http://www.health-hack.com Does taking control of your own health make you a health-geek? You bet it does! Geek out with us as we help build a better you! Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:23:59 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Massachusetts recently upped the sin tax on tobacco to a dollar a pack! What are they doing with all that fresh moolah? Why they're offering almost all MA residents $50.00 worth of nicotine patches for smoking cessation free of charge! From the MA DPH: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) Tobacco ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2008/07/07/15/23/live-in-massachusetts-and-want-to-quit-smoking-good-news/ I'm interested to know: are you using Google's new medical record service? If so, what are your thoughts? Please answer using a pseudonym -- we don't want to encourage the data thieves! http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2008/07/07/10/50/is-anyone-using-googles-medical-record-service/ Michael Pollan has written several books, but is perhaps best known for his two most recent: The Omnivore's Dilemma and his latest, In Defense Of Food. In the former book, Pollan discusses problems with the food supply and food industry in the US, and the challenges faced by consumers who actually ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2008/05/07/12/54/michael-pollan-speaks-in-defense-of-food/ Welcome to a blast from the past - a rerun of the original episode of the original Health Hacks Podcast, from August of 2006. At the time of launch the show had four contributors: myself (Kevin Kennedy-Spaien), Jimmy Moore, Chris Brogan, and Reinhard Engels. Chris had been doing a show called "Fat ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2008/03/26/00/07/rewind-the-health-hacks-podcast-episode-beta/ Kelly Damron The Health-Hack Podcast returns in a new incarnation today with a special interview. Kelly Damron is a blogger and the author of Tiny Toes: A Couple's Journey Through Infertility, Prematurity, and Depression. In this podcast we take a look at how Kelly's own personal experiences have effected her and helped ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2008/03/18/03/25/new-podcast-interview-with-fertility-author-kelly-damron/ Guest poster Michelle Koen of our sister site Healthy Helpings TV offers these tips on dining room fitness! All that holiday food is tempting, so go on, enjoy it, but remember, if you're going to keep up your healthy lifestyle you have to exercise too. Getting to the gym can be tricky ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2007/12/18/00/47/michelle-koens-dinner-table-workout/ For about a year, we moved over to a special site just for the Health Hacks Podcast. I am planning on moving the podcast archives over here and re-starting blogging here. Keep an eye out! In the mean time, say "Hi," if you are at Podcamp Boston II this month, and ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2007/10/10/15/28/the-return-of-the-prodigal-blog/ Popular U.S. sub shop "Quizno's" has been stonewalling the public on their mandatory nutritional data factsheets. In the U.S. restaurants are required to provide this information to customers, and many actually feature their data sheets right on the walls of their dining areas. Mysteriously though, Quizno's seems to be willing to ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2007/03/14/14/05/quiznos-concealment-of-nurti-data-subverted/ According to one biological theory that is gaining more and more acceptance, you have an extra brain. It's called the enteric nervous system, and is a collection of neural tissue that wraps in sheaths around your digestive tract, from esophagus to colon. It is fairly well separated from the cranial ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2007/03/12/15/39/gut-instincts-the-brain-in-your-belly/ The Fatblogging movement is the brainchild of Jason Calacanis. In his words: What does it mean to be part of the movement? Very simple: 1. Blog your weight/thoughts about weight loss each day (you don’t have to put the number in the subject line ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2007/03/12/09/09/498/ One key to better health is to eat more meals at home. The humble crock pot is a great tool to help squeeze more home-cooked goodness into our busy lives. Here are two quick tips to hack your crock pot cookery: 1) Freeze all ingredients the night before cooking. Put them in ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2007/03/11/12/09/quick-crock-pot-hacks/ My Crew over at the Health Hacks Podcast have an episode with a theme inspired by Dr. Who villains the Daleks. Episode 18 is all about helping you stick with the resolutions you might have made at the start of January: Reinhard Engels continues to explain the relationship between the everyday systems ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2007/01/15/22/40/the-health-hacks-podcast-18-daleks-for-fitness/ Grasshopper New Media is very proud to present, GNMHealth's first Video Podcast, Healthy Helpings TV. Host Michelle Koen will be taking classic recipes like burgers and treats like pudding and cake and showing you how to adapt them to your diet, whether it's a low-fat approach like Weight Watchers or ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2007/01/07/23/51/healthy-helpings-tv-our-latest-show/ The Lucky Thirteenth episode of the Health Hacks Podcast features our regular contributors Reinhard Engels, Eve the OT, Patrick "Vitamin P" Sullivan and Myself (Kevin Kennedy-Spaien) giving our top five tips on everything from Magnesium to Arbitrary Numbers for health.  Standard Podcast [23:34m]: | Play in Popup | Download ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/11/24/22/40/the-podcast-lucky-episode-13-top-fives/ Getting back in the groove, here's a handful of links for your reading pleasure! Resveratrol on MeFi The Thanksgiving Menu of the Gods at Wired.com Genetics of muscle performance at BoingBoing Geek’s Guide to Getting in Shape: 13 Surefire Tips http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/11/24/21/44/health-link-goodies/ Episode 10 of the Health Hacks Podcast is now live! In this episode, I discuss a new twist on using up those pumpkin seeds and what to do with that extra candy. Reinhard Engels has more on habits for behavior management, Chris Brogan talks about Nuts. Occupational Therapist Eve the OT teaches about ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/11/01/12/21/our-10th-podcast-episode-seeds-nuts-habits-breathing-and-dshea/ There has been a major shift in the restaurant industry away from the use of once-prevalent trans fats. An optimist would say this is because of good corporate citizenship, a pessimist might say this is due to threats of lawsuits and changing regulations. In truth, there is more to the ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/10/31/16/34/major-restaurants-dumping-trans-fats/ Our GNMHealth Podcast, The Health Hacks Podcast has had its ninth episode posted today. Come check it out for great new stuff and an opportunity to win a copy of Disc of Light's newest meditation and relaxation CD, BodyMind. http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/10/26/12/28/hhx-podcast-9-is-live-with-many-exciting-firsts/ Earlier this week, I posted about online fitness tools/portals, and somehow, I forgot to mention one site I've been looking at for some time now: HyperStrike. According to the website, Hypersrtike offers: Workout plan customized to fit your needs * Personalized 90-Session Workout Plan to Fit Your Goals ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/10/26/12/22/a-glaring-omission-hyperstrike/ I've been spending some time looking at online health community and tool sites, and here are three interesting ones to share: Traineo Weight Loss Community A community-based portal to encourage weight loss. From the splash page: * Stay accountable, reach your goals! Been to the ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/10/23/14/00/fitness-and-weight-loss-sites-worth-looking-at/ I always assume that my readership here at HHDC is fairly technically savvy - hence slogans like "building a better geek", etc. However, running a podcast (How I wish we had used a term like "Netcast" or "Webcast"!) I've come to realize that in general people aren't that savvy about podcasts. ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/10/04/14/56/the-health-hacks-podcast-episode-six-is-now-live/ If your upper respiratory allergy attacks tend to be mild and short-lived, you might be tempted to ignore them. It's a good bet that in 9 cases out of 10, this is fine. But what if the attack follows, or is immediately followed by physical exertion? A lot of huffing and ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/09/29/15/51/when-a-minor-allergy-attack-can-be-a-big-deal/ Since I began my new position as Executive Producer for Health Content at Grasshopper New Media, my life has opened up in different ways. I've been accustomed to merely reporting on health news since this blog launched in January of 2005. Now, it seems that I'm something of a public figure. ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/09/27/21/40/opening-up/ For my fellow USians (and others if you feel it applies to you): Isaac Mizrahi, fashion designer extrordinaire has a new job- he designs for Target. In that capacity, he seems to be trying to curry favor with his new demographic- Middle America (or possibly James Lileks who seems to spend 12 ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/09/19/12/32/fat-is-the-new-black/ The two main weight loss systems I've been discussing while developing over at the Health Hacks Podcast are the Health Hacks Amalgamated Frankendiet and the Park Far From Work exercise system. Here are some new insights and factoids: I counted the steps in the parking garage; 92 Weight loss as of this morning ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/09/18/10/59/update-on-the-health-hack-weight-loss-systems/ The New York Times has an interesting article entitled Exercise = Weight Loss, Except When It Doesn't. As you may guess the article explains why some exercises may yield less weight loss than one might expect. One point raised is that if a particular exercise is supposed to burn 300 calories over ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/09/15/16/11/how-many-calories-will-that-burn/ So, in the latest podcast (episode three @ www.healthhackspodcast.com) I outline a thought experiment regarding combining several diet approaches we've been discussing both here and on the podcast. I have actually put this theoretical diet into action, and combining this with the exercise regimen I've discussed over the last three ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/09/13/16/47/the-skinny-on-the-health-hack-amalgamated-diet/ I'm a sucker for novely. Although I'm working towards not eating snacks anymore, I just stumbled upon some interesting vegetarian jerky products at the local health food store. I'm not a vegetarian, but something about them just piqued my curiosity. They are called Primal Strips and are made by Primal Spirit ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/09/12/12/02/primal-strips-interesting-jerky-alternative/ So, I'm at Podcamp this weekend - and it's amazing! I'm interviewing all these brilliant and creative minds, giving interviews, and basically being a noodge by annoying people about health topics when they were expecing questions about their podcasts. I spoke to so many awesome people that I'm really sad I ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/09/11/10/46/new-diet-rule-to-live-by/ Chris Brogan over at our podcast has taken the idea of Parkour and morphed it into something anyone can do as a way to keep your running/walking/jogging routine fresh and inspiring. He calls it "Parkour Faux" and I give it a whirl with a test subject this week. The idea for ... http://www.health-hack.com/archives/2006/09/06/14/48/parkour-even-you-can-do/