Soy: Friend or Foe?

Remember when soy or soya was the wonder food of the 90s? In the form of tofu or bean curd, it was purported to be the perfect protein source without the bad health effects of meat, plus low in fat and calories. And for those who were lactose intolerant, especially little babies, soy milk was a god-sent milk substitute that was both protein-rich and healthy. For vegetarians, soy and soy products were the perfect substitute for meat and dairy products. In addition to its health benefits, soy and soy products were cheap and easily available. Even government health agencies such as the US FDA went so far as to allow soy food labeling with health claims on the association between soy protein and the reduced risk of coronary heart disease.

ExerGames: Not Just Another Health Craze!

Active video games otherwise known as Exergames (exercise + games) are being touted as the ultimate cure for obesity. Refreshing, since everyone is still looking for that magic diet pill! In contrast to traditional video games, this "active entertainmentgaming system allows players to experience various activities (e.g., bowling, fishing, tennis, golf) in a virtual world" or "even take a walk or run along streets facing obstacles." In exergaming, hand controllers are eliminated and the body is used to power the game. One of the first exergames was Konami's Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), which was released in 1998.

Medical Errors: Are We in Safe Hands?

Part One of a three part series 'Is Our HealthCare System Safe?' Mistakes are not something that we usually associate with the medical field. But medical mistakes do happen mainly because medical professionals are only humans who can err. In medical terms, they are called iatrogenic events, defined as unintended harm or suffering caused by health care. Medical mistakes are usually something that people associate with health care in developing and low-income countries where they lack the right infrastructure and trained personnel. The fact is, a lot of medical mix ups and mistakes in hospitals and clinics occur all over the world, including Europe and North America. One gets to wonder how many medical misadventures go unreported!