Pine Nuts may leave bitter taste...

What is that bitter taste? Maybe it was those pine nuts you ate - San Jose Mercury News

I've had that bitter taste but did not associate it with pine nuts... next time I will look back at what I've eaten. I wonder if other foods can cause this?

I've heard of metal poisoning causes a bad taste, and have experience a bitter taste after taking Flagyl (yuck!).

See also wrongdiagnosis.com's list of causes of a bitter taste, which include insect bites.

Pain Relievers May Cause Hearing Loss

The new study by researchers at the Channing Laboratory and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston published in the most recent issue of the American Journal of Medicine suggests that men under 50, in particular, who took acetaminophen two or more times weekly showed more than twice the risk for hearing loss when compared to men who are not regular pill poppers.

The active ingredient in Tylenol and numerous other OTC painkillers, acetaminophen wasn't the only culprit. The study also showed that men under 50 who regularly took non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such asibuprofen -- the active ingredient in Advil and Motrin, also had an increased risk or hearing loss. Aspirin users had about a third increased risk.

Read the rest here

Necator americanus

Sounds almost patriotic: Necator Americanus. Unfortunately the name refers to a parasite, a species of hookworm that infests people.

When a laboratory sent test results to my doctor saying that I have this parasite, I was taken aback. I always associated hookworm with barefoot children walking in mud in warm climates. I don't fit that profile at all.

I looked up hookworm on Wikipedia and other sites and did not find that I was wrong, except that hookworm used to be common in temperate climates such as in Virginia. But I don't go barefoot except at the beach, and the last time I went to a beach was one time in August. I really don't know how I contracted this parasite!

The doctor prescribed medication which I took as directed. It works 80% of the time, so I don't know whether it worked for me. I guess I'll be retested somewhere down the road.

Birth Control that Doesn't Work is Given Positive Spin

Good grief! A study shows that the difference between condoms and withdrawal is 1% to 2% as far as preventing pregnancy, and goes on as though that makes withdrawal a smart choice! People, a difference of a percent or two does matter!

Quote: "in perfect use -- meaning the man pulls out every time -- withdrawal has a 4 percent failure rate, as compared to condoms, which have a 2 percent failure rate. " Four percent in perfect use doesn't sound good too me! I'd want a failure of less than one percent. And in real life use, the failure rates for these methods are 17 and 18 %. Whoa! No wonder there are so many kids!

If your brakes failed 17% of the time, you wouldn't drive the car, at least not for long because you'd wind up in a wreck. Even a 1% failure would be an unacceptable risk.

It amazes me that birth control has progressed so little over the last 50 years. We have methods that fail a lot and methods that are risky because of side effects. That's the way it's been since I was a teen and that's still how it is.

When Does Human Life Begin?

This is an ancient and important question. People try to debate the ethics of abortion but how can they have an intelligent discussion when there is no agreement on precisely when human life begins. Sure, there are philosophical opinions and religious ideas but those are not facts.

I came across a fairly full discussion of this question at Development Biology Online. Read it if you want to be prepared for any sort of argument over abortion. Points that stand out for me include:

• At week 5 the first neurons begin to appear
• At 7.5 weeks the embryo displays its first reflexes in response to stimulus
• Around week 8 the embryo has a basic three-neuron circuit
• Not until around 20 weeks is the completion of the development of the thalamus, a region of the brain which enables the integration of the nervous system.

If you are concerned about causing pain, you might support an early abortion but not a later one. I'm not seeking to start an argument but it's something to think about.

Truvia Post Draws 50 Comments

The post on Truvia and gastric distress has had 50 comments to date. I still don't know why so many people have had a reaction to the product. I suspect that my personal unpleasant experience was due to the erythritol but it could also be due to the unspecified "natural sweeteners."

Since writing the original post, I have discovered that I no longer tolerate significant quantities of fructose. This is a huge challenge in planning meals. I will ask the doctor to test me for fructose intolerance.

Anyway, here is what Cargill says about erythritol:

"Erythritol is an all-natural, non-caloric sweetener, used as an ingredient that provides bulk for the tabletop form of Truvia™ rebiana. Bulking agents are additives that increase the bulk and contribute to the texture of a food. Erythritol has been part of the human diet for thousands of years as it is present in fruits such as pears, melons and grapes, as well as foods such as mushrooms and fermentation-derived foods such as wine, soy sauce and cheese. It is added to foods and beverages to provide sweetness, as well as to enhance taste and texture."

I don't tolerate any of the foods mentioned very well, so I guess I should have done more research before trying something that contained erythritol. Fermented products are a problem for many of us who have allergies to yeast and mold.

Also, the online FAQ for Truvia gives this evasive answer to a question about what are the natural flavors in the product:

"Natural flavors are used to bring out the best of Truvia™'s natural sweetener, like pepper or salt or any other spice that would be used to heighten the taste of food."

Huh, that tells me nothing. Must have been written by a political speechwriter!

Click to Help

The Child Health Site provides help for children in need and all you have to do is Click.

Another place where your click makes a donation is Click to Help Haiti. These sites work because they have advertisers who pay for donations in return for internet exposure.

The Endobarrier May Reverse Diabetes and Obesity

An amazing medical device is being tested and shows great promise as a non-surgical alternative for weight-loss surgery: The Endobarrier Gastrointestinal Liner. Read about it and see what you think.

I'm a bit put-off by the fact that it's inserted through the mouth, but that's much safer than surgery. Also, the photo suggests a lengthy cellophane condom topped by barbed wire... they really need a better illustration!