Your daily health watch for Tuesday, February 26, 2008. This page will be updated throughout the day as we post new stories and videos to FoxNews Health. Please feel free to post your comments to any of our stories here, or send email to health@foxnews.com.

Study: Antidepressants May Not Work in All Patients

Antidepressants may not work as well as in people who are mildly depressed as they do in patients with major depression, according to a new study published in the journal PLoS Medicine.

Study: Blood Test May Determine Bipolar Disorder

A simple blood test could now diagnose and help treat patients suffering from bipolar disorder, thanks to research from Indiana University’s School of Medicine.

Chinese Woman Dies From Bird Flu

A migrant worker has died of the H5N1 virus in southern China, the Hong Kong government said Tuesday, as the country confirmed its fourth outbreak of bird flu among poultry this year.

Health Care Spending to Double to $4.3 Trillion by 2017

By 2017, total health care spending will double to more than $4 trillion a year, accounting for one of every $5 the nation spends, the federal government projects.

9 Ways Women Can Prevent Heart Disease

Cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of 460,000 women in 2004, making it the leading cause of death, according to the American Heart Association.

Cabbage Soup Day 2

Just in case you were wondering, Karlie and I did have a plan when we started the cabbage soup diet. First we thought seven days wasn’t so bad. For Karlie, well she felt she was eating kind of “bad.” She was going out to lunch and dinner a lot and wanted to do a sort of detox to get back on track. For me, I wanted to kick start a healthy eating plan and try to drop a few pounds. We thought we would try this out and see what happened.

Day 2 - Menu:

Vegetable Day!

Eat all the vegetables you want - fresh, raw, or cooked vegetables of your choice. Stay away from dry beans, peas and sweet corn. Reward yourself with a big baked potato with butter for dinner. Eat as much soup as you like but no fruit for today. Drink plenty of water and take a multivitamin.

Creative Creations: Be creative with your veggies! Think it might be hard eating vegetables for breakfast? Try baking butternut squash pieces with a sprinkle of cinnamon. For lunch, try sautéing a combination of vegetables together with a diced tomato sauce.

For dinner, add some steamed broccoli on top of your baked potato.

Click here to see all 5 days of the Cabbage Soup Diet

by Lori Lundin 

My husband Doug grew up in a very low income family in Washington State and didn’t get much dental care.  His teeth were also becoming very worn down as a result from grinding. 

He finally decided he had to do something, so he went for a consultation with a dentist in New York.

The diagnoses:  financially painful.

Doug would need a full mouth reconstruction, which would take about two years to complete and cost approximately $60,000.

However, if he didn’t have his teeth fixed, they would continue to deteriorate and he would continue to have problems.  

But we didn’t have $60,000 to make it happen.  I’d heard about medical tourism and started doing some online research.  From there I found a book called “Patients Beyond Borders.”  It was an eye-opening experience.  More and more people are traveling to places such as India, Thailand, Costa Rica and El Salvador to get health care. 

There are companies that specialize in facilitating all sorts of medical treatments overseas.  Not only are they getting great quality care and saving thousands of dollars, but they are making a vacation out of it.

And it’s not just small stuff.  Folks are going for heart surgery, plastic surgery, laparoscopic surgery, dental work, laser eye surgery…you name it.  The book showed price comparisons and recommended the top medical tourism companies.  After calling a few, I chose a company called Planet Hospital. 

The founder, Rudy Rupak began the journey toward medical tourism after his wife became sick in Thailand.  He was amazed at the quality of care, the compassionate treatment and how little it cost. After the initial phone call, we sent Doug’s treatment plan and x-rays from the American dentist.

Rudy put us in touch with one dentist in Costa Rica and one in El Salvador.   We immediately felt comfortable with Dr. Rafael Lorenzana, who was located in El Salvador. 

We were given an estimate for $18,000. Even with airfare and hotel, we would be saving about $40,000. But knowing so little about the country, we also felt cautious.  We called several people in the states who had gone to Dr. Lorenzana for similar procedures and they were thrilled.  Not only did they rave about the care and the quality of work, but they loved the country.

We decided to go for it.  Not only would Doug finally get his teeth fixed, but we would get a tropical vacation in the process.

Lori Lundin is a News Anchor/Reporter with Fox News Radio

What is the Cabbage Soup Diet?

The Cabbage Soup Diet is a weight loss program designed around heavy consumption of a low-calorie soup over the course of seven days. However, it is important to note that this is not intended as a long-term regimen.

Seen by many as a “fad diet,” this plan promises to slim you down by 10 pounds in just one week. How is that done? With the combination of low-fat, low-calorie cabbage soup, as much as you want each day, interesting food combinations, plenty of water, no sugar beverages and absolutely no alcohol.

Though the origins of this ‘fad’ are unknown, many have claimed that the diet was designed for obese heart-surgery patients who needed to lose weight quickly before surgery to reduce complication risk during their procedure.

Dieters may see this plan as a great way to “kick-start” a healthy lifestyle or to lose weight quickly before a big event or vacation, but there are some possible set-backs to keep in mind. Some may find that the soup is bland. Others have reported feeling light-headed, weak, and have suffered from decreased concentration. And remember, cabbage and some of the vegetables in the soup may give you excessive gas and abdominal pain.

Making the mix - The Cabbage Soup Recipe

• 6 large green onions
• 2 green peppers
• 1 or 2 cans of tomatoes (diced or whole)
• 3 Carrots
• 1 Container (10 oz. or so) Mushrooms
• 1 bunch of celery
• Half a head of cabbage
• 1 package Lipton soup mix
• 1 or 2 cubes of bouillon (optional)
• 1 48oz can V8 juice (optional)

Season to taste with salt, pepper, parsley, curry, garlic powder, etc.

Directions:

Slice green onions, put in a pot and start to sauté with cooking spray.

Cut green pepper stem end off and cut in half, take the seeds and membrane out. Cut the green pepper into bite size pieces and add to pot.

Take the outer leaf layers off the cabbage, cut into bite size pieces, add to pot.

Clean carrots, cut into bite size pieces, and add to pot.

Slice mushrooms into thick slices, add to pot.

If you would like a spicy soup, add a small amount of curry or cayenne pepper now.

You can use beef or chicken bouillon cubes for seasoning. These have all the salt and flavors you will need.

Use about 12 cups of water (or 8 cups and the V8 juice), cover and put heat on low. Let soup cook for a long time - two hours works well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Creative Creations: Do not add the seasonings until you are ready to eat the soup, that way you can create a different taste each time you eat your soup. Try crushed red pepper, garlic, chili powder, curry, or cumin for a different flavor.

Day 1 - Menu:

Fruit Day!

Eat all of the fruit you want (except bananas) and your soup. Drink only unsweetened teas, cranberry juice, or black coffee. Drink plenty of water and take a multivitamin.

Creative Creations: Make a fruit salad with some tropical fruit like pineapple, mango, melon, etc. One large bowl could be a meal!

Cut up your fruit before hand to help you organize your day and to snack on when you are hungry.

Try fruits you normally don’t have everyday to keep your diet interesting.

Click here to see all 5 days of the Cabbage Soup Diet

Your daily health watch for Monday, February 25, 2008. This page will be updated throughout the day as we post new stories and videos to FoxNews Health. Please feel free to post your comments to any of our stories here, or send email to health@foxnews.com.

HPV Vaccination Could Be Available for Boys by 2009

The human papillmovirus vaccination Gardasil could become available for boys and young men as soon as next year, according to a new report.

Report: Physical Therapy May Alleviate Painful Sex for Women

Physical therapy may help some women suffering from chronic pain during sex.

Norovirus Sickens More Than 100 Passengers on Mexican Cruise

A highly contagious virus sickened more than 100 passengers on a Holland America cruise ship that returned to San Diego Monday from a 10-day trip to Mexico.

Midwife Tells Couples to ‘Make Out’ During Childbirth

Midwife has unconventional home-birthing strategy, encouraging couples to make out, says orgasm during pregnancy possible.

Baby Doctors Said Would Be Deaf, Blind Born Healthy

A baby that doctors said would be deaf, blind and only live a few hours is now healthy and attempting to talk.

Study: Viagra May Harm Sperm, Fertility

Viagra may be good for boosting a man’s sex life, but it also may harm sperm and fertility, according to a new study.

FOXSexpert: Device Promises Women Instant Satisfaction

A new gadget — the ‘Orgasmatron’ — basically promises a near-instant orgasm by targeting a woman’s lower back. But is it all it’s cracked up to be?

Baby Being ‘Eaten Alive’ by Rare Bacterial Infection

A 17-month-old baby boy from Germany is fighting a rare bacterial infection that is literally eating him alive.

Your daily health watch for Saturday, February 23, 2008. This page will be updated throughout the day as we post new stories and videos to FoxNews Health. Please feel free to post your comments to any of our stories here, or send email to health@foxnews.com.

Insurer Fined $9M for Dropping Cancer Patient Amid Chemo

A woman whose medical coverage was canceled as she was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer has been awarded $9 million in a case against Health Net Inc., once of California’s largest health insurers.

Your daily health watch for Friday, February 22, 2008. This page will be updated throughout the day as we post new stories and videos to FoxNews Health. Please feel free to post your comments to any of our stories here, or send email to health@foxnews.com.

Bartender-to-Celebrity Transmission of Hepatitis A Possible

Hepatitis A is the most common cause of viral hepatitis in the world and it’s very possible that the bartender at a Manhattan hotspot transmitted his infection to the A-list celebrities who partied there, said one doctor.

Man Tells Wife Off, Rouses Her From Coma

desperate husband who learned a hospital was about to take his comatose wife off of life support managed to awaken her doing the one thing he knew she hated — being “told off.”

Study: Daytime Dozing May Indicate Stroke Risk

What do mammograms, blood-sugar tests and daytime dozing have in common? All may offer clues that someone is headed for a stroke, new studies suggest.

16-Year-Old Gives Birth to Second Set of Triplets

For the second time in two years, an Argentine teenager has given birth to female triplets, it is being reported.

Man With Leukemia Dies One Hour After Diagnosis

A U.K. man who went to a doctor with a sore throat died one hour after being told he had leukemia.

$10M Awarded to Mom Injected With Cleaning Fluid

A U.K. woman who was accidentally injected with cleaning fluid during childbirth has been awarded nearly $10 million, it is reported.

How to Look Healthy and Red Carpet-Ready

You don’t have to be famous to be red-carpet ready for your big event. Here is a six-month plan to make you look like a star.

Your daily health watch for Thursday, February 21, 2008. This page will be updated throughout the day as we post new stories and videos to FoxNews Health. Please feel free to post your comments to any of our stories here, or send email to health@foxnews.com.

Feds Meet to Develop Next Year’s Flu Vaccine

It’s time to write up the recipe for next year’s flu vaccine — and the nation’s influenza experts are aiming for better protection than this year’s shot wound up offering.

Orange Scent Appears to Calm Violent Criminals, Study Finds

Jailed criminals exposed to the scent of oranges were less aggressive and had fewer fights, a new study found.

Study: Cutting Salty Snacks Key to Child Weight Loss

Kids who load up on salty meals and snacks get thirsty, and too often they turn to calorie-filled sodas. Cutting salt could stem weight loss.

Study Concludes Some Women Do Not Have G-Spot

One scientist has concluded that the much-talked about area believed to be point of origin for the female “vaginal” orgasm does exist, but only in some woman, according to a small study published in Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Brain-Eating Amoeba Blamed for Man’s Deadly Illness

A California man is battling a rare and usually fatal parasite caused by a brain-eating amoeba found in soil.

Report: Strokes Triple Among Middle-Age Women

Strokes have tripled in recent years among middle-aged women in the U.S., an alarming trend doctors blame on the obesity epidemic.

Google to Store Patients’ Health Records, Raises Concerns

Google Inc. will begin storing the medical records of a few thousand people as it tests a long-awaited health service that’s likely to raise more concerns about the volume of sensitive information entrusted to the Internet search leader.

FOXSexpert: Measuring Up, Does Size Matter?

Want an audience’s attention? Talk about size and men will sure pay attention.

Identical Twins Often Have Different DNA

Copying errors frequently crop up, even among siblings who essentially share genomes.

Your daily health watch for Wednesday, February 20, 2008. This page will be updated throughout the day as we post new stories and videos to FoxNews Health. Please feel free to post your comments to any of our stories here, or send email to health@foxnews.com.

Eight-Year-Old Dies Suddenly From Mystery Illness

An 8-year-old Canadian girl died suddenly last week shortly after becoming ill, it is reported.

Botulism Victim Struggles to Walk, Breathe 1 Year Later

More than a year after contracting botulism from contaminated carrot juice, a Toronto woman remains hospitalized, struggling to walk and breathe.

After Years of Declines, Cancer Death Rate Increases

The cancer death rate has been dropping since the early 1990s, and early in this decade was declining by about 1 percent a year.

Hospitals Reach Settlement in Killer Nurse Case

The families of New Jersey patients murdered by a serial killer nurse have settled a lawsuit with the hospitals where he worked, an attorney representing two of the families said Tuesday.

One Arrested, One at Large in Meat Recall Probe

Chino police Tuesday said they had arrested one of the meatpacking workers charged with animal cruelty in the case.

College Student With Fatal Cancer Looks for Cure

A 20-year-old Duke University student with terminal cancer struggles in an out of laboratory to find cure.

Botox: It’s Not Just for Wrinkles Anymore

Anti-wrinkle drug used to alleviate scarring, migraines and sweating.

Your daily health watch for Tuesday, February 19, 2008. This page will be updated throughout the day as we post new stories and videos to FoxNews Health. Please feel free to post your comments to any of our stories here, or send email to health@foxnews.com.

Girl, 4, Faces Second Cancer Battle

A 4-year-old U.K. girl who survived her first battle against a rare childhood cancer once again is battling the disease, the Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

Medicare Won’t Pay Hospitals That Make Mistakes

It’s a new way to push for patient safety: Don’t pay hospitals when they commit certain errors. Medicare will start hitting hospitals where it hurts in October, and other insurers are hot on the trail.

Hospital Pharmacy Error Blamed for Preemie’s Death

An error by a hospital pharmacy led to the death of a premature baby who at one time was thriving, ABC News reported.

Girl Born With Eight Limbs Takes First Steps

With the help of a walker, the 2-year-old Indian girl born with eight limbs has taken her first steps.

When an Apology Does More Harm Than Good

An apology can do wonders for the human psyche. But what about empty apologies? Do they make anyone feel better? Not really. Still, it’s something both celebrities and even regular folks do quite often.

Treatment of Cows Destined for Slaughter Debated

The cattle industry and animal rights groups bickered over the treatment of beef destined for U.S. dinner plates a day after secret video triggered the nation’s largest meat recall.

Cotton Swab Left in Woman After C-Section

A British woman plans to sue the hospital that left a cotton swab inside of her following a Caesarean section.