odds and ends

My left over notes for the week are as follows:

SWSD - Ok, at first I was skeptical that the condition even existed. Seriously, when you hear things advertised on the radio they just seem cheap. The become like the disease of the day - the disease de jour. I am especially wary of any disease that is marketed - as this one is - with catchy phrases and an acronym. The other two that quickly come to mind are RLS and FMS. SWSD stands for Shift Work Sleep Disorder. Yet Web MD and the Mayo Clinic both acknowledge its existence and recommend special attention to sleep hygiene. The best treatment for this syndrome, which includes irritability and difficulty concentrating, is to get adequate rest. The commercial I heard this week encourages people to go to a website, take a little test, print a handout and then - well - go to the doctor and ask for medicine. DUH.

Global Expansion - Ouch. Merck was quoted in the WSJ as saying that they were looking to expand their business (selling prescription medications) globally. They feel that the outlook is good as countries begin to do well and have an increase in middle class citizens. Yes, they note that the people would then be more likely to have health insurance, but they also note and probably gleefully, as people have more income they also seem to engage in more lifestyle behavior that leads to chronic disease. Well - good for you Merck - but wait, if we KNOW that people are at risk for chronic disease conditions in the situation just described, why don't we get the health promotion folks out there to PREVENT those negative lifestyle changes. Oh, no money in that - gotcha.....

Wildlife - Great sign seen today while I was out running. Something like, "Please do not feed the wild life - It is harmful to them and harmful to people. The wildlife can become dependent on these food sources and forget how to hunt AND they can become aggressive." I must say we have some very aggressive seagulls at our beaches and it is the fault of people who feed them. Plus they probably have diabetes - just saying.....

Again with the "do we really seem that stupid"? - Products are now being made not with HFCS - or high fructose corn syrup - which we all attempt to avoid, but HMCS - That would be high maltose corn syrup. Most research has been done on the fructose type and it is true that maltose is a little different chemically speaking, but come on - corn syrup - SYRUP - super sweet sugar - not good for you...

See Sugar Is Bad - I do like the Kellogg Co but have to note that the four cereals that they had to recall this week - all sweetened ones; Fruit Loops, Honey Smacks (wait oh my gosh - didn't they used to be called Sugar Smacks!!!! ok this needs to go up to the do we really seem that stupid spot, Corn Pops and Apple Jacks.