According to a new study by the National Institute for Health, processed foods (as we've long suspected) cause you to eat more than less-processed foods with equal amounts of calories and nutrition. The study enrolled 20 people whose weight had been stable. This is important because any changes during the study would correlate to the impact of the study on the person's body. The study created two diets, a processed-food diet and a non-processed-food diet. Both diets were similar in the amount of calories, protein, sugar, fiber, etc....

Game of Thrones is on its final season. It has been a long journey. A journey that began back in 2011, more than 70 episodes ago. The show has become so successful because of its close imitation to real life. Almost everyone can relate to one of its many characters; from courageous knights, to the beautiful princesses, to the loyal soldiers, to the caring fathers and mothers, to the manipulating whisperers, etc, etc. There is something for everyone. One of the biggest threats in the show is the...

Since the original movie, Episode IV, was released, millions of kids, and now adults, have fantasied about being a Jedi Knight. Who wouldn't? Lightsabers, the "Elegant Weapons" of Star Wars, are awesome. They are like a Swiss army knife; they can deflect blaster bolts, they can cut through anything, they retract into their power block, and they glow in different colors. What is there to not like? So I was not surprised when I learned about a new sport, Saber laser (Lightsaber is trademarked). A new take on...

Recently I posted the list that psychologists and psychiatrists use to diagnose NPD, or Narcissistic Personality Disorder. I posted it as a reflection on how this diagnosis fits our President so closely and how two of those symptoms or traits scared me (#9 and #10 on the list). Today I want to talk about how #8 can be equally dangerous. As you may know, Congress and the Trump administration (the White House) are currently at war on at least two fronts; Trump's taxes and a copy of the...

NPD, or Narcissistic Personality Disorder, is a diagnosis that has been playing around for a while as related to President Trump. I recall the first time I heard about it during the campaign. It was then, when much noise was made about the legitimacy of a candidate with NPD. Campaigns are weird, ugly, and seldom represent reality. All candidates stand there and try to present an alternative persona of themselves. A persona that will get them elected. For this reason they often promise things they know they cannot...

Everyone knows tacos are the best food in the world, right? OK, maybe I'm exaggerating, but they might as well be. They are small, varied, convenient and cheap. This is specially true if you live in a neighborhood that celebrates Taco Tuesday. On Taco Tuesday, you can find your local taco purveyor supplying these delicious delicatessens at discounted rates, combo'd, with special toppings, or all of the above. Add a nice and refreshing drink along and only a crazy person would think this to be wrong. What is...

The itching began after a long nap. I had finished the last round of antibiotics 3 days prior and I was taking benadryl to slow and dry up my fluids production. I started with the normal adult dosage of 50mg of benadryl and lowered it to a mere 25mg every 6 to 8 hours. Benadryl was doing the trick. My coughing was down to once or twice per day. Though benadryl made me drowsy and sleepy, it was worth it. With no coughing there were no syncopes and...

It was the early hours of Valentine's day, around 1am, when I woke up again for a coughing fit. This was the 4th fit this evening. I had to be thankful, we could have been spending the night at the ER room and though I may have been having fits, I was in my own home and our daughter was sleeping in her bed. Given our ER visit, my wife decided to stay home and make sure I was stable. To say that she's been supportive is an...

It had been raining most of the day and our daughter had gotten her shoes pretty wet. Soaking wet. My doctor had prescribed antibiotics for my cough. She had done x-rays and felt my lungs were clear, but gave me the antibiotics to fight anything that could turn into pneumonia. These would be my second round of antibiotics in as many weeks. The pharmacy called and said they were ready for pick-up. It was 6:30pm and we thought we'd kill two birds with one stone. Get my prescription...

It was a Monday evening when the diagnosis of pertussis was confirmed. The nurse called me and told me that I had come back positive for the bacteria. By now, my wife and I had done enough research that when we found out we were not surprised. But we should have been scared. I should have. The treatment for pertussis is through antibiotics. The earlier you take them, the more effective they are in reducing the symptoms. Unfortunately, I had taken them too late into the life cycle...