Do you know how to read food labels? Maybe you THOUGHT you did. Truth is, you probably don’t. But Jeff Novick, MS, RD — of the McDougall program — does. And in his full talk he shows the 3 easy steps you MUST know if you ever buy foods at any supermarket or “health” food store. In this online excerpt, Novick — who used to be a food service manager at Kraft Foods — exposes one of the dirty secrets major food corporations use to deceive consumers. It’s no accident labels are so confusing …

The World Health Organization   says the H1N1 flu is the fastest-moving pandemic ever, spreading as much in less than 6 weeks as past pandemic flu viruses spread in more than 6 months. Because of this rapid spread, the agency has revised its reporting requirements so that authorities need not report every case but only clusters of severe cases or deaths caused by the virus or unusual clinical patterns.

Since the declaration of a pandemic, at which time 70 countries had reported cases of the novel virus, the H1N1 virus has continued to spread, with the number of countries reporting cases nearly doubling. In the Southern Hemisphere, where regular flu season has begun, countries are reporting that the H1N1 virus is spreading and causing illness along with regular seasonal influenza. In the U.S., significant H1N1 illness has continued into the summer, with localized and, in some cases, intense outbreaks occurring. More than 50 summer camps in 20 states have sent kids home early or canceled sessions after suspected outbreaks.

Given its activity to date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  anticipates that there will be more cases, more hospitalizations, and more deaths associated with this pandemic over the summer, with a potential to cause significant illness into the fall and winter in conjunction with the regular influenza season. The good news, however, is that most people who have become ill have recovered within a week without requiring medical treatment.

For years tap water has been under scrutiny for the potential risks involved with chemicals, added minerals, and general impurities that can cause dangerous side effects. The fear of the tap led to a surge of bottled water and a craze that has been long-lasting because these attractive little plastic bottles are convenient and no one questioned their source. Emerging research shows that maybe we should not have been in fear of the tap, but rather we should have been embracing it.

Perhaps the most surprising result of the study was that out of the 188 different brands of bottled water investigated, only 2 disclosed these three basic facts about the water contained in them:

1. The exact source of the water.
2. How the water is purified.
3. Which chemical pollutants may be in every bottle.

These three little facts may seem insignificant, but if you stop to think about it, knowing where the water comes from that you are drinking is a good idea not only as a safety concern but an economical concern as well. Think of how many times you have been in a gas station, restaurant, or amusement park and bought an expensive  bottle of water.

The disappointing facts of the report also showed that none of the top ten bottled water suppliers in the United States include the specific water source and the treatment method on their labels. By using enticing terms like “perfect, pure, and clean,” the brand makers are advertising a genuine product but not delivering one. Any of these ten waters may in fact be as safe as your local tap water, but if they do not list all three of these requirements on the label, these facts might be hard to find out: Aquafina, Arrowhead, Crystal Geyser, Dasani, Deer Park, Ice Mountain, Nestlé Pure Life, Ozarka, Poland Spring, and Zephyrhills.

With the number of coffee addicts growing by the minute, coffee chains breeding like rabbits, and with the month of November highlighting the Great American Smokeout to help people quit smoking, there is another addiction we should shed a light on  teeth whitening.

Who doesn’t want movie star teeth that look great in any light, with any lipstick color, and without surface stains from coffee, tea, wine, soda or cigarettes? Sure white teeth look great but they also cost a lot of money and can be harmful to the lifespan of your teeth and gums.

While researching teeth whitening to make my own set sparkle in those impending upcoming holiday snapshots, I stumbled on the pros and cons of homemade alternatives.

Found in most cupboards, the most popular home remedy for tooth health is baking soda. I remember brushing with baking soda as a kid but I didn’t understand the benefits.

I just knew that I didn’t like the gritty, bitter feel of the white paste when I was so used to the delicious three-color mint of my favorite Aquafresh. Baking soda is good for taking plaque off the teeth and making them shine however, the fridge-friendly freshener can be abrasive and can hurt the enamel with use over time.