Special Coverage: Health and Wellness

Marielena Hincapié, New America Media. November 11, 2009.
Congress inexplicably restricts low-income legal immigrants from the federal Medicaid and Medicare programs, which provide a modicum of security for the most vulnerable.

Does the House Bill's Public Option Kill Off the Senate's?

Booman, Booman Tribune. November 10, 2009.
Why the health care reform act has a very long and very difficult road ahead.

Soda Helps Make Americans Unhealthy and Fat -- Will Soda Tax Prevail Despite Pushback by Beverage Industry?

Christine Spolar, Joseph Eaton, The Huffington Post Investigative Fund. November 10, 2009.
Soft drink makers, supermarket companies, agriculture and the fast-food business have poured millions into campaigning against taxes on sweetened beverages.

10 Suicides a Month at Ft. Hood -- War Stress Is Taking Soldiers to the Brink

Dahr Jamail, Asia Times. November 10, 2009.
The shooting tragedy at Fort Hood on Friday points to a much larger problem of combat stress and overdeployment in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Do We Really Want to Enshrine Insurance Monopoly into Law? This and 5 Other Complaints About the Health Bill

John Nichols, The Nation. November 9, 2009.
Informed and engaged progressives aren't entirely enthusiastic about the measure. Here are some of the most serious complaints.

4 Ways the Stupak Amendment Deprives Women of Access to Abortion

Jessica Arons, The Wonk Room. November 9, 2009.
The health-care bill passed by the House will expand access to health care. But millions of women are about to lose coverage they currently have and need.

Despite Censorship By Beef Magnate, Michael Pollan Spreads Message About the Real Price of Cheap Food

AlterNet. November 9, 2009.
Pollan took on Big Ag and cheap food in a panel discussion, after the protests of a meat industry chairman led to his speech at a University being canceled.

The Raw Milk Revolution: Behind America's Emerging Battle Over Food Rights

Makenna Goodman, TreeHugger. November 7, 2009.
Because of its health benefits, many more people are turning to raw milk. But there's one hitch: Raw milk is illegal.

10 of the Nuttiest Statements Elected Officials Have Made in the Health Care Battle

Joshua Holland, AlterNet. November 7, 2009.
Wild, over-the-top rhetoric and bizarre conspiracy theories about health reform aren't just coming from the right-wing blogs and talk-radio loudmouths.

New York May Stop Heartless Health Insurers from Dropping Coverage When It Stops Being Profitable

William Ehart, Washington Times. November 7, 2009.
The proposed Ian's law, named after a victim of muscular dystrophy who requires an electronic device to speak would protect the most vulnerable from losing coverage.

Why Congress' Health Care Bills Are Better Than You Think

Maggie Mahar, Health Beat. November 6, 2009.
The health care bills wending through Congress are getting a bad rap. And the major culprit is the Congressional Budget Office, and its chief, Doug Elmendorf.

Thousands of Right-Wingers Rally at Capitol to Hear Lies About Health Care Reform, Courtesy of Bachmann and GOP Leaders

Adele Stan, AlterNet. November 6, 2009.
Days before a health bill is expected to pass the House, Republicans rallied their flock with the help of Fox News, Michele Bachmann and leading conservative groups.

Former Worker's Confession: "I Was Hired to Stand in the Way of Health Care Reform"

Robert Greenwald, Sick for Profit. November 5, 2009.
Hi, I'm Andy Cobb and I did all the damage I could being a spokesjerk for Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Why Unemployment Is More Important Than Health-Care Reform

Robert Reich, Robert Reich's Blog. November 5, 2009.
Has Obama spent too much political capital on health-care reform, and not enough on keeping families afloat in a flailing economy?

7 Diseases That Big, Juicy Steaks Could Give You

Sara Novak, Planet Green. November 5, 2009.
We know meat isn't necessarily the most healthy dietary choice; it could also be a fatal one.

Is the Right-Wing Tea Party Kettle Starting to Losing Its Steam?

Stephanie Mencimer, Mother Jones. November 5, 2009.
What if they gave a Tea Party and nobody came? Michele Bachmann and company promised a barrage of protest calls to the Capitol but, so far, things are kind of quiet.

Barbara Ehrenreich: Why Your Children May Not Get a Swine Flu Shot Before They Need It

Barbara Ehrenreich, Tomdispatch.com. November 4, 2009.
Too much faith in private enterprise has left us open to a flu epidemic.

5 Key Fights We Face Against the Insurance Industry in the Push for Better Health Care

Joshua Holland, AlterNet. November 3, 2009.
There's momentum to repair our fractured health care system -- but activism is desperately needed to keep the process honest.

The Obstacles to Real Health-Care Reform

Mark Schmitt, The American Prospect. October 31, 2009.
How a series of roadblocks and compromises shaped the health-care debate -- and why the battle doesn't end when Obama signs a bill.

There Is a Way to Help Avoid Heart Disease and Diabetes: You Are What You Eat!

Kathy Freston, AlterNet. October 31, 2009.
A plant-based diet is both preventative and healing, whereas a diet high in animal protein is destructive to our health.

Top 10 Reasons Why Republicans Should Support the House Health Bill

Igor Volsky, The Wonk Room. October 30, 2009.
The House health-care bill does much of what Republicans said they wanted. So they've launched a disinformation campaign. Rep. Mike Pence was first out of the gate.

Reducing Mercury Emissions From Coal-Fired Power Plants: Yes We Can (And Could Have, Years Ago)

Catherine O'Neill, Center for Progressive Reform. October 30, 2009.
There are three recent developments in the saga of efforts to regulate mercury emissions from coal-fired utilities that are significant.

The 10 Weirdest, Grossest Ingredients in Processed Food

WebEcoist. October 30, 2009.
Which of your favorite dessert snacks contains beef fat? How about beaver anal glands? Find out below.

Pelosi Unveils a Ground-Breaking Health Care Plan -- Will Senate Dems Follow Her Lead?

Adele Stan, AlterNet. October 30, 2009.
Majority Leader Harry Reid has said the Senate bill will have a public option, but now it's time to walk the walk.

Right-Wingers in Congress Love Their Own Govt.-Run Health Care, But They Hate Sharing It

Jim Hightower, Creators Syndicate. October 29, 2009.
Members of Congress and their families are blessed with their very own gold-plated, taxpayer-financed, Washington-run health care system.

The Battle Over Raw Milk: Let's Ditch the Hysterics and Give People a Choice

Jill Richardson, AlterNet. October 29, 2009.
Few foods provoke such strong reactions (for and against it) as raw milk. Find out why.

What's So Scary About Michael Pollan? Why Corporate Agriculture Tried to Censor His University Speech

Martha Rosenberg, AlterNet. October 28, 2009.
Agribusiness is trying to combat Pollan's message of sustainable, healthy eating.

Anti-Immigrant Hysteria Could Block African-Americans' Access to Health-Care

Eric Ward, Imagine 2050. October 27, 2009.
A legacy of past institutional racism: almost 10 percent of blacks may lack the proof of citizenship needed for insurance subsidies under Congress's verification scheme.

Will People-Power Defeat the Insurance Lobby This Time Around?

Dean Baker, TruthOut.org. October 27, 2009.
This is a case where the simple facts and persistent grassroots pressure may overcome the political power of a major industry.

Could a High-Fat Diet Make You Healthy and Prevent Cavities?

Tara Lohan, AlterNet. October 27, 2009.
A controversial organization promoting foods high in animal fats has some ecstatic. Others think they're whack jobs.

Sign up

About

Coverage concerning personal health and fitness, health care legislation, Big Pharma, medical developments and more.

RSS Feed

Check out Health and Wellness' RSS feed!

What To Eat

Marion Nestle is arguably one of the foremost experts in public health nutrition. If you have questions about food policy, prices or any other aspect of healthy eating, chances are her blog has answers. Check it out!

SafeCosmetics.org

Personal care products like shampoo, deodorant and makeup often contain cocktails of toxic chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects. Learn what's lurking in your cosmetics and find out what you can do about it by visiting safecosmetics.org.

Breast Cancer Fund

Only 10 percent of breast cancers are genetic. That means the disease is largely preventable. Learn about the risk factors in your life and find out how you can take action by visiting breastcancerfund.org.

Families USA

High-quality, affordable health care should be a right for all Americans. For 25 years, Families USA has been fighting to make this a reality. Visit their Web site to learn more and to take action on a variety of consumer health care issues from private insurance to prescription drugs.

Health Policy Watch

To follow the debate on health care policy and get in-depth ideas on achieving universal coverage, visit healthpolicywatch.org.

Value [the] Meal

The fast food industry is exacerbating a public health crisis. Join Corporate Accountability International's new campaign challenging the corporate abuse of food.

From the blogs