July 10th, 2010 
My Health
Senator Thune introduces an amendment to the health care bill that would strike the CLASS Act, which even prominent Democrats describe as a Ponzi Scheme.
March 20th, 2010 My Health
Just like a vehicle needs proper fuel and maintenance to perform properly, so does the human body. Over time, abuse and neglect can lead to a wide array of problems and eventual breakdown. Stress has the same effect on the body, over time it causes a variety of symptoms, which left untreated can lead to life-threatening illnesses like heart disease and cancer. A well-balanced, nutrient rich diet is essential for health and stress reduction. Simple adjustments to your diet now can immediately reduce the effects of stress, which in turn will give you more energy, make you stronger, and more resistant to disease.
Stress Busting Foods
* High fiber foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, increase serotonin (a mood enhancing hormone) in the brain, naturally reducing the effects of stress.
* Eat raw fruits and vegetables often. They are not only higher in vitamins and minerals than cooked foods; they also contain natural stress reducing compounds called flavonoids.
* Low fat dairy and yogurt are recommended because they are high in calcium and magnesium. Foods high in calcium and magnesium have been shown to reduce stress because these two nutrients relax muscle fibers.
Things to Avoid
* Avoid foods and drinks that are filled with stimulants like caffeine which tax the nervous and immune system. Chocolate, coffee, and most teas should only be used in moderation. In addition, there are toxic levels of acid in most soft drinks which rob the body of calcium (one of the natural stress busters).
* Sugar is another food that can trigger stress because it causes rapid fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Sugars are hidden in many foods under names like dextrose and sucrose.
* As much as possible avoid packaged meals and snacks that contain artificial colors, flavors, additives, and preservatives. These chemicals are hard on the body because they are not recognized as natural, therefore the body responds defensively to them, straining the immune system.
Unfortunately, many foods are loaded with refined sugars, bleached flours, additives, preservatives, and other toxins that can compromise health. Many foods today lack vital nutrients and as a result you may not be getting the nutrition you need to counteract the effects of stress. In most instances, diet alone is not sufficient in meeting individual nutritional needs. A good multi-vitamin and/or herbal supplements can help ensure proper nutrition, and as a result help you reduce stress. In particular there are a few vitamins that are essential for stress management.
Stress Vitamins
There are a couple of vitamins that have been shown in studies to greatly prevent and/or reduce the signs of stress. According to Psychology today, people with high levels of vitamin C do not display the expected signs of mental and physical stress when subjected to intense psychological stresses.
In addition, the family of B-vitamins strengthens the nervous and immune systems, which allows them to better combat fatigue brought on by stress. The B vitamin Niacin also helps the body effectively release energy from carbohydrates, balancing and leveling blood sugar levels which also reduce stress.
Oktay Ozadam has an avid interest in health and well-being. Find out more about health and nutritional health supplements.
March 6th, 2010 My Health
If youâre looking to cure yeast infection naturally, you should first understand some basic facts about this health issue. Yeast infection results from the abnormal dominance of Candida, causing the burning itch in the vulva and vagina, a white, clumpy discharge and an odor that is similar to beer or bread. There are several species of bacteria and fungi that are natural residents of the vagina and most of them contribute to vaginal health.
Candida albicans is one of the natural residents of the urogenital tract of a woman. While it is the cause of yeast infection, it normally doesnât cause disease due to the presence of friendly bacteria in the vagina, which suppress its growth. There are many anti-fungal drugs in the market that heal this infection, but there are great natural ways to cure yeast infection using natural means.
Natural Remedies
These remedies are alternatives to synthetic drugs and are proven to cure yeast infection naturally.
Yogurt
Yogurt contains live Lactobacillus acidophilus cultures. These bacteria are found in your vagina, and it creates an acidic environment that fungi cannot stand.
Find a yogurt with live Lactobacillus cultures, and make sure that itâs unflavored and sugar free. Use a syringe to apply the yogurt inside your vagina. Another alternative is applying freeze-dried cultures in capsules. These are available in health shops.
Garlic (Allium sativum)
This herb has been used for centuries now as a cure for infections and several diseases. Garlic has activity against fungi, one of them Candida. Garlic contains Allicin, a sulfurous compound that is great at fighting infections and reducing the risk of heart ailments.
To cure yeast infection naturally, make an improvised tampon by skinning a clove of garlic and tying a string of dental floss around it. Insert it in the vagina, leaving a good length of the string dangled so that you can pull it out later. Leave it in for a several hours. Overnight is good, but for chronic infections, it is best to do this twice a day, one during the day and the other one at night. If the smell bothers you, there are garlic extracts and capsules sold in drug stores and specialty shops.
Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium) and Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
Berberine, an active alkaloid compound found in Oregon grape and barberry is proven to be a good anti-inflammatory agent. It fights fungal growth dominance and helps enhance the growth of friendly bacteria in the body.
Although safe for women in general, pregnant women should take caution in taking these herbs. If pregnant, it is best to consult with an herbal care practitioner or a doctor before taking these herbs.
These natural and herbal remedies will help you cure yeast infection naturally, but itâs always best to consult with your herbal care practitioner or doctor before taking any of these herbs. Remember to drink plenty of water and eat healthy food to help your body fight off these unwanted fungi.
Posted in Natural 
Tags: cure, Discomfort, Eliminate, Infection, Itching, naturally, Yeast 
No Comments » January 11th, 2010 My Health Most people have a suspicion that a significant portion of healthcare costs in America are wasted. Now, a new report from Thomson Reuters has proven them right. Almost one-third of medical expenditures each year, up to $850 million, is wasted on things such as unnecessary care, disorganized paperwork, and fraud. Reducing these costs would have a significant impact on the cost of health insurance. There are fewer primary care physicians who must fill out more paperwork and hire more clerical help; this is in contrast to most other industrialized nations. The report found several ways to reduce wasteful spending on healthcare:
Reduce repetitive paperwork and other inefficiencies by switching over to electronic records. Keeping records electronically through services like Google Health will make it easier to share patients’ medical history between physicians and specialists, therefore avoiding overspending on inappropriate treatments or duplicate tests. The current paper-based system needs to evolve with the times. Do more to combat health insurance fraud. Nearly a quarter of wasted health care costs is spent on scams like referral kickbacks and Medicare fraud. Increased funding for enforcement of existing fraud regulations would be a good investment in the long run. Enact medical malpractice reform as soon as possible. While there are certainly instances in which negligence on the part of doctors and hospitals results in tragic circumstances that need to be compensated for, some trial lawyers have gone too far in an attempt to protect patients. Fearing the prospect of paying out millions of dollars in judgments, physicians often order unneeded lab tests and over-prescribe antibiotics. One might say it’s better to be safe than sorry, but their caution has cost our healthcare system up to $300 billion per year. Practice more preventative medicine. Millions of Americans suffer from preventable diseases that, in total, cost billions to treat. If chronic conditions like diabetes were caught early and avoided through lifestyle changes, it would save $30-$50 billion yearly. Require more and better training for doctors and other medical professionals. 11% of wasted health care spending is on medical mistakes. Insurers have to pay twice for a single procedure in order to fix those mistakes. If doctors did their job better the first time, these costs would be reduced.
These recommendations should be included in the healthcare reform bill going through Congress, as they would surely result in lower costs for any health insurance plan. Supporters of a public option could also use these suggestions as a road map to finding the money to cover such a program. Other countries with a similar government-run insurance program already follow similar strategies. Eliminating waste in the health care system would go a long way towards paying for the projected $1 trillion cost of the comprehensive reform bill, although it would also be beneficial for private insurers’ profit margins. However, these changes will probably see resistance from those individuals and groups accustomed to the status quo.
(Image: Alarzy under CC 2.0)
Yamileth Medina is an up and coming expert on Health Insurance and Healthcare Reform. She aims to help people realize that they don’t have to go without a health insurance plan while waiting for a public option, if it ever gets passed. Yamileth lives in Miami, FL.
