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Health Benefits and nutritional details of Radish

2009-08-04T02:05:00.000-07:00

Radish, the well known part of your salad, is a root crop, pungent or sweet in taste with a lot of juice. Radishes can be white, red, purple or black, long cylindrical or round in shape. They are eaten raw, cooked or pickled. The oil obtained from the seeds of radish is also used. The other parts of radish which are consumed are the leaves, the flowers, the pods and the seeds. The scientific name of radish is Raphanus Sativus which belongs to the Brassicaceae family. Radish is also known as Daiken in some parts of the world.

Radishes are moderately high in Vitamin C and contain properties that appear to be beneficial for symptoms of colds, flu, fever, cough, respiratory problems, and digestive disorders. For digestive problems, put a handful of radish leaves in boiling water, cover, and let sit for about 20 minutes. Strain, add honey to taste and drink as a tea. For colds, flu, and the associated symptoms, grate one radish and mix with honey to taste. Let this mixture stand for 10 hours in a dark place. Take 2 teaspoons three times a day as a cough syrup.

The benefits of radish against certain ailments and on certain body parts are listed below:

Jaundice: Radish is very good for the liver and the stomach and it is a very good detoxifier too, that is, it purifies blood. It is miraculously useful in jaundice as it helps removing bilirubin and also checks its production. It also checks destruction of red blood cells during jaundice by increasing supply of fresh oxygen in the blood. The black radish is more preferred in jaundice. The leaves of radish are also very useful in treatment of jaundice.

Piles: Radish is very rich in roughage, i.e. indigestible carbohydrates. This facilitates digestion, retains water, cures constipation (one of the main causes for piles) and thus gives relief in piles. Being a very good detoxifier, it helps heal up piles fast. Its juice also soothes the digestive and excretory system and this also relieves piles.

Urinary Disorders: Radishes are diurectic in nature, i.e. increase production of urine. Juice of radish also cures inflammation and burning feeling during urinating. It also cleans the kidneys and inhibits infections in kidneys and urinary system. Thus it helps a great deal in curing urinary disorders.

Weight Loss: Radishes are very filling, i.e. fills your stomach and satisfies your hunger easily without giving you many calories, as they are low in digestible carbohydrates, high in roughage and contain a lot of water. It is a very good dietary option for those determined to lose weight.

Cancer: Being a very good detoxifier and rich in vitamin-C, folic and anthocyanins, radish helps cure many types of cancer, particularly those of colon, kidney, intestines, stomach and oral cancer.

Leucoderma: The detoxifying and anti carcinogenic properties of radish make it useful in treatment of Leucoderma. The radish seeds are used in this case. They should be powdered and soaked in vinegar or ginger juice or cows urine and then applied on the white patches. Eating radish also aids treatment of
Leucoderma.

Skin Disorders: Vitamin-C, phosphorus, zinc and some members of vitamin-B complex, which are present in radish, are good for skin. The water in it helps maintaining moisture of the skin. Smashed raw radish is a very good cleanser and serves as a very efficient face pack. Due to its disinfectant properties, radish also helps cure skin disorders, such as drying up, rashes, cracks etc. and also refreshes it.

Kidney Disorders: Being diurectic, cleanser and disinfectant, it helps cure many kidney disorders. Its diurectic properties help wash away the toxins accumulated in the kidneys. Cleansing properties clean kidneys up and lessens accumulation of toxins in the blood, thereby decreasing their concentration in the kidneys. Its disinfectant properties protect the kidneys from any infections too. Thus it is good for overall health of the kidneys.

Insect Bites: It has anti pruritic properties and can be used as an effective treatment for insect bites, stings of bees, hornets, wasps etc. Its juice also reduces pain and swelling and soothes the affected area.

Fever: It brings down the body temperature and relieves inflammation due to fever. Drink radish juice mixed with black salt. Being a good disinfectant, it also fights infections which cause fever, thereby helping cure it.

Respiratory Disorders, Bronchitis and Asthma: Radish is an anti congestive, i.e. it relieves congestion of respiratory system including nose, throat, wind-pipe and lungs, due to cold, infection, allergies and other causes. It is a good disinfectant and also rich in vitamins, which protect respiratory system from infections.

Liver and Gallbladder: Radish is especially beneficial for liver and gallbladder functions. It regulates production and flow of bile and bilirubin, acids, enzymes and removes excess bilirubin from the blood, being a good detoxifier. It also contains enzymes like myrosinase, diastase, amylase and esterase. It protects liver and gallbladder from infections and ulcers and soothes them.

Other Benefits: Apart from above benefits, radish is a good appetizer, mouth and breathe freshener, laxative, regulates metabolism, improves blood circulation, is a good treatment for headache, acidity, constipation, nausea, obesity, sore throat, whooping cough, gastric problems, gallbladder stones, dyspepsia etc.

Finding it hard to digest the above stuff? Well! I suggest you have some slices of radish. That may help you and enhance your appetite for the health benefits of vegetables and herbs.
source: http://coolhealthtips.blogspot.com/2008/11/health-benefits-and-nutritional-details.html

The EGGPLANT Greatest Health Benefits and Nutritional Information

2009-08-03T05:00:00.001-07:00

It is egg-shaped and may be colored a rich black-purple or white, and has a thick skin. Commonly referred to as a vegetable, the eggplant is actually a fruit, and may grow anywhere from two inches to a foot in length. Eggplants are indigenous to Asia and the Amazon Rainforest, as well as other parts of the world.

They grow in a manner much like tomatoes, hanging from the vines of a plant that grows several feet in height. There are many varieties of eggplant, but the Black Magic variety which usually found in the U.S market was found to have three times the amount of antioxidant phenolics as compared to the other varieties. In addition the phenolic acid in eggplant is also responsible for the eggplants slight bitter taste and the browning the results when the flesh is cut.

If you are the health conscious sort, you'll know that eggplants are low in calories and practically fat-free. One cup of eggplant contains a mere 38 calories, it's a perfect diet food if you're thinking of losing weight.
In addition to this nutritional value, eggplant is rich in flavonoids, which are pigments known to enhance certain qualities of the foods in which they naturally occur. Eggplant is also rich in antioxidants, which is helpful in stimulating the immune system and energy levels of the body, as well as keeping the heart healthy.

Eggplants also contain a compound called terpenes, which are known to lower cholesterol.

Health Benefits:

The skin of eggplant contains a phytonutrient that helps protect the lipids (fats) in brain cell membranes.
Eggplant is a rich source of phenolic compounds an antioxidant that can help prevent cancer, cholesterol build-up and bacterial and viral infection.
Eggplant has a high fiber content which can prevent constipation, hemorrhoids, and colitis.
Eggplant is naturally low in calories and has no fat. A cup has only 38 calories.
Lowers cholesterol by preventing its absorption in the intestines.
Eggplant can help in cases of stomach ulcers
It can help in various nervous conditions.
Eggplant contains a large amount of water. It is good for balancing diets that are heavy in protein and starches.

Nutritive Values: Per 100 gm.

Vitamin A: 30 I.U.
Vitamin B: Thiamine .04 mg.
Riboflavin: .05 mg.
Niacin: .65 mg.
Vitamin C: 5 mg.
Calcium: 15 mg.
Iron: .4 mg.
Phosphorus: 37 mg.
Potassium: 390 mg.
Fat: .2 gm.
Carbohydrates: 5.5 gm.
Protein: 1.1 gm.
Calories: 24

16 Minimum Time Tips for Maximum Fitness

2009-08-01T01:43:00.000-07:00

These 16 strategies will help you get the body you've always wanted:

1. In the beginning, your fitness plan should not be overly aggressive. One of the biggest problems most people encounter when starting a fitness program is rapidly depleted motivation after only a few weeks; this is due to an overly ambitious fitness plan.

Two days per week of 20-minute low-intensity cardiovascular exercise (walking, jogging, biking, swimming) and two days per week of 30-minute light resistance training (using weights or resistance machines) is adequate in the beginning. As you adapt to the lifestyle shift, you can add more days and get improved results. But beware: If you try to do too much too fast, you may end up quitting altogether.

2. If your goal is fat loss, then your cardiovascular exercise should be low intensity. Your heart rate during cardio exercise should not exceed 50 percent to 70 percent of your maximum heart rate. The simple formula for calculating your 100 percent maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age.

If the intensity of your exercise increases your heart rate beyond 70 percent (which can occur very easily if you are in poor shape), you start shifting from using body fat as your energy source to relying on glucose metabolism. Your personal trainer can supply you with a simple heart-rate monitor you can wear during exercise. That way, you always stay in your peak fat-burning range.

3. Don't waste your time working small muscles with isolated movements. If you don't enjoy doing resistance training or are pressed for time, concentrate on working the largest muscle groups with compound resistance movements.

When I see overweight people doing wrist curls or lateral raises, I wonder why. It's generally just a lack of understanding of how their bodies work. Most people want to lose fat and tone and firm their bodies. The way to do that is to use resistance (weights or machines) to train the large muscle groups
Men should be concentrating on legs, chest and back. Women should concentrate more on their legs and back. The best exercises for legs are lunges or squats (your personal trainer will show you the proper form and then monitor you during the exercise) and the leg press. The best chest exercise is the bench press, and the best back exercise is the seated row. All of these are compound movements, which means they incorporate multiple muscle groups.
source: http://coolhealthtips.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html

Weight Loss Through Simple Home Remedies

2009-07-30T23:32:00.000-07:00

Treatment with Simple Home Remedies

Remedy # 1

This one is not actually a remedy, but it is the most important thing you must do in order to keep your weight in a normal level. And that is, stick to a healthy diet. The following are the dietary guidelines you must follow in order to keep your waistline healthy: -

1 Do not overindulge in eating any one type of food. Keep your diet balanced.

2 Keep the intake of sugars and fats to a minimum. The fats to be avoided are the saturated fats and the trans-fatty acids.

3 Too much carbohydrates build weight. Hence, the intake of rice and potatoes must be reduced. Wheat, barley and maize are ideal substitutes for rice in people who has weight problems.

4 You must have at least one bitter vegetable per day. This helps in the proper metabolism of fats and do not allow them to accumulate in the body.

5 Never eat to full capacity.

6 Consume a lot of fluids in the day. This helps to eliminate the undigested foods effectively.

7 Exercise is extremely important. It is necessary to indulge in mild physical activity after each meal even if you cannot make time to go to a gym...

source: http://coolhealthtips.blogspot.com/

DRINKING WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH IS GOOD FOR HEALTH

2009-07-30T02:09:00.000-07:00

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases:

Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhoea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

METHOD OF TREATMENT

1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water

2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minutes

3. After 45 m! inutes you may eat and drink as normal......

source: http://coolhealthtips.blogspot.com/2009/04/drinking-water-on-empty-stomach-is-good.html

7 important thing's should not be done after having meals

2009-07-28T23:52:00.000-07:00

* Don't smoke - Experiment from experts proves that smoking a cigarette after meal is comparable to smoking 10 cigarettes (chances of cancer is higher).

* Don't eat fruits immediately - Immediately eating fruits after meals will cause stomach to be bloated with air. Therefore take fruit 1-2 hr after meal or 1hr before meal.

* Don't drink tea - Because tea leaves contain a high content of acid. This substance will cause the Protein content in the food we consume to be hardened thus difficult to digest.

* Don't loosen your belt - Loosening the belt after a meal will easily cause the intestine to be twisted & blocked.

source: http://coolhealthtips.blogspot.com/2009/04/7-important-things-should-not-be-done.html

Overcome Over Eating Habit

2009-07-21T02:03:00.000-07:00

Babies are born knowing to eat when they are hungry, and stop when they are comfortable. But as we grow up and are exposed to fad diets, advertising, food used as a reward, etc., many of us unlearn this beautifully balanced way of eating and begin to overeat.

Why do we eat? We all know why we should be eating: to supply our bodies with plenty of energy to get through the day; to get nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals which help us to stay healthy and free of disease; and to get useful carbohydrates, proteins, and fats—all of which contribute to running our bodies properly and maintaining good health

When we're distracted or hurried the food (and calories) we eat tend not to register well in our brains

Give the meal your full attention, and notice when you've had enough.

Steer away from foods that give you a lot of calories for very little volume, such as milk shakes, cheese, and chocolate

Feeling hungry? Try this first. Try drinking a glass or two of water. Many people mistake what is actually dehydration for hunger.

When you feel the urge to snack or keep eating, take an exercise break. Walk around the block for 5 or 10 minutes, run up and down the stairs, or distract yourself with anything for about 10 minutes. You’ll probably find that you weren’t really hungry, but bored instead

Problem/Risks

Overeating of certain specific dietary components may also lead to health risks. An over consumption of fatty and sugary foods, high glycemic ones, results in diabetes, heart diseases and related conditions.

Obesity increases the risks of hypertension, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, endocrine problems, gall bladder disease, arthritis, lung and breathing problems, bone deterioration, sleep disturbances (sleep apnea).

Excessive weight prejudice, they might have a decreased ability in learning process or some work situations.

Top 5 lifestyle changes to reduce cholesterol

2009-07-17T00:02:00.000-07:00

Lifestyle changes can help reduce cholesterol, keep you off cholesterol-lowering medications or enhance the effect of your medications. Here are five lifestyle changes to get you started.

High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease and heart attacks. You can reduce cholesterol with medications, but if you'd rather make lifestyle changes to reduce cholesterol, you can try these five healthy lifestyle changes. If you're already taking medications, these changes can also improve their cholesterol-lowering effect.

1. Lose excess pounds
Carrying some extra pounds — even just a few — contributes to high cholesterol. So losing as little as 5 to 10 pounds (2.3 to 4.6 kilograms) can help reduce cholesterol levels.

Start by taking an honest look at your eating habits and daily routine. Consider your challenges to weight loss — and ways to overcome them.

If you eat when you're bored or frustrated, take a walk instead. If you pick up fast food for lunch every day, pack something healthier from home. If you're sitting in front of the television, try munching on carrot sticks instead of potato chips as you watch. And, look for ways to incorporate more activity into your daily routine, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Remember that adding physical activity, even in 10-minute intervals several times a day, can help you begin to lose weight. Just be sure that you can keep up the changes you decide to make. Take stock of what you currently eat and your physical activity level, and slowly work changes in.

2. Eat heart-healthy foods
Even if you have years of unhealthy eating under your belt, making a few changes in your diet can reduce cholesterol and improve your heart health.

Choose healthier fats. Saturated fats, found in red meat and dairy products, raise your total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol. As a general rule, you should get no more than 10 percent of your daily calories from saturated fat. Instead, choose leaner cuts of meat, low-fat dairy and monounsaturated fats — found in olive, peanut and canola oils — for a healthier option.
Eliminate trans fats. Trans fat can be found in fried foods and many commercial baked products, such as cookies, crackers and snack cakes. But don't rely on packages that are labeled "trans fat-free." In the United States, if a food contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving, it can be labeled "trans fat-free." Even though those amounts seem small, it can add up quickly if you eat a lot of foods that have a small amount of trans fat in them. Instead, read the ingredients list. You can tell if a food has trans fat in it if it contains partially hydrogenated oil.

Limit your cholesterol intake. Aim for no more than 300 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol a day — less than 200 mg if you have heart disease. The most concentrated sources of cholesterol include organ meats, egg yolks and whole milk products. Use lean cuts of meat, egg substitutes and skim milk instead.
Select whole grains. Various nutrients found in whole grains promote heart health. Choose whole-grain breads, whole-wheat pasta, whole-wheat flour and brown rice.

Stock up on fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are rich in dietary fiber, which can help lower cholesterol. Snack on seasonal fruits. Experiment with veggie-based casseroles, soups and stir-fries. If you prefer dried fruits to fresh, limit yourself to no more than a handful (about an ounce or two). Dried fruit tends to have more calories than does fresh fruit.

Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids can help lower your LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Some types of fish — such as salmon, mackerel and herring — are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Other good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include walnuts, almonds and ground flaxseeds.

3. Get some daily exercise
Whether you're overweight or not, exercise can reduce cholesterol. Better yet, moderate physical activity can help raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol. With your doctor's OK, work up to 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day. Take a brisk daily walk during your lunch hour. Ride your bike to work. Swim laps. Play a favorite sport. To maintain your motivation, find an exercise buddy or join an exercise group. And remember, any activity is helpful. Even taking the stairs instead of the elevator or doing a few sit-ups while watching television can make a difference.

4. Quit smoking
If you smoke, stop. Quitting can improve your HDL cholesterol level. And the benefits don't end there. Just 20 minutes after quitting, your blood pressure decreases. Within 24 hours, your risk of a heart attack decreases. Within one year, your risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker. Within 15 years, your risk of heart disease is similar to someone who never smoked.

5. Drink alcohol only in moderation
Moderate use of alcohol has been linked with higher levels of HDL cholesterol — but the benefits aren't strong enough to recommend alcohol for anyone who doesn't already drink. If you choose to drink, do so in moderation. This means no more than one drink a day for women, and one to two drinks a day for men. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to serious health problems, including high blood pressure, heart failure and stroke.

If lifestyle changes aren't enough ...
Sometimes healthy lifestyle changes aren't enough to lower cholesterol levels. Make sure the changes you choose to make are ones that you can continue, and don't be disappointed if you don't see results immediately. If your doctor recommends medication to help lower your cholesterol, take it as prescribed. But remember the significance of the healthy lifestyle choices you've made.

The Miracle of Green Tea

2009-07-15T00:51:00.001-07:00

Any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea?Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent.

University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:

* cancer
* rheumatoid arthritis
* high cholesterol levels
* cariovascular disease
* infection
* impaired immune function

Other Benefits

New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.
Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.

How to Brew a Cup of Green Tea

Producing the perfect cup of green tea is a tricky process. If not handled properly, those same polyphenols that provide health benefits can ruin the flavor, making the tea taste "gassy." It's particularly important not to overbrew. While it's best to follow the manufacturer's instructions for each variety of green tea, here are some general instructions:

* Use one tea bag, or 2 - 4 grams of tea,* per cup.
* Fill a kettle with cold water and bring to a boil.
* After unplugging the kettle, allow it to stand for up to 3 minutes.
* Pour the heated water over the tea bag or tea, and allow it to steep for up to 3 minutes. If using a tea bag, remove the bag.
* Allow the tea to cool for three more minutes.
*One to two teaspoons, depending on the variety of green tea you are brewing.

25 Health Benefits of Lemons

2009-07-14T00:41:00.000-07:00

Lemon is one of those super foods with a myriad health and cosmetic benefits. There are a few persons for whom it is an allergen, so make sure you are not allergic to this natural product, before you start enjoying the many benefits.

1. Lemon being a citrus fruit , fights against infection. It helps in production of WBC's and antibodies in blood which attacks the invading microorganism and prevents infection.

2. Lemon is an antioxidant which deactivates the free radicals preventing many dangerous diseases like stroke, cardiovascular diseases and cancers.

3. Lemon lowers blood pressure and increases the levels of HDL (good cholesterol).

4. Lemon is found to be anti-carcinogenic which lower the rates of colon, prostate, and breast cancer . They prevent faulty metabolism in the cell, which can predispose a cell to becoming carcinogenic. Also blocks the formation of nitrosamines in the gut.

5. Lemon juice is said to give a glow to the skin.

6. A few drops of lemon juice in hot water are believed to clear the digestive system and purify liver as well.

7. The skin of lemon dried under the sun and then ground to make powder can be applied to the hair for a few minutes before bath which relieves head ache and cools the body.

8. Applying lemon juice to acne dries the existing ones and prevents from getting more.

9. Lemon juice acts as a natural hair lightner and skin bleach which reduces the pigment melanin and prevents the risk of chemical allergic reactions which is common with hair dyes and bleaches.

10. Lemon juice is given to relieve gingivitis, stomatitis, and inflammation of the tongue.

11. Lemon juice is given to prevent common cold.

12. Lemon juice is given to prevent or treat urinary tract infection and gonorrhea.

13. Lemon juice is applied to the sites of bites and stings of certain insects to relieve its poison and pain.

14. Lemon juice relieves colic pain and gastric problems .

15. Lemon juice soothes the dry skin when applied with little glycerin.

16. Lemon juice used for marinating seafood or meat kills bacteria and other organisms present in them, thereby prevents many gastro-intestinal tract infections.

17. Lemon juice with a pinch of salt (warm) every morning lowers cholesterol levels and brings down your weight.

18. Lemon juice is the best drink to prevent dehydration and shock in case of diarrhea.

19. Lemon juice can also be used as a mouthwash. It removes plaque, whitens the teeth and strengthens the enamel.

20. A table spoon on thick lemon syrup everyday relieves asthma.

21. Lemon juice relieves chilblains and itchy skin.

22. Gargling lemon juice relieves throat infection and also used as a treatment for diphtheria.

23. Lemon juice is an excellent treatment for dandruff and greasy hair.

24. Lemon applied over the face removes wrinkles and keeps you young.

25. Lemon juice helps to prevent and cure osteoarthritis.

19 reasons to take a nap

2009-07-13T02:34:00.001-07:00

Studies show that not only will you feel better almost immediately, says Sara Mednick, PhD, a sleep medicine researcher at the University of California at San Diego and author of Take a Nap! Change Your Life, but a daily nap of between 20 and 90 minutes before 4:00 pm will also increase your mental performance, reduce your chances of gaining weight, and make you feel a whole lot more like having sex after dinner than you probably do now. What's more, it won't affect your nighttime sleep.

All told, a nap, according to Dr. Mednick, will:

• Increase your on-the-job alertness by 100 percent
• Sharpen your thinking so you make more accurate judgments and better decisions
• Ramp up your productivity
• Regenerate skin cells so you look younger
• Increase your sex drive
• Help you lose weight by altering metabolism and shifting chemicals that affect appetite
• Reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular problems
• Lift your mood by bathing your brain in the neurotransmitter serotonin
• Speed up your ability to perform motor tasks, like typing, operating machinery, even swimming
• Improve your accuracy—in everything
• Improve the way your body processes carbs, which reduces your risk of diabetes
• Sharpen your senses so you take in what's important in your environment—and screen out the 24-hour culture chatter that surrounds us
• Put your brain into its creative gear so you can come up with fresh ideas
• Trigger a naturally occurring hormone that blocks the destructive chemicals produced by stress
• Boost your ability to learn something new—and, better yet, remember it
• Zap the need for drugs like caffeine and alcohol to manipulate your mood and energy level
• Relieve migraines
• Improve your nighttime sleep by eliminating that wired feeling and thus shutting off the brain chatter
• Make you feel good all over

Apple Cider Vinegar Cool Health Benefits

2009-07-10T00:09:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows how good an apple is for their health. When this same apple is allowed to ferment, the fruit acid that is formed is more potent that one can imagine. It is loaded with pectin, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, fluorine, copper, sulfur, and a range of vitamins. It also contains carboxylic acids, acetates, ketones, and aldehydes. With all these elements present in substantial quantities, one can only imagine the benefits that apple cider vinegar can provide. Let us take a look at some of them:

Apple Cider Vinegar Remedies

Heart Health: Apple cider vinegar contains potassium which in conjunction with other elements keeps blood thin and controls blood pressure. The fruit pectin in apple cider vinegar is a fiber which is useful in eliminating LDL, or the bad cholesterol, and fats as waste by products.
Bone Health: Calcium along with other minerals like magnesium, iron, and manganese help maintain bone density and mass. It helps ageing and menopausal women combat the evils of osteoporosis.
Arthritis: Apple cider vinegar is a detoxifier and helps eliminate toxins from the body, especially from tissues. This greatly relives arthritic pains.
Diabetes: Pectin helps stabilize blood glucose levels and hence is beneficial as diabetic supplement.
Yeast Infection: Acid unbalance in the body can cause several types of yeast infections. The malic acid and acetic acid in apple cider vinegar can help combat infections like Candida when applied topically (mixed in warm water) and ingested orally.
Weight Loss: Apple cider vinegar is known to curb appetite, boost metabolism, and help burn fat. Two tbsp of apple cider vinegar half an hour before every meal helps you eat less and aids in effective digestion.
Digestion: Apple cider vinegar is known to aid digestion by helping produce to hydrochloric acid and pepsin in the stomach responsible for digestion.
Skin Allergies: Acetic acid in apple cider vinegar converts into acetate compounds which reduce toxicity levels increased during allergies. This helps alleviate many skin allergies.
Muscle Health: The amino acids in apple cider vinegar are good for muscle building and help combat muscle fatigue and soreness.
Overall Health: Due to the presence of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other compounds required for sound body function, apple cider vinegar is highly recommended for improving overall body health.

Other Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar Remedies

Apple cider vinegar is known to reduce varicose veins and skin lesions. It is a powerful anti-septic and anti-biotic and hence effective in healing wounds and combating bacterial infections. Chest congestion can be greatly relived by applying warm apple cider vinegar mixed with pepper.

Hypertension Or High Blood Pressure Details

2009-07-09T00:32:00.000-07:00

High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition in which the blood pressure exceeds the limit of 140/90.

These two numbers indicate the maximum(140) and minimum(90) pressure that the heart exerts during one single beat, which involves a contraction and an expansion. Technically known as systolic and the diastolic pressure

High blood pressure is very often hereditary in nature, but an unbalanced diet and a faulty lifestyle can also cause this condition. High blood pressure damages blood vessels and increases the risks of kidney damage and heart attack.

Causes

In 90% of the cases, the cause of high blood pressure is not known (referred to as primary hypertension). Although the specific cause is unknown, certain factors are recognized as contributing to high blood pressure.

* Age: The older you get, the greater the likelihood that you will develop high blood pressure, especially systolic, as your arteries get stiffer. This is largely due to arteriosclerosis, or "hardening of the arteries."

* Race: African Americans have high blood pressure more often than whites. They develop high blood pressure at a younger age and develop more severe complications sooner.

* Family history (heredity): The tendency to have high blood pressure appears to run in families.

* Gender: Generally men have a greater likelihood of developing high blood pressure than women. This likelihood varies according to age and among various ethnic groups.

* Overweight (obesity): Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2. It is very closely related to high blood pressure. Medical professionals strongly recommend that all obese people with high blood pressure lose weight until they are within 15% of their healthy body weight. Your health care provider can help you calculate your BMI and healthy range of body weight.

* Sodium (salt) sensitivity: Some people have high sensitivity to sodium (salt), and their blood pressure goes up if they use salt. Reducing sodium intake tends to lower their blood pressure. Americans consume 10-15 times more sodium than they need. Fast foods and processed foods contain particularly high amounts of sodium. Many over-the-counter medicines, such as painkillers, also contain large amounts of sodium. Read labels to find out how much sodium is contained in food items. Avoid those with high sodium levels.

* Alcohol use: Drinking more than one to two drinks of alcohol per day tends to raise blood pressure in those who are sensitive to alcohol.

* Birth control pills (oral contraceptive use): Some women who take birth control pills develop high blood pressure.

* Lack of exercise (physical inactivity): A sedentary lifestyle contributes to the development of obesity and high blood pressure.

* Drugs: Certain drugs, such as amphetamines (stimulants), diet pills, and some pills used for cold and allergy symptoms, tend to raise blood pressure.

Symptoms

Though hypertension does not have too many obvious symptoms, frequent and unexplained tiredness and dizziness, ringing in the ears, thumping in the chest and hot flushes on the face may be signs of increase in blood pressure.

Sometimes people with high blood pressure have the following symptoms:

* Headache

* Dizziness

* Blurred vision

* Nausea

People often do not seek medical care until they have symptoms arising from the organ damage caused by chronic (ongoing, long-term) high blood pressure. The following types of organ damage are commonly seen in chronic high blood pressure:

* Heart attack

* Heart failure

* Stroke or "mini stroke" (transient ischemic attack, TIA)

* Kidney failure

* Eye damage with loss of vision

* Peripheral arterial disease

* Outpouchings of the aorta, called aneurysms

Treatment

Studies show that many people get better control of blood pressure with combination treatment than with one drug.

Most people with mild high blood pressure respond to one medication. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find the most effective drug.

However, sometimes one drug cannot control high blood pressure. The doctor may increase the dose or change the medication, yet the blood pressure stays high. That's when a second drug may be added.

You can prevent high blood pressure by:

Maintaining a healthy weight. Being overweight can make you two to six times more likely to develop high blood pressure than if you are at your desirable weight. Even small amounts of weight loss can make a big difference in helping to prevent and treat high blood pressure.
Getting regular exercise: People who are physically active have a lower risk of getting high blood pressure -- 20%-50% lower -- than people who are not active. You don't have to be a marathon runner to benefit from physical activity. Even light activities, if done daily, can help lower your risk.
Reducing salt intake: Often, when people with high blood pressure cut back on salt, their blood pressure falls. Cutting back on salt also prevents blood pressure from rising.
Drinking alcohol in moderation, if at all: Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure. So to help prevent high blood pressure, if you drink alcohol, limit how much you drink to no more than two drinks a day. The "Dietary Guidelines for Americans" recommend that for overall health, women should limit their alcohol to no more than one drink a day.
Reduce Stress: Stress can make blood pressure go up and over time may contribute to the cause of high blood pressure. There are many steps you can take to reduce your stress.

Refered From

http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/cool-health-tips/3235507447f9d9880f8d433f3dc43617

Top Health Tips to maintain your health

2009-07-08T00:35:00.001-07:00

Health and wellness tips can help you achieve a higher level of health. These Health tips and tricks can help you maintain your health.

1. Quit Smoking
The smoking is very harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens.If possible protect yourself from smoking. it is a drug!!

2. Pollution Effects
Protect Your body from the Polution.Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good.

3. Drinking Effects
Avoid yourself from Excessive Drinking. While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer.

4. Drink More Water

Water is very important for your good health. You can live three weeks without food, However you can only live for three days without fluid.Its true that only the thirsty man knows the test of water. Drink 12-16 glass of water daily. So for your Total health drink more water.

5. Take Good Foods

A Variety Of Foods is more important to maintain your health. Eat different colored fruits and vegetables.To protect your body from the majority of illnesses such as heart disease and cancer you need a variety of foods.

6. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook
There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life.

7. Get Moving!
It's easy to fit physical activities into your daily routine. Walk, bike or jog to see friends. Take a 10-minute activity break every hour while you read, do homework or watch TV. Climb stairs instead of taking an escalator or elevator. Try to do these things for a total of 30 minutes every day.

8. Eat more grains, fruits and vegetables.
These foods give you carbohydrates for energy, plus vitamins, minerals and fiber. Besides, they taste good! Try breads such as whole-wheat, bagels and pita. Spaghetti and oatmeal are also in the grain group.
Bananas, strawberries and melons are some great tasting fruits. Try vegetables raw, on a sandwich or salad.

Rain Water and Allergy

2009-07-07T00:47:00.000-07:00

There is nothing quite so refreshing as rain, and although it can be a bit of a nuisance at times, it is more often a blessing, and not in disguise, and not just for allergy sufferers. Rain is wonderful for reducing dust and pollens in the air. It is invigorating not just because it helps so many things to grow, but also because it freshens everything to the extent that many airborne allergens are neutralized.

It may be that where there is no rain there is only desert, and that allergens can't exist where there are no pollens, but don't bet on it. There are many allergens, other than pollen allergens that are just waiting to attack those who are susceptible. Just about the most essential of the modern worlds requirements, is oil, which paradoxically is also just about the worlds biggest pollutant. Unfortunately, oil and other airborne gasses are not only pollutants, but they produce allergens, ready to strike down those whose immune systems have been compromised.

Rain is not just a cleanser but also the source of the greatest human necessity, which is water. Without water everything dries up withers, and dies. Of course water is not just a necessity to sufferers of allergies but to all living things. How often do you hear people say, 'Oh it's raining again', when that rain is the very essence of their existence.

So, let us all be thankful for rain. Of course, when the heavens occasionally open and apply too much, disasters can occur. But there are far more disasters caused by a lack of rain than too much. All over the world people are grateful for rain. For allergy sufferers, there is perhaps nothing that is quite so refreshing and healing, as when a shower of rain cleanses the atmosphere, to make the seemingly simple process of breathing the life sustaining force that nature intended.

Health Fitness Tips – Rosacea Symptoms, Treatments, Prevention

2009-07-05T23:09:00.000-07:00

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea (rose-ay-shah) is a common, long-lasting skin condition that causes inflammation and redness of the face. It usually starts with redness on the cheeks and nose, and also can affect the forehead.

Rosacea affects usually fair-skinned adults between ages 30 and 50 who have "peaches and cream" complexions and a history of blushing easily. Women develop rosacea more often than men, but men are more apt to develop lumpy enlarged noses, a condition called rhinophyma. Rosacea often is mistaken for sunburn, and often goes undiagnosed. It is a very treatable condition.

Rosacea Symptoms :-

There are four progressive stages of rosacea.

(1) First Stage :- Flushing and intermittent facial redness Second stage — Persistent redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead.

(2) Third stage :- Small, pus-colored or red bumps, along with tiny blood vessels that appear as red, thin lines called telangiectasias.

(3) Fourth stage :- Bumps and skin thickening of the nose.

Redness :- Facial skin redness looks like a sunburn or blush. This is caused by flushing, which occurs when excess blood rapidly flows through the skin's blood vessels, and the vessels enlarge to handle this flow. Gradually, this redness becomes more noticeable and does not go away. Facial skin also may become very dry.

Pimples :- Small, red and solid or pus-filled pimples may appear on the face. Because these pimples look like teen-age acne, rosacea has often been nicknamed adult acne or acne rosacea. However, rosacea has different causes than acne, and adults with rosacea do not have the whiteheads or blackheads (called comedones) commonly seen in acne.

Red lines (telangiectasias) :- Facial blushing or flushing causes small blood vessels to expand and eventually to show through the skin. These enlarged blood vessels appear as thin red lines (telangiectasias) on the face, especially on the cheeks. At first, telangiectasias may be hidden by the redness of flushing or blushing, but they usually reappear after this redness fades.

Nasal bumps :- Left untreated, rosacea eventually can create small, knobby bumps on the nose, which make the nose appear swollen. This condition is more common among men and is called rhinophyma.

Eye irritation :- Red, dry eyes develop in about half of patients with rosacea. Eye involvement is usually relatively mild. Rarely, severe involvement of the eyes develops. If untreated, it can affect vision.

Rosacea Prevention :-

There is no way to prevent the rosacea, but the symptoms can be reduced by recognizing these common triggers: hot drinks, alcohol, spicy foods, stress, sunlight, extreme heat or cold. These conditions increase blood flow and cause the small blood vessels in the face to widen (dilate). If you have rosacea, try to identify your particular triggers and either modify them or avoid them entirely.

To cleanse and moisturize your face, you should select facial products that do not burn, sting, irritate or cause redness when they are applied. You should wash your face with lukewarm water and a mild soap, using your fingertips to apply the soap gently. You should avoid toners, astringents, scrubs, exfoliating agents and products that contain alcohol or acetone. Hydroxy acids and tretinoin (for example, Retin A) may sensitize the skin to sun, and can worsen rosacea.

Sunscreens and sun blockers should be used regularly and liberally to protect the face. Use sunscreens with SPF factor of 15 or higher. If chemical sunscreens cause stinging, switch to physical sun blocks, which contain titanium or zinc oxide.

Rosacea Treatment :-

Antibiotics :- Topical metronidazole cream or gel (Metro Cream, Metro Gel) is the most frequently prescribed first-line therapy. Other topical antibiotics also may be effective.

Tetracycline and tetracycline derivatives, such as doxycycline, are drugs taken by mouth once or twice per day. They are sold under several brand names. Improvement is usually noticeable within the first two months after beginning treatment.

Azelaic acid (Finacea) :- It is a gel containing dicarboxylic acid, and is used for the inflammatory pimples of mild to moderate rosacea.

Beta-blockers and alpha antagonists :- These medications may reduce flushing through their effect on blood vessels.

Propranolol (Inderal) and nadolol (Corgard) are beta-blockers and clonidine (Catapres) is an alpha antagonist. The use of these drugs for rosacea is off-label, meaning that the FDA has not approved their use for rosacea.

Beta-blockers usually are used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease. Clonidine was developed to treat high blood pressure, but also is used to decrease hot flashes in menopause.

Estrogen :- This female hormone is used when rosacea is aggravated by the hot flashes of menopause. The smallest dose of estrogen that controls menopausal symptoms should be used, then the hormone should be stopped when hot flashes no longer occur.

Laser treatment :- This is used to get rid of dilated blood vessels or to remove excess nose tissue.

Alternative Natural Health Care - Cough Home Remedies,Prevention,Symptoms

2009-07-04T01:54:00.000-07:00

Coughs are either caused by viral infections or symptoms of viral infections like bronchitis and flu. Because many of these viruses affect the respiratory system, they cause dry coughs as the brain tries to get rid of the "foreign objects" in the throat - which is what it perceives the infection to be.

Coughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. Coughing is an action the body takes to get rid of burdens that are irritating the air passages. In the more advanced stages, it's marked by the symptom that gives the disease its name: a severe, hacking cough.

Causes of Cough :-

The common Causes of Cough:

(1) Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

(2) Lung disease such as bronchiectasis interstitial lung disease, or tumors.

(3) Exposure to secondhand smoke.

(4) Allergies and asthma.

(5) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema or chronic bronchitis).

(6) Lung infections such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis.

(7) Cigarette smoking.

(8) ACE inhibitors (medications used to control blood pressure).

Symptoms of Cough :-

Some Symptoms of Cough:

(1) A runny nose

(2) Dry cough

(3) Nasal congestion

(4) A mild fever

(5) Sneezing

(6) General feeling of being unwell and loss of appetite

(7) Red, watery eyes

Treatment of Cough :-

(1) Antitussives should not be given when the cough is productive and the patient is bringing up mucus. If the cough is keeping the patient awake at night, then their use at bedtime is indicated.

(2) Antihistamines and decongestants may be a good choice for treating coughs associated with post nasal drip.

(3) Elevate your head with extra pillows at night to ease a dry cough.

(4) Don't smoke and stay away from secondhand smoke.

(5) Antitussives are useful in suppressing dry, hacking coughs. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)

(6) If you have allergies year round, cover your pillows and mattress with dust mite covers, use an air purifier, and avoid pets and other triggers.

(7) For patients with underlying disease states causing the cough, treatment should first be based on treating the underlying disease.

(8) Antitussives are useful in suppressing dry, hacking coughs.

Need to Buy a New Lipstick Pencil to Match that New Lipstick?

2009-07-03T01:59:00.001-07:00

Don't. Just look for a beige or nude eyebrow pencil. Need to match your favorite blush with a new lipstick? You already have it in your blush. Just apply your blush on your lips with a eye shadow sponge applicator, and then use your favorite clear lip gloss or lip balm over it.

Dying to get that latest eye shadow base?

2009-07-03T01:58:00.001-07:00

Use your concealer and loose powder. Because that's exactly what eye shadow base is.. use your foundation to evenly apply over your eyelids and set with a touch of loose powder pressed on with a makeup sponge. Then apply your colored eye shadow.

Don't spend $$$ on that Expensive Eye Makeup Remover

2009-07-03T01:57:00.000-07:00

Just find a pretty glass bottle and fill with virgin olive oil, or in a pinch, baby shampoo. There's a reason they say 'no tears'.

Miracle Weight Loss Supplements – Your Partner In Weight Loss?

2009-07-02T06:16:00.001-07:00

Overweight and obesity are becoming very common these days and people try to attempt several methods to lose excess and unwanted weight. Overweight not only changes the way you look but also has comes with the possibility of health risks. Therefore overweight persons have to take up one method or the other to lose the excess fat. What is more important than losing ones’ weight is losing it quickly and safely. One such method of losing weight is the weight loss supplements. There are a lot of weight loss supplements available over the counter claiming to have miraculous effect in losing weight quickly and easily. Not all these supplements are good. So before you buy weight loss supplements ensure that it is both effective and safe.

Always choose the best weight loss supplements by reviewing them thoroughly and opt for renowned makers. Weight loss supplements act in many ways to help reduce weight. Some of these weight loss supplements try to speed up your metabolism. Some stimulate the thyroid gland increasing the active hormone production. Some claim to stimulate the muscles in burning glucose saying that it helps in weight loss. There are some weight loss supplements that have effect on producing heat, which is again a process of spending calories. Some chromium based weight loss supplements can be very dangerous as they may damage the genetic materials in the cells.

One of the problems is that some of these weight loss supplements are untested, unproven and are neither effective nor safe. So before you choose your weight loss supplements make sure you have made the right choice.

One another type of weight loss supplement is available in the market, claims to melt away fat while you sleep. The ingredients in this supplement are supposed to be collagen hydrolysate and Vera. While collagen is like protein in normal food and helps in muscle building Vera is a laxative. This instruction along with this weight loss supplement is that the persons using this supplement should not eat anything for three hours before going to bed. The laxative effect of Vera adds to weight loss. It is actually the decrease in consumption rather than the supplement that helps one to lose weight. Weight loss supplements also include sweeteners with low calorie value. The main advantage with these sweeteners is that they are approved by FDA for their safety. These sweeteners can be very safely used even by pregnant women and children.

Further there are thermogenic fat burners. These weight loss supplements raise the temperature of your body and thus increase the number of calories burned. These have proved successful and effective in losing weight. Like other weight loss supplements, these have to be used moderately and not abused. Short term usage of these thermogenic weight loss supplements have proved successful and resulted in good weight loss.

One other form of weight loss supplements is the fiber powder or the pills. Generally fiber food makes you feel full and also help in stimulating the contractions of your intestines. So these kinds of weight loss supplements create a feeling of fullness and there will be weight loss because of the emptying of your intestines. The problem is taking fiber in concentrated forms like pills and powder for a longer period may lead to diarrhea, nausea and you may also become dependent on fiber supplements for bowel regulation. Ensure that you consider and take the correct amount of weight loss supplements after proper consultation. Further, weight loss supplements along with other things like exercise, nutritional diet etc, will help in safe and effective weight loss.

Michael Jackson's Death Linked to Diprivan?

2009-07-01T01:35:00.000-07:00

As toxicology results which may reveal what exactly killed Michael Jackson are awaited, the Associated Press has received information from a former nutritionist who was working with Jackson in preparation for his comeback tour, Cherilyn Lee. The information centers around a powerful sedative, Diprivan.

According to Cherilyn Lee, she repeatedly rejected Michael Jackson's requests for Diprivan, which is given intravenously. He reportedly sought the drug to aid in treating his persistent insomnia.

Since Michael Jackson's death on June 25th, persistent rumors have circulated about his use of prescription drugs, including a possible injection of Demerol just prior to his cardiac arrest. Cherilyn Lee, however, says that Jackson was opposed to recreational drug use, but desperate help in sleeping (thus the Diprivan).

Cherilyn Lee told the AP:

"He wasn't looking to get high or feel good and sedated from drugs. This was a person who was not on drugs. This was a person who was seeking help, desperately, to get some sleep, to get some rest."

Originally developed as propofol, Diprivan was re-launched in 1986 by AstraZeneca as an emulsion that only has 1% propofol. An overdose of Diprivan can cause an erratic heartbeat leading to cardiac arrest.

Whether or not Jackson obtained his Diprivan, Cherilyn Lee speaks of a strange phone call she received when in Florida on June 21st from a member of Michael Jackson's staff.

"He called and was very frantic and said, `Michael needs to see you right away.' I said, 'What's wrong?' And I could hear Michael in the background ..., 'One side of my body is hot, it's hot, and one side of my body is cold. It's very cold.'

"I said, `Tell him he needs to go the hospital. I don't know what's going on, but he needs to go to the hospital ... right away."

"At that point, I knew that somebody had given him something that hit the central nervous system. He was in trouble Sunday and he was crying out."

Once again, for the real truth, it seems we will have to wait weeks for toxicology results. Meanwhile, the world grieves and prepares for might be the biggest funeral, ever.

Obama: Health Care Reform is No Longer a Luxury

2009-07-01T01:33:00.000-07:00

One day after a report on a Harvard study was released that showed that 62% of personal bankruptcies result from medical costs, even hitting th those with health insurance, President Barack Obama used his weekly radio address to push for health care reform.

Obama has given the Congress months to give him a health-care reform bill, but seen nothing cross his desk yet. Meanwhile, as the Harvard study said, 62% of personal bankruptcies result from medical costs, 78% of those who went through the bankruptcy process had health insurance, including 60% who had private coverage, not Medicare or Medicaid. Additionally, the study found that most of these people were solidly middle-class before being hit by unexpected medical bills.

Additionally, the New York Times reports that Obama is preparing a full-out campaign on the issue, with speeches, town-hall-style meetings and much deeper engagement with lawmakers.

What's unclear, however, is if he, or any in Congress, will get that the majority of Americans want a Medicare-style, single-payer system as our neighbors to the north in Canada have. There, you have no worry about losing your job and therefore your health insurance, no worry about huge premiums because of pre-existing conditions, and no worry about bankruptcy from medical costs.

Watch the video of his address, and read a transcript below:

Over the past few days, I’ve been traveling through the Middle East and Europe working to renew our alliances, enhance our common security, and propose a new partnership between the United States and the Muslim world.

But even as I’m abroad, I’m firmly focused on the other pressing challenges we face – including the urgent need to reform our health care system. Even as we speak, Congress is preparing to introduce and debate health reform legislation that is the product of many months of effort and deliberation. And if you’re like any of the Americans I’ve met across this country who know all too well that the soaring costs of health care make our current course unsustainable, I imagine you’ll be watching their progress closely.

I’m talking about the families I’ve met whose spiraling premiums and out-of-pocket expenses are pushing them into bankruptcy or forcing them to go without the check-ups or prescriptions they need. Business owners who fear they’ll be forced to choose between keeping their doors open or covering their workers. Americans who rightly worry that the ballooning costs of Medicare and Medicaid could lead to fiscal catastrophe down the road.

Simply put, the status quo is broken. We cannot continue this way. If we do nothing, everyone’s health care will be put in jeopardy. Within a decade, we’ll spend one dollar out of every five we earn on health care – and we’ll keep getting less for our money.

That’s why fixing what’s wrong with our health care system is no longer a luxury we hope to achieve – it’s a necessity we cannot postpone any longer.

The growing consensus around that reality has led an unprecedented coalition to come together for change. Unlike past attempts at reforming our health care system, everyone is at the table – patient’s advocates and health insurers; business and labor; Democrats and Republicans alike.

A few weeks ago, some of these improbable allies committed to cut national health care spending by two trillion dollars over the next decade. What makes this so remarkable is that it probably wouldn’t have happened just a few short years ago. But today, at this historic juncture, even old adversaries are united around the same goal: quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

Now, I know that when you bring together disparate groups with differing views, there will be lively debate. And that’s a debate I welcome. But what we can’t welcome is reform that just invests more money in the status quo – reform that throws good money after bad habits.

We must attack the root causes of skyrocketing health care costs. Some of these costs are the result of unwarranted profiteering that has no place in our health care system, and in too many communities, folks are paying higher costs without receiving better care in return. And yet we know, for example, that there are places like the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, and other institutions that offer some of the highest quality of care in the nation at some of the lowest costs in the nation. We should learn from their successes and promote the best practices, not the most expensive ones. That’s how we’ll achieve reform that fixes what doesn’t work, and builds on what does.

This week, I conveyed to Congress my belief that any health care reform must be built around fundamental reforms that lower costs, improve quality and coverage, and also protect consumer choice. That means if you like the plan you have, you can keep it. If you like the doctor you have, you can keep your doctor, too. The only change you’ll see are falling costs as our reforms take hold.

I also made it very clear to Congress that we must develop a plan that doesn’t add to our budget deficit. My budget included an historic down payment on reform, and we’ll work with Congress to fully cover the costs through rigorous spending reductions and appropriate additional revenues. We’ll eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in our health care system, but we’ll also take on key causes of rising costs – saving billions while providing better care to the American people.

All across America, our families are making hard choices when it comes to health care. Now, it’s time for Washington to make the right ones. It’s time to deliver. And I am absolutely convinced that if we keep working together and living up to our mutual responsibilities; if we place the American people’s interests above the special interests; we will seize this historic opportunity to finally fix what ails our broken health care system, and strengthen our economy and our country now and for decades to come.

Vegetables fruits and Sea food

2009-06-30T00:25:00.000-07:00

Vegetables fruits and Sea food

01. Apricots : Beta-carotene, which helps prevent free-radical damage and protect the eyes. The body also turns beta-carotene into vitamin A, which may help ward off some cancers, especially of the skin. One apricot has 17 calories, 0 fat, 1 gram of fiber. Snacks on them dried, or if you prefer fresh, buy when still firm; once they soften, they lose nutrients.
#. Avocados : Oleic acid, an unsaturated fat that helps lower overall cholesterol and raise levels of HDL, plus a good dose of fiber. One slice has 81 calories, 8 grams of fat and 3 grams of fiber. Try a few slices instead of mayonnaise to dress up your next burger.
#. Raspberries : Ellagic acid, which helps stall cancer-cell growth. These berries are also packed with vitamin C and are high in fiber, which helps prevent high cholesterol and heart disease. A cup has only 60 calories, 1 gram of fat and 8 grams of fiber. Top plain low-fat yogurt or oatmeal (another high fiber food) with fresh berries.
#. Cantaloupe : Vitamin C (117mg in half a melon, almost twice the recommended daily dose) and beta-carotene - both powerful antioxidants that help protect cells from free-radical damage. Plus, half a melon has 853mg of potassium - almost twice as much as a banana, which helps lower blood pressure. Half a melon has 97 calories, 1 gram of fat and 2 grams of fiber. Cut into cubes and freeze, then blend into an icy smoothie.
#. Cranberry Juice : Helps fight bladder infections by preventing harmful bacteria from growing. A cup has 144 calories, 0 grams of fat and 0 fiber. Buy 100 percent juice concentrate and use it to spice up your daily H20 without adding sugar.
#. Tomato : Lycopene, one of the strongest carotenoids, acts as an antioxidant. Research shows that tomatoes may cut the risk of bladder, stomach and colon cancers in half if eaten daily. A tomato has 26 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Drizzle fresh slices with olive oil, because lycopene is best absorbed when eaten with a little fat.
#. Raisins : These little gems are a great source of iron, which helps the blood transport oxygen and which many women are short on. A half-cup has 218 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Sprinkle raisins on your morning oatmeal or bran cereal - women, consider this especially during your period.
#. Figs : A good source of potassium and fiber, figs also contain vitamin B6, which is responsible for producing mood-boosting serotonin, lowering cholesterol and preventing water retention. The Pill depletes B6, so if you use this method of birth control, make sure to get extra B6 in your diet. One fig has 37 to 48 calories, 0 fat and 2 grams of fiber. (Cookie lovers - fig bars have around 56 calories, 1 gram of fat and 1 gram of fiber per cookie). Fresh figs are delicious simmered alongside a pork tenderloin and the dried variety make a great portable gym snack.
#. Lemons/Limes : Limonene, furocoumarins and vitamin C, all of which help prevent cancer. A wedge has 2 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Buy a few of each and squeeze over salads, fish, beans and vegetables for fat free flavor. See also: Beneficial Bytes: Lemons and Limes.
Vegetables
#. Onions : Quercetin is one of the most powerful flavonoids (natural plant antioxidants). Studies show it helps protect against cancer. A cup (chopped) has 61 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Chop onions for the maximum phytonutrient boost, or if you hate to cry, roast them with a little olive oil and serve with rice or other vegetables.
#. Artichokes : These odd-looking vegetables contain silymarin, an antioxidant that helps prevent skin cancer, plus fiber to help control cholesterol. One medium artichoke has 60 calories, 0 fat and 7 grams of fiber. Steam over boiling water for 30 to 40 minutes. Squeeze lemon juice on top, then pluck the leaves off with your fingers and use your teeth to scrape off the rich-tasting skin. When you get to the heart, you have found the best part!
#. Ginger : Gingerols may help reduce queasiness; other compounds may help ward off migraines and arthritis pain by blocking inflammation-causing prostaglandins. A teaspoon of fresh gingerroot has only 1 calorie, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Peel the tough brown skin and slice or grate into a stir-fry.
#. Broccoli : Indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane, which help protect against breast cancer. Broccoli also has lots of vitamin C and beta-carotene. One cup (chopped) has 25 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Don't overcook broccoli - instead, microwave or steam lightly to preserve phytonutrients. Squeeze fresh lemon on top for a zesty and taste, added nutrients and some vitamin C.
#. Spinach : Lutein and Zeaxanthin, carotenoids that help fend off muscular degeneration, a major cause of blindness in older people. Plus, studies show this green fountain of youth may help reverse some signs of aging. One cup has 7 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Add raw leaves to a salad or sauté with a little olive oil and garlic.
#. Bok Choy (Chinese Cabbage) : Brassinin, which some research suggests may help prevent breast tumors, plus indoles and isothiocyanates, which lower levels of estrogen, make this vegetable a double-barreled weapon against breast cancer. A cup will also give you 158mg of calcium (16 percent of your daily recommended requirement) to help beat osteoporosis. A cup (cooked) has 20 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Find it in your grocer's produce section or an Asian market. Slice the greens and juicy white stalks, then saute like spinach or toss into a stir-fry just before serving.
#. Squash (Butternut, Pumpkin, Acorn) : Winter squash has huge amounts of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which may help protect against endometrial cancer. One cup (cooked) has 80 calories, 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of fiber. Cut on in half, scoop out the seeds and bake or microwave until soft, then dust with cinnamon.
#. Watercress and Arugula : Phenethyl isothiocyanate, which, along with beta-carotene and vitamins C and E, may help keep cancer cells at bay. One cup has around 4 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Do not cook these leafy greens; instead, use them to garnish a sandwich or add a pungent, peppery taste to salad.
#. Garlic : The sulfur compounds that give garlic its pungent flavor can also lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol, lower blood pressure and even reduce your risk of stomach and colon cancer. A clove has 4 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Bake a whole head for 15 to 20 minutes, until soft and sweet and spread on bread instead of butter.
Grains, Beans and Nuts.

#. Quinoa : A half cup of cooked quinoa has 5 grams of protein, more than any other grain, plus iron, riboflavin and magnesium. A half-cup has 318 calories, 5 grams of fat and 5 grams of fiber. Add to soup for a protein boost. Rinse first, or it will taste bitter.

#. Wheat Germ: A tablespoon gives you about 7 percent of your daily magnesium, which helps prevent muscle cramps; it is also a good source of vitamin E. One tablespoon has 27 calories, 1 gram of fat and 1 gram of fiber. Sprinkle some over yogurt, fruit or cereal.
#. Lentils : Isoflavones, which may inhibit estrogen-promoted breast cancers, plus fiber for heart health and an impressive 9 grams of protein per half cup. A half-cup (cooked) has 115 calories, 0 fat and 8 grams of fiber. Isoflavones hold up through processing, so buy lentils canned, dried or already in soup. Take them to work, and you will have a protein packed lunch.

#. Peanuts : Studies show that peanuts or other nuts (which contain mostly unsaturated "good" fat) can lower your heart-disease risk by over 20 percent. One ounce has 166 calories, 14 grams of fat and 2 grams of fiber. Keep a packet in your briefcase, gym bag or purse for a protein-packed post-workout nosh or an afternoon pick me up that will satisfy you until supper, or chop a few into a stir-fry for a Thai accent. See also: The Nut Case

#. Pinto Beans : A half cup has more than 25 percent of your daily requirement of folate, which helps protect against heart disease and reduces the risk of birth defects. A half-cup (canned) has 103 calories, 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of fiber. Drain a can, rinse and toss into a pot of vegetarian chili.

#. Yogurt : Bacteria in active-culture yogurt helps prevent yeast infections; calcium strengthens bones. A cup has 155 calories, 4 grams of fat, 0 grams of fiber. Get the plain kind and mix in your own fruit to keep calories and sugar down. If you are lactose intolerant, never fear -- yogurt should not bother your tummy.
#. Skim Milk : Riboflavin (a.k.a. vitamin B2) is important for good vision and along with vitamin A might help improve eczema and allergies. Plus, you get calcium and vitamin D, too. One cup has 86 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber. If you are used to high fat milk, don't go cold turkey; instead, mix the two together at first. Trust this fact: In a week or two you won't miss it!

Seafood

#. Shellfish (Clams, Mussels) The Power: Vitamin B12 to support nerve and brain function, plus iron and hard-to-get minerals like magnesium and potassium. Three ounces has 126 to 146 calories, 2 to 4 grams of fat and 0 fiber. Try a bowl of tomato-based (and low fat) Manhattan clam chowder.
#. Salmon : Cold-water fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna are the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce the risk of cardiac disease. A 3-ounce portion (cooked) has 127 calories, 4 grams of fat, 0 fiber. Brush fillets with ginger-soy marinade and grill or broil until fish flakes easily with a fork.
#. Crab : A great source of vitamin B12 and immunity-boosting zinc. A 3-ounce portion has 84 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0 fiber. The "crab" in sushi is usually made from fish; buy it canned instead and make your own crab cakes. See also: Fish and Seafood Recipes .

Health and Fitness

2009-06-30T00:24:00.000-07:00

All those models may appear damn gorgeous, but very few know the factor behind those killer looks. Obviously to look beautiful, one needs to be in perfect shape; but one more thing contributing to that perfection is the right make-up. An average looking face can be made pretty by using correct make-up. Coming to the technical part, make-up is a sub-set of cosmetics and refers mainly to the colored products which are used to change the user's appearance. In today's world when there are ample of make-up products in the markets, it becomes difficult for a person to choose the right ones. Read make-up guide further to gather more information about make-up, its types and variation ideas.
#Understand Your Skin Type :- The first key to make-up is, understanding your skin type. People with different skin types require different type of make-up. Say, a woman having oily skin could not afford glossy make-up. Likewise, a girl with dry skin cannot use matt-finish make-up. However, a person with normal skin can experiment with any type of make-up. If you know your skin-type, it would be much easier for you to buy the right make-up products.
# Check Out The Make-Up Products :- As mentioned, markets are loaded with beauty products. Some of the make-up products for lips are lipstick, lip gloss, lip liner, lip plumper, lip balm, lip conditioner, and lip booster; for face are foundation, powder, rouge, blush or blusher, bronzer, and concealer; for eyes are mascara and lash extender, lash conditioner, eye liner, eye shadow, eye shimmer, and glitter eye pencils, eyebrow pencils, creams, waxes, gels and powders; for nails are nail polish, etc. Choose the products about to your requirements and skin type.
# Types of Make-Up - To Know What Suits You The Best :- Some people prefer to have natural look, while some wanted to have those stunning looks. It is a matter of choice that's for sure. For a sun-kissed look, women use more of bronzer and shimmers. However, makeup in the form of gel is usually used to impart wet-look. Women, who want to look beautiful at all times, get permanent make-up done which is actually a type of cosmetic surgery. However, ladies, who prefer natural look, opt for organic mineral make-up which contains mineral pigments and organic plant extracts, oils and waxes. Organic make-up is definitely good as it doesn't cause any harm to the skin or other body parts.
# Make-Up According To Occasions :- Every time you cannot afford to look like a princess. According to the occasion and time, you must make variations in your make-up. Say, on a hot summery day, glossy make-up or dark shades won't make you appealing to the onlooker. At that time, it would be better to use mild shades and sober make-up. For a social gathering, you must do make-up according to your attire and party-mood. Perhaps it is always better to use softer shades in summers; however dark shades appear okay at night. Likewise, dark shades and glossy make-up appear nice in winters. On daily basis, women like to do minimal make-up which is easy to apply, making them look naturally good.

Home treatment and beauty tips

2009-06-30T00:23:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants to look their best and as beautiful as they can. Many of us spend a lot of money on branded beauty products and on numerous visits to the beauty parlor. There are a number of simple beauty treatments that we can use with things that are easily available in our homes. Here are a few home beauty tips that you can try using things from the kitchen without any extra cost.
# To remove puffiness from the eyelids, massage a drop of very fresh castor oil on to them.
# To cool your eyes, make eye pads using thick slices of cucumber. Another option is to use cotton pads soaked in cold milk. Lie down and place them on your closed eyes and relax for a while.
# Putting a drop of rose water into each eye just before you sleep can also refresh you eyes.
To prevent your lips from chapping, use hot water fermentation on your lips and then apply a mixture of vaseline and honey. Apply this mixture about three times a week.
# To prevent your lips from drying you can use a ground mixture or rose petals and milk butter.
To delay age spots on your hand, use a piece of lemon and rub all over your hand, before washing. This will delay onset of age-spots.
# If you have no time to shampoo your hair before going out, then brush 1 tablespoon of talcum powder or corn flour through your hair. Try this out first when you are not in hurry to make sure that it works the way you want.
# To prevent hair loss you should have a biotin rich drink. Blend bananas with honey, yogurt and low fat milk. Drink this for a few weeks.
# While blow drying and setting your hair, blow-dry at hot on the roots of the hair. Roll your hair inwards or outwards at the ends. To improve the setting make sure the ends are evenly rolled in or rolled out. Heat the hair for a second and then let it cool. This process of setting the hair will last longer and make your hair look beautiful.
# To condition your hair, after shampooing your hair take some conditioner on your palm and rub it with both hands. Apply from the hair shaft moving downwards. Do not apply on your scalp. Rinse your hair after 5 minutes.
# To add extra shine and glow to your hair add 2 tablespoons of malt vinegar. Use it as a last rinse and towel dry your hair.

Beauty and Style

2009-06-30T00:22:00.000-07:00

Basic Skin Care:-Healthy and supple skin is not so much of a dream if you take proper precautions and pay attention to your diet and exercise. Balanced diet, hydration and protecting from sun and wind should be a part of your daily regimen. Here are the four basic steps to skin care that are mandatory and cannot be skipped on any account, if you want a naturally glowing skin. It is important that you use the products according to your skin type. You have to pay attention to the order of the steps too.
1. Cleansing The Skin Cleansing is quite essential to avoid acnes and other skin problems. Wash your skin often using a mild face wash and wipe off with a clean washcloth. It is quite important to get rid of any impurities such as dirt particles and makeup before going to sleep so that your skin can breathe properly at night. Use mild cleanser at least twice a day but make sure that it rinses away easily, does not cause skin irritation and do not wash away natural oils too.
2. Toning The Skin :- Toners not only cleanse the skin further and help in removing any remnants of particles that you may have left behind but also cools, nourishes, hydrates and freshens up your skin. It tightens up skin and close up any skin pores that may have opened up while deep cleansing the face. Toners must be alcohol-free as alcohol dries off skin.
3. Exfoliating The Skin :-Exfoliants remove dead cells from the skin, rejuvenate the skin and eliminate fine lines and wrinkles from the face. The younger skin that surfaces after exfoliation naturally looks more beautiful and glowing. These products usually have alpha or beta hydroxy acids to quicken up the process but do avoid the ones that are granular as they tend to damage the new skin too that is much more sensitive than the mature layer that it digests.
4. Moisturizing The Skin Like our body, our skin also needs hydration and proper nutrients to keep it healthy. So, treat it with a good moisturizer and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with more than SPF 15 daily and night cream daily that helps the skin to balance and restores any damage that might have occurred to it overnight.
Beach BeautyToo much exposure to the sun on beach may cause under-eye skin crinkles, blackheads and acne on nose, cold lip sores, red and scaly temples and broken blood vessels. To avoid these unwanted signs of old age
Beautiful EyebrowsPerfect eyebrows almost transcend the beauty of the face and make an immediate visible impact in a makeover session. The most coveted eyebrow shape is the one that starts directly above the inner corner of the eye
Essential OilsEssential oils have been part of cosmetics for men and ladies alike for thousands of years. Their exotic aromas were enough to win them favors amongst the humankind and when it was revealed that the aromas make a significant difference to the status of our health
Eyebrow WaxingOne of the easiest ways to get rid of the extra hair around your brow line, waxing is definitely note for those with very sensitive skin. It is more expensive than plucking your eyebrows but lasts longer too.
Facial Skin CareDaily skin & facial care makes us look more charming and beautiful. By following some easy tips, you can look younger and more beautiful without spending too much of extra time and money.
Frugal BeautyYou don't have to spend big bucks to get beauty treatments commercially. A little care at home can help you to attain that glamorous finished look at home, quite frugally. For a hydrating treatment for your hands while doing your dishes in the kitchen
Herbal BeautyExternal impurities and internal toxins are the worst enemies of our body and skin and herbal beauty products and detoxification remedies help us not only to get rid of them but also provide additional nutrients to the body.
Tweezing BrowsWell-plucked eyebrows make you appear more groomed than any thing else. Today it is a trend to get eyebrows tweezed or threaded professionally in eyebrow boutiques, which are very expensive.

UK's National Programme for IT in the NHS Known Doomed at Outset?

2009-06-29T22:27:00.000-07:00

It would seem likely.

In May 2009 at "The Machinery Behind Healthcare Reform: How the HIT Lobby is Pushing Experimental and Unsafe Technology on Unconsented Patients and Clinicians" I wrote:

... I can add that if this initiative [the U.S. multibillion dollar ARRA push towards national healthcare IT by 2014] blows up as it has in the UK, then the only triumph will be the financial triumph of the trade group and its apparatchiks. The losers will be the administration, patients, clinicians, and everyone else in the healthcare system.

The UK situation is much worse than I thought. The UK's NPfIT in the NHS was suspected to have been doomed from the start, but proceeded anyway; see "16 key points in Gateway Reviews on NHS IT scheme" and the secretive Gateway Reviews themselves upon which the preceding article was based, released under UK Freedom Of Information laws. From ComputerWeekly.com author Tony Collins on Gateway Reviews:

... Gateway reviews are mini-audits at critical stages in projects. The reports in question gave a red, amber or green status at each stage to help the project’s senior responsible owner decide whether to move to the next phase.

The government’s policy on Gateway reviews is to keep them confidential. All copies of a review are shredded, with the supporting material, to ensure only two reports remain – one for the Treasury’s Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and the other for the project’s senior responsible owner.

Highlights of the secretive health IT program reviews, now made public:

the NPfIT was probably doomed from the start, in Spring 2002. As one Gateway Review put it, many dedicated people were working hard on building the components for a car that hadn't been designed. To some extent that's still true today.

people didn't really know what they were doing in the first critical months in 2002

the initial plan was for new IT - not for changes to the way people work. So the preoccupation was with IT and not patients. It was hoped that new IT would drive change. But that rarely if ever succeeds.

that the costs and complexity were initially underestimated - by about £7bn - because nobody had an understanding of what was needed.

that speed was unduly important. One gateway review suggested that key staff didn't have time to take action on recommendations or learn lessons.

the programme as a whole, according to one Gateway Review, was not assessed against a list of Common Causes of Failure, as published by the National Audit Office. Only individual projects were assessed against the list.

How many of these findings apply in the U.S. Health IT program in 2009?

Finally, about the aforementioned May 2009 post, Matthew Holt of the Healthcare Blog wrote that I had "gone loopy", i.e., crazy (see footnote to the above-linked May 2009 post). The Chairman of CCHIT Mark Leavitt wrote that concerns about health IT are expressed by "fearmongers" and should be "laughed off."

These cavalier attitudes are a major part of what has gone wrong in HIT, as well as our society more generally.

Not to draw a specific comparison with these individuals, but our society is crumbling, and it's in no small part due to clowns in leadership roles, rather than as performers in Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth.

According to Matthew Holt and Mark Leavitt, Health IT concerns are a laughing matter, expressed by crazy people.

I (and many like minded colleagues) don't find healthcare information technology issues a laughing matter, however.

Why Did US Physicians Give Up Their Ability to Enforce Their Own Professional Standards?

2009-06-29T02:35:00.000-07:00

In his recent review of Dr Ezekiel Emanuel's book, (Healthcare, Guaranteed: A Simple, Secure Solution for America,) Dr Arnold Relman, Editor-Emeritus of the New England Journal of Medicine, discussed the history of the deprofessionalization of American physicians.

The behavior of US physicians has been changed by the commercialization of medical care, and this too has increased costs. US medical practice has traditionally relied on fee-for-service, which has always given it some of the attributes and incentives of a business. However, the American Medical Association (AMA) maintained for many years that medical practice was a profession, not a business. The AMA's ethical guidelines therefore advised physicians to limit their income to reasonable earnings from the care of patients, and to refrain from advertising and from entering financial arrangements with drug and device manufacturers. Those restrictions were lifted after the US Supreme Court decided in 1975 that lawyers, and by extension members of other professions, including physicians, are engaged in interstate commerce and therefore must be subject to antitrust law (from which they had largely been exempt).(1)

This decision had an enormous effect on the medical profession, but its consequences have received relatively little public attention. Although the courts did not initiate the commercialization of medicine, they certainly accelerated it and gave it legal justification. In 1980, after medical organizations lost some costly antitrust trials, in which they were accused of such offenses as limiting doctor fees or denying staff privileges, the AMA changed its ethical guidelines, declaring medicine to be both a business and a profession. This lowered the AMA's barriers to the commercialization of medical practice, allowing physicians to participate in any legal profit-making business arrangement that did not harm patients.

Nearly a half-century ago, Stanford economics professor Kenneth Arrow, later a Nobel laureate, convincingly argued that medical care cannot conform to market laws because patients are not ordinary consumers and doctors are not ordinary vendors. He said that sick or injured patients must rely on physicians in ways fundamentally different from the price-driven relation between buyers and sellers in an ordinary market. This argument implied that, contrary to the assumptions of antitrust law, market competition among physicians cannot be expected to lower medical prices. And since physicians influence decisions to use medical services far more than patients do, the volume and types of services provided to patients—and hence total health costs—need to be controlled by forces other than the market, such as professional standards and government regulation. But Arrow's argument was largely ignored in the rush to exploit health care for commercial purposes that ensued after the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.(2)

Writing about the decline of physicians' professionalism in 2007 [ Relman AS. Medical professionalism in a commercialized health care market. JAMA 2007; 298: 2668-2670. [link here) ], Dr Relman had briefly alluded to the effect of the 1975 Supreme Court decision, (see our post here):

The law also has played a major role in the decline of medical professionalism. The 1975 Supreme Court ruling that the professions were not protected from anti-trust law undermined the traditional restraint that medical professional societies had always placed on the commercial behavior of physicians, such as advertising and investing in the products they prescribe or facilities they recommend. Having lost some initial legal battles and fearing the financial costs of losing more, organized medicine now hesitates to require physicians to behave differently from business people. It asks only that physicians' business activities should be legal, disclosed to patients, and not inconsistent with patients' interests. Until forced by anti-trust concerns to change its ethical code in 1980, the American Medical Association had held that 'in the practice of medicine a physician should limit the source of his professional income to medical services actually rendered by him, or under his supervision, to his patients' and that 'the practice of medicine should not be commercialized, nor treated as a commodity in trade.' These sentiments reflecting the spirit of professionalism are now gone.

It seems to me that Dr Relman has elucidated one of the "missing links" that help explain the current sorry state of physicians' core values, and the broader continuing health care crisis. I am amazed that this bit of history seems to have been so thoroughly forgotten. Dr Relman did write about it before 2007, but in publications that few physicians and other health care professionals were likely to see. Other than Dr Relman, almost no one writing in the medical and health care literature seems to have interest in this issue. (It has been discussed in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, and the Stanford Law Review by M. Gregg Bloche, but these unfortunately also could have easily been missed by nearly all physicians and health care professionals.) So we have another example of the anechoic effect.

Yet in my humble opinion, every physician and health care professional ought to know that the profession once foreswore the commercialization of medical practice, but gave up on its ability to police its own conflicts of interest after the US Supreme Court decided that professionals are subject to anti-trust law.

But knowing this important bit of history raises more questions than it answers:

The Supreme Court decision apparently involved interpretation of law, not the constitution. Therefore, why didn't organized medicine pursue a change in the law that would allow physicians to continue to enforce their traditional professional values?
The Supreme Court decision was primarily directed at lawyers, not physicians. Since the decision, to my knowledge, the law profession has maintained strict rules about conflicts of interest. (For example, no legal CME is sponsored by corporations whose products they seek to have the attendees favor.) Why did the decision wreck physicians' but not lawyers' abilities to regulate their own conflicts of interest?
The Supreme Court decision only affects US law. Why have physicians in other countries also abandoned their traditional values about commercial entanglements?
Why did this application of US antitrust law have such significant effects during an era when antitrust enforcement in health care was generally declining? (Insurance companies and hospitals that dominate local markets have not feared antitrust enforcement.)
Why did only Dr Relman and Prof Bloche seem to care about this up to now?

Inquiring minds want to know.... And answering these questions might bring us back on the path of true medical professionalism.

Hat tip to Merrill Goozner in the GoozNews blog.

References (from Relman)

1. Goldfarb v. Virginia State Bar, 421 U.S. 773 (1975).

2. Kenneth J. Arrow, "Uncertainty and the Welfare Economics of Medical Care," The American Economic Review, Vol. 53, No. 5 (December 1963).

Just a reminder that we've moved

2009-06-25T22:58:00.000-07:00

I continue to keep this blog up for various reasons (it still turns up in internet searches, and some posts at the new place link back here), but if you want to see the new content, please come over to the WordPress location. From time to time I may post links over here, but my ability to do that has been very limited as of late.

Health Benefits of Beard and Moustache

2009-06-25T01:36:00.000-07:00

And now, a quote from Dr. Ruddock, “The beard and the moustache should be permitted to grow as they afford an excellent protection to the delicate organs of the voice of those in whom it is subjected to undue or irregular exercise. After a public address, the tissues in the vicinity of the throat become relaxed and on leaving the place of assembly and entering the open air, inflammatory action commences, and if repeated, chronic affections of the throat and bronchial tubes are often induced; but the unshorn natural respirator, which our Maker intended to be one of the distinguishing features of the male seed, effectively protects these important parts. The hair planted on the human face by the wisdom and goodness of our Creator, has its uses, and we may add, its beauties. Let the young man, therefore, never become a slave to the false and pernicious fashion which compels him to shave off the beard, as it is found contributory to the health, if not the personal improvement, of those who wear it."

recommended growth of beard and moustache not only for prevention of sore throat and hoarseness of voice, but for avoiding bronchitis as well.

According to him, the beard and moustache are a .kind of a natural respirator, the shaving off of which is a frequent cause of acute and chronic bronchitis. Can we doubt the wisdom and beneficence of the Creator in giving this ornament to the man, who is so frequently exposed to atmospheric vicissitudes, and withholding it from the woman, who as the keeper at home, requires no such appendage? Hair is an imperfect conductor of both heat and cold and placed round the entrance to the nose and lungs and acts as a blanket, which promotes warmth in cold weather and prevents the dissolving of ice in hot weather. In many instances, the hirsute appendages would protect lawyers, clergymen or other public speakers and singers from the injurious effects of rapid variations of the atmosphere from which professional men so often suffer.

You really need to call yourself to action

2009-06-24T22:20:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder why we have so many packaged lies on the grocery store shelves and vegetables and fruits have no one to march a campaign for them? Me too--here is my second article on my new campaign to allow our choices to be healthy choices!

FDA to Approve the Highest Bidder:

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires animal feed, like human foods, to:

· Be pure and wholesome
· Contain no harmful substances

This was sent to me in a recent newsletter update from the FDA in regards to the safety of pet food. I was immediately tickled by the idea of the FDA saying food sold for animals is required to be pure and wholesome, just as they dictate that food for humans also be pure and wholesome. Webster defines the word pure as- "being unmixed with any other matter—free from what pollutes". If that made you laugh, then you will love how Webster defines the word wholesome- "providing health of mind and body". So, the FDA states that they require food to be unmixed with any other matter and provide health to the mind and the body. Despite these regulations the FDA is said to require, we are becoming more and more aware of the dangers in our foods today.

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2009-06-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

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