Studies: Surgery Can Put Diabetes Into Remission

Evidence could help convince doubtful patients that stomach-reducing operations can have powerful effect

2012-03-26

Marilynn Marchione AP Chief Medical Writer

CHICAGO (AP) -- New research gives clear proof that weight-loss surgery can reverse and possibly cure diabetes, and doctors say it should be offered sooner to more people with the disease - not just as a last resort. Read the complete article

High Court Takes Up Fight Over Obama Health Law

A decision is expected by late June, in the midst of a presidential election campaign in which Republicans oppose the law and promise its repeal, if the high court doesn't strike it down first

2012-03-26

Mark Sherman The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama's health care overhaul is front and center at the Supreme Court for three days of hearings to determine the fate of a law aimed at extending health insurance to more than 30 million Americans. Read the complete article

News Briefs


UK Government Proposes Minimum Alcohol Price

Aim is to clamp down on irresponsible drinking, but public likely won’t be enthused

2012-03-25

LONDON (AP) -- Britain's government is introducing a plan to ban the sale of super-cheap alcohol in hopes of clamping down on irresponsible drinking. Read the complete article

HEALTHY FOOD: Gluten Free Soup and Bread

Colcannon Soup and Soda Bread

2012-03-22

Those with food allergies seek out adapations of traditional recipes -- but we’ve found old recipes that are already gluten free, without substitutions. Read the complete article

Breastfeeding: A Wellness Issue for African American Families

'We want to make breastfeeding more acceptable in the normal life of Black families, so they feel there’s no shame that comes from doing it'

2012-03-22

Lisa Loving Of The Skanner News

The Skanner News this week caught up with Shafia Monroe of the International Center for Traditional Childbearing to talk about the one bad aspect of Oregon’s breastfeeding trend – the fact that African American mothers suffer some of the worst birth outcomes and have the lowest rates of breastfeeding Read the complete article

Study: Medical Journals Don't Give Doctors Full Picture on Psychiatric Drugs

Publication bias can blur distinctions between effective and ineffective drugs

2012-03-20

Helen Silvis Of The Skanner News

A report released today says doctors learn which treatments work best by reading about the latest drug research in medical journals. But the journals don’t publish every drug study, and they prefer to report studies that show positive results from drugs. Read the complete article

HEALTHY FOOD: Quick Ham Recipes

Pita and Linguine

2012-03-15

While pasta is cooking, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté garlic. Add ham and continue to sauté until ham begins to brown. Read the complete article

HEALTHY FOOD: Fruit Slimming Secret

Banana fiber makes you feel full longer and less hungry overall

2012-03-15

The fiber acts like an internal accelerator that pulls some of the fat in the stomach through the digestive system before it can be absorbed. Read the complete article

USDA Will Allow Schools to Chose Better Beef

Can avoid processed slurry of meat scraps

2012-03-15

"I don't think a highly processed slurry of meat scraps mixed with ammonia is what most families would think of as 'wholesome and nutritious'" -- Rep. Chellie Pingree, D Read the complete article

Feds Release Health Overhaul Blueprint for States

Exchanges that aim to give consumers one-stop shop for competitively priced care are linchpin of much-debated plan

2012-03-12

Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Tackling a huge logistical challenge, the Obama administration Monday released an ambitious blueprint for states to match up uninsured Americans with coverage that's right for them under the health care overhaul law. Read the complete article