Coffee and Gout

Looking around on the ‘net I’m surprised to find several articles stating that supposedly, coffee intake can help prevent Gout. The Star says so, based on a B.C. study. Same thing on medicinenet.com. And Canada.com is quoting the same from 2007. Gout-aware.com is saying the same. He also discovered that drinking 4 to 5 cups [...]

Today’s wonderful medicine

So, for about three years now, I’ve been complaining to my family doctor about some breathing difficulties. She hasn’t taken it very seriously since she sent me for that first round of tests that basically concluded that I’m fine. Hey, tests don’t lie, I do, right? Of course, the tests were for my asthma, which [...]

Can sugar do more than make you fat?

I heard recently that sugar can weaken the immune system, so I decided to take a look on the internet for any information to back this up. I don’t add sugar to anything anymore, and I try to stick to water as my main drink, but there are still plenty of sources that I’ve been [...]

I broke my child

What I would give for some days to be uneventful. Today was such a day. Jaan and I were playing like we always do, me trying to put in some time with the little guy ’cause I’ve haven’t been feeling all that well lately, and I’ve been pushing him away. I can usually roughhouse with [...]

Air – Air would be nice.

For a few years now, I’ve been having a problem with getting a full, deep breath. I grew up asthmatic, but recent tests from my doctor have concluded that I am no longer. That’s great news…so why can’t I breathe? I don’t think my doctor has been taking me very seriously, due to the tests [...]

Vaccines and the flu shot – continued

I got an email back from Health Canada in regards to my inquiry about mercury in the flu shot. From: “PPHB Web Mail” <pphb_web_mail @phac-aspc.gc.ca> To: msoulier@digitaltorque.ca Subject: the flue shot, and vaccines Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2004 14:20:08 -0400 X-Mailer: Lotus Notes Release 5.0.5 September 22, 2000 Dear Michael Soulier, Thank you for your [...]

Hungry can be good?

Today, we began another month of Ramadan, the annual holy month of Islam. It is a time to try to be your best (but isn’t every day?), improve yourself, pray and fast. Self-deprivation, motivated by self-discipline and faith. It’s kind of odd when you think about it. This time always invokes questions for me. Questions [...]

Preventative medicine

As Jaan is two-years-old now, he’s already been through the gauntlet of vaccines that our pediatrician advocates for him, and Aisha is going through them now. Various meningitis vaccines, a pox here and there, you know the drill. I’ve lost track. OHIP covers most of them, but the cost of the ones they don’t cover [...]