Healthmambo

The 5 Essentials of Men's Daily Skin Care.

2007-08-03T07:35:00.000-07:00

For men, taking care of our skin can prove to be one of the best things to learn how to do. Besides the most obvious advantages like looking better, it has also the advantage of improving our health. Skin care does it part on helping us stay healthy, especially when taking accounts recent studies that prove men are genetically more prone to develop skin cancer. Every activity begins with some essentials stuff, and daily men's skin care is no exception, here are the 5 essential aids to start looking and feeling better:

1. Face Cleanser

A good face cleanser is different from your regular soap. It will remove dead skin cells, dirt, oil and pollutants we catch from the environment. It will also unclog the pores and by doing that it will also prevent us from acne blemishes and pimples.

If you have very dry skin use creamy cleansers. For oily skin, acid-based cleansers. But well, most cleansers serve for all types of skin, so better read well the labels before buying any product. Sometimes you may feel your face "tight" after cleaning and drying, this happens because the cleanser has got rid off of too much oil. (You need some oil on your skin after all!) What happens next, is that your skin will try to compensate producing more oil, eventually clogging pores. If you notice this, switch to a better cleanser.

The face cleanser should be applied once in the morning and once at night. Apply with water on face and neck, using a warm temperature and pat dry with a soft towel.

2. Shaving Cream or Shaving Gel

The shaving gel or cream basically does two things. First, it softens up the beard allowing a close shave; and second, it will help the razor blades glide smoothly over your skin. This helps reduce razor burns and blemishes caused by ingrown hair.

When choosing a shaving cream, most will work for any type of skin. But it is better to use a quality shaving cream that does some "extra work", like providing natural nutrients to the -soon to be damaged- skin.

The application of the cream or gel depends on the product. Now in the market there are even dry shave gels, that don't require you to wet your skin first. One common advice is too put the shaving cream or gel, and let it rest for about a minute (just let it do it's work for a while) and then shave. If you want to get an even better shave, do it right after a hot bath. hot water helps open up the pores.

3. Toner

The toner will clean the pores, removing shaving residues and restore the skin pH. It also helps the skin fight bacterial invasion. As the cleanser, apply it once by morning and once at night. For normal to dry skin use an hydrating toner, and for oily skin a toner-astringent.

Toner should be applied after shaving, and if you don't have facial hair, after cleansing. It is also good idea to apply it after prolonged sun exposure to restore the acid levels on the skin.

4. After Shave

The after have is more than a cologne to close the pores. A good after shave will restore the skin's natural moisture after shaving and relieve of irritations. Advanced after shaves will also combat razor burn and leave you with a soft restored-from-damage skin. They come in lotions and creams, I've found creams often work better.

To apply it just massage a little on shaved skin on face and neck immediately after shaving and toning.

5. Moisturizer

This is the final step in daily men's skin care. The moisturizer will prevent the natural moisture n the top layer of your skin to go away. And will help water retention. Most people think it brings water into your skin, but it just helps holding its natural moisture. If you have dry skin go foir oil based moisturizers, and if you have oily skin go for humectant lotion.

To apply it, massage the moisturizer gently on your skin until you will it is fully absorbed, and do it after shaving and toning. If your skin is very very oily you should not require moisturizer, but talk with a skin professional first for better advice.

That's it. These are the 5 essentials of men's daily skin care. If you take of your skin no problems will arise in the future and you can end up looking younger and healthier.

6 Tips That Help to Get Rid of Blackheads.

2007-08-02T06:43:00.000-07:00

Even people who do not have the misfortune of getting acne or pimples sometimes had to deal with black heads. How to get rid of black heads is a question that gets asked a lot. Depending on your skin tone and your situation there can be a lot of different answers but generally there are a few tips you can follow regardless of your skin condition that will help you eliminate black heads.

Black heads do not discriminate based on age; you can get blackheads as an adolescent as well as an adult. Unfortunately, this can be a continual problem that few people know how to deal with. Here are some 6 tips will help you with your question of how to get rid of black heads.

1. Change your pillow case as often as possible, oil can build up on your pillow and while you are sleeping can get on your face. If you remember to change your pillow case once every night or every two to three days this will help alleviate any issues if you have a black heads.

2. When you're taking a shower close all the doors and turn the shower water on as hot as you possibly can stand it. The steam will help open up the pores and can loosen the black head. This can also be accomplished by buying a facial steamer which is specifically made to open up facial pores.

3. Wash your face twice daily, any more than that and you run the risk of replacing the oil on your face that is caused by your skin drying out. Always make sure that you wash before you go to bed with a gentle soap.

4. Try to avoid eating any junk food, although it's never been proven that certain foods will cause acne and blackheads certain foods will increase the probability that you will get acne and blackheads. There is no hard and fast rule about what you should eat but it if you stay away from the junk food and eat a healthy diet you'll be less prone to blackheads.

5. After washing your face make sure this use of clean towel to dry your face off. A previously used towel may contain oil and dirt and will only worsen the symptoms. After washing your face the last thing you want to do is replace it with oil and dirt and changing towels on a daily basis will help with this.

6. Pay close attention to the areas that you can get the most blackheads and make sure that you watch or treat them little more thoroughly. One of the areas that people generally don't pay much attention to when getting blackheads is their nose, your nose can be one of the most infected areas simply cleanse it thoroughly.

Getting rid of blackheads can sometimes seem impossible but if you follow these tips it should help. You just read six tips that can help you with your question how to get rid of blackheads.

The 5 Natural Ways To Reduce Your Blood Pressure

2007-08-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

1. Try Yoga: Yoga is a great way to reduce stress, which contributes to high blood pressure. But there are some poses in particular recommended for those wanting to level out their blood pressure. These include:

* forward bends like virasana and upavista konasana, which are both sitting postures
* horizontal asanas which allow the heart beat to slow down when they are practised slowly and rhythmically
* asanas like uttanasana and adhomukha savasana

2. Regular exercise: It doesn't have to be yoga. Any regular exercise like walking, biking or gardening is great for lowering blood pressure. Your physician will be able to give you an exercise plan that suits your heart condition and physical fitness levels. It's important not to overdo it too quickly. Tai chi is actually an excellent way to reduce blood pressure. Like yoga, it is relaxing, rhythmical, a stress reducer, and has great benefit on the nervous and parasympathetic systems within the body.

Having a regular exercise program may even reduce your need for blood pressure medication.

3. Eat more bananas! Bananas are high in potassium, which is great for reducing high blood pressure. Other dietary improvements include eating more fruit and vegetables generally. Studies have found 8 servings of fruit and vegetables daily to be preferable, with these having a particular benefit for cardiovascular health:

* Lettuce
* spinach
* cauliflower
* cabbage
* broccoli
* swiss chard
* citrus fruits

And when these changes are combined with exercise, there are more significant improvements in blood pressure.

4. Make sure you get your folic acid: A study by the Harvard Medical School looked at the benefits of folic acid on blood pressure, and found it to be highly beneficial, particularly amongst younger women. It seemed to have a protective effect against high blood pressure. Younger women who took at least 1mg of folic acid a day lowered their risk of hypertension by 46%. Older women who had reasonable amounts of folic acid daily lowered their risk by 18%. The study was conducted on 156,000 nurses, 19,720 of whom had high blood pressure.

5. Blessed chocolate: Dark chocolate, and foods and supplements that had high levels of cocoa including chocolate confectionary, cocoa sandwich filling and drinks, have been found to be associated with a lower blood pressure and reduced risk of dying from any cause in a small study conducted on 470 elderly men (they were on average 72 7ears old). The study followed them for 15 years, and those that ate more than 2.3 grams of cocoa a day had lower blood pressure than those that didn't. Researchers believe it is the flavanol component of cocoa that provides this beneficial effect.

Before thinking this is a green light to eat lots of chocolate, you'll need about 100 grams of dark chocolate a day to get the blood pressure benefits. That equates to an extra 500 calories per 100 grams, with an average fat content of 30%. Raw cocoa is not well taken by people when it is eaten in large amounts. The calorie and fat considerations need to be taken into account, although there are some chocolate bars out there that have a higher flavanol content.

7 Tips To Help You Sleep Better And Beat Sleep Deprivation

2007-07-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

Do you find yourself lying in bed at night tossing and turning or counting backwards in the hopes of eventually falling asleep? If you suffer from occasional bouts of insomnia, here are seven sleep aids that can help you sleep with more ease:

1. With the increased awareness of the importance of receiving a good night's sleep, a number of sleep-friendly pillows are now available for sleep-hungry individuals. Some pillows are specifically designed to help reduce the frequency and intensity of snoring.

Snoring is one of the greatest detractors to a good night's sleep. The new PillowPositive is a special patented cervical pillow. Clinical trials have shown its efficacy in helping reduce snoring. PillowPositive encourages the user to position their head in order to avoid positions that leave the airway passages vulnerable to snoring.

Another sleep-friendly pillow is the Nelson Sound Sleeper. The Nelson Sound Sleeper is an ergonomically designed pillow that has built-in speakers that allow relaxing music to be funneled to the user. The Nelson Sound Sleeper is made for the whole body. It supports a healthy inclined position that reflects the body's natural curvature, and which supports the spine. The Nelson Sound Sleeper is designed to support and distribute equally the user's body weight, regardless of what side or sleeping position the sleeper has taken.

2. Aromatherapy sleep aids that will send you off to dream land sweetly. Although many people scoffed when aromatherapy first caught the public's attention, research shows that essential oils can be quite effective in alleviating all sorts of medical conditions. Lavender has proven to be the most popular choice for inducing sleep.

There are several ways you can use lavender to fall asleep. You can purchase a special aromatherapy diffuser that you can use to expel the aroma in your bedroom before bedtime. You can place a few drops in your hot bath, or you can purchase lavender massage oil and rub it into your skin before nighttime.

Whatever you choose, you will want to remember that essential oils can be surprisingly powerful—a few drops goes a long way. You can also create a small sachet filled with lavender potpourri that you can place in your pillow. Some people have also reported success with the use of jojoba oil, marjoram, and ylang-ylang.

3. White noise machines can be particularly effective if you need to fall asleep during the day, where distractions and noise are more prone to keep you awake. Popular models include the Norelco Natural Sound Selector, the Burltech Ultra Heart and Sound Soother, and the Marpac line of Sound Conditioners. Most of these white noise machines are outfitted with several modes and sounds from nature that are designed to send you off to sleep.

A simpler way to gain a similar effect is to use a fan on a low setting, or to set the radio on the classical music station at a very low volume.

4. Like essential oils, music is another great way to calm the senses and prepare the body for restful sleep. Many musical CDs specifically designed to send you off to sleep are now available. The SleepNowCD, for instance, contains sonic biofeedback that is designed to minimize anxiety and induce sleep. Another option for insomniacs is the Easy Sleep Tapes for Insomniacs from Hypnosis Concepts. These tapes contain two hypnosis sessions aimed to ease you into restful sleep.

5. Certain herbs have been proven to induce sleep. Special nighttime or sleepy time teas can be a powerful yet natural method to induce sleep. Chamomile, valerian, and ginger teas are recommended for sleep-seekers. Make sure to drink these hot teas at least an hour before bedtime.

6. If you find yourself experiencing transient insomnia due to travel or temporary stressors, over the counter sleep aids can help you get the rest you need quickly and easily. Over the counter sleep aids are no substitute to natural sleep, and their use should be discontinued as soon as possible. These drugs are designed to provide fast relief from sleeplessness, but they lose their effectiveness if used for too long.

7. With the variety of non-drug sleep aids now available, prescription sleep aids should be avoided, if possible. If you suffer from severe chronic insomnia, visit your doctor to make sure you are not suffering from an underlying disorder or illness. Many sleep aids carry the risk of side effects, and some can even be addictive. Proceed with caution when it comes to prescription sleep aids.

7 Steps To Apply For Federal Permanent Disability Insurance.

2007-05-12T20:45:00.000-07:00

Do you know how to apply for permanent disability? Do you know how long it will take to complete your goal? Do you know you can not work at all when applying for permanent disability? If you answered yes or no do any of these questions, read on.

STEP ONE:

Call Social Security and tell them you want to start the paperwork for you being permanent disability.

Or

Make an appointment at your local Social Security office.

Or

Or you can walk in and take a number and wait.

Note: Being represented by an Attorney and having Medical assistance available will help your case.

STEP TWO:

You will receive a packet of papers in the mail to be filled out and returned to the Social Security Office by the date requested. All your medical records will be sent for from your various medical providers.

STEP THREE:

You will receive a letter from Social Security with a date and time for you to have a medical examination by a Medical Doctor.

STEP FOUR:

If after your examination you are refused permanent disability you have a time limit to file for an appeal. The appeal form will be enclosed with your refusal letter from Social Security.

STEP FIVE:

At this time you may be represented by an attorney. Actually you may have attorney representation starting with Step One.

STEP SIX:

You will be waiting for a court date to be set. This can take months.

STEP SEVEN:

You can appeal again.

If denied again. You can start Step One over again.

Note: Each state has different requirements to be fulfilled by you. Always call your social security office and get the correct information for your personal use.

During this complete process you will not be able to work. You will have to depend on your bank account, family and friends for support to make it through the tough times.

The 5 Tips To Help Beat Anxiety And Depression.

2007-05-12T20:16:00.000-07:00

I read an article recently that stated it could take up to five years to be able to correctly diagnose bipolar disorder, also known as "manic" depression. Although there are big differences in each of these disorders, there are some common tips that have been known to help some people cope. Here are a few you can use.

#1. Maintain a healthy diet. When your mind is giving you problems it's even more important to put good foods into your body, in order to maintain your energy level and also to help improve your mood. The last thing you need at this time is to be loading up on processed sugars, like candy and soda pop. You might get a sugar rush and be "high" for a short time, but you'll eventually crash and your mood will crash right along with you.

#2. Avoid stimulants. The reasoning is the same as the reason above, but even more so if you suffer from anxiety disorders. Caffeine, sugar, cold medicines, like Sudafed, or any other type of legal stimulant will kick your anxiety into high gear. If you're depressed and trying to use these stimulants for energy you must realize that it's going to eventually wear off and you'll be even lower than before. Worse yet, you may not be able to sleep either. There's nothing like feeling crummy and staring at the ceiling all night.

#3. Avoid drugs and alcohol. Besides the fact that drugs are illegal, they're also the worst thing that you can do for your mental health. If you're smoking marijuana, stop now. Besides the physical dangers, it's also a downer, especially after the THC wears off. I've had some people tell me that it doesn't affect them like that, that they get more of a high or feel "normal" afterword. This may be true for some individuals that are chronic pot smokers, but for the large majority of people I recommend that you leave it alone. Leave it alone anyway, it's against the law.

Methamphetamines is a huge problem these days and has reached near epidemic proportions. Meth will completely rob you of your spirit. If you suffer from anxiety or depression I urge you to stay away from this drug. You may initially get a fantastic high, but, like most other addictive drugs, it will soon take more and more and when you come down your depression and anxiety is multiplied many times over. It's also estimated that only 22% of those that begin using Meth are ever able to quit and stay clean permanently. Please don't do this to yourself.

#4. Exercise every day. Not just a quick "walk in the park", but exercise until you work up a good sweat. You need to really work your body out. This has helped many people manage their symptoms and has nearly eliminated symptoms in others. When you exercise you're building up good endorphins in your brain. You're burning off excess stress and, as an added bonus, you'll also burn off calories! Exercise is just a "win, win" activity. There are no negatives and the benefits are numerous. Get off the couch and get to work right now!

#5. Find someone that understands what you're going through to confide in. This can be a good friend or family member. All of us must occasionally get stuff off our chest. It's calming and releases tension. You may have something on your mind that's been bothering you and made your anxiety flare up. I'm not going to say that it's going to cure your problem, but it surely won't hurt.

I hope that these tips help you, as they've helped others. For some people anxiety attacks and depression are an everyday event, while others have milder cases. Until researchers find that "little magic pill" that we've all been waiting for, it's important that we do all that we can to help ourselves

The 6 Simple steps to prevent the occurrence of heart disease.

2007-05-12T20:12:00.000-07:00

Heart disease is the leading cause of death due to disease in the United States today. What many people may not realize is that simply preventing it before it happens is the best medicine. In fact the steps to prevention are relatively simple and easy but it does involve some significant lifestyle changes. But then a few changes to live a long healthy life are certainly worth the effort, aren't they.

Here are six simple steps you can take to help prevent the occurrence of heart disease.

1. Cut the Fat - This can be difficult for many people because fat is what makes everything taste so good. Unfortunately eating to much fat, particularly trans fat, can lead to a rise in LDL cholesterol, known as the bad cholesterol. It builds forming plaque that narrows and hardens the arteries. This can cause a clot which leads to a heart attack or stroke.

2. Cardiovascular Exercise - By keeping your heart and the rest of your cardiovascular system strong and in shape you can significantly decrease you chances of suffering from heart disease. Doing some form of physical activity everyday is a good way to heart disease at bay. It can be as simple as doing housework, going for a daily walk or bike ride, taking the stairs instead of elevators, or any number of other daily activities.

3. Quit Smoking - more than 135,000 people in the United States die from tobacco related heart disease every year. In fact if you smoke you are two to three times more at risk to die from coronary heart disease.

4. Use Less Salt - Salt is a necessary part of any diet but to much salt can cause your body to retain water and other fluids. This can cause blood pressure to rise which is a major factor in cardiovascular disease.

5. Reduce Stress Levels - This is easier said then done because stress happens. Most of the time there is nothing you can do about it when it happens. But when stress does rear its ugly head you need an outlet that lets you keep its effects to a minimum. Find time everyday to spend time by yourself, in a quiet, relaxed environment. You can also use exercise to reduce stress, thus taking care of two of the steps at one time.

6. Keep Your Weight in Check - The interesting thing when we talk about weight and heart disease is that there are two sides to this issue. Being overly thin, including because of eating disorders, increases the risk of heart attack just as being overweight does. The idea is to maintain an ideal body weight for your height and body type. A good starting point is to use the body mass index (BMI) to determine your ideal weight.

By following these six steps you can go a long ways to preventing heart disease. It is important that if you think you have some form of heart disease or are exhibiting any of the symptoms that you see your doctor for the proper tests to determine your current health status.

The 6 Tips for Loosing Weight Quickly .

2007-05-12T20:09:00.000-07:00

Ever since I went through my growth spurt in my teen years, I've been obese. I finally said to myself "I'm tired of being fat and people looking at me, I'm going to be thin and muscular". I actully accomplished that over the last year. Now I run every day. I feel great and I eat like a horse because of my high metabolism.

You too can have what I have and learn how to lose weight quickly. You just have to commit yourself to a whole new lifestyle. Here's some weight loss tips:

1. If you want to lose weight quickly, try some intervals. Intervals are a combination of running and walking. For example: You can run for 5 minutes and walk for 5 minutes then repeat. This pumps your metabolism up and also allows you to have a "resting" period while walking. Do this every day and the fat will melt away and you will notice your clothes getting bigger... or you getting smaller!

2. Eat Breakfast! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you don't eat it, your body doesn't give itself the jumpstart it needs to keep a high metabolism throughout the day. Make sure to eat within 2 hours of waking up.

3. Do not eat right before you go to bed. This is just asking for trouble since it would be extra energy your body stores which translates into fat. Give yourself a couple of hours in between that last snack and bedtime.

4. Stay away from processed foods, soda, foods with fructose syrup, hydrogenated oils and trans fats. When you go food shopping, try to pick a variety of foods, preferably whole grain and organic foods. If you're going for the deli meats, stay lean by choosing turkey or roast beef.

5. Water is important! Drink at least 8 cups of water a day. This keeps you hydronated and flushes out your body of toxins. Your body consists of mostly water anyways.

6. When you're working out, make sure you give each half of your body a rest every day. For example if you work your upper body on Tuesday, only work on your lower body on Wednesday, alternating every day. This gives your body a chance to actully build muscle onto your body.

Please remember that strength training is a very important role in weight loss. Ever hear of the term "turn fat into muscle"? That's not literally what happens but it is pretty darn close. When you build extra muscle, your body needs more energy. This is why body builders eat alot. Their metabolisms are very high, they are very muscular, therefore they have low body fat.

Skip 100 Calories Today, Lose 10 Lbs. This Year

2007-05-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

Skip 100 Calories Today, Lose 10 Lbs. This Year

You can drop ten pounds this year without lifting a weight, without starting a diet, and without lacing up your running shoes. In fact, it’s what you DON’T do that will get rid of those ten lbs. Simply DON’T eat those extra 100 calories a day.

100 calories are easy to find – we’ll go over that later. Here’s is why it works: By leaving out 100 calories per day, you are eating 36,500 less calories a year. (100 calories a day x 365 days in a year = 36,500 calories). It takes a decrease of 3,500 calories to lose one pound of fat. A decrease of 35,000 adds up to 10 pounds of fat…10 pounds of excess fat off of your body!

According to the American Heart Association, as of 2005, there were 140 million overweight or obese people in the United States. 72 million of them were men, 68 million women. Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25+. Obesity is a BMI of 30+. Overweight and Obesity -- Statistics.

Just think of how well you can do if you add in exercise, too. If you burn 100 calories a day through exercise and skip another 100 from food, it will equal 200 calories a day. That, in turn, will equal twenty pounds of fat gone from your body this year! Burning 100 calories with exercise is easy: (at a casual pace, for a150lbs. person) Ride a bike for 10 minutes, jog for 12 minutes, play tennis for 15 minutes, walk for 30 minutes. Start today!

100 extra calories that you can go without:

1. 1 can of soda (12 ounces)

2. ½ of a Klondike Ice Cream Bar

3. 1/3 of a Good Humor Ice Cream Sandwich

4. 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise

5. 2 McDonalds Chicken McNuggets

6. 15 potato chips

7. 6 potato French fries

8. 15 French fries

9. 2 tablespoons of sugar

10. 1/3 order of a small Arby’s Curly Fries

11. 1 tablespoon of butter

12. 1 pretzel rod

13. ½ order of McDonalds French Fries (small)

14. 1 can of Iced Tea (12 ounces)

15. 1 slice of white bread

16. ½ glass of chocolate milk

17. 1 regular beer

18. 2 Oreos

19. 1 shot of most liquors

20. ½ glass of wine

21. 8 Reese’s Pieces BITE size

22. 2 Kit Kat sticks

23. ½ Milky Way Midnite

24. 2 ½ Milky Way Mini’s

25. ½ Dunkin Donuts Chocolate Frosted Donut

26. 5 marshmallows

27. ½ a brownie (most brands)

28. 2 ½ Burger King Chicken Tenders

29. 1 ounce Burger King Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

30. ½ order of Burger King French Fries (small)

31. 2 tablespoons pancake syrup

32. ½ cup of sherbet (most brands)

33. ½ cup sorbet (most brands)

34. 1 tablespoon peanut butter (most brands)

35. 2 raviolis, large (most brands)

36. 5 raviolis, mini (most brands)

37. 1/3 slice of pie (most brands)

38. 1/3 piece of cake (most brands)

39. 1 ounce of pasta (most brands)

40. 2 ‘pigs in a blanket’ (most brands)

41. 2 slices of bacon (most brands)

42. ½ buttermilk biscuit (most brands)

43. 2 tablespoon hollandaise sauce

44. 1/3 cinnamon bun

45. 2 TWIX Mini’s

46. ½ bag of M&M’s

47. 2 tablespoons caramel syrup

48. 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

49. 2 Chips Ahoy! Chocolate chip cookies

50. 2 Oreos

51. 20 croutons (most brands)

52. 2 tablespoons cream cheese (most brands)

53. 1/5 Dairy Queen Choc. Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard (small)

54. 2 tablespoons cake frosting (most brands)

55. 1 ice cream cone (empty)

56. 1 KFC drumstick (regular)

57. 2 tablespoons pesto sauce (most brands)

58. 1/3 piece French bread frozen pizza (most brands)

59. 1 pudding (small)

60. 2 tablespoons Caesar salad dressing (most brands)

61. 4 tablespoons BBQ sauce

62. 2 tablespoons walnut ice cream topping

63. ½ of a hamburger bun or roll

64. 1/3 cup of half and half cream

65. 3 tablespoons sour cream

66. 3 tablespoons sweet and sour sauce

67. ½ cup frozen yogurt

68. 1 waffle

69. ½ of a White Castle bacon cheeseburger

70. 3 White Castle chicken rings

71. 3 cups of popcorn (popped)

72. 1 cup of buttered popcorn (popped)

73. 1 bite of a Burger King whopper (assuming you take 7 bites to finish it)

74. ¼ of a McDonalds sausage biscuit

75. 1/6 of a McDonalds Big Mac

76. ¼ of a Burger King Croissan’wich, sausage and cheese

77. 1 ounce of cookie dough

78. ½ of a slice of pizza

79. 6 Ritz Crackers

80. 5 Hershey’s Kisses

81. ¼ Wendy’s Frosty (medium)

82. ½ Wendy’s chili (small)

83. ¼ of an Arby’s Breakfast Biscuit with sausage

84. ¼ of an Arby’s Beef and Cheddar sandwich

85. 10 Junior Mints

86. 2 Andes Mint Patties

87. 1 TWIX stick

88. 1/3 of a muffin (medium)

89. 1/3 of a Danish

90. 4 tablespoons of dip (for chips)

91. ½ of frozen ice pop (most brands)

92. 3 caramel candies

93. ½ cup chocolate covered raisins

94. 1 ½ ounces of steak

95. ¼ cup cranberry sauce

96. Pepperoni (enough for 2 slices of pizza)

97. 2 tablespoons of tarter sauce (most brands)

98. ¼ cup Alfredo sauce

99. 1 Kellogg’s Pop-Tart

100.1 hot dog (most brands, no bun)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Franklin_Antoian

The 4 Warning signs to watch out for Fraudulent Medical Insurance .

2007-05-12T19:56:00.000-07:00

Processing medical insurance claims are serious matters as well. Hence, it is best that you know how to choose a home-based business that can give you a good medical insurance work at home job.

Here is a list of some warning signs that you have to watch out:

1. Look for no start-up rates

One of the most common signs of getting into an illegal activity, which focus on providing medical insurance work from home job, is to compel collection from the person concerned. If you are being forced to purchase something from them, chances are, that company is simply good for nothing.

In most cases, fraudulent work at home jobs will insist on purchasing paraphernalia such as software programs and other items needed for the work at home job. There is nothing wrong with that to some extent, but what is wrong is when these items are being sold at very steep prices.

2. Training sessions

Since you will be working in a medical insurance work from home job, most scammers will ask you to undergo special training sessions. These sessions are required to certify you that you are eligible to work in this kind of environment and that you would be mostly working with health care professionals, hence, a certification will be needed. The drawback: these training sessions are very costly.

3. Work coordination

Most fraudulent medical insurance work from home jobs will tell you that your work will be synchronized with an insurance company through a special device known as 'central computer'. With this, your work will seem professional enough, letting you think that everything is supervised and done legally.

In the end, no central computer backs you up. No affiliations with a certified insurance company. And worse, your medical insurance work at home job is nonexistent.

4. Pressures! Pressures! Pressures!

A fraudulent work from home job will not just urge you to join their workforce but will insist that you do the work without more ado. In turn, you get confused, cannot think straight and may end up deciding without being able to check if the job is authentic or not.

These things will surely give you a hint that the work at home job you are about to start with is a definite fraud. Things like these will surely put you in a hot spot with your customers. There will be no way you can deliver the services that you have assured to them. And whether you like it or not, you will be doomed because you are the person in the front line.

Getting Out of the Fraud

Do not let this thing happen to you. Never wait to get yourself out of the fraud. It pays to stay informed and learn to detect and avoid fraud as early as possible. You can simply start with evaluating each work at home job you encounter. The number rule is that if the idea seems too good to be true, it probably is. So better stay out of it.

10 Important Things to Remember When Buying Life Insurance.

2007-05-12T19:53:00.000-07:00

It is always better to find out vital information about life insurance prior to buying cover. This ensures that you obtain the best cover your money can buy.

10 facts about life insurance are:

1. Research the market: It is nearly always preferable to investigate all the cover available and to be clear about the monthly fees before deciding. A great place to source this info is online.

2. The sooner the better: Do not procrastinate in buying a life insurance policy. The best time to purchase a policy is when you are young and in employment. This will give you a choice of great policies.

3. Do not get too much: Try to have just the correct amount of insurance that is within your budget. Getting too much cover will attract increased costs which is unnecessary.

4. Always tell the truth: Never try to misguide when completing the insurance application. If you are discovered hiding facts, such as smoking, the insurance provider may terminate your plan.

5. Stay healthy for lower costs: Health conscious individuals pay the least expensive fees. But, habits like cigarette smoking, too much alcohol, intake of drugs and obesity can make your premium sky high.

6. Never pay unnecessary fees: The fees of some insurance coverage are high due to the fact they also incorporate the commissions of the broker. To prevent this, go with an insurance company that offers policies sold direct.

7. Monthly fees can cost more: One way to keep costs down is to avoid monthly costs. You should therefore go for bi-annual or annual premiums, which are discounted.

8. Check your cover from time to time: You should check your cover when there is a major change in your circumstances, like the birth of a child or your children starting university. Occasional reviews help you to ensure that you are paying the right fees, and that you have the right level of cover.

9. Do not rely upon your employers insurance cover: Most employees are provided with company insurance by their employers. But this may be insufficient for your requirements. Additionally, the group insurance policies get cancelled when you depart the company and because of this can not be relied upon.

10. Higher cover could be cheaper: With life insurance, monthly fees get less expensive as you go for increased cover. As such there is nothing wrong in increasing the cover, if your budget will allow it.

Life Insurance is a Way of Financially Protecting your Family

2007-05-12T19:41:00.000-07:00

Life Insurance is a Way of Financially Protecting your Family

Life insurance is a way of financially protecting your family or business in case something unforeseen had to happen to you and you were not there to do it yourself.

Many people do not believe in spending money on premiums for something that they may not every need and others would not be without it as it gives them peace of mind to know that they have made provision for their young family in case they should need it.

Insurance is not only for families with young children but also for single people. There may be a number of reasons why you would want to have life insurance. If you have anyone financially dependant on you it is wise to make provision for them in case you were no longer there to support them.

Once your family has reached adulthood and you no longer want to keep up the premiums of this policy there are ways of getting rid of the policy. Not many people are aware of the fact that they can make money out of their life policies. There are insurance brokers that will buy your policy from you for more than you would get from the relevant insurance company if you cashed it in for the surrender value. They in turn will sell the policy to various investors who buy up these life policies and then keep them until the person in question has passed away. They can then cash in the policy. Many of these investors make huge profits from these policies.

Life Insurance No Medical Exam - Is It Really Possible?

2007-05-12T19:21:00.000-07:00

Quite often you feel that an ad for life insurance no medical exam is trying to rip you off. However, it is possible to get life insurance no medical exam when you shop online for your life insurance needs. It is only a click away on a computer, but you really do need to check to see if life insurance without having to visit a medical doctor applies to you.

You will have to complete the online application for life insurance answering a series of questions regarding your age, gender and the state of your health. Once the online agents assess the answers to the questions, they will determine whether or not you qualify for no exam medical life insurance. One thing is for certain and that is to get life insurance and no medical exam, you do need to be young and in prefect health.

When you find the perfect life insurance online where you do not need to have a medical exam, the process is quite simple. Once you receive a reply that your application has been accepted for life insurance, you can pay for it online using your credit card and print off your no medical exam life insurance policy. If you do not tell the truth regarding the state of your health, this will result in cancellation of your life insurance no medical exam.

When you shop for life insurance, you need to be an educated consumer. Even though you may be eligible for life insurance no medical exam, life insurance policies are either standard (permanent) or term (temporary). Basically, standard coverage remains in affect for the life of the insured. Term coverage expires after a set term of 5, 10, or 20 years (except for term to 100 insurance). Term life insurance is generally less expensive because death is not certain during the policy term. Generally no medical exam life insurance is term insurance. While there is no guarantee you will be accepted for life insurance without a medical exam, it is worth a try.

Not everyone qualifies for life insurance no medical exam.

The Advantages of Level Term Life Insurance.

2007-05-12T19:20:00.001-07:00

Shopping for life insurance is a tedious and confusing undertaking. It is a task that many of us would like to avoid if it were not so necessary. Just as you finally decide which policy plan might best suit your needs, you then have to worry about your premiums increasing with each passing year as your risk of death increases with age. To simplify your venture in insurance shopping, many insurance companies offer what is known as “level term” life insurance.

Level term life insurance has premiums that are designed to remain the same for a period of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or even 30 years. This type of term life insurance is extremely popular because it is comparatively inexpensive while providing short to long-term coverage. This is especially ideal for individuals who are just starting out in the workforce.

How the Premiums Work

As noted, the premium paid for level term life insurance are the same each year. Payments are based on the total cost of each year's annual renewable term rates. The carrier then makes a time value of money adjustment (the “older,” more expensive to insure years are averaged into the premium). Therefore, the longer the term the premium is level (or remains the same), the higher the cost to the insured.

Most level term programs include a renewal option and allow the insured to renew for a maximum guaranteed rate if the insured period needs to be extended. This clause is typically only revoked if the health of the insured deteriorates significantly during the term.

What is the Catch?

As with all things that sound too good to be true, there are a few things to watch out for when choosing to purchase level term life insurance . Most level term policies provide you guarantee that your premiums will remain unchanged from original purchase price. However, not all carriers comply with their guarantees. Without a guarantee, the company can surprise you by raising your premiums when that was the last thing you wanted purchasing a “level” policy. It is imperative that you read all disclaimers and fine print. Ask questions if you do not understand the terms of the policy you are considering and make sure you purchase from a top rated (A to A+) company.

Conversion Policies for Term Life Insurance

In the case where you may become ineligible for level term life insurance renewal or if you decide that you would prefer to take advantage of the benefits offered by permanent life insurance programs, many term policies offer a conversion privilege for a certain period of years. During the allotted time period, the insured is allowed to convert to a permanent policy regardless of their health condition at the time of conversion. Purchasing a plan with a conversion policy is especially beneficial for young families. They are able to obtain the necessary coverage immediately at an inexpensive rate and then convert to take advantage of permanent policies as their income and assets increases through the years.

Conversions are usually implemented without proof of insurability. Some carriers will allow conversions until the age of 75. The coverage would be equal or lesser to the term face value already in place. It is a good idea to compare various term life policies to see which carriers offer conversions and the stipulations attached to their policies.

Discount Dental Plans vs Dental Insurance.

2007-05-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

Dental insurance is a benefit typically provided by employers to help offset some of the high costs for dental care.

Good overall health relates to good dental health. Dental insurance is a benefit typically provided by employers to help offset some of the costs for dental care. Individual dental insurance Plans are available and provide dental benefits similar to the dental insurance you can get through an employer. Dental insurance typically pays claims directly to the dentist for most dental procedures. Dental insurance will pay the dentist a set amount or percentage for each dental procedure. Typically dental insurance will provide benefits for any dentist you might use.

Individual dental insurance is typically more expensive than group dental, and individual dental insurance can come with waiting periods. Sometimes discount dental plans would be a better fit for individuals than dental insurance. Discount dental plans typically have no waiting periods or claim forms and the cost less than dental insurance. Discount dental plans offer a set fee schedule for dental procedures done by dentists within a network of dentists. People with discount dental plans enjoy big savings on procedures like cleanings, fillings, crowns, and root canals if they are done with a dentist within the network.

Dental insurance and discount dental plans can work together to provide enhanced dental benefits. Dental insurance may have waiting periods of up to 12 months before major dental services are covered. Dental insurance also typically has an annual maximum of and750 - $2000 for dental procedures. with a discount dental plan there are no caps no waiting periods and no claim forms. If someone needs dental work done right away, a discount dental plans would help save money on dental procedures right away, and dental insurance could begin to pay once the waiting periods are met.

How To Pick A Good Health Insurance Company.

2007-05-12T19:16:00.000-07:00

What good is life if you can't enjoy it? Health insurance helps ensure that you will be able to live your life fully. So, health insurance is very important indeed. There is no perfect plan already set up and there is no one single perfect provider. What you need to do is choose the plan that is perfect for you (your personal needs given your situation) at the lowest price. That is the best deal out there for you.

What Coverages Will Be Best For Me?

If you are not worried about paying out of pocket for doctor visits and such, and they are few and far apart, and you are young and healthy, then perhaps all you need is a catastrophic health insurance plan. Catastrophic coverage will only cover, yep, you guessed it, things that are catastrophic. Your coverage plan will have a detailed list of things considered catastrophic such as you get your head smashed in a car wreck or you wake up one morning and discover you have cancer. This type of coverage is the cheapest but obviously, very needed for everyone.

Additional Coverages

Usually when one thinks about what one wants covered, we remember to take into consideration doctor visits, injuries, illnesses, lab work, hospital stays, and those kinds of fun things, but there are many additional things that many do not think about that requires additional coverage. Suppose you needed a root canal, or your mind was no longer quite there, or, you became pregnant? You would need health care for those things along with, I am sure, plenty of prescription drugs to go along with it which also, by the way, usually requires additional coverage as well unless you plan on paying out of pocket. So, never assume you are covered for something. Have the whole coverage list in front of you so you won't forget to cover yourself for something you may regret in the future. For example, did you realize that some plans have additional options called wellness benefits that can help you pay for classes to help you stop bad habits hazard to your health, memberships to help you stay in shape, and consultations for your nutritional needs? There are usually more options than people realize, so make sure you know them all, then pick and choose from the entire list of options to tailor your plan exactly how you need it to be.

The Best Way To Protect Yourself Through Your Coverages

It is especially important to make sure all your needs will be met if you have your health insurance through your employer. Do not assume that any health insurance through your employer will be good enough for you. You may need to add additional benefits to your insurance to get the proper coverage that you need. And, of course, one must be honest on all the forms. It would be horrific to be denied coverage after paying premiums for so long only because of a question on the form answered dishonestly. Remember, your coverage is based on the forms you fill out, so be as detailed and accurate as possible. The coverage only covers the person on the form, not anyone else!

Should I Get An HMO Plan Or A PPH Plan?

HMO (health maintenance organizations) or also known as managed care, are typically less expensive but you are limited to using only their very specific network of doctors and therefore, hospitals as well. If you go anywhere else for your care you will have to pay full price. Your main doctor (primary care physician) will refer you to a specialist if the need is present. You will not simply be able to go wherever. However, many HMO plans now offer more choices to help ease the burden of being so constricted.

PPH (preferred provider health insurance plans) are more flexible in that you can choose from many more doctors and hospitals because they usually have many other providers also registered with them, but you also pay more for that flexibility.

So, you must decide which is more important to you, more flexibility or paying less for insurance. Once you decide that you will be able to decide on the plan.

How Can I Save On My Health Insurance Plan?

First of all, if you can get your health insurance through your employer, then chances are that that is going to be the best deal for you financially because your employer is going to be paying part of that cost and usually, insurance companies give good discounts for many purchased all at once. That is not to say that that is going to be sufficient coverage for you, as mentioned earlier, but you can always add onto that insurance plan as needed. The older you get the more expensive health insurance will get, so it will be especially good to get any kind of discount you can, especially when you are older.

If both spouses work with each spouse on a different insurance covered through their work, depending on the insurances, it may be cheaper to have both on one. That you will need to figure out to see which option is cheapest for you.

Another great way to save money, just like auto insurance, is to up your deductible (the money you are required to pay before your insurance will help you out). The larger your deductible, the lower your premiums (your monthly payments to stay insured). Just make sure that you will be able to pay your large deductible should the occasion arise (if something major happened).

How To Pick A Good Health Insurance Company

Call their customer service with as many questions as you can think of and see how they handle it! And, see how long you are on hold for. If calling them seems like a nightmare than chances are they are not the right company for you!

What's Wrong with America's Health Care

2007-03-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

Nearly 46 million U.S. residents have no health insurance, and the numbers keep growing. Between 2000 and 2006, the number of uninsured under age 65 increased by six million, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (PDF). Eight of 10 uninsured Americans hold jobs or share households with someone who is employed.

Because employers increasingly are moving in the direction of providing Wal-Mart-style health coverage by shifting health care costs to employees, America’s workers struggle to pay higher premiums, deductibles and co-payments—if they can afford such coverage at all.

Of the nearly 46 million Americans without health insurance, nearly one-quarter or more than 10 million—are children.

Working families are experiencing double-digit increases in the costs of health insurance, more out-of-pocket costs for doctor visits and skyrocketing prices for prescriptions, forcing many to delay getting needed medical care or worse—to decline coverage for themselves or their families because of cost. Health care costs are rising at five times the rate of inflation. According to the Center for Studying Health System Change, health care spending rose 10 percent in 2002 and that followed a slightly more than 10 percent increase in 2001—the largest jump in more than a decade. In the first six months of 2003, health spending rose another 8.5 percent. Premiums for employer-sponsored coverage increased nearly 13 percent in 2002. As employers refuse to pay their fair share, this trend may result in millions of workers losing their employer-based coverage (PDF).

Employers are responding to growing cost pressures by shifting more and more health care costs onto workers, especially through larger co-pays and deductibles that must be paid at the time treatment is sought.

Employer’s demands to slash health care coverage for workers was the major issue in the recent southern California grocery workers' strike and lockout in which nearly 60,000 workers saved affordable health care benefits and beat back employer demands to freeze pension funds after holding strong on the picket line for five months. Under grocery management’s original proposals, a worker making slightly less than $20,000 a year would have had to pay nearly $5,000 to maintain the same level of benefits they had in the previous contract.

Other cost increases hitting workers include larger hikes in the cost of family coverage, less access to needed prescription drugs through stricter HMO formularies and higher prices for more comprehensive coverage. See the Consumers Unions’ Health Care Plans and Managed Care (PDF).

Consumers are using more prescriptions, at younger ages and for more conditions, and substituting newer, more expensive medications for established products. As a result, pharmaceutical spending increased by 17.4 percent annually between 1999 and 2000 and another 16 percent from 2000 to 2001 (PDF). Read how the drug industry keeps prices high in “What the Drug Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know” in America@work.

The lack of quality health care in the United States also stems from our system’s lack of comprehensive quality measure and assurance programs,which unions now are establishing with community partners.

Our most successful public health insurance program, Medicare, is increasingly under attack at a time when the lack of access to health care is already a crisis in America. Most Americans ages 65 and older rely on Medicare, which serves more than 40 million beneficiaries in the United States. Instead of strengthening and modernizing Medicare to include a comprehensive, affordable prescription drug benefit for all seniors, the Bush administration in late 2003 strong-armed through Congress a Medicare prescription drug bill that moves Medicare toward privatization. The new Medicare bill also:

* Forces 32.5 million seniors and people with disabilities to pay higher premiums and other Medicare costs.
* Drops coverage for out-of-pocket expenses between $2,250 and $5,100.
* Prevents the federal government from negotiating lower drug costs and does nothing to rein in soaring prescription drug prices.
* Threatens the employer-provided drug benefits of millions of retirees.

Our health care system lacks safety controls that endanger front-line workers and patients. Staffing levels are dangerously low in hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities. As a result, medical errors are rising—and account for an estimated 44,000 to 98,000 needless death each year. See Medical Errors and Patient Safety and 20 Steps to Prevent Medical Errors from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

How can we fix our health care system?

Require employers to pay their fair share. The U.S. system of providing health care coverage is employer-based. Unfortunately, this systemleaves too many working families uninsured or underinsured. Fifty-six percent of uninsured workers worked full-time in 2002. New incentives and rules can change this. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) has proposed legislation to require employers of more than 50 workers to provide employees with health insurance, and in 2003, California passed a state law (PDF) that requires employers to provide insurance for workers or pay into a state fund to insureworkers. With little federal action on health care, more states are addressing health care issues.

Beware of new “defined contribution” health care coverage. Shifting health care costs onto working families already is creating hardship at the doctor's office and the bargaining table. Now, many employers are talking about passing most or all of the risk of rising health care costs onto employees by adopting "defined contribution" plans (also described with terms including "vouchers,” “consumer driven health care,” “tiered benefits” and “fixed premiums”).

These defined contribution plans can come in many shapes and forms, but they share one feature that makes them different and more harmful to working families than the traditional "defined benefit" plans, which guarantee a certain amount of coverage. In a defined benefit plan, employees are guaranteed a fixed package of health insurance benefits. But in a defined contribution plan, the employer pays a fixed amount toward the premium, regardless of how much it costs, leaving it to the employee to pick up the rest. So under a defined contribution plan, a worker in poor health or someone who has a family member with medical problems would have to shoulder a much larger financial burden than a healthier person. Learn more about these plans through health care research group websites.

Provide coverage for all children. To expand health coverage to the more than 10 million children in America who today lack health insurance, Congress in 1997 passed the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to work with the Medicaid program to cover low- and moderate-income families. Bringing eligible families into the program requires extensive education and outreach, and unions are playing a key role. But states are facing their biggest budget crisis since World War II. Confronted with three-plus years economic downturn, and the Bush administration’s cuts in state aid, coupled with larger financial burdens imposed by new and under-funded federal mandates, states are cutting back on health care programs such as Medicaid and SCHIP.

Help curb runaway prescription drug prices by supporting state legislation that gives lawmakers the power to negotiate drug discounts with pharmaceutical companies just as HMOs and insurers do. States then can pass savings to seniors covered by Medicare and to working families who lack drug coverage and make less than 300 percent of the poverty level.

Everyone loses when health care workers are forced to work overtime and are exposed to life-threatening diseases because of unsafe equipment. After years of struggle, health care workers won federal legislation to require safer needlesticks in 2000 and 24 states now have safer needlestick laws on the books. States can pass their own legislation mandating safety devices for needles.

Other Good Sources of Information:

The Families USA website is a comprehensive source of information on health care issues affecting children, seniors and other family members and provides opportunities for action. The Uninsured includes separate sections on the general population, children and immigrants. The site also features Proposals to Expand Coverage and an Advocate’s Corner that offers media tips, a legislative action center and other resources and tools for advocacy in the area of health care reform.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the largest U.S. foundation devoted to improving the health and health care of all Americans. A related site describes the Covering the Uninsured Campaign comprising 12 national organizations working together to seek solutions of the problems of the uninsured and help state coalitions enroll more eligible families in SCHIP and Medicaid.

The Children’s Defense Fund provides useful information about the SCHIP and Medicaid program eligibility rules and way to boost outreach and enrollment.

The National Partnership for Women helps women navigate various aspects of the health care system.

The National Health Law Project website is one of the most extensive resources for health care consumers and advocates. It’s a particularly good resource on health care issues affecting low-income families and the uninsured and links to a comprehensive list of organizations and agencies around the country.

See Consumers Union: Health for information on a variety of health policy issues, including on Health Care Affordability, Health Care Reform, Health Care Plans and Managed Care, Medical Savings Accounts and Medicare.

The National Coalition on Health Care is a broad alliance of unions, employers and advocacy organizations working to improve America’s health care. It’s an excellent source for policy studies on health care in the United States.

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation has conducted many studies on health care in America and its website contains a wealth of information, particularly from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. It also offers a news service providing updates on critical health policy developments.

The Center for Studying Health System Change is a nonpartisan policy research organization that designs and conducts studies focused on the U.S. health care system to inform the thinking and decisions of policymakers in government and private industry. Its studies contribute to the body of health care policy research that helps decision makers to understand change and the market forces driving that change.

The National Senior Citizens Law Center website covers Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care, nursing homes and other issues affecting seniors.