Sprite, Marijuana and Cancer

Sprite, Marijuana and Cancer

Sprite is the world’s leading lemon-lime flavored soft drink. Introduced in 1961, Sprite is sold in more than 190 countries and ranks as the No. 4 soft drink worldwide, with a strong appeal to young people. (1)

The No. 1 lemon-lime soft drink was one of the fastest-growing Coca-Cola brands through 1997 although growth slowed in 1998 when volume was up just 3 percent. Then the brand began to decline.

In 2004, Coke created Miles Thirst, a vinyl doll used in advertising to exploit the hip-hop market for soft drinks and to appeal to teen males in suburbia.

More recently, Sprite has been appealing to a very different crowd. Scientific researchers have shown that Sprite appears to control stomach acidity in a way likely to allow greater absorption of an oral anticancer drug, Lilly Compound X (LCX), into the body.(2)

Faraj Atassi and colleagues note that efforts are underway to develop more anticancer medications that patients can take by mouth. However, biological variations among patients — due to variations in stomach acidity and other factors — can reduce the effectiveness of oral anticancer drugs. Based on the results, the scientists suggest that patients in future clinical trials take the drug with Sprite.(3)

However, let’s hope the researchers don’t give the sugar-free version, Sprite Zero, to their patients to take alongside their medication.

Why? read more at Heroin and Cornflakes blog...

X-Rays, Cancer and the Godfather

X-Rays, Cancer and the Godfather

A nationwide Armenian-American organized crime group has been charged with trying to steal more than $160 million from Medicare.(1)

Among those in custody is Armen Kazarian. The FBI calls him the vor, or godfather, of the operation and investigators say he’s the first vor ever arrested for racketeering in the U.S.

He and fellow members of the group set up phony health clinics and billed Medicare for treatments that were never performed.

The groups supposedly took advantage of the user-friendly side of Medicare. Medicare tries to pay health care providers promptly by not verifying whether treatments have actually been rendered before it sends money.

Any more groups taking advantage of Medicare?

How about unnecessary exposure to medical X-Rays? read more at Heroin and Cornflakes blog...

Paris, Lead and Sparkling Water

Paris, Lead and Sparkling Water

In the latest in a series of efforts to make the French capital green, the city of Paris is now offering residents free sparkling water to try limit over consumption of plastic bottles.(I)

“We chill the water between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius (42.8 to 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit),” said Philippe Burguière, the spokesman for Eau de Paris, “and then we inject carbon dioxide into regular tap water to make the bubbles thin and tasty.”

Separate faucets provide a still version of the beverage, both refrigerated and un-refrigerated, and again pumped directly from the city’s own public water supply.

The new water fountain is part of an operation “aimed at promoting tap water in a country where we invest a lot to preserve its quality,” Burguière added.

Half of the city’s public water supply comes directly from underground springs located up to 160 kilometers away. The other half is pumped from the rivers Seine and Marne then filtered, treated and tested to make it 100 percent safe for consumption.

But is it safe? read full article at Heroin and Cornflakes...

Chocolate and Cancer: Just Coincidence?

Chocolate and Cancer: Just Coincidence?
Cadbury’s famous ‘glass and a half’ milk claim has been dropped from its wrappers of Dairy Milk. The old claim referred to the amount of milk used in a half pound of Dairy Milk. (1)

Cadbury initially said Trading Standards was behind the change but the regulator has denied any involvement. Cadbury has since backtracked over the suggestion.

“The Trading Standards Institute would have no objection to the continued use of the slogan unless it was considered misleading by consumers,” a spokesman for the watchdog said. “The slogan is well known by consumers and should not be confused with food labeling laws.”

Cocoa and chocolate have been acclaimed for their possible medicinal and health benefits, but are consumers aware that the milk going into the chocolate may not be so healthy?

read full article at Heroin and Cornflakes...