The article by Dr. Richard Garden in the fall 2006 Correct Care (Volume 20 Issue 4) titled Pandemic Flu: Planning for the “What If” is an excellent overview of the concerns and issues that will face the correctional healthcare industry when pandemic flu strikes. In fact the only point on which I can disagree with Dr. Garden is in the title. It is not “if” but “when” the pandemic will occur. History over the last three centuries has taught us that novel avian pandemic flu occurs every 91 years (plus or minus 3.5 years for antigenic drift). Given that the last major pandemic was the 1917/1918 Spanish flu this means that we can expect a pandemic flu outbreak between 2006 and 2013.

It is a mathematical certainty.

I must compliment Dr. Garden on being the only other physician that I have heard discussing the impact on the healthcare workforce in accurate terms. He is absolutely correct that up to 50 percent of the workforce may not report to duty. The reasons are well demonstrated in the history of pandemics.

The true impact of this disease lies in the numbers. In 1918 100 percent of the entire world was exposed to what would later be called the Spanish Flu. This new strain of avian flu had never been encountered before by a human population, and as a result, there was no immunity to this particular strain. Of that world population, one third would ultimately fall ill, in fact, 50 to 80 percent of the youngest, healthiest, and strongest would fall ill when future generations would divide out the victims.

Of those that fell ill, half ultimately required some assisted care. They were placed in infirmaries or makeshift hospitals in warehouses, wharfs, and military barracks. In today’s world, they would qualify for hospital care or home health nursing.

Of those hospitals and infirmaries, half suffer extreme respiratory difficulties as their lungs filled with fluid and blood, the result of their own bodies’ counterattack on the viral invasion. Coughing and frothing at the mouth, occasionally spitting up blood, these individuals would have a disease that today’s medical professionals call ARDS, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. In the modern medical age, these patients would have a plastic tube placed into their lungs to assist their breathing and a ventilator would force air in and out of their lungs. Half of the ARDS patients 1918 died.

But it’s not percentages, but real numbers that portend the severity of this disease. There are over 300 million people in the United States and over 6 billion worldwide.

One third of those will fall ill. One hundred million here at home and two billion across the planet.

Half of those individuals will qualify for hospitalization. Unfortunately, in a survey performed by the American Hospital Association in 2005, there are only 955,768 hospital beds in the United States, far short of the 50 million that would be needed. To make this situation work, at the peak of cold and flu season in 2005, only four percent of these hospital beds were available and unoccupied. That means that there will be fewer than 40,000 hospital beds available for this onslaught of 50 million patients.

Of the 50 million patients who qualify for hospitalization, half or more will need ventilators. Dr. Michael Olsterholm in a New England Journal of Medicine article in 2004 found that there were only 105,000 ventilators in the United States. Of these, a high percentage were either already in use for chronic ventilator-dependent patients such as small children and spinal cord patients, or were out of service for cleaning and repair, leaving just over 16,000 ventilators available nationwide to help 25 million flu related ARDS victims breathe.

Of the 25 million with ADRS, with or without ventilator care, half would be expected to die. This 12.5 million people will pass away in waves as pandemic influenza spread over a span of only 12 to 18 months.

Now, admittedly, these are the most dire numbers. The pandemic flu could prove to be far less deadly, far less contagious. On the other hand, H5N1 has already proven to be a formidable foe with death rates initially greater than 70 percent and now still hovering around 50 percent.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have given optimistic sounding percentages but as the old adage goes, the “devil is in the details”. Let’s look at the percentages and the details.

* One third of 100 percent is 33 percent.

-This is the “attack rate”.

* Half of 33 percent is 16.5 percent.

-This is the number of people who qualify for hospitalization, but the CDC knows that in the event of a pandemic, only the most sick will actually be placed in the hospital. Clearly the most sick will be those with ARDS.

* Half of 16.5 percent is 8.25 percent.

-These are the sickest of the sick, those with ARDS. Rounded off, this is 8 percent, the number that the CDC says to expect for hospitalization.

* Half of 8 percent is 4 percent.

-This is the expected death rate predicted by the CDC.

The “devil in the details” is that these percentages are based on “the total population.” Physicians, medical planners, and other pundits usually discuss percentages based on “those with the flu”. We are not talking about “those with the flu” we are talking about a number three times that size.

When these ominous numbers were scrutinized further, a far more dire picture evolved. Research into the 1918 pandemic, as well as pandemics before and since 1918, have shown that the majority of illness and death occurred not in the very old or the very young, not in the sick and infirm, but in those who are in the “prime of life”; those age 18 to 40.

But there is a bigger problem for Correctional Medicine.

Because of the way that novel avian viruses (pandemics) attack the lungs and cause “immune system storms”, the ultimate irony of a pandemic is that the younger and stronger you are the more likely you are to die. In 1918 fully two-thirds of all those who became ill were in the age range of 18 to 40. More distressing is the fact that 98 percent of all of those who died were age 18 to 40 years. In fact, those over age 55 had no greater rate of illness or death during the pandemic of 1918 than they did in any other flu season in the years immediately before or after that great pandemic. Similarly, those less than 18 years of age suffered no increase in death rate.

The implications for America’s correctional institutions are inescapable. Fully two-thirds of the active workforce will fall ill during the 16 to 18 months of the disease throughout the pandemic. Twenty-five percent of the young workforce (the 18 to 40 years) will die in that 18 months. Who will replace them?

Dr. Garden is also correct that correctional institutions as well as the disabled and children have not been considered in local, regional or state pandemic planning. In fact they are barely mentioned even in federal planning. As Dr. Garden points out it will be up to the correctional institutions and specifically correctional healthcare to contact State Homeland Security representatives as well as federal agencies and become part of the plan.

In June of 2006 the Institute of Medicine published reports on the state of preparedness but pointed out that even emergency services had been left out of much planning. Even the Institute of Medicine did not mention the fact that institutional medicine including correctional healthcare are not even mentioned in these plans.

It is imperative that healthcare professionals of all stripes become expert not only in pandemic planning but in the “All Hazards” approach to disaster and catastrophic event planning. Whether it is a pandemic, a hurricane, an earthquake, a forest fire, or a terrorist event that threatens the community in which a correctional institution exists, bitter experience has taught us that concentrations of individuals living in institutional settings whether in prisons, military barracks or university dormitories become the “cave canaries” of society.

In 1918 Spanish flu outbreaks, which actually began in Kansas, were first seen in epidemic form in U.S. military barracks. The outbreaks of measles in the 1980s were first seen in university dormitories across the United States. And the largest concentrations of the recurrence of tuberculosis, as we all know, is seen in correctional institutions.

In the same issue (Volume 20 Issue 4), Dr. Scott Savage reviews medications that he believes every institution should have for pandemic flu planning. His insightful article disclosed that Dr. Savage is not only a skilled director and physician but has a great understanding of the all hazards approach.

While writing his article specifically for pandemic flu planning with a title that would suggest a review of antiviral medications, Dr. Savage correctly links pandemic flu planning for the greater need for overall disaster planning based on mechanism of injury. In short, Dr. Scott Savage is introducing an “All Hazards” approach to disaster planning in the correctional healthcare industry.

As Dr. Savage clearly knows, disaster is when needs exceed resources and his article provides a basic list of resources that will help stave off disaster in a correctional healthcare institution. His list of medications covers the waterfront for first responders and the all critical 72 hours of a disaster.

Whether it is Dr. Savage’s extensive military training or his experience in disaster medicine, Dr. Savage’s article displays and understanding of the fact that like all aspects of healthcare, corrections medicine must not only plan for a pandemic but for all 14 mechanisms of injury in the case of an adverse event with the intention of preventing that adversity from becoming a full fledged disaster.

Resilience is when you have sufficient resources to prevent needs from exceeding those resources. By following Dr. Savage’s advice, corrections healthcare professionals will take a giant leap towards resilience.

Dr. Garden, Dr. Savage and the editorial staff of Correct Care are to be complimented for publishing some of the few articles to consider planning for the impact of the coming pandemic not only on our patients but on our colleagues and our society.

Kudos!

People suffering from lymphedema may experience cellulitis at some point in their lives and many would say that it is the worst nightmare that any lymphedema patient can face. Numerous causes could prompt an attack of cellulitis, ranging from a small cut or bruise to an insect bite or sunburn. The treatment may involve a strong dosage of antibiotics and even a stay in the hospital for 8-10 days. Almost all patients make a full recovery with the proper treatment, but if the problem is ignored, it could have serious consequences.

Cellulitis is a skin infection that is caused by a pathogen and lymphedema patients are prone to the infection because their immune system has slowed down. The initial signs that the person notices are redness, increased body temperature, chills, pain and swelling. Generally, the patient describes ‘flu-like’ symptoms. Red patches and streaks on the skin are known as erythema and the warm skin sensations are described as hyperthermia. The person may have a high fever with chills. Loss of appetite, irritability, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, nausea and vomiting are some of the other indications of cellulitis lymphedema patients.

The symptoms of cellulitis must not be ignored, especially by people suffering from lymphedema. The doctor must be consulted and treatment started immediately. A 10-day course of antibiotics usually helps to clear up the infection. Till the cellulitis clears up, the patient is required to avoid the lymphoedema therapy like manual lymph drainage or massage. The compression garment should not be worn, but the affected limb should be kept elevated for fluid movement in the right direction.

You know the moment when you feel a subtle shift in your body that tells you you’ve been invaded? That moment when you know it’s not just a little cold? There’s just that little letdown in your energy level with no apparent cause. But somehow, it feels BIG. It’s the dreaded flu.

This past spring, during late March / early April, I faced the worst case of flu I’d had in years. I’ll never know if it didn’t also include a mild case of pneumonia; there were times when my lungs were so congested I couldn’t get enough oxygen and panic arose. It was with a mixture of embarrassment, elation, and trepidation that I contemplated the flu virus’ relentless rampage through my shocked body.

Embarrassment because I had just taught my special seminar, ‘Do-It-Yourself Detox for Health, Beauty, and Vitality’ and here I was sick. One of my Rolfing clients who took the seminar couldn’t understand why I was sick; that was not allowed – only an impostor would teach such a class then become ill. I neglected to tell her that though my fever averaged 103 degrees, I was able to do all my physical conditioning exercises for an hour each day, then hike in the mountainous woods behind my house for another hour (slept and drank liquids the rest of the time). It was partly due to the wonderful celery drink I had every morning while I was sick that I was able to remain active. It gave me a lift that made me feel able to do some exercise. By the way, it is a great drink to have on a regular basis. My husband and I drink it most mornings before having anything to eat.

The elation stemmed from the fact that due to some immune challenges over the previous years, my body hadn’t had the capacity to spike a really good fever. The precipitous rise in temperature was a welcome sign that my body was gearing up for a knock-down-drag-out fight with a flu virus that was replicating at warp speed.

The trepidation was because I was scheduled to give a presentation at the Northampton Whole Health Expo. Though I could work out and hike, my lungs and bronchi were so congested I could barely talk above a whisper, and if I did, was likely to end up hacking and wheezing. The day of my Expo talk, I was still not sure I could talk very well. I still had a fever, but was on the way to recovery, and figured my flu was no longer contagious.

Though I had a voice that sounded like a distant foghorn, I gave the presentation with great gusto. Within reach at all times was my ‘Magic Celery Drink.’ Every so often, I took a swig. That elixir saved the day. My lecture attendees enjoyed the presentation. Among their gifts for attending was the ‘Magic Celery Drink’ recipe.

Here it is:

‘Magic Celery Drink’

*This enzyme and mineral-rich drink is a great immune system booster, and a fabulous way to start your day with a shot of vibrant energy. It should be used immediately after preparing for greatest benefit. (However, the lemon and ginger seem to help it maintain its integrity longer than other fresh juice cocktails, as my Expo experience proved)It is ideal to drink ‘Magic Celery Drink’ on an empty stomach in the morning, though it can be enjoyed almost any time.

*If you are new to juicing and detoxing, you might want to go easy on the garlic, ginger, and cayenne at first. Since the garlic and ginger are excellent herbs for the immune system and circulation, they contribute greatly to the effectiveness of this drink, but use discretion when deciding how much to use.

*Please use organic ingredients – toxins contained in non-organic fruits and vegetables can become more concentrated when you juice them.

- juice of large slice of lemon OR juice of 1/4 lime
- pinch of Celtic sea salt
- fresh ginger to taste (1/2 “x 1/2″ chunk is good)
- med clove garlic
- 3-6 large stalks celery
- 1/4 – 1/2 of a sweet, flavorful variety of apple, such as Honeycrisp, Empire or Braeburn, cut to fit in juicer
- pinch of stevia extract to taste, if desired. *The best-tasting stevia extract I’ve ever tasted is made by KAL. You can find it at Whole Foods Market in Hadley.

Optional:
- To increase the immune-enhancing benefits of this powerful drink, you might want to add some Buffered C powder – 1 gram (1/4 tsp) is a good amount. I like the Buffered C made from cassava root, by Allergy Research Group.
- You can juice some fennel bulb and stalks along with the celery and apple. Fennel will add its aromatic licorice flavor, and is good for digestion.

You Can Make ‘Magic Celery Drink’ With a Juicer (ideally) or a blender.

* If you have a juicer, squeeze lemon into the container that will receive the juice, and add a bit of Celtic sea salt. Juice the rest of the ingredients into the container with the salt and lemon juice. Start by juicing the garlic and ginger, then the apple and celery.

* If you don’t have a juicer, you can use a blender. Put about 12 oz of water into the blender, and squeeze lemon into the water. Add the salt. The apple, ginger and garlic will need to be grated. Chop the celery stalks into little pieces. Add these items to the water in the blender. Add cayenne and stevia. Blend until contents are liquefied fine, then pour the blended contents through a strainer, press the rest of the liquid out of the pulp after it drains, and drink. If you are making cooked vegetable broth, toss the pulp into the pot with the other ingredients.

* CELERY contains all four electrolyte minerals – natural sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. The stress of illness, and lack of appetite when one has flu and fever can drain these essential minerals from the body. Celery juice will help maintain electrolyte levels. It also has a mild diuretic effect. Celery contains eight different families of anticancer compounds, such as pthalides and plyacetylenes, that detoxify carcinogens, especially cigarette smoke. Celery is also a traditional Vietnamese remedy for high blood pressure.

* LEMON contains Vit C and bioflavinoids that are important for healthy connective tissue

* APPLE lowers cholesterol and risk for cancer. Has mild antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory estrogenic activity.

* GINGER promotes good digestion, improves circulation, helps lower blood pressure, reduce blood clotting, and prevent dizziness. Also is reputed to have anti-inflammatory qualities.

* FENNEL is very high in Vit C and potassium, also has some anti-inflammatory benefits.

* GARLIC is antibacterial, anti viral, anti fungal. Beneficial for blood lipid balance, thins the blood for better circulation.

* CAYENNE PEPPER is the premier herb for normalizing blood pressure and improving circulation. It acts as a ‘lead herb,’ facilitating better absorption of other herbs and nutrients.

* STEVIA inhibits the growth of bacteria in the mouth that cause tooth decay and gum disease, helps to balance blood sugar, and has a tonic effect which increases alertness and mental acuity.

To improve your health and support your immune system, enjoy ‘Magic Celery Drink’ often!

Lungs are part of the body, responsible for breathing. Lung cancer is caused by abnormal cells that grow into a malignant tumor. The factors that cause lung cancer are many.

Personal and family history of a person are two aspects that may cause lung cancer. Smoking is one of the primary reasons for growth of cancerous cells. History of chain smoking may increase chances of contracting this dreaded disease. It is also possible to be at risk even if not a smoker. Passive smokers are also susceptible to this disease.

Persons above the age of 40 are more liable to be afflicted with cancer. Though it is not a rule and there are enough younger people also who have been afflicted by this disease. People who are exposed to air pollution have to be especially careful and observe for tell tale signs of lung cancer.

Family history of lung cancer increases risks to the disease. It is therefore important to keep updated about the symptoms and causes of the disease. Sometimes the symptoms can be as simple as a cough or fatigue. At times it can be more complicated as a swelling in the throat or difficulty in breathing or swallowing. It is essential to keep tab on personal medical history to help in early detection of the disease.

Lung cancer is a disease that is difficult to detect. Usually it is in the later stages that doctors can actually detect the seriousness of the disease. Treatment for lung cancer is a tedious process. Advanced stages of lung cancer may require a combination of treatments to cure it. Chances of total cure are reduced, if the disease spreads to other parts of the body.

Due to its hereditary factor, children or relatives of lung cancer affected patients should take extra care to get checked regularly and rule out possibility of getting the disease. Regular exercise and a diet with low fat with high fiber content can reduce chances of getting the disease. It would be beneficial to quit smoking and stick to moderate consumption of alcohol.

Week 25 of pregnancy is an exciting one for baby, who begins to look more like the newborn that will emerge in a few months.

By week 25 of pregnancy, the baby has grown to weigh about one and one half pounds and measures about 13 and one half inches long. The big news is that fat is beginning to fill out the baby’s wrinkled skin, giving him or her the cuddly appearance that most parents imagine. This process will continue over the next few weeks. The baby also has more hair than ever before, and the hair texture and color can be clearly determined.

The mother might also notice changes to her hair. Many women report having fuller, more luscious hair during pregnancy as a result of increasing hormones. Unfortunately, this pleasant side effect will not last after the baby is born. Lack of balance also becomes more common this week, since the uterus has grown to the size of a soccer ball. It is okay to continue exercising, but mothers-to-be should use caution and proceed slowly. Women should not engage in contact sports or in any exercises where they are required to lie on their backs. More importantly, they must listen to their bodies and stop immediately if something does not feel right.

During week 25 of pregnancy, many women also receive a blood test to screen for anemia. Iron-deficiency is the most common type of anemia. If it is diagnosed, the doctor will most likely recommend taking an iron supplement for the duration of the pregnancy.

Canine flu is a relatively new strain of the influenza virus. It is thought to have originated from equine flu, which passed to Greyhounds and mutated into what is now a canine specific form of the virus. The questions for all dog owners are: Is my dog susceptible? What are the symptoms? And how can it be treated?

Is my Dog Susceptible to Canine Flu?

Since 2004, when canine flu first appeared, all dogs have been susceptible to it. However, as with any virus or disease, some people and animals are at a greater risk than others. As can be expected, older dogs, those with underlying health problems or an infection that compromises the immune system are more likely to contract the virus. In addition, dogs in these groups are likely to be affected badly by the virus and may contract secondary infections.

So, how does the virus spread? Well, as with all forms of influenza, the virus is passed from one animal to another. Therefore, your dog is at a greater risk of catching canine flu if he, or she, spends a lot of time in dog parks, kennels or veterinary surgeries. The virus can also be transferred by using the same food or water bowls as an infected dog. Alternatively, flu can be passed from one dog to another by human touch. Therefore, if you have handled a dog that appears unwell, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly.

Although it is currently believed that humans cannot contract canine flu, influenza viruses are constantly mutating, so, in time, it is not out of the realms of possibility that canine flu will effect humans. Currently though, we humans only need to worry about spreading the virus between dogs.

What are the Symptoms of Canine Flu?

Canine flu presents similarly to all other forms of the influenza virus. However, it is worth looking for subtle signs, as dogs may not appear ‘unwell’ until they are very sick. Symptoms that you may notice include:
Lack of appetite A runny nose Cough Fever Lassitude

Of course, these symptoms can also be a sign of kennel cough. However, in either case, it is wise to seek the assistance of a vet.

What is the Treatment for Canine Flu?

In most cases, dog flu is no different from flu in humans and will therefore pass within a few days to a week. However, as mentioned above, if your dog is already unwell or is elderly, there is a danger of contracting pneumonia, which could be fatal. Therefore, a large proportion of treatment for canine flu is guarding against secondary infection. This may mean a course of antibiotics and will almost certainly mean keeping the dog away from possible sources of infection, for example contact with other animals.

Other than that, treating canine flu is similar to treating human flu, it is simple a case of keeping the patient comfortable, rested and well-hydrated. Consequently, in the vast majority of cases a vaccine is unnecessary.

The canine flu vaccine has only been approved since 2009. It is given in the form of two injections, which must be administered three weeks apart. Unfortunately, this vaccine cannot prevent the infection of flu, but it will reduce the severity of the virus’ affects.

At this time, The American Veterinary Medical Association does not advice vaccination in all dogs. Typically, it is only dogs that are at a greater risk, due to an already compromised immune system or those that are travelling to an infected area that are offered the vaccination. Therefore, if you think your dog may be particularly susceptible to flu and its affects, you should seek the advice of your vet.

Arthritis herbal cures have been increasingly used to minimize if not eliminate altogether the symptoms of arthritis than relying on just diet. This does in no way minimize the importance of maintaining a diet that is high in green leafy vegetables and low in acidity and animal products. This article will focus on a supplementing your dietary routine with the top five herbs that will assist you in providing an effective arthritis herbal cure.

Top 5 Herbs For Eliminating Arthritis

The following is a list of the top five herbal ingredients for relieving arthritis symptoms along with their areas of applicability.

Chaparral (Larrea Divaricata) and Burdock (Arctium Lappa)

-Assists in reducing or minimizing the condition of excess fluids or water in the body.

Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum Procumbens), Burdock, and Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga Racemosa)

-Assists in minimizing inflammation.

Sassafras (Sassafras Albidum) and Black Cohosh

-Promotes the sweating response which assists in eliminating toxins from the joints and tendons Black

Cohosh and Ginger (Zingiber Officinale)

-Assists with spasms and pain due to their antispasmodic properties.

Prickly Ash (Xanthoxylum Americanum) and Ginger

-Assists in minimizing or eliminating blockages by increasing circulation.

Best Arthritis Herbal Cure Recipe

If you find the following arthritis herbal cure recipe to be too bitter then simply add 1 unit of Licorice Root. You can almost get the same effect by taking the most bitter herbal ingredient “Chaparral Leaf” in capsule form and removing it from the recipe. All of the following herbs can be purchased in capsule form, simmered in hot water and then sipped.

- Devil’s Claw root (2 units)

- Chaparral Leaf (4 units)

- Dried Ginger root (2 units)

- Sassafras root bark (2 units)

- Black Cohosh root (1 unit)

- Prickly Ash bark (1 unit)

- Burdock root (1 unit)

Conclusion

This article has briefly touched on the top five herbal ingredients that can be used in herbal arthritis cures. The recipe mentioned here has been used to assist in minimizing or eliminating arthritic conditions. When they are utilized in the correctly prescribed manner they can all be used as an effective arthritis herbal cure.

Weakness, dysfunction, and irregular formation of the hip joints, also known as Dysplacia is a growing concern amongst virtually every breed of dog. Particularly in larger breeds, weak and displaced hip joints are common. Hip Dysplasia is a congenital, or inherited condition that is usually impossible to detect it younger dogs. While more common in males than females, certain breeds tend to have a higher risk. German shepherds and retrievers will have a much higher risk for developing this condition.

The symptoms while difficult to detect in younger pups, will begin showing signs at about the one-year mark. Some of the symptoms will include difficulty getting up from a laying position, trouble climbing stairs, inability to stand straight to prolonged periods, and difficulty walking straight. Some dogs with this condition are able to overcome naturally when the leg muscles and tendons start to increase in strength and their ability to hold the hip joint in place.

Since this is a congenital condition, dogs affected by weak joints are normally not fit for breeding. Though it is still likely that they can live full and healthy lives whilst overcoming this disability. Golden Retrievers in particular will experience this condition, especially later in life. Some will not even begin to show signs and till about four to five years old. Because the ball and socket joint do not fit together properly, the resulting friction can eventually cause pain and severe arthritis.

A common result will be to develop arthritis and severe inflammation of the hip joint in their older years. Veterinarians can prescribe certain medications as to reduce the pain and swelling and add to your dogs quality of life. Options for surgery are also available, but should only be considered for extremely serious cases. For many breeds, particularly the larger breeds the signs that they are in pain will not be obvious. Your only clue will be to observe and notice how they move and how easily they are able to make simple motions such as standing up from a laying position.

There are some circumstances, such as rapid and irregular growth which can contribute to the severity of Displacya. Keeping control of their weight and general fitness is essential to combat the debilitating effects of this condition. Frequent veterinary checkups and consultation will be required. With proper checkups, medication, and therapy, your dog can live a long and fulfilling life.

Low-Carb Diets, such as the Atkins Diet and the South Beach Diet, can be extremely effective for fat loss and weight control. You’ve no doubt known or heard of someone going on a low-carb diet and dropping 10 pounds or more in a week. Low-carb diets are very popular for their rapid results. Who wouldn’t want fast results like this?!

As popular and effective as low-carb diets are, how can there possibly be a significant downturn in the low-carb diet’s popularity? After all, aren’t low-carb diets supposed to allow people to eat as much low-carb food as they want still lose weight?

Low-carb backlash (people turning against low-carb dieting) and low-carb diet failure is a reality and I’m going to tell you the reasons why. Before I do, I want to make one thing perfectly clear: I believe low-carb diets do have their place in nutritional science. They can be a very valuable dietary strategy and can be very effective for fat loss. I actually incorporate proper low-carb eating into my fat loss program “Metabolic Surge – Rapid Fat Loss!” It’s the misinformation and bandwagon profiteering currently becoming associated with low-carb diets that really create the problems we’re seeing now with low-carb diets.

1. Manufactured Low-Carb Junk Foods Are Sabotaging Low-Carb Diets

One of the major reasons people used to lose so much weight on low-carb diets was that there was a very limited selection of foods to choose from. These foods (like fish, meats, poultry, salads, vegetables, etc.) are primarily unprocessed and natural.

Enter: big business. Spying the chance to make a profit, big food manufacturers (and even little ones) saw a way to create a whole new market for themselves in the form of manufactured low-carb foods. Out came the low-carb cookies, cakes, chips and desserts. Basically, all the garbage foods that a person wasn’t previously allowed to eat on a low-carb diet suddenly became available to eat again.

So we’re right back to square one with people eating junk food. The problem is, now people think they can eat as much of it as they want because it’s “low-carb!” If this sounds to you like the “I can eat all the ice cream I want because it’s zero fat” attitude commonly found with low-fat foods, you’re absolutely right.

Just because a food is “low-carb” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for you or that you can eat as much of it as you want. It’s most likely not going to be low-calorie and don’t be fooled…even on a low-carb diet, calories do count. If you take in more calories than you burn, you’re not going to lose fat, you’re going to gain it.

The next time you’re at the grocery store, look at the nutritional information on the label of a low-carb food package, specifically serving size. One small low-carb cookie could give you 10 grams of carbs with another 10 grams in sugar alcohol. The person who is buying low-carb cookies to satisfy their craving for carb foods is not going to eat just one cookie. A few cookies later, they’ve eaten their entire carb allotment for the day and what nutritional redemption do they have to show for it (and creme-filled goodness doesn’t count)!

With the current tremendous availability of low-carb junk food, a person doesn’t have to eat fish, meat, eggs, salads and vegetables, which should be the focus of a low-carb diet. They can eat the same garbage that got them fat in the first place.

This is one of the main reasons low-carb diets are starting to fail and why there is a growing resentment towards low-carb dieting. Unknowingly, people have undermined their dieting efforts by supporting food manufacturers who make highly-processed, low-carb junk food. People want to believe that they can continue to eat the same foods they’re comfortable with and still lose fat.

The problem is, you just can’t keep doing the same things you’re doing and expect different results.

As an aside, not only are these foods sabotaging low-carb diets, they actually cost a lot more than their normal counterparts (I’ve seen a small loaf of low-carb bread for six dollars)! People are paying more money for products that are screwing up their diets.

2. Too Much Emphasis on Unhealthy, High-Calorie, Fatty, Low-Carb Foods

A low-carb diet is not a “bacon and butter diet.” A low-carb diet is not a “sausage and Diet Coke diet.” Granted, the fat in these foods is not as much of a problem when eating low-carb, but you should NOT base your eating habits on preservative-loaded, saturated-fat-packed, high-sodium foods. Just because you CAN eat them doesn’t mean you SHOULD.

Dr. Atkins, in his diet program, actually discourages overuse of foods like this. He focuses more on unprocessed meats, fish, poultry, eggs, salads and vegetables, etc., rather than the bacon, butter and sausage. The general public seems to only get the sound-bite message from the “don’t-confuse-us-with-the-facts” popular media, which is “eat all the bacon and butter you want and still lose weight.” This is not and should not be the focus of any low-carb diet.

Why is eating fatty foods like bacon and sausage contributing to a downturn in low-carb dieting? Because when it comes right down to it, these foods will never be healthy and should not be consumed in quantity. Not only are they full of saturated fat and preservatives, the high fat levels mean they are very high in calories. As I mentioned before, calories do count, even on a low-carb diet. If you take in more calories than you burn (which can easily happen when you eat 500 calories worth of bacon for breakfast) you’re not going to lose, you’re going to gain.

3. Turns Out Carbs Are Not Actually Evil

Carbs are everywhere. They’re in many of the foods we love to eat. They’re also in many of the very nutritious foods we SHOULD be eating. There is no denying that the human body is designed to efficiently use carbs for energy. Carbs are NOT inherently evil nor do all carbs need to be avoided like the plague.

The problem most people have with carbs is that they eat the wrong types of carbs. Enriched, pulverized, processed, sugary carbs are the carbs people have fattened themselves up on for years. These are the carbs that should be avoided and/or minimized.

Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are not the problem. They contain nutrients that are extremely important to the body and contribute to health and athletic performance. Look to high fructose corn syrup and enriched white flour and you’ll find the source of the problem.

Most people truly WANT to eat carbs and SHOULD eat (proper) carbs, which makes it that much harder to stick to a low-carb diet. This is another major reason we’re seeing resentment towards the low-carb lifestyle.

4. Missing Nutrients

The low-carb diet is a very unbalanced diet. Only eating from certain food groups will catch up with a person in the long run (potassium deficiency can be a BIG problem with low-carb diets). The body functions best when fed a variety of healthy foods and people on low-carb diets should be very careful to be sure they’re getting enough varied nutrition. Unfortunately, as we know, most people aren’t that careful.

If what you’re eating is not giving your body the nutrition it needs, it will let you know. You will get strong cravings for the foods you’re missing and you may even develop nutrient deficiencies. Not a good situation. For most people, a diet that can leave you vulnerable like this, if you’re not careful, is not going to be effective in the long run.

If you are currently on a low-carb diet, be absolutely sure you are at the very least taking a good multivitamin!

5. Sugar Alcohol – The Great Pretender

Sugar alcohols simply DO NOT exist in nature in the quantities found in low-carb foods these days. When a body ingests a large amount of a substance it’s not familiar with in large quantities, what’s its reaction? Bingo – flush it out the other end as quickly as possible.

In fact, if you read the small print on some of the foods that contain sugar alcohols (such as maltitol and sorbitol), you’ll see a little notice that reads: “Warning: excess consumption of this product may have a laxative effect.”

Maybe it’s just me but in my opinion, unless you’re eating something like prunes where you know what you’re getting into, the foods you eat shouldn’t have a laxative effect (and “laxative effect” is the nicest way of putting it!). This reaction is the body’s way of saying something is not supposed to be there.

Another point is this: foods that contain sugar alcohol also contain calories, which need to be accounted for in a fat-loss diet. Even though the “impact carb” count may be low, those non-impact carbs still have calories [the term "impact carb" only refers to carbs that affect insulin levels in the body] that can make you fat if you eat too many. You may be looking at a low-carb bar that contains 200 calories yet has only 1 gram of “impact” carbs! Those calories have to go somewhere.

You can just imagine there being resentment towards a diet that has you eating foods that have you sitting on the toilet half the day. You’ll lose weight, certainly, but it’s not going to be how you thought. Move over Olestra!

6. The Dreaded Low-Carb Plateau

What is the main reason people go on a low-carb diet in the first place? Results. So what happens when the results slow down and stop? That major motivation for being on the low-carb diet in the first place is gone.

If you’re on a diet that is not only not working but is actually uncomfortable, expensive and, depending on how you’re doing it, unhealthy, chances are you’re not going to stick it with very long.

And this is what we’re seeing quite a lot of. People are making the mistakes that I’ve outlined here by eating manufactured low-carb foods filled with sugar alcohol. They’re missing carbs (and the nutrients associated with carbs) both mentally and physically. Their results are slowing down and stopping.

A significant downturn in the popularity of low-carb dieting is on the way and, unfortunately, it’s leaving a lot of people more confused than ever about how and what to eat to lose fat and stay healthy.

My advice to you: if you’re on a low-carb diet, leave the low-carb manufactured foods on the shelf and focus on unprocessed, natural foods. If you’re not on a low-carb diet, do the same thing! Regardless of what type of diet you’re on, a focus on foods that are unprocessed and closer to their natural state will help you burn fat and keep your body healthy.

Mesotherapy is not exactly a natural cellulite cure, but then again, it isn’t really surgery either. The best way to describe a mesotherapy treatment is by associating it with a flu shot or injection — Because in reality, that is all it really is; an anti-cellulite “shot” given to you with a mesotherapy gun.

Mesotherapy treatment is a rather uncomplicated & hassle free procedure. You don’t have to stay overnight in a hospital and you won’t have any scaring or “down time” after the procedure is completed. As a matter of fact, most patients can go home the very same day, within just hours of the treatment.

“Uh, you still haven’t said what happens? How is the cellulite removal actually performed?” Generally, the masotherapist, with the help of their trusty mesotherapy gun, will administer an injection to a cellulite plagued area. The chemical compound contained within the gun will be injected directly into the fat beneath the skin and dispersed into the area. Within a short period of time, the compound will begin to break up & melt away the cellulite — thereby allowing it to be flushed out of the body through the bowels and kidneys. As the mesotherapy treatment injections gradually continue, total cellulite removal is virtually guaranteed.

“What is in mesotherapy injections?” The exact cellulite eliminating concoction differs from person to person and from area to area, and it also depends on the masotherapist performing the procedure. But generally, the ingredients included are a combination of cellulite fighting vitamins, minerals, and medications.