Pregnancy and Omega-3 Intake
Dec 3, 2008 
Jonny Bowden, PhD, C.N.S. is a nationally known expert on weight loss and nutrition and natural healing. A popular and dynamic speaker who combines wit and humor with science, he’s appeared as a health and nutrition expert on MSNBC, CNN, FOX News, ABC, CBS and NBC and he has contributed material to over 50 national magazines and newspapers. Dr. Bowden is on the Editorial Advisory Board of Men’s Health, is an associate editor of Total Health Magazine and is a columnist for both Better Nutrition and Remedy Magazines. His advice on nutrition, weight loss, diet and supplements has been read by millions on iVillage.com and on America Online..
He is the author of The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth: What Treatments Work and Why, the Amazon best-seller The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, and his latest, The Healthiest Meals on Earth, books that have been endorsed and acclaimed by such luminaries as Mehmet Oz, MD, Christiane Northrup, MD and Mark Victor Hansen and a virtual who’s who in the field of integrative medicine and nutrition. Coming in January, 2009, 150 Most Effective Ways to Boost Your Energy. For more information about products, services and coaching as well as a free newsletter and audiocourses, please visit him at www.jonnybowden.com
The studies come in on omega-3's and pregnancy almost daily. We already know that kids with almost any behavioral malady you can think of have lower levels of omega-3's. Murderers, for gods sake, have low levels of omega-3's. People with attention issues, vision issues, memory issues, circulation issues, you name it, have low levels of omega-3's. As Robert Crayhon once said, if I could make one change to the diet of America that would have the greatest good for the greatest number, it would be to make sure that every pregnant woman in America takes omega-3's.
The latest study shows that increased intake of the omega-3 DHA during pregnancy could produce improved motor function in the offspring in later life. It's a study done in the Netherlands, where over 300 children were followed for seven years and it was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Added bonus: Mothers are also at lest risk of post partum depression or mood change, and they recover more quickly from the stress of pregnancy, if they consume enough omega-3's.
This study adds to a wealth of research showing that a diet (or supplements) rich in omega-3's-- particularly the 22-carbon fatty acid DHA (docasahexanoic acid)--during pregnancy and breastfeeding is associated with a healthy pregnancies as well as the mental and visual development of infants.
Book Review: Hurry Down Sunshine by Michael Greenberg
Dec 3, 2008 There are plenty of things parents of teens hope never happen to their children. Drug or alcohol abuse. Serious injury or death in an accident. Terminal illness. One that’s probably small on the radar screen is having to suddenly commit your teen to a mental hospital.
That is exactly what Michael Greenberg faced when his 15-year-old daughter was, as he puts it, “struck mad” on July 5, 1996. Hurry Down Sunshine details his family’s experiences in dealing with her seemingly sudden bipolar disorder.
Of course, hints of Sally’s problem, once called manic depression, existed before she her psychotic break. She’d spent several weeks reading and studying Shakespeare sonnets and fervently scribbling in the margins and her journals. Her ultimate “crack-up” finds her in a manic state on the streets of Greenwich Village, desperate to share what others cannot see: that we are all born with genius but society suppresses it as we grow older. Although Greenberg initially believed it a drug-induced episode, his wife feels it’s more serious and calls a therapist, who recommends taking Sally to an emergency room. Greenberg does so and by the end of the day Sally is committed to the mental ward of a Manhattan hospital.
Without going into extensive details of Sally’s treatment, Greenberg takes the reader inside the mental ward. He introduces us to a variety of individuals and families likewise struggling with the impact of a loved one suffering from a mental disorder. He leaves us with a feeling that there is shared compassion but, also, a shared feeling of shame, a feeling those whose relatives suffer from physical illness do not 
suffer.
Hurry Down Sunshine does not just focus on Sally. To the contrary, Greenberg also details his relationship with his brother, Steve, and Steve’s own disabling mental health issues, as well as his distant relationship with his mother. As such, Sally’s problems are a pivot that allows Greenberg to explore other aspects of his own life. As such, this is not a typical firsthand account of mental illness.
There are plenty of memoirs by people who have struggled with mental health issues, whether it be depression (William Styron’s Darkness Visible), schizophrenia (Mark Vonnegut’s Eden Express), bipolar disorder (David Lovelace’s recent Scattershot) or obsessive compulsive disorder (Charles Barber’s Songs from the Black Chair). Greenberg instead takes the approach of Pete Earley’s Crazy, looking at the impact of bipolar disorder not from the patient’s perspective but how Sally’s “crack-up” affects her family.
Greenberg, though, focuses on the events of the summer of 1996. Earley’s story covers a longer period and examines the difficulties in obtaining treatment. Greenberg also takes time to explore the connection between conditions like Sally’s and genius and creativity. In fact, after Sally is released he takes some of her medication to assess its effects. He discovers the drugs “release her not from her cares, but from caring itself. For caring, exorbitant caring … is the psychotic’s curse.” As luck would have it, he takes the medication shortly before a movie producer insists on visiting Greenberg to discuss optioning a film for a novel Greenberg wrote.
Putting your private life and struggles on display for public consumption can never be easy. When it such a personal aspect of your life and involves your teenage daughter, it can only be that much harder. Yet Greenberg’s decision (and Sally’s) to share that harrowing summer in an honest and forthright fashion undoubtedly contributes to the welcome reception Hurry Down Sunshine has received.
We all fear at some point that “our” world and “the” world have become estranged.
--Michael Greenberg, Hurry Down Sunshine
HPV: The CDC Reports On The Most Sexually Transmitted Virus
Dec 2, 2008 
Shobha S. Krishnan, M.D., is a Staff Physician at Columbia University's Barnard College Health Services. A board certified gynecologist and family practice physician, she has also worked as a surveillance physician for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prior to joining Barnard, she was in private practice for 10 years. In addition, Dr. Krishnan has worked as a physician at the Institute on Aging and as Chief Resident in the Family Practice Department at St.Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis. Her new book, The HPV Vaccine Controversy: Sex, Cancer, God and Politics- A Guide for Parents, Women, Men and Teenagers(Greenwood Publications, Aug '08), presents the most up to date information about the vaccine without the influence of pharmaceutical companies or other interest groups.
Shobha Krishnan--
If you have been up to date with the latest Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) news, you might have heard that Dr. Harald Zur Hausen, a German scientist who discovered the link between HPV and cervical cancer, was awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize for Medicine this year. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus, and cervical cancer is the most serious consequence of HPV infections. Additionally, the different strains of HPV cause many other cancerous and non-cancerous diseases beyond cervical cancer. The latest report from the CDC, “Assessing the Burden of HPV- Associated Cancers in the United States” and published in the November 15, 2008 supplement to the journal Cancer comprises the largest and most up to date assessment of HPV-related cancers in the United States between 1998 and 2003. The main purpose of the study was to get a better understanding of the broad spectrum of HPV related pre-cancers and cancers before the introduction of the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, in June 2006, and to study the future impact of the vaccine on these disease states.
Highlights of the report include:
- Number of HPV-related cancers: Approximately 25,000 per year
- Most common infection sites: Cervix, head and neck, anus, vulva, vagina and penis
- Most common reasons for HPV-related cancers: Low education and high poverty levels
. - Relationship among HPV-associated cancers: Those with cervical cancer had a higher chance of developing vaginal, vulvar and rectal cancer
The following are summaries of the report’s findings on different kinds of cancers caused by HPV
- Cancer of the cervix: The most common site of HPV-associated cancer, there were around 10,800 cases per year of cervical cancer during the study period. Blacks from the South, Hispanics form the Texas- Mexican border, Whites from the Appalachians and Asian immigrants were most affected. Low educational levels, and heightened poverty were cited as the causes. As a reference, according to The American Cancer Society, 4 out of 5 women who developed cervical cancer did not obtain a Pap test in the past 5 years.
- Head and neck: Even though the rates of head and neck cancers in this country have been declining since 1960s when the surgeon general issued a warning about the negative effects of smoking, certain cancers of the head and neck --particularly those of the tonsils, base of the tongue and back of the throat (the oropharyngeal region) -- have been steadily rising at about 3%-4% per year. This is linked to HPV infections from the rising frequency of oral-genital sex. Oral cancers are the second most common type of HPV-associated cancers, with nearly 7,400 occurring in the study period. Blacks, Non-Hispanics and men were most affected.
- Anal cancer: Anal sex is often seen as a taboo in our society because of its association with homosexuality, but even though gay and bisexual men are at a higher risk for developing anal cancer, there are a greater number of heterosexual and bisexual women engaging in anal sex than gay or bisexual men. Therefore, more women get anal cancer than men. According to this report, more than 3,000 HPV-associated anal cancers occurred per year – about 1,900 in women and 1,100 in men. Blacks and Hispanics were most affected.
- Vulvar cancer: Nearly 2,300 women developed vulvar cancer per year during the study. White women were most affected.
- Vaginal cancer: 600 women developed vaginal cancer per year during this study period. Blacks and Hispanics were most affected.
- Penile cancer: Penile cancers are rare in the United States. The causes, racial and geographic distribution of penile cancers parallel that of cervical cancers. According to this study, penile cancer strikes about 800 men per year.
- HPV Vaccine: The only HPV vaccine that is currently available in the U.S is Gardasil by Merck. The vaccine is indicated for the prevention of most genital warts and cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancer. It has not yet been approved for anal, penile, or mouth and throat cancers, nor has it been approved for men in this country. As the vaccine is preventive in nature, it is recommended for routine immunization in females between the ages of 11-12 (before sexual debut) with the possibility for catch up through 26 years of age.
Even though this study proves that the burden of HPV cancers is significant, several salient factors present themselves that need to be addressed in order to best combat HPV-related diseases. First, since most HPV-related cancers take decades to develop, it would take several years for us to effectively measure the true impact of the vaccine. However, precancerous lesions occur much earlier in the process, and it would therefore help to use them as surrogates to measure the potential success of the vaccine. Unfortunately, we do not have an organized system to track precancerous lesions in this country like we do a cancer, and therefore, the impact of the vaccine will not be measurable for years to come. Hence, the creation of a pre-cancer registry is highly recommended.
Second, the study has shown that cervical cancer and many other HPV-related diseases are a reflection of health care disparities that include socioeconomic differences, inadequate access to healthcare, and ethnically unsound public education. Health awareness programs should not only aim to educate but should also tailor their message in a culturally sensitive manner to cater to the needs of people from various backgrounds –an area where we should discriminate in order to maximize positive health outcomes.
The HPV Vaccine And Sexual Promiscuity
Over 99% of Cervical Cancer Caused By HPV
How Safe is Gardasil : The HPV “Hot Shot”?
Chicken Soup For The Soul To Be Television Series
Dec 2, 2008 Dick Clark Productions to develop primetime series with Chicken Soup for the Soul>>
SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Dick Clark Productions has inked a deal with Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC to develop a television series based on the best-selling books. The show will be co-hosted by Chicken Soup for the Soul co-founder Jack Canfield.
Chicken Soup for the Soul is one of America's most recognizable brands; Harris Polls show that more than 88 percent of the American public knows the brand. One of the best-selling series of all time, Chicken Soup for the Soul has sold more than 112 million copies, with titles distributed in over 100 countries and translated into 40 languages. The jump to television will be aided by the fact that Chicken Soup for the Soul stories span a wide range of genres, allowing the brand to go beyond the demographic boundaries that limit most shows.
Orly Adelson, President, Dick Clark Productions stated: "The Chicken Soup for the Soul series of books always resonated with us as a property that has significant television potential. Now more than ever, there is a desire for
uplifting, positive, and inspiring themes. This is what Dick Clark Productions hopes to bring to the screen through our partnership with Chicken Soup for the Soul."
In addition to his creative work with Chicken Soup for the Soul, Jack Canfield has also been very successful with other entertainment properties. Most notably, he was prominently featured in The Secret DVD, which has sold over 3.4 million copies and been translated into 17 languages.
The show unites two of the entertainment industry's top brands at a time when both are celebrating recent successes. Dick Clark Productions is fresh off another successful season of "So You Think You Can Dance" and "The American Music Awards" while Chicken Soup for the Soul is celebrating another milestone-passing the $1.3 billion mark in total retail sales.
"We have always believed that Chicken Soup for the Soul would attract a very large audience on television. We were just waiting for the right partner," said Robert D. Jacobs, a thirty year television veteran and now president of Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC. "We are thrilled to team up with the nation's leading production group, Dick Clark Productions, to develop this series, as they share our confidence in Chicken Soup for the Soul's ability to impact lives."
About Dick Clark Productions: Backed by a production team known for high production values and compelling storytelling, Dick Clark Productions produces the smash hit reality series "So You Think You Can Dance," along with some of the most legendary annual television specials in history: "The Golden Globe Awards," "The American Music Awards," "The Academy of Country Music Awards," "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest," as well as a library that features four decades of American Bandstand and countless other television
hits over the years.
About Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC: Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, publishes all the latest titles in the famous Chicken Soup for the Soul book series which are distributed through Simon and Schuster, Inc. Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing also licenses the right to use its famous trademark to high quality licensees through IMG, the world's premier licensing agent. The company is currently implementing a plan to expand into all media, is working with TV networks on several TV shows and is developing a major Internet presence dedicated to life improvement, emotional support and inspiration. In 2007, USA Today named Chicken Soup for the Soul one of the five most memorable and impactful books in the last quarter century. For more information visit:
www.chickensoup.com.
Book Review: Chicken Soup for Divorce & Recovery
Editor
Hooked On Junk? Eating During Pregnancy
Dec 1, 2008 Jonny Bowden, PhD, C.N.S. is a nationally known expert on weight loss and nutrition and natural healing. A popular and dynamic speaker who combines wit and humor with science, he’s appeared as a health and nutrition expert on MSNBC, CNN, FOX News, ABC, CBS and NBC and he has contributed material to over 50 national magazines and newspapers. Dr. Bowden is on the Editorial Advisory Board of Men’s Health, is an associate editor of Total Health Magazine and is a columnist for both Better Nutrition and Remedy Magazines. His advice on nutrition, weight loss, diet and supplements has been read by millions on iVillage.com and on America Online..
He is the author of The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth: What Treatments Work and Why, the Amazon best-seller The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, and his latest, The Healthiest Meals on Earth, books that have been endorsed and acclaimed by such luminaries as Mehmet Oz, MD, Christiane Northrup, MD and Mark Victor Hansen and a virtual who’s who in the field of integrative medicine and nutrition. Coming in January, 2009, 150 Most Effective Ways to Boost Your Energy. For more information about products, services and coaching as well as a free newsletter and audiocourses, please visit him at www.jonnybowden.com
What you eat while you're pregnant may actually set the tone for your children's health habits. When researchers at the Royal Veterinary College in the U.K. fed pregnant rats the equivalent of rat junk food, their babies were born craving the bad stuff. They also ate twice as many calories as baby rats whose mothers weren't fed the junk food.
Many investigations of conditions from ADD to aggression to cognition problems and thinking have shown a connection to low levels of omega-3 fats. I think taking a high quality essential fatty acid supplement is one of the most important things a woman can do while she's pregnant. Your baby's brain is about 60% fat, most of it DHA one of the important omega-3 fats found in fish and supplements.
Moral of the story: when you're pregnant, you really are eating for two. If it's something you wouldn't feed to your baby, don't eat too much of it. What you eat- and don't eat- while pregnant matters a lot!