Five Key Elements for a Healthy Body

by: Marie Watson

With so many different obstacles in our way today it’s essential to do the things that are necessary to keep our bodies in top condition. Between diseases and pollution in our air and water, we must stay tuned into the needs of our bodies in order to assure a long and healthy life. Making the right choices in these areas will allow us to remain happy and productive many years past retirement.

1. Get plenty of sleep

Being well-rested is one of the most important elements in maintaining a healthy body. Sleep deprivation whether purposely or the result of insomnia can cause your body to become tired, fatigued, and run down. This lends its way to an invasion of many infections because of a compromised immune system. Sleep is the body’s best defence, so you need to make sure you obtain what your body needs. Each person requires on average between six and eight hours of sleep nightly, although some may function on as little as five hours while others need up to ten hours.

2. Exercise regularly

Besides having the ability to boost the metabolism, exercise also helps the body sleep most restfully. Whether you do a complete workout or just take a walk several times during the day, you will feel much better by participating in some kind of exercise. That doesn’t mean you have to do something boring—you can swim, bicycle, play tennis, ski, water ski, or do any other type of activity that you enjoy. The important thing is to make sure you do it regularly.

3. Eat healthy foods

In order to maintain a body that is healthy and active all of your life, you need to learn how to eat foods that are good for you. Certainly that high fat, high calorie burger from the local fast food place tastes good, but it is not good for you. You need to develop the habit of eating lean protein, steamed or raw vegetables, fresh fruits, and carbohydrates containing a low glycemic index such as whole grain cereals, brown rice, and wheat bread and pasta. That doesn’t mean you have to give up sweet desserts and snacks for good, but you need to learn to eat them in moderation.

4. Maintain a normal weight

Having excess weight puts a strain on both the heart and the back. In order to assure that you can stay active and do the things you enjoy, you need to make sure your weight is within normal range. If you are overweight but think you are still healthy, you need to review the things you are able to do compared to some of the things you used to be able to do. Certainly you are older which causes some difference, but your weight definitely has a detrimental effect on the level of activities in which you are able to participate.

5. Make sure you have an adequate supply of essential nutrients

No matter how many healthy foods we eat, it is likely we are not getting all of the nutrients we need. This is especially true of the Omega-3 Fatty Acids that help us maintain the health of our hearts. Although this nutrient is found in fish, few of us can eat enough fish to compensate, so we need to supplement this deficiency with fish oil supplements. The same holds true of many other nutrients such as Calcium, Iron, Folic Acid, and the B vitamins just to name a few.

A healthy lifestyle will help us keep our bodies healthy into our golden years, and following these tips will certainly help you in that process. You don’t need to give up your favourite foods to be healthy, but you do need to make sure you eat unhealthy foods in moderation. You also want to make sure to get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and supplement your diet with important vitamins and minerals.

About The Author

Marie Watson writes weight loss, diet plan, health, beauty and general well-being articles for the Slim Eazy website at http://www.slimeazy.com

Fitness Health Tip

by: Mary Rose

Everybody dreams of being healthy, beautiful and fit. The first fitness health tip is to believe that we are what we eat. Eat healthy and one will be healthy and beautiful. Healthy eating means eating three regular balanced meals-breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and making sure that each meal is a combination of carbohydrate and protein foods. Meals should include cereals, pulses, milk or curd, eggs, chicken, fish, fruits and vegetables.

There is a fitness health tip which may come as a pleasant surprise and that is- Adding sugar is not a crime. Three to four teaspoons of sugar a day is permitted if one is not diabetic. Finally, the whole secret of fitness and weight control rests on how much oil is consumed daily and how much fatty foods are eaten in a day. The normal requirement is 2-3 or 3-4 teaspoons oil per person per day. One may indulge in richer food twice in a week.

Another fitness health tip is that the major reason for an overweight and unhealthy body is a change in lifestyle. Today we don't walk anywhere, and hop into and out of cars. We also spend a lot of time sitting in front of television and computer. This is one reason why people in their 20's and 30's suffer from hypertension, heart diseases and diabetes.

Everybody from six years and above must ensure that a regular exercise session is fixed in the daily routine. A 20-30 minutes walk must be taught and practiced as regularly as brushing the teeth and bathing.It is also important to avoid too many soft drinks and packed juices which most of us prefer and stock in our refrigerator. It not only increases our body weight but also harms our teeth and skin. Rather we should resolve to drink plenty of water.

To conclude, there is no magic wand to achieve healthy, beautiful and fit body. It is imperative to keep a watch on what we eat. Keep the diet well balanced, regular and complete with salad and fruits. Make sure that one is active throughout the day and follow a regular fitness program that is in sync with the age, body and health.

About The Author

Mary Rose has several books to her credit including those on Health and Fitness.For more information logon to http://www.casanads.com/bm/hf.htm

Source: articlecity

Enjoy a “Long, Healthy, Happy Life”

by: Richard Penfounde

(Excerpts from the e-Book “ Enjoy a “Long, Healthy, Happy Life” )

"Those who fail to take the time to be healthy will ultimately have to take the time to be sick." ~ Dr. James Chappell

So you want to enjoy a long, healthy, happy life or should I say, you want to be the “exception to the rule.”

You should know from the start that the “odds” are stacked against you, but by accepting and tackling the challenge you will find it very worthwhile and rewarding, not to mention adding many years of happiness onto your lifespan.

Talking of “lifespan”, lets pause for a moment and think about that.

Its key to differentiate between living a “long life” (lifespan) and living a “long HEALTHY life” (healthspan), which then can translate into the ideal situation where you can enjoy a “LONG, HEALTHY, HAPPY LIFE”.

I know of many people, young and old who just exist from day to day with aches and pains, disease and suffering and with many bedridden for a number of years before they die prematurely from one of the modern lifestyle diseases like cancer or heart disease. One can hardly call that “living” or having had a great life.

Most people look forward to retiring after a long period of working and bringing up a family, with a vision of being able to relax, travel and enjoy a long, happy, healthy life with one’s family. The reality, unfortunately is very different for most people.

This dream unfortunately, invariably has a perverse ending in this day and age. Virtually every one of us living a modern lifestyle will be diagnosed with a fatal chronic disease in our lifetime. Most of us will land up having long term expensive drug treatment, causing misery, pain and suffering and eventually death without dignity. At least half of us will be diagnosed with cancer and will be treated by conventional medicine, resulting in a slow painful death after undergoing expensive poisonous chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. Those of us lucky enough to escape cancer will most probably succumb to heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s or some other chronic degenerative lifestyle disease.

Supercentenarians

However there are people, who in their early years, were never exposed to the current modern lifestyles, toxic pollution, fast foods, processed foods and pharmaceutical drugs, who have proved that you can “LIVE” a long, healthy and happy life.

The Gerontology Research web site (http://www.grg.org) have a validated worldwide list of living “Supercentenarians”. ( people who are 110 years old or older). There are currently 69 women and 8 men on this list with 25 in the US, 24 in Japan, 26 from other countries and only 2 living in the UK.

So from this you can get a true understanding of “longevity”, but the million dollar question is why do these people live so long ?

Its all about “how we live” and “what we eat” which all boils down to “LIFESTYLE”.

Take Control of Your Lifestyle and Your Healthcare

The key challenge is to want to do this for yourself and your family. The starting point is to take control of your lifestyle and your healthcare by becoming aware and informed and then to take the appropriate actions.

Its hard to accept, but actually NOBODY out there is interested in you and your families healthcare or whether you live a “long, healthy and happy life” or not.

As a matter of fact you will be very surprised to know that there is a whole industry that want just the opposite.

I hear you say “But what about my GP, Gynie, Paede, Oncologist, Cardiologist, etc?, surely they are interested ?”

They should be, but remember each of these people make a living from the “Disease Business” astutely managed and controlled by the Pharmaceutical Industry.

This article, with additional information on the website

http://www.naturallyhealthylifestyles.com

and in the e-Book, sets out to enlighten and inform you about what you have to do and what you have to avoid, to escape the “Disease Business” and enjoy a “long, healthy and happy life”. We also want to expose what the true obstacles are that you will encounter on this amazing, rewarding “lifestyle” journey, which will enable you to make the necessary decisions and actions to avoid them.

Modern Lifestyles

Its an undeniable fact that in this modern era of toxic air and water pollution, fast fried fatty foods, processed foods, carcinogenic groceries, sugar filled foods and drinks, pesticide poisoned soil, fruit and vegetables, alcohol, smoking, lack of exercise, prescription and recreational drugs; just to name the main culprits; nine out of every ten adults will die prematurely from a serious chronic lifestyle degenerative disease. Very few of these diseases were common just a hundred years ago and are unquestionably caused by our modern lifestyles.

The variety of aches, pains, disease and suffering are as plentiful and as diverse as humankind. Sickness and disease abound and as we all know most of these diseases cause us and our families misery, pain, financial hardships and suffering and in many cases “death”, but sadly most of these deaths could have been prevented.

The Germ Theory

Modern medicine is based on Louis Pasteur’ s (1822-1895) “Germ Theory” where every disease is caused by a specific external germ and is seen to be different. The solution being, specific drugs to address and mask each of these symptoms, of which there are currently hundreds. This was the fatal birth of the “Disease Business” and the most lucrative and protected industry on earth today – the pharmaceutical industry. Although Pasteur was recognized at the time as the father of bacteriology and microbiology based on his “Germ Theory of Medicine”, he was not a medical man and was in direct conflict with other research doctors of the day.

The Cellular Theory

Alternative medicine on the other hand has a holistic, preventative approach and is based on Dr Antoine Bechamp’s (1816-1908) and Claude Bernard’s (1813-1878) “Cellular Theory” which is based on the “healthy terrain” concept. (a healthy inner body).

So what is the healthy terrain? Béchamp began to describe it nearly two hundred years ago, but Claude Bernard finally stated that to maintain a “healthy terrain” (disease free body) there were two factors, which when violated were responsible for every known disease.

1. The necessary Nutrition to feed the bodies numerous cells

2. Toxin free blood, cells and body tissues

One must have proper nutrition and be free of toxins to maintain a “healthy terrain”. He also established that germs were attracted to diseased tissues and cells and were not the cause of the disease, dispelling Pasteur’s “Germ Theory”.

The following paragraph is taken from the Antoine Bechamp website.

“Bechamp was one of France's most prominent and active researchers and biologists. He taught in universities and medical schools, and published widely on cell biology, disease, botany and related subjects. His would probably be a household name today if it wasn't for the activities of Louis Pasteur, who history has treated very kindly indeed, considering his fake science, his tendency to steal ideas (mainly from Bechamp), falsify experimental data, and in general make claims which had no basis in fact. “

It is unfortunate that the profit driven “Disease Business” continues to endorse the “Germ Theory” for obvious reasons, despite vast scientific research proving the “Cellular Theory”. Notable work has been done for numerous years by many credible researchers worldwide, with a huge contribution from the Dr Rath Foundation in the USA who have been very active since 1993 when Dr Rath made the first of many new scientifically proven discoveries leading to his Cellular Medicine theory.

Miracles

Modern medicine has made incredible advances over the last decade, specifically in surgical techniques, identification of viruses, burn treatment, trauma and emergency room care. So if you are involved in an accident, these services are essential and often life saving, with these specialist doctors performing lifesaving miracles. Unfortunately not all modern medicine, especially in the area of disease prevention and treatment fits into this category.

The “Modern Medicine” Paradigm

There is however a very different face to modern medicine that affects us all a lot more seriously and frequently. The “modern medicine” paradigm, which promises good health for all and the prevention and cure of disease, has not only failed completely to meet these objectives but has delivered pain, suffering and misery and cost trillions of dollars.

No amount of modern medicine or medical advancement can help you if the drugs are filled with poisonous toxins and have such serious side effects. Similarly no amount of processed or fast foods can provide you the nutrition your body needs to be healthy. Ultimately, if you want optimum health and want to prevent or reverse disease, you have no choice, you must take control of your own healthcare and change your lifestyle.

The Way Forward

So how do you get the awareness and the necessary information to enable you and your family to live a long, healthy, happy life.

Firstly, you must take control of your lifestyle and your healthcare.

Secondly, unless you understand the true nature of what CAUSES disease and death, and how degenerative diseases develop in the body, you will not be able to take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your family. The earlier you start the quicker you can start living and have peace of mind and not become a “Wasted Life” statistic.

“Wasted Lives”

Did you know that in the UK somebody dies unnecessarily from heart disease every three minutes? Are you or anyone you know a potential candidate for heart disease or any of the other modern scourges, like cancer, diabetes or Alzheimer’s ?

To get a real perspective on the scale of these “wasted lives”, lets look at just a few of the statistics for the UK and the USA. The following are just for the three main killers, heart disease, cancer and modern medicine. Yes ”modern medicine” !

Cancer deaths in the UK – in 2005 there were 153,491 deaths from cancer, according to figures published on the www. cancerresearchuk.org web site.

Cancer deaths in the USA – in 2003 there were 556,902 deaths from cancer according to figures published by the National Centre for Health Statistics.

Heart disease deaths in the UK – 70,000 deaths occur each year with one death every three minutes according to a BBC news article.

Heart disease deaths and statistics in the USA – according to the American Heart Association (AHA), heart disease is the number 1 killer responsible for 1 million deaths in 2002 with the statistics for various heart conditions showing 1 adult person in 4 suffer from some form of heart disease.

50 million suffer from high blood pressure
12 million suffer from coronary heart disease
6.2 million suffer from angina pectoris
7 million suffer from heart attack
4.4 million suffer from stroke
1.8 million suffer from rheumatic heart disease/fever
1 million suffer from congenital cardiovascular defects
4.6 million suffer from congestive heart failure

That’s SCARY ! If that’s not got you feeling a little worried, lets look at the most incredible statistic of all, which is the deaths caused by “modern medicine” in the USA. This is the very medicine prescribed by our friendly trusted GP to “supposedly” make us better- makes you think?

In October 2003 the Nutrition Institute of America (NIH) released a report stating that between 1993 and 2003 – Medical mistakes took 7.8 million lives, more deaths than all the wars America fought combined.

A group of researchers meticulously reviewed the statistical evidence and their findings are absolutely shocking. These researchers have authored a paper titled “Death by Medicine” that presents compelling evidence that today’s system frequently causes more harm than good.

This fully referenced report shows the number of people having in-hospital, adverse reactions to prescribed drugs to be 2.2 million per year. The number of unnecessary antibiotics prescribed annually for viral infections is 20 million per year. The number of unnecessary medical and surgical procedures performed annually is 7.5 million per year. The number of people exposed to unnecessary hospitalization annually is 8.9 million per year.

The following is an excerpt from Death by Medicine

By Gary Null, PhD; Carolyn Dean MD, ND; Martin Feldman, MD; Debora Rasio, MD; and Dorothy Smith, PhD

“The most stunning statistic, however, is that the total number of deaths caused by conventional medicine is an astounding 783,936 per year. It is now evident that the American medical system is the leading cause of death and injury in the US. (By contrast, the number of deaths attributable to heart disease in 2001 was 699,697, while the number of deaths attributable to cancer was 553,251.) “

The Naturally Healthy Lifestyle Journey

“Optimum nutrition is the medicine of the future”
Dr Linus Pauling – twice Nobel Prize winner.

We all want to live a long, healthy, happy life with an abundance of energy and vitality, the ability to perform mentally and physically with emotional balance and the lack of disease and disorders. To achieve this we need to embark on a naturally healthy lifestyle journey.

The Miracle Healer

The body is a “miracle healer” made up entirely of molecules from the food we eat and drink, which is what “enables” the body to heal itself and to exist in perfect health. The problem is most of us eat and drink the wrong things which poison the body with toxins that make us ill and expose ourselves to the killer diseases, causing us extreme pain and reducing our life span significantly.

You are a unique individual in a specific phase of your life with specific needs to cater for your current lifestyle, whether it be starting a family, being a busy corporate employee, manager or executive, self employed, a sportsman / woman, highly stressed, sickly or suffering from a chronic disease, a government employee, a busy housewife, a teenager, over 40 or 50, a senior citizen or any other phase of life.

During this journey you will want to look at the following areas of your life and decide which of these you want to change to achieve your specific goals.

The “Toxin” Generators

The key to your “naturally healthy lifestyle” journey is to be aware of the following factors and find ways to positively adapt your lifestyles accordingly to combat the toxic effects and set the foundation for optimal health and quality of life.

Here are some of the key things you need to think about to achieve this:

Nutrition – fresh fruit, seeds and vegetables and natural supplements
Your individual diet – enjoy low-glycemic load eating habits
Stress – avoid physical, traumatic and mental
Pollution – water, air, work and home environment
Fresh produce pollution – pesticides, fertilisers – eat organic
Processed food- additives, preservatives, colourants, other carcinogens, MSG
Fast foods – fatty, fried foods, trans fats, hydrolysed fats, hydrogenated oils
Refined carbohydrates – cakes, cookies, biscuits, breads
Sugar and sweeteners – sucrose, fructose, corn syrup,
Soft / cold drinks - A 12-ounce can of soda has the equivalent of about 13 teaspoons of sugar
Smoking – cell damage
Alcohol- excessive drinking
Prescription and recreation drugs (including street drugs)
Groceries – salt, carcinogens, monosodium glutamate (MSG)
Cosmetics - carcinogens
Sunscreen and tanning lotions – carcinogens
Lack of exercise, sunshine and relaxation
Shallow breathing – slows lymphatic system – slows waste extraction
Meaningful work or hobby to challenge the mind

As you can see there are many things that can affect our health and in many cases we have been abusing our bodies for a long time. So getting our body, mind and spirit back into shape is a journey that will enable us to live a natural healthy lifestyle.

That means, once you understand the effects each of these topics have on your health, you can take the necessary actions to address these either through small changes over time or more aggressively if necessary, which will contribute to you being able to enjoy a long, healthy, happy life.

More detailed information on these topics can be found in the e-Book and on the website.

The Naturally Healthy Lifestyles web site http://www.naturallyhealthylifestyles.com

Our Naturally Healthy Lifestyles web site is dedicated to providing all of the information required for you to fully understand the natural holistic healing powers of the body and soul and the critical role “Optimum Nutrition” plays. In addition the Naturally Healthy Lifestyles web site has all of the information and professional advice and guidance, with proven independent recommendations and solutions from Richard Penfounde, our Naturally Healthy Lifestyle “GURU”, to enable you to take charge of your own health and wellbeing by becoming ...

“Your own first-choice Natural Practitioner”.

Regardless of our age we all desire to be physically fit with an abundance of energy, an alert and active mind, a resilience to infectious diseases and viruses, protection against the killer diseases like cancer, heart attacks and strokes, while living to a ripe old age, pain free, happy, healthy, full of vitality and actively enjoying life to its fullest. It seems like a dream – BUT its not.

It CAN become a reality through a “Naturally Healthy Lifestyle”.

If you would like to achieve this, then the Naturally Healthy Lifestyles web site has the information you need and we would like to accompany you on this journey to assist you to achieve your health goals. For regular news updates on leading edge announcements, you can register for our Naturally Healthy Lifestyle Newsletter, which will keep you up to date with the latest news and trends.

We have made this a “one-stop” web site with all of the information you will need to enable you to “take charge of your own health” and to start living a “Naturally Healthy Lifestyle” with all of the wonderful benefits that come with that.

My team and I look forward to welcoming you to our Naturally Healthy Lifestyles community,

In health and wellness, join us at:

http://www.naturallyhealthylifestyles.com

Richard Penfounde - Natural Health Advisor and “GURU” - Head of the Naturally Healthy Lifestyles Research Team.

About The Author

Richard Penfounde was born and educated in England, after which he started his career as a trainee in the vast “Boots Pure Drug Company”, where both allopathic and natural medicines were equally acknowledged for what each had to offer the consumer, on his/her path to safe and effective healthy living. He was later sent to South Africa to manage a subsidiary company operation. It was then that he saw a major opportunity to concentrate more on natural medicines, particularly amongst indigenous herbalists, who today are contributing more and more universal knowledge and usage experience to the natural health industry.

Source: articlecity

What’s In Your Medicine Cabinet - Can Kill You!

Written: Makeisha Lee
Joboja Staff Writer

In light of recent celebrity deaths, (Heath Ledger, Anna Nicole Smith, and others), there is one question that must be asked by everyone; do you really know about all the dangers that lie in the drugs you have in your medicine cabinet? Daily, incidents are reported on about the adverse effects of prescription and non prescription drugs have on the public. Many on the market can cause death outright, when accidentally mixed with other drugs, or slowly over time.

Despite this, drug companies spend billions of dollars for television ads that promote to the public how safe and effective their medications are. Every five seconds we are constantly subjected to those commercials that spew propaganda like, “talk to your doctor if you have unexplained pain in your finger” and they will prescribe medication - X”!

In fact, advertising practices of these drug companies have gotten so outrageous that even the former commissioner of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), penned an editorial about drug companies, saying that television ads should never have been allowed by the FDA in the first place.

The fallacy that somehow these advertised drugs make you all better is, anything but the truth. The truth is - that non-prescription and prescription drugs do NOT make you healthier; they have the propensity to harm you and even can cause other diseases. How so?

Aprotinin - Front page of the September 2006 New York Times reported that the FDA issued a warning that this antifibrinolytic drug who’s manufacturer is “Bayer”, could cause renal failure, congestive heart failure and even death.
Vioxx –This dangerous FDA approved drug caused such horrific damage and loss of life that there was a jury verdict for $253 million against the giant drug company Merck.


We could go down the list of hundreds of dangerous prescription drugs and still hundreds more of dangerous non-prescription drugs that when either taken in high doses or when accidentally mixed, people are dying.

The astonishing thing is that the FDA approves these drugs and allows these commercials to promote various drugs as being safe and effective.

While in a crisis situation some can be effective in making a patient more comfortable by suppressing symptoms. In some instances they may be instrumental in prolonging life, but should only be administered sparingly and not for every minor ailment. So how can we be protected?

Be properly informed! With all of the recent deaths associated with taking these various types of drugs, look at it as a major warning sign, before you rush to get a prescription filled for some minor discomfort.
Find out what the root cause of your illness really is. Basic understanding of good health dictates that most illnesses have underlying causes resulting from nutritional deficiencies and toxic overload. Many times this can be through harmful things put into the body and/or through the environment itself.
Seek professional alternative and natural methods for treating your condition whenever possible. Homeopathic medicine is an amazingly safe and very effective alternative.

Appropriate information is readily available to empower you and those you love and care about, but we have to read and educate “ourselves”. It is believed that if you want to keep people in ignorance, put it in writing. We should all challenge that theory and gain all the knowledge we can - to take control over our health!

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN VICIOUS WEIGHT LOSS CYCLE cont. -PART II

Written by: Makeisha Lee
Joboja Staff Writer

Tyler Perry’s movie, Why Did I Get Married, struck a cord of pain with our community for several reasons. However, there was one undeniable, universal appeal that of identification with the overweight character, played by Jill Scott. From the embarrassment that obesity caused the character when denied air travel, to the unrelenting ridicule from her mate, and even self-degrading comments was, “oh too familiar” for a lot of us.
According to New York Times Reviewers, Perry charters waters that other writers only dare to present on-screen without the shield of humor. Agreeably and proudly we applaud him for having the courage to highlight such a pervasive and painful issue, while maintaining dignity and integrity!

We need to have this issue out in the open for dialogue, in an up-close and personal fashion so that we may get at the crux of the problem – once for all time. With obesity stats for Blacks off the charts like Tyler Perry’s movie’s sales, we need to turn on the floodlights so that we all can see clearly what our path should really be to get healthy and lean.
In part I. ( African American weight loss cycle) it was eluded to that there may in fact be some conspiracies involved in keeping the Black population sick and overweight for possible financial gains. Naturally, we would be prompted to ask - WHY us? Here are two possibilities:

Some may be unaware that, based on recent studies conducted by Hunter Miller Group, research analysis, Blacks have powerful spending power, especially for certain things like “what we eat”. A lot of what we eat is unhealthy and ultimately makes us SICK and FAT. Various industries and entities know this and capitalize off of our spending habits; at great expense to our health and well being.
It is believed that due to a large portion of a less educated sector at the bottom of the food chain, we are absolutely “easy targets” for being recipients of marketing propaganda. It is also believed and widely accepted that Blacks only want to entertain and be entertained, instead of using our time to educate ourselves. You know the statement that has circulated for years that, “Blacks as a whole - don’t read”. If such has an iota of truth to it, we will not know what the rest of the world already knows about life saving health information!

Despite this, though, through just minimal research, some have come to the realization that what we are putting into our bodies and not putting into our bodies is ultimately keeping us FAT, sick, in pain, day in and day out. There are in fact many hidden obesity factors that we have every right to know about - if we so choose to be enlightened. The food industry, diet industry, medical industry and pharmaceutical industry are all respectively having their way with our men, women and children, in a similar fashion as was with our ancestors. Sadly though our ancestors at least knew exactly WHO and WHAT was oppressing them. Do we really know?
One guess would be that if we truly did - we certainly would not be disproportionately affected by obesity and related illness in respects to the rest of the world.
While we don’t need to be put down and ridiculed; we should not keep placating one another by blaming our weight issues all on genetics and being “big boned.” We also should stop blaming it ALL on laziness and lack of willpower. Some national health and body challenges have recently proved otherwise, as many Blacks have gotten off the

couch to get more physically active. The time is ripe to unveil the true causes for our health crisis and reveal to the African American people – the missing link.
In closing, a word of caution must be stated though, there are various industries that have millions and millions of dollars worth of vested interest in keeping this information from massively permeating the Black community - in particular. It is urgent that you find out about the one and only TRUTH, but this information can only be received and therefore understood by, “Independent Thinkers!” You must decide: Are you?

Interested ones can obtain the book through AuthorHouse.com, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com or WhyBlackPeopleCantLoseWeight.com

For media interviews, contact Makeisha Lee at (614) 595-1425 or znck04@yahoo.com

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN VICIOUS WEIGHT LOSS CYCLE - PART I

Written by: Makeisha Lee
Joboja Staff Writer

Blacks are officially considered to be an endangered species due to obesity and terrifying related illness. Diets, surgeries, pills, exercise motions and potions; though easily and readily available have done little-to-nothing to help people lose weight long-term. If those options don’t completely suit your fancy, then you have high powered initiatives to get people moving into action; like the Bally’s fitness Challenge, Shaq’s Challenge, BET healthy challenge, and of course the 50 Million Pound Challenge. All of these are attempting to provide a solution to the obesity plague for our community.

Even with all of these mechanisms in place,

The 50 million pound question that lies before us is -

Why, is it that we as “Blacks” are STILL some of the most obese people on the planet? Previously, whites were the poster children for dieting to lose weight; were now doing our fair share too - but with no dent in this trend of disproportionate obesity coupled with chronic illness.
The facts are the facts! Prevalence of obesity among blacks has increased 35 percent in the past 10 years alone. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), we lead in the highest percentages in both sexes and even amongst children, as compared to other ethnicities when it comes to the contemptible “beast of burden”- obesity. So what is REALLY going on?
There have been huge technological advances made so that you can instantaneously access tons of information on how to lose weight. Also noteworthy is that there are thousands of books written, exercise videos on the latest, newest best diet, best fitness tips, best medical advice, on and on and on. Even with all this, something is not being done right. Why come to that conclusion? One obvious reason is that we should certainly see more significant results than what we have.

There are in fact an infinite number of theories, but here are a few thought provoking ideas that many don’t want to address, but that will definitely make you want to go, “hum”!

Too many of us are being brainwashed; covering ourselves up with benign ignorance instead of trying to find out the real truth about why blacks have been unsuccessful as a whole at getting/and or keeping the weight off.
All of these diets, various weight loss challenges and campaigns that are currently underway are nothing more than band-aid remedies that will bring us right back to the drawing board - if we don’t find out about pre-existing and current outside elements that stifle real results. That’s right, in this day and age mainstream society still suppresses corruption that adversely affects our lives, as a people; as a nation.
We may have to begin exposing some that are right within our own community that acts as wolves in sheep’s clothing – impeding progress. It’s been said that the “mean green” has caused stranger things to happen. Or perhaps, they are not wolves at all; rather it’s just a bad case of “blind leading the blind”.
Whatever the theory or rationale of the matter, one thing most can agree on is that the obesity pandemic for Blacks is unequivocally multi-factorial. People who can think for themselves can surmise that all on their own!

We all do well to open our minds, and eyes to the fact that if we don’t get proactive and put on our investigative hats - TODAY; we will be tottering upon a horrific human existence and will eventually land ourselves on the brink of extinction.
The final analysis: If we don’t “band together” and “stand together,” find out how our entire race of people will actually be (in a bad way) - the world’s biggest LOSERS, the next time on part II!

Interested ones can obtain the book through AuthorHouse.com, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com or WhyBlackPeopleCantLoseWeight.com

For media interviews, contact Makeisha Lee at (614) 595-1425 or znck04@yahoo.com

Vitamins

Written by: Darshana Sugathan
Edited by: Julia Wolfe
Joboja Staff Writers

One day I realized: I don’t feel healthy and fit when I wake up in the morning. That day I decided to boost up my antibodies and refresh my immune system. The first step was obviously to google.

What I found left me with a dilemma. Two categories of articles engaged in tug of war. One category highlighted the benefits of vitamin pills; the other accused them of being ineffective and at times harmful.

Dr. Jane Armtiage from the University of Oxford’s clinical trial services unit said a 5-year study had produced disappointing results for vitamin use. The study said that millions of people taking daily doses of vitamins C&E and beta carotene are not protecting themselves from cancer, heart problems, strokes and other potentially fatal disease. The scientists said people would be better off eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

Contradicting that study, British Heart Protection Study followed 20,000 people aged 40 to 80 from 69 British Hospitals, looking at vitamins as well as the effect of cholesterol-lowering statins. They found that cholesterol-lowering drugs worked within a year and had major effects within 5 years.

According to the New Scientist, “vitamins knock the wind out of free radicals in a test tube. But once inside the human body they seem strangely powerless.”

Other information noted that a Vitamin D tablet called Asentar provides levels of vitamin D 50-100 times higher than normal and can be given to patients in the advanced stages of prostrate cancer along with chemotherapy drugs. Vitamins C, E and A prevent cancer, heart diseases, stroke and variety of other ailments associated with natural ageing.

If you are tempted to take action when you see “Vitamins reduces heart risk, vitamin D reduces risk of diabetes….”, sit back and think, research and then decide. Don’t put your body, health and “the feeling good factor” in danger.

Written by: Darshana Sugathan
Edited by: Julia Wolfe
Joboja Staff Writers

A Raymond suit,Versache designer glasses,Woodlands shoes,a Marlboro cigarette in hand...is that your perfect cool metro man? When you’re stressed do you want to smoke? Do you think smoking at parties increases your prestige?

You are in the danger zone. If you are still smoking in spite of a lot of smoking awareness campaigns, it’s time to quit!
Smoking started as early as 5000 BC, and has been recorded in many cultures across the world. Tobacco, which originated in the Andes, has been cultivated and smoked in the Americas for at least 5000 years. In India, cannabis smoking has been practiced for over 4000 years.

Early smoking evolved in association with religious ceremonies—sometimes as offerings to deities or in cleansing rituals. It was used by shamans and priests to alter their minds for divination or spiritual enlightenment. After the European arrival in the Americas, the practice of smoking tobacco quickly spread.

In regions like India and Sub-Saharan Africa it merged with existing practices of smoking (mostly of cannabis). In Europe, it introduced a previously unknown drug and social activity.

Most people are aware that smoking can lead to lung cancer and emphysema. Many don’t realize other harmful repercussions that smoking can cause. Smoking drains your body of many essential vitamins and minerals.
It also affects your body's ability to absorb these vital nutrients. Vitamin C is one of your body's main antioxidants.

Its job is to prevent disease by repairing damage to DNA and other cell components. It is also important for building tissue throughout your body.

In addition, cigarettes have been shown to decrease calcium absorption. This can be a critical loss for teenagers since our skeletons continue to develop until we hit 25. Later on in life, smoking can lead to bone loss and osteoporosis.

Other vitamins affected by smoking include Vitamin B6, which is important for the prevention of cancer because it protects DNA from breaking down. Vitamin E is another antioxidant that protects the body from damage.
A few studies have also shown that some smokers do not eat meals that are as well-balanced as non-smokers do. This can lead to other nutritional deficiencies and problems.

You are filling your body with toxins and replacing much needed oxygen with carbon dioxide each time you smoke. Your blood carries oxygen to every cell, tissue and organ in your body to help them perform vital life processes. When that oxygen is replaced with carbon dioxide your cells can no longer function properly, disrupting all processes including growth.

Smoking is associated with excessive tiredness and causes increased respiratory infections, ear infections and chronic cough. Smoking is also known to significantly increase the risk for heart attacks, high blood pressure and cancer of lungs/stomach/intestines/ and mouth.
Quitting smoking is not an easy thing to do. Here are some suggestions:

talk with your doctor about medication that you can use (nicotine patch, nicotine gum, or a drug called Zyban)
contact your health care provider about a stop-smoking group
find an activity to take your mind off of smoking (like the gym)
try chewing gum, sucking candy or chewing carrots to help with the oral urges - spend time with friends who do not smoke
try to avoid social situations where people smoke.
True or False?

Smokeless tobacco (chew or spit) not as dangerous as smoking cigarettes.

It'll take years before smoking hurts my heart and lungs.

“Cold turkey" is the best way to kick the habit of smoking and/or using chewing tobacco.

Answers: 1.False, 2.False, 3.False
Some facts about smoking

More than 400,000 deaths in the U.S. each year are from smoking-related illnesses. Smoking greatly increases your risks for lung cancer and many other cancers.
Among infants to 18 months of age, secondhand smoke is associated with as many as 300,000 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia each year.
Pregnant women who smoke are more likely to deliver babies whose weights are too low for the babies' good health. It’s been estimated that 4,000 babies die every year from complications associated with women smoking during pregnancy.

Obese Children - Munching To The Morgue!

By Makeisha Lee, Health and Nutritional Advisor
Joboja Staff Writer

Columbus, OH - There is an alarming concern that we all should have due to the increasing numbers of obese children in our community. Its one matter when were discussing what used to be primarily and adult issue of obesity; however quite another when it comes to our youth. This is a very serious issue that we cannot afford to take lightly!

According to The American Obesity Association, 30% of kids ages 6-11 are overweight and 15% are obese, setting them up for increased risk for diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. To that end, they are saying sleep apnea in children in fact may be even more prevalent in African Americans because obesity, a strong risk factor, tends to be more common in this group.

This is disturbing because the numbers have increased by more than 120 percent among African Americans as compared to 50 percent among whites within a decade. So if they are suffering with these serious health challenges at age 11, will they be around to see 30, 40 or 20 even? Likely if this continues our very own youth will be the first in the nation’s history not to live longer than their parents.

What is at the root of the problem? There are several root causes. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health have conducted studies showing increase in consumption of soda and sugar-sweetened beverages as one reason. They were able to determine its precise impact on children’s body weight. Their findings over the course of the study monitored soda, Hawaiian punch, lemonade, koolaid or other sweetened fruit drinks as well as iced tea; all of which are culprits of obesity.

Some other causes for such an explosion of childhood obesity is the lack of physical activity, lack of parental guidance in this area, changes in what the schools are offering our kids for lunch with easily accessible vending machines, and of course eating too much fast food. They are not active enough during the day because a lot of the required physical education programs are being cut out, thus decreasing the amount of activity.

Despite these facts, we are not powerless. What can we do?

1) We can make sure our children eat a nutritious breakfast before going to school so their bodies are not in starvation mode making them more prone to eat junk.

2) We can have them pack a lunch from home, opposed to buying lunch at school.

3) We can have them engage in at least 1 hour of physical activity daily such as walking or running.

4) Get them involved in a program. There are some wonderful national and local organizations that are on a mission to educate the parents in the community on how they can to do their part in reversing this trend. Body Sculpt of New York Inc. is one such non-profit organization whose purpose is to educate the family about obesity and to offer healthy lifestyle alternatives. They are particularly encouraging this through fitness and nutrition. This organization and others like these should be lauded and applauded for the work that they are doing for our community!

5) We can up the ante by being a role model for the children. Children do as we do, not as we say. So we teach them healthy eating habits by the way we eat and the way we live.

Very often, unhealthy eating habits are passed down generation to generation. However, this generation is in much more trouble than any of us could have predicted and thus cannot afford not to make changes. So our overall goal should be to help the whole family stop, think and really focus on making healthy changes to eating and activity habits that will last for a lifetime!

Makeisha Lee is a health and nutrition consultant. For more information about cleansing and detoxifying your body, contact her at 614-595-1425 or makeisha@cleanseformula.com or learn more at www.CleanseFormula.com

To download the African American Guide To Cleansing, visit:
www.GuideToCleansing.com

Ten Steps to Jumpstart Your Fitness Success…

Written by: Fitness Success Coach, Brian K. Bailey
Joboja Staff Writer

If you are about to start a fitness program or you are currently involve in a fitness program, this article is for you. I have created ten steps that will assist you in your fitness program. Keep this article in a key location as a reminder on how to stay on track.

1. Believe in your success before it happens
In order to have success in your fitness program, you must believe that it will happen. Expectation and belief must resonate in a high level.

2. Discover why you want to be fit
Most people start out with good intentions but give them a few weeks and they quit. Discovering your why can become a motivational tool to keep you on the road to success.

3. Set Goals
Goals are only powerful when you place them on a piece of paper and make them visible. The other success clue is to write them down and tell your closest friend. But make sure your friend is positive and supportive.

4. Join a Fitness Center
By joining a fitness center or a health club, you are surrounded by motivated people in search of positive results. There is energy in a fitness center that you can tap into to help you get the results you desire.

5. Start off slow
One of the fastest ways to stop your fitness success before it starts is doing too much too fast. Spend sometime learning what exercises work each area of the body. When you start your exercises, spend your first week allowing your muscles to acclimate to the stress you are putting on them. Learn about the different cardio exercises that you can do. Spend time learning about proper exercise techniques. Don’t just look at the lady or man on the fancy piece of exercise equipment and say, I want to do that!

6. Hire a Personal Trainer
One of the best things you can do when setting out for fitness success is hire a fitness trainer to steer you in the right direction. Go over your goals and expectations with your trainer and create a two way accountability process. You will be accountable to your trainer to accomplish your workouts that he/she gives you. Your trainer will be accountable to you and will keep you motivated with safe, fun and effective workouts.

7. Find a Fitness Partner
Call one of your best friends who has always talked about getting fit. By obtaining a fitness partner
you create instant accountability toward each other. Your fitness partner can help motivate you when you are not motivated. Your fitness partner can share the experience with you. Having that special person to go through your journey with can help you stay on the right track for success.

8. Get your rest
During exercise, your body is transforming each and every minute. Even though you can’t see it initially, believe me, this is true. But in order for your body to regenerate to a healthier state it must get rest. When a body is at rest it heals, repairs and improves. Especially during strength training when the muscle fibers are literally tearing, it is very important to let them repair and become stronger. This only happens in a resting state.

9. Watch what you eat

There is a common misconception that you can eat whatever you want since you are participating in
an exercise program. This is not true! Nutrition is a vital piece when it comes to Fitness Success.
Concentrate on eating foods that are low in saturated fat, high in protein and does not have too many carbohydrates. One of the tips I tell my clients is to limit your carbs before bedtime.
One of the tools I used to track my daily nutritional intake is he website titled
www.nutritionaldata.com

10. Don’t Quit

I’m sure for some people this is easier said than done. Your success depends on you staying the course. Improving your level of fitness doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time. As a matter of fact, I recommend using the above steps to assist you in making fitness part of your lifestyle. Remember this closing quote by yours truly. “If you take care of your body, your body will take care of you.”

Brian K. Bailey, CEO of Fit Tyme Productions and S.U.N. Fitness Solutions is an American Council on Exercise Certified Personal Trainer. He is also a Physical Training Leader for the U.S. Air Force. As a leader in the Wellness industry, Brian has help hundreds of people transform their body and create
a healthier lifestyle. Brian is the creator of the four legged stool of wellness which breaks
down to Strength Training, Cardio, Nutrition and Cleansing the body of toxins and impurities.
Brian is driven by the awesome results he is able to help people achieve.

Learn more about Brian K. Bailey by visiting his website – www.briankbailey.com or email him at askthetrainer@briankbailey.com

Using Vitamin E to Improve Your Skin

Written by: Camille L. Davenport
Joboja Staff Writer

Although there have been many reports on the effectiveness of using Vitamin E to improve the skin, there have been many that suggest the contrary. Its reported association in healing scars has not been scientifically verified but many users of the vitamin have found it to be extremely effective. When used externally in a liquid or oil, Vitamin E may have some benefits for healing wounds, scars and stretch marks but this is not scientifically proven. It is actually Vitamin E's antioxidant properties when used internally that help to maintain healthy skin and to improve the appearance of acne and scars. It is safe to say that the results may very from person to person.

Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin that is used to protect tissues against damage and is considered a highly effective antioxidant that destroys unstable molecules (free radicals) in the body that damage stable molecules. This is why the incorporation of antioxidants like vitamin E into skin care products is so important. Vitamin E skin care products are an essential part of a daily healthy skin regimen. The natural form of Vitamin E is called "Alpha Tocopherol” and is made from vegetable oil. Vitamin E is available in soft gels, tablets, capsules, and topical oils.

Vitamin E is not only the main ingredient in topical treatments and lotions, but also in the food we consume on a daily basis. It’s important to include many sources of Vitamin E in your diet and to pay attention to eating plenty of fresh produce, fruits and vegetables, healthy oils, low-fat foods. Eating healthy also helps to improve the skin. Some researchers suggest that applying Vitamin E to your skin at least twice a day can make a huge difference as it is reported to help reduce skin spots and wrinkles. Vitamin E is also good for dry skin. Some studies have proven that it is able to keep moisture in the skin, just puncture a hole into the Vitamin E capsule and apply directly to the scar.
In addition to skin treatment, Vitamin E is reported to help with the following:

Lowering blood pressure
Easing premenstrual discomfort, especially breast tenderness
Slowing the aging of cells and tissues
Protecting from frostbite and other cold-induced injuries
Improving acne
Replacing necessary nutrients in those with inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis
Avoiding miscarriage (also called spontaneous abortion), which may be associated with very low levels of this nutrient
Vitamin E also helps to gradually break down blood clots in the circulatory system, and helps prevent more from forming. Vitamin E encourages circulation in the smaller blood vessels of the body and helps to strengthen and regulate the heartbeat.


FAQ’s
Q: What foods contain Vitamin E?

A: Foods that contain Vitamin E are carrots, corn, peaches spinach, avocadoes, asparagus, and tomatoes just to name a few. Also, Vitamin E can be lost during cooking, processing, or storage of food. To maintain Vitamin E in foods, avoid exposing them to sun light and keep them in sealed containers.

Q: Is there a such a thing as using too much Vitamin E?

A: We tend to think that since vitamins are natural there is no danger of taking too much but the maximum intake a day of vitamin E is 1000mg, but not more than 400mg if you have hypertension.

Q: What other problems can be treated with Vitamin E?

A: Vitamin E is reported to help with ailments such as Anemia, Lupus and heart disease. But it is important for you to talk with a doctor regarding your individual condition.

Sources Cited:

http://www.jigsawhealth.com/products/antioxidant_vitamin_supplement.html

http://www.articlebasement.com/Article/Powerful-Antioxidant-Vitamin-E/45902

http://deepfitness.com/3621/Vitamin-E-Nourishing-Dry-Skin-Care.aspx

Build Your Own Fitness Home Gym

by: Charles Carter

If you are looking to build a home gym this year, there are some important criteria that should be taken into consideration. A good home gym offers versatility, the ability to have a few pieces of exercise equipment perform a wide variety of exercises. It must be durable and be able to handle the rigors of hard resistance training over a long period of time. Exercise equipment shouldn't take up a lot of space. There are many exercises you can do with your own body weight and a mat, so the home gym equipment shouldn't clutter up the workout space, nor be difficult to store. Finally it should be affordable. No one likes investing in a $1000 home gym just to use it as a coat rack or have it collecting dust in the corner within 3 months. This list of exercise equipment should offer solutions in each category listed above and it should provide a challenging and fun workout environment.

Exercise Ball

One of the most versatile pieces of exercise equipment, the exercise ball can be used in place of a bench for any supine or seated exercise. The exercise ball comes in a variety of sizes and depending on brand, is made of varying material. Because of the stress placed on a ball during a workout, it is important to look for a ball that is burst proof and it will not pop under you during a workout. To obtain the right size, a ball that sits with your hips and knees at 90 degrees is most likely what you should use for a majority of the exercises. For most, a 55cm or 65cm ball is sufficient. An exercise ball can be purchased for around $25-$60.

The exercise ball will provide an element of instability that cannot be duplicated by a bench; therefore you can improve core stability, and strengthen the integrity of your joints including shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles. The more stable you become, the stronger you will be and will drastically reduce the incidence of injury.

Dumbbells

A good home gym isn't complete without a few sets of dumbbells. 5-50lbs in increments of 5 will make a complete set for every type of exercise. Dumbbells are good for full body exercises that resist gravity. Exercises such as lunges, squats, shoulder press, bicep curl and chest press are just a few on the list of dumbbell exercises. They are durable, versatile, and a good set will last you a lifetime. A good set of dumbbells may cost $50-$100 for 3-4 sets of varying weight.

Foam Roll

A hard foam cylinder is used for self myfascial release, or self massage. A supplement to stretching, a foam roll can help to increase flexibility in a way that stretching cannot. In addition, it can help to relieve knots and adhesions within muscle tissue. If you don't like being sore after a workout, a foam roll can help to alleviate the soreness and therefore should be a staple item for your home gym. Invest $20 in a good foam roll that will take away your pain and soreness after a tough workout.

Xerdisc

The Xerdisc is an air filled rubber disc used for improving balance, and stability. The same exercises that you do while standing (ie..shoulder press, squat, bicep curl) can all be done while standing on an Exerdisc. Improving joint integrity and balance will allow you to become a more stable, stronger individual and the exercises are fun and challenging. It can also be used for ab exercises such as crunches, and anything you can do to make ab exercises harder has to be good! A quality Xerdisc may run about $40.

Xertube

Tubing comes in a variety of sizes based on the level of tension you want. Tubing can be used for most exercises in place of dumbbells and they will provide a variable tension. The plus side to using tubing is that you can gain resistance from a lateral position that dumbbells cannot provide. Exercises such as wood chops, torso twists, and pulling exercises like the bent row and lat pull are just a few that you can do with tubing that you can't get with other forms or resistance. Tubing is also safe for seniors looking to stay active as there is no risk of dropping the weight. Tubing is color coded in relation to the resistance it provides. I suggest 3-5 different tubes from thin to thick to give you opportunity to perform many exercises with small and large muscle groups. They are usually about $5-$8 a piece and can be used around doorknobs, in door jams and any other stationary post.

This exercise equipment should provide everyone from the novice to the advanced, a well rounded home gym that you can invest in for less than $200 total. The level of versatility, durability, and challenge that is provided by these pieces of equipment is unmatched by any single unit you can buy, and should give you years of workouts that can be changed and progressed as you continue to get into better and better shape. Consult with your personal trainer as to what exercise equipment may be best for your home gym.

About The Author

Charles Carter, BS in Exercise Science is President of LIVE, llc of http://www.liveleantoday.com/page.cfm?name=FitnessPlans visit the website for more information on weight loss, core fitness programs, optimal diets, and online personal trainer and dietician services. For more information on products go to http://shop.liveleantoday.com.

Source articlecity

What Careers in Healthcare Are Available

By Anne Harvester   

Adults who are considering a career change from the hectic world of business might find that a new job in health care could be just the right fit for them. If you are beginning to seek out information about healthcare careers, and the resulting health care training and education that are required for each, you will discover that there are many viable options for online health care education. You can receive training for healthcare management jobs, and many other health-related careers, from the comfort of your own home at your computer.

Healthcare management jobs combine your knowledge of both health care and business together, providing you with the skills you need to manage a hospital, doctor's office or nursing home. Students working toward completing training for this career field usually obtain a Master's degree in Health Administration. You can work toward this degree both online and on campus, and your coursework will cover topics ranging from human resource management to managerial epidemiology as well as law and ethics.

Other types of health care jobs are performed by people trained to be technologists in various health-related fields. You can find careers as an anesthesia technologist, lab technician, patient care technician, pharmacy technician, and if you enjoy working with animals, as a veterinary technician. All of these wonderful health career options can be studied online through accredited college and university course offerings leading to the degree of your choice. Many technologist degrees take approximately two years of coursework to complete. 

For example, an anesthesia technologist will take classes that cover the topics of sterile techniques, tool and materials management, as well as life support. In addition to course work, you will also spend time in hands-on training held at hospitals and other settings. After you have completed training and testing, you will work under the supervision of an anesthesiologist to assist with patient care while they are under anesthesia.

Becoming a pharmacy technician is another popular health career that can be completed in a one to two-year program. You will receive training so that once on the job you will be prepared to take prescription requests from customers utilizing appropriate customer service skills, then prepare the prescriptions and the corresponding labels, and check to make sure that prescriptions have been filled properly. 

If you love science and like to work on detail-oriented tasks, then you might want to consider a career as a laboratory technician. These individuals prepare and analyze test samples using skills taught in online courses such as biology, urinalysis, organic chemistry, and also through hands-on work done in a lab.

Any of these fabulous health care careers can be worked on in the comfort of your own home, at your preferred time schedule, when you take online health career courses.

About the author:
As a career advisor, Anne Harvester talks to many people interested in jobs in healthcare. Anne recommends online degrees for those individuals with work and home obligations. Anne reports that with the proper health care training and education, jobs are widely available.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Using Your Health Savings Account to Pay for International Travel

By: Wiley P. Long

Thousands of U.S. citizens are taking advantage of the low cost and high quality of foreign hospitals by traveling abroad for medical treatment. The savings are often 75 percent or more, and the entire cost of treatment may even be payable with tax-free money from a Health Savings Account.

Medical tourism first began to get popular in the 1990's, when people began traveling in large numbers to Brazil for cosmetic surgery. But as costs have continued to rise, thousands of Americans have been traveling overseas for real medical conditions, such as knee replacements, by-pass operations, heart valve replacements, and other serious issues. Many countries are seeing medical tourism as a good way to bring in foreign money.

In many cases the quality of medicine available overseas is equal to the top hospitals in the U.S. Patients are showing up at places like the Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad, India, part of a 36-hospital chain founded by a cardiologist from Massachusetts General. A heart valve replacement may cost $50,000 to $100,000 in the U.S., and only $12,000 in India, including travel costs.

Escorts Heart Institute and Research Center, in Delhi, India, is another popular medical tourist destination. It was founded by Dr. Naresh Trehan, an authority on robotic cardiac surgery formerly based at New York University.

Blue Cross Blue Shield has just announced that they will pay for treatment at Bumrungrad International Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand for individuals from South Carolina. Over 80,000 Americans received treatment there last year. The hospital boasts that over 200 of its doctors are board-certified in the U.S, and will perform a knee replacement operation for 20 percent of what it would cost in the U.S.

Who Does This?

Dodie Gilmore is a 60 year-old rodeo barrel-racing champ from Oklahoma. She runs a 180 acre ranch, but could no longer ride a horse because she needed a hip replacement. Her health insurance plan had an exclusion that wouldn't cover her operation, and she really didn't feel like paying the $35,000 it would cost her. Instead she and her partner flew to India where she had the surgery at the Max Institute of Orthopedics and Joint Replacement.

Her physician was Dr. S.K.S. Marya, who averages one American hip-replacement patient every week. Dodie's total coast, including travel, was only $11,000. She even managed to take in a tour of the Taj Mahal.

Forty to Sixty percent of those surveyed say they would consider surgery abroad if it could save them $5,000 or more. Going out of the U.S. (perhaps even just to Mexico), could be a worthwhile strategy if you have an exclusionary waiver on your policy, if you'll be having elective surgery not covered by your health insurance policy, or if you have a high deductible plan.

What is the Risk?

According to the Institute of Medicine, over 100,000 accidental deaths occur in hospitals every year. And that's here in the U.S. Hospitals are a dangerous place to be, and you want to spend as little of your life in one as possible. So there are risks everywhere, and probably greater risks outside the U.S.

But the magic of the free-market does give you some protection. There is a lot of money flowing to countries and international hospitals that practice high-quality medicine. If a hospital does not provide quality service, you can bet its customers will go elsewhere, particularly if they are choosing among anywhere in the world.

The influx of foreign patients (and money) is enticing more western-trained doctors to return home, so the choices are actually increasing, and the quality and prices continue to improve. I believe that if you use care in choosing your provider and structuring your treatment, the risks are no greater than having surgery here in the U.S.

How to Research Your Options

Keep in mind that most health insurance plans still will not cover for treatment outside the U.S., particularly if you are traveling specifically to receive medical care. So check with your insurer if the cost of the treatment is going to exceed your deductible.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations certifies hospitals here in the U.S. Their international division, Joint Commission International, certifies hospitals throughout the rest of the world. Make sure the facility that you are considering has been certified by them.

Then check out your doctor. Confirm that he or she is English speaking, and was trained in the U.S., U.K., Australia, or Germany.

Finally, consider hiring a consultant to help you choose the best hospital and surgeon for your needs. A good service will not only set up the treatment, but can also arrange all travel plans, meet you at the airport, and act as your liaison while you are being treated.

If you spend money from your Health Savings Account to pay for international medical care, the amount you withdraw is tax-free. Health Savings Account regulations also allow you to cover the cost of your travel if the reason you are traveling to get medical care is not "for purely personal reasons."

When choosing how to manage your health, you should carefully consider all your options. International travel is a great option for people with Health Savings Accounts.

About The Author

Wiley Long - President, HSA for America (http://www.health--savings--accounts.com) - The nation's leading independent health insurance firm specializing in individual and family coverage that work with Health Savings Accounts.

Source: articlecity

CHICAGO AREA MEN UNITE FOR 2ND ANNUAL HEALTH FAIR: PROSTATE SCREENING AND EDUCATION, OCTOBER 20TH, 2007

CONTACT:
Lorna Khawaja
Executive Director
No Wooden Nickels
888-842-2654
lkhawaja@nowoodennickels.org

CHICAGO AREA MEN UNITE FOR 2ND ANNUAL HEALTH FAIR: PROSTATE SCREENING AND EDUCATION, OCTOBER 20TH, 2007

Chicago, IL (BlackNews.com) - No Wooden Nickels is proud to announce their second annual men's health fair: prostate screening and education on Saturday, October 20th, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Chicago Urban League, 4510 S. Michigan Avenue.

The fair will focus especially on African American men's prostate health with a 10 minute PSA screening. Men age 40 and over or those age 38 with a family history are encouraged to attend. With only a simple finger prick, participants' PSA levels will be determined. The fair will also focus on equipping men and their loved ones with the educational tools they need to improve their overall health in the context of disease treatment and prevention. With a comprehensive presentation on prostate health from Dr. Anna Rodecki, information on heart disease, diabetes, and healthy eating will be part of the discussion.

The Men's Health Fair promises to build a solid foundation for men and their families to learn about the health issues caused by today's sedentary, fast food culture that seems to encourage all of the wrong lifestyle choices.

To that end No Wooden Nickels has set up a well-rounded program that includes a Q&A with prominent area physicians, nutritionists, alternative health, and screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes along with cutting edge health information. Also added to this year's panel is renowned motivational speaker Tavares Taylor from Washington, D.C. who will encourage attendees to take charge of their overall health.

"We want to give men information today they can use for a lifetime," says Khawaja, founder and executive director of No Wooden Nickels. "The good news is that a few simple lifestyle changes now can make a huge impact on both prolonging a man's lifespan and improving his quality of life. The bad news is that too many men remain unaware of the health options available to them."

The overall theme here is that we would like to start seeing treatment of patients comprehensively, which means giving them the tools to not only treat a disease like prostate cancer but to create a health routine that fights related illnesses such as diabetes, colo-rectal health and heart disease at the same time. We're trying to encourage men and their families to start finding ways to engage in preventive maintenance while treating the entire patient not just his body parts."

The program is free to the public and includes a complimentary lunch, a prize raffle each half hour, chair massages, vendors and nutritional consultations. While there is no cost for the program, registration is encouraged.

This event is made possible by No Wooden Nickels with presenting sponsorship by Amgen pharmaceuticals.

This health fair is the largest in a series of community outreach events that are part of No Wooden Nickels' largest program MedStart-5, which assists low-income cancer patients with out-of-pocket expenses during their treatment.

For more information or for a list of No Wooden Nickels' outreach programs call 888-842-2654 or log on to
nowoodennickels

Source: Blacknews.com