No Picture
General Article

Exercising When Your Toddler Is Around

Exercising When Your Toddler Is Around

Exercise is important for both your health and your mind. It’s relaxing and it can give you more energy. When you have small children at home, it may cause a problem, but it doesn’t have to if you prepare yourself using one or more of these suggestions.

1. If you’re a work at home mom, consider getting up 30 to 45 minutes before your child and do your work out then. You’ll feel great, it will be out of the way, and you won’t have to worry about entertaining your toddler in the process. Course this is a bit tricky if he doesn’t have a regular routine in place, but it will give you a thought to consider.

2. Do your work out when your spouse is at home and can take the toddler to another room during the time you exercise. This will be a problem if you work out together, but if you have other children that are older and can watch the toddler for a while even that will work.

3. Another suggestion is to turn on your child’s favorite cartoon or DVD and do your work out while they are watching TV. If you have a portable DVD player or you have a TV in the general area where you exercise, they’ll be in your view at all times.

4. Purchasing a gym membership from a place that has a daycare is another thought. You’ll want to check to see if this is something they offer and the times it’s open because it may not be something they advertise real heavily. This will give you the ability to work out longer and on different equipment than what you’d have at home.

5. Bringing in a babysitter for that short time frame may also work. This will give you the complete freedom to do what you want and your child will be in the comfort of his own home so he can play with his own toys and yet you’re there just in case he needs you.

Exercising doesn’t have to be hard when you have a toddler. When you plan according to your needs and desires you can make it work no matter what. The important thing to know is it is possible to exercise when you have a toddler around, even if they are at home with you when you do it. Be creative and try a few things until you find something that works.…

No Picture
Department Of Health

Consumer Driven Health Care Plans – The Solution to High Health Insurance Costs

Consumer driven health care plans are an effective solution to continuously rising health care costs. Below you can read more about the two components of the most popular and effective consumer driven plan and you will find out how you or your family will benefit from using one.
Currently the most popular consumer driven health care plan arrangement is the qualified high deductible health plan coupled with a health savings account.
The Qualified High Deductible Health Plan
The first component of a consumer driven plan is the health plan. These plans are called “qualified high deductible health plans” and are designed to cover catastrophic medical expenses in the event of something big. However, they do not cover everyday expenses like office visits or prescriptions. As the insured it is your responsibility to cover the everyday stuff. The great part about these plans is that they are very, very affordable. Most people can save hundreds and more often than not, thousands of dollars per year in health insurance premiums.
The Health Savings Account
Once you have a qualified high deductible health plan in place, you are eligible to open a health savings account with your local bank or credit union. Once the health savings account is open, you are eligible to deposit money pre-tax into the account. This money is accumulated and saved until you have medical expenses. When medical expenses arise, you can use money from your health savings account to pay them, tax free. It’s the only kind of account like it in the world. Money goes in pre-tax, and comes out tax free.
This can add up to a significant savings on medical costs throughout the year. If you have money left over at the end of each year, it simply rolls over to the next year.
The Bottom Line
Qualified high deductible health plans together with health savings accounts provide a powerful financial solution to rising healthcare costs.…

No Picture
Fitness

Healthcare Tips For a Healthy Lifestyle

The common saying that health is wealth holds true for all of us. Without a good and healthy constitution, we tend to lose out on many pleasures of life. Most of us work hard to earn a living and pay little attention to our health. Here are some healthcare tips that we could follow to enjoy a smooth, healthy lifestyle.
Broadly defined, health care includes the prevention and treatment of common illnesses that could hamper our daily progress in life. There are many such services that provide numerous healthcare tips and advice. These days it is also easy to look for the best healthcare tips online. There are several websites that deal with how to cope with common illnesses.
Irrespective of how well we take care of ourselves, we are bound to experience some sort of health complication every once in a while. This could be owing to the pollution in the air, the level of stress at work, and many other factors. Most of us catch common diseases such as the common cold and cough while commuting through public transport. Since most common illnesses are unavoidable, we can gain knowledge on healthcare tips to maintain good physical and mental well being.
Healthcare tips are beneficial not just for individuals with illnesses but also for those taking care of others. Advice from a reliable source can be of immense help for many people around the world. Most tips and advice focus on how to do the right thing and avoid what is wrong when you are ill or taking care of someone who is ill. Since you cannot be with your doctor all the time, it is really important that you have some knowledge about common diseases and how to avoid making them worse.
The value of good healthcare tips cannot be underestimated; at times they could even be life saving. There are many websites that offer daily newsletters and tips. It is a great idea to subscribe to one of these to stay updated about the latest research and findings on the health scene.
The internet is full of advice and tips on health care in the form of blogs, newsletters, and other online mediums. Most of these sites are interactive, allowing you to post your queries and questions online. You can also participate in the message boards and share your experiences with everyday health care. However, you will need to be careful that the health care website you visit is managed by a reliable medical professional. There are many sites out there that are not run by an authorised doctor, and are not reliable sources of the perfect healthcare tips.
Healthcare tips are not just about common illnesses, they could also be about general lifestyle, diet and other everyday activities. Health care is gaining huge popularity with the new generation of health conscious individuals. It is now fashionable to be healthy and eat wholesome, fresh food and consume invigorating, fresh fruit juices.…

No Picture
Health Tips

Be Your Own Health Care Advocate in 5 Simple Steps

The American Journal of Medicine reports that 60 percent of bankruptcies in the United States are due to medical bills accrued by middle class, well-educated homeowners. With the cost of health care continuing to rise, understanding how to be your own health care advocate is essential in order to survive in today’s economy.
1. Understand what your insurance does and does not cover
Utilize the help of an expert. Health insurance brokers know and understand the fine print of health insurance plans. With their expertise, you can be confident in knowing what your premium covers and what goes towards your deductible.
2. Discuss potential costs before proceeding
If a doctor suggests a procedure, test, or surgery, ask for the total cost before scheduling it. Speak with someone in the billing office to get an itemized bill with all costs, and then go over the list with your insurance carrier so you know exactly what you’ll be required to pay.
3. Document everything
Whenever you speak with anyone-insurer, doctor, etc.-regarding your health care needs, make sure to document the date of contact, date of service, name and phone number of the person contacted. Also notate the results of the conversations and any necessary follow up. Keep a copy of all bills, explanations of benefits and services together in one place. Finally, keep records of all your non-reimbursable medical expenses, including car mileage, parking fees, telephone bills and lodging. These costs may be covered through Medicare or be used as an itemized deduction when you file your income tax return.
4. Question doctor recommendations
Respectfully inquiring why a doctor recommends one specific drug or treatment over another can provide information concerning both your health care needs and potential health care costs. On occasion, an alternative treatment or generic drug can be utilized to the same benefit at a lower cost.
5. Check local pricing resources and negotiate before procedures, if in a non-emergency situation
The Healthcare Blue Book allows you to determine fair pricing for procedures in your area. If a non-emergency situation requires extensive care that may not be fully covered under your current health insurance plan, negotiate with doctors and hospitals for the best price before scheduling the procedure in question.
In the current state of our nation, being proactive about our health care is becoming a requirement, rather than an option, as we attempt to stave off increasing medical bankruptcies. Be your own health care advocate; it’s good for your health, and it just might save you some money.…

No Picture
General Article

Lose Weight Fast Diet – With the Help of Atkins Diet

Lose Weight Fast Diet – With the Help of Atkins Diet

The desire to lose weight fast can be achieved through Atkins Diet. Atkins diet is a systematic diet plan that involves phases. Dr. Robert C. Atkins is the proponent of this plan. It was originally thought out to fight off diseases and ultimately lose the excess pounds away.

Basically, Atkins diet involves a restriction on the overall carbohydrate intake of a person. It is through this process that the body is able to burn fat hence resulting to weight loss. It also facilitates the normal production of insulin.

To lose weight fast with the aid of Atkins Diet is a systematic process. This feat can be achieved through several phases.

Phase One- The Induction Phase

This phase usually last for 14 days. Food restriction particularly on carbohydrates is maintained to limit the body with at least 20 grams of carbohydrates a day. This contributes to the ketosis state of the body. It is during ketosis that the body tends to burn the fats instead of the calories. It is during this phase that weight loss take place very swiftly.

Phase Two- Ongoing Weight Loss

This phase is where carbohydrate-rich food is slowly added to the meal plan in the successive weeks to follow. Hence, on the 2nd week, average carbohydrate intake must be 25 grams; 3rd week 30 grams and so on until the weight loss stops. When the weight loss has stopped, subtract another five from the average carbohydrate intake. One can make use of Atkins shakes and nutritious bars that may serve as meal replacement. These foods are manufactured to replace regular foods throughout your diet.

Phase Three- Pre Maintenance Phase

In this phase, the goal is the maintenance of your weight. Done is the weight loss agenda. You can now start increasing the daily carbohydrate intake to ten grams every week. Start eating starchy vegetables, fruits and legumes.

Phase Four – Maintenance Phase

This final phase is meant to maintain the desired weight of the dieter. Those who have adhered to the Atkins diet must stick to this phase in order to maintain their present weight. One can determine the quantity of carbohydrates in his intake by computing the ACE or the Atkins Carbohydrate Equilibrium. Stick with your ACE in order to ensure that you maintain normal body weight.

It helps if you weigh yourself once a week to see if you have gained weight already or is experiencing fluctuations in your body weight. Make the Atkins Lifestyle Food Guide serve as a standard for you to choose acceptable and recommended foods. Remember that any diet is useless without exercising regularly.

In all the phases of the Atkins diet, the dieter must always see to it that he drink water at least eight glasses a day.

If you want to lose weight fast with Atkins diet, then it is highly advisable that you adjust with the lifestyle changes associated with it. Careful meal planning, exercise and strict adherence to the plan all contribute to having a normal body weight.…

No Picture
General Article

Type O’s and Dairy Products

Type O’s and Dairy Products

The Blood Type Diet is based on the book “Eat Right 4 Your Type” and the more recent book “Live Right 4 Your Type” by Dr. Peter D’Adamo. The basic idea of the book is that your type determines how different foods react in your system; and how you can benefit from eating the correct foods and optimizing your health and wellness. The same foods can be highly beneficial to one type, while being highly detrimental to another blood type. Dr. D’Adamo recommends that people with type O blood eat a fairly high protein diet including lean beef.

Type Os thrive on intense physical exercise and animal protein. Unlike the other blood types, Type O’s muscle tissues tend to be slightly on the acidic side. They can efficiently digest and metabolize meat products because they tend to have high stomach acid content in comparison to other type. The success of the Type O’s diet depends on the use of lean, chemical-free meats, poultry, and fish. Type Os don’t find dairy products and grains quite as consumer friendly as most of the other blood types do; and should avoid them in general.

According to Dr. Peter D’Adamo, Type Os should severely restrict the use of dairy products in their diet. Their system is not designed for the proper metabolism. If you are a Type O of African ancestry, you should eliminate dairy foods and eggs altogether. Type O’s should eat limited dairy products. Type O’s who are African American should not eat any milk or egg products at all. Other type O’s should eat only organic, free-range eggs. Goat milk and feta cheese are good choices for them, and mozzarella is allowed occasionally. All other dairy products should be avoided most of the time. Clarified butter is an allowed choice for cooking.

So according to Dr. Peter D’Adamo, it is one of the major characteristics of people with type O blood that they thrive on intense exercise and have trouble digesting dairy products. Different foods introduce substances into the body called lectins. Depending on your specific type, certain lectins are welcomed by your immune system, while others aggravate it. The theory here is if you only eat foods that contain compatible lectins, then your body can remain balanced and at a healthy weight. This is why you should follow the blood type diet; and consume only the foods that are beneficial for your type.…

No Picture
General Article

Rabbit Owner’s Information Guide

Rabbit Owner’s Information Guide

Rabbit Owner’s Guide: Things You May Not Know About Your Rabbit

When we first purchased our bunny, we thought it would be simple to look after him. There is so many things to know…

When you first bring your bunny home, make sure that you place their cage away from other animals, high traffic areas, and drafts. Keep your bunny quiet by placing a blanket over the back of their cage, but at the same time making sure that they are not over heated. Make sure that they have their water, food and a play toy. One example of a play toy would be a simple toilet paper role. They love those!

The first few days only you should pick them up so they will learn to trust you. Research has stated that once a day for handling is enough. In the next week, you can start litter training your bunny by placing a litter pan in their cage with litter made especially for bunnies. Do not buy dusty litter because the dust and fumes will affect your bunny’s lungs. If you do not have a litter pan, simply putting shavings on the bottom of the cage is fine. The bunny will keep an area to himself or herself just for doing their business.

Purchase a large water bottle at your favorite Pet Store and keep the container full. Also, while you are at your Pet Store, pick up a salt tablet, as they need the salt to survive. To clean bunnies cage; the best way to get your bunny out of the cage is by putting his or her food outside of the cage and the bunny will come out on his or her own.

If you happen to hear your bunny grunt at you, leave him or her alone; they are letting you know that they feel nervous.

Bunnies like light strokes on their nose and the side of their cheek. If you hear grinding teeth noise, your bunny is purring! You may also notice your pet moving their head to their side; they are letting you know what particular side to touch. As time goes by, you will get to know your bunny well and feel more comfortable knowing what to do.

If you did not know, bunnies sleep with their eyes open or slightly closed in daylight hours. Their ears will slant back if they are content while lying down. When bunnies get nervous, they will lower their body and have their ears facing the noise while getting ready to run. They have very keen hearing, so do not be surprised if they jar away from you. They do not like quick movements or loud noises!

Bunnies are very social, intelligent animals and do learn a lot quicker than a cat and without a cat’s usual temperamental attitude. They can learn to do tricks such as, standing on their feet for a treat, jumping through hoops, and eating when you ask them to. Depending on the breed of rabbit, some bunnies like to respond to one owner and other breeds will respond with all members of the family.

There is so much more to learn about your bunny, and the best things to do is, research online and in the meantime, have fun with your new little furry friend.…