Archive for January, 2010

Know Your Fats

Friday, January 15th, 2010

The UDSA advises getting 25-30% (or less) of our diet from fats. That’s a lot when you think about it! Fats are essential to our health, so severely restricting them is not desirable depsite the low fat advice we get from our healthcare professionals.health2

Fats from food provide the raw material that help in the control of blood pressure, blood clotting, hormonal balance and other bodily functions. They also supply essential fats (those that cannot be made by the body) and when chosen carefully can actually assist with weight loss even though fats have over twice the number of calories as proteins or carbohydrates.

Saturated fat is the main dietary cause of high LDL (bad) cholesteral. The USDA recommends limiting your intake of saturated fats to 10% (or less) of total fat intake. These fats are found mostly in animal foods and some plants. Animal sources high in saturated fats include most animal meats, butter, whole dairy products, cream and cheeses. Plant sources include coconut oil, palm kernel oil and cocoa butter.

Trans fatty acids are formed when vegetable oil hardens (a process called hydrogenation). These are even less desirable than saturated fats and should be avoided. Trans fatty acids raise LDL (bad) cholesteral and lower HDL (good) cholesteral and are associated with many degenerative diseases.

There are several unsaturated fats and fatty acids that are excellent for your overall health. The best known are the omega-3 fatty acids which can be found in cold water fish and flaxseed oil. They have been found to protect against many degenerative diseases and to aid in weight loss.

Compare Health Insurance Rates Online

Monday, January 11th, 2010

In these days of spiraling medical costs, it is important to buy a health insurance policy. You may not get the best out of health_news_250x251the deal if you don’t do some groundwork in advance. You can achieve this by doing a comparative study of the policies available in the market, their prices and coverage, and also the companies that are selling health insurance policies.

Visiting all the companies in your locality may not be a feasible option in terms of time, money, and energy. One option could be to talk to your friends who have bought health insurance policies and get their feedback. A drawback can be that your friends may not have a policy that would suit your needs. Another option could be to visit the health insurance department and get their list of reputable companies. If this is not possible for you to do, then the best option would be to do a search on the Internet.

Search the net and you will find many companies offering health insurance. Browse through the websites to find the companies offering policies that best meet your needs. You’ll get an idea of the policies available in the market, their cost, and the diseases they cover. You also need to decide whether you want individual health insurance coverage, or coverage for the entire family.

Most companies offer free online brochures, and you can download them on your computer. You can then study the rates and the health insurance plans. For example, there are fee-for-service plans, managed care plans, HMOs or health maintenance organizations, PPOs or preferred provider organizations, and POS or point of service plans. If you opt for managed service plans, also called pre-paid plans, you can get comprehensive heath service individually or for the entire family. As is evident from the word ‘prepaid,’ the payment to the health provider is made in advance. PPOs and POS plans are also managed care plans and they also provide the services offered under the fee-for-service and HMO plans. But you have to pay a higher premium to avail these plans.

Health Insurance - Search For a Policy Online

Monday, January 11th, 2010

They say if you have not got your health you have not got anything. Your well being day to day depends on your health. student-health-insuranceMany times, an illness or accident will throw your life and the lives of your family members off balance. Finances or lack thereof create one of the most important concerns when it comes to getting a sick or injured family member back on their feet. The best way to prevent a monetary crisis in times of hospital stays and medical treatments is to secure health insurance in your state. For residents of Texas, you have many options available to you in the form of Texas health insurance.

The question that crops up is how to locate the best Texas health insurance for your personal situation. You may find coverage through your employer. If you are not employed full-time or you are self-employed, this will not be the case. You may have a family that you want to have on your same plan or you may be single and require an individual plan. Obviously, the best place to start comparing and contrasting rates and coverage is to look online.

The three most important factors to consider when selecting a Texas health insurance coverage plan are the monthly premium costs, deductibles in different categories, and the overall coverage you get. Higher premiums are best for families or individuals with illnesses and high medical costs. The high premium will mean low deductibles so most of your costs will be paid for. Lower premium rates will come with higher deductibles and are best for situations where the people on the plan rarely get sick and have no family history of serious illness. Coverage will vary from company to company and plan to plan.

Perhaps you have performed some searches online for Texas health insurance already. Chances are, if you have gotten quotes from a few sites recently, your phone is ringing off the hook with eager agents looking to sell you a policy. They will hammer you day and night in an effort to sell a policy to you. If you are looking for something more customer-friendly, you can find it when dealing with Peeler Insurance. Charles Peeler owns the website and he is the only person that will ever contact interested consumers. Eliminate the solicitation calls and conduct your internet searches through an individually owned and operated website like Peeler Insurance.

Tips to Staying Healthy and Happy

Friday, January 8th, 2010

health1A main concern for everyone is maintaining health and happiness. You will start to feel great if you incorporate these tips into your daily life. It is not a difficult thing to stay healthy. Don’t worry; you won’t have to spend money on books or fitness machines. Simply follow some of these tips to find good health and the resultant peace that a healthy body brings to the mind.

1. Breathe. Daily stress can cause your body to tense up, and you may not even be aware of it. Breathing helps you relax and release stress. Spend a few minutes taking slow, deep breaths.

2. Spend time in the sun. Sun is the best source of Vitamin D. Ten minutes of direct sun each day (without sunscreen) is all you need. Morning sun is best because it is not as strong as mid-day sun.

3. Drink water every day-are bodies are 60-70% water! Not only does water get rid of toxins, but it also carries nutrients. It is important to stay hydrated, and sometimes when you are hungry, you may actually be thirsty. Try adding a little maple syrup, lemon, or lime for flavor.

4. Get out and exercise. Whether you are walking, running, or using machines, stay active. Try to get thirty minutes of exercise a day. Some people also enjoy yoga, pilates, or tai chi. To make exercising more fun, invite a friend; a friend will also help you stay motivated.

5. Laugh alot. Laughing relieves stress and makes you feel great.

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