WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Summer is here again, and for millions of Americans that means
it's time for picnics, potluck dinners and cooking outside on the grill.
Yet many traditional barbecue dishes are off limits for the more than
450,000 Americans with kidney failure who depend on dialysis
- a life-sustaining process that cleans waste products from the blood
and removes extra fluids. Because the dialysis diet has strict
limitations on salt, potassium and phosphorus, patients are advised to
avoid processed sausages, baked beans, potato salad, ice cream,
watermelon, many sodas, flavored drinks and other summer favorites.
To help dialysis patients enjoy the season while staying within their
dietary guidelines, Fresenius
Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the nation's leading network of dialysis
facilities, has teamed up with celebrity Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr.,
star of Food Network's "Big Daddy's weight loss doctor philadelphia House," to create several new
kidney-friendly recipes that are perfect for summertime cookout
appetizers or side-dishes. Developed in collaboration with FMCNA
dietitians, these three new dishes not only taste great, they are also
great sources of protein and vegetables that can round out a meal with
fresh lean meats.
Chef McCargo's first new recipe, "Chilled
Veggie and Shrimp Noodle Salad," is a delicious Asian-inspired
combination of shrimp, scallions, broccoli, carrots and shitake
mushrooms served cold over chilled linguini noodles. Next is "Adobo
Marinated Tilapia Tapas," which combines pieces of baked tilapia
fillet marinated in tangy Spanish adobo sauce and fresh cabbage slaw
served in bite-size crispy wonton cups. "They're an explosion of flavor
in your mouth," says McCargo, "and the great thing is, you can serve
them cold or hot."
A third new recipe, "Smoky
Salmon Dip," is a flavor-packed crowd pleaser that can also be
served on a bed of salad greens.
"These new dishes are ideal for get-togethers," says Robin Russell, lead
dietitian for FMCNA's North Texas region, who often collaborates on
recipes with Chef McCargo. "Getting out and about and being social is
important for dialysis patients' quality of life, and Chef McCargo's
recipes are fun, full of flavor, and people just don't expect that with
such a restricted diet."
Summer Food Tips for Dialysis Patients
1. Read fish and shrimp ingredient labels carefully to avoid additives
with "phos" in the name, such as phosphate, polyphosphate or phosphoric
acid, which can lead to weaker bones and hardening of the arteries.
2. Leave the husks on to cook fresh corn-on-the-cob directly on a hot
grill. Turn occasionally for 15-20 minutes. Cool for five minutes, then
protect hands with a towel while removing the charred husks and silk.
3. For easy prep and rich flavor, try grilling other low-potassium
vegetables whole. Red bell peppers, pearl onions, mushrooms, small
summer squashes and cabbage wedges can go straight to the grill.
4. For best results, brush the grill to remove food debris and oil
lightly before cooking to prevent sticking. If not marinating, pat dry
fish, chicken and other proteins and spray lightly with non-stick
cooking spray.
5. Serve foods buffet-style or on separate plates to reduce temptations
at the table to over-consume - especially foods containing sodium,
phosphorus or potassium.
For a complete list of Chef McCargo's dialysis-friendly recipes, as well
as fitness tips, videos and other information about staying active and
maintaining a healthy diet on dialysis, visit FMCNA's Healthy
Lifestyles website. To find a dialysis facility near you, call toll
free at 1-888-325-5175.
About Fresenius Medical Care North America
Through its leading network of more than 2,150 dialysis facilities in
North America and vascular access centers, laboratory, pharmacy and
affiliated hospitals and nephrology practices, Fresenius Medical Care
provides renal services to hundreds of thousands of people throughout
the United States, Mexico and Canada. It is also the continent's top
producer of dialysis equipment, dialyzers and related disposable
products and a major supplier of renal pharmaceuticals.
For more information about the company, visit www.fmcna.com;
for information about patient services, visit www.ultracare-dialysis.com.
About Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr.
Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr. competed on and won season four of "The Next
Food Network Star" in 2008, beating out thousands of culinary hopefuls
for the ultimate dream job - his own Food Network show. "Big Daddy's
House" premiered in 2008 and continues to be a success. On "Big Daddy's
House," Aaron shares his passion for big, bold flavors and fun, family
cooking, bringing a down-to-earth vibe and warm smile to the kitchen. He
recently published his first cookbook, "Simply Done, Well Done." Whether
cooking for his children, relatives, friends, or even himself, big food
and big fun reign supreme. FMCNA and Aaron have been working together
since 2011 to encourage dialysis patients to get back in the kitchen by
developing dishes with big, bold flavors that they can enjoy, while
still adhering to the restrictions of their dialysis diets.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Cancer - InfoBarrel
Cancer is not one disease but rather a variety of diseases characterized by cells in the body that grow abnormally and destroy healthy organs and tissues, often resulting in death. In the United States, cancer kills more people than nearly all other causes except heart disease.
As a result, a great deal of time and effort has been spent to eradicate, or cure cancer.
Various organs and tissues in the body are susceptible to cancer. Some cancers are relatively easy to diagnose and treat while others are nearly impossible to detect until they reach a stage where it is too late to help the patient.
Cancer can be caused either by genetics (in other words, it can be inherited), or by environmental causes (such as smoking or poor diet). Although a cancer caused by genetics can be difficult to prevent, those caused by environmental factors can be avoided altogether.
The medical community believes that there are certain things individuals have within their power to do to reduce the risk of cancer. Physical fitness and diet (eating certain foods and herbs) can help reduce the likelihood of getting certain cancers. However, once a patient has cancer, there is no such thing as a "cancer diet" or miracle cancer foods that can cure the patient. That said, doctors always recommend a healthy diet, which by itself may not cure a cancer patient but may help during treatment.
There are a number of treatments for certain cancers which, when caught early enough, can be halted before hurting the patient. Cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are just a few of the better known ones.
Today, the survival rate in the U.S. for cancer patients is 66 percent, an improvement over the 50 percent cancer survival rate from the 1970's. Thanks to modern medicine, cancers are being diagnosed earlier than in the past, resulting in a better chance of survival, and cancer treatments are more effective than they have ever been.
http://www.infobarrel.com/Cancer
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As a result, a great deal of time and effort has been spent to eradicate, or cure cancer.
Various organs and tissues in the body are susceptible to cancer. Some cancers are relatively easy to diagnose and treat while others are nearly impossible to detect until they reach a stage where it is too late to help the patient.
Cancer can be caused either by genetics (in other words, it can be inherited), or by environmental causes (such as smoking or poor diet). Although a cancer caused by genetics can be difficult to prevent, those caused by environmental factors can be avoided altogether.
The medical community believes that there are certain things individuals have within their power to do to reduce the risk of cancer. Physical fitness and diet (eating certain foods and herbs) can help reduce the likelihood of getting certain cancers. However, once a patient has cancer, there is no such thing as a "cancer diet" or miracle cancer foods that can cure the patient. That said, doctors always recommend a healthy diet, which by itself may not cure a cancer patient but may help during treatment.
There are a number of treatments for certain cancers which, when caught early enough, can be halted before hurting the patient. Cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are just a few of the better known ones.
Today, the survival rate in the U.S. for cancer patients is 66 percent, an improvement over the 50 percent cancer survival rate from the 1970's. Thanks to modern medicine, cancers are being diagnosed earlier than in the past, resulting in a better chance of survival, and cancer treatments are more effective than they have ever been.
http://www.infobarrel.com/Cancer
http://reddragonapothocary.weebly.com/
Friday, June 26, 2015
does green tea work for weight loss?
We are hearing more and more about how helpful green tea can be for many conditions weight loss philadelphia and for maintaining overall good health. Green tea is an excellent source of antioxidants, which are good for the heart and cholesterol levels, and the simulating effects are useful for weight control. Scientists who research and study natural foods seem to keep on rolling with new information about green tea.
Keep reading to find out three terrific benefits of green tea and why you really should consider consuming it.
Green tea can help to promote heart health and lower blood pressure. This tea has fat burning capabilities, and then there's the effect of lowering your overall cholesterol - and increasing the good cholesterol. So think about that: controlling your blood pressure, cholesterol, and then you can lose weight easier, too. The research recommends that to achieve that kind of control requires four cups of green tea per day. Green tea also comes as a decaffeinated tea, as well, just in the event you don't want to consume that much caffeine.
While it would be premature to say that green tea prevents or cures cancer, there have been promising studies that suggest that it may very well reduce your risk of certain types of cancer. Very many people know about antioxidants and their ability to offer protection from various toxins; but it is also the polyphenol properties that have anti-cancer action that is noteworthy. In China, where a great deal of research occurs, scientists demonstrated a marked lower risk of esophagus cancer due to regular ingestion of green tea. Additional cancers that could benefit from green tea are stomach and lung cancer. You can help green tea do its job more effectively by choosing a healthy lifestyle, as we all know.
When you drink the tea every day, you'll notice your overall energy level increase, and that will be great because you'll have a natural feeling and desire to be more active. Just one result of that will be an easier time with the weight loss if you need to do that. If you take energy enhancing supplements, be careful about that because of the ingredients. Energy drinks, for example, usually contain large amounts of sugar and caffeine. You will receive about 50% the amount of caffeine in green tea that you will get from a cup of regular coffee. All in all, green tea has a wide variety of helpful effects on the body, and experts are releasing more findings all the time. There appear to be few risks involved with green tea, while it is an inexpensive and easy to find food that can be enjoyed in a number of ways, hot or cold. So there it is - we hope you will feel excited and inspired to go out and get some green tea, today, and then use it every day for fantastic health.
We hope you have enjoyed reading about the many benefits of green tea. If you want to start taking it, you have a choice of drinking tea or finding a good green tea supplement. If you take it regularly, you will enjoy more of the benefits.
Keep reading to find out three terrific benefits of green tea and why you really should consider consuming it.
Green tea can help to promote heart health and lower blood pressure. This tea has fat burning capabilities, and then there's the effect of lowering your overall cholesterol - and increasing the good cholesterol. So think about that: controlling your blood pressure, cholesterol, and then you can lose weight easier, too. The research recommends that to achieve that kind of control requires four cups of green tea per day. Green tea also comes as a decaffeinated tea, as well, just in the event you don't want to consume that much caffeine.
While it would be premature to say that green tea prevents or cures cancer, there have been promising studies that suggest that it may very well reduce your risk of certain types of cancer. Very many people know about antioxidants and their ability to offer protection from various toxins; but it is also the polyphenol properties that have anti-cancer action that is noteworthy. In China, where a great deal of research occurs, scientists demonstrated a marked lower risk of esophagus cancer due to regular ingestion of green tea. Additional cancers that could benefit from green tea are stomach and lung cancer. You can help green tea do its job more effectively by choosing a healthy lifestyle, as we all know.
When you drink the tea every day, you'll notice your overall energy level increase, and that will be great because you'll have a natural feeling and desire to be more active. Just one result of that will be an easier time with the weight loss if you need to do that. If you take energy enhancing supplements, be careful about that because of the ingredients. Energy drinks, for example, usually contain large amounts of sugar and caffeine. You will receive about 50% the amount of caffeine in green tea that you will get from a cup of regular coffee. All in all, green tea has a wide variety of helpful effects on the body, and experts are releasing more findings all the time. There appear to be few risks involved with green tea, while it is an inexpensive and easy to find food that can be enjoyed in a number of ways, hot or cold. So there it is - we hope you will feel excited and inspired to go out and get some green tea, today, and then use it every day for fantastic health.
We hope you have enjoyed reading about the many benefits of green tea. If you want to start taking it, you have a choice of drinking tea or finding a good green tea supplement. If you take it regularly, you will enjoy more of the benefits.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
How This Woman Lost 30kg without going to gym
Meet Kanan, a 47-year old woman, who lost as much as 30kg body weight by being committed to her weight loss goal.
Kanan was born a healthy child, but after getting married at the age of 23, she had kids and started to gain weight. She never took the weight gain seriously as she was not image-conscious.
But as she grew older, being over-weight brought a range of health issues for her, and before she knew, she was on medication for high blood pressure, asthma, back ache and joint pain.
That's when she decided to quit her job and take charge of her health.
At the beginning of 2012, she was very depressed as she weighed 100kg. At 5'2" height, she was grossly over-weight.
By following a strict plan, she lost weight and by mid-2013 she weighed about 68kgs.
Even losing a few kilos in the beginning was a big moral boost, as well as big physical boost. She could walk faster, and could walk without stopping for longer distances. She felt like a feather.
She felt very confident after weight loss. She had a better self-image.
She has stopped all medication. Her relationship with her husband improved.
Her weight loss journey is inspiring because now she knows that anything is possible.
After losing 23kg in the first three months, she visited her doctor. He struggled to recognize her. She looked like a new person after weight loss.
Her story is really inspiring because she did not take any professional help. She achieved her weight loss goals on her own.
How did she do it?
Let's find out.
Here are the things that Kanan did to lose weight.
She followed a strict diet. She made a list of foods she could eat to lose weight, and she stuck by it.
She set up weight loss doctor philadelphia a goal to walk every day. At least for half an hour. On most days she ended up walking more than that. Her goal was to clock 10,000 steps every day, 7 days a week, without any excuse.
She watched walks 'Walk at Home' videos by Leslie Sansone on YouTube. (See the video at the end of this article.)
Gradually, she introduced a bit of running in between her walks.
She made a list of her favourite songs which she used to inspire her during her walks and runs.
Knowing what to eat to lose weight, and complementing it with walking, Kanan came close to her weight loss goals. Now she wants to reach her goal of 60ks body weight.
If she could do it, you can do it too. Let's find out what to eat to lose weight, as shared by Kanan in this article.
Kanan was born a healthy child, but after getting married at the age of 23, she had kids and started to gain weight. She never took the weight gain seriously as she was not image-conscious.
But as she grew older, being over-weight brought a range of health issues for her, and before she knew, she was on medication for high blood pressure, asthma, back ache and joint pain.
That's when she decided to quit her job and take charge of her health.
At the beginning of 2012, she was very depressed as she weighed 100kg. At 5'2" height, she was grossly over-weight.
By following a strict plan, she lost weight and by mid-2013 she weighed about 68kgs.
Even losing a few kilos in the beginning was a big moral boost, as well as big physical boost. She could walk faster, and could walk without stopping for longer distances. She felt like a feather.
She felt very confident after weight loss. She had a better self-image.
She has stopped all medication. Her relationship with her husband improved.
Her weight loss journey is inspiring because now she knows that anything is possible.
After losing 23kg in the first three months, she visited her doctor. He struggled to recognize her. She looked like a new person after weight loss.
Her story is really inspiring because she did not take any professional help. She achieved her weight loss goals on her own.
How did she do it?
Let's find out.
Here are the things that Kanan did to lose weight.
She followed a strict diet. She made a list of foods she could eat to lose weight, and she stuck by it.
She set up weight loss doctor philadelphia a goal to walk every day. At least for half an hour. On most days she ended up walking more than that. Her goal was to clock 10,000 steps every day, 7 days a week, without any excuse.
She watched walks 'Walk at Home' videos by Leslie Sansone on YouTube. (See the video at the end of this article.)
Gradually, she introduced a bit of running in between her walks.
She made a list of her favourite songs which she used to inspire her during her walks and runs.
Knowing what to eat to lose weight, and complementing it with walking, Kanan came close to her weight loss goals. Now she wants to reach her goal of 60ks body weight.
If she could do it, you can do it too. Let's find out what to eat to lose weight, as shared by Kanan in this article.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Scrumptious Rooster Wing Recipes
Individuals actually like to eat chicken wings. There are so many methods to arrange rooster wings they usually make incredible appetizers and get together foods. One of the questions I'm usually requested is, "How lengthy to cook dinner hen wings".
Hen wings could be cooked using several different methods. I want deep frying wings however you may as well pan fry your wings or bake them. Let's take a look at each technique and you may determine for your self which methodology is greatest for you.
Earlier than you prepare dinner your chicken wings you'll need to verify they are utterly thawed. This may be achieved by letting them sit in the refrigerator for a day or earlier than cooking. If you find yourself able to cook your wings, rinse them in cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel.
If you can be deep frying your hen wings ensure they are dry before putting them within the hot oil to avoid painful splatters. Heat your oil to 375 degrees. As soon as the oil is sizzling you may begin cooking your wings. Fill the fryer basket with a single layer of wings. You need the oil to only cowl the wings when lowered into the oil. Lower the wings into the oil slowly and prepare dinner for 12 to 15 minutes. This may make a nicely browned rooster wing that is crispy on the outside and juicy and tender inside.
You may additionally choose to pan fry your wings in the event you don't have a deep fryer. This might be my second choice. Use a large frying pan for this method. Pour enough oil within the pan to cover the bottom. Heat the oil over medium-excessive heat. When the oil is hot place your wings in a single layer into the hot oil. Cook the wings for 6 to 7 minutes after which flip them over to prepare dinner for one more 6 to 7 minutes. You can additionally use a wok to fry your wings. This can even make medical weight loss philadelphia a nice crispy outside and tender inside.
My least favorite method of cooking rooster wings is to bake them. Baking them is a a lot more healthy alternative to the entire frying but the wings is not going to be almost as crispy. However if you could bake your wings heat the oven to four hundred degrees. Place the wings in a glass baking dish that has been coated with slightly non-stick cooking spray. Bake the wings for about 30 to forty minutes. You need to make sure the juices run clear from the wings.
Properly there you go three methods to cook dinner rooster wings. All the time bear in mind to wash your fingers and all utensils when working with raw chicken. Get pleasure from those tasty little treats.
Sweet Spicy Wings
Authentic Recipe Yield 12 servings
Ingredients
6 kilos chicken wings, separated at joints, suggestions discarded
1 half cups Louisiana-style sizzling sauce
three/4 cup butter
1 cup honey
1 pinch garlic salt
1 pinch floor black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to style
Instructions
Preheat an outside grill for prime heat.
Flippantly oil the grill grate. Grill the chicken 8 to 12 minutes on both sides, or till juices run clear. (You possibly can deep fry or bake the hen as a substitute if you wish to, but it is best when grilled.) Remove chicken to a big roasting pan.
In a saucepan over medium warmth, mix the new sauce, butter, honey, garlic salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Simmer about 10 minutes, till blended and heated through. Pour the sauce over the grilled hen wings and stir to coat.
10minutescooking.com
By: Luveena Lee Cooking
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Want to know more about Asian meals chanel, please go to10MinuteCooking.com Official Site
Hen wings could be cooked using several different methods. I want deep frying wings however you may as well pan fry your wings or bake them. Let's take a look at each technique and you may determine for your self which methodology is greatest for you.
Earlier than you prepare dinner your chicken wings you'll need to verify they are utterly thawed. This may be achieved by letting them sit in the refrigerator for a day or earlier than cooking. If you find yourself able to cook your wings, rinse them in cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel.
If you can be deep frying your hen wings ensure they are dry before putting them within the hot oil to avoid painful splatters. Heat your oil to 375 degrees. As soon as the oil is sizzling you may begin cooking your wings. Fill the fryer basket with a single layer of wings. You need the oil to only cowl the wings when lowered into the oil. Lower the wings into the oil slowly and prepare dinner for 12 to 15 minutes. This may make a nicely browned rooster wing that is crispy on the outside and juicy and tender inside.
You may additionally choose to pan fry your wings in the event you don't have a deep fryer. This might be my second choice. Use a large frying pan for this method. Pour enough oil within the pan to cover the bottom. Heat the oil over medium-excessive heat. When the oil is hot place your wings in a single layer into the hot oil. Cook the wings for 6 to 7 minutes after which flip them over to prepare dinner for one more 6 to 7 minutes. You can additionally use a wok to fry your wings. This can even make medical weight loss philadelphia a nice crispy outside and tender inside.
My least favorite method of cooking rooster wings is to bake them. Baking them is a a lot more healthy alternative to the entire frying but the wings is not going to be almost as crispy. However if you could bake your wings heat the oven to four hundred degrees. Place the wings in a glass baking dish that has been coated with slightly non-stick cooking spray. Bake the wings for about 30 to forty minutes. You need to make sure the juices run clear from the wings.
Properly there you go three methods to cook dinner rooster wings. All the time bear in mind to wash your fingers and all utensils when working with raw chicken. Get pleasure from those tasty little treats.
Sweet Spicy Wings
Authentic Recipe Yield 12 servings
Ingredients
6 kilos chicken wings, separated at joints, suggestions discarded
1 half cups Louisiana-style sizzling sauce
three/4 cup butter
1 cup honey
1 pinch garlic salt
1 pinch floor black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to style
Instructions
Preheat an outside grill for prime heat.
Flippantly oil the grill grate. Grill the chicken 8 to 12 minutes on both sides, or till juices run clear. (You possibly can deep fry or bake the hen as a substitute if you wish to, but it is best when grilled.) Remove chicken to a big roasting pan.
In a saucepan over medium warmth, mix the new sauce, butter, honey, garlic salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Simmer about 10 minutes, till blended and heated through. Pour the sauce over the grilled hen wings and stir to coat.
10minutescooking.com
By: Luveena Lee Cooking
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Want to know more about Asian meals chanel, please go to10MinuteCooking.com Official Site
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Off-Duty Philadelphia Detective Kills Armed Robbery Suspect While Picking Up Pizza
An off-duty police detective fatally shot an armed robbery suspect while picking up takeout food in Philadelphia late Thursday night, according to authorities.
The detective was picking up his order at Rising Sun Pizza when two armed robbers entered the shop, according to Chief Inspector Scott Small of the Philadelphia Police Department. One of the robbers took a $20 bill from the detective's hand before putting a gun to his head and forcing him to the ground, Small added.
"They put their gun on his face, and took his $20," said Samuel Nalbandian, the owner of the Rising Sun Pizza who was not present at the shooting but was briefed on the matter by his employees, including his son. "Then they turned and pointed the gun at my son."
When the suspects turned to the counter, the detective identified himself and pulled out his firearm, according to Nalbandian. One of the suspects fired two shots at point-blank range but missed the detective, who returned fire as the suspects fled the scene, fatally striking one suspect, according to authorities. The second suspect remains at large.
Neither the off-duty detective nor the suspects have been identified.
"The detective is extremely medical weight loss philadelphia lucky that he was not shot, extremely lucky that he was not killed," Small told WPVI, an ABC News station in Philadelphia.
"Why would you rob a place for $100 and risk your life for it?" Nalbandian asked ABC News. "It's just crazy anyone would do that."
The incident is under investigation.
-- This embed didnt make it to copy for story id = 31551130.
The detective was picking up his order at Rising Sun Pizza when two armed robbers entered the shop, according to Chief Inspector Scott Small of the Philadelphia Police Department. One of the robbers took a $20 bill from the detective's hand before putting a gun to his head and forcing him to the ground, Small added.
"They put their gun on his face, and took his $20," said Samuel Nalbandian, the owner of the Rising Sun Pizza who was not present at the shooting but was briefed on the matter by his employees, including his son. "Then they turned and pointed the gun at my son."
When the suspects turned to the counter, the detective identified himself and pulled out his firearm, according to Nalbandian. One of the suspects fired two shots at point-blank range but missed the detective, who returned fire as the suspects fled the scene, fatally striking one suspect, according to authorities. The second suspect remains at large.
Neither the off-duty detective nor the suspects have been identified.
"The detective is extremely medical weight loss philadelphia lucky that he was not shot, extremely lucky that he was not killed," Small told WPVI, an ABC News station in Philadelphia.
"Why would you rob a place for $100 and risk your life for it?" Nalbandian asked ABC News. "It's just crazy anyone would do that."
The incident is under investigation.
-- This embed didnt make it to copy for story id = 31551130.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
The best anti-inflammatory foods and recipes
I've learned a lot about inflammation over the last ten years while suffering from chronic illness.
Today, after many years of suffering from Lyme disease and many other illnesses, I'm happy to say that I've learned how to fight inflammation in my body and help clients start an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle.
What does that mean? For starters inflammation is caused by many of the foods we eat as well as lifestyle factors, such as not enough sleep and rest, too much stress, eating processed foods, eating foods with chemical pesticides and herbicides on them (non-organic foods) and anything else that may cause stress on your body.
To fight inflammation, it's important to keep in mind the following foods and try to incorporate them into your lifestyle as much as possible. It's also important to remove refined sugar, alcohol, caffeine and processed foods. Some simple ways to add anti-inflammatory foods to your lifestyle are: spicing up your morning tea with fresh ginger root, using kale or other leafy greens in your afternoon salad and tossing in raw walnuts to your dinner. Be sure to choose organic as often as possible so that you're not ingesting toxic pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics and herbicides with each bite!
Gluten-Free Whole Grains (gluten-free oats, quinoa, teff, sorghum, millet, buckwheat, wild rice, black rice, brown rice)
Beans and Legumes
Fruits
Vegetables
Healthy fats (extra-virgin olive oil, walnuts, avocados, hemp seeds, ground flaxseeds)
Wild Alaskan salmon
Turmeric
Ginger
Garlic
Cinnamon
Green tea
Here are two anti-inflammatory recipes that you can enjoy this summer. Try this oatmeal for a quick weekday breakfast and my summer salad for a simple lunch or an easy weeknight dinner. Both are packed with protein, fiber and healthy fats to support a strong immune system and help fight inflammation.
Antioxidant Morning Oatmeal (Gluten-Free with Dairy-Free Option)
Serves 1
Cook oatmeal according to package. Transfer to a bowl, add yogurt, pistachios, honey, cinnamon and optional sea salt. Serve warm.
Anti-Inflammatory Summer Salad (Gluten Dairy-Free)
Serves 1
2 cups mixed salad greens
½ ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
1 scallion, thinly sliced
1 finely chopped fresh basil leaf
¼ cup cooked black beans
4 grape tomatoes, halved
2 tsp. balsamic vinegar, plus more if needed
1 tsp. Barlean's flax oil
Juice of ½ small lemon
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Pinch chili powder
2 tsp. chia seeds
Lemon zest, for garnish
In a large bowl, combine salad greens, avocado, scallion, basil, black beans and tomatoes.In a small bowl, whisk vinegar, lemon juice, flax oil, sea salt, pepper and chili powder. Drizzle over salad mixture, add chia seeds and toss to combine. Add more vinegar, if desired. Garnish with lemon zest and serve immediately.
Amie Valpone is a celebrity chef based in New York City and editor-in-chief of TheHealthyApple.com. Specializing in simple, gluten-free recipes, Amie has been featured in numerous magazines and on well-known websites, as well weight loss doctor philadelphia as TV. Visit Amie on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Today, after many years of suffering from Lyme disease and many other illnesses, I'm happy to say that I've learned how to fight inflammation in my body and help clients start an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle.
What does that mean? For starters inflammation is caused by many of the foods we eat as well as lifestyle factors, such as not enough sleep and rest, too much stress, eating processed foods, eating foods with chemical pesticides and herbicides on them (non-organic foods) and anything else that may cause stress on your body.
To fight inflammation, it's important to keep in mind the following foods and try to incorporate them into your lifestyle as much as possible. It's also important to remove refined sugar, alcohol, caffeine and processed foods. Some simple ways to add anti-inflammatory foods to your lifestyle are: spicing up your morning tea with fresh ginger root, using kale or other leafy greens in your afternoon salad and tossing in raw walnuts to your dinner. Be sure to choose organic as often as possible so that you're not ingesting toxic pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics and herbicides with each bite!
Gluten-Free Whole Grains (gluten-free oats, quinoa, teff, sorghum, millet, buckwheat, wild rice, black rice, brown rice)
Beans and Legumes
Fruits
Vegetables
Healthy fats (extra-virgin olive oil, walnuts, avocados, hemp seeds, ground flaxseeds)
Wild Alaskan salmon
Turmeric
Ginger
Garlic
Cinnamon
Green tea
Here are two anti-inflammatory recipes that you can enjoy this summer. Try this oatmeal for a quick weekday breakfast and my summer salad for a simple lunch or an easy weeknight dinner. Both are packed with protein, fiber and healthy fats to support a strong immune system and help fight inflammation.
Antioxidant Morning Oatmeal (Gluten-Free with Dairy-Free Option)
Serves 1
Cook oatmeal according to package. Transfer to a bowl, add yogurt, pistachios, honey, cinnamon and optional sea salt. Serve warm.
Anti-Inflammatory Summer Salad (Gluten Dairy-Free)
Serves 1
2 cups mixed salad greens
½ ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
1 scallion, thinly sliced
1 finely chopped fresh basil leaf
¼ cup cooked black beans
4 grape tomatoes, halved
2 tsp. balsamic vinegar, plus more if needed
1 tsp. Barlean's flax oil
Juice of ½ small lemon
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Pinch chili powder
2 tsp. chia seeds
Lemon zest, for garnish
In a large bowl, combine salad greens, avocado, scallion, basil, black beans and tomatoes.In a small bowl, whisk vinegar, lemon juice, flax oil, sea salt, pepper and chili powder. Drizzle over salad mixture, add chia seeds and toss to combine. Add more vinegar, if desired. Garnish with lemon zest and serve immediately.
Amie Valpone is a celebrity chef based in New York City and editor-in-chief of TheHealthyApple.com. Specializing in simple, gluten-free recipes, Amie has been featured in numerous magazines and on well-known websites, as well weight loss doctor philadelphia as TV. Visit Amie on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Philadelphia Police Shot 400 People In 7 Years: DOJ Report
Philadelphia police officers were responsible for 400 civilian shootings over the last seven years, according to a new report from the Department of Justice.
The report also found that there was "an undercurrent of significant strife between the community" and the police.
The Washington Post has more on the report:
This report looked at the number of times Philadelphia police officers shot someone between 2007 and 2013, finding nearly 400 such incidents over that seven-year span. Fifty-nine unarmed people were fatally shot over this period, and half of the unarmed people were shot because the officer saw something (like a cellphone) or some action (like a person pulling at the waist of their pants) and misidentified it as a threat, the report states.
New training on when officers should medical weight loss philadelphia use force and how to de-escalate situations is needed, the DOJ found.
Bloomberg noted that 400 shootings in seven years is an average of about one shooting every week.
Philadelphia Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey asked the DOJ to conduct its investigation and he told the Philadelphia Inquirer that many of the DOJ's recommendations have already been implemented.
Many of the DOJ's findings mirrored those mentioned at community meetings and previous lawsuits against the department, the Inquirer reported.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly said the Philadelphia police were responsible for 400 killings. They were responsible for 400 shootings.
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The report also found that there was "an undercurrent of significant strife between the community" and the police.
The Washington Post has more on the report:
This report looked at the number of times Philadelphia police officers shot someone between 2007 and 2013, finding nearly 400 such incidents over that seven-year span. Fifty-nine unarmed people were fatally shot over this period, and half of the unarmed people were shot because the officer saw something (like a cellphone) or some action (like a person pulling at the waist of their pants) and misidentified it as a threat, the report states.
New training on when officers should medical weight loss philadelphia use force and how to de-escalate situations is needed, the DOJ found.
Bloomberg noted that 400 shootings in seven years is an average of about one shooting every week.
Philadelphia Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey asked the DOJ to conduct its investigation and he told the Philadelphia Inquirer that many of the DOJ's recommendations have already been implemented.
Many of the DOJ's findings mirrored those mentioned at community meetings and previous lawsuits against the department, the Inquirer reported.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly said the Philadelphia police were responsible for 400 killings. They were responsible for 400 shootings.
Like Us On Facebook | Follow Us On Twitter | Contact The Author
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Weight loss linked to bone loss in middle aged women | Reuters
(Reuters Health) - Losing weight in middle age may mean losing not just unwanted fat, but also precious bone density, at least for women, a new weight loss doctor philadelphia U.S. study suggests.
Regardless of the types of foods or amount of calcium in their diets, middle aged women who lost a moderate amount of weight over a two-year period also lost more bone density than men or younger women.
Changes in bone density following moderate weight loss may be sex-specific and influenced by hormones, the study team writes in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
"Weight loss has been associated with beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes. However, extremes of weight loss have been associated with bone loss, and according to some studies, increased risk of fracture," senior author Dr. Meryl LeBoff of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston told Reuters Health.
"Osteoporosis is a major public health problem and 40 percent of women and 20 percent of men ages 50 years and older will develop an osteoporotic fracture in their remaining lifetime," LeBoff said. "So there's a real concern about skeletal health particularly among the population 50 years and older."
LeBoff's team analyzed data gathered during a large weight loss study in which 424 participants were randomly assigned to follow one of four low-calorie diets. (Two diets were considered to be high-protein, and two contained an average amount of protein.)
Participants were 30 to 70 years old and overweight or obese at the start of the study. About 60 percent were women.
Bone density measurements of the spine and hip were taken at the outset, six months into the diets and again after two years, at which point 236 men and women completed the study.
By the end of two years, men lost an average of eight percent of their original body weight, and women lost an average of 6.4 percent.
With comparable amounts of weight loss, "the women lost bone density at the spine and the hip in the postmenopausal group and the men actually gained bone density at the spine and had a stable bone density of the hip," LeBoff said.
Premenopausal women only lost bone density at the hip, the study team noted.
And among menopausal women, loss of abdominal fat - the kind linked with heart disease and diabetes risk - was particularly linked to bone loss.
Differences in bone loss were also tied to the amount of muscle - known as lean mass - a person lost.
Men lost more weight, and more fat mass than lean mass, compared to the women, LeBoff said. "There have been associations between lean mass and bone mass because lean mass has important effects on the skeleton."
In postmenopausal women, losses of lean mass and fat mass both correlated with bone density loss in the spine and hip, LeBoff said.
"So . . . while weight loss can have beneficial effects on a number of cardiovascular and other health outcomes, it's important to consider skeletal health, particularly in women in whom weight loss can result in bone loss and since women are at a markedly increased risk for fractures," she said.
LeBoff said more research is needed to try to understand the sex differences in bone loss.
Dr. Kathryn Diemer, director of the Bone Health Program at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, said the loss of bone density in all the dieters looked to be quite small, about a one to two percent decrease.
"So while statistically significant, in terms of fracture risk, it isn't much," Diemer, who wasn't involved in the study, told Reuters Health.
Diemer said it's important for obese patients to lose weight, and there are ways to prevent bone density loss.
"Walking is very important for these patients," for example, she said.
In addition, Diemer suggests taking calcium, getting vitamin D levels checked and monitoring bone density.
"As long as they're doing that with their primary care physician, or seeing somebody like me, we'll follow them and make sure they don't increase the risk of fracture," she said.
SOURCE: bit.ly/1CGmAx8 The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, online March 31 2015.
Regardless of the types of foods or amount of calcium in their diets, middle aged women who lost a moderate amount of weight over a two-year period also lost more bone density than men or younger women.
Changes in bone density following moderate weight loss may be sex-specific and influenced by hormones, the study team writes in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
"Weight loss has been associated with beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes. However, extremes of weight loss have been associated with bone loss, and according to some studies, increased risk of fracture," senior author Dr. Meryl LeBoff of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston told Reuters Health.
"Osteoporosis is a major public health problem and 40 percent of women and 20 percent of men ages 50 years and older will develop an osteoporotic fracture in their remaining lifetime," LeBoff said. "So there's a real concern about skeletal health particularly among the population 50 years and older."
LeBoff's team analyzed data gathered during a large weight loss study in which 424 participants were randomly assigned to follow one of four low-calorie diets. (Two diets were considered to be high-protein, and two contained an average amount of protein.)
Participants were 30 to 70 years old and overweight or obese at the start of the study. About 60 percent were women.
Bone density measurements of the spine and hip were taken at the outset, six months into the diets and again after two years, at which point 236 men and women completed the study.
By the end of two years, men lost an average of eight percent of their original body weight, and women lost an average of 6.4 percent.
With comparable amounts of weight loss, "the women lost bone density at the spine and the hip in the postmenopausal group and the men actually gained bone density at the spine and had a stable bone density of the hip," LeBoff said.
Premenopausal women only lost bone density at the hip, the study team noted.
And among menopausal women, loss of abdominal fat - the kind linked with heart disease and diabetes risk - was particularly linked to bone loss.
Differences in bone loss were also tied to the amount of muscle - known as lean mass - a person lost.
Men lost more weight, and more fat mass than lean mass, compared to the women, LeBoff said. "There have been associations between lean mass and bone mass because lean mass has important effects on the skeleton."
In postmenopausal women, losses of lean mass and fat mass both correlated with bone density loss in the spine and hip, LeBoff said.
"So . . . while weight loss can have beneficial effects on a number of cardiovascular and other health outcomes, it's important to consider skeletal health, particularly in women in whom weight loss can result in bone loss and since women are at a markedly increased risk for fractures," she said.
LeBoff said more research is needed to try to understand the sex differences in bone loss.
Dr. Kathryn Diemer, director of the Bone Health Program at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, said the loss of bone density in all the dieters looked to be quite small, about a one to two percent decrease.
"So while statistically significant, in terms of fracture risk, it isn't much," Diemer, who wasn't involved in the study, told Reuters Health.
Diemer said it's important for obese patients to lose weight, and there are ways to prevent bone density loss.
"Walking is very important for these patients," for example, she said.
In addition, Diemer suggests taking calcium, getting vitamin D levels checked and monitoring bone density.
"As long as they're doing that with their primary care physician, or seeing somebody like me, we'll follow them and make sure they don't increase the risk of fracture," she said.
SOURCE: bit.ly/1CGmAx8 The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, online March 31 2015.
Sunday, June 7, 2015
The Curious Case of the Philadelphia Sports Fan
Still, if my own personal feelings and those being overwhelmingly expressed on the sports talk radio stations in the Philadelphia market are anything to go by, it's been an extremely disappointing Fall. The frustrating sentiment was best expressed in a visual medium in the last game of the NLDS, in which Ryan Howard came up to bat with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and hit a sharp grounder to the right side of the infield, only to collapse on the field as he was getting himself out of the batter's box thanks to a ruptured Achilles tendon. The image captured perfectly the crumpled spirit of the Philly faithful who had been so pumped throughout the season watching the best team in baseball make mincemeat out of everyone they came across, only to completely collapse in the last month of the season as the bulk of the position players on the team simply ran out of gas. And yes, the fans in attendance and many watching at home made that sense of disappointment loud and clear.
Couple that with the Philadelphia Eagles, who made a blitzkrieg of personnel moves after the NFL lockout ended to shore up what is arguably the best offense in football and address the many holes that were present in their defense last year, leading to their first round exit from the playoffs after a year that began 10-4 and had all the promise in weight loss doctor philadelphia the world. Unfortunately, many of the new defensive pickups have been considerably less than stellar, leading to three weeks in a row in which the Eagles took leads into the 4th quarter, only to lose the game in the end. The atmosphere of disappointment in the two major sports teams among the fandom is palatable, and harkens back to an era of sports with which most of the fans are infinitely more familiar.
I was born in 1982. When I was just under a year old, the Philadelphia 76ers won the NBA Title. I had no conscious memory of it. In fact, up until 2008, when the Phillies finally won a World Series, I and anyone else who was born after me had no conscious memory of anything but disappointment in our sports teams. We had a 25-year drought in championships among the four major sports, the longest of any city that had been consistently represented by teams in all four for that amount of time. Sure, we had a lot of good sports to watch during that drought. Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, along with the early 2000s, the Philadelphia Eagles were a consistently good football team. The Flyers dominated the mid-1980s and mid-1990s in the Wales (and later Eastern) Conference. The 76ers did fairly well during the Larry Brown/Allen Iverson years. But all of those teams fell short of that elusive World Title, and as a result, the Philadelphia fandom began to adopt the concept of perennially falling short into their own unique culture.
Philadelphia sports fans (and really, Philadelphia anything fans) have gotten a terrible rap from the national media for as long as I've been alive. Bring up a conversation about the culture here with anyone who isn't from here and you'll hear the same thing. We booed Santa Claus. We cheered Michael Irvin's career-ending injury. We get down on our own teams when they underperform. We're loud, vulgar, rude, demanding, unforgiving louts with incredibly high standards who don't appreciate the effort that athletes or performers make to perform for us, especially when they're our hometown people
Let me, as a lifelong resident of the Philly sports nation and fan of all things Philadelphia, call immediate B.S. on most of the above. Are we loud, vulgar, demanding, and occasionally asses? You bet! We are passionate fans of our sports and entertainment. I defy you to find anywhere in the United States (outside Texas) that has a greater love for and pride in the people and things that it identifies with as part of the cultural identity.
Yes, we boo, loudly and often, and many times directed more at our own team than the opponents. But what should that tell you about us? That we're unappreciative? Or that we care? Go to any college or pro football game where a normally good team does more poorly than expected and you'll hear boos. Go to any game where a normally bad team plays poorly and you'll hear dead silence. The faithful crowd's probably been beaten down all season and sees no reason to give voice to any kind of sensation unless something good happens. They just don't care.
Couple that with the Philadelphia Eagles, who made a blitzkrieg of personnel moves after the NFL lockout ended to shore up what is arguably the best offense in football and address the many holes that were present in their defense last year, leading to their first round exit from the playoffs after a year that began 10-4 and had all the promise in weight loss doctor philadelphia the world. Unfortunately, many of the new defensive pickups have been considerably less than stellar, leading to three weeks in a row in which the Eagles took leads into the 4th quarter, only to lose the game in the end. The atmosphere of disappointment in the two major sports teams among the fandom is palatable, and harkens back to an era of sports with which most of the fans are infinitely more familiar.
I was born in 1982. When I was just under a year old, the Philadelphia 76ers won the NBA Title. I had no conscious memory of it. In fact, up until 2008, when the Phillies finally won a World Series, I and anyone else who was born after me had no conscious memory of anything but disappointment in our sports teams. We had a 25-year drought in championships among the four major sports, the longest of any city that had been consistently represented by teams in all four for that amount of time. Sure, we had a lot of good sports to watch during that drought. Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, along with the early 2000s, the Philadelphia Eagles were a consistently good football team. The Flyers dominated the mid-1980s and mid-1990s in the Wales (and later Eastern) Conference. The 76ers did fairly well during the Larry Brown/Allen Iverson years. But all of those teams fell short of that elusive World Title, and as a result, the Philadelphia fandom began to adopt the concept of perennially falling short into their own unique culture.
Philadelphia sports fans (and really, Philadelphia anything fans) have gotten a terrible rap from the national media for as long as I've been alive. Bring up a conversation about the culture here with anyone who isn't from here and you'll hear the same thing. We booed Santa Claus. We cheered Michael Irvin's career-ending injury. We get down on our own teams when they underperform. We're loud, vulgar, rude, demanding, unforgiving louts with incredibly high standards who don't appreciate the effort that athletes or performers make to perform for us, especially when they're our hometown people
Let me, as a lifelong resident of the Philly sports nation and fan of all things Philadelphia, call immediate B.S. on most of the above. Are we loud, vulgar, demanding, and occasionally asses? You bet! We are passionate fans of our sports and entertainment. I defy you to find anywhere in the United States (outside Texas) that has a greater love for and pride in the people and things that it identifies with as part of the cultural identity.
Yes, we boo, loudly and often, and many times directed more at our own team than the opponents. But what should that tell you about us? That we're unappreciative? Or that we care? Go to any college or pro football game where a normally good team does more poorly than expected and you'll hear boos. Go to any game where a normally bad team plays poorly and you'll hear dead silence. The faithful crowd's probably been beaten down all season and sees no reason to give voice to any kind of sensation unless something good happens. They just don't care.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Weight Loss Motivation - Where Does Yours Come From?
When it comes to losing weight it seems like the only way you are successful is if you have some powerful weight loss motivation. Just kind of wanting to lose weight doesn't seem to get the job done. Weight loss motivation can come in many different forms but let's take a look at three of the main weigh loss motivations we run into.
The first weight loss motivation is a particular event. People often try to lose some weight before their wedding or a high school reunion. There are many different programs on the market that will help get you to your ideal weight for a particular event as long as the amount of weight you want to lose is reasonable for the amount of time you have to lose that weight. These weight loss doctor philadelphia products and your attitude may not be a great combination for long-term weight loss. If you focus was on the event then your motivation to stay that size might be gone with the passing of time.
The second weight loss motivation people have is to get their loved ones off of their back. Whether your husband doesn't like your post-pregnancy body or your children are telling you that you are too unhealthy, you are trying to lose weight to make other people happy. Sometimes when your weight loss motivation is to please others, you actually lose weight and are happy with the results. Most of the time; however, you lose weight until they quit talking about it and then the weight comes back on.
The final weight loss motivation is self-motivation. You want to lose weight to please only yourself. If someone else is happy about it, that is just a bonus. Maybe you realize how unhealthy being overweight is and you don't want to burden your family with the cost of being overweight. Maybe you are looking at health concerns that you would rather not deal with and weight loss is the answer. It might even be that you are just ready to be a smaller size. Whatever your personal reason is for wanting to lose weight, it is the only true weight loss motivation that will keep you on track for long-term weight management.
Once you have had an issue with your weight, it will most likely always be a problem. That doesn't mean that you will always be overweight or have your weight yo-yo. What it does mean is that your weight loss motivation will have to become motivation to remain in a certain weight range. The scale will always be part of your bathroom decor and you will need to visit it regularly to keep yourself from gaining too much weight and ending up where you started. It really requires a lifestyle change instead of diet products. If you are ready to make a change in your life you can seek out the right plan for you and since you have the right weight loss motivation you will be successful.
About the Author:
Brenda Hess is a successful teacher and coach. She has dedicated years of her life to the research and implementation of weight loss. She knows how to help you find your weight loss motivation and succeed. For a FREE weight loss report please go HERE
Weight loss is a personal journey that can get you great rewards. If you are ready for your journey visit here to get your confidential help. Life is too short to be unhappy!
The first weight loss motivation is a particular event. People often try to lose some weight before their wedding or a high school reunion. There are many different programs on the market that will help get you to your ideal weight for a particular event as long as the amount of weight you want to lose is reasonable for the amount of time you have to lose that weight. These weight loss doctor philadelphia products and your attitude may not be a great combination for long-term weight loss. If you focus was on the event then your motivation to stay that size might be gone with the passing of time.
The second weight loss motivation people have is to get their loved ones off of their back. Whether your husband doesn't like your post-pregnancy body or your children are telling you that you are too unhealthy, you are trying to lose weight to make other people happy. Sometimes when your weight loss motivation is to please others, you actually lose weight and are happy with the results. Most of the time; however, you lose weight until they quit talking about it and then the weight comes back on.
The final weight loss motivation is self-motivation. You want to lose weight to please only yourself. If someone else is happy about it, that is just a bonus. Maybe you realize how unhealthy being overweight is and you don't want to burden your family with the cost of being overweight. Maybe you are looking at health concerns that you would rather not deal with and weight loss is the answer. It might even be that you are just ready to be a smaller size. Whatever your personal reason is for wanting to lose weight, it is the only true weight loss motivation that will keep you on track for long-term weight management.
Once you have had an issue with your weight, it will most likely always be a problem. That doesn't mean that you will always be overweight or have your weight yo-yo. What it does mean is that your weight loss motivation will have to become motivation to remain in a certain weight range. The scale will always be part of your bathroom decor and you will need to visit it regularly to keep yourself from gaining too much weight and ending up where you started. It really requires a lifestyle change instead of diet products. If you are ready to make a change in your life you can seek out the right plan for you and since you have the right weight loss motivation you will be successful.
About the Author:
Brenda Hess is a successful teacher and coach. She has dedicated years of her life to the research and implementation of weight loss. She knows how to help you find your weight loss motivation and succeed. For a FREE weight loss report please go HERE
Weight loss is a personal journey that can get you great rewards. If you are ready for your journey visit here to get your confidential help. Life is too short to be unhappy!
Monday, June 1, 2015
Volatile prices at gas pumps give drivers whiplash
Oct. 24, 2013: Gas prices drop to $3.17 at a Marathon station in Kokomo, Ind. (AP)
NEW YORK - Local gasoline prices are swinging up and down ever more drastically, a result of a national fuel system that is operating with a shrinking margin for error.
Jumps of 20 cents per gallon or more in a single day are becoming more common, for example, according to an AP analysis of daily and weekly price changes at 120,000 U.S. gasoline stations tracked by GasBuddy.com. Sixty-three times this year at least one U.S. metro area has seen such a change. Like the 24-cent increase Decatur, Ill. drivers saw on Jan. 26, or the 24-cent increase in Superior, Wis. on April 30, and the 28-cent increase in Henderson, Ky. on Sept. 19.
Not since 2008 have there been so many 20-cent changes. Last year those happened 58 times. In 2011 they happened just 21 times, and in 2010 just 7 times.
"There's more and more feast or famine," says Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service and GasBuddy.com.
The problem, analysts say, is a fuel system increasingly vulnerable to short-term shocks. That's because refiners try to keep stocks of gasoline low to save money, just as other manufacturers aim to operate on a "just-in-time" inventory schedule. The nation has about 26 days' worth of gasoline demand in storage, compared with 30 to 40 days' worth during much of the 1980's and 1990's, according to the Energy Department. Also, there are 143 operating refineries, about half the total from 1980, so, if one has a problem, supplies quickly drop.
That price whiplash has a cost. Spikes in gasoline prices are more damaging to the economy than a slow rise in prices because they undermine consumer confidence, economists say. Drivers may be pleasantly surprised when prices slide lower, like they have recently -- the national average is at $3.28, its lowest level of the year. But they don't know when the price might bounce back up, and increases are almost always sharper than decreases. That makes it harder to budget for the daily commute, or know whether dinner out or a new appliance will be affordable.
These dramatic local price swings are happening despite relatively stable oil prices and a national average gasoline price that has hovered around $3.50 per gallon for three years. In 2008, the last time local prices were this volatile, oil spiked to $145 a barrel in July, then plunged below $40 in late December as the global financial crisis sent energy markets reeling. The national average gasoline price ranged from $1.62 to $4.11 a gallon.
Nowhere is it more frustrating to buy gas than in Kokomo, Ind., a flat, unassuming blue collar city surrounded by farmland 45 miles north of Indianapolis that regularly sees 10-cent or 20-cent price changes in a single day. On average, the price changes 5 cents there every day and 16 cents every week, the highest in the nation, according to GasBuddy.com.
Jim Brooks, who works at a Chrysler transmission plant in town, does his best to fill up elsewhere. "If I don't have to buy gas in Kokomo, I don't," he said recently at Manjas Marathon station in Kokomo during a lunch break. He bought a soda and some chips, but not gasoline.
Gas station owners set their prices based on how much it cost to buy the last shipment of wholesale gasoline, how much the next shipment will cost, and what competitors are doing. Stations typically make very little on gasoline, because they set the price as low as possible to attract people into their more profitable convenience stores.
The price they pay for wholesale gasoline is determined by deals between refiners and distributors that are usually based on benchmarks set on exchanges, such as the New York Mercantile Exchange.
When supplies are quick to rise or fall, it means more of what frustrates drivers: Gasoline prices that seem to jump around a few cents every time they fill up, for no rhyme or reason. This year 57 U.S. metro areas have averaged price changes of at least a dime over a week. Last year just 38 cities did, and in 2011 it was just 29 cities.
Volatility is most pronounced in the four neighboring states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Of the biggest 50 one-day swings in gasoline prices over the past three years, 41 were in those four states. Michigan is also plagued by especially high volatility. Flint, Michigan is second only to Kokomo in average daily price changes this year.
Analysts say a major upgrade underway at BP's enormous Whiting Refinery in Northwest Indiana that processes 413,000 barrels of oil per day and serves much of the region is partly to blame. Construction has kept output lower, especially during the first half of 2013.
When output at a local refinery falls, fuel terminals must be filled with gasoline from refineries further away. That raises shipping costs, and it lowers supplies throughout the region.
California was a trouble spot in 2012. Prices spiked there last fall to a record $4.67 per gallon after an Exxon refinery in Southern California briefly lost power at a time when a Chevron refinery in Richmond, Calif. was operating at a lower rate following a fire.
Amy Myers Jaffe, an energy policy expert at the University of California, Davis, suggests that refiners should be required by regulators to keep a minimum level of refined fuel in inventory, as is done in Europe, to help protect against sharp price spikes.
That might help people like Mike Barnett, who spends about $250 a day on fuel for his small business in Kokomo installing underground lines for telecom companies. He puts just a quarter or half a tank of gas in his vans and trucks when the price gets high and then waits for a better deal.
"You just can't come and get gas like you used to," he said.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/02/volatile-prices-at-gas-pumps-give-drivers-whiplash/
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