A typical hand sanitizer dispenser.

I separated a cart from the others and placed my bag inside just before reaching toward the wet cloths dispenser labeled Purell. I ripped off the top sheet and rubbed it on the steering handle of the cart. As I reached to the small bin below the dispenser to throw out the used cloth, I paused. A series of questions came with the persistence of a overly curious child:

“Why do we wipe down our cart handles this way? Why was I so careful to wash the cart when I had previously picked up a basket without the same level of concern? Was it because the sanitizer dispenser had not yet come into view, even though I had shopped at this store before and knew it was there? What did we do before sanitizer was in grocery stores? Have we been instilled with a fear that if we do not sanitize, we are exposing ourselves to ever-present sickness?”

I was just going through the motions, really. The need to sanitize was instilled in me far before I started shopping at the store for my own groceries. My mother carried around hand sanitizer in her purse – she still does, and I carry on the tradition – to use after a given event. Basically any time my brother and I touched something “germ-y” and before we touched anything else – particularly food – we would need to sanitize.

I don’t blame her concern for sanitization; I think her efforts and intentions were best, as mothers know. But my actions on this particular grocery shopping trip was cause for pause. What is the purpose of this sanitization? Is there such as thing as over sanitizing? Are we all over sanitizing?

It seems fairly obvious that we sanitize to kill germs. As advertised, the top brands of hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes kill “99.9 percent of germs.” Most of us know that killing germs is a form of defense against sickness and illness.

As defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, sanitizers are antimicrobial public health products “used to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, microorganisms from the inanimate environment to levels considered safe as determined by public health codes or regulations.”

While these sanitizers may remove bacteria that can cause people to get sick, a study conducted by Emory University researchers in 2006 found that water is more successful (96 percent) at removing viruses from the hands than alcohol-based hand sanitizer (46 percent).

So sanitization in moderation is helpful in preventing germs, but it seems to not have the power to replace washing your hands at the sink. Moreover, additional protection is needed via building up the body’s defenses. Exposure to germs allows white blood cells to combat them, becoming strong enough to ward off germs – building immunity.

According to Kansas State University, the mammalian response to bacteria entering the bloodstream is fairly standard. “The bacteria multiply and the immune system gears up, sending out its own organisms – cells derived from white blood cells called macrophages – to seek out and destroy the offender. A healthy immune system can clear the body of most bacterial infections.”

Do you carry sanitizer with you? Are you inclined to use sanitizer when it is made available to you, such as at the grocery store or at a doctor’s office? If so, why do you use it? Share your thoughts below!

According to a recent study titled “Family and Medical Leave Act in 2012: Final Report,” 91 percent of participants said the law did not negatively impact operations or burden employers. In fact, some said business was better, with reductions in morale, turnover and absenteeism. Another reinforcing statistic – 90 percent of employees go back to their job after FMLA leave, meaning little abuse of this system.

“The Family and Medical Leave Act codified a simple and fundamental principle: Workers should not have to choose between the job they need and the family members they love and who need their care,”  acting-Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris said in a statement. “The FMLA has helped millions upon millions of working families manage challenging personal circumstances at very little cost to their employers and with very little disruption in the workplace.”

Acting Deputy Administrator for the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division Mary Beth Maxwell said in a statement, “The significance of the FMLA is in its recognition that workers aren’t just contributing to the success of a business, but away from their jobs they are contributing to the health and well-being of their families. Our survey results show that, for two decades, granting job-protected leave has been good for employers and good for millions of workers and their loved ones. The FMLA is working.”

Established in 1993 with the signature of then-President Bill Clinton, FMLA allows employees to take off up to 12 weeks without pay to be with his or her newborn, newly adopted or newly placed child; care for a serious health concern for a child, partner or parent; or care for their own serious illness. During that period, employees are able to take advantage of health insurance benefits in the same manner as they were prior to taking leave.

“As the organization that drafted and led the fight for the FMLA, the National Partnership continues to push for improvements,” Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women and Families, said in a statement. “We are also pressing for a national paid family and medical leave program that would prevent workers from having to sacrifice precious income when serious medical needs arise or children are born or join families.”

Amendments to FMLA include adding protections to allow employees with family in the military to take time off to deal with that family member’s foreign deployment and up to 26 weeks away from work to take care of a member of the military with a serious injury or illness. For more information, visit www.dol.gov/whd/fmla.

Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal speaking for the California Women’s Health Alliance on the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. (Photo courtesy of 70th Assembly District Office Website)

Democrat Bonnie Lowenthal was named chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus last month, a leadership position that supports women in the state legislature who advocate for our interests and rights.

Assemblymember Lowenthal, who is also chair of the assembly’s transportation committee, select committee on ports and vice chair of the joint committee on emergency management, said in a statement that she is honored to serve as chair of the legislative women’s caucus.

“We’re reminded every day of the need to advocate for women and girls, whether it’s through court cases, world events, or the inequality of our paychecks,” Lowenthal said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to build a better, brighter future for all California women and their families.”

Lowenthal represents the Golden State’s 70th district encompassing Catalina Island, Long Beach, San Pedro and Signal Hill. Her vice chair is Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, a Democrat representing Santa Barbara.

The legislative women’s caucus was formed in 1985 by nine Democrats and six Republicans and is open to all women members of the state legislature. Thirty-one women senators and assemblymembers are part of the caucus today. The chair of the caucus switches between an assemblymember and senator with each new legislative session.

Consider for a moment that people in the 21^st Century are choosing to revert back to a diet cavemen ate for approximately 2.5 million years up until about 10,000 years ago. This is pre-Industrial Revolution; before agriculture and before TV dinners.

Pre-humans that lived in the Paleolithic era relied on a hunter-gatherer diet of wild animals and plants. Today, some consider the Paleo diet part of evolutionary medicine. These individuals also adopt the theory that modern humans are genetically adapted to the diet of their Paleolithic ancestors.

To be candid, today’s modern take on the diet is not actually true to what human ancestors ate. The influence of agriculture on the modern human diet prevents today’s Paleolithic diet followers from consuming true “wild” animals and plants.

Now that’s out of the way, let’s delve into why some people living in today’s world are choosing to follow the Paleo diet.

In 1975, a gastroenterologist named Walter L. Voegtlin published his book, The Stone Age Diet: Based on in-depth Studies of Human Ecology and the Diet of Man, which suggests that humans who follow a similar diet to their Paleolithic ancestors would see improvements in their overall health. The idea caught on in small numbers, but it wasn’t until 10 years later that the Paleo diet began to pervade the mainstream.

Emory University professors S. Boyd Eaton and Melvin Konner published a research paper in 1985 called “Paleolithic Nutrition” in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Loren Cordain, director of the department of health and exercise science at Colorado State University (CSU), is today’s leading proponent of the Paleo diet. He discovered the Paleolithic diet after reading Eaton and Konner’s paper. Cordian was intrigued by the high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet while on his own path to discover eating patterns that would improve athletic performance. Cordain earned his doctorate in health from the University of Utah in 1981 and began his teaching career at CSU in 1982.

So what exactly do these Paleo disciples eat on a day-to-day basis?

In December 2010, Cordain published two books: The Paleo Diet and The Paleo Diet Cookbook. “The diet is incredibly easy to follow – eat fresh fruits, fresh veggies, lean meats, and seafood,” Loren Cordain writes in the introduction to his book The Paleo Diet Cookbook.

Consider this: the diet of prehistoric man was high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Today’s take on this Paleo, hunter-gatherer diet consists mainly of grass-fed free-range animals, seafood, fruit, vegetables, roots, nuts and fungi. This means no dairy products, no refined sugars or processed oils, no salt and no grains. Remember, bread wasn’t developed until about 8,000 years ago.

To stock up on items for Paleo meals, look no further than the outside aisles of the local grocer. Most of the sodas, crackers, cookies and processed foods tend to be stocked on the shelves in the middle of the supermarket, book ended by fresh produce on one side and the butcher on the other.

By now you’re curious. What can you put on your plate that sounds more appetizing than meat and potatoes? Here’s a basic menu for a day on the Paleo diet:

Breakfast: Mexican Chorizo (pork and chili peppers) and scrambled eggs

Snack: Strawberries and raspberries

Lunch: Chicken Waldorf salad with vegetable soup

Snack: Bacon-wrapped dates

Dinner: Lamb with sweet red peppers and sauteed vegetables

Dessert: Almond macaroons

Cordain suggests followers of the Paleo diet will soon become aware of the “cornucopia of flavors” previously cloaked by a palate affected by refined, processed and dairy products.

According to Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, director of nutrition for WebMD, a Paleo diet should be supplemented with vitamin D and calcium – like other non-dairy diets. While someone is likely to lose weight by cutting out grains, dairy, processed foods, sugar and oils, keeping motivated on this diet is the key to sticking it out since the diet is fairly strict.

So what are people saying about the Paleo diet? In 2011, U.S. News & World Report published a ranking of 20 diets evaluated by a panel of 22 “experts” that revealed the Paleolithic diet as the worst in terms of health benefits, weight loss and simplicity of the diet’s rules. This year’s ranking included 24 diets and the Paleolithic diet again ranked at the bottom.

The results of several peer-reviewed studies on the effects of the Paleo diet on reducing chronic disease symptoms were reported on in “The Paleolithic Diet Reduces Western-Civilization Chronic Disease Symptoms,” a paper published by St. Catherine University earlier this year.

While three of the studies revealed the Paleo diet helps reduce blood pressure, four studies showed a decreased level of energy intake. However, those four studies also saw weight loss, decrease in body mass index and subcutaneous fat. Two of the studies reported an increase in insulin sensitivity.

Back to the food consumed: a Paleo diet follower will likely eat meals full of low-glycemic carbohydrates, antioxidants, healthful fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and (our favorite) fiber.

It’s no surprise that some celebrities and public figures have taken to following the Paleo diet or variations of it. Uma Thurman, Eva La Rue and Megan Fox are or have been cited as followers of the caveman diet. Mel Gibson has been said to follow a raw Paleo diet – consuming plants and animals uncooked.

As with all diets, consult your doctor before making any drastic changes and get a checkup after going Paleo for a few weeks.

Regarding such treatment for hormonal acne, here are are some questions for women to ask themselves:

1. Are you drinking the recommended amount of water daily? Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water a day (2 to 3 36-ounce water bottles) helps flush out your system of toxins and impurities, and keeps the skin hydrated.

2. Are you washing your face with a mild soap every day? Try using a gentle cleanser, maybe Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser or Trader Joe’s Nourish All-In-One Facial Cleanser. One pump per wash with warm water should suffice.

3. If you do wash your face, do you wash properly? Try gently massaging the cleanser into the pores for 30 to 60 seconds. Do not scrub aggressively. Massaging the face stimulates new cell growth and is relaxing at the same time. Making the task of washing your face daily slightly more enjoyable through facial massage can actually reduce the release of stress hormones that may perpetuate acne.

4. Have you tried an acne mask? Masking the face with a cinnamon paste every other night has shown to help dry out acne, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, cinnamon also helps stimulate blood flow and can cause minor swelling. Using 1 tbsp powdered cinnamon mixed with 3 tbsp of oil or honey can help reduce irritation. Try this concoction on a small area first to see if irritation occurs.

Qsymia, a product marketed by Mountain View-based Vivus Inc., is suggested as a supplement to a regular exercise regimen and a reduced-calorie diet. It is available for adults who have a body mass index of 27-30 (considered overweight) or higher (considered obese), and who have a weight-related health issue, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes or dyslipidemia (high cholesterol)

“Obesity threatens the overall well being of patients and is a major public health concern,” Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. “Qsymia, used responsibly in combination with a healthy lifestyle that includes a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, provides another treatment option for chronic weight management in Americans who are obese or are overweight and have at least one weight-related comorbid condition.”

Women who are pregnant should not use this product. The drug may harm a fetus, according to the FDA evaluations of Qsymia. The organization strongly recommends women have a negative pregnancy test before taking the drug, and birth control should be used throughout the length of the prescription.

The drug is also not recommended for individuals with hyperthyroidism or glaucoma. For more information, call the FDA’s consumer line at 888-INFO-FDA.

Earlier this year, the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research published the results of an exploratory study on how yoga impacts general physical fitness. The study specifically focused on results from short-term yoga training of young, healthy adults. The training included 24 sessions over eight weeks.

Yoga is defined by The University of Maryland as “a philosophy that connects the body, breath and mind to energize and balance the whole person.” The practice, which dates back more than 6,000 years, includes various stretching techniques, breathing exercises and meditation.

Hatha yoga is the term to describe the many different styles, some of which are: Ashtanga (power) yoga, Bikram (hot) yoga, Integral yoga , Iyengar (focus on alignment) yoga, Kundalini (focus on breath) yoga and Viniyoga. In the short-term study, participants practiced Bikram yoga in 90-minute sessions, following standardized and supervised postures in a  heated and humidified studio.

“Isometric deadlift strength, handgrip strength, lower back/hamstring and shoulder flexibility, resting heart rate and blood pressure, maximal oxygen consumption (treadmill), and lean and fat mass (DEXA) were measured before and after training,” according to the study summary. “Yoga subjects exhibited increased deadlift strength, substantially increased lower back/hamstring flexibility, increased shoulder flexibility, and modestly decreased body fat compared with Control. There were no changes in handgrip strength, cardiovascular measures, or maximal aerobic fitness. In summary, this short-term yoga training protocol produced beneficial changes in musculoskeletal fitness that were specific to the training stimulus.”

The University of Maryland lists the following health problems as conditions that have been lessened with the practice of yoga:

• Anxiety and stress
• Arthritis — osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
• Asthma
• Cancer, as an adjunct therapy to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. One study of 68 breast cancer patients found that those who practiced yoga has less anxiety and depression compared to those who didn’t. Even the DNA damage from radiotherapy was slightly less in the yoga group compared to the control group.
• Chronic back pain
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Heart disease, by lowering cholesterol levels, lowering blood pressure, lessening stress, and reducing the frequency and severity of chest pain (when combined with a healthy diet)
• High blood pressure
• Hormonal imbalances
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Lung diseases
• Pregnancy
• Migraine headaches

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Obama Administration will continue to move forward on implementing the health care reform law, known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. “The federal government and our state partners are moving forward to implement the health care law,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement.  “This new funding opportunity will give states the resources they need to establish affordable insurance exchanges and ensure Americans are no longer on their own when shopping for insurance.”

The health care reform act, which is expected to be fully implemented in 2014, legislates several regulations on the way health care is provided to the public, including the formation of affordable insurance exchanges, which offer individuals and small business owners the opportunity of one-stop shopping for health insurance. To improve access and opportunities for women’s health, the PPACA requires health insurance providers offer preventative services at no charge.

Such women’s health services include: sexually transmitted infection counseling; screening for gestational diabetes; breastfeeding support, supplies and counseling; human papillomavirus (HPV) blood testing for women ages 30 or older; human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening and counseling; U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved contraception methods and contraceptive counseling; domestic violence screening and counseling; and well-woman visits.

According to HHS, new health plans beginning August 1 or later must include these services without cost sharing for insurance policies. “The Affordable Care Act helps stop health problems before they start,” Sebelius said in an earlier statement.  “These historic guidelines are based on science and existing literature and will help ensure women get the preventive health benefits they need.”

For more information on how the PPACA impacts women’s health, visit http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2011/08/women.html.

A cesarean birth, typically known as a c-section, is a procedure in which a surgeon makes an incision in the abdominal wall and uterus to remove a baby from the mother. The average c-section takes 45 minutes to an hour. Having epidural analgesia or being induced into labor increase the chances of c-section.

While most c-sections in the past were conducted under extreme circumstances to save the life of the mother and/or child, today the procedure is becoming increasingly popular among more affluent women, who are choosing elective c-sections.

Elective c-sections are planned by both the obstetrician and the expecting mother, and occur prior to labor. These surgeries are usually not medically necessary, or are strongly suggested due to complication. Some women even request to have a “tummy tuck” following a C-section delivery.

The growth of c-section birth, both non-elective and elective, is recorded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The CDC has reported that the national rate of c-section delivery rose by 53 percent from 1996 to 2007, reaching 32 percent – the highest rate ever reported in the United States at that time.

According to the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, a study conducted in The Netherlands shows that any woman can find an obstetrician willing to conduct a c-section without a medical basis. The study also shows willingness to perform elective c-sections increases with the age of the doctor.

In addition, c-sections are typically more expensive than vaginal births. For those with health insurance, a c-section may only cost a few hundred dollars more than a vaginal birth. However, it may be worth considering that health insurance providers are covering a surgery that is becoming more of an elective – trendy, even – procedure rather than what is medically necessary.

For those without health insurance, vaginal births can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000. C-sections could cost an additional $2,000.

Most doctors agree that avoiding any unnecessary surgery during childbirth is best for both mom and baby. Finding a hospital or birth setting with low rates of intervention can help women reduce their risk of having a c-section. Even so, expecting mothers – or future mothers for that matter – are advised to research the birthing process to better understand what is best for her body and her baby.

Studies show that women with labor support, such as that provided by doulas, reduce the changes of having a C-section by more than 25 percent. Doulas are hired by pregnant women to help “mother” her through the birthing process, providing physical and emotional support. For more information about doulas, visit http://www.dona.org.