Anna Hall

Rita Rubin offers an interesting perspective in her article “Glimpse the future of primary health care”.  She explains the experience that Massachusetts has experience since passing a law in 2006 providing pretty much universal coverage to it’s 6.6 million residents.

She points out that less internists and family practitioners are accepting new patients and that wait time to see doctors are increasing. This is according to the Massachusetts Medical Society and the non-profit Massachusetts Health Quality Partners.

The article goes on to explain experiences in other states as well.

Bottom-line there will be changes, for some significant, in the health care they receive and how they receive it. I recommend you read this article to “Glimpse the future of primary health care”

I look forward to your comments.

Make it a great day.

Anna

In scanning the various news articles today, I came across an AP article I wanted to share. The article is by Marilynn Marchione, AP Medical Writer and is titled  “Report: Cancer is the world’s costliest disease”.

Ms. Marchione outlines how cancer, by the end of this year, is not only the likely leading cause of death but how the cost to fight this disease is an economic killer as well. The report prepared by the American Cancer Society is to be presented in China this week.

Ms. Marchione does a nice job at providing an overview and summarizing the different tolls cancer takes on the world as a whole.

I recommend you click on this link to view the article, the information is eye opening.

I look forward to your thoughts and feedback.

Make it a great day!

Anna

If you want to have healthy skin it does not have to be an unreasonable routine or big ordeal. As it is quite often, common sense will go a long way. Just take a few simple steps and be aware of what you are doing when it comes to sun, smoking, bathing, diet and stress. You will be amazed at the end results and be much happier with your appearance as time moves forward, which it inevitably will.

1. Protect yourself from the sun:
   As much as many of s love the sun and the look of that perfect tan, The sun is probably the biggest enemy of maintaining beautiful skin. The most important way to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, freckles, age spots and rough, dry skin. Sun exposure can also cause more-serious problems, such as skin cancer.For the most complete sun protection you should avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are the strongest. Consider wearing protective clothing, such as tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Sun protective clothing is available, which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays while keeping you cool and comfortable. Use sunscreen when you’re in the sun. Be sure not to skimp on the sunscreen, Apply generous amounts of broad-spectrum sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours, after heavy sweating or after being in water.
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2. Don’t smoke:
   Smoking has shown not health benefit whatsoever, but people get addicted to smoking. Your skin is no exception, smoking makes your skin look older and help in creating wrinkles. You ask how does smoking cause skin issues?
   • Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow. This depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients, such as vitamin A, that are vital to healthy skin.
   • Smoking damages the critical element in your skin, collagen and elastin. These fibers give your skin its strength and elasticity.
   • The repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking, such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke help to contribute to wrinkles.

If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit. If you are unable to quit, you should consult  doctor to help you stop smoking.
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3. Treat your skin gently:

Although an important part of our daily routines. daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. You must keep it gentle:Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin.

• • Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water.
  • Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers.
  • Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
  • Pat dry.

After you wash or that a shower or bath, be sure to lightly pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin. Be sure to moisturize dry skin with a moisturizer that makes your skin look and feel soft.

.4. Eat a healthy diet

One of the basics should be a healthy diet. This can help you look and feel your best. Be sure to eat plenty of  healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins.

5. Manage stress

Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. Manage your stress to encourage healthy skin and a healthy state of mind. Set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy. The results may be more dramatic than you expect.

As always I look forward to your comments.

Make it a wonderful day!

Anna

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Ok, I know this is not going to come as any big surprise to most of you. But sometimes the most basic things are taken for granted or overlooked. That is why I am putting together this basic list of the steps to getting pregnant. There are of course many other considerations but this is a great start.

The video blow offers a few specific tips you will want to follow.

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A few things to do:

• Have unprotected sex regularly – If want to get pregnant, there is no such thing as too much sex. If you are having sex several time a week, you will most certainly hit that magical time where you are most fertile. Make sure you are having sex at least once a day at the time of ovulation.
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• Healthy lifestyle – Be sure to eat properly, maintain a healthy weight, be sure to get regular physical exercise. Reduce or eliminate stress and caffeine. It is also recommended to eliminate alcohol.
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• Vitamins – Although this may sound lame, it is a critical step in getting pregnant. Not only does it make you healthier overall, more importantly vitamins prepare your body with the important essentials that will help nurture a healthy pregnancy and baby. It has been suggested that you start a vitamin regime several months prior to getting pregnant.

A few things not to do:

• Smoke – Smoking is bad for you anytime, but if you are working to get pregnant there are many effects smoking has that you may not realize. One – it changes the cervical mucus and may prevent the sperm from getting to the egg. Two – May increase the chances of a miscarriage. Three – may keep the baby from receiving the nutrients and oxygen that is so important in the development of a healthy baby.
  .
• Alcohol – When the mother drinks, the alcohol is passed to the fetus. The fetus breaks down the alcohol much slower than the adult body. This contributes to the baby having an elevated blood alcohol level potentially causing many different forms of birth defects. It can also increase the possibility of miscarriage.
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• Medications – You should never take any type of medications without a doctors supervision. This applies to all over the counter medications as well and any prescriptions.

Be sure to consult your doctor with any concerns and questions you may have prior to getting pregnant and during the pregnancy. No question is too small. The goal of course is to have a healthy, happy pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby after 9 months. Following these basic steps as a start will get you headed in the right direction.

As always I look forward to your comments.

Make it a wonderful day!

Anna

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Below is a short video about Infertility and Acupuncture approx 2:52 min

FirstCoastNews.com – Broadcast News article discussing the successful use of acupuncture for infertility.

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine, sometimes abbreviated as TCM. Acupuncture involves placing hair-thin needles into particular points on the body. These points, according to the Chinese tradition, run along lines of energy, or meridians.  The imbalance of energies in the body can lead to illness, including infertility. Correcting the imbalance by stimulating specific points along the meridians will improve health.

So how does acupuncture help

• The acupuncture needles stimulate the production of endorphins and help to rebalance the boy’s energies and aid in keeping all organs functioning properly.
• The acupuncture needles creates a micro electric current in the body that helps to regulate your hormones
• The acupuncture needles stimulation of the pituitary gland can benefit men to improve the concentration, volume and motility of their sperm.

Here is a link for great source for additional and more detailed information and a guide to an easy 5 step plan to getting pregnant and having healthy babies though holistic and natural methods. This resource also includes a history and review of information on In Vitro-Fertilization.

As always I look forward to your comments.

Make it a wonderful day!

Anna

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You may be interested in the following‚

Smart Nutritional Hybrids

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What is Infertility

Below is a brief video discussing the causes of infertility.

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There are many different paths to cure infertility. You can approach this issue with costly medicines and surgical procedures or you can approach from a more holistic and natural perspective.

Here are some Interesting facts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Number of women ages 15-44 with impaired fecundity (impaired ability to have children): 7.3 million
• Percent of women ages 15-44 with impaired fecundity: 11.8%
• Number of married women ages 15-44 that are infertile (unable to get pregnant for at least 12 consecutive months): 2.1 million
• Percent of married women ages 15-44 that are infertile: 7.4%
• Number of women ages 15-44 who have ever used infertility services: 7.3 million

Honestly, I was surprised at the numbers reported by the CDC. I did not realize that such a large number of women were impacted. This is only the US these numbers grow much larger when looked at globally.

Wikipedia lists the following as the definition of infertility:

Infertility

Reproductive endocrinologists, the doctors specializing in infertility, consider a couple to be infertile if:

1. the couple has not conceived after 12 months of contraceptive-free intercourse if the female is under the age of 34. 12 months is the lower reference limit for Time to Pregnancy (TTP) by the World Health Organization.
2. the couple has not conceived after 6 months of contraceptive-free intercourse if the female is over the age of 35 (declining egg quality of females over the age of 35 account for the age-based discrepancy as when to seek medical intervention).

Alternatively, the NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the UK) guidelines define infertility as failure to conceive after regular unprotected sexual intercourse for 2 years in the absence of known reproductive pathology.

Approaches to Resolve Infertility

Personally, I am not big on unnecessary expensive medicines and surgical procedures. It appears to make more sense to try natural methods as a 1^st step. However, there are those who do have obvious issues that will require some form of medical procedure but there may be many who can be helped by non-invasive natural methods.

Vitamins and Minerals can Help

A simple cost effective approach to try is vitamins and minerals. This would be for both men and women as they each have their obvious part in the process. It appears that many people underestimate the importance of  the appropriate levels of vitamins and minerals in their nutrition overall. And really do not appreciate the impact that vitamins and mineral can have in infertility. This may not be the complete solution but it can definitely help the process. Below are some vitamins and Minerals shown to have a positive impact on getting pregnant.

Vitamin C:

Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant destroying free radicals in the body protecting the male sperm from damage. Vitamin C has also been revealed to effectively help treat infertility in women.

Vitamin E:

Vitamin E is believed to help in the fertility of women and as a side benefit assists in the reduction of menstrual cramps. In men, an insufficient amount of vitamin E can cause infertility through insufficient production of sperm and sperm motility. Studies suggest that the antioxidant activity of Vitamin E may make the sperm more fertile.

Zinc:

Zinc is important for women to efficiently use the reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone. If there is an insufficient amount of zinc in women it can cause miscarriage. Zinc affects in sperm quality, count and mobility in men. An insufficient amount of zinc can result in lower testosterone levels, reduced testicle size and unhealthy and misshapen sperm.

Vitamin B12:

Vitamin B12 has been shown to help improve sperm count in men. A lack of Vitamin B12 may result in genetic damage in sperm thereby leading to infertility.

Selenium:

Selenium help in maintaining the integrity of the Sperm and prevents cell oxidation. It has been shown to be a powerful antioxidant.

Folic Acid:

Folate or Folic Acid is involved in the DNA synthesis. This is important as this is how genetic information is store in the cells.

Herbal Remedies

Maca, Saw Palmetto, and Panax Ginseng are herbal which have been shown to have a positive impact.

Maca Root:

Containing over 50 phyto-nutrients it has been shown to heighten sex drive and improve semen quality.

Saw Palmetto:

Assists in prostate health and the urinary track

Ginseng:

Helps in overcoming stress, supports immune functions, adrenal and reproductive glands

Bottom line, vitamins and minerals are a good place to start when sorting out infertility concerns. In the process you can increase you overall health.

I recently came across a great source for information and a guide to getting pregnant naturally. It is 250 pages of information pack material. You can check it out here.

As always I look forward to your comments.

Make it a wonderful day!

Anna

It is always suggested that you discuss any change in your diet, vitamins or health with a doctor beforehand.

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A question we wonder about all the time what are Good Carbohydrates vs Bad Carbohydrates.

Below is a video by Jillian Michaels I found on YouTube done for eDiets. This video touches on the subject of carbohydrates.  I thought you may find interesting.  It relates to a few of the postings over the past couple of months regarding the benefits of good carbohydrates in your diet.

3 Tips toHelp Lose Weight

How to lose weight –You Will Be Surprised by One of The 2 Worst Foods That Make You Fat.

The Outrageous Truth about Dietary and Saturated Fats part 1 of 3

Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels as she gives her own no-nonsense explanation of carbohydrates.

Hope you enjoy,

I look forward to your feedback and comments.

Make it a Great Day!

Anna

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The Figure 8 Challenge – Weight Loss Program, Meal Plans, Recipes, Tools andCalculators

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Quick Natural Weight Loss,  Lessons from the Caveman

Back in the day, I mean way back! Cavemen knew how to survive by instinct. They inherently understood what was the best diet for their survival. And, they knew it much better than we do today. Ironically, and more importantly they knew how to survive in the healthiest way possible. Granted they did not have all the modern conveniences to distract them and take them off course or the processed and refined foods we have today.

Below are some pointers that our ancestors taught us and we seemed to have ignored.

1. Cavemen only ate what they could kill, catch or forage in the wild. Fortunately, we have grocery stores today so we do not have to hunt our prey or gather our other foods in the wild. Although, I know some people who do enjoy hunting and the rewards as a sport, but it is not for most of us.Think about it this way, if the food you are eating is not something a caveman could have hunted, gathered and found himself, then more than likely you should not be putting that food in your mouth. For example, a plate of lean hamburger and vegetables, followed by fresh fruit works nicely. The problems begin when you start adding piece of bread and some pasta Bread and pasta did are foods that were not around in those times and are foods we are much healthier without.
2. Cavemen only drank what they could find. Water is truly the best kept secret for weight loss and increased health. Sadly, in this day where you can find water in virtually every store, or tap near you, a large percentage of the population is severely dehydrated. These people are suffering many negative side effects such as:
   * Hunger
   * Headaches
   * Constipation
   * Digestive discomfort

   All of these can be easily corrected by drinking more water. As a general rule, drink half of your bodyweight in ounces of water each day. For example a person who weighs 200 lbs should drink 100 ounces of water per day.

3. Cavemen stayed active for a majority of their day. Although this is not quite a nutrition element, I am sure you will agree it is a vital and fundamental part of fat loss and optimized health. Today way to many of us sit in an office chair all day and then go home and sit on the couch for the rest of the night. Activity is our friend, this does not always mean a rigid exercise program. Do simple things like, walk up the stairs to your office, walk the parking lot a few extra times, get up and walk around the office a minimum of once per hour, anything to prevent you from sitting all day long. If present day humans had to maintain the daily activity and schedule of a caveman… well most of us would fall over in exhaustion.

Ironically, we think that the caveman had it so tough. And of course in many ways they did – no cars, no TV and ahhh – no computers! But I believe they had it better than us when it came to diet. If we were to follow the daily activities, in the sense of activity, and food choices of cavemen we would be much healthier.

When it comes to making daily choices here is something to ask yourself. “Is what I am about to eat or drink something I could have found in the wild thousands of years ago?” If the answer is no, don’t eat it and find yourself a food that is more natural.

Here’s to your better health! Happy dieting!

I look forward to your feedback and comments.

Make it a Great Day!

Anna

***************************

You may be interested in the following‚

The Figure 8 Challenge – Weight Loss Program, Meal Plans, Recipes, Tools and Calculators

Testimonial

“I’ve been on the Figure 8 Weight Loss Program for 15 weeks and have already lost 43 pounds”. —Angel Carrier, from Cold Spring, KY

Healthy Living and Weight Loss

Protein Shakes

Supplements to aid in you health and weight loss

View Products

Contact me for Samples and Discounts available on these and other products.

Calories, I believe that anyone who has wanted to lose weight has worried about their calorie intake at one time or another. Question is how many calories is the correct number of calories?

According to the 2010 Food & Health Survey: Consumer Attitudes Toward Food Safety, Nutrition & Health: Calorie and Energy Balance: Few Americans (12 percent) can accurately estimate the number of calories they should consume in a day for a person their age, height, weight, and physical activity.  Of those who say they are trying to lose or maintain weight, only 19 percent say they are keeping track of calories.  Additionally, almost half of Americans do not know how many calories they burn in a day (43 percent) or offer inaccurate estimates (35 percent say 1000 calories or less).  When it comes to calories consumed versus calories burned, most Americans (58 percent) do not make an effort to balance the two. Source: International Food Information Council Foundation

Research suggests that the number of calories a person needs and the number they burn depends on age and sex. Adult calorie needs range from 1,400 to 4,000. For example, a woman under 30, who does not exercise needs 2,000 calories a day. A man the same age and activity level needs roughly 2,400 calories.

Losing Weight

Do you know what you daily calorie intake should be?

It was reported that 70 percent of participants are concerned about their weight, only 54 percent are actively trying to lose weight. The question that we all want to know is, can they successfully lose weight when they don’t understand their daily calorie requirement?

It only makes sense that eating the correct amount of calories will maximize your weight loss. Weight loss is a formula involving many different variables – calories, activity, exercise, height, gender, age and so on. This is not an easy equation/ You need to know how many calories your body needs and be careful to stay in the range required for weight loss. I know this is a big shock to everyone, overconsumption can lead to weight gain. With so many variables, it’s no wonder most people are confused about calories and struggle to lose weight.

The chart below lists The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provided by the US Department of Health and Human Services in 2005:

Therefore, if you are looking to drop a few pounds, you need a slight reduction in the number of calories you consume from the chart above. The numbers illustrated are for weight maintenance not weight loss.

You need to be careful to adjust your calorie intake as your lifestyle. weight or activity levels change.

Keep in mind the real key is to be sure you are consuming the appropriate number of calories for your specific requirements, whether your goal is maintenance, weight loss or gain. You will want to be sure to eat the correct foods for healthy nutrition and spread your calories out over the day by having smaller meals and interspersing snacks. This will help to keep your metabolism going and burning the weight. Remember our bodies will go into starvation mode if you do not eat regularly. This in turns causes your body to store fat not burn it.

Here is a link to a Calorie Calculator from the Mayo Clinic you can use to estimate you calorie needs. As always you should consult your physician to be safe.

Happy dieting!

I look forward to your feedback and comments.

Make it a Great Day!

***************************

You may be interested in the following‚

The Figure 8 Challenge – Weight Loss Program, Meal Plans, Recipes, Tools andCalculators

Testimonial

“I’ve been on the Figure 8 Weight Loss Program for 15 weeks and have already lost 43 pounds”. —Angel Carrier, from Cold Spring, KY

Healthy Living and Weight Loss

Protein Shakes

Supplements to aid in you health and weight loss

View Products

Contact me for Samples and Discounts available on these and other products.