If you watch tv for only a few minutes, you can't help noticing all the prescription drug commercials. You see all the smiling happy faces, people riding bikes, playing with their kids, in sunny, happy, green Utopian worlds.
Then you see why they are so happy. They are taking this new prescription drug that seemed to solve not just the ailment they were suffering from but all of their other problems too. I have to say that I have never had prescription drugs make me that happy.
Well, maybe some of them did but we won't go there.
Now by law, they have to mention all the possible side effects that are included at no extra charge with these drugs. And it's never just one either. It's a whole laundry list. They often sound worse than the original problem.
But here's the scary part. These are prescription drugs. You can't just run to the store and pick them up. You have to get them prescribed by a doctor.
But normally, if you had a medical condition, you would be seeing a doctor for it anyway. And wouldn't that doctor already prescribe what (in their expert opinion)was best for you?
Well just in case they wouldn't, The pharmaceutical company suggests that you "ask your doctor if their wonder pill is right for you."
So now, just like a kid informing his mom what kind of cereal she should buy at the grocery store,(the one with the most sugar and the cool new prize in it, of course)
patients can now run to their family physician and tell them which drug would be best for their particular problem.
And in many cases, the doctor is willing to oblige.
After the Food and Drug Administration lightened up on their policies in 1997 on Direct To Consumer or DTC ads, pharmaceutical companies have finally been able to do what over-the-counter drugs have done right from the beginning. They have cut out the middle-man and gone straight to the consumer. Currently, the US and New Zealand are the only nations in the world that allow this. Now the patient can almost diagnose their own problems the same way they did with over the counter-drugs.
It is estimated that approximately $2.5 billion a year is spent on DTC Pharmaceutical ads.
Someone has to pay for all this lights, camera action and that person is going to be you and all the other millions of patients that bite on these ads hook, line and sinker and run off to their doctor to get the newest wonder pill.This is especially apparent when you consider that many of these new drugs are protected by a patent and have no generic equivalent.
The bottom line here is that the pharmaceutical company has never met you or examined you in order to determine what is best for your individual needs.By asking your doctor who has done all that, you could probably find a treatment that is right for you at about a third of the price.
But keep in mind that most prescription drugs do not cure the problem (they would stop making money if they did) but merely deal with the symptoms and have nasty side-effects.
More and more people these days are looking into more natural cures that not only eradicate the symptoms but actually work with the body to cure or better yet, eliminate their source and live happier healthier lives with no side-effects in addition to keeping much more money in their pockets.
Then they can actually have the smiles on their faces that match the actors in those pharmaceutical DTC ads.
You can find out more about these natural cures and see what all the buzz is about here: http://www.morenaturalcuresonline.com
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
The Vegetarian Life
. . .So these two cows were standing next to each other in the field. One cow says to the other one: "This Mad Cow Disease I've been hearing about really has me worried."
"Doesn't bother me any." says the other cow. "I'm a toaster" Well I have to say that Mad Cow Disease, hormones, recalled meat and all the other nastiness we've been hearing about lately doesn't bother me that much either because I'm a vegetarian.
I've been a vegetarian for around 20 years now and it feels great. I look younger, feel younger, I have a lot more energy and I save a lot of money.
I find the vegetarian lifestyle to be much healthier. Not only do I avoid all the poisons and diseases that are found in mass produced meat products from time to time butI also avoid all the high risks for digestive problems and an array of cancers.
Plus, keeping fat off is a lot easier too.
What cracks me up is the reaction I get when eating with non-vegetarians.
I don't preach about it. I don't even mention it. but I get these looks from people like I have two heads or something. I get the obligitory sneer and then, "so why don't you eat meat?" or "you must be one of those tree-huggers."
I tend to get a lot of ribbing from my friends as well.
It seems like my being a vegetarian is some kind of attack on them for eating meat.
Other people just wonder how I do it. The idea of not eating meat just doesn't seem possible for them. The biggest hang-up they have is a perceived lack of taste.
This is because when most people think of a vegetarian diet, all that comes to mind is salad. And since meat is such a big part of most diets, it is difficult to get a way from at the grocery store.
But there really is a lot more available than just that.
For instance, if you go into most grocery stores these days, you will find a vegetarian section. Although it is still usually small, you will still find many soy-based meat substitiutes. I have been getting these for quite some time now and they have made many improvements in the taste over the years. They taste very close to the real thing and are a lot healthier. There is veggie steak, chicken, hamburgers and hot dog substitutes. We won't even talk about what they put in real hot dogs.
Soy is low in saturatedand trans fat. It has been found to lower cholesterol, and help prevent heart disease while lowering the risk of colon, prostate and breast cancer.
There are also a wide array of vegetarian recipes available these days now that the vegetarian lifestyle has gained in popularity. Also you can find a great book on the subject here: http://www.morenaturalcuresonline.com/Vegetarian2
In any event, switching to a vegetarian diet can make you a lot healthier, put more money in your pocket and it's easier thatn you think.
"Doesn't bother me any." says the other cow. "I'm a toaster" Well I have to say that Mad Cow Disease, hormones, recalled meat and all the other nastiness we've been hearing about lately doesn't bother me that much either because I'm a vegetarian.
I've been a vegetarian for around 20 years now and it feels great. I look younger, feel younger, I have a lot more energy and I save a lot of money.
I find the vegetarian lifestyle to be much healthier. Not only do I avoid all the poisons and diseases that are found in mass produced meat products from time to time butI also avoid all the high risks for digestive problems and an array of cancers.
Plus, keeping fat off is a lot easier too.
What cracks me up is the reaction I get when eating with non-vegetarians.
I don't preach about it. I don't even mention it. but I get these looks from people like I have two heads or something. I get the obligitory sneer and then, "so why don't you eat meat?" or "you must be one of those tree-huggers."
I tend to get a lot of ribbing from my friends as well.
It seems like my being a vegetarian is some kind of attack on them for eating meat.
Other people just wonder how I do it. The idea of not eating meat just doesn't seem possible for them. The biggest hang-up they have is a perceived lack of taste.
This is because when most people think of a vegetarian diet, all that comes to mind is salad. And since meat is such a big part of most diets, it is difficult to get a way from at the grocery store.
But there really is a lot more available than just that.
For instance, if you go into most grocery stores these days, you will find a vegetarian section. Although it is still usually small, you will still find many soy-based meat substitiutes. I have been getting these for quite some time now and they have made many improvements in the taste over the years. They taste very close to the real thing and are a lot healthier. There is veggie steak, chicken, hamburgers and hot dog substitutes. We won't even talk about what they put in real hot dogs.
Soy is low in saturatedand trans fat. It has been found to lower cholesterol, and help prevent heart disease while lowering the risk of colon, prostate and breast cancer.
There are also a wide array of vegetarian recipes available these days now that the vegetarian lifestyle has gained in popularity. Also you can find a great book on the subject here: http://www.morenaturalcuresonline.com/Vegetarian2
In any event, switching to a vegetarian diet can make you a lot healthier, put more money in your pocket and it's easier thatn you think.
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