Are you a caregiver for an elderly relative? Then you need to watch this.

Many of us are caregivers for elderly relatives. As patient needs increase, demands on caregivers can rise to extreme levels. But what happens when caregivers burn out? Here's a story about how a clever Alberta doctor recognized caregiver burnout and helped avoid a horrible outcome.

I conducted this interview in my role as Editor in Chief of Alberta Doctors' Digest for the Alberta Medical Association. My guest was blogger and author of The Reluctant Caregiver, Bobbi Junior.

Researchers working on "bionic eye" implants

These researchers are working on retinal implants that will eventually help some people with vision loss regain their sight. Check it out.

Bull's eye! Organic greens and biodegradable plastic packaging.

I don't know about you, but when I buy organic greens (which is all time time), I don't feel good about the plastic packaging. Organic food and traditional packaging is an unfortunate contradiction. So I was pleased to find this organic produce from Kildara Farms that's packaged in biodegradable plastic bags. Also, kudos to Thrifty Foods for carrying this produce and Richmond Plastics for manufacturing the bags.

Yes, recyclable plastic packaging is a good thing. But biodegradable is even better. It makes me want to burry the plastic in my garden and see what happens. I can't say I've ever wanted to try that with normal plastic.

More information: kildarafarms.com

Niche is a French word. So is fleur de sel.

Problem: you move to Canada from France and can't find locally made fleur de sel that's up to your standards. Solution: learn the craft, start your own business and serve a niche. It can't hurt that the name of the island you live on has the word "salt" in its name. Well done, Philippe. For more information, visit saltspringseasalt.com.

Sauerkraut Geek!

Is it possible to be a sauerkraut geek? Yes, apparently that's a thing. Melanie, Salt Spring Island's self proclaimed geek, makes an amazing array of naturally fermented sauerkraut and kimchi. I bought some at the Salt Spring Island farmers' market and I'll definitely be back for more. What's so great about fermented foods? Check out culturalivefoods for some information about how bacteria can make you healthier. Healthier!? It's all stuff our ancestors knew about (and we forgot about). Except for the geeks.

Have a problem with people urinating on your walls?

Okay, so let's say you have a problem with people urinating on the walls in your neighbourhood. No, really... it happens. I've witnessed it myself across the street while I was enjoying New Years Eve dinner at a nice restaurant in London. I could share the photos, but you probably don't need to see that.

These folks in Germany have a solution to the pollution.

Helping the visually impaired navigate public transit

These people are working on a technology that would help visually impaired people find their way around the London transit system using bluetooth beacons and their smart phones.

Hot Coffee documentary claims to tell the real truth behind the famous McDonald's case

Remember the legal kerfuffle involving the American woman who sued McDonald's and was awarded millions of dollars over a cup of hot coffee that she spilled in her lap? The incident has become an international urban legend and the subject of much ridicule. But what actually happened? This documentary claims to tell the real truth and asks the question: "If we don't want judges and juries to make these kinds of decisions, then who should?"

Click on the link above to watch the trailer. You can also watch the full documentary on YouTube and Netflix.

What do Jimmy Kimmel and his doctor-friends think about the anti-vaccine movement?

As some of you know, I do a lot of work in the health care field. Immunization is a hot topic right now, so I think this video is great tongue-in-cheek fun.

And for another perspective, you might want to listen to this podcast from Freakonomics Radio and WNYC.

Waste not. Drink lots.

Here's a story that crosses over between the topics of health and energy. This process takes human waste and converts it into pure drinking water, heat and electricity. Watch one of the richest people in the world, Bill Gates, drink water that was converted from sewerage.

Wheat Belly: are grain proteins making you sick?

While we're on the topic of food and health, you might want to watch this lecture from the best-selling author of Wheat Belly, Dr. William Davis. He says the proteins in grains should not be consumed by humans.

Dr. Lustig reveals the bitter truth behind sugar

If you watched the Fifth Estate documentary in my previous post, you were introduced to Dr. Lustig. Here's a full-length lecture on the subject of sugar. How many 1.5 hour lectures do you know of that have more than 5 million views on YouTube? This is definitely worth your time!

Is sugar killing you slowly?

More about how our western diet may be the cause of many chronic diseases. This Fifth Estate documentary points the finger at sugar.

Could many of our current health problems be linked to food? Probably.

Some good research is being done as to what is causing obesity, diabetes, cancer, asthma, dementia, arthritis, cardiovascular disease and other metabolic conditions. Doctors and researchers around the world are starting to speak up. Here's a good lecture from Dr. Gary Fettke linking food to disease. And it's probably not what you're expecting.

More on this topic in coming posts.

Watch a double amputee control prosthetic limbs with his mind

CVS/pharmacy takes a stand on tobacco

I was in New York earlier this week and noticed that CVS/pharmacy has become the first national pharmacy in the USA to stop selling tobacco products. According to their news release:

"Ending the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products at CVS/pharmacy is the right thing for us to do for our customers and our company to help people on their path to better health," said Larry J. Merlo, President and CEO, CVS Caremark. "Put simply, the sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose."

Smoking is the leading cause of premature death in the United States with more than 480,000 deaths annually. So hats-off to CVS for taking a stand on what should be obvious to everyone: companies in the health care space should not be selling products that are proven to cause harm.

"Scent marketing" a bad idea

When my wife and I checked-in to a Yaletown-area hotel in Vancouver, we noticed a perfumed odour in the air. The next morning, we both woke up with splitting headaches (which has never happened before). The scent had made both of us ill, so we checked-out and got some fresh air. Problem solved.

I learned that some hotels now inject scents into the interior air through their ventilation systems in a new trend called "scent marketing". Apparently, the scent gives customers a point of differentiation and positive association with the location.

I'm not normally sensitive to perfumes, but many people are. In some jurisdictions, this sort of sensitivity is actually considered a disability. Aggravating people with disabilities is generally a bad idea!

Waste not. Want not. Further makes soap from kitchen grease.

Your Personal Paleo Code and The Calorie Myth are eyeopeners

If you found my previous two posts interesting, here are two other books that argue how our health epidemic may be a result of eating the wrong things: Your Personal Paleo Code and The Calorie Myth.

Are processed foods making us sick and affecting our genes?

Could it be that our diet of processed foods is shortening our lifespans, causing chronic disease and hurting our offspring? Could it be that the diet of our great grandparents and other ancestors was actually better? Were they more clever than us?

Probably.

To find out more, you might want to check out the book, Pottenger's Prophecy or listen to a podcast with the lead author here:

Interview with Gray Graham