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New York Health Insurance

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:42:59 +0000

By: Maria

New York Health Insurance

Health insurance is insurance that pays for all or part of a person’s health care bills. A health insurance policy is an annually renewable contract between an insurance company and an individual. With health insurance claims, the individual policy-holder pays a deductible plus co-payment (for instance, a hospital stay might require the first 1000 dollar of fees to be paid by the policy-holder plus 100 dollar per night stayed in hospital). Usually there is a maximum out-of-pocket payment for any single year, and there can be a lifetime maximum.

The purpose of health insurance is to help people cover their health care costs which usually include doctor visits, hospital stays, surgery, procedures, tests, home care, and other treatments and services.

According to the latest United States Census Bureau figures, around 85% of citizens have health insurance. 59.5% of these people receive their health insurance coverage through an employer, and about 9% purchase it directly from the market. Government sources cover 27.3% of the population. Those without health insurance coverage are expected to pay privately for medical services.

Types of New York Health Insurance (http://new-york.ixs.net/General/New-York-Health-Insurance/index.aspx ) The types of health insurance in New York are group health plans, individual plans, and government health plans such as Medicare and Medicaid. In the United States, government-funded Medicare programs help to insure the elderly and end stage renal disease patients.

Group Health Plans

A group health plan offers health care coverage for employers, student organizations, professional associations, religious organizations, and other groups. The employer may pay for part or all of the insurance cost (premium).

Individual and Family Health Insurance

Individual and family health insurance is a type of health insurance coverage that is made available to individuals and families, rather than to employer groups or organizations. These types of health care plans are sold directly to individuals. For those of you who are unemployed or self-employed, an individual health insurance policy is always an option. Unfortunately rates for these policies are high and the coverage is usually less comprehensive than a managed care plan. The good news is that, in many cases, your insurance premium will be tax deductible. Of course, if you’re married, you can always try to catch a ride on your spouse’s group health insurance benefits plan.

Health insurance can be further classified into fee-for-service or indemnity (traditional insurance) and managed care. Both group and individual insurance plans can be either fee-for-service or managed care plans.

Managed Care Health Insurance

These include HMO, PPO, and POS plans. Managed-care plans typically make use of healthcare provider networks. Healthcare providers within a network agree to perform services for managed-care plan patients at pre-negotiated rates and will usually submit the claim to the insurance company for you. In general, you’ll have less paperwork and lower out-of-pocket costs with a managed care health insurance plan and a broader choice of healthcare providers with an indemnity plan.

There are three main types of managed care plans:

• Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO)

• Point-of-Service (POS)

• Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)

All of these plans offer substantial health insurance benefits to members and their families. If you’re fortunate enough to have a choice of plan, consider the advantages, and disadvantages, of each. Compare the cost of care, the difference in premiums, deductible amounts and your freedom to choose a doctor outside the plan. There are numerous other coverages to compare as well — from prescription drugs to dental to alternative therapies. Be sure you understand the fine points of each.

Indemnity or Fee-For-Service Plan

Normally it covers the same expenses as managed care. The difference is your doctor is paid for each visit with the claim filed by either the patient or the medical provider. A big advantage– unlike some managed care plans, Fee-for-Service allows the patient a great deal of freedom in choosing which doctors and hospitals to use, but will probably involve higher out-of-pocket costs and more paperwork.

However, you’ll likely be required to pay an annual deductible before the insurance company begins to pay on your claims. An Indemnity plan may also require that you pay up front for services and then submit a claim to the insurance company for reimbursement.

Short-Term Health Insurance

Short-term health insurance plans are designed to protect against unforeseen accidents or illnesses, rather than to provide comprehensive coverage, and, as such, typically do not include coverage for preventive care, physicals, immunizations, dental or vision care. It covers for a limited period of time, and may be an ideal solution for those between jobs or those waiting for other health insurance to start. Typically, short-term plans offer coverage up to six months, although some plans may offer coverage up to 12 months. Purchasing a short-term medical insurance plan will make you ineligible for any guaranteed issue individual health plans commonly referred to as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Plans. HIPAA plans are usually very expensive and are generally intended for people with pre-existing medical conditions who would have trouble getting health insurance otherwise.

Medical Savings Account (MSA)

Medical savings account (MSA) is the most recent development in the area of health insurance. The principle behind the MSA is to take the bulk of the financial risk, and premium payments, away from the managed care and indemnity insurers, and allow individuals to save money, tax free, in a savings account for use for medical expenses. Individuals or their employers purchase major-medical policies, medical insurance policies with no coverage for medical expenses until the amount paid by the patient exceeds a predetermined maximum amount, such as 2500 dollar per year. These policies have extremely high deductibles and correspondingly low monthly premiums and the participants take the money that they would have spent on higher premiums and deposit it in an MSA. This money accrues through monthly deposits and also earns interest, and can be spent only to pay for medical care

What’s The Best Health Insurance Plan?

There is no one “best” plan for everyone. The best match for you and your family may be different than the best match for someone else. In order to help you answer this question, here are a few things to consider:

1. Are you going to need long-term coverage or just something for the short-term?

If you’re between jobs for 1-6 months, you may want to go for short-term coverage options. Alternatively, if you have no prospects of receiving group health insurance coverage through an employer, you may value the stability and increased benefits offered through an individual and family health insurance plan which will provide longer term coverage.

2. Are you looking for basic coverage or more comprehensive coverage?

Some insurance plans offer basic coverage (i.e., primarily inpatient hospitalization and outpatient surgery coverage) to cover you in case of a major accident or illness. These insurance plans typically have a lower monthly premium than plans with more comprehensive coverage, and may be appropriate for people who intend to use their insurance primarily in the event of a serious accident or illness. Other insurance plans that offer more comprehensive coverage may include benefits such as preventative care, physician services, prescription drug benefits and routine office visits. These insurance plans typically have a higher monthly premium than plans that only offer basic coverage, and may be appropriate for people who intend to use their insurance on a regular basis.

3. Would you pay for your services before you use them or when you use them?

If you choose a health insurance plan with a low monthly premium, you’re likely to have a higher co-payment or deductible. If you don’t anticipate making frequent use of your health insurance coverage, a higher-deductible plan with a lower monthly premium may suit you best.

4. How important to you is easy access to specialists?

Health insurance plans that require you to coordinate your care through a primary care physician typically require that you obtain a referral before seeing a specialist. So, if you prefer easier access to specialists, you may wish to consider a different type of plan.

5. Do you have a specific doctor or hospital that you would like to visit for healthcare?

Some insurance plans utilize provider networks. Pay special attention to the network of doctors or facilities that each health insurance plan utilizes. Also note that networks utilized by health insurance plans can change, so there is no guarantee that your doctor will always be contracted with your chosen health insurance plan.

6. What is the most you could pay out in case of a serious illness or injury?

Health insurance plans typically place limits on how much a member is required to pay out per year for his or her healthcare. This limit is often referred to as an out-of-pocket maximum. Once you’ve contributed this maximum amount toward your healthcare, the health insurance company typically covers all other costs for the remainder of the benefit year. If you’re concerned about what may happen to you in case of a serious illness or injury, you may wish to pay special attention to the out-of-pocket maximums for the health insurance plans you’re considering.

No matter what insurance plan you may choose, educate yourself and understand all the basics of the health insurance before finalizing anything.

For more information about New York Health Insurance visit: http://new-york.ixs.net

Maria hosts http://events.ixs.net and expresses her passion for events through writing and discussion. She works for Less Corporation at http://www.ticketnest.com Copyright Heidi Grumm

Prostate Cancer Questions and Answers

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:42:22 +0000

By: Michael Lee

Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that only occurs in men. While information on it has been steadily increasing throughout the years, there are still some prostate cancer queries that need to be addressed. This is a prostate cancer questions and answers article that hopes to enlighten those who have it and those who want to be informed.

This list of prostate cancer questions and answers does not promise to shed light on all of your inquiries, but it will provide you with enough base information for you to make sense of this disease.

1) How does one get prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer rarely occurs in men below the age of forty. While there is no universal culprit for it, some factors have been known to contribute to its progression.

Aside from age, genetics also increases your chance of getting prostate cancer. If someone in your family has or had prostate cancer, it is wise to see a doctor for a check-up. High consumption of animal fat is also believed to add to prostate cancer.

2) What are the symptoms to watch out for?

There are usually no obvious symptoms of prostate cancer. In some cases, however, patients have reported blood in the urine, increased urination and difficulty in controlling the flow of urination as symptoms.

3) What are the available treatment options?

There are a number of options for patients with prostate cancer. Others opt to wait and see how the cancer is progressing before jumping into decisions.

Radiation is a common treatment choice. It kills off these fast-growing cancer cells. Chemotherapy also does the same thing although it makes use of chemicals and is usually considered only when the cancer has reached a serious stage. Cryotherapy involves the doctor inserting an ultrasound probe into the patient’s rectum and freezing the tissue causing cancer cells. There is also the option of prostate removal and prescription of estrogen pills.

If you have any more queries not addressed by this prostate cancer questions and answers article, I strongly suggest seeking expert medical help. There’s nothing wrong with seeking information from the Internet. However, firsthand information is always the best.

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Ultram pain medicine information

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:35:59 +0000

By: Romeo Hayez

Further, although the risk of seizure is present for all users of prescription drug Ultram, this risk may be significantly higher in those who have certain medical conditions. For that reason, it is important that you tell your doctor if you suffer from any of the following conditions: a history of drug abuse, epilepsy or seizure disorder, previous head injury, or a metabolic disorder.

Other disorders that may make prescription drug Ultram contraindicated include liver disease, kidney disease, any disorder of the stomach, or a history of mental of depression illness.

Buy Ultram pain medicine on line

Pain is the bodys warning signal that something is wrong. If the pain is due to overuse or arthritis there are many things to consider. In all likelihood, one of the first things a person will reach for is an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines work by blocking the synthesis of cyclooxygenase, the enzyme responsible for the production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. The two different pathways that are blocked are COX-1 and COX-2.

Despite the negative publicity surrounding COX-2 drugs, it is clear that all anti-inflammatory drugs have potential cardiovascular risks. These drugs also may inhibit bone and tendon healing. They may also block the absorption of nutrients… So the weekend warrior needs to take notice.

While hypnotherapy can give some control over the pain, many sufferers who have the disease have been harmed by abuse, and are very reluctant to lose any further control over their lives. Having bought into the popular notion that hypnotism is a lose of control to the will of the hypnotist, they must first overcome this powerful cultural and erroneous indoctrination they have bought into before they could ever use the therapy. Others with no such hang-ups will find it helpful. Learning meditation forms can also be helpful. A quite calm meditation music can be very helpful in clearing out the mind from worries and anxieties.

Belonging to a group and getting group support can be very helpful.

Fioricet (butalbital)

Fioricet is a combination drug. It is made up of acetaminophen, caffeine and butalbital. Acetaminophen is the same medication in Tylenol You know caffeine from coffee (or even your favorite candy bar.) Butalbital is a mild barbiturate. It relaxes you.

Medical Science does not have an explanation for the reason this combination of drugs works so well, but the fact is Fioricet (and its generic form butalbital) is highly effective for tension headache. Presumably, it relaxes the muscles in the head and neck which typically tighten during tension headaches.. This is the top selling drug at our pharmacy month after month- it really helps headaches!

Corticosteroids

Another group of medication used for rheumatoid arthritis treatment is corticosteroids. These drugs suppress the immune system, thus reducing inflammation.

Cortisone (Cortone), methylprednisolone (SoluMedrol, DepoMedrol), betamethasone (Celestone Soluspan), triamcinolone (Aristocort), dexamethasone (Decadron), prednisolone (Delta-Cortef), and prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), are some examples of corticosteroids.

Although corticosteroids can be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis, they are known to trigger adverse effects when used in extended periods of time. Some of these side effects include easy bruising, glaucoma, cataracts, thinning bones, and excessive weight gain, and diabetes. Because of their potential to develop severe side effects, these medications are often only used as a short-term remedy to manage sudden outbreaks of the disease. On the plus side, a single injection of the drug can inhabit inflammation of a specific joint for a long period of time.

More online information about Ultram medicine.

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Author of this article works on entertainment for 20 years including performers and celebrities like Miley Cirus.

Getting Your Lapband Surgery in Mexico

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:30:22 +0000

By: bairdcollins

Obesity is a condition that many people experience, to varying degrees. In this past century, awareness of obesity, as with other issues that grew with mass media, has become so ubiquitous. You would think that with all the talk about it, that people would have found a solution to it a long time ago. Yet many are still unaware of how to treat their condition. There are so many different treatments in the market. Among them, ‘liposuction’ and ‘cosmetic surgery’ have become household terms, and are sought out by those who can afford these operations. Another option, not as commonly known but nonetheless patronized and recognized by many, is bariatric surgery, specifically lapband surgery. Quite a number of Americans are known to have gotten their lapband surgery in Mexico.

Getting your tummy done via liposuction and other cosmetic remedies seems to solve the problem of being overweight. After all, so much in pounds is removed from the body, leaving one with less fat and of course reduced weight. No problem, right? Except when you consider the sustainability of these types of weight loss procedures. If one’s eating habits are not accordingly adjusted, then one stands to gain as much weight later on, resulting in the liposuction being all for naught.

What one needs is a way to alter one’s very lifestyle. This normally could not be done by sheer will power. After all, if you have a certain constitution, you will be hard wired to meet the needs of that constitution. Laparoscopic band surgery, which is the long name for lapband surgery, recognizes this matter. In this procedure, a band is placed around one’s stomach, so that the area where food is stored is shrunk. The brain recognizes this smaller area, and when consuming food, one feels ‘full’ even after a fraction of one’s regular intake.

Because of our less active lifestyles than our ancestors, we actually need much less in nutrients and food intake than our digestive system has the capacity for. By reducing the stomach area to this manageable size, one is able to get sufficient nutrition without the urge to eat more than they should.

Mexico is a place where many choose to get their lapband surgery. This is not only due to the increasing health professionals located south of the border, but to the relatively lower cost of health care. If you are considering your options, make sure to have in mind lapband surgery in Mexico.

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Pros And Cons To Breeding Your Dog

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:27:18 +0000

By: Kelly Marshall
Before deciding to breed your female dog there are some positive and negative considerations that owners should consider. Breeding your dog is not an inexpensive or easy task if you are seriously planning on making the best possible selection of a male dog. There are serious health considerations with regards to breeding dogs that should be discussed with your vet and family members before making the final decision.

Drawbacks To Breeding Your Dog

Breeds have their own unique issues when it comes to breeding. Below are some of the general concerns that can arise with any breed:

·Cost of stud services. For a championship bloodline it can be several hundred or even thousands of dollars to have your female bred to a purebred male.

·Potential health risks. There is always the possibility that the female can be injured during breeding, or may develop life-threatening conditions during the pregnancy. Female dogs can die during delivery if they are left unsupervised and there is a complication.

·Additional vet expenses. The female may require additional trips to the vet or even help with birthing or whelping the puppies. These vet bills can range between the cost of a check-up to several thousands of dollars depending on the size of the dog and the troubles they experience.

·Health issues with the puppies. If there are health issues with the puppies the owner of the female is usually responsible unless there have been other arrangements made prior to the birth. Again, these can be minor or they can be very costly.

·Vaccinations and feeding. Not only will the female require more and higher quality feed throughout her pregnancy but the puppies will also require vet visits and high quality food. For the larger breeds the food can be very costly, and for any breed the vaccinations and vet visits are critical and are an additional cost.

·Ongoing health issues with the female. Female dogs that have had a litter of puppies are much more likely to develop ovarian and breast cancers than spayed females that have not had a litter.

Positive to Breeding Your Female

There are positives as well to breeding your female. Helping develop a line of healthy and breed standard puppies is very rewarding. Finding good homes and families for the puppies is a great opportunity to share the breed of your choice with caring and loving individuals.

In addition breeding is a way for kennels and breeders to seek to develop championship lines. There is increased awareness of the kennel if one of the puppies becomes a champion dog.

For most individuals making money off of puppies is simply not realistic. By the time that you consider the expenses of breeding and caring for the females the price of the puppies does not cover the expenses of raising them. Careful consideration of the options for breeding is important before deciding if this is right for your dog or not.

Kelly Marshall writes for Oh My Dog Supplies, a high end pet store offering pet furniture, dog feeders, and more. Shop today for great deals!

Lamictal – Epilepsy and Anti-seizure Medication

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:23:50 +0000

By: Jatin

What is Epilepsy? Epilepsy is a known neurological condition, which directly hampers your nervous system. It is also commonly known as seizure disorder. A person suffering from epilepsy can only be treated if he had minimum of two seizures, not caused by any known medical condition like alcohol withdrawal or low level of blood sugar.

It has been observed that the actual reason behind a seizure disorder is not known. You can put the blame on family hereditary or even the brain injuries can be a cause. The term “epilepsy” explains that an individual is suffering from seizures but neither does it confirm anything about the actual cause nor does it say anything about the type of seizures or how severe it can be to that individual.

Seizures can be controlled

Anti-seizure medications are readily available at your local pharmacists that are used to help control some types of seizures while treating epilepsy. Lamotrigine a known Lamictal Medication is a drug representing the class of phenyltriazine which is chemically not related to existing antiepileptic drug. Many clinical trials have proved that Lamictal Medication is effective in reducing the frequency of seizure when added to existing antiepileptic drug therapy in adult patients with partial seizures. Lamictal Medication does not cure epilepsy, but it will work to control seizures as long as you continue to take it. Even though lamictal is readily available at your local pharmacist, you are advised to take it only after your doctor’s prescription.

How to use Lamictal Drug?

Once you are on Lamictal dosage, it become primarily important that your doctor checks your health on regular basis, especially during the initial month or two of the treatment. These regular checks will put him in a position to take decision on your dosage, if you encounter any unwanted side effects.

If you are take alcohol or other CNS depressants and want to take Lamictal Medication, check with your doctor before you start taking Lamictal. There is a strong possibility that Lamictal might increase the effects of alcohol and CNS depressants making you feel drowsier with the same amount of alcohol. You should be aware of the effects the medicine can have on you, before you drive or use machinery that can lead to accident.

It is very important to check whether Lamictal makes you clumsy, or if it affects your vision. If you experience, double or blurred vision, dizziness, check with your doctor.

It is advisable not to stop taking Lamictal Drug without consulting your doctor. You may face sudden withdrawal side effects like your seizures may return or can occur more often. Even if you want to stop continuing this medication, check with your doctor. He might suggest you to reduce the dose and gradually quit than sudden withdrawal.

Jatin Chawla is a freelance journalist. Jatin writes for www.tristatemeds.com offering valuable information on Lamictal Medication.

Yeast Allergy: The Ultimate Low Carb Diet

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:21:11 +0000

By: John Hilaire

Most people love their bread, though it’s not always good for their waist lines. Carbs are everywhere and they are mighty tempting, especially if you are one of the ones on a low carb diet. You never realize how many carbs there actually are until you are preventing yourself from eating them. What if, however, you can’t eat bread because of an allergy? That’s right, there are people with a yeast allergy, who can’t eat or drink anything with yeast as an ingredient.

You may not realize it, but many things are made out of yeast. And, depending on the severity of your yeast allergy, you may not be able to enjoy bread, beer or any other yeast oriented products ever again. Look at the bright side, though. If you have a yeast allergy, use it to your advantage and turn it into a low carb diet that will benefit your health, the way you feel and the way you look.

Look At The Silver Lining

A yeast allergy for carb lovers can be devastating. The worst part is that some people have a yeast allergy and don’t know it. They continue to feel discomfort at certain times and have no idea why. They don’t realize that it’s the yeast they consume throughout the day that’s causing their discomfort. If you don’t consult an allergist and actually get tested, it can be very hard to determine, or pinpoint, exactly what is ailing you, or what you’re allergic to.

If your allergists tests you and tells you that you do, in fact, have a yeast allergy, then you will probably learn the severity of it. It’s at this point that you will learn whether or not you can have yeast products at all. If your allergy isn’t that severe, you may be able to get by eating only certain foods with very little yeast in them, or there may be some kind of product or medicine that you can take to alleviate the symptoms or at least lessen them so that you can enjoy your favorite foods without fear of a yeast allergy attack.

If your allergy is severe, however, you may have to give up yeast products altogether. It will take time, especially if you love your carbs, but once you get used to it, you’ll see that a low carb diet is actually great for getting you into tip top physical shape. It might be a good idea to consult a dietician, too, to see what you can and cannot eat. You’d be surprised exactly how many foods out there have yeast in them. It’s by being cautious, and seeing the bright side of things, that will get you through your yeast allergy so that you can live a normal life once more without the discomfort of yeast allergy attacks.

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Best Diet to Burn Fat Fast – Easily Melt Away Fat Safer, Faster, & Permanently With This Diet Plan!

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:18:48 +0000

By: Avy Barnes

Are you finding yourself searching all over the place for the best diet to burn fat fast, but nothing seems to produce the results you want? Well, take 60 seconds out of your day to see which diet works best for lightning fast fat loss!

Okay, first things first. The only way to quickly melt away fat permanently, is to do so naturally. Unfortunately, I found that out the hard way! Please take my advice and avoid those “fad diets”! They will only REDUCE your metabolism…which leads to REBOUND weight loss and will put your body in “fat STORING mode”!

Alright, now to effectively burn fat fast, this is what you should look for in a diet:

1. Is it based on getting PROPER nutrition (no low carb, low fat, low calorie stuff)?

2. Will it BOOST your metabolism….naturally?

Well, the best diet to burn fat fast that I found which answers those questions above on a positive note is the “calorie shifting diet”.

Starting this diet plan was a must since I am a very busy person (it’s an at home diet), and I was considered obese (300 lbs.)!

This diet was very easy for me to do, but yet extremely effective. The reason being was that this diet melts away pounds of fat simply by alternating the types of calories you get each day….this will SKYROCKET your metabolism to the peak for incredibly fast and permanent fat loss.

I ended up losing around 50 pounds of fat, lost inches off my waist and stomach, and gained a ton of energy in around 2 months…and the weight stayed off for good!

So, if you are looking for the best diet to burn fat fast, then I highly recommend for you to look into and tryout the calorie shifting diet today.

Lose 25 lbs. and melt away fat in 4-5 WEEKS with the “calorie shifting diet” from Fat Loss 4 Idiots!

Click http://www.FatLossIn11Days.info to read the full review of the calorie shifting diet from Fat Loss 4 Idiots, and get started today!

How to create Defined, Long, Lean Muscle

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:07:00 +0000

By: Gina Jackson, Fitness & Health Author

If you are working really hard on that treadmill, pushing really firmly on the elliptical and kicking your butt on that stationary bike daily and still find yourself pulling your hair out with the mush of muscle that won’t tighten up. Yes! Protein – that is what you really need now.

No matter how many times I work with a client, male or female, I still find it important to remind them of the need for tweaking their diet and nutrition to support their fitness efforts.

Muscle will not build itself on its own. Women, in particular, women aged 50-70 years old (i.e., post-menopausal women) that want to lose the extra weight we tend to gain during this cycle of life, cannot and will not make it happen by performing cardio training alone.

You cannot build muscle by burning it all up with hours and hours of aerobic conditioning. You will not create lean muscle mass in your desire to achieve weight and fat loss without training the muscle of your body. And, if you train muscle, you need protein to feed it.

The July 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association researchers reported, the association between dietary protein intake and loss of lean mass during weight loss in postmenopausal women through a retrospective analysis of a 20-week randomized, controlled diet and exercise intervention.

Weight loss was achieved by differing levels of caloric restriction and exercise. The diet-only group reduced caloric intake by 2,800 kcal/week, and the exercise groups reduced caloric intake by 2,400 kcal/week and expended <400 kcal/week through aerobic exercise. Average weight loss was 10.8±4.0 kg, with an average of 32% of total weight lost as lean mass. Protein intake averaged 0.62 g/kg body weight/day (range=0.47 to 0.8 g/kg body weight/day).

However, the participants who consumed higher amounts of dietary protein lost

less lean mass and appendicular lean mass (r=0.3, P=0.01 and r=0.41, <0.001, respectively). These associations remained significant after adjusting for intervention group and body size.

The study concluded, therefore, inadequate protein intake during caloric restriction may be associated with adverse body-composition changes in postmenopausal women.

Translated loosely…. to lose weight and retain lean muscle, women need to consume higher amounts of quality, dietary protein.

The Universal Truths Consume 5-6 small meals – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are generally understood. However, I have met hundreds of people that always skip breakfast, sometimes lunch and then grab a candy bar to make it through the afternoon to have dinner late at night followed by a couple of glasses of wine or beer.

The other two meals during the day are clearly snacks. So depending on your size and activity level, 2-3 of the meals will be snacks; an apple with peanut butter, handful of nuts, leaf of lettuce with a scoop of fish salad, protein smoothie. Candy bars, ice cream, cookies, cake, pretzels or chips are universally excluded as “snacks” if you want lean, long length in your muscle. Enjoy a healthy protein with every meal – this includes the snack meals as well. Consume fresh fruit and vegetables – Fresh, brightly colored fruits and vegetables are the best and highly recommended. Canned fruits and vegetables are processed and will generally have salt and other preservatives added that are unnecessary and easily avoided. Hydrate frequently with water – My father provided a great example to my brother and sisters and I while growing up, a good example that I must admit we ignored as children. He always drank at least 1-2 glasses of water after his meal, (morning or evening). I remember seeing it at the table but never remember drinking it then. But you should believe I do now!

If your mouth is dry, or you notice a lot of muscle cramping while moving or exercising, your body is giving you a signal of its level of dehydration. Drink pure, clean water; not the flavored sugar waters that are the rage of the day. I suggest trying to flavor the water with a slice of citrus fruit. Your skin will enjoy the antioxidants as well. Minimize (or completely eliminate) soda and sugar soft drinks – This should be obvious given the point above, but bears repeating for emphasis.

Suggested Anti-Aging Options to support increasing your protein intake:

Start with eggs in the morning; egg whites for less clogged arteries; season with herbs and spices. Enjoy a salad or steamed veggies with chicken, beef or fish for lunch and/or dinner. Munch on nuts and berries for an afternoon snack. Consider a protein drink as a mid-morning or late evening snack.

Gina Jackson, MBA, CPT, holds Advanced PFT recognition as a member of the International Association of Fitness Professionals (IDEA); is certified as a NY Power Pilates Teacher and a proud Business Member of the Pilates Method Alliance.

Gina made a conscious career and lifestyle change to fitness in 2000 and assists clients in lifestyle fitness training programs; she is the Fitness Consultant, creator and energy behind the successful stories of a myriad of clients featured at www.FitnessByGina.com, www.Pilates4Fitness.com and www.Prescription4Fitness.com, all of which provide fitness resources, tips, articles and MP3 downloads designed to assist all realizing their fitness goals.

Please Note: You are granted permission to republish this article on your site only with maintenance of the credits, links and author’s bio intact.

How Efficient and Useful is Hoodia Gordonii?

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:06:10 +0000

By: Kurtis Rivers

For those dieters out there who are tuned in with the latest craze in terms of losing weight effectively and naturally, definitely they known hoodia gordonii. This amazing plant is a great appetite suppressant that can be great in losing weight.

Yes, there are lots of ads stating that hoodia gordonii is effective in losing weight since it has an active molecule that works in tricking the brain by stating that you have eaten already and you feel satisfied and full. This is the reason why more and more dieters trust the power of hoodia gordonii iin terms in losing weight.

If you are wondering what hoodia gordonii is and where it came from, read on.

Hoodia gordonii is a cactus-like plant. It is lookinmg like a cucumber, and with slightly bitter taste. This amazing plant comes from Kalahari Desert of South Africa. This plant takes about 5 to 7 years to gain its maturity. This succulent plant is part of the lives of the San people, they eat this plant to suppress their hunger and thirst especially if they have to go for long hunting. They remove the skin and its spikes and chew it.

If you are asking if it is safe to eat and chew, the answer is yes… Actually, it is just few years ago that hoodia gordonii is discovered to be an effective appetite suppressant but for centuries already these San people used to eat this plant, reason why scientists tested the plant to make sure if it is non-toxic and safe to eat.

With their research, scientists found out that this has an active molecule which was called p57. They tested this molecule with animals and found out that it works by tricking the brain and telling it that you are full even if you haven’t eaten at all.

Hoodia gordonii can effective make you lose weight since it can increase your stamina which makes you active than before and it can make you feel full even if you haven’t eaten yet.

This product comes with different forms; it can be capsule, liquid, powder and tea form. If swallowing capsule is a problem to you, then does not lose hope, you can take the liquid form in order to lose weight.

Hoodia gordonii is a popular and latest craze in terms of dieting or losing weight, so lots of manufacturers produce such products with lesser hoodia ingredients and other it doesn’t have hoodia ingredients at all. So in order to prevent the fake products, be alert and well-informed customer. Buy hoodia gordonii to companies that are reliable, to those who can provide information and details about the product.

It is advisable to look certifications when purchasing hoodia gordonii products. These Certificate of Analysis and a C. I. T. E. S certifications can give you the assurance that the product is the real hoodia gordonii.

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