Image: Shawn Kelly

It is nothing short of a miracle for blind people to regain their vision and see again, and this may become a reality sooner than you think, thanks to a microchip the size of a small grain – or should we say, thanks to the researchers who spend years on research just to make this happen.

Researchers are exploring the possibility of using microchips to bring back sight for the blind. They are closer to creating a retinal implant that will have the capability of bypassing all the damaged cells and offer visual input directly to the brain.

This eye-implant is meant for people with retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration, which are the two main causes of blindness.  This retinal implant takes complete control of the damaged retinal cells by providing electrical stimulation to the nerve cells that normally carry visual input to the brain from the retina.

This microchip may not be able to restore vision to normalcy but it would help blind people navigate a room or walk down a sidewalk more easily.  Even a blurry picture of their loved one or the ability to maneuver on their own, is a blessing for a completely blind person.

This research is being conducted at MIT by a team consisting of scientists, ophthalmologists and engineers. According to one of the researchers, Shawn Kelly, “Anything that could help them see a little better and let them identify objects and move around a room would be an enormous help.”

Image: Shawn Kelly (Side View)

Patients who received the microchip implant will have to wear special glasses fitted with a tiny camera that sends images to the microchip implanted in the eyeball. The glasses also come with a coil that transmits power to the coils surrounding the eyeball.  When the microchip receives visual information, it activates electrodes that stimulate all the optical nerve cells near the retina that carry signals to the brain, totally bypassing all the damaged layers of the retina.

The one thing that perplexed researchers was to understand the kind of vision this direct electrical stimulation can produce. This research team started to work on answering this question about ten years ago, by fixing electrodes to the retinas of six blind patients for many hours.  On activation of the electrodes, patients could see several “drops of blood” or “clouds,” and this number corresponded exactly with the number of electrodes that were stimulated.  Without this electrical stimulation, the six patients could see nothing.  These tests proved to be a turning point in the research and helped researchers understand that stimulation of the retina does actually produce some vision in blind patients.

This is what motivated researchers to go ahead and create an implantable chip.  Their ultimate goal is to create a chip that would work for at least 10 years.

The road was full of hurdles and researchers had to face several issues trying to come up with an implant and procedure that does not harm the eye.  Initially, they attached the electrodes directly to the top of the retina from inside the eye, but they soon realized that this carried the risk of damaging the delicate retina.  Now, this implant is attached to the outside of the eye instead of inside, and the electrodes are implanted behind the retina.  This location reduces retinal tearing and also does not need extensive invasive surgery.

Human tests have not begun yet and this has only been tested on Yucatan miniature pigs, which have the same sized eyeballs as humans.  They have been implanted in these pigs for about 10 months successfully, and now researchers are ready for human clinical trials.

The prototype is scheduled to be tested in blind patients within the next three years.

This latest quest of MIT will be of interest to thousands of people like Rob Spence, who is a Canadian film maker.  He has been looking to put a tiny wireless video camera into his empty right eye socket, in order to see the world around him.  A retinal implant may just prove to be the perfect solution for him and many others like him.

The most important thing for blind people is to be able to recognize faces.  Kelly says, “If they can recognize faces of people in a room, that brings them into the social environment as opposed to sitting there waiting for someone to talk to them.”  Hopefully, millions of blind people will be able to very soon.

Image by Nicola Vernizzi

One of the main fears we all have is the loss of teeth as we grow older and our teeth wear out, because human teeth do not grow back. When humans lose their baby teeth, permanent teeth grow in their place, but when these permanent teeth are lost, they are gone for good.  Tooth loss causes difficulty with chewing, causes oral disease, disfigures the face and leads to speech problems.

The only options we have are that of dentures or tooth implants; where an artificial tooth root is fixed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth in place.

Worry no more, say researchers!  Soon, you may be able to go to your dentist and get new teeth – grown to order – in your own mouth.

Latest research on growing new teeth

Researchers have made major advances and grew a new mouse tooth.  Human teeth come next!  They are hugely excited about this, as this is a major step in bioengineering, and they hope this will lead them to human organ generation someday.

Mice, unlike sharks do not grow new teeth if a tooth is completely removed; although their frontal teeth continue to grow.  But now scientists managed to grow a new tooth in a mouse by using stem cells.

In dental biology, the presence of dental epithelial stem cells in continuously growing teeth has been recently discovered.  It was seen that the niche for these adult stem cells is formed at the apical end in tooth development. The new concept is that the eternal tooth buds are formed at the apical end in the development of continuously growing teeth.

Researchers found that a single gene seems to be responsible for preventing growth of new teeth in species limited with one set of teeth, and they bred mice without that particular gene (Osr2).  Removing the Osr2 gene resulted in a cleft palate, a common birth defect where both the halves of the roof of the mouth do not join properly, and leave a gap.  Another thing that happened was that the mice grew extra teeth next to their first molars, like sharks and other non-mammals.

Apart from finding the growth of extra teeth outside of the normal row, researchers also found that removal of the Osr2 gene also helped them come up with a theory of how teeth are formed in such perfect alignment with one another without forming too close, with the exception of the wisdom teeth (third molars) that usually form too close and are pulled to create space.

Researchers at the Tokyo University, conducting this study bioengineered a tooth germ – a seed that contains cells from a mouse embryo. This contained genetic instructions “to build a tooth,” and then transplanted this “tooth germ” into the jawbones of adult mice, in the empty tooth sockets.

Results of the research

The result astounded them – new teeth grew from the bioengineered tissue through the gums, just as an original one would.  After eleven weeks, once the tooth matured, it looked and felt the same as a natural tooth.  The best part is that the mice could eat with the new teeth as perfectly as they did with their natural teeth. The teeth have also been seen to develop nerve fibers that could feel pain.

Dr. Fei Liu, a researcher at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the Texas A&M Medical Science Center said that the research provides convincing proof that teeth grown through bioengineering can be perfectly functional.

Who will benefit?

This development could prove to be a blessing for people with malformed teeth or with a cleft palate.

According to Dr. Elsas, from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, “Tooth regeneration could be useful particularly in infant malformations such as cleft lip and palate, and other malformations involving teeth and bone of the oral cavity.”

How about generating teeth as replacements for synthetic implants or inlays?

As good as that sounds, researchers say there is a problem with generation of teeth in humans.  They have not yet found the cells needed to start the tooth generation process in humans.  They hope that soon they may be able to use a person’s own cells without having to use cells from embryos.

I’m sure today’s baby boomers are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that researchers find a solution soon.

The worst thing about taking steroids and the reason for so many side effects is that they are mostly taken without any supervision from a qualified physician. Not only does this irresponsible use of steroids lead to serious health problems but also in some cases, death.

FDA Warning To Consumers

Recently, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to consumers that products being marketed specifically for body building and claim to contain steroids or steroid-like substances, were not reviewed or approved by the FDA and can be potentially harmful.

These products are sold both in retail as well as online. They are promoted as hormone products or as alternatives to anabolic steroids to increase strength and muscle mass. The manufacturers make these products seem genuine by labeling them as dietary supplements, which they are NOT. They contain synthetic steroids or steroid like ingredients and are also not effective in most cases. In fact, they can be potentially harmful but the products are sold with misleading labels with no clear directions of use. This means they are in effect, illegally marketed.

Dangerous Body Building Products In The Market

In their warning letter, FDA listed a few body building products that are not considered safe. These products are either marketed as anabolic steroids or as similar to anabolic steroids:

• TREN-Xtreme
• MASS Xtreme
• ESTRO Xtreme
• AH-89-Xtreme
• HMG Xtreme
• MMA-3 Xtreme
• VNS-9 Xtreme
• TT-40-Xtreme

FDA received several reports of people; especially men between the ages 20 and 55, having suffered from liver injury, pulmonary embolism, kidney failure or stroke.

Major Health Problems Caused

Many people may be unaware of the fact that products containing anabolic steroids have the potential to cause acute liver injury. They may also cause several long-term health problems not only in men but women and children too, such as male infertility due to decreased sperm count, production of abnormal sperm, decrease in natural testosterone production, shrinkage of the testes, male breast enlargement, adverse changes in blood lipid levels, short stature in children and increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

In women, the side effects of steroids are slightly different and affect the woman’s hormonal system. It leads to masculinity in women, thickening of the vocal cords resulting in a deeper male voice, facial hair growth, enlargement of the clitoris, male pattern baldness, breast shrinkage, infertility, menstrual irregularities and the unfortunate thing is that most of these effects are irreversible.

While most of the negative effects can be reversed with the discontinuation of steroids, there are some irreversible effects like the impairment of the immune system, which is usually not detected until after the usage is stopped. Anabolic steroids could even cause the development of various cancers.

The FDA is also in the process of finding other such products in the market and has even issued a search warrant to American Cellular Laboratories Inc., which markets many of these unapproved new misbranded products.

Symptoms

Due to the potential for extremely serious health risks, if someone is on these products, it helps to be aware of the symptoms. The main symptoms are nausea, fever, weakness or fatigue, chest pain, abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, shortness of breath or change in urine color.

Body Builders And Athletes

Athletes often use these products to improve sports performance and also to recover from training and other events. What many of them are not aware of is that in young athletes involved in either body building or some other sport, these steroids will cause an early end to bone growth and limit the final body height.

Both men and women body builders on anabolic steroids experience increased aggression, altered libido, rage reactions, psychosis, depression, mania, anxiety, panic disorders and many other addictions.

Recently, a decade long study was completed and the results send a chill up the spine. Most of these body building products where they claim to have used anabolic steroids have not actually used steroids, but other prescription drugs that are far more dangerous than the actual steroids. We have seen the side effects of steroids, which can at times be lethal, but these are worse.

It is surprising that with so much information on anabolic steroids pertaining to the health issues and legal implications available, it is seen that many professionals fall for the false claims made by the product manufacturers and continue to use them. This problem is widespread and needs to be controlled. The bottom line is to avoid taking steroids. It is possible to build a body and build lean muscle the healthy way.

How can you tell if a diet is the real deal or a scam? If the diet makes one of these following claims, you can be sure it’s too good to be true.

1.    Eat whatever you want!—We’ve all seen those commercials for weight loss pills that claim you can eat whatever you want—burgers, pizza, fries, ice cream, etc.—and still lose weight by popping these pills. Supposedly, these pills work to block fat and carbs from absorbing into your body. Unfortunately, there’s absolutely no evidence to support these claims, and the only thing you can be sure you’ll get when you take these weight loss pills is a severe stomach cramp.

2.    Get the body you want without exercise!—This diet is designed to appeal to the couch potato. Don’t feel like getting up and being active? Don’t worry! This diet will help you get the body of a professional athlete without lifting a finger. Actually, it won’t. And if you believe it will, I have a bridge I want to sell you.

3.    Drink this to lose weight!—Every few years, you’ll see an herbal tea diet pop up. The makers of the drink will claim that drinking the tea will help you quickly lose your gut. The truth is these teas can help you drop a few pounds quickly. That’s because they’re diuretics. Unfortunately, as soon as you drink a glass of water, that weight will come right back. That said, there’s nothing wrong with replacing sodas and sugary drinks with a good herbal tea, but don’t expect it to be a miracle diet drink.

4.    Wear this diet patch to burn fat away!—People wear the patch to stop smoking so a diet patch must work, right? Wrong. Slapping a patch on your arm is not going to help you magically drop 20 pounds. First, there are no studies that show the chemicals in a diet patch can effectively penetrate the skin. Secondly, diet patches contain the same things you find in ineffective diet pills. Lastly, diet patches have never been shown to help someone lose weight. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

5.    Put these in your shoes and lose weight!—Another long running diet scam is weight loss orthotics. Supposedly, you simply slip the orthotics into your shoes, and as you walk around normally throughout your day, these help you to lose weight. In fact, one major company just came out with a shoe based on this premise. Again, there are no shortcuts to losing weight. Wearing a special shoe isn’t going to yield the results you could get by changing your diet and exercising regularly.

Tips for avoiding diet scams:

•    If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is

•    There is no substitute for eating right and exercising regularly

•    Free trials are almost always scams

I was browsing a weight loss forum the other day and read a post by a woman who is overweight and loves it – because her face looks healthy and glows when she is plump and it doesn’t look as attractive when she loses a few pounds.

What can you say to such people? The reason for this line of thinking is because most people don’t really know the numerous problems that excess fat in the body causes.  For most, it is just an appearance issue.  What they don’t seem to understand is that overweight is a medical concern and can seriously affect their health.

We read of the many health problems associated with overweight.  They are arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, fatty liver, sleep apnea, asthma, high blood pressure, gallstones, mood, depression and energy levels, all of which impact the quality of life.

If you’re thinking, you know it all, you cannot be more wrong.  I thought I knew everything until I read an article in the news.  I always worried about gaining weight and the possibility of diabetes, which could lead to kidney failure or some such horrible problem.

But what I read was scary and it is sure to motivate you to keep the bulge at bay from now on.

Scientists who are involved in researching problems associated with weight are of the opinion that there’s something more dangerous and critical happening inside our body; especially in one of the main organs of our body – our brain.

They have found that excess of body fat can lead to shrinkage of the brain, making us much more vulnerable to cognitive problems, and possibly dementia.  Such people are at increased risk of memory problems, visual or sensory disturbances, inattention, problem solving, gait problems or speech difficulties among others.

In our society, the incidence of Alzheimer’s has been on the increase for many years and this is attributed to the stress we encounter in every aspect of our lives, at home and at work.  Mental health decline is by and large the scariest as it leaves people at the mercy of others.

As part of the study, 94 elderly people who did not have dementia or other cognitive impairments were followed for five years.  It was seen that the brains of overweight people looked eight years older and those of obese people were 16 years older when compared to their leaner peers.  People with a larger body mass index had smaller brains because they had less brain tissue.  Most of the lost tissue was in the frontal and temporal lobes, which are important for planning and memory.

It’s early days yet to really know whether this would surely lead to dementia, but a smaller brain is indicative of destructive processes and there is the increased risk of Alzheimer’s, according to researchers.

Scientists say the reason for the shrinkage could be because excess body weight increases the possibility of clogged arteries, thus reducing blood supply to the brain cells, resulting in brain cell death and shrinkage of the brain.

According to a professor of neurosurgery and director of the University of South Florida Center for Aging and Brain Repair in Tampa, “We all lose some tissue as we get older and they’re saying this is being accelerated.”

This is said to be the first study of its kind showing physical evidence in our brains that links obesity and overweight with cognitive decline.

Unfortunately, we are part of the “obesity epidemic,” and this is a problem that affects all age groups, including kids. Statistics reveal that more than 60 million Americans are now obese, while another 36 percent come under the overweight category.

It’s time to understand that obesity affects every organ of our body and everything within our body is linked.  We are what we eat.

We’ve ravaged our body and all it has to offer, and the time for reparation is now. What happened to the concept of balance in everything?  Yes, including food.

Haven’t we seen our grandparents and parents suffer from Dementia? I hope we learn the lesson while we still can.

These two factors have for long troubled all those who dread growing old – the graying of hair and the wrinkling of skin.

For the first time, researchers have been able to fully analyze the molecular mechanics that lead to the discoloration of hair and identify genes responsible for changes in our skin.

The Secret Of Gray Hair

Scientists discovered that the chemical hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is also known as a bleaching agent and is produced during metabolism in small quantities all over the body including the hair, is responsible for the graying. The presence of this chemical in the hair obstructs the production of melanin, which is the color pigment that gives color to the hair.

As we age, there is a build-up of hydrogen peroxide in hair. This happens due to the body’s inability to break up this chemical into its constituents, oxygen and water, because of a shortage of the enzyme catalase – also a victim of the ageing process. This shortage of catalase, in turn, obstructs the functioning of another important enzyme, so much so that melanin is no longer produced. With this, a general domino effect comes into play, resulting in the gradual loss of pigment all along the entire length of the hair – from the root to the tip.

Scientists from the University of Mainz in Germany and the University of Bradford in Britain, working together in this research have laid the foundation for a future therapy against graying hair, in the form of a tablet or an ointment that can make up for the shortage of catalase.

The results of this research are also expected to improve treatment of other pigment problems, like leucoderma or vitiligo.

Ironing Out Wrinkles

Beauty is gene deep! Scientists finally claim to have found the culprits – 1,500 genes – that control the length of time we can retain our youthful looks.

Not too long ago, this sort of a breakthrough was unthinkable, as it was considered an almost impossible task to ascertain the relationship between the functions of hundreds of genes involved. However, the techniques that were used to collect and analyze huge amounts of genetic data for the Human Genome project have helped researchers solve this problem.

The Human Genome project is a 2 billion pound global effort to decipher human DNA – to try and analyze one of the deepest mysteries of the beauty industry: why some people age faster than others.

Principal scientist in the global biotechnology division of P&G Beauty, says, “The human genome project has made it possible for us to analyze aging right down to the hundreds of genetic changes that happen in our skin as we get older.”

Our skin ages in eight different ways, each controlled by its own “battalion” of genes.

One of the pathways for aging and the most important is hydration. It is through this process that the skin collects and retains its moisture levels. Moisture is absorbed by the skin with the help of molecules that bind water into the skin. These molecules are produced by a certain type of genes. As skin ages, the genes that produce these molecules become less active, thus because of the reduction in molecules, the ability to retain water in the skin reduces, leading to wrinkles. Previously, this process was thought to be fairly simple but researchers have found that up to 700 genes could be responsible for this process.

Another pathway involves collagen, which is a molecule produced by the skin to give strength and structure. Researchers found that as people age, the genes that destroy collagen become extremely active, which in turn causes the development of lines and wrinkles on the skin. About 40 genes may be responsible for this process.

A third pathway is inflammation. This process is said to involve 400 genes that become overactive with age.

This research shows how complex genetic interactivity is. Researchers have also confirmed that there are wide variations between people in terms of genetic resilience to aging. The importance of exposure to environmental factors, such as sunshine is also revealed. In aged skin that has not been much exposed to the sun, there were found to be about 3,800 genetic mutations; while in skin that has been exposed to the sun, they were about 10,000.

It is ironic how the human genome project results are a great help to the beauty industry, which is sure to make thousands of older people happy. We may in the near future have the capability to retain our youth with soft and younger looking skin and no graying of hair.

Imagine never having to go through the pain of dying your hair again or using all that makeup to cover the wrinkles.  I know for sure, these are two areas where the results of further research will be eagerly awaited by all.

Researchers revealed that one of the main reasons for the heart problems such as long-term heart failure, irreversible heart injury from coronary artery disease, heart muscle disease and multiple heart attacks is the bad food we consume.

An analysis conducted recently involved studying more than 200 studies involving millions of people, done by researchers throughout the years. Archives of Internal Medicine recently published the results of this analysis, which shows us that what we have gained in terms of knowledge in this area is not much. The analysis delves deep into the details of each and every study and provides explanation of the procedures that were followed by the researchers and how these studies were rated.

Vegetables, Nuts and Mediterranean Diet

The final analysis revealed that only three dietary factors have been proven to fight heart disease; a diet rich in vegetables, nuts rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (walnuts and others) and the Mediterranean diet. These foods are listed by researchers in the “good” heart foods list. The “bad” heart foods list consisted of starchy carbohydrates like white bread and the trans fats present in many of those yummy cookies and French fries we so love to snack on.

Mediterranean diet has always been touted as extremely beneficial and is said to reduce the risk of heart disease – rich in vegetables, whole grains, nuts, olive oil, cheese, legumes, yogurt and fish in comparison with a diet filled with red meat, processed meats, high fat and refined grains which forms the Western diet. Western diet also causes an increase in blood sugar levels due to the high glycemic index foods, such as pasta, bread and rice. All those processed baked and fried foods are high in trans-fatty acids. This analysis further emphasises the positive effects of the Mediterranean diet on our hearts.

Question Mark Foods

This analysis reveals a shorter list of foods that are good for the heart and a large grey area was found, which researchers call the “question mark” list, which obviously means researchers could not reach a conclusion whether these foods are good or bad. Eggs, milk, meat and many other foods take their place in this “unsure” list due to lack of strong evidence of their effect on our hearts.

They say that the criteria developed by the late British scientist, Austin Bradford Hill, were used in these studies. He is the famous scientist who has the distinction of establishing a link between smoking and lung cancer, which helped save millions of people worldwide. Following this criteria, researchers collected the results of multiple studies on a certain food or diet and rated the strength of evidence behind the claims and when a certain food showed a strong link with better heart health, they put that food or diet at the top of the list. The lower the food is on the list, the more harmful it is for heart health.

Heart Health

Remember, we are talking about heart health here. With various health advocates espousing different ways of eating and suggesting that eating certain foods can kill us, it can be quite scary and confusing for the consumers. Experts associated with this study suggest that this study should reduce the confusion over what to eat, because this is a large-scale analysis evaluating 50 years of research. In this context, study co-author, Dr. Sonia Anand from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario says, “I do research. I also buy groceries for my family every week and hope this study decreases the confusion around what we should eat and what we shouldn’t eat.”

Experts also advice consumers not to tear up their grocery lists based on these findings. Eating a variety of foods is more important than what exactly you are eating. You certainly don’t have to lose sleep over eating a burger or French fries at the movies. Just eat more of the good foods!

Here are some tips to keep the noggin feeling young and fresh.

1.    Hit the gym—Many scientists believe physical exercise is the single most important factor to maintaining your mental health. This is because exercise stimulates blood flow to the brain; proper circulation is key to keeping your mind stimulated and operating at its full potential. Exercise can even promote cell growth in the brain, and it keeps you alert.

2.    Challenge your mind—Just because you’re no longer in school doesn’t mean you should stop learning. The second you stop challenging your brain is the second you start the mental decline process. Challenge your mind by learning a new language, reading books regularly, or even learning how to play a musical instrument. Think of this as exercise for your brain. Routine brain exercise leads to a stronger, healthier mind.

3.    Be a healthy eater—Eating junk food doesn’t just make you physically unhealthy, it hampers your mental function too. A diet rich in brain foods will give your mind the nutrients it needs to develop properly and to fight off age-related mental decline. A few good brain foods are blueberries, broccoli, coffee, and avocados.

4.    Manage your stress—Did you know stress can actually damage healthy brain cells? Not only that, when you’re stressed, you can’t focus as well as you normally can. Furthermore, stress unchecked can turn to depression and other serious health issues.

5.    Get plenty of rest—For your brain to function properly, it needs to get “recharged” every night. If you don’t get enough sleep, your brain will lack sharpness. That being said, make sure you don’t oversleep as too much sleep can be just as harmful.

6.    Don’t be a loner—Having friends is important for several reasons. First, the verbal interaction is essential to keeping your mind sharp. Communication causes you to think and solve problems on your feet. Furthermore, having a strong group of friends helps prevent depression, a common mental health issue.

7.    Mix up your daily routine—Doing the same exact thing day in and day out not only gets boring, but it also allows your brain to go on autopilot. Mix things up. Drive a different route to work. Find a new extracurricular activity to take up. Switching things up will keep your mind active and sharp.

What do you do to keep your mind sharp? Share your favorite tips with us in the replies.

Okay, enough of the sarcasm, let’s get down to business. Which foods have been tricking you into thinking they were good for you? Here are the top 7 culprits.

1.    Granola bars—We’ve all seen the commercials: The super fit mom on her way to work in the morning choosing her oh-so-healthy granola bar over the evil fast food breakfast. Unfortunately, most granola bars are stripped of nearly all their fiber, and they’re often crammed with sugar. Even the healthiest granola bars (the ones that don’t have chocolate chips, sugar frosting, etc.) still have very low levels of protein and fiber.

2.    Fast food salads—As we all are growing more aware of our expanding waistlines, those benevolent folks at the fast food chains are here to help us make healthy eating decisions. No more greasy burgers for you! Now, you can get a nice salad from the drive-thru and feel good about yourself. Until you read this. These salads are full of high-fat dressing, fried meats, croutons, and even sugar. In fact, a Crispy Bacon Ranch Salad at McDonalds has more fat and calories than a Big Mac.

3.    Yogurt cups—Always check the label on yogurt before you buy it. Many (especially those fruit-on-the-bottom ones) are crammed full of sugar. Some contain just as much fat and calories as ice cream.

4.    Fruit juice—Loaded with high fructose corn syrup, most fruit juices are nothing more than an overdose of sugar. Instead, try to make your own fruit juice at home.

5.    Fat-free snacks—Once again, here comes sugar. In order to make ‘low fat” or “fat-free” snacks appetizing, manufacturers load the products with sugar. Always read labels.

6.    Cereal—Are you starting to notice the theme here? More sugar. Even many of the so-called “healthy” cereal options still have too much sugar in them. Don’t be fooled by a cereal box with the “whole grain” label. Check the ingredients: often times, you’ll find that sugar appears far in front of whole grains.

7.    Bagels—Another refined bread product that can increase blood sugar levels excessively. Some experts say a bagel is the equivalent of 6 slices of bread. They are also often very high in calories.

Did any of the foods on this list surprise you?

But what about the ones not approved by the FDA? How safe are they?

What happened recently can question the safety of drugs/supplements not approved by the FDA. FDA told consumers to stop using the weight-loss pills – Hydroxycut. Fourteen of Hydroxycut’s products have been recalled, excluding “Hoodia” and “Cleanse” formulas. Many of these are fat burners, energy enhancers and diet aids.

Here are the recalled products:

× Hydroxycut 24
× Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
× Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
× Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
× Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
× Hydroxycut Carb Control
× Hydroxycut Natural
× Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
× Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
× Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
× Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
× Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
× Hydroxycut Caffeine–Free Rapid Release Caplets
× Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed

Before we go ahead, we must caution you to stay away from all these products and visit a physician, if you have been using them for a long time.

Some of them are said to have the potential to cause jaundice and liver failure. People were asked to stop taking them with immediate effect and to call the doctor if anyone suspects they are affected.

The reason the manufacturer, Lovate Health Sciences had to recall these drugs is because FDA received several reports that these weight-loss pills caused serious health problems, including the death of a 19-year-old man. This death actually occurred in 2007, but it was only reported in 2009. There are also said to be other major health problems associated with Hydroxycut, which include seizures, rhabdomyolysis (muscle damage) that can lead to kidney failure and cardiovascular problems. The previous major recall was in 2007, of an infant cough syrup that was considered dangerous if an overdose was given.

While Hydroxycut is not a pharmaceutical prescription medication and not strictly regulated by the FDA, it has many regulations. What this means is that, Hydroxycut was tested only by private companies contracted by the manufacturer.

Since the products contain many ingredients, experts are not yet able to pinpoint if and any ingredients are responsible. Tests are still going on, the results of which can determine the extent of possible danger of Hydroxycut. Consumers have the right to return the pills they already bought.

The manufacturer issued a statement saying, “While this is a small number of reports relative to the many millions of people who have used Hydroxycut products over the years, out of an abundance of caution and because consumer safety is our top priority, we are voluntarily recalling these Hydroxycut-branded products.”

An industry expert says that the reports of health problems do not as yet prove the cause and effect, as it is just a simple association as of now. He said that they are yet to learn if it is a random occurrence or not.

The sad thing about this whole issue is that the dangers of Hydroxycut were felt as far back as 2005. There were two men who had to be taken to the emergency room with complaints of fever, fatigue, jaundice and vomiting. They were healthy otherwise and have not traveled out of the country, had no other risk factors for liver disease. They were found to have not taken any other over-the-counter or prescription medications other than Hydroxycut. The physicians at Cleveland Clinic Foundation also urged caution in using Hydroxycut, because one of the ingredients in Hydroxycut was not safe.

It may come as a shock that all this was happening in 2005, yet this is recalled only now in 2009. If these negative effects were made public earlier, many people would have been saved from liver injuries resulting from the use of Hydroxycut. The manufacturer, instead of warning the customers, continued to sell them claiming to have used high quality and safe ingredients.

Now the question that is in all our minds is, “Are the other diet pills safe?” This uncertainty can be quite scary.