Upwards of 80% of the antibiotics used in the U.S. are given to factory farm animals. The FDA asked for a voluntary reduction of antibiotics. Now, there's word that superbugs are being created because of all the antibiotics.

It's an issue worth considering. I'm sure we will be hearing much more about this in the future.

The study of the day states: Sitting less could extend your life. One observation in the article: Sitting is a dangerous risk factor for early death, on par with smoking and being obese.

It frequently happens, researchers and reporters miss the point. 

I'm much more interested in quality of life. So, my question: On a daily basis, how is your back? Upwards of 80% of the population experience back pain. I was one of them and I did something about it. 

Here's a simple solution. 

1. Since many of us sit at desk for many hours during the day, a good desk chair is important. Most office chairs are horrible. Before I purchased a new chair, I came home every night with an achy back. Once the new chair was purchased, the achy back syndrome disappeared. 

2. Get a good bed. It makes a huge difference.

3. If your car does not provide a good lumbar support, purchase one (a lumbar support, not a new car).

Of  course, diet and exercise also play an important role.

How do I know this works? At the age of 47, my doc told me that I have the back of an 85-year-old (ain't got no discs). Ten years later, I have no back pain.

By the way, this cartoon is my take on most research.

I will definitely be making the portobello mushroom pizza.

That's one of my mantras. After reading this headline - '7 Habits' author Stephen Covey dies after cycling accident - that thought came to mind.

Whether it's biking, running, or any other activity, safety should be a pre-requisite. In my case, I was contemplating running another marathon. I ran one about 20-years ago. After getting up to about 10-miles, my back would be hurting. Long-story, short, I backed off the idea of running another marathon. 

No doubt, for health, a marathon is not necessary. So, whatever activity you are involved with, be sure to do it safely.

I usually purchase the Chobani plain yogurt. Choose a brand that you like. I mix the fruit with the yogurt in the blender. It works great with bananas, nectarines, and peaches. When blended, it brings out a  tremendous amount of sweetness. Of course, you can try it with any of the berries too. For extra crunch, I add my Uncle Sam cereal. 

This makes for a great snack or meal.

You wouldn’t think of watering a plant with soda. – Michelle Obama 

Two important points from the article:

Wholesome, nutritious foods have the opposite effect (of junk food). Among their many virtues, they minimize the number of calories it takes to feel full, due to many attributes, among them: high volume, high fiber, low-glycemic index/load, nutrient density, energy dilution, flavor simplicity, etc.

So the quality of calories we consume can affect the quantity. This should be welcome news in our ongoing struggles with portion control. If all sources of calories felt the same, the only way to shrink our portions would be to eat less than we now do—presumably less than we want—and to be hungry all the time. Making higher quality food choices offers us means to feel full on fewer calories, and to get thin without feeling hungry. 

Read the entire article.

He comes with a lot of credentials. He's the Director of the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity.

By the way, I do not want any tax on soda. My message: Drink water.

If you eat and drink this, you'll have to do a lot of running to burn it off. Welcome to The Main Street Diet.

After reading this headline: GlaxoSmithKline settles fraud case for $3 billion, I went to GlaxoSmithKline website. This blog post title is its greeting.

It's unbelievable what these drug manufacturers do ... pay off doctors, promote drugs that have not been FDA approved and more.

It makes me happy that my mantra and website is: 
NoAchesNoPainsNoMedsNoDocs.com (check out the funny videos at this site).

I am fascinated by our food culture and how we approach health and health care. I agree with the Forks Over Knives observation related to our new health (disease) care law. 

The FOK folks promote a vegan lifestyle. As I've stated before, I am not a vegan, however, I certainly am plant strong. And, this time of year, many meals come from my garden.

When the issue of losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle comes up, it's usually based on heart disease or diabetes. However, when I observe overweight people, I frequently see them limping around with bad knees. 

Sadly, as of this week, I have even noticed TV ads for Stryker knee replacement surgery. I guess it ain't about Lipitor and diabetes meds anymore.