Despite their disproportionate obesity rate, African- American women can lose weight and keep it off once they overcome cultural barriers, according to a focus group study conducted at Baylor College of Medicine and Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston. Results are presented in the July print edition of the Journal of General Internal Medicine and are available online. Thirty-seven black women who lost weight and kept it off or who lost weight and regained it participated in focus groups about their weight loss experiences for the study. According to data gathered by the Center for Disease Control in 2002, 82 percent of African-American women over the age of 40 are overweight or obese compared to the national average of 64 percent. The focus group results have been developed into a survey about weight loss for African Americans. Individuals who complete the survey can become part of the African-American Weight Control Registry funded by the National …

This is our first full summer in our “new” home, which is bordered on two sides by woods. Keeping some of the areas mowed, thinned out and planted with wildflowers has been great exercise, very rewarding and a constant battle with chiggers! For over forty-something years, I have been a city gal, so I was not well prepared for the fight with these little creatures. The chiggers won the first 5-week bout. But, now, I am educated and prepared for them.

What can we do to prevent insect bites this summer without having to spray dangerous insect repellants on our skin? Dr. Melody Hart, ND, of Chicago Healers, offers this terrific, all-natural advice for holistic insect protection.

For prevention of insect bites, especially during peak season, take vitamin B-1, also known as thiamine - 100mg for children and 500mg for adults. Or, try rubbing fresh elder leaves or elder-chamomile tea on skin before exposure to bugs. For a more essential oil, use eucalyptus for flying insects, or lemon grass for a broad range of insects. Try these easy tips and enjoy a comfortable, bug-bite-free summer!

Interested in more ideas for using herbs and spices for health, read here…

Dr. Hart is on staff with Chicago Healers and is Board Certified with the American Naturopathic Medical Association (ANMA), American Academy of Quantum Medicine (AAQM), American Academy of Neural Therapy (AANT), American Association of Nutritional Consultants (AANC) and National Naturopathic Council (NNC). Look for her two upcoming books 7 Habits of Healthy Lifestyle and Natural Laws of Wellness.

healthy living, holistic health, insect bite prevention, natural insect bite prevention, natural skin care

Could fish oil and vitamin supplements slow the leading cause of vision loss in older Americans? Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the National Eye Institute want to find out. They are seeking the help of 4,000 volunteers between the ages of 50 and 85 who are diagnosed with the early stages of age-related macular degeneration in both eyes or have advanced AMD in at least one eye. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 will look at the effects of vitamins supplemented by lutein/zeaxanthin and/or omega-3 fatty acids on the progression of the disease. Lutein and zeaxanthin are plant-derived yellow pigments that accumulate in the area of the eye's retina that is responsible for central vision, the same area where people with AMD begin to lose sight. Omega-3 fatty acids are the active components found in fish oil and are lauded for their heart-health benefits. This study builds on a previous NIH study – AREDS – that found high dosages of …

A search for the molecular clues of longevity has taken Mayo Clinic scientists down another path that could explain why some people who consume excessive calories dont gain weight. The study, which was done in laboratory mouse models, points to the absence of a gene called CD38. When absent, the gene prevented mice on high-fat diets from gaining weight, but when present, the mice became obese........

A plate and cereal bowl with markers for proper portion sizes appear to help obese patients with diabetes lose weight and decrease their use of glucose-controlling medications, as per a report in the June 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Between 1960 and 2000, the proportion of U.S. adults who were obese increased from 13.4 percent to 30.9 percent, as per background information in the article. Most cases of type 2 diabetes can be attributed directly to obesity. Restricting calories has been shown to improve blood sugar control in diabetics, partially by contributing to weight loss. The increasing prevalence of obesity is paralleled by increasing portion sizes in the marketplace, the authors write. Portion sizes are an important determinant of energy intake; the number of calories ingested by subjects at a meal has been directly correlated with the serving size offered........