Food, inc. - Just watched it. Really makes you go hmm!

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield's Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms' Joel Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.

White Lies: Five Secrets Your Cosmetic Dentist May Not Tell You

a survey commissioned by the American Academy of Cosmetic(AACD), 600,000 patients every year undergo veneer procedures, costing more than $371 million.

Secret No. 1: There is no specialty known as "cosmetic dentistry."

Any general dentist can call herself a "cosmetic dentist." Since cosmetic dental procedures are such big ticket items, general dentists have resisted

efforts to have the procedures designated as a specialty, which would require certification and training. Patients are left to try to figure out who is really

qualified.

Secret No. 2: Not all dentists who perform cosmetic procedures have advanced training.

Not all dentists who hold themselves out as "cosmetic dentists" have significant advanced training in the procedures they will be performing, but such

training exists. Meaningful credentials include accreditation by the AACD or extensive training at the Las Vegas Institute for

the

There are currently fewer than 350 dentists and laboratory technicians accredited by the AACD. Only 53 hold the highest credential of Accredited

Fellow.

Advanced Dental Studies,Pankey Institute, the Dawson Academy, the Kois Center or the Spear Education Center.

Secret No. 3: The dental laboratory that makes the veneers is as important as the dentist.

Most likely, the porcelain veneers that will define your smile will not be fabricated at your dentist's office. They are usually sent to outside laboratories

specializing in this kind of work. There is a vast difference in the quality of work done by these labs. According to Bob Clark, president of

Dental Laboratory

will work in close partnership with the dentist.

Chester Garcia, CEO of

meet exacting standards.

Patients considering cosmetic procedures should be as focused on the lab as they are on the dentist.

Williams, a high-quality lab will employ technicians with training similar to the training required for highly qualified cosmetic dentists, anddaVinci Dental Studios, notes that his lab uses advanced CAD/CAM software and FDA-approved materials to ensure veneers

Secret No. 4: Your cosmetic dentist may be using a foreign or non-certified laboratory.

Many dentists use laboratories located in China or in other foreign countries. These laboratories offer far lower prices than U.S.-based labs. The lower

cost isn't always passed on to patients. Furthermore, foreign labs may not use FDA-approved materials. Some crowns and bridges manufactured abroad

have been found to contain lead. The American Dental Association and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, however, are not concerned.

They believe

James Kessler, DDS., the Chairman of the Department of Education at the Pankey Institute, is opposed to the

use of foreign labs. He believes close, personal communication with the lab technician is very important. He is

also concerned about the quality of materials used by some foreign labs.

the "trace amounts" of lead are "extremely unlikely to cause adverse health effects."

If your dentist is using a foreign laboratory, you have a right to know. Just because he sends his work to anNational Association of Dental Laboratories advises patients to ask if the lab their dentistlaboratories by city and state here. You have a right to insist your lab work is done

The advantages of porcelain veneers are compelling. A beautiful smile can be a confidence booster, with significant benefits. But there are risks you

should know before making this important decision.

The veneers can be damaged or worn down over time, and may need to be replaced. This will cause both inconvenience and additional cost. Dr.

Kessler notes that many patients believe veneers will last a lifetime, which is often not true.

By reducing the tooth structure, the tooth is more vulnerable to trauma or sensitivity. In extreme cases, root canal therapy may be required. New

advances in cosmetic dentistry can reduce or eliminate this risk.

which are custom made in the dental laboratory and bonded to teeth. Dr. Hardin notes the biggest advantage to Emax is their high strength and

durability, which permits them to be produced in very thin layers, requiring little or no tooth preparation. According to Dr. Hardin, "no-prep veneers"

usually involve no drilling and "we don't even need to numb patients for this procedure."

Secret No. 5: There are risks to having porcelain veneers placed on your teeth.

The allure of a dazzling white smile has hit mainstream America. The annual U.S. cosmetic dentistry market is

calculated at around $2.75 billion. According to

Dentistry

Before you plunk down your hard-earned cash for a smile makeover, here are five secrets your dentist may not tell you:

10 Worst Foods for Your Stomach

If you think you're the only one who suffers from belching, stomach bloating and abdominal discomfort on a regular basis, think again: The most current statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention state that the average number of annual visits to physician offices and hospitals regarding digestive system conditions total 42.2 million. And according to the American College of Gastroenterology, more than 95 million Americans suffer from poor digestion.

The common culprits for digestive issues are cooked food, since heat destroys the natural enzymes found in raw foods that aid in digestion, and aging, due to a decline in enzyme production of about 13 percent with each passing decade, said Dr. Steven Lamm, a board-certified internist and faculty member at the NYU Medical Center.

While those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, acid reflux (also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease) or an ulcer will have various reactions to different foods and drinks, experts agree the following 10 items are likely to irritate one of more of these tummy-related conditions.

Stomach-sensitive food: mint
Why it can affect you: While peppermint has numerous benefits, including aiding in digestive issues, it can also have the reverse effect and increase heartburn symptoms, Dr. Gerald Ashton Isenberg, who works in the gastroenterology department at UH Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, told AOL Health. "Mint increases the chance of acid reflux because it relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that is located at the end of the esophagus, allowing acid from the stomach to back up into the food pipe," he explained. Keep in mind this holds true for anything that contains mint, such as peppermint tea and even peppermint gum and breath mints.

Stomach-sensitive food: sodas and fruit juices
Why they can affect you: According to Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, both of these beverages contain a whopping 3/4 teaspoon of sugar per ounce. "Many people have heard of lactose intolerance, but fructose intolerance is another major cause of IBS," he told AOL Health. He further explained that as many as 30 percent of adults have fructose malabsorption, meaning their bodies can absorb less than 25 grams of fructose (six spoons) at a time. "Whatever the body cannot absorb acts like a sponge by sucking water into your gut while triggering unhealthy infections in the colon."

Stomach-sensitive food: beans
Why they can affect you: Beans can produce intestinal gas because they contain oligosaccharide, a type of complex sugar comprised of large molecules too big for the small intestine. In addition, the body cannot break down this complex sugar because it lacks the enzyme to do so.

Stomach-sensitive food: coffee
Why it can affect you: Teitelbaum said that the acids in coffee can irritate the stomach lining, which can cause excessive production of hydrochloric acid, leading to indigestion and reflux, especially for those with ulcers or who are prone to heartburn. Sorry, java lovers, decaf contains the same acids and will result in the same reaction. To satisfying your coffee craving, Teitelbaum suggested drinking one cup of licorice tea a day, which has been known to soothe the stomach and treat ulcers.

Stomach-sensitive food: broccoli
Why it can affect you: Registered dietitian Katherine Brooking told AOL Health that broccoli is a gas-producing veggie that may cause stomach issues for those who deal with IBS. Broccoli is placed in the category of soluble fiber, a type of fiber that doesn't break down until it reaches the large intestine, where digestion causes gas. Plus, broccoli contains a small amount of raffinose, a complex sugar that produces gas, which is also found in beans.

Stomach-sensitive food: tomatoes
Why they can affect you: "Tomatoes can be an esophageal irritant, bringing about symptoms of acid reflux, heartburn or making heartburn worse," said Isenberg. This juicy red fruit is highly acidic, which, in turn, stimulates the production of extra digestive acids in the stomach. As a result, these acids can creep back up the esophagus, aggravating a sensitive esophagus or further damaging the lining of the esophagus. Tomato-based foods, such as marinara sauce, pizza sauce and salsa, fall under this umbrella, as well.

Stomach-sensitive food: milk-based products
Why they can affect you: According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 30 to 50 million American adults are lactose intolerant. "We are the only species that continues to drink milk after weaning, and many people lose the ability to digest lactose -- the milk sugar -- as they grow into adulthood," said Teitelbaum. Lactose intolerance is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, which is produced by the cells lining the small intestine, stated the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. "So any lactose you don't digest becomes party food for the gut bacteria, and they say 'thank you' by making a lot of gas," said Teitelbaum. Substituting "real" milk, ice cream and cheese for dairy products labeled lactose free should ease this problem, along with choosing milk that contains lactase and hard cheese, since it naturally contains less lactose than soft cheese.

Stomach-sensitive food: fatty foods
Why they can affect you: Foods high in fat, including fried foods, can increase symptoms of acid reflex and IBS, said Brooking. The reason: Fatty foods take longer to break down in the body, so they remain in the stomach for an extended period of time. As a result, the body automatically produces extra stomach acid in order to aid in digestion. Keep in mind that overeating (in general) will also cause a delay in digestion and will stimulate the stomach to secrete more acid.

Stomach-sensitive food: iced drinks (with meals)
Why they can affect you: Teitelbaum explained that indigestion isn't typically caused by too much stomach acid but more often by the lack of it. "Digestion relies largely on stomach acid and digestive enzymes," he said. "Your digestive enzymes work best at 98.6 degrees -- and ice-cold drinks can inactivate them, causing indigestion." He advised drinking something hot (like tea or hot water with lemon) when you're dining and snacking and saving the cold drinks for in between mealtimes.

Stomach-sensitive food: chocolate
Why it can affect you: Last (and certainly least) is the beloved, dark, any-time-of-day treat. While chocolate has been proven to have health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health and reduced risk of stroke, it can also cause indigestion and heartburn. "Chocolate contains concentrations of theobromine, a compound that occurs naturally in many plants such as cocoa, tea and coffee plants," stated Lamm. "And this compound has the ability to relax the esophageal sphincter muscle, letting stomach acid squirt up into the esophagus." Chocolate also contains caffeine, another agent that encourages the stomach to produce excess acid.

CHANTIX - Who would take this with these Side Effects!

CHANTIX is a prescription medicine to help adults 18 and over stop smoking. You may benefit from quit-smoking support programs and/or counseling during your quit attempt. It's possible that you might slip up and smoke while taking CHANTIX. If you do, you can stay on CHANTIX and keep trying to quit.

Important Safety Information

Some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions while using CHANTIX to help them quit smoking. Some people had these symptoms when they began taking CHANTIX, and others developed them after several weeks of treatment or after stopping CHANTIX. If you, your family, or caregiver notice agitation, hostility, depression, or changes in behavior, thinking, or mood that are not typical for you, or you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, anxiety, panic, aggression, anger, mania, abnormal sensations, hallucinations, paranoia, or confusion, stop taking CHANTIX and call your doctor right away. Also tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems before taking CHANTIX, as these symptoms may worsen while taking CHANTIX.

Do not take CHANTIX if you have had a serious allergic or skin reaction to CHANTIX. Some people can have serious skin reactions while taking CHANTIX, some of which can become life-threatening. These can include rash, swelling, redness, and peeling of the skin. Some people can have allergic reactions to CHANTIX, some of which can be life-threatening and include: swelling of the face, mouth, and throat that can cause trouble breathing. If you have these symptoms or have a rash with peeling skin or blisters in your mouth, stop taking CHANTIX and get medical attention right away.

The most common side effects include nausea (30%), sleep problems, constipation, gas and/or vomiting. If you have side effects that bother you or don't go away, tell your doctor. You may have trouble sleeping, vivid, unusual or strange dreams while taking CHANTIX. Use caution driving or operating machinery until you know how CHANTIX may affect you.

CHANTIX should not be taken with other quit-smoking products. You may need a lower dose of CHANTIX if you have kidney problems or get dialysis.

Before starting CHANTIX, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or if you take insulin, asthma medicines, or blood thinners. Medicines like these may work differently when you quit smoking.

Me Stomach - The video