weight and your self-image. "It's not so much what do I have to do to lose 40 pounds, it's who do I have to become? Elkaim said.

Julie Revelant is a freelance writer and copywriter specializing in parenting, health, healthcare, nutrition, food and women's issues. She's also a mom of two. Learn more about Julie at revelantwriting.com.

Morning really is better

For older adults, morning is a better time to think, study says
By Jenn Gidman
Published August 13, 2014


 Older adults who want to take a crack at the Sunday Times crossword or try a Food Network recipe may want to do it first thing in the morning. A small study by Canadian researchers and published in the journal Psychology and Aging found that adults between the ages of 60 and 82 were less distracted and better able to perform cognitive tasks between the hours of 8:30am and 10:30am than in the afternoon, when their brains started "idling," reports Medical News Today.

"Time of day really does matter," says the lead author. "This age group is more focused and better able to ignore distraction in the morning. Using a sample of 16 older adults and 16 younger ones ages 19 to 30, researchers had participants play a memory game of sorts, taking brain scans of the subjects as they were shown picture-word combos on a computer screen-interspersed with unrelated, purposefully distracting pictures and words-and then asked to recall the combinations. During testing between 1pm and 5pm, the older adults were 10% more likely than the younger ones to lose focus, Psych Central notes. However, a different group of 18 older adults tested in the morning showed increased action in the same regions of the brain as their younger counterparts and tightened the performance gap between the two groups. "Our research is consistent with previous reports showing that at a time of day that matches circadian arousal patterns, older adults are able to resist distraction," says another of the researchers.

Dental health article

Hidden dangers in your dental care products By Dr. Jennifer Jablow Published August 12, 2014 FoxNews.com

There are many options we have in taking care and beautifying our smile these days. The claims can be enticing- promises of whitening, tartar control, cavity control, germ killing, and more. Did you know some of the ingredients in your toothpastes, mouthwash and teeth whiteners can actually be more harmful than beneficial?

There are some controversial ingredients lurking in our oral care products that we should use with caution. The floor of the mouth- the area below the tongue- is very vascular and can act as a quick route of absorption to our bloodstream. Triclosan is an ingredient in a popular toothpaste that claims to work up to 12 hours to prevent bacterial plaque formation. This ingredient has raised concern because studies have shown it can be an "endocrine disruptor," which can lead to hormonal imbalances such as fertility problems and thyroid problems; it is also linked to antibiotic resistance. Even the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expressed concern with this ingredient and Johnson & Johnson is removing it from its soap by 2015. One ingredient in mouthwash that is more harmful than beneficial is alcohol. One popular brand has a 20 percent concentration of alcohol in its formulation. Alcohol dries out the mouth, making breath worse. Plus, it makes you more prone to cavities since the natural protection of saliva is reduced. There have also been some links between alcohol and cancer of the mouth. There are plenty of good mouth rinses on the market that are alcohol free. Choose one with zinc that will fight bad breath at the source. Carbamide peroxide is found in whitening pastes, gels and rinses. The byproduct of carbamide peroxide is urea, which turns into ammonia. This is not to be confused with hydrogen peroxide, which is safe to use in moderation. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water and is a better choice since it also works faster. Whitening toothpaste can be a confusing product. When one hears "whitening" they think of "bleaching" the teeth and having deep stains inside the tooth being removed to reveal a whiter smile. If you look at the back of a "whitening " paste it will say "removes surface stains. That means it's only removing the top layer of stain on the outer enamel and not effectively whitening the inside of the tooth. This is accomplished by using heavy abrasives to scratch away the stains on the enamel surface, which can wear away your tooth surface and cause sensitivity. Enamel does not grow back. If you want a real whitening toothpaste you need a professional strength hydrogen peroxide gel in a separate tube which you add to your regular paste each time you brush. This will effectively whitening your teeth- from the inside out. Please make sure you brush twice a day, rinse and floss. Visiting your dentist twice a year is also recommended to keep your mouth healthy.

Dr. Jennifer Jablow is well known for creating the gorgeous grins of FORD Models, Talk show hosts, CEOs, fashionistas, music stars and many other celebrities. She is a regular on air contributor as a dental expert discussing products, procedures and health issues.

Dr Jablow has been featured as a "Life Changer" on EXTRA! TV and also is frequently written about in print such as Marie Claire, SELF, Town & Country, New York Times, Readers Digest, ELLE, New Beauty, Prevention, Men's Health, Men's Vogue, Fitness, SHAPE, and many more. After years of research Dr. Jablow created the IntelliWHiTE oral care system, which combines revolutionary delivery, formulations and safety for at home and on the go use. Find out more at www.doctorjablow.com.

Excessive sweating

Tips for treating excessive sweating By Dr. Manny Alvarez Published August 12, 2014 FoxNews.com

Excessive sweating can be embarrassing and uncomfortable, but it could be more than just the weather that's causing you to perspire. We received this question from a viewer:

Dear Dr. Manny, I'm a 34-year-old man and I sweat more than normal all the time - even when it's not hot outside. It's really embarrassing and deodorant just doesn't seem to work. Is there anything I can do? Thanks, Nick. Well Nick, you're not alone. The condition is called hyperhidrosis and it affects more people than you know. But don't worry, there are several effective treatments including: Over-the-counter antiperspirants that contain aluminum chloride; Oral and topical medications; Ionophoresis, which is a procedure that delivers a low current of electricity to the sweaty areas while a patient is immersed in water; Botox injections to paralyze the sweat glands; And in severe cases, even surgery to remove sweat glands. But make sure you talk to your doctor because he or she can help you determine your best options based on your medical history.

Do you have health questions for Dr. Manny? Send them to DrManny@foxnews.com . Dr. Manny Alvarez serves as Fox News Channel's Senior Managing Editor for Health News. Prior to this position, Alvarez was a FNC medical contributor.

Healthy cookies

These simple cookies are all the rage with healthy moms. I tried them and thought you might enjoy.

Healthy cookies - 3 mashed bananas (ripe), 1/3 cup apple sauce, 2 cups oats, 1/4 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup dark chocolate, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp cinnamon. preheat oven to 350 degrees. bake for 15-20 minutes. NO SUGAR!

Fast weekend

Hi everyone,
Did your weekend fly by? Mine certainly did. I want to wish Bob and Johnye a Happy, Happy, anniversary! I think they have celebrations planned all week! Congrats....

Barbara just returned today from another road trip! Thanks Barbara for all the travel to help folks.
I have meetings all week. Remember, MSU will start calling with the satisfaction survey soon.
Have a great week,
Dr. Janet

Almonds

Almonds are America's new favorite nuts
By Elizabeth Armstrong Moore
Published August 08, 2014


For decades, the peanut has reigned supreme, its popularity a league above the rest of the nuts (even though technically it's not a nut, but a legume). And while almonds have been growing in popularity faster than any other nut, it wasn't until recently that they finally surged ahead of peanuts-jumping 220% since 2005 alone.

In fact, the average American consumes 2 pounds of almonds a year, a stark difference from the '70s, when it hovered around a quarter-pound, reports the Washington Post . Experts propose a few reasons behind the surge. "The recent rise in popularity has certainly been helped along by the negative press surrounding dairy and soy milk," an almond milk producer tells Good Food. There's also less concern with nuts' fat content than there was just a few years ago, and as more people eschew red meat-at least 3% of Americans now claim to be vegetarian-almonds are an attractive alternate protein source. Heavy marketing, as well as several studies finding health benefits in almonds, have also raised awareness and consumption of almonds in multiple forms-including oil, flour, and milk, with almond milk accounting for almost 5% of US milk sales.

Recipes from our great cook--Sarah! Thanks bunches

I made these two refrig pies. Thought I would share them with you. They are easy to prepare and you have a dessert that you don’t have to heat up the kitchen.

 

Cool Peach Pie

 

1/4 cup boiling water

1-3oz Sugar Free Peach Jello (SF Great Value)

2-6oz Peach Lowfat Yogurt (Great Value)

1-8oz fat free or lite Cool Whip (Great Value)

1 Graham Cracker Crust (Great Value $1.50)

 

(Note: I add 2-4 packets of Splenda to sweet the yogurt, some brands are to tart)

 

In a bowl, dissolve the SF Jello in the boiling water. Mix well. (I used the microwave to heat the water)

Add the yogurt into the Jello. Stir until mixed good.

Stir in the splenda if you don’t like the tartness of the yogurt.

Fold in the cool whip. Fold in until mixed well. Don’t stir.

Pour into the graham cracker crust and spread evenly.

Cover.

Refrig until set. Usually 2-4 hours.

 

Cool Strawberry Pie

 

1/4 cup boiling water

1-3oz Sugar Free Strawberry Jello (Kroger Brand)

2-6oz Strawberry Lowfat Yogurt (Kroger Brand)

1-8oz Fat Free or Lite Cool Whip (Kroger Brand)

1 Graham Cracker Crust (Kroger Brand $1.89)

 

(Note: I add 2-4 packets of Splenda to sweet the yogurt, some brands are to tart)

 

In a bowl, dissolve the SF Strawberry Jello in the boiling water. Mix Well. (I used the microwave to heat the water)

Add the yogurt into the Jello. Stir until mixed good.

Stir in the splenda if you don’t like the tartness of the yogurt.

Fold in the cool whip. Fold in until mixed well. Don’t stir.

Pour into the graham cracker crust and spread evenly.

Cover.

Refrig until set. Usually 2-4 hours.

 

You can use either Walmart’s Great Value or Kroger’s brand in either recipe.

I was at one or the other store when I picked up the ingredients.

 

 

Get a little sunshine

Vitamin D deficiency linked to increased dementia risk Published August 07, 2014
FoxNews.com

Researchers have found the largest and most robust link between dementia and vitamin D deficiency in older adults, reported BBC News. While this link is not a new discovery, the study showed a strong association. Scientists observed a group of about 1,650 adults age 65 and older for six years. More than 1,100 of the participants had good levels of vitamin D and had a 1 in 10 chance of developing dementia. Seventy participants were severely deficient and had about a 1 in 5 risk of dementia.

 "We expected to find an association between low vitamin D levels and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, but the results were surprising - we actually found that the association was twice as strong as we anticipated," lead study author Dr. David Llewellyn of the University of Exeter Medical School in the U.K. said. Vitamin D can come from sunlight, supplements and certain foods like oily fish. Because older adults' skin can be less efficient at converting sunlight into Vitamin D, they can become deficient and need to rely on other sources. However, experts say the study's findings don't mean all adults need to take supplements as a preventative measure. "At the moment, we are still unclear how the two might be linked, and there is even a possibility another unknown factor could cause someone to have both dementia and low vitamin D levels," Dr. Clare Watson of the Alzheimer's Society in the UK, said. "If this were the case, using supplements or sun exposure to raise vitamin D levels might have no effect on the development of dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, dementia is not a specific disease, but a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Researchers noted that their findings were encouraging. "...Even if a small number of people could benefit, this would have enormous public health implications given the devastating and costly nature of dementia," Llewellyn said.

Woodland Heights

Can't wait to see my friends at Woodland Heights tomorrow. Will be a fun visit!
See everyone at 10 in the small dining room.
Until tomorrow,
Dr. Janet

Cool ideas which may be on the drawing board

Apple envisions wireless wristbands for hospital stays. The tech could be used for a disposable wristband that stores and transmits health information to your doctor's smartphone.
by Don Reisinger @donreisinger
August 5, 2014

The US Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday published 58 newly granted Apple patents, but one that envisions communication between a device like the iPhone or iPad and a wireless disposable wristband has received some attention. The patent, which was earlier reported on by Patently Apple, covers technology for an " autonomous battery-free microwave frequency communication device " that could be embedded on physical objects such as a wristband, flyer, or card. In the patent, Apple describes how a smartphone could wirelessly transmit data to a disposable hospital wristband that incorporates the microwave frequency device and also contains sensors or stored information, such as medical records or procedures performed on a patient during hospitalization. The smartphone would be able to both read information from the wristband and write information to the wristband.

The patent suggest the wristband could have sensors that measure certain health functions, such as body temperature and pulse.

At the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple announced its Health app, a dashboard for all of your health and fitness data. It's believed the rumored Apple iWatch could also come with sensors that are capable of evaluating health and fitness information, giving software developers the opportunity to collect and use that information in their apps. Apple's patent didn't solely focus on health-related functions for an embedded microwave frequency device.

Apple's patent described how information could be transmitted from a mobile device to disposable credit or loyalty cards or even ad flyers. The patent says the technology also opens up the possibility of "one card in the wallet" for multiple purposes like identification, payment, and promotions. It's important to note that Apple -- like other major brands -- files and is granted patents all the time, and in many cases those technologies never make their way to store shelves. It's entirely possible the same will be true with this latest patent. CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the patent. We will update this story when we have more information.

Research to lose the glasses

Could this vision-correcting display replace eyeglasses? Instead of relying on optics to correct a viewer's vision, a team out of UC Berkeley and MIT look to computation.
by CBS News Staff
August 4, 2014

Tired of having to wear glasses every time you look at a computer or smartphone? You're not alone. A team from UC Berkeley and MIT is developing software that could solve that common modern problem. "Could we, somehow, undo those vision problems and put on the same screen an image that if that viewer would look at it, it would seem to be sharp? asked Brian Barsky , a UC Berkeley professor of computer science and vision science and leader of the project.

In a demonstration, an iPod shows an "E" that's blurry by design. But once the image reaches a farsighted eye, it looks perfectly in focus. The effect doesn't result from a special screen or monitor attachment, but from software that manipulates the intensity of light that emanates from a single image pixel to compensate for a viewer's specific vision problems. "Essentially what we're doing is altering the light that comes out of each pixel in a very carefully controlled fashion," Barsky told CBS San Francisco , adding in a statement, "Our technique distorts the image such that, when the intended user looks at the screen, the image will appear sharp to that particular viewer. But if someone else were to look at the image, it would look bad.

Commonly known as farsightedness, hyperopia affects nearly 10 percent of Americans, according to the National Eye Institute . The vision-correcting display solution could also someday provide help for people with even more serious vision problems. "The part that I'm most passionate about is not the convenience for the billions of people who have eyeglasses," Barsky explained, "but for the millions who have problems with their eyes that are not correctable by eyeglasses. This latest approach aims to improve upon earlier versions of vision-correcting displays that resulted in low-contrast images. Barsky and team will present their research (PDF) and light-field display later this month at the Siggraph conference in Vancouver.

This story originally appeared on CBSNews.com .

Healthy Habits update

Good evening!
We had a great turnout and fun time at the Center today. Ms. Helen and Ms. Betty outdid themselves. We feasted on smoothies, chef salads, wraps and wonderful desserts. The good news is everything was healthy!

If you missed this one, please plan to attend next time!
Until tomorrow,
Dr. Janet

Having charging problems?

Use a toothpick to clean out your iPhone iPhone or iPad not charging? The lightning port may be clogged. Here's how to clean it out with basic household items. by Dan Graziano @DanGraziano August 1, 2014


A simple search on Apple's forums will show a common trend: a lot of iPhone and iPad owners are having problems charging their device . Two of my colleagues have also run into this problem. There's a simple solution to this. Before blaming the cable or phone, check the lightning port. Lint and other debris from our pockets or purses get stuck in this port and over time can build up. To be safe, back up your iPhone or iPad to your computer or the cloud. Power it off and with a normal household toothpick, gently remove the lint. You will amazed how much can get stuck in the port. Connect the charger and see if it works. Still having problems? Try cleaning the port out again, but this time use a can of compressed air.

Alternative options for toothpicks include using the SIM card tool, a bobby pin, or a small needle. You can use this method if your iPhone or iPad is stuck in headphone mode even though no headphones are plugged in. The same method can also be used for cleaning out the charging port and headphone jacks on Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry devices.

Food safety

Things you should never use past their expiration date
By Kristie Collado Published July 29, 2014

We've all been there - it's time to clean out the refrigerator and inevitably there's a container with something you were really looking forward to eating, but it's past the expiration date. Then you have to decide what to do with it; it looks fine and it doesn't smell funny, but is it safe to eat? There are certain foods that can be eaten safely past their expiration date but there are others that pose a tremendous risk.

In order to determine which foods you can and cannot eat past their expiration date, you first have to understand the terminology used on food's packaging. Expiration date shouldn't be confused with "best before/best if used by" dates or "sell by" dates. "Sell by" and "best before" dates refer specifically to a food's appearance and flavor; foods consumed past these dates may not look or taste as good as they would have prior but should still be safe to eat. "Use by" dates and expiration dates, however, are indicators of food safety; consuming foods past this date can have negative consequences so you should only eat them if you're sure they're safe. In general, foods that are processed for an extended shelf life - think canned goods, frozen foods, dried pasta, etc. - are safe if consumed past their expiration date, assuming they were handled and stored correctly. Fresher, less processed foods like eggs, raw meat, fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables have a much shorter shelf life and won't last as long past their expiration dates - these foods pose more health risks if consumed post-expiration date. The way that a particular food looks or smells can be a good indicator of its safety but it's better to discard some foods when they pass their expiration date regardless of their appearance or odor.

1.  Mixed Greens
Mixed greens and bagged salad mixes (regardless of how many times they are washed prior to purchase) have a tendency to carry certain bacteria associated with poor sanitation because they are handled so frequently. Mixed greens also get a dark, slimy appearance as they expire; a visual cue that they're no long safe to consume.

2.  Fresh Berries
Fresh berries can carry a parasite called cyclospora. Always wash berries thoroughly before consuming them and don't use them past their expiration date or once they begin to break down, whichever comes first.

3.  Deli Meat
Deli meat should never be consumed past its expiration date, even if it hasn't developed a strange odor or slimy appearance; it can carry listeria, bacteria that can grow in cold temperatures . That means listeria can thrive even if your deli meat has been properly stored in the refrigerator.

4.  Eggs
The chances of an egg being contaminated inside the shell are very low (about five thousandths of one percent) but egg shells commonly carry bacteria. If your eggs have passed their expiration date it's best to either toss them or use them for hard-boiled eggs.