Misleading Food Labels: It’s a Big Deal

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Reading the list of ingredients is more important than reading the front of the food label. Food labels can be confusing and misleading   The description on the front of a food label may be quite different than the actual ingredients. A food label may look “healthy” because the packaging and the wording are precisely created to capture your attention. Picture this You’re walking through the bread aisle and you…

Read More...

Beyond the Captivating Headlines: How to Make Sense of a Health News Story

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Is the health news story accurate? Did a recent study prove that coffee may lower the risk of stroke?  How was it reported? Writing magnetic headlines are required for any writer. After all, headlines capture your attention and at that moment you will decide whether to read the piece or not. According to Copyblogger, “On average, 8 out of 10 people will read headline copy, but only 2 out…

Read More...

Dr. Bill Crounse Talks with Todd Park: Comparing Health Insurance Plans Made Easy

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Microsoft’s Dr. Bill Crounse Talks with Todd Park, CTO of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, on Health Tech Today There is a plethora of health information for consumers today.  We are surrounded by smart meaningful material, but somehow it is easy to get lost in the maze of information.  We get stuck navigating through it and we find it hard to obtain information that is right…

Read More...

How to Filter Cancer Prevention Headlines

Guest post submitted by MD Anderson Cancer Center Most of us can’t keep up with all the new ways to avoid cancer. Thanks to the Internet, we now have an unlimited supply of cancer knowledge at our fingertips.  But, how can we filter out the good, the bad and the questionable? Below are steps to help you tease out the facts when reading that next big news story on preventing cancer. Says who? Don’t just…

Read More...