HCG Diet

The HCG Diet has turn out to be a really well-liked diet plan trend within the population. There has been much controversy as to whether the HCG diet is a truly legit and safe method to lose weight. This HCG diet article will just go into the basics with some information to obtain you aquainted.

Diet plan trends, weight reduction diets, low carb diets and fads come and go, as we seek a diet plan strategy, the diet, a method to help us shed undesirable pounds and inches, but a fat loss diet plan like this has no equal.

Diets do not usually work for people with abnormal fat shops because they do not lose the right type of fat although dieting. HCG works at the metabolic level to discharge these shops into the bloodstream to ensure that they can be used as fuel, and this is why a very low calorie diet plan must accompany the HCG dosage.

The initials (HCG) stand for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, which is really a hormone produced in large amounts by pregnant ladies to control metabolic functions.

HCG will decrease your craving for food and metabolize stored fat. You will not expertise irritability, headaches, weakness or any hunger pains as with other low calorie diets, but you will lose abnormal fat, reshape your body and look the way youre supposed to.

It works, regardless of regardless of whether you exercise or not!

Youll not lose muscle mass or retain your extra large skin, as the reshaping will also shrink double chins and chicken necks.

The original HCG diet plan protocol involved a low calorie diet and a series of HCG diet plan injections.

There has been an excellent deal of controversy as to whether its greatest administered by injection or by mouth. However, oral HCG (under the tongue) mimics the injection and either way youre ingesting the same hormone.

A word of warning:

There are no recognized HCG diet plan dangers or HCG negative effects, but there are various types and you ought to be aware that homeopathic HCG is not the very best choice to create!

This type is widely available over the web and often low-cost, but the problems lies in that it hardly ever contains any HCG hormone at all.

Losing weight has never before been this simple and this fat loss diet has no equal.

Needless to say there will probably be skeptics who will inform you that it is harmful or doesnt work, but theyre not worth listening to, as this method has much more than fifty years of study behind it.

If you want to learn much more about the HCG diet, why not take a appear at our HCG diet plan blog or join a HCG diet plan forum where you can find resources, information, diet suggestions, the newest news and some tempting HCG diet plan recipes.

HCG Diet Drops

Increase Web Traffic with backlinks.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Oral health

Once Phyllis Diller beautifully said "A smile is a curve that sets everything straight," thus a wide Smile reflects the wide amount of happiness in you. Smile is an important element of your personality. A white teeth smile charms your personality while that of off white or yellow teeth smile may be considered as a hindering factor in your beauty. Oral health is regarded as one of the most important factor resulting in physical health as mouth is a medium through which we intake food. Thus maintain a good mouth and beautiful smile is an important factor to enhance your personality and health too.

One should preserve good oral health by practicing regular dental care habits and visiting dentist regularly. Brushing provides beautiful and healthy teeth which guarantees oral health. But brushing isn't enough as it can't reach some inner places between the teeth and areas under gum line. This enables to generate the plaque, thus intimidating oral health. Flossing eradicates those particles guarantying effective oral health. Brushing and flossing are the mainstays of good dental care and oral health. In addition to those, you should also want to consider some other oral health tips.

Here are certain oral tips which add charm to your personality.

Brushing tips

Tip 1: Brushing twice a day, if possible after every meal with a fluoride contained toothpaste using soft bristled toothbrush.

Tip 2: Appropriate brushing style is holding the toothbrush at a slight angle against the teeth using short back and forth motions.

Tip 3: Brush the teeth for about two minutes every time.

Tip 4: Brush your tongue too

Tip 5: Do not forcefully or harshly scrub the gums, it can be harmed.

Tip 6: Replace the tooth brush every three to four months.

Tip 7: Consider using an electric toothbrush, especially if you have arthritis or other problems that make it difficult to brush well.

Flossing Tips

Tip 1: The first tip is to ease the floss gently into your teeth, pull the floss gently back and front forming C, floss back of the tooth.

Tip 2: Softly pull the floss from the gum line to the apex of the tooth to eradicate plaque.

Tip 3: Use fresh floss as you progress through your teeth.

Tip 4: Try waxed floss if flossing turns problematic.

Tip 5: Try floss holder if it's hard to control the floss.

Some other oral health tips:

Tip 1: Dental pick or dental stick enables to clean between the teeth guarantying oral health.

Tip 2: Mouth rinse help reduce plaque between the teeth.

Tip 3: Oral irrigators or devices aim to stream water of the teeth to remove food particles

Tip 4: Avoid using toothpicks or objects that aren't made to clean your teeth

A healthy mouth is a route to healthy physical health. Early detection and treatment of oral health problems can ensure a lifetime of good oral health. As someone appropriately said, prevention is better than cure, thus following the above tips enables effective oral health, healthy body and a beautiful smile.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Anabolic Cooking Ebook - Why Fad Diets Fail

Anabolic Cooking

When going on a routine, whether it be getting big or trimming down, the most important factor is what you put in your stomach. The kitchen can make or break an exercise routine, and it's very important to maintain a healthy diet throughout your routine. The biggest mistake people often make is not eating protein and carbs in the right amounts.

Protein is the building blocks of muscle, and even if your aim is simply to lose fat, building muscle can help you accomplish this. The more muscle you have, the more fat you will burn at your base metabolic rate, meaning even when you sleep you burn more fat because of the increase in muscle. Eating a decent amount of protein is essential in any exercise routine. The recommended intake is approximately 1 gram of protein per pound of body mass, meaning if you weigh 200, you should eat 200 grams of protein per day.

Carbohydrates are also a neccessary component in any routine. Diets that cut out carbs completely will always fail because they body relies on carbs for fast burning energy. When the aim is to lose fat, you should consume a low amount of carbs, but you should never cut them completely out. When building muscle, you should consume a very large amount of carbs, often 1.5 grams per pound of body mass.

Cooking to cater to your diet is often a complete hassle, but there are many recipes and recipe books to help you. My personal favorite is Anabolic Cooking, I use this when planning any routine. It has sections for losing fat and building muscle, and it can even be used for women too.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Low Carb Breakfast Ideas

If you just started your low carb diet and are stuck for ideas on what to eat for breakfast or just want to try something new, here are some easy-to-prepare breakfast suggestions for you. It is important to plan your meals, so you don't end up making bad choices because you are hungry and in a hurry. Just because your meals are low in carbs, doesn't mean they have to be boring. It is a good idea to find some meals you like and always keep the ingredients for them at home.

Quick breakfast ideas

1) Eggs
You can eat eggs in a variety of ways. The most known way of serving eggs on a low carb diet is probably eggs with bacon, but eggs are so much more than that. You can make omelettes, scrambled eggs and boiled eggs just to name a few. I have a cook book with over 100 egg recipes, they are not all low in carbohydrates, but most can be modified.

2) Smoothies
You can make a variety of low carb smoothies. Common ingredients are eggs, protein powder, Greek yoghurt, heavy cream, cooking oils, frozen berries, nuts and low carb sweeteners.

3) Low carb bread
There are thousands of low carb bread recipes to choose from. You can start by taking a look here at ezinearticles, but be aware that just because someone claim a recipe is low in carbohydrates, it may not be. If you are a new low carber and don't yet have a feel for how many carbs are in a recipe, you must do your homework and count the carbs.

I would say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, because if you don't start your day right, it often follows through the day and you will end up getting starved and eating too much later that day. However, claiming that breakfast is the most important meal, in my experience doesn't mean eating breakfast the minute you open your eyes, but getting off to a good start always helps. I recommend eating breakfast when you get hungry.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Low Carb Diet Help

Baffled over good carbs and bad carbs?

People who don't see carbohydrates into perspective need all of the low carb diet help they can get, whether in the form of nutrition tips from reliable broadcast literature or online sites, or straight from their medical specialists/nutritionists.

While some individuals may tend to shrug off all the talk about carbs, at the end of the day, getting low carb diet help and clarification from trusted sources is certain to be very useful. 'Bad carbs,' also called easy sugars, make up the refined sugars that give people empty calories. Simple carbs happen naturally in some vegetables and dairy products.

In contrast,'good carbs' or complex carbohydrates include oatmal and grain products ( that might be refined and hence, had their nutrients and fiber removed, or unrefined ), beans and other veggies, and certain fruits. It would be absurd, indeed, to decline healthy, beneficial foods like whole grains, plants and fruits in favor of a delicious burger & potato fries loaded with saturated and trans fats, to be downed by a soda. Then again, fad diets and fastfood continue to hold special attraction for most.

In getting low carb diet help and info, the health-oriented is also bound to stumble across varied medical opinion, like the finding that a low carb diet may lead to greater weight loss than the supposed low fat diet. Professionals point out, though, that what really accounts for the heavy weight loss isn't really the diet type, but more the reduced calories. In association with this, it has to be observed that not all low carb foods have decreased calories.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Low Carb Diet Tips

These days, everybody is eating a low car diet. In previous years, eating low carb was not considered a good thing. Carbs are should be good for you. Carbs provide energy. Carbs should be eaten in all nutritious diets. While that is sometimes true, it is a little more complicated than that. There are unacceptable carbs and unacceptable carbs. If you want to have a low carb diet, you must cut out the bad carbs. Then you are allowed to eat the right amount of good carbs to keep your energy level up and maintain your balanced diet. You can use these suggestions to help you with your low carb diet.

Pick foods that are based upon vegetables. Vegetable do not have that many carbs. This is especially good advice when you go out to eat. Pick side dishes that are vegetable based. So many side dishes are high in calories and smothered in carb rich foods. For instance, steamed vegetables would be viewed as an excellent side dish. They can also be considered good snacks. One of the hardest parts of eating a low carb diet is choosing good snacks. Carrots, Broccoli, Cauliflower all make great and carb free snacks. If there are any carbs in these veggies, then the levels are very low.

Using coconut flour is another way to cut down on carbs. Coconut flour, which is low in carbs, can be used in place of white and wheat flour. You can still enjoy baked goods, pancakes, and other baked goods that use flour this way. Refined flour doesn't work as part of a low carb diet. Coconut flour, however, is a great substitute. Not to mention, coconut is rich in various nutrients. Coconut water makes a great health drink, for example. Using this flour means you can eat regular breakfast foods and not worry about the carb count.

Another easy way to cut down on carbs is to use a bowl instead of a tortilla. Sure you'll have to do a few more dishes this way, but isn't it worth it if it help you cut down on your carbs? You serve dishes from fajitas to breakfast burritos out of a bowl and they will taste delicious. You still cook everything the same, but rather than putting everything into a tortilla, you use a bowl.

This works for pretty much everything, except for a quesadilla. A bowl of melted cheese isn't an appetizing meal. Tons of people think that they only have to eat a low carb diet and they are healthy. This is false. When you are on a low carb diet, you have to make sure that you are getting enough vitamins and nutrients and that you don't eat too many calories. One of the reasons that eating a low carb diet is difficult is that most of the things we crave when we want to snack are filled with the bad carbs. If you get used to making good decisions; however, you'll find that eating a low carb diet is easier than you think!



iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Anxiety - Mental Health Problem Or a Normal Mental State?

Anxiety can affect the mental health of people and appears to be a large and growing problem in the Western world.

First let us ask if feeling anxious a normal state for human beings? The answer here is a definite yes. Anxiety serves to keep us safe from possible perceived threats that we need to process. It is an early warning system that tells us we need to observe our environment differently and pay special attention at least until we have more information and know how to handle a situation. Very often this early warning system enables us to take appropriate action before a problem gets worse.

What is worrying in today's world is however that the word anxiety now denotes a mental disorder. You only have to Google in the word anxiety to realise that most people feel it is something that they need to get over. What is less apparent on the web is anxiety skills training. It is almost as if it is by chance that we learn how to deal with our own anxiety. Few of us know how to process our anxiety - one of the cognitive skills that is sadly lacking from our educational curriculum.

Anxiety can be seen on a continuum. At one end anxiety arises when there is a perceived threat that needs processing and at the other end is the person whose anxiety mechanism is out of control which leaves them in a state of heightened anxiety most of the time. This end of the anxiety continuum has a hugely negative impact on a persons' life.

However there is another continuum. That is the continuum of people's ability to process anxiety and deal with it effectively. At one end is the person who always seems to be able to stay calm, react appropriately and resolve the anxiety inducing situation. At the other end is the person who is totally controlled by the unpleasant feelings and physical symptoms associated with extreme anxiety.

Added to those two situations is the fact that anxiety is taught to us by out society, and certainly as children we can develop very negative reactions to anxiety producing situations if that is the behavior we see around us. Throw in for good measure our personalities and our personal environmental experiences and perhaps we have a valid case for teaching anxiety appropriate skills as part of our educational system.

This might just go a long way to reducing the incidence of anxiety from becoming a mental health problem. Worth thinking about!

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Three Performances Show Children's Unhealthy Mental State

It is a critical period for children who are at their 3 to 6 years old, because in this period, the growth and development of children's psychology would be very important and their basic personality will also be formed. And the mental health is the basis for the formation and development of people's overall qualities. Thus, it is very crucial for the children's mental development, parents should pay attention to the mental health of children, if they are aged at this period. First, we should make clear which kind of behaviors are the performance of unhealthy mental state. Therefore, the following are several performances of Children's unhealthy mental state.

Hyperactive

Our mental activities would performance by our behavior, so do children. The psychological activities of children can be expressed through the child's behavior. Generally speaking, most of children are active and it is good for the formation of children's personality, however some children are "Hyperactive". And the main performance of those children in this type are active, they can't focus their concentration on one thing; their mood are easily fluctuated, poor self-control. Thus, even when they learn new things, they will be seriously affected by the external environment.

Anxiety

It refers to the sudden fear occurred with no obvious physical causes. The specific performance of these children is usually lack of confidence, too sensitive, low appetite, unprovoked crying. These children are so sensitive to strange environment, that they are too scared and even consternation disturbed. Thus, if this problem is not solved in time, it would be a big obstacle for their healthy development of their body and mind.

Terror and insomnia

Our horror usually reflects our fear of certain things or situations. Children are usually afraid of some no risk or little risk things. And this fear is very conspicuous; children are avoiding or withdrawal since the emergence of terror. Child who has insomnia sleep problems will be awakened from time to time, or even sleepwalking, but during the day they cannot recall, and they would have such problems such as low in energy and emotional instability. A good sleep is a promise of day's activities. A bad sleep would not only make people have poor spirit, but also with a poor body. Children are in a period is crucial for their development, so, parents should pay more attention to this problem.

Since knowing the performance of the children with unhealthy mental state, parents should take measures to solve these problems.




iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Healthy Diet Foods

Eating healthy is important for nurturing the areas of the body. Healthy diet foods should be chosen in lieu of processed foods in order to allow all organs to work properly, Eating healthy promotes good circulation, healthy skin, as well as the overall well being of the individual. If you already have been living off unhealthy processed foods, it is not too late to improve your diet in order to improve your overall health. Diseases such as obesity, cancer, heart disease and diabetes can be avoided in many cases by switching to foods with the appropriate amount of fat, protein and carbohydrates, high in fiber, vitamins and minerals.

There is no one diet fits all, as each body is genetically predisposed to needing more or less of varied nutrients. For example, some people need to add iron to their diet because of a predisposition toward anemia. Choosing organic produce is a smart diet decision as this reduces the amount of toxins that enter the body and cause damage. With this in mind, it should become a habit to read labels, so that you can choose foods that are organic, as well as foods that are not overwhelmed with an abundance of salt, artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and preservatives.

A healthy diet foods are not particular foods included in fad diets. Rather they are foods that should be included in your diet in order to maintain a healthy mind and body. These foods encourage healthy weight, and energy levels. Macronutrients needed by the body include protein, fat and carbohydrates. Sufficient content of protein in foods in your diet is utilized for growth and repair, while the appropriate level and types of fat provide the body with energy and cell formation. Carbohydrates become reduced to glucose, with is used by the body's muscles and to energize the brain.

Minerals that should be included in healthy diet foods include salt, potassium, calcium, iron, copper, and chromium. Salt is required by the body, but only in moderation. Blood pressure can be lowered with potassium, as does magnesium. Magnesium also is used for a healthy nervous system. Maintenance of bones and teeth is provided through appropriate intake of calcium, which also assists in the nervous system. Red blood cells are formed through the use of iron. One must be careful with the amount of intake, as too little can cause anemia and too much can cause death. Copper and chromium are not good for you in high doses, but are still nutrients essential for one's health.

When looking for healthy diet foods, vitamins are listed on packaging as what the recommended daily allowance or RDA. Age and body weight, as well as gender somewhat dictates different levels needed of varied types of vitamins. With the abundance of vitamins and the uses of them it is best to use a multivitamin especially formulated for your gender and age. Consulting your doctor can assist you in determining what additional vitamins would best your particular health needs.

Eating healthy is important for nurturing the areas of the body. Healthy diet foods should be chosen in lieu of processed foods in order to keep toxins from reversing effects of nutritious foods.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Healthy Diet Food Options

If you're looking to lose quite a bit of weight, I have a few diet food options for you. Some of these foods may come as a surprise to you. If you are anticipating a very boring list of vegetables and fruits, you can think again.

Just take a few more minutes to finish reading the rest if this short article and I think you'll like what you see.

Eggs

Eggs were once thought of as unhealthy. Maybe you have noticed that you don't hear that stuff anymore. And the reason you don't hear anything bad about eggs is because they are great for you.

Don't worry about what anybody says about eggs. Eggs are not bad for cholesterol levels.

It's worth pointing out that people with high and low cholesterol levels suffer heart attacks equally.

Cholesterol is not the culprit.

A build up of plaque in the arteries is the problem. So, once we get past that point, you should go ahead and eat eggs to your heart's content.

Personally, I eat 3 scrambled eggs, twice a day.

Black Beans

Black beans have to be just about my all-time favorite. First off, they're very cheap. You can buy this stuff for less than 60 cents a can. Each contains 25 grams each of protein and fiber. Tell me what food can match that powerful combo?

I try to eat one can of black beans everyday. I'll eat half a can with one meal, and the other half can with another meal.

Apples

Apples are just about the perfect snack. Each apple contains 5 grams of fiber and is high in water content. The water and fiber both help to control your food cravings between meals.

Those are 3 of the best diet food options that will get you on your way toward losing weight fast.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Acid Alkaline Diet Foods

Do you recognize probably the most appropriate ph level for our body? According to study, ph degree in between 7.35 and 7.45 will be the most concept numbers, specifically 7.3, in which atmosphere our immune system would run at its best .the ph level of our physique is primarily determined by food we get. Nonetheless, many of the meals we consume is acidic by nature. Too a lot acid is hazardous, since it leads the body much more fragile and weakens. Is there any successful method to alter this scenario? Yes, alkaline acid diet can.Grab A Copy Click here

Alkaline acid diet can be a planned and scientific diet plan, which incorporates 20% acidic food and 80% alkaline meals, keeping an idea ph degree for the physique .in contrast to Atkins diet; it includes low protein, low excess fat, but higher carbohydrate meals. as it is studied the meals we eat mostly is higher of protein which will likely be acidic when be digested .the essential organ of our body ,which includes the lung ,the heart ,the liver ,can do the trick nicely inside the 7.3 ph degree .otherwise the body program will disorder .if the body keeps acidic , Acidosis will occur ,which hinders the physique to soak up the diet ,consumes the conserved energy within the physique .it tends to make you feel stress ,tired ,depressed ,anxious all the time ,in addition to ,you are more uncomplicated to be attacked through the continual suffering.

Alkaline acid diet aims to change the body's ph degree by reasonable food allocation and make the ph ration on the body stay at one to 4 .all the diet is easy to operate ,including it encourages you to eat less meat ,extra fruits ,drink less coffee ,more lemon juice .should you try this for very a long time ,your physique might be refreshed ,energy will be regain .the biggest benefit of this diet plan is it may not just drop your bodyweight ,but can remedy your chronic disease meanwhile ,which signifies flue, eye drying ,pneumonia ,arthritis will far away from you any a lot more.Grab A Copy Click here

Alkaline acid diet is really a prevalent diet plan , nevertheless ,it's most suitable for your following groups :folks who are uncomplicated to tired ,obese folks ,officers who drink also much coffee ,persons suffer from different continual disease .in the event you abide by the diet plan exactly, complying using the health existence habit ,like consuming eight glasses of water everyday ,think me ,you'll be youthful once far more .

In case you desire to slim down although keep wholesome, you can decide on Alkaline acid diet; if your physique situation is worsen, Alkaline acid diet can also be a great option also .what are you waiting for?

Grab A Copy Click here

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Protein Requirement

The actual amount of protein to be consumed daily to meet the daily requirement will depend upon the quality of dietary protein. The higher the quality, lower the requirement and vie-versa. It is to be expected that children require more protein per unit body weight than do adult, because of new tissues which are being laid down during growth are largely built form amino acids drawn from the dietary proteins. Thus a young child of 1-years requires 1.2g egg protein/kg or 2.0g of mixed vegetable per kg. Likewise, protein needs of women are greater during pregnancy and lactation than during pregnancy and lactation than during non-pregnant, non-lactating state.

It also must be emphasized that figures for protein requirement are valid only when other nutrients particularly calories in diet are adequate. In other words, the diet must be a well-balanced one. A mixed diet even solely based on plant proteins can meet their energy needs. For this the protein content of the diet should be such as to contribute around 10% of the total calorie.

For growing children and for women during pregnancy and lactation, the protein requirements are relatively greater and it is desirable some animal foods which have protein of high nutritive value of included in the diet of these groups of population particularly if the protein concentration in the diet is low (containing low protein cereals, roots, little of pulse, etc.).

The best source of animal protein for growing children is milk. Milk also provides a good amount of calcium which is normally lacking in vegetarian diets. Eggs also can be used as a source of good quality protein whenever possible. Besides providing good quality protein it provides a good amount of a wide range of other nutrients, particularly B12 which is absent in vegetable foods. Skimmed milk is a rich source of good quality protein. Fish also is a good source of protein whenever available and acceptable and should be included in the diet, particularly of older children and adults.

In devising an inexpensive well balanced diet in India, economic considerations often preclude the inclusion of milk or other animal foods like cereals and pulses and vegetables can be relatively inexpensive and at the same time can provide a mixture of proteins with nearly as good as amino acid pattern as that of expensive animal foods.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Pap smear test - Medical guidelines

The scientific reference name for the Pap smear test is the Papanicolaou test. The test is name after its founder, scientist cum doctor, Georgios Papanikolaou. In his research, he found that the cervix cells change in appearance to quite a degree before they become entirely cancerous. So, this test helps in determination of precancerous cells which consequently can prove fatal to the individual.

This is test more commonly used to detect cancers in the female body. The procedure is basically performed to collect cells from the cervix for study. The cells are examined under the microscope. Abnormalities are recorded and treatment methods are employed if needed.

The guidelines for the Pap smear test are advocated by healthcare experts across the globe. The National Cancer Institute has given a detailed report on the execution of the procedure, frequency, etc.

The key points that need to be followed are:

The test can be performed by clinicians. These are medical professionals who are specifically trained for such testing. Experts, Physicians, Midwives, etc are the people who can carry it out. The test is categorized as a gynecological test. It is performed to study the health and fitness of female organs such as vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, rectum, and other organs of the pelvic region. The test is important because it can help in detection of diseases such as cervical cancer which can develop in the cervix region of the woman. The main objective of this test is to discover cells which do not function normally and which can lead up to tumors and cancers. Benign tumors, inflammations and infections can also be detected by this method According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the screening must begin at the age of 21 years. The screening must be undertaken every 2 years. This frequency of testing can be decreased after the age of 30 to once in three years. If abnormalities are reported, the individual might need to undergo further medical procedures for analysis and confirmation of the condition. A woman who has been vaccinated for the HPV virus should also undergo the screening. Since the Pap smear test is basically done for cervical cancer which is caused by the HPV virus, it is presumed that a woman who has been vaccinated for the same may not need to undergo the test. This is an incorrect presumption because the body is not protected against all HPV viruses.

Vaccines for ultimate protection are not yet developed and hence, the Pap smear test is very essential and vital for women.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

The Best Nutrition For Athletes Includes Concentrated Natural Foods

To discover the right nutrition for athletes around today, you are wise to know that many of the natural foods in our grocery stores are without authentic nutrition. The artificial fertilizers used over the past century have produced artificially enhanced plants that are without a density of nutrients required to supply optimum nutrition for athletes.

Farmers can raise natural foods, like beefy orange peppers and dazzling red tomatoes that seem tasty, but as the soil is exhausted year after year, so are the nutrients. No measure of artificial fertilizer can recreate what nature created for us. And, most serious competitors will tell you they want to feel more power than natural foods can offer when they look for the best nutrition for athletes.

The filming of a documentary about climate change underscores the concept of less nutritious food today. The film featured scientists drilling holes in the Arctic to find out what was beneath the ice. Digging down thousands of feet they uncovered what is said to be soil that has been preserved below ice for thousands of years.

This soil from ages ago is so loaded with nutrients it can be imaginable that the people of that point in time imaginably lived on hardy vegetables that were hundreds of times more nutrient dense than the food we ingest now. Imagine if we had natural foods like fruits and vegetables delivering that kind of fantastic nutrition for athletes today.

One apparent reason for the deficiency of nutrients in today's food is that the oxygen levels in our air were much higher centuries ago before the air was loaded with carbon monoxide. That reality alone may help you comprehend why the natural foods in stores now are just not that effective for athletes, even if they look nutritious. You will get hold of better nutrition for athletes in advanced, nutrient dense, concentrated formulas that are not found in stores.

Seek innovative natural foods and health drinks that are made with real ingredients, not chemicals or isolated vitamins and minerals. These whole food ingredients, when concentrated so that small amounts deliver the nutrients of multiple plants combined, create potent nutrition for athletes. Additionally, it is a good idea to find out how the natural foods you may be consuming are processed. In most cases, powder formulas are more significant nutrition for athletes than bottled liquids. This is because of the lack of live enzymes in nutritional products that have already been activated by liquids. Live enzymes found in raw, natural foods are the important catalysts for nutrients such as vitamins and minerals to penetrate your cells where they can furnish energy for you. Usually, products that are processed at lower temperatures maintain the complex of whole food ingredients substantially more than those that have been heated or pasteurized. Pasteurization is necessary to kil l bacteria in liquids such as milk, but it also destroys enzymes. That is why raw milk is more effective for calcium absorption than pasteurized milk.

When you put in a respectable workout, you want to know that your efforts aren't being sabotaged by a lack of the healthiest nutrition for athletes. You want quick recovery times and you want to feel good when you're giving it your all, but knowing which natural foods to choose for optimum performance is necessary. You could settle for less at the store, but it won't get you the results that you will feel with today's more advanced, concentrated formulas. Keep an eye out for concentrated nutrition for athletes to acquire the highest quality natural foods and health drinks being made today.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Swiss Sciences Nutrition Advice - Nutrients

Nutrients are essential for our bodies to function. Here Swiss Sciences Nutrition will provide a brief rundown of the various nutrients.

Nutrients are the chemicals your body needs to live and grow. They are used to create and repair body tissues and to regulate all the body's internal processes. In the body's digestive system some nutrients are converted into energy.

There are different ways to classify nutrients. They can be either organic or inorganic, they can be either macro nutrients or micro nutrients, they can be considered either "essential" or "non-essential", and they are also classified into substances that either "provide energy" or "support metabolism". The major classes of nutrients include: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. The study of nutrients and their effects on our bodies is one of the many activities of Swiss Sciences Nutrition.

Organic nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and vitamins come from the materials of other living organisms while inorganic nutrients are "non-living" substances such as water, oxygen, and minerals.

Macronutrients are substances our bodies require in large quantities such as carbohydrates, fats, protein and water while micronutrients are only required in trace amounts such as vitamins and minerals.

Essential nutrients are nutrients that cannot be created within the body. It is necessary to receive these types of nutrients through consumption of food or supplements. Nonessential nutrients are created by our bodies.

Nutrients that provide energy include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. They are broken down in the body's digestive system and turned into energy. Nutrients that support metabolism include dietary minerals, vitamins, and water.

The different classes of nutrients are as follows:

Carbohydrates

Sugars, starches, and fiber are the nutrients classified as complex carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the main ingredient of foods such as wheat, rice, corn, noodles, bread and other grain-based products. Though they are an important part of our everyday diet carbohydrates can have a negative effect on our health when consumed in large quantities. Simple carbohydrates are highly processed. They include sugars and starches and can have seriously negative effects on our health when consumed in large amounts.

Fiber

Fiber is included in the carbohydrates. It can be classified as either soluble or insoluble. Fiber is found in foods such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits and nuts. The benefits of Fiber are many. It improved digestion by passing food along in the digestive tract for one. It also helps lower blood glucose levels by slowing the absorption of sugar, which can lower the risks of such diseases as type 2 diabetes.

Proteins

The things that make up our muscles, hair, and skin are provided by proteins. Proteins are made up of amino acids. They also create enzymes, which are required by our bodies to control chemical reactions.

The Fats

Fats are classified as being either saturated or unsaturated. Saturated fats are typically solid at room temperature and are the basis of animal fats, while unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and typically associated with vegetable oils. Unsaturated fats are considered healthier than saturated fats as they are more easily broken down in our bodies. Unsaturated fats are also broken down further into omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids. Trans-fats are unsaturated fats that have been "hydrogenated" and become solid at room temperature. Trans-fats are the least healthy of the fats and have been shown to be detrimental to our health.

The Vitamins

Many vitamins are considered essential nutrients. They cannot be produced by the body but need to be be ingested in food or through supplements. Vitamin deficiencies can lead to many diseases like, cancer, premature aging, and immune system impairment.

The Minerals

Minerals are substances required by our bodies that are not found in organic molecules. Some of the main minerals we consume are calcium, sodium, and magnesium. Supplements are one way of adding minerals to our diet.

Foods are normally made up of several of the many classes of nutrients. While most nutrients are stored inside out bodies many others have to be taken in on a fairly regular basis. Not getting enough of the required nutrients will eventually lead to poor health. Swiss Sciences Nutrition suggests you eat a well balanced diet containing a sufficient amount of the required nutrients. Some of the highest quality nutritional advice, information, and products are provided by Swiss Sciences Nutrition. Swiss Sciences nutrition supplies written materials and books providing educational material about diet and nutrition.

Swiss Sciences Nutrition has contributed to the wealth of weight loss information and products. Swiss Sciences nutrition supplies written materials and books providing the added benefit of educational material to help in the quest for healthy weight loss.

Swiss Sciences Nutrition is located in Clearwater, FL, US

Come visit Swiss Sciences Nutrition for health and nutrition advice. Swiss Sciences provides written materials and books along with their products for an education on healthy weight loss. View our blog at:

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Processed Foods Advice From Swiss Sciences Nutrition

This article of Swiss Sciences nutrition advice will talk about about the effects of processed foods on our health.

The diet of an organism can be defined as what that organism eats. Dietitians are health professionals who specialize in human nutrition. They are trained to provide safe, evidence-based dietary advice and management. This dietary advice concerning the subject of processed and unprocessed foods is provided here by Swiss Sciences Nutrition.

Eat Unprocessed Foods

Eating a wide variety of fresh, whole "unprocessed", foods has proven to be more favorable to our health compared to diets based on processed foods.

A National Geographic Magazine article from November, 2005, looks into why some people seem to have high life spans. There are three cultures of people around the world, the article mentions, that live extremely long life spans while suffering from very few of the diseases that kill so many throughout the rest of the world. There are basically three things they've found that these people tend to eat in their diets that are responsible for their long life and great health. The Sardinians, the Okinawans, and the Adventists, eat low calorie diets that consist mainly of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

For a better absorption of your body's nutrients, and a better balance of essential nutrients, eat whole plant foods. This will result in better cell growth management, maintenance, and cell division. It will also result in a better regulation of your appetite and your body's blood sugar levels. It has also been shown that it is better to eat regularly scheduled meals as opposed to infrequent meals. Swiss Sciences nutrition is a firm believer in this nutritional approach.

Processed Foods

Omnivorous hunter-gatherers are what humans have evolved to be over the last quarter of a million years. The diet of early humans varied based on location and climate. People in tropical regions had a diet that was based more on plant foods. People in higher latitudes usually survived on a diet with more animal products.

It was around 10,000 years ago that the development of agriculture began to occur. With agriculture humans were able to add items such as wheat, rice and potatoes to their diet. The development of a farming culture provided milk and dairy products, and greatly increased the availability of meats and vegetables.

This started to change around 200 years ago during the Industrial Revolution. New technologies allowed food to remain fresher for longer periods of time. The food processing industry was born. Many of these new technologies also altered the state of the food as it is in nature.

Pasteurization is one of the leading processes that are used to allow food to last longer, but it also alters the food's original nutritional content. The safety of many foods has been increased as a result of pasteurization and the possibility of bacterial infection has decreased, however, there are some bad consequences to this process.

Diseases related to obesity have been increasing throughout the world. These food processing technologies have been a huge contributor to this development. Processed foods are usually cheaper to produce and easier to store and last for long periods of time. Nutrition related health problems have gone way up all around the world as an effect of these cheaper and longer lasting foods.

Swiss Sciences nutrition is the creator and marketer of some of the highest quality weight loss products in the world. Swiss Sciences nutrition supplies written materials and books providing the added benefit of educational material to help in the quest for healthy weight loss.

Swiss Sciences Nutrition is located in Clearwater, FL, US.

Come visit the Swiss Sciences Nutrition blog for health and nutrition advice. Swiss Sciences nutritional advice provides plenty of written materials on the subject of healthy weight loss. View our blog at: /2010/12/swiss-sciences-nutrition-advice-on-nutrients/

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Renewed Hope For Aids/hiv: Nutrition For Aids And Hiv Infected Patients

This is a continual piece of my AIDS article series: Little known facts about AIDS, and Understanding AIDS/HIV: Unveiling the hidden facts.

Known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, AIDS is a complicated disorder, in which the patient is infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV. This virus kills white blood cells causing the immune system to be compromised to a stage that it is not able to fight off infections.

While ongoing research is still carrying on to help find a cure for AIDS patients, there is currently no cure for this unpredictable health condition. Scientists have worked painstakingly to find vaccines and drugs which may help delay the progression of this deadly disease which takes millions of lives worldwide every year.

AIDS and HIV infected patients are constantly facing a threat on nutritional deficiency and rapid weight loss. At times, nutritional and lifestyle changes, as well as supplements prescribed or recommended by health professionals might be a possible way to help curb AIDS to progress rapidly towards its chronic stage.

Nutrition therapy with an emphasis on a proper and balanced diet can help maintain a stronger immune system and proper functioning of cells, thereby reducing the progression of the disease, particularly in preventing symptoms and health problems related with HIV/AIDS. This nutritional approach should take a high priority from the moment one is diagnosed with HIV positive. Considering the patients are prone to malnutrition due to reduced food intake in the early stages of HIV infection, this therapy may be more effective in comparison to the chronic stage when the patient's nutrient stores is depleted by repeated infections and hypermetabolism at a tremendous speed!

Lifestyle Change

Most AIDS/HIV patients have a major risk of experiencing wasting syndrome, whereby they tend to lose strength easily and lean body mass. In such a case, anabolic steroids are utilized to address this complication. Since the infection can cause a gradual result of lean muscle implying a sign of advanced AIDS, the patients are advised to undergo progressive resistance training including weight training to substitute the medication therapy.

In order to increase lean body mass, patients are recommended to have about 3 times per week of resistance training (such as weight-lifting, and push-ups) for eight consecutive weeks. The research has proved that those who had resistance training 3-4 times per week were able to help slow down AIDS progression to death.

Besides resistance training, HIV infected patients can also benefit from aerobic or cardio exercise such as skating, swimming, running, walking fast, biking which help promote weight loss if they gain more weight. This will help improve the heart health and immune system. To benefit from this exercise, the patients need 20 minutes and at least 3-4 times a week to carry out this activity.

Traditional Medications

There are many types of herbs available, and are very helpful to HIV-infected patients. St. John's wort, turmeric, Asian ginseng, maitakereishimshiitake, tea tree oil, licorice, garlic and andrographis are some of the most common herbs used primarily to slow-down the progression of AIDS. However, caution should be exercised as many questionable products available in the market claiming to be a remarkable cure and some are them are just misleading health claims. Ironically, many herbal drugs may cause allergies, swelling or irritation among HIV patients so the usage of herbal mixture or herb medications should get prior approval from a doctor. It is advisable to discuss with a qualified doctor whether the usage of these medications are appropriate, so that the patient's nutritional and health status can be monitored closely for any parameter changes.

Weight Maintenance and Nutrition Therapy

Weight maintenance should be a high priority in nutrition therapy. This is because most AIDS patients are more likely to lose weight in addition to muscle loss or suffer from vomiting, loss of appetite (anorexia), vomiting, diarrhea or nausea which can be severe and unresponsive to medication therapy. Even though maintaining a healthy diet can sometimes be difficult for AIDS patients, a diet high in protein and carbohydrates (which can be in the form of fats and carbohydrates to gain more energy to help fight off the advanced stages of HIV infection) is able to achieve the goal of weight maintenance. Rather, the diet with high protein and calories can help curb the occurrence of muscle loss or lean muscle among the patients. (Note: HIV-infected people with an ideal weight require 14-16 calories per pound or 30-35 calories per kg body weight everyday).

HIV positive patients who lose more than 5 percent of their body weight should talk to their doctor immediately as this condition may lead to a possibility of wasting (loss of muscle tissue) syndrome, which in fact, can be life-threatening.

From the moment an individual receives a positive diagnosis for HIV or in the initial stage of detection of HIV, patients are advised to follow immune-enhancing formulas which include arginine, omega-3 fatty acids and nucleotides as well. Additionally, hydrolysed protein may also help reduce the frequency of hospitalization while preventing weight loss in the initial detection/stage of HIV infection.

Due to abnormal intestine function and chronic diarrhea, most patients will undergo a medical condition of protein loss called enteropathy. Consequently, HIV patients are often encouraged to have gluten-free diets to help reduce the episode of diarrhea. During the gluten-free periods, patients are able to gain weight since the chronic diarrhea is under control.

I would not hesitate to recommend patients to consume whole foods (including whole-grain bread, fruits, beans, vegetables, nuts, cereals, seeds) instead of processed foods so that they can obtain higher amount of essential trace elements, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. This is also due to the fact that patients suffer from frequent multiple nutritional deficiencies, and that is a solid reason to have whole foods to help prevent rapid weight loss.

In case patients have a poor appetite, they are encouraged to eat six or more meals in small servings during the course of a day instead of consuming three large servings throughout the day.

Attention: For HIV-infected people, a body mass index (BMI) below 20kg/m2 is regarded as underweight. On the other hand, a BMI above 30kg/m2 is considered obesity which marks the onset of health risks of cancers, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and etc.

Food Safety

It is particularly important for AIDS patients to care for food hygiene to avoid being introduced to food poisoning. Since their immune system is compromised, there is always a higher risk of being infected by bacteria, and most notably campylobacter, shigella, and salmonella. Therefore, AIDS patients should pay special attention to the handling, preparation and cleanliness of food. Because of being infected by bacteria, eating raw food is strongly not recommended.

It is important to note that contaminated food and food-borne illnesses may pose a major risk in people with AIDS/HIV. So, make sure that proper hand washing and personal hygiene are taken into serious consideration.

Nutritional Supplements

It is very common for AIDS patients to suffer from multiple nutritional deficiencies. Also, AIDS itself can have a negative effect on the digestive system making the patients unable to absorb essential minerals and vitamins, in particular vitamins B6, riboflavin, folate, B12 and thiamine effectively, thereby they should benefit from a broad spectrum of nutritional supplements. Recent research shows that patients who consume appropriate amounts of multivitamin-mineral supplementations on a daily basis generally have a lower progression of this disease or a slower onset of AIDS. Having said that mineral pills and multiple vitamin supplements can benefit AIDS patients, any supplementation with over one percent of the recommended dietary allowance should be monitored by a qualified doctor with care.

Vitamin E has been proven to enhance the effectiveness of the anti-HIV medication zidovudine, or AZT while decreasing the risk of toxicity. In this matter, zinc supplementation also helps protect against AZT toxicity.

Then, a B-complex vitamin supplement is very helpful at delaying progression of AIDS to death. Among AIDS patients, approximately of them are identified to have thiamine or B1 deficiency which is linked to neurological abnormalities.

Also, taking vitamin C can help inhibit HIV replication and simultaneously the risk of progression to death from AIDS. The daily recommended amount used ranges from 40 to 185g, and any higher dosage supplementation than this recommended amount should be administered by a qualified health professional. The recommended dosage is generally used to treat Kaposi's sarcoma and/or herpes simplex outbreak among the HIV patients.

Selenium deficiency is linked to increased risk of mortality among HIV-positive patients. By taking selenium, AIDS patients can benefit from an improved appetite, enhanced heart function, a better intestinal function as well as a reduced rate of infection. Patients with HIV-related cardiomyopathy (or heart abnormalities) are recommended to take 800mg of selenium per day for as long as 15 days, accompanied by 400mg of selenium per day for eight days.

Most HIV infected patients tend to have a lowered level of the coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10 in their blood, so they are encouraged to take 200mg of CoQ10 per day. A clinical trial reveals that HIV infected patients who took 200mg of CoQ10 per day were found to have experienced no further infection up to seven months and improved counts of infection-fighting white blood cells.

Besides CoQ10, the combination of hyroxymethylbutyrate, arginine, glutamine and amino acid derivatives are very helpful for people with AIDS in preventing further loss of body or muscle mass which otherwise would lead to wasting syndrome or an advanced sign of AIDS if left ignored.

Further, vitamin B6 deficiency is very common among people with HIV patients. Due to vitamin B6 deficiency, the patients have a decreased immune function. Besides vitamin B6, folic acid, and vitamin B12 is also much needed by HIV patients.

Vitamin A deficiency is associated with increased risk of transmission of virus from a pregnant mother to her baby as well as increased risk of the disease's severity. A research shows that HIV-positive infants which were given two consecutive oral supplements of vitamin A (20 000 IU) in addition to influenza vaccination had displayed a decreased risk in their bodies' viral load. As vitamin A deficiency is common among people with HIV infection, taking vitamin A supplement can help curb AIDS progression.

Then, taking iron supplements can help patients improve immune system response while fighting off bacterial or pathogen infection.

In a recent clinical study, people with HIV infection took 800mg per day of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and it found that most of them had a slow rate of their declining immune function. In practice, an 800mg per day of NAC (the amino acid) supplement is very helpful to inhibit the replication of the HIV virus.

You might also be interested in related articles:

Final remark:

This article was written with the aim to benefit HIV infected individuals and AIDS patients worldwide. Info contained herein is for educational purpose, and if you are experiencing HIV-related symptoms or complications, please consult your doctor immediately! Also, prior to taking any supplementation or nutrition therapy, please talk to a qualified health professional so that a proper nutritional approach that is suited for your best individual needs can be suggested and your nutritional assessment can be evaluated in an appropriate manner.

Finally, I wish you all a healthy, happy and cheerful life!

Now, you can read more of mycontent at myhealth blogs HealthAssist and Care4your health.

Click on the link to Sign-up with Bukisa.comand start making some good money on the internet.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Tax Payers Pay For Spiritual Well Being in Hospitals!

The UK tax payer pays $40 million a year for the spiritual well being of patients regardless of religion. There's Muslim and Christians to name 2 but a few more are available and there is anywhere up to 6 chapels per hospital.

Now don't get me wrong as I believe everybody has a right to religion no matter what that religion may be but do you honestly believe that I should have to pay for it. I'm not a church going person nor am I anti any specific religion but can you tell me that there is any self respecting Christian or Muslim that feels good about paying money towards any other religion whether they like it or not?

In England we have a major row going on about the British National Party (a political party that believes England for the English first and foremost) are now racist because they want to crack down on illegal immigration and unwanted nationals who are already in England. In this day and age when certain nations enforce their way of life upon their visitors and get away with it in the name of religion or historical right and England can't stand up for itself without being called racist or anti everybody else.

An excerpt from the UK Border Agency posted 24 February 2009:

"In the three months to December last year, there were 29,000 applications from workers from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia and the Czech Republic - down from 53,000 in the same period in 2007. The decrease is mainly explained by a drop in approved Polish applicants, which fell to 16,000 in the last quarter of 2008 from 36,000 in the same period in 2007."

Here we have a perfect example. The NHS (National Health Trust) is the main reason for half the immigrants that come here from Eastern Europe and Asia as it is a free health care. This has caused a massive strain on the limited resources that the NHS has and has resulted in long waiting time for some treatments and operations. On top of this they foot the bill to the tune of 40 Million (+$65 Million) which I believe could be better spent on resources to help ease the strain caused by the mass in flood of immigrants. This could pay the salaries for a much needed additional 1,500 nurses and then some.

An excerpt from the Guardian article posted April 2008:

"Net immigration has added 1.5 million people to the population over the last 10 years. Two-thirds of them have come from the continents of Asia and Africa. People born overseas account for about 10% of the UK population of 60.6m."

Please don't get me wrong on this subject either as I was an immigrant in South Africa myself but I have chosen to return to England as this is my place of birth and if migration wasn't allowed we wouldn't have the mixture of communities we do have to day all over the world.

Where my gripe is is with people who migrate to another country and then make demands on that country to include all aspects of their way of life into the host country whilst back in their home country they oppress and murder the migrants of their host country. This has even gone so far as to ensure that they can openly practise religion whilst oppressing other religions, expecting special treatment with regards their beliefs and eating habits, and get this, they're now pushing to try and have some of their "Religious beliefs" incorporated into the UK's government operations.

As all country men and women feel about their country, so I feel about mine. My family history runs back to the medieval times and I have a strong sense of patriotism welling up inside of me but believe we can live together if we respect the country to which we are not nationals.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

The Hungry Payer

If you give a pig a pancake... Everyone knows what happens in that children's book. The pig wants more, and more, and more. We don't have to spell out the analogy. Insurance companies have been taking pancakes from providers for years. Every year, they come back for more. Recently, Pacificare was found guilty of incorrectly processing 30% of claims. Give an inch, take a mile.

Make no mistake, providers are locked in a power struggle with insurance companies, who have the advantage in size, technology, people, and processes. It costs more today to fight for proper reimbursement than ever before. And the payers are escalating the battle. Post-payment audits, refund requests, underpayments, partial payments, late payments, and flat-out denials proliferate and constantly knock practices off-balance. They waste time, energy, and focus.

Recently, practices have asked: "Is it worth it?" "Why don't we just accept whatever they pay us instead of fighting for what's ours?" On the surface, it seems plausible -- save a lot of money, time, and energy on fighting a $10 "processing error". It costs more to fight for the $10. But the results can be disastrous. Giving up $10 today tells the payer that we're content with the lower reimbursement. The next step is to ask for more. $10 turns into $15, $20, the entire payment. Reimbursements drop lower and lower -- an endless spiral.

But that's not the worst part. Lack of action on certain denials may red-flag an office for a costly audit. For example, if services are routinely submitted and denied pending medical records, and a practice refuses to send the records, the obvious conclusion is that the practice doesn't have those records -- a nice juicy target for an audit.

We know that appeasement is not a long-term solution, especially when practiced with an adversary who is constantly looking for ways to fatten the bottom line. The only solution is to fight. But how?

Outsourced Billing

Hiring staff to fight for claims and take action on denials is not for everyone. Staff adds a fixed overhead and needs constant management. Vacation days, sick days, health insurance -- all take their toll on a small business. And then there's the constant, nagging question: "Now that I have an effective biller, what happens if I lose them?"

Small practices often turn to outsourced billing companies to fight for their money, entrusting the billing company to carry the fight for them, without distracting the practice from its primary mission of serving patients. But not all billing companies are created equal.

Traditional Billing

The term "billing company" describes precisely what traditional outsourced billing services do: they bill. Their entire business model is wrapped around entering charges into a billing system and filing the claims on behalf of the provider. Fighting for claims is an afterthought. When the overworked billing company staff has time, they look through aging reports and call on outstanding balances. Thus, a practice that entrusts a traditional billing service with fighting for reimbursement very often suffers from lower collections than when they were fighting for reimbursement in-house.

Fighting Services

Enter the new breed of billing services: Claim Fighting Services. Claim Fighting Services are built around follow-up. Everything else supports that. Unlike billing services, fighting services are built from the ground-up to wage war for reimbursement. First, they have dedicated staff for follow-up. The follow-up staff has no other job. They are the soldiers, and they are never distracted from their mission. They make up the bulk of the fight services staff.

Next, fighting services automate everything possible that distracts from the fight. Claim entry is done at the provider's office. Errors are flagged up-front and dealt with at the time of service. Claim submission is fully automated. Reimbursements are auto-posted where possible. Nothing extra is added. Every feature is focused on one thing: helping the fighting service fight for reimbursement.

Fighting services require accountability. Every biller (read soldier) has a workbench -- a target list -- that tells them precisely which claims to work today. Managers oversee the process and make sure that workbenches are completed daily so claims never wait more than necessary before being sent back to the payers. Accountability works both ways. A significant portion of claims need provider input before the fight can continue. Fighting services have a system to make providers accountable so that every claim is worked, even if it needs provider input.

The Long Road Ahead

Fighting services are not a panacea. They are only as effective as the providers that they represent. They form a partnership with the provider, in which the key ingredient on both sides is commitment. Commitment to continually improve the process on both sides. Commitment to keep open the lines of communication between the provider and the service to prevent payers from sowing the seeds of doubt. Most of all, commitment to work together to surmount all obstacles and make the payers pay.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

2009 Top Healthcare Payer Ito Vendors, Black Book Survey 2009 Results

In order to rank the organizations, 18 key performance indicators (KPIs) or criteria are employed, scored on each respective vendor in ITO initiatives, and ranked on a 110 scale in mean format. The key follows in the report detail.
Slices of the data fields (provided in the registration of ballot submitters) allow Black Book to also determine the top rankings among provider and payer outsourcing users, and by function and project type as described/defined directly by the user.

Key findings
Key finding: the most important customer satisfaction KPIs increased significantly in all healthcare payer client types in 200910
In 2009, payers' most important attributes influencing their satisfaction with their outsourcing suppliers were cost-based. KPIs in scalability, client adaptability and flexible pricing and marginal value adds were identified by the majority of payers and insurers as the major satisfaction drivers from their contractual outsourcing arrangements.
Technology enhancements were the most important issues to hospitals and health systems and provided client satisfaction in 2009. Confidence in innovation, best of breed technology, data security and back-up protection and successful integrations and interfaces are the most overwhelmingly important attributes influencing hospital customers' satisfaction with their outsourcing providers.
Relationships were the most important attributes influencing government healthcare customers' satisfaction with their outsourcing providers, specifically naming support and customer care, customizations and reliability as 2009s key deal keepers.
Key finding: ITO vendor dissatisfaction is rare in the healthcare payer industry
Real dissatisfaction is uncommon in the health plan sector, occurring in only 4.9% of contracts, increasing satisfaction over 50% from managed care client user responses recorded in 200708.
Key finding: in healthcare payer ITO contracts, single-vendor arrangements produce the highest satisfaction rates
Single-vendors offering both comprehensive ITO and bundled ITO/BPO services to healthcare clients are the highest rated overall.
Key finding: payers greatly increase outsourcing spend in 2009
Payers are accelerating their spending on outsourcing, largely driven by national initiatives toward EMR adoption. Collectively, payers that outsource believe that the level of ITO service they receive from their outsourcer is an improvement over the services they have received previously.
Healthcare payers ITO top honors overall 2009
Top honors overall
Hexaware Caliber Point

Healthcare payers ITO top vendor by function 2009
Applications development and maintenance
Hexaware Caliber Point

Infrastructure management
CGI

Professional IT services
CSC

QA and bundled ITO/BPO services
Hexaware Caliber Point



Table of Contents :
INTRODUCTION 5
Impact of the economic stimulus package 7
Target users of the survey 7
The Black Book of Outsourcings healthcare payer vertical survey 7
SUMMARY 9
Survey overview 9
Using Black Book to evaluate healthcare payer industry vendors 9
Key findings 10
Healthcare payers ITO top honors overall 2009 10
Healthcare payers ITO top vendor by function 2009 10
Most important factors in choosing your vendor 11
Healthcare industry increases use of outsourced IT and ITO: market activity increases sharply in Q4 2009 forward 12
Findings review 12
BLACK BOOK METHODOLOGY 13
How the data sets are collected 13
Understanding the statistical confidence of Black Book data 13
Who participates in the Black Book ranking process 14
Mid-market HRO vendor rankings and results, 2009 14
TOP 20 HEALTHCARE PAYERS ITO VENDORS 15
STOP LIGHT SCORING KEY 16
Operational excellence of healthcare payers ITO vendors 16
OVERALL KPI LEADERS 21
Top score per individual criteria 21
Outsourcing vendors with most top individual criteria scores 22
INDIVIDUAL KEY PERFORMANCE 23
APPENDIX 42
Orbys consulting 42
Disclaimer 42

For more information please visit :

/reports/2009-Top-Healthcare-Payer-ITO-Vendors-Black-Book-Survey-2009-Results-44661.html



iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Health Care Reform Debate - Single Payer Vs The Public Option

There are three options facing the United States in today's health care reform debate, what follows is a compare and contrast between those three options.

(1)No Real Change

The first option is to not make a significant change to the system. This is the choice of the insurance industry which is making billions of dollars of profits even during this economic recession. This is the choice being pushed by the Republicans and "Blue Dog"Democrats in the House & Senate since they are effectively bought off by the insurance industry. This is also the choice we can quickly dismiss because we cannot continue on the same road we are on now.

The system we have now is seriously broken. It costs more than any other system in the world and yet our actual health care is far worse than many other nations. The US health system is ranked #37 in the world by the World Health Organization and we rank #50 in life expectancy (yes that means the people in 49 countries live longer than we do on average.) We have about 50 million uninsured people. Furthermore this is more than just a health issue, it's also an economic issue. If our current system is left unchanged it will bankrupt our nation.

(2) The Public Option

The second option is "The Public Option."This is being pushed by President Obama and by most of the Democrats in the House &Senate. It allows for the creation of a "public health insurance plan" much like Medicare. This plan would allow people to either stick with their current health care insurance or to choose the government plan instead.

This would drive down costs because the government plan would be less expensive than the private insurance plans available now, and the new competition would force down prices at the private insurance companies. So even if you do not choose the public option yourself, it would positively effect you.

The Public Option is a compromise between the first position of no change and the 3rd position which is true universal health care known as "single payer."

(3) Single Payer

The "Single Payer" is the government. This means that everyones health care needs would be covered by a government health care plan. It would work somewhat like Medicare except instead of only certain people being eligible, every American would be.

This would greatly reduce costs and paperwork. It would cover every single American with no questions asked. It would most likely result in far better health coverage for Americans. Other countries have in place similar health care systems and they spend far less than we do on health care and get far better health care results and live longer than we do. Simply put this is the obvious choice that we should be making.

The problem is that it would effectively kill the health insurance industry and they are far too powerful in Washington to let that happen. That means while this is definitely the right choice for the American people, we are unlikely to see it actually happen because too many rich fat cats have corrupted our political system.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Diagnosing Personality Disorders

Personality traits are enduring, usually rigid patterns of behavior, thinking (cognition), and emoting expressed in a variety of circumstances and situations and throughout one's life (typically from early adolescence onward). Some personality traits are harmful to both oneself and to others. These are the dysfunctional traits. Often they cause discomfort and the person bearing these traits is unhappy and self-critical. This is called ego-dystony. At other times, even the most pernicious personality traits are happily endorsed and even flaunted by the patient. This is called "ego-syntony".

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) describes 12 ideal "prototypes" of personality disorders. It provides lists of seven to nine personality traits per each disorder. These are called "diagnostic criteria". Whenever five of these criteria are met, a qualified mental health diagnostician can safely diagnose the existence of a personality disorder.

But important caveats apply.

No two people are alike. Even subjects suffering from the same personality disorder can be worlds apart as far as their backgrounds, actual conduct, inner world, character, social interactions, and temperament go.

Diagnosing the existence of a personality trait (applying the diagnostic criteria) is an art, not a science. Evaluating someone's conduct, appraising the patient's cognitive and emotional landscape, and attributing motivation to him or her, is a matter of judgment. There is no calibrated scientific instrument that can provide us with an objective reading of whether one lacks empathy, is unscrupulous, is sexualizing situations and people, or is clinging and needy.

Regrettably, the process is inevitably tainted by value judgments as well. Mental health practitioners are only human (well, OK, some of them are...:o)). They hail from specific social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. They do their best to neutralize their personal bias and prejudices but their efforts often fail. Many critics charge that certain personality disorders are "culture-bound". They reflect our contemporary sensitivities and values rather than invariable psychological entities and constructs.

Thus, someone with the Antisocial Personality Disorder is supposed to disrespect social rules and regard himself as a free agent. He lacks conscience and is often a criminal. This means that non-conformists, dissenters, and dissidents can be pathologized and labeled "antisocial". Indeed, authoritarian regimes often incarcerate their opponents in mental asylums based on such dubious "diagnoses". Moreover, crime is a career choice. Granted, it is a harmful and unpalatable one. But since when is one's choice of vocation a mental health problem?

If you believe in telepathy and UFOs and have bizarre rituals, mannerisms, and speech patterns, you may be diagnosed with the Schizotypal Personality Disorder. If you shun others and are a loner, you may be a Schizoid. And the list goes on.

To avoid these pitfalls, the DSM came up with a multi-axial model of personality evaluation.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Understanding Hospitalization Vis-

Health insurance is not widely understood in India. Very few actually are aware of it, out of those who know about health insurance some think it is similar to Life insurance, which it is not. Others dont know that mediclaim as it is known in India, only covers hospitalization charges not all health expenses. In this article, everything about hospitalization vis--vis insurance, like what it covers and doesnt will be explained.

Health insurance Companies have defined terms like hospital, hospitalization period, domiciliary hospitalization so that there is clarity about what is paid and what is not.

Here are some of the common definitions and what they mean

1) Hospital means any institution in India established for the indoor medical care and treatment of patients and which either:

a) Is registered and licensed as a hospital or nursing home with the appropriate local authorities and is under the Supervision of a Doctor in attendance 24 hours a day and is not, except incidentally, a clinic, nursing home, rest home, or convalescent home for the addicted, aged, mentally disturbed or similar institution, or

b) Complies with at least the following criteria:

i) It has at least 10 inpatient beds;

ii) It has a fully equipped and functioning operating theatre;

iii) It has qualified nursing staff (any person who holds a certificate issued by a recognized nursing council) in attendance 24 hours per day;

iv) It has a Doctor who is in attendance 24 hours per day;

v) It maintains daily medical records for each of its patients

What it means: It means that you cant just go to any hospital in your neighborhood or admit yourself in your General Physicians clinic with two beds. Health Insurance Companies in order to ensure quality and standard care to the patients make these conditions mandatory.

So before you get yourself or someone near you admitted make sure these basic conditions are fulfilled.

2) Hospitalization period: Hospitalization expenses will only be paid if hospitalization is for more than 24 hours.

It means that a visit to the hospital does not result in a payable claim per se.You need to be admitted for valid reasons for more than 24 hours for the coverage.

Exceptions: There are number of treatments called as Day Care Treatments which are covered even if they require less than one day of hospitalization. Some of these include- eye surgery, chemotherapy, tonsillectomy, surgery of throat etc. For the extensive list, read the policy wordings of the insurance company.

*There also might be a condition in some policies that these day care treatments need to be taken care of in Network Hospitals only.

What wont be paid? There are some treatments that wouldnt be paid in the first year of the policy even if they require more than 24 hours of treatments like Cataract, Hernia, Gastric ulcer, Dialysis of Chronic renal failure and internal tumors. Similarly there are treatments that wouldnt be paid for in the first 2/4 years. For more extensive list see your policy wordings.

3) Pre- Hospitalization expenses: These aremedical expenses relevant to the disease that results in hospitalization incurred during a period up to the number of days specified in this policy, prior to hospitalization for treatments of disease, illness or injury sustained as part of a claim admissible under the policy.

What it means:It means that you can claim all medical expenses that you undertook for the treatment before you were hospitalized, if the hospitalization is payable. Generally, all expenses incurred 30 days before the hospitalization can be claimed by providing proper receipts and reports required.

4) Post Hospitalization Expenses:These aremedical expenses relevant to the disease that resulted in hospitalisation incurred during a period up to the number of days specified in the policy, after hospitalization for treatments of disease, illness or injury sustained as part of a claim admissible under the policy.

What it means: It means that all the medical expenses incurred after the hospitalization can be claimed by the individual if the hospitalization is covered. Generally medical expenses up to 60 days from date of dischargecan be claimed by the person after submitting relevant documents and receipts.

What all is paid?

a) Ambulance charges: Ambulance charges will be paid in case the person has to be shifted from residence to hospital in Emergency/ ICU or from one hospital/Nursing Home to another Hospital/ Nursing Home by registered ambulance only for better facilities.

It means that Ambulance charges will only be paid in case of emergency or when patient is shifted to other hospitals for better facilities.

b) Domiciliary treatment: Medical treatment exceeding three days for such illness/disease/injury which in the normal course would require care and treatment at hospital/nursing as in- patient home but actually taken whilst confined at home in India under any of the following circumstances namely:

i)The patient is in such a condition that he/she cannot be removed to the hospital / Nursing Home. To know more about Understanding Hospitalization vis--vis insurance

Compare & Buy Best Health Insurance Policy

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Types of Mental Hospitals

Psychiatric Hospitals

Modern mental hospitals, once known as lunatic asylums have evolved into more organised institutions to help inthe treatment of people suffering from serious mental disorders. Once, in such places, patients were treated with horrible practices. Patients were seen as insane and treatment was based on restraining them and containing them from the 'normal' people on the outside.

Nowadays, patients being committed to mental hospitals will be treated very differently, with a whole different approach. Some patients are admitted on a voluntary basis, knowing and admitting that they need help. Others will be involuntary admmitted, as an individual may pose a significant danger to others, or themselves.

There is a variety of types of mental hospitals. Depending on the severity of a patient's mental illness and problems. Different institutes specialize in a range of support for patients. Some deal with only short-term care, others a more permanent fixture.

Suffering from any form of psychological disorder patients will require help with dealing with their problems within a controlled environment. The key goal of mental hospitals is to help a patient fully recover, or to help equipped them with the skills of handling their disorder better on the outside. Through the use of treatment, involving a combination of psychiatric drugs and psychotherapy.

Crisis Stabilization Unit

A patient will be committed here in the event of acting violent, suicidal, or any other critical behaviour. In a lot of cases, patients do not show any visible signs of injury or illness and are often just seeking attention.

This is basically an emergency room for psychiatry. Here, patients can receive prompt action, gentle response and effective support from mental health professionals within a respectful environment.

Emergency psychiatry is usually only a short-term basis, however, in the event of needing more care, a long-termstay is provided. Mental health professionals will access and evaluate each patient to determine the most appropriate level of care for that individual. If the patient has been involuntary committed and is unable to consent they will need to require a commitment order.

The goal of this type of institute, with the use of medication and psychiatric consultation when necessary, is to help work with patients to design plans of action to prevent future crises. Professionals will supply help on education on nutrition, coping skills, signs and symptoms of relapse, relapse prevention and medication management and education. They will encourage family members of the patient to be involved in the process.

Open Units

Open units are focused on making life for patients as normal and bearable as possible. Patients will continue treatment to the point where they can be discharged. Some open units are left unlocked, but it depends on the type of patients that are admitted. The majority of the time, patients are not allowed to hold their own medications in their rooms because of impulsive overdose risks.

Medium-Term

Psychiatric hospitals of this type may specialize in short-term care. Most institutions provide care which lasts several weeks, this is because most psychiatric drugs take several weeks to take effect. The main purpose simply being to monitor patients for the first few weeks to make sure the treatment is effective. Some specialize in temporary or permanent care of patients who require routine assistance, treatment or a controlled environment for whose who suffer from on-going psychological disorders. Low-risk patients can undergo outpatient therapy. Patients can be admitted on a voluntary basis, but in the case of danger to themselves or others, patients will be involuntarily admitted.

Juvenile Wards

These wards are a part of a psychiatric hospital that is sectioned off for children and adolescents suffering from a mental disorder. Thereis also a number of institutions that only specialize in treating juveniles, especially when dealing with eating disorders, self-harm, or drug abuse. Adolescent units allow patients to take a break from their lives and be taken care of and treated by trained staff. The stay can be for a few days, or could be a few months, depending on the problems the patient is suffering from. Each patient will talk to a psychiatrist and may be given medication.

Long-Term

Long-term hospitals provide stabilization and rehabilitation for patients suffering from a variety of difficulties, such as mental disorders, depression, eating disorders, drug abuse, etc. They aim to help patients reintegrate into society once medication has stabilized the condition,within two or three years. Often if a patient has still not reached their goal within that time, they will be referred to another type of hospital in order to retain this role. However, the majority of long-term hospitals are being replaced with smaller secure units, some of which are within other types of psychiatric hospitals.

Halfway Houses

A halfway house is a community based institution for mental patients or substance abusers, who no longer require the complete facilities of another institution, but who are not yet ready to return to their normal lives. Although many lack sufficient funding they are deemed to be one of the most important parts of the mental health system. Patients are provided with assisted living for an extended period of time, and often aided in the transition of self-sufficiency.

Secure Units

Secure units are hospitals run by the Nation Health Service. Patients will be assessed by psychiatrists and will be provided with treatment and accommodation in a safe environment away from the public.

There are three main categories that the hospital facilities are divided into. They are referred to as High, Medium and Low Secure. Low Secure units are often referred to as Local Secure. This is because the patients mostly referred there are sent by local criminal courts for psychiatric assessment before sentencing.

Their aim is to rehabilitate patients and integrate them back into society through providing individual treatment. Overcoming the patient's problem areas and identifying their needs with the care teams. They will learn to develop trusting and genuine therapeutic relationships within a safe and contained environment. They will learn to overcome challenges, develop self-confidence and self-esteem, recognise individual strengths and abilities. They will learn to be independent for recovery to continue on the outside.

Psychiatric Hospitals

Modern mental hospitals, once known as lunatic asylums have evolved into more organised institutions to help inthe treatment of people suffering from serious mental disorders. Once, in such places, patients were treated with horrible practices. Patients were seen as insane and treatment was based on restraining them and containing them from the 'normal' people on the outside.

Nowadays, patients being committed to mental hospitals will be treated very differently, with a whole different approach. Some patients are admitted on a voluntary basis, knowing and admitting that they need help. Others will be involuntary admmitted, as an individual may pose a significant danger to others, or themselves.

There is a variety of types of mental hospitals. Depending on the severity of a patient's mental illness and problems. Different institutes specialize in a range of support for patients. Some deal with only short-term care, others a more permanent fixture.

Suffering from any form of psychological disorder patients will require help with dealing with their problems within a controlled environment. The key goal of mental hospitals is to help a patient fully recover, or to help equipped them with the skills of handling their disorder better on the outside. Through the use of treatment, involving a combination of psychiatric drugs and psychotherapy.

Crisis Stabilization Unit

A patient will be committed here in the event of acting violent, suicidal, or any other critical behaviour. In a lot of cases, patients do not show any visible signs of injury or illness and are often just seeking attention.

This is basically an emergency room for psychiatry. Here, patients can receive prompt action, gentle response and effective support from mental health professionals within a respectful environment.

Emergency psychiatry is usually only a short-term basis, however, in the event of needing more care, a long-termstay is provided. Mental health professionals will access and evaluate each patient to determine the most appropriate level of care for that individual. If the patient has been involuntary committed and is unable to consent they will need to require a commitment order.

The goal of this type of institute, with the use of medication and psychiatric consultation when necessary, is to help work with patients to design plans of action to prevent future crises. Professionals will supply help on education on nutrition, coping skills, signs and symptoms of relapse, relapse prevention and medication management and education. They will encourage family members of the patient to be involved in the process.

Open Units

Open units are focused on making life for patients as normal and bearable as possible. Patients will continue treatment to the point where they can be discharged. Some open units are left unlocked, but it depends on the type of patients that are admitted. The majority of the time, patients are not allowed to hold their own medications in their rooms because of impulsive overdose risks.

Medium-Term

Psychiatric hospitals of this type may specialize in short-term care. Most institutions provide care which lasts several weeks, this is because most psychiatric drugs take several weeks to take effect. The main purpose simply being to monitor patients for the first few weeks to make sure the treatment is effective. Some specialize in temporary or permanent care of patients who require routine assistance, treatment or a controlled environment for whose who suffer from on-going psychological disorders. Low-risk patients can undergo outpatient therapy. Patients can be admitted on a voluntary basis, but in the case of danger to themselves or others, patients will be involuntarily admitted.

Juvenile Wards

These wards are a part of a psychiatric hospital that is sectioned off for children and adolescents suffering from a mental disorder. Thereis also a number of institutions that only specialize in treating juveniles, especially when dealing with eating disorders, self-harm, or drug abuse. Adolescent units allow patients to take a break from their lives and be taken care of and treated by trained staff. The stay can be for a few days, or could be a few months, depending on the problems the patient is suffering from. Each patient will talk to a psychiatrist and may be given medication.

Long-Term

Long-term hospitals provide stabilization and rehabilitation for patients suffering from a variety of difficulties, such as mental disorders, depression, eating disorders, drug abuse, etc. They aim to help patients reintegrate into society once medication has stabilized the condition,within two or three years. Often if a patient has still not reached their goal within that time, they will be referred to another type of hospital in order to retain this role. However, the majority of long-term hospitals are being replaced with smaller secure units, some of which are within other types of psychiatric hospitals.

Halfway Houses

A halfway house is a community based institution for mental patients or substance abusers, who no longer require the complete facilities of another institution, but who are not yet ready to return to their normal lives. Although many lack sufficient funding they are deemed to be one of the most important parts of the mental health system. Patients are provided with assisted living for an extended period of time, and often aided in the transition of self-sufficiency.

Secure Units

Secure units are hospitals run by the Nation Health Service. Patients will be assessed by psychiatrists and will be provided with treatment and accommodation in a safe environment away from the public.

There are three main categories that the hospital facilities are divided into. They are referred to as High, Medium and Low Secure. Low Secure units are often referred to as Local Secure. This is because the patients mostly referred there are sent by local criminal courts for psychiatric assessment before sentencing.

Their aim is to rehabilitate patients and integrate them back into society through providing individual treatment. Overcoming the patient's problem areas and identifying their needs with the care teams. They will learn to develop trusting and genuine therapeutic relationships within a safe and contained environment. They will learn to overcome challenges, develop self-confidence and self-esteem, recognise individual strengths and abilities. They will learn to be independent for recovery to continue on the outside.

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software