Lots of people dream of becoming world-class athletes. They know that becoming one takes lots of patience and training that can test one's physical and emotional limits to the outmost. Since the business of sports has become more and more lucrative, the concept of sports nutrition has grown into Herculean proportions.
It is a good thing then that those resources such as sports nutrition articles have proliferated in cyberspace. It gives people endless amount of information on how to make their bodies fit for competition.
Here are the summaries of some several of the sports nutrition articles that can give Internet researchers gems of information on athletic fitness.
Citing a press release from the IDEA Health & Fitness Association, the article states that the timing and duration of one's eating is as important as the content of the food itself. This holds true especially for athletes. A recent research indicates that the kind of food athletes consume prior, after and during the course of the training matters a lot when it comes to recovery and general athletic performance.
The experts from IDEA shared some key information regarding the subject, such as:
-To enhance performance, nutrients should be ingested in ideal combinations in the most optimal frequencies. This also aids in improving the integrity of one's muscles.
-The right timing in mixing protein and carbohydrates will result in the improvement of workouts and training.
-Obesity can be fought off by taking increased amounts of dietary calcium everyday.
-One should know the difference between good and bad carbohydrates on order to survive the latest low-carbohydrate diet trends.
Another sports nutrition article coming from the web site Rob's Home of Sports, Diet and Nutrition, puts emphasis on the kind of foods necessary in order for the body to bulk up. According to dietician Clare Wood, there are three essential requirements for gaining muscles.
-Potential of one's genes, which can be usually seen from the body structure of one's parents.
-An exercise program that focuses mainly on building strength.
-A diet that provides the body a high amount of energy.
Bulking up can be achieved by adding the amount of one's total energy intake. This will help in providing the body extra carbs needed to energize training.Increasing the amount of food that one eats can be a difficult task, but here are some tips to go about it:
-Come up with an organized eating plan and make sure to stick with it. The plan should include the kind of foods that should be eaten and the time they should be consumed.
-The frequency of meals per day should be increased, as opposed to increasing the size of the meals. Ideally, one should take 5-6 meals daily, which includes snacks.
Athletes should be immensely responsible regarding the amount of food that they eat and how to properly maintain their physique. For those striving to achieve a fit body and emulate their strict fitness regimen, sports nutrition articles, such as these, can be easily found on the internet.
The Best Source Of Information On Sports Nutrition
Guidance on the Proper Nutrition for Teens
Although it is a difficult task to watch over the health of your teenage child, it is an important time of growth and development for him or her. As your teenager moves into adulthood, his or her body goes through rapid changes, many with permanent effects.
It is important to ensure that your teenager is getting the right nutritional balance each day. The best way to do this is to provide your teenager with the resources that he or she needs in order to know the consequences and benefits of dietary choices. In doing this, you can help your teenager to want to eat the right type of meals each day.
Issues concerning teenagers today
Of course when dealing with teenagers on health or any other topic, you have to recognize the powerful influence that their peers have and will have on them. Teenagers are also prone to developing personal issues with their looks. The rapid changes in their bodies also present them with a feeling of awkwardness in their appearances.
Be aware of any behavioral signs of anorexia or bulimia. These are more and more common diseases among teenagers who suffer from issues of self-esteem. If you monitor your teenager enough to be sure that he or she is eating healthy food each day, you will not have to be as concerned with these issues.
Educating your teenager about proper nutrition
Teenagers need a full nutritional complement every day. In addition to making sure that your teen eats a well balanced diet, including all five food groups, you should also make provision for them to receive nutrients they may not be receiving in their daily diets.
Because teenagers are at an age of partial autonomy, they will make decisions on a daily basis such as whether to eat out or grab a snack at a vending machine. Educate your teenager on what nutrients are in the foods that he or she eats as well as what nutrients his or her body needs every day. Do this and you provide the proper information that your teenager needs to formulate and adapt meals to include the nutrients that will make him or her healthy. More importantly, your teenager will know how to grow a healthy body, one that he or she can be proud.
For most parents, it is only feasible on weekdays to monitor either a teenager's breakfast or supper. Provide your teenager with several nutritional options on those times that you are around. Doing so may help encourage your teenager to make healthier choices when you aren't around. Have nutritious food options around the house and set a good example for your teenager to follow. Remember that when you are not around, your teenager is more likely to do what you do than what you say to do.
Engage your teenager in healthy physical activities
Do not forget that good teen health is more than just providing the proper nutrients. A teenager must also be active and exercise the body. Encourage your teenage child to join a gym or health club if he or she is uninterested in participating in sports at school. While your teenager may decide that these are not viable options, you should still let your teenager know that you feel it would be a healthful benefit.
Helping your teenager make the right choices
As your teenager gets older and gains increasing independence, he or she will make more and more choices about food and exercise. Your guidance along the way can help your teenager learn how to make these decisions thoughtfully. As your teenager becomes an adult, the lifestyle you have implanted in him or her will continually have its influence.
Nutrition Certification Programs in a Nutshell
Find Nutrition Certification Programs in the United States and Canada. If you enjoy a healthy lifestyle and would like to share your innate skills on leading a healthy life, then enrolling in any one of several nutrition certification programs will give you cutting-edge knowledge in eating nutritious diets to promote overall wellness and longevity.
There are a variety of specialized training opportunities like holistic nutrition or sports nutrition; however, most nutrition certification programs include basic studies in biology (human, plant, animals, etc.), anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and chemistry. Other subject matter involved in nutrition certification programs are studies in nutritional assessment, preventive nutrition, digestion, metabolism, macrobiotics, soil ecology, herbology and biochemicals, herbs, vitamins and minerals, among others.
Nutrition certification programs vary in course duration, and may be offered at a more advanced level for the established medical professional or more introductory for the novice. Typically, most nutrition certification programs run from 26 weeks to 72 weeks.
Additional therapies that are sometimes integrated into nutrition certification programs include natural healing modalities like applied kinesiology, Ayurvedic medicine, aromatherapy, naturopathy, homeopathy, and other massage therapies.
As a supplementary study, students participating in nutrition certification programs will gain essential education in prescription drug and nutritient interaction, and how adverse effects of these interactions or lack thereof (vitamins, minerals) can affect body functioning. Subsequently, many nutrition certification programs teach students about food allergies and how to identify these sensitivities and manage health through customized diets.
Graduates of nutrition certification programs should know that the vast majority of the United States requires licensure, certification and/or registration. Once candidates have fulfilled all educational and training requirements, they can advance to becoming professional nutritionists or dieticians, where they can work in a variety of healthcare settings including hospitals, family practices, or other health-related facilities. Earnings vary, however experienced nutritionists have the potential to earn well over $63,000 annually.
If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding nutrition certification programs, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.
Salary source: Bls.gov (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Nutrition Certification Programs in a Nutshell
© Copyright 2007
The CollegeBound Network
All Rights Reserved
NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.
Improving Your Own Health and Wellness While Saving the World
Having worked on several public health projects and in several human services settings, I have a strong concern for the health and wellness of others. The overlaps I've recognized between individual health, environment, global discord, and social justice have led me to make some major changes in my own life.
If our work involves helping others and improving the world, it's particularly important that we manage our own health and wellness. Fortunately, there are several ways we can do both simultaneously! In fact, many habits that benefit our health or the environment also have personal financial benefits (Blix & Heitmiller, 1997).
Uncontrollable factors like genetics and injuries aside, we generally stand a greater chance of living a long and productive life if we proactively maintain our own health. This gives us more time to pursue our visions in the world, share our gifts with others, and leave a lasting legacy.
However, we sometimes neglect ourselves while saving the world. In settings where the focus is upon helping others, I have seen and heard numerous examples of people who don't give themselves the care they deserve.
Upon returning from a trip to assess public health needs of tsunami victims, a colleague told me of the signs of stress exhibited by many of the professional aid workers. Many of them, he observed, appeared highly anxious and engaged in behaviors like smoking at very high levels. The trauma surrounding them was taking a toll. Likewise, I have noted many visibly unhealthy professionals (including medical doctors) in health and human services settings where poor health was also a common issue among clients.
So what can we do to take better care of ourselves while also saving the world? Outside of addressing obvious factors like overextended workweeks in high-stress settings, there are a number of possibilities.
First, we may generate health-related benefits for ourselves simply by giving generously to others in our own unique way. This doesn't need to be money; it can include expressing gratitude for someone's friendship, sharing an artistic talent, or even lending a listening ear. Outside of fulfilling us and making us happy, giving can actually improve our health and longevity. Post and Neimark (2007) cite studies suggesting the following:
-Giving as a high school student predicts good physical and mental health up to 50 years later, into late adulthood.
-Giving and helping others reduces mortality in older adults, and depression and suicide risk in adolescents.
-Giving is more powerful than receiving in reducing mortality.
These powerful impacts, note Post and Neimark, may occur through a variety of mechanisms. Giving increases our feelings of self-efficacy, allows us to forget about the stressors in our own lives, enables us to forgive ourselves for our own mistakes, and enhances our sense of being part of a supportive larger community.
Secondly, we can assess where we are in different health-related areas of our life, and take actions in each. In his holistic wellness model as cited by Michael Arloski (2007), Don Ardell suggests that we need to take personal responsibility for our choices in several dimensions of life:
-stress management
-physical fitness
-nutritional awareness
-sensitivity to our physical, social and personal environments
I'll outline a few ideas that blend the above dimensions while connecting personal and collective health and wellness.
As for stress management and physical fitness, think beyond traditional "exercise" like going to the gym if you find it difficult to motivate yourself. Arloski suggests viewing exercise as "movement." To do this in a way that benefits both yourself and the world, consider your modes of transportation throughout the day.
For example, rather than getting in the car, can you walk or ride a bicycle? Rather than taking an elevator, can you use the stairs? These options give you a workout, save energy, and minimize pollution. Additionally, they can reduce stress, as "pedestrian rage" is much less common than "road rage." They also have social benefits, given that it's difficult to talk to a friend as they're speeding by in their car, but relatively easy if you bump into each other on the sidewalk.
Perhaps you live in an area that has few or no sidewalks, no safe places to ride a bicycle, and no amenities within walking distance. In such cases, you may wish to look at how your choice of living location impacts health and well-being on both a personal and community level. Does your location support your values and priorities? If not, what would your ideal setting look like, and what steps would it take to attain that?
Also consider the energy efficiency of your home, and take steps such as insulating and utilizing low-energy lighting and appliances. Are you heating a house that's much larger than you need? Fewer costs require less time at work to pay the bills, which contributes to life balance and well-being. These considerations also benefit others' health in that energy savings often decrease air pollution (e.g., mercury) from coal-fired power plants.
Next, consider your diet. This has not only personal nutrition implications, but extensive environmental, economic and public health implications. What do you choose to put directly into your body every day, and does it support the self and world you envision? Food production and distribution requires energy and resources that affect the world in various ways.
Learn where your food is grown--the further it is shipped, the more energy it utilizes, which contributes to greenhouse gases. According to the "100 Mile Diet" project, our food ingredients travel an average of 1,500 miles. It's a bit more challenging to eat produce in season year-round in colder climates, but making an effort to eat as locally as possible can have sizeable benefits. Support your local farmers and grocers carrying their goods.
Also related to diet, consider organic foods when possible, as pesticides can have unintended and unpredictable impacts upon your health and the environment. As more people demand such products, they will continue to become more available and more affordable. If you have some spare time and a little space in your yard, consider planting a garden. Then you'll know what's going into your food and where it comes from, and you'll get some exercise, too!
You may also wish to explore the personal and environmental benefits associated with reductions in animal protein consumption. There is a sizeable well-documented (but not yet well-publicized) body of public health research on the risks of consuming animal-produced proteins, particularly meat and dairy, as well as literature on the "protein myths" that continue to circulate. Other important factors include consumption of whole foods (i.e., as they occur in nature) and dark leafy greens, but the animal protein factor alone is a significant one (Campbell & Campbell, 2006; Eisman, 2006; Robbins, 2006).
Additionally, it takes many times more energy, food and water to produce animal flesh than it does to produce plant-based food with the equivalent energy and nutritional value. By some estimates, it takes five pounds of grain and 2,500 gallons of water to produce each pound of beef (Kostigen & Rogers, 2007). Imagine how many additional people could be fed by taking out the "middleman"--or "middlecow."
Concentrated animal farming also takes a toll on both individual health and the environment. Five tons of animal manure are produced every year per every individual in the U.S. (Greger, 2006). Waste water and runoff, which often includes hormones and other chemicals, pollutes local water sources. Not all chemicals can be filtered out by drinking water treatment, and their impacts upon humans are still being discovered.
When large numbers of animals and humans are frequently in unnaturally close quarters to one another, it creates additional opportunity for diseases (e.g., avian flu) to mutate and jump species (Greger, 2006). Additionally, when forests are cleared to support animal production (e.g., growth of food crops), it increases breeding areas for disease-transmitting insects like mosquitoes (Greger, 2006), and destroys larger pollution-absorbing vegetation.
Maintaining personal health and wellness takes a certain degree of time and commitment, as does improving the world. However, it doesn't always have to be an "either/or" dilemma. Depending upon our own values and priorities, there are a number of ways in which we can integrate our efforts on both fronts and maximize our positive impact. I invite you to conduct your own research on these areas, and to create a life that works for you!
Sources
Arloski, M. (2007). Wellness Coaching for Lasting Lifestyle Change. Duluth, MN: Whole Person Associates.
Blix, J. & Heitmiller, D. (1997). Getting a Life: Real Lives Transformed by Your Money or Your Life.
Campbell, T.C. & Campbell, T.M. (2006). The China Study. Dallas: BenBella Books.
Eisman, G. (2006). A Basic Course in Vegetarian and Vegan Nutrition. Watkins Glen, NY: The Vegetarian & Vegan Association.
Greger, M. (2006) Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching. New York: Lantern Books.
Kostigen, T. & Rogers, E. (2007). The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time. New York: Three Rivers Press.
Post, S. & Neimark, J. (2007). Why Good Things Happen to Good People: The Exciting New Research That Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life. New York: Broadway Books.
Robbins, J. (2006). Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World's Healthiest and Longest Lived Peoples. New York: Random House.
The Correlation Between Health And Diet
Healthy living doesn't happen at the doctor's office. The road to better health is paved with the small decisions we make every day. Healthy people may not be very much affected by foods grown in distant climatic regions.
Everyone is so focused on fat loss and building abs that they forget they are LOSING muscle mass. Our forum members share nutrition and amp; training tips and supplement ideas to keep that muscle! Everyone knows what the answer is, and it's a little frustrating even from my point of view, because no matter how much research you do, you're going after a monolithic dogma, in effect. And dogmas protect themselves.
Carbs are actually your body's preferred choice of fuel. The trick is to choose healthful complex carbs such as fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
Carbohydrates are important, however it's the volume of carbohydrates that are the most important. When people are on the first phase here at the Rice House, the total calories are low. Carbohydrates include all substances which end in -ol or -ose. The diet is often very sensitive to even small amounts of these carbohydrates.
Typically, patients embark on an elimination diet under the advice of a doctor, although some people may experiment with such diets on their own to see if they can identify the root causes of their medical problems.
Food allergies can cause a wide range of symptoms including intestinal distress, heartburn , hives, rashes, and difficulty breathing; by eating an elimination diet, a patient can identify foods which should be avoided in the future.
Typically, an interview will include a full nutritional and health history, height and weight and determination of Body Mass Index, or BMI. This is a number arrived at by using a formula that factors in height and weight.
General advice was given to increase fish, whale meat, vegetable and fruit intake. Over 5 years the mean difference in serum cholesterol between the two groups was relatively large for a dietary trial - 13% and tobacco consumption was lower in the intervention group. Genes may interact with environmental toxins such as alcohol in the womb, lead, and parental smoking to cause later problems with attention span.
Raw fat is also vitally important in carnivore's diet for optimum health and performance. Raw food is full of naturally occurring water! All the moisture needed to digest raw food is contained in raw food! Raw or cooked, you should not use a meat source that will cause the breed of dog you are feeding nutritional distress.
It has been PROVEN that the differences in per kilogram nutritional requirements of the different breeds makes it impossible for any one diet, including a raw meat diet, to be nutritionally correct for all dogs.
Additional impacts on the environment from a meat-eating diet are the pollution of our water and air. All of the livestock being raised throughout the world produce enormous amounts of manure and urine, which in turn pollute natural resources. Additionally, these advocates endorse the idea that milk (after weaning) and grains were never intended for human consumption.
Add vegetables whenever possible to ensure your five-a-day intake. Experiment with more veggie variety in salads, try new vegetable mixes, include some shredded vegetables in casseroles, and add different vegetables to soups and stews.
Different Types of Health Resources
Behavioral health resources are institutions set up to reform people. They could be alcoholic's anonymous, mental institutions, rehabilitation centers, orphanages, counseling centers, etc. The aim of behavioral resources is to improve a person's life by sharing his or her problem and finding a solution to overcome the problem. It involves sessions to induce positive thoughts in the person, quality services for mentally afflicted patients, thus leading them to lead healthy and happy lives. Helping people with compassion and going to the core of the problem is a part of any behavioral resource centre.
Mental health resources could be mental health institutions, mental health counselors, rehabilitation centers, etc. At such places, mentally retarded patients or mentally affected people get the required assistance. Some mental diseases are curable and with regular therapy and medication, the patient can be brought to his or her normal state of mind. Mental diseases like attention deficiency disorder, various phobias, depressive disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, etc. can be treated at such institutions. These diseases are curable because they are a state of mind and no damage has been done to the brain. However, mental diseases like Alzheimer's, dementia, schizophrenia, etc. can be difficult and sometimes impossible to revert back as they are caused due to damage done to the brain.
Community health resources are organizations that encourage the people of a particular area or community to join as a member of the community health resource centre and aid in providing medical care to others from the same area. These community health centers also aim at providing unpaid healthcare to people who cannot afford expensive health care. Such centers are basically non profit organizations that aim at the welfare of the people. They provide for all kinds of healthcare such as pediatric, family healthcare, cosmetic care, all kinds of surgeries, cardio care, cancer care, ENT care, Ophthalmology, mental care, etc. They also educate other people on health, spread awareness, campaign for important health issues, etc.
Kid's health resources are websites or institutions, which inform how to protect your children from newer diseases, about the nutrition of children, counseling, new researches and studies, preventive medicines, etc. These websites offer help with pediatric care too. Therefore, those mothers of newborn babies don't have to go too far looking for help.
Women's health resources are organizations, which offer diagnosis, treatment and healthcare tips to women. These organizations also provide help with domestic violence, coping with pregnancy, diet, etc. There are different health resources for men and women because each suffers a completely different set of problems. Conditions like menopause, breast cancer, and pregnancy are only seen in women and are difficult to deal with. While heart diseases, obesity, etc. are common in both. Also, in most parts of the world women form the neglected part of the society. So we need to pay more attention to them.
Men's health resources are also organizations, which offer diagnosis, treatment and healthcare tips to men. Men deal with different problems like prostate cancer, impotency, etc. These healthcare centers give pointers about which health issues are more important and need to be focused on. They give information about regular check ups to be done if men are suffering from some serious illness. Men are generally not open when it comes to talking about their problems, because men are supposed to be tough. With the help of such organizations, they might be able to discuss their problems more freely and try to battle them.
Special Pregnancy Nutrition Needs
It is commonly known that nutrition is a critical part of everyday life. However, during pregnancy nutrition becomes even more critical for the health of you and your baby. Not only is nutrition critical during pregnancy, the nutritional needs of your body are different during this period of your life. Different nutritional needs develop because of changes in your body as well as the needs of a developing fetus. Your body is under a lot of physical stress during pregnancy which increases the need for special nutrition and added vitamins.
As soon as you find out that you are pregnant you need to consult your physician. The two of you should develop a pregnancy nutrition and fitness plan, that should be implemented as soon as possible. The first three months of your pregnancy are the most important because this is when most of your baby's organs and brain are being developed. Proper nutrition during pregnancy can minimize the risk of birth defects, malformations and miscarriage. The first three months are when most miscarriages occur.
You should immediately begin taking special prenatal vitamins to ensure the health of you and your baby. This will help to ensure that your developing baby receives all the right vitamins that are needed. Folic acid is one of the most needed vitamins during pregnancy and women rarely obtain a sufficient amount through their diet. Prenatal vitamins need to replace the vitamins that you are currently taking. Your regular vitamins although sufficient when you are not pregnant, may be detrimental to your developing baby during pregnancy. A pregnancy specific nutrition and fitness plan will help ensure a happy and healthy baby and will also make you feel better during your nine month journey.
Turn on the Water Works
Although drinking 6-8 glasses of water is highly recommended for everyone, water becomes more important when you are pregnant. In fact, during pregnancy many experts recommend that you drink 10-12 glasses of water daily. Water does not include juice, soda, coffee of other types of beverages, it only includes water. You need to keep in mind that everything that you consume during pregnancy passes through to your unborn baby. Not only is water extremely important for a multitude of reasons, you should probably avoid or severely limit your intake of soda and coffee. These beverages, provide numerous chemicals that may not be healthy for your developing baby.
Drinking a lot of water may be difficult and many women find it easier to keep a water bottle with them at all times so they can continuously sip water throughout the day. If you do not like the taste of plain water, you can always add a small amount of juice or a twist of lemon to add some flavor. Extra water is needed to aide in your baby's development, to remove waste from your system and to help ensure adequate flow of nutrients to your baby.
Drinking alot of water may also minimize or prevent some of the ailments you commonly experience during pregnancy, such as nausea, constipation, and swelling. Severe constipation is a common symptom during pregnancy because your developing baby depletes the water in your system.
Pregnancy Nutrition - Foods to Avoid
Your body and developing baby are much more vulnerable to bacteria and other contaminants during pregnancy. As a result, there are certain foods that you will be advised to either avoid completely or limit during your pregnancy. Here is a partial list of items that you need to avoid or limit:
1) raw eggs, this may include certain dressings or sauces;
2) unpasteurized milk and cheese, this may include certain soft cheeses;
3) raw or rare fish and meats;
4) fish that tend to have high mercury levels;
5) caffeine and alcohol;
6) unwashed vegetables; etc.
Unwashed vegetables are very bad because of the pesticides and bacteria that they may carry. Caffeine in moderation may be acceptable but make sure you obtain specific details regarding the quantity that is advised. Your doctor and a pregnancy nutritional guide should be consulted to develop a complete list for you to follow.
Summary and Additional Resources
Pregnancy nutrition and fitness are extremely important for the health of you and your developing baby. Your baby has special nutritional requirements that begin at the moment of conception. The first three months of pregnancy are the most important because that is when your baby's organs and brain are being developed. It is also the time that most miscarriages occur.
Proper specialized nutrition can also make you feel better and provide additional energy during pregnancy which is critical because of the added stress that is being placed on your body. You will need to make sacrifices but it will pay off in the long run for you and your baby. When you see your healthy beautiful baby for the first time, you will know that it was all worth it!
There is a lot of information that you need to know about pregnancy and pregnancy nutrition. Although your doctor and loved ones can help, there is too much to learn for this method to be sufficient. We provide comprehensive pregnancy information and recommended pregnancy guides. We review the most popular guides to find the ones that are best for your needs.
Natural Health Certificate Programs
Find Natural Health Certificate Programs in the United States and Canada. With the rapid growth of alternative and complementary medicine therapies, there has been a renewed interest in enrolling in natural health certificate programs. Today, there are diverse educational paths individuals can pursue in the natural healing industry; including certificate programs in herbology, massage therapy, holistic health, certified health specialist, iridology, reflexology, Reiki, and more.
Natural health certificate programs in health lead to candidates becoming certified health specialists; and entail in-depth education and training in nutrition, herbal medicine, anatomy and physiology, flower remedies, homeopathy, aromatherapy, and even enzyme health.
There are also natural health certificate programs in nutritional counseling. These courses involve practical training in kinesiology, anatomy, physiology, herbal medicine, orthomolecular nutrition, nutritional wellness, diet and exercise, among other associated subject matter.
For the aspiring massage therapist, there are natural health certificate programs in massage therapy as well. Typical programs range between 300 and 500 hours; however, a growing number of schools have begun offering more advanced training options that may exceed 1,000 training hours. General curricula in these natural health certificate programs include anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, massage theory and practice, Swedish massage, sports massage and deep tissue therapy. In addition to CPR and first aid, other elective modalities are taught like reflexology, prenatal and infant massage, chair massage, and myofascial release, among others.
Natural health certificate programs in holistic health consulting are also great for the entrepreneur or for established natural healers seeking supplemental education to expand services. Studies in holistic health consulting encompass anatomy, physiology, herbal therapies, nutrition, aromatherapy, herbal formulation, holistic pathology, and other electives.
Candidates who have successfully completed any one of numerous natural health certificate programs gain necessary credentials in furthering professional career prospects, in addition to joining the ever-growing natural healthcare industry.
If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding natural health certificate programs, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore natural health certificate programs near you.
Natural Health Certificate Programs
© Copyright 2007
The CollegeBound Network
All Rights Reserved
NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.
Nutrition Supplements & Vitamins - Knowing Then Buying
The term "nutraceutical" was coined from "nutrition" and "pharmaceutical" in 1989 by Stephen DeFelice, MD, founder and chairman of the Foundation for Innovation in Medicine (FIM), Cranford, NJ (1) According to DeFelice, nutraceutical can be defined as, "a food (or part of a food) that provides medical or health benefits, including the prevention and/or treatment of a disease"(1). However, the term nutraceutical as commonly used in marketing has no regulatory definition (2).
I propose to redefine functional foods and nutraceuticals. When food is being cooked or prepared using "scientific intelligence" with or without knowledge of how or why it is being used, the food is called "functional food." Thus, functional food provides the body with the required amount of vitamins, fats, proteins, carbohydrates, etc, needed for its healthy survival. When functional food aids in the prevention and/or treatment of disease(s) and/or disorder(s) other than anemia, it is called a nutraceutical. (Since most of the functional foods act in some way or the other as antianemic, the exception to anemia is considered so as to have a clear distinction between the two terms, functional food and nutraceutical.) Thus, a functional food for one consumer can act as a nutraceutical for another consumer. Examples of nutraceuticals include fortified dairy products (e.g., milk) and citrus fruits (e.g., orange juice).
The DSHEA formally defined "dietary supplement" using several criteria. A dietary supplement (3):
· is a product (other than tobacco) that is intended to supplement the diet that bears or contains one or more of the following dietary ingredients: a vitamin, a mineral, an herb or other botanical, an amino acid, a dietary substance for use by man to supplement the diet by increasing the total daily intake, or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combinations of these ingredients.
· is intended for ingestion in pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid form.
· is not represented for use as a conventional food or as the sole item of a meal or diet.
· is labeled as a "dietary supplement."
· includes products such as an approved new drug, certified antibiotic, or licensed biologic that was marketed as a dietary supplement or food before approval, certification, or license (unless the Secretary of Health and Human Services waives this provision).
Thus, nutraceuticals (as per the proposed definition) differ from dietary supplements in the following aspects:
· Nutraceuticals must not only supplement the diet but should also aid in the prevention and/or treatment of disease and/or disorder.
· Nutraceuticals are represented for use as a conventional food or as the sole item of meal or diet.
A ray of "cure preference" in the mind of common patients revolves around nutraceuticals because of their false perception that "all natural medicines are good." Also, the high cost of prescription pharmaceuticals and reluctance of some insurance companies to cover the costs of drugs helps nutraceuticals solidify their presence in the global market of therapies and therapeutic agents.
The use of nutraceuticals, as an attempt to accomplish desirable therapeutic outcomes with reduced side effects, as compared with other therapeutic agents has met with great monetary success (4,5). The preference for the discovery and production of nutraceuticals over pharmaceuticals is well seen in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Some of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, which commit major resources to the discovery of nutraceuticals include Monsanto (St Louis, MO), American Home Products (Madison, NJ), DuPont (Wilmington, DE), Abbott Laboratories (Abbott Park, IL), Warner-Lambert (Morris Plains, NJ), Johnson & Johnson (New Brunswick, NJ), Novartis (Basel, Switzerland), Metabolex (Hayward, CA), Genzyme Transgenic, PPL Therapeutics, Interneuron (Lexington, KY).
However, with all of the aforementioned positive points, nutraceuticals still need support of an extensive scientific study to prove "their effects with reduced side effects" (6,7). This can be achieved by the enactment of FIM proposed Nutraceutical Research and Education Act (NREA) (8). The NREA includes the creation of a Nutraceutical Commission (NUCOM) specifically for the review and approval of nutraceuticals and the creation of a nutraceutical research grants program specifically for clinical research. As per FIM, the key elements of NREA should include a mechanism to create the exclusive rights to claims necessary for private investment in research and development, and the creation of appropriate channels for the review, approval, and regulation of new products and claims. We believe that in so doing the NREA should keep in check the cost of nutraceuticals and thereby assure access for everyone.
Conclusion
When a functional food aids in the prevention and/or treatment of disease(s) and/or disorder(s) (except anemia), it is called a nutraceutical. The proposed definition can help form distinction between functional foods, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements.
Recommendations for buying Nutrition, Supplements & Vitamins
I will like to recommend the products of a USA based company which can be reached by clicking the following link:
http://www.naturallydirect.net/?a_aid=7e6e50e3
References
1. Brower V. Nutraceuticals: poised for a healthy slice of the healthcare market? Nat Biotechnol. 1998;16:728-731.
2. Zeisel SH. Regulation of "Nutraceuticals." Science. 1999;285:185-186.
3. FDA/CFSAN resources page. Food and Drug Administration Web site. Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. Available at: vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dietsupp.html.
4. Nelson NJ. Purple carrots, margarine laced with wood pulp? Nutraceuticals move into the supermarket. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999;91:755-757.
5. Whitman M. Understanding the perceived need for complementary and alternative nutraceuticals: lifestyle issues. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2001;5:190-194.
6. Heyland DK. In search of the magic nutraceuticals: problems with current approaches. J Nutr. 2001;131(9):2591S-2595S.
7. Elizabeth AC. Over-the-counter products: nonprescription medications, nutraceuticals, and herbal agents. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2002;45(1):89-98.
8. DeFelice SL. FIM Rationale and Proposed Guidelines for the Nutraceutical Research & Education Act - NREA, November 10, 2002. Foundation for Innovation in Medicine. Available at: fimdefelice.org/archives/arc.researchact.html.
(Courtesy of The AAPS Journal (ISSN 1550-7416). A publication of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.)
Multivitamin Nutrition
We're in trouble. BIG trouble.
Our food is killing us! Heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes... these are our biggest death-dealers! Why? Just think of our staples: Burgers, fries, pizza, chips, hot dogs, candy, soda, coffee, desserts, energy drinks, beer... Do we REALLY need to ask why?
So what do we do about it? How realistic is it to expect a massive dietary shift? We're literally addicted to junk!
The answer is supplementation.
Multivitamin nutrition is powerful, focused nutrition. With our food becoming more and more chemical-laden and nutritionally devoid, supplementation is becoming increasingly necessary! Taking a healthy, all-natural multivitamin supplement is by far the best way to give your body the much needed nutrition its been cheated out of via industrialization and poor dietary choices.
A good whole-food multivitamin supplement will combat the chemicals we ingest on a daily basis. They will neutralize acidity in the bloodstream. They will support our immune systems. They'll give us a fighting chance. And who knows? They may even give us some welcome energy and mood boosts!
In the quest for optimal nutrition, supplementation simply cannot be overlooked. Any good multivitamin supplement will contain the following:
- Whole-food Vitamins
- Chelated Minerals
- Probiotics
- Phytonutrients
- Amino Acids
- Antioxidants
The difference between a whole-food multivitamin and one of a synthetic nature is vast. Your typical, over-the-counter drugstore multivitamins are made in a lab. They're basically comprised of crushed up rocks and are unrecognized by your body. In fact, your body doesn't welcome them at all, hence the "vitamin burps" and "fluorescent pee" many of us experience after taking this type of supplement.
If a synthetic multivitamin doesn't tear up your sensitive capillaries, blood cells, and tissues (crushed up rock... hello!), it will typically just end up as expensive urine!
Natural, whole-food vitamins are easily recognized, assimilated, and used (what a concept) by your nutritionally starved body, and I tell ya, the benefits are immediate! Bright eyes, clear skin, supreme energy, amazing mental clarity, and an overall sense of happiness and well-being result from you taking the time to FEED yourself. Multivitamin nutrition is the answer!
When shopping for a healthy, whole-food multivitamin supplement, DRIVE PAST THE DRUGSTORE! They don't have what you want, I promise you. Your local health food store is a much better option. Look for a multi that meets all the criteria listed above.
I also recommend that while you're at the health food store, you pick up a canister of a super greens powder. You simply mix it with water and drink. It will alkalize your blood, cleanse your body, give you an extra energy boost, and take your supplementation to the next level.
Feel free to CLICK HERE if you'd like to check out my personal favorite supplement. I take it every day. It's a little miracle worker. I love it!
A great green drink resource is Green Drinks Galore. It's got a plethora of fantastic powders, information, videos, and delicious recipes to make your supplementation an absolute pleasure!
I wish you the best of health and happiness! Thank you for reading.
Top Five Tips for Maintaining Optimal Nutrition
Secretly we all want just a few things in life, none the least of which is to live a life that is healthy and energetic. One way to accomplish this is to eat a well balanced diet that fuels the body to take on life's challenges.
Did you know that one of the best things you can do to improve your overall health and well being is to eat a diet that is well rounded and nutritious?
Diet can make the difference between feeling great and feeling just o.k. But how do you know which foods will propel you to health and well being?
Proper nutrition is easy. In fact, all you need to do to ensure your health and well being is follow five simple steps, outlined below.
Top Five Tips for Maintaining Optimal Nutrition
- Eat a well balanced diet. This means you have to incorporate foods from each of the four food groups.
- Adopt the phrase moderation. At no time should you consider some foods 'bad' and other foods 'good'. Rather, all foods can be nourishing if they are eaten in moderation. Chocolate cake will not make you fat if you don't eat it every day for dinner!
- Take a multi-vitamin. Even the healthiest dieter may not get all of the vitamins and nutrients they need from diet alone. Why? Our bodies aren't always able to absorb nutrients efficiently from the foods we eat. Thus it is important to take a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement daily.
- Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can wreak havoc on your diet, and even contribute to weight gain.
- Exercise daily. Even 10 minutes of routine exercise can help your body maintain its peak fitness level.
Excessive consumption of alcohol can also wreak havoc on your diet. Alcohol inhibits the body's ability to absorb vital nutrients, such as calcium. In addition, alcohol in the evening can interfere with your sleep cycle.
Other things you can do to improve you nutrition include incorporating lean proteins and fish into your diet. Fatty fishes including salmon provide key nutrients called "essential fatty acids" which help your brains ability to function properly.
Nutrition is a choice. For you to be the healthiest person you can be, it is vital that you make choices that are good for you and your well-being.
In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as a "state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, encompassing the ability to achieve full potential, deal with crises and meet environmental challenges." In other words, health -- or wellness, to use a trendy term -- is the capacity to undertake physical effort, to live within one's own potential and carry out tasks with vigor and alertness, leaving enough energy for unforeseen emergencies. The more recent Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion goes further, suggesting as fundamentals for health: "peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable ecosystem, sustainable resources, social justice and equity." For example, people can't easily stay healthy if they're starving, if the air is polluted or during wartime.
Today's key buzz words are "disease prevention" and "health promotion", rather than trying to "treat the symptoms of illnesses" (as is practiced by most medical practitioners nowadays) that are largely preventable. Unfortunately, despite lip service, prevention is often a hard sell as it takes both personal and community action. Yet studies show that even a few words of advice from health professionals can often help to prevent disease by motivating people to modify their lifestyle.
Do you exercise every day? If you want to live a long, healthy life, maybe you should.
A recent study by Timothy Wessel, a physician at the University of Florida, indicates one of the strongest risk factors for developing heart disease is inactivity - even more so than being overweight. During the four-year study of 906 women, Dr. Wessel documented those who were moderately active were less likely to develop heart disease than sedentary women, no matter how much they weighed. The study concluded: "These results suggest that fitness may be more
important than overweight or obesity for cardiovascular risk in women."
In January, the updated U.S. Dietary Guidelines strongly urged that everyone should take part in "at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity" on most days, above whatever activities they do at home or work. To loose weight or to avoid gaining weight as we age, 60 minutes of daily moderate to vigorous exercise is recommended. And those who have already lost weight and are attempting to keep weight off need 60 to 90 minutes of daily exercise.
A study of 9,611 adults by the University of Michigan Health System, found that people in their 50s and 60s who participated in daily exercise were 35 percent less likely to die within the next eight years than their inactive couch potato counter parts.
Convinced that it's time to add exercise to your day?
The Basics -- Make Exercise a Life Priority:
- If you're not used to exercising, check with your doctor before beginning any strenuous fitness routine.
- Start slow. If 30 minutes of exercise is too much, start with 15 minutes and add a few minutes each day.
- If you don't have time for 60 minutes of exercise, break it up into two 30-minute sessions throughout the day.
- Schedule a specific time to exercise everyday - then keep to your schedule!
- Take part in more intense activities that can improve your heart health, such as: running, dancing, swimming, cycling, and climbing stairs.
- Find exercise that you enjoy. You will be more likely to continue and improve your daily performance if you look forward to a favorite activity.
- Wear proper clothing and footwear. This has two functions. Clothing and shoes that are suited to your activity will enhance performance and offer the right kind of support for your body and feet. They will also place you in a better frame of mind for exercise. When you wear your favorite running outfit and slide into your special running shoes, your mind says "it's time to get out the door and put my feet in motion!"
- Add everyday activities to increase your overall fitness level, such as gardening, housework, walking to the store, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and raking leaves.
- Always drink lots of water.
- If you feel discomfort or pain after an activity, use ice therapy immediately to reduce swelling and numb pain. Always have a cold pack in your freezer, ready and waiting. Most aches and pains attributed to exercise respond well to icing and will melt away within 24 hours after applying ice for several 20-minute sessions. Using cold therapy reduces down time, getting you back on schedule fast. (If the pain does not lessen within 48 hours after using ice therapy, is intense or becomes worse, see your doctor.)
Exercise every day.take care of your heart.live long!
Is the Recession Hurting Your Health?
The news tells us that the recession is deeper than initially thought. This certainly is not good news for many of us. Gas prices remain high, unemployment is high and good jobs are hard to find. These are typically the first things that come to mind when thinking about a recession and its impact.
But, there are other effects tied to economic downturns that we don't often consider. How about your health? Is it suffering because of the economy?
Consider some of the main factors contributing to disease and illness. Stress and poor nutrition are among the leaders. Certainly, one's stress level goes up when economic times are harder. Worries about bills, how to make the mortgage or rent payment, keeping enough gas in the car to get to work, if you have a job, are all stress points.
Stress causes depletion of essential vitamins and minerals faster than normal. The effects include worsening immune system function (this can be especially problematic for those with chronic illnesses such as HIV/Aids) and elevated blood pressure leading to a variety of potential health risks including, abnormal heart beat, heart attacks, hardening of the arteries and coronary heart disease.
Other problems aggravated or caused by stress are muscle pains, low fertility, erectile dysfunction, complications during pregnancy, stomach problems (ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, reflux, etc.), weight gain and increased menstrual pain. Stress even worsens acne, psoriasis and the symptoms related to asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Stress leads to more out of pocket expenses for doctors, hospitals and prescriptions. Factor in potential lost wages and the stress factor easily becomes an out-of-control snowball further complicating our lives.
So, what is one to do to minimize or avoid this health "recession?" There are several very important components to overcoming stress.
Laugh. You've heard the saying that laughter is the best medicine. Laughter actually helps your body by reducing stress hormones, boosting the immune system, providing a cardio workout and increasing blood flow. As Mark Twain said, "He who laughs, lasts."
Exercise. Numerous studies support the health benefits of regular exercise. Improved cardiopulmonary function, reduced blood pressure, muscle tension release and mental relaxation are all known benefits. An important fact to remember about exercising is to pace oneself. Often times, people start out too fast and quickly burn out. Start out simple and gradually add a little every two or three days. Let your body "build" up its tolerance for physical exertion and you will be amazed at how quickly you are able to progress.
Nutrition. The typical American diet, even many so-called "healthy" diets, lacks key vitamins and minerals that our bodies require for optimum health. There are many, low-cost nutritional supplements that will help fill this void. They come in various forms, flavors and formulas to provide what your body needs. Proper nutrition is easy and very inexpensive when compared to the costs of medical care to treat illnesses and diseases due to poor nutrition.
Hobbies. Take up a hobby if you don't already have one. This occupies your mind with something fun and constructive and, as a result, actually helps your body function at a higher level.
Talk. Share your fears, concerns and passions with someone. The psychological and physical benefits will surprise many people. Just "getting it off of your chest" is very therapeutic and healthy. You will also likely find that you are not alone - many people share the same fears, concerns and passions and don't even realize it.
Be Positive. I wish there was a one-paragraph miracle remedy for this but, it takes a conscience effort. Even bad times can ultimately produce positive experiences if we choose to look for them. Our tendencies are to look at the bad and accept it but we can choose to seek the good out of a bad situation and focus our attention in a healthier place.
This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the author resource information remains attached. © Copyright 2009 Baileys Health Store.
Nutrition Schools
Find Nutrition Schools in the United States and Canada. Nutrition schools offer training and education in the principles of proper nutrition. Typically, nutrition schools will furnish students with the most up to date holistic and conventional science in relation to dietary intake and nutrition.
While attending one of many nutrition schools, individuals will learn how to adequately address biochemical makeup of each client and how to create individualized health regimens applying proper diet, supplement and specific lifestyle suggestions.
Nutrition schools may provide nutritionist certification programs, as well as Bachelor degree programs in becoming a professional dietician and nutritionist. By enrolling in nutrition schools, individuals can become professional members of the medical service community. Learning how to serve nutritional, lifestyle and total wellness needs of individuals and entire families, nutrition schools help future practitioners to improve overall health through assessment and analytical skills. Students enrolled in nutrition schools will also gain necessary skills to develop appropriate nutritional plans facilitating methods in counseling, monitoring and client support.
Nutrition schools commonly include courses that consist of anatomy and physiology, functional nutrition; among many other related subjects. It is important to understand, too, that many states require licensure and/or certification; so it would be wise for prospective candidates to carefully review state requirements and course curriculums in nutrition schools to meet those requirements.
Successful graduates of nutrition schools can anticipate a positive job market, as professional nutritionists may attain gainful employment in local, state and national governmental organizations; in addition to a large number of medical health care facilities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, professional nutritionists and dieticians, who have gained adequate training through any one of several nutrition schools, can expect lucrative earnings to over $50k annually on top end.
To learn more about Nutrition schools, please feel free to peruse our Vocational Schools directory today at HolisticJunction.com
Find your dream job! Let education within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.
Nutrition Schools
© Copyright 2007
The CollegeBound Network
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NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.
Nutrition Studies: Common Curriculums
Find Nutrition Studies in the United States and Canada. Undergraduate nutrition studies frequently share common curriculums that are relatively comprehensive in nature. In most cases, nutrition studies involve broad and diverse subject matter including coursework in biology, essential nutrients, human growth and development, as well as other fundamental education.
Additional nutrition studies branch out into several disciplines entailing mineral nutrition, exercise, and nutrition with regards to disease; lipids, metabolic and environmental health, and more. Ordinarily, nutrition studies cover coursework in dietetics, nutritional counseling, food and nutrition services management, sport nutrition, fitness and wellness,
Laying the foundation with undergraduate nutrition studies helps students to further academic paths as they apply to graduate programs where they can earn a Master's or Ph.D. degree in nutritional science, clinical nutrition, fitness and personal training, and wellness counseling, among others. That goes without saying that a number of nutrition studies can result in an Associates or Bachelor's degree, as well as certification.
Serving as part of the medical healthcare community, nutritionists may also opt to participate in holistic nutrition studies where they will gain an edge in integrative health and wellness. For example, holistic nutrition studies expand the professional dimensions of nutritionists who learn about TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), herbology, aromatherapy, and other complementary health services.
Overall, it is never too late to achieve your healthcare training goals; and predicted to be one of the fastest growing occupations*, dieticians and nutritionists can anticipate rewarding outlooks - both personally and professionally.
If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding nutrition studies, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.
Employment source: Bls.gov (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Nutrition Studies: Common Curriculums
© Copyright 2007
The CollegeBound Network
All Rights Reserved
NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.
Awareness And Education On Sports Nutrition
Sports nutrition is not that straightforward as it seems. To achieve desired results, there has to be some form of an education about the functions and processes of the human body, its reaction to the environment, its requirements for certain nutrients, and many others.
The bottom line here is that there has to be an appropriate sports nutrition education before anything is done to the body.
A good sports nutrition education program must lay down the basics. First, it must advice the intake of the right amount of fluids at the right time. Also, it must suggest a good diet that includes the right variety and amount of food taken at a specific time.
Another basic info is the fact that only safe, appropriate, and effective nutrition supplements must be taken at the right time. These information should be the core or foundation of all other details presented in a sports nutrition education program.
This education on sports nutrition has to be as updated as possible. As the years go by, more and more products are being introduced in the market that are said to advocate nutrition for athletes and those engaged in body fitness.
Before being lured by such products, it is essential that there has to be a clear understanding of the components first. Moreover, the legitimacy of the claims must be initially confirmed as well. Otherwise, instead of getting better results, the opposite might take place.
Enough research and observations of previous experiences and circumstances must likewise be available to an education about sports nutrition. There should be facts but these have to be somehow supported by concrete incidents and testimonials.
When buying a product, this explains why one has to survey first and avoid being impulsive as previous positive or negative feedback says a lot about a product. However, one need not be a plain imitator thinking that what works to other people will similarly work for him. An assessment of individual characteristics is also very important.
Sports nutrition education may come in several forms. A lot of institutions have already been conducting seminars and other awareness programs to educate people. Some sports and health facilities offer such seminars in-house while some outsource for resource people.
Oftentimes, certain campaigns are purely aimed at providing education about sports nutrition but there are others which launch such programs in support of a sales and marketing strategy.
One should be careful with these types as the efforts may be too sales-oriented and may take for granted individual needs and concerns.
At times, instead of looking at creating a more informed and educated society about sports nutrition, companies are just too focused on achieving their sales targets. With this, the real benefits of the products are usually not realized since they were taken not in line with the actual needs of the body.
In several instances, it appears to be always best to consult a physician first and foremost. They are the people most knowledgeable of bodily functions and processes. They may be able to easily identify if intake of a certain supplement or product is adverse or not.
All in all, one must take note that sports nutrition is no joke and that proper education is really essential. It involves the entire body and may significantly cause negative effects if not properly administered and controlled.
Health is greatly dependent thus, one should indeed be cautious. Sports is generally positive and healthy but at times, it is coupled with improper nutrition that significantly depletes its favourable effects. Awareness and a clear understanding of the field and of one's body should be a prerequisite.
Start-up Health Products Business
Public Health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private communities and individuals. However, as individuals we must take an active role in maintaining our health by leading healthy lifestyles and making sure that we are using proper nutrition daily.
Nutrition is the science that studies how people eat and how eating affects their health and performance. This includes foods or food components that cause diseases or deteriorate health such as eating too many calories. This is a major contributing factor to obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Personal health depends partially on the social structure of one's life.
Healthy eating is a choice but not much of a choice for those who simply lack the knowledge, awareness and clear understanding about healthy cooking. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources as well as physical capacities. Health represents the amount of damage a character can take before death.
Healthy people should have the right to boost their brains with pills, supplements, herbs and vitamins like those prescribed for hyperactive kids or memory-impaired older folks.
Health care is the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of
mental and physical well being through the services offered by the medical, nursing, and allied health professions.
Health research builds primarily on the basic sciences of biology, chemistry, and physics as well as a variety of multidisciplinary fields, i.e. medical sociology. Health care is further the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of health through the services offered by the medical, dental, nursing, and allied health professions.
Health care embraces all the goods and services designed to promote health, including preventive, curative and palliative interventions, whether directed to individuals or to populations.
Health care in Venezuela is probably the most extensive and given the country's fortunes in oil wealth, expenditure has recently increased greatly, starting with mass vaccinations under the Plan Bolivar 2000. While health care in Africa is usually non existent or highly limited and under resourced.
Here in the United States health inspectors are conducting fewer inspections of nursing homes, restaurants and adult day care sites because of budget constraints and the inability to train and keep inspectors and officials. For this reason it is imperative that you take control of your health care issues and become active in resolving them.
Health system problems aggravated a cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe 10 December 2008 -- A
widespread cholera outbreak and inadequate access to safe drinking water and hygiene are
threatening the well being of thousands of Zimbabweans.
Because of the on-going importance of health -- customers are never more than a single click away from ordering products online and referring their friends and associates who are ready to join a membership program.
Customers spread around the world can be attracted by a health business and take notice. You will see that other people will also be interested in marketing a vitamin or natural health business by noticing that others will easily sign up underneath you.
Online store owners, entrepreneurs and small businesses who e-sell their own products find that they have money rolling into their accounts in no time soon after taking action because shoppers readily kick into high-gear.
There are many resources to help you and your family stay healthy. Products classified as dietary supplements are not required to meet any Food and Drug Administration standards which makes it easy to promote a natural health business.
Making extra income can't get much easier in the booming health industry especially when you don't have to look after any products or logistics. Health and wellness spending is continuing as companies seek new marketing channels for their advertisements and employers look to control healthcare spending.
Are You Leaving Health Insurance Money on the Table? . . Top 10 Money-wasters for Group Health Insurance Benefits
As an employer or a participant you might be leaving money on the table by not properly taking advantage of certain features and benefits of your company’s health insurance. As a licensed Consultant and Group Benefits Brokerage company, with clients across the country, we are successful in reducing group benefit expenses because of our experience and our intimate knowledge of the factors used in determining pricing. This top 10 list should be helpful in increasing your insurance knowledge, maximizing your plan benefits and possibly reducing your company’s expenses.
Background and Overview:
For most companies, group benefit plans, specifically medical benefits, are among the highest non-producing company expenses. Unlike other expenses, medical benefits hits home since it affects our employees and our families personally. Therefore, it is of paramount concern that the CFO and Director of Human Resources take into consideration the needs of their employees, the needs of their employees’ families, pricing, and specific benefits being offered.
The ability for an employee or an employee’s family member to use a favorite physician such as a Pediatrician or an OB/GYN is often affected by this decision. The ability for employees and their families to use specialized treatment centers in the event of a catastrophic medical situation also lies in the balance of the Health Benefits decision. Quality and access to medical care varies from insurance carrier to insurance carrier.
Staffing and Retention:
The primary purpose of Group Benefits as a whole as it relates to employers is to attract and retain employees. It goes without saying that the broader the benefits, the easier it would be to attract and retain a higher quality workforce.
As a reciprocal, industries that utilize high turn-over positions with minimum-wage employees may not necessarily choose to utilize the highest quality insurance policies to attract and retain employees. Employee pools may be abundant and the bottom-line total expenses may be more important than the quality and level of care offered.
With that said, let us share with you some money-saving ideas and under-utilized features of your medical benefits. Keep in mind that some items may relate to your current coverage while others suggest a change in coverage or a change in features of your plans.
The following represents our list of the top 10 frequently made mistakes as it relates to Group Health Insurance. This list is in no particular order. Each item may or may not apply to your current situation.
Top 10 Medical Benefits Mistakes:
1. Not Catching Medical Problems Early
To use a few cliché’s, “a stitch in time saves nine” or “prevention is the best medicine”, or “kill the monster while it is tiny.” I am not sure if the last one is a main-stream cliché but it does hammer home the point that prevention is often the best medicine. Early detection is the second best course of treatment. Many doctors argue that colon cancer is extremely treatable if it is caught in the earliest stages. If the cancer is not detected early there is a risk of the cancer getting more aggressive and spreading through the body. Every person should take the time to get regular exams. Every person should be aware of key medical indicators such as weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. As a person gets to certain recommended ages, mammograms and other early detection tests should be done regularly. Just because you never went for a cholesterol check does not mean your cholesterol levels are zero. That is as foolish as driving around in an automobile without a gas gauge and assuming you don’t need to put gas in it since there is no indication of the level. The life you save with early detection could be your own or someone who you love.
Depending on the size of your group and which state your business is located in, early detection means fewer large insurance claims which translates into lower premiums for your company.
2. Not Using the “Value Added Benefits”
Many times, when you think of medical benefits you only think about doctor visits and drug plans. Often, employers and employees do not realize that their insurance carrier might also include services known as “Value Added Benefits”.
Health Insurance Carriers offer these Value Added Services to encourage healthy lifestyles. Healthy lifestyles would yield healthy employees which keeps insurance claims down.
It is important to understand your value added benefits for several reasons. First you, your family, and the employees you work with can benefit from these services. Second, your management or human resources department might come off as heroes just by telling employees about these value added benefits. The benefits are already included so you might as well tell people about them.
Examples of Value Added Benefits Include:
a. Vision – some carriers have pre-negotiated discounts for vision care such as eye exams and eyeglasses.
b. Nutrition and Supplementation – Certain carriers provide discounts or reimbursements for nutritional supplements. Supplementation might keep employees healthier and prevent certain diseases. Some employees are often already paying out-of-pocket for supplements so any discounts become bottom-line savings for the employee.
c. Quit Smoking - Employees may be entitled to discounts on programs that relate to quitting smoking. Without going into a lecture as it relates to the dangers of smoking, let’s just say that when an employee is ready to quit, it is easier to do it with the help of professional programs. In the event that the Surgeon General is right about the dangers of smoking, healthier employees are happier and more reliable as an employee. This could also avoid future hospital visits and catastrophic treatments as well as delay premature death.
d. Weight Management – Employees may take advantage of weight management programs. In some cases employees might already be using well known programs such as Weight Watchers™ or Jenny Craig™. Many scientific medical studies directly relate disease and health risk to an individual’s weight. Once again, a healthy employee calls in sick less often, is more productive, and on a selfish side, is likely to minimize the number of claims against your Insurance Policy. Certain company sizes in certain states may be rated and premiums are charged based on the claims filed against the insurance carrier.
e. Gym Membership – Discounts and reimbursements may be available for health club membership.
f. Hearing - Certain hearing centers may have pre-negotiated discounts with your insurance carrier.
g. Bicycle Helmets - Safety equipment such as bicycle helmets may be available at a discount with specific insurance companies and retailers. Certain states mandate that children under a specified age are required to wear a helmet while riding bicycles, skateboarding, or roller skating. Even if helmets are not mandated, it is alarming how many serious injuries might have been prevented with the proper head protection. If you need or want a helmet anyway, you might as well get a discount on it.
h. Store Discounts - Various retailers may have a pre-negotiated incentive worked out with your insurance company such as baby stores or household goods. This is good for the store from a marketing prospective and it is good for the consumer to get a discount.
i. Security Improvements – Security companies my provide discount services for your home protection and safety additions.
j. Stress and Alcohol Management - Different services may exist for stress management and alcohol rehabilitation and treatment programs.
k. Mail Order Discounts – Certain carriers offer additional discounts for mail order prescriptions. This is especially useful for drugs prescribed for the long-term such as heart medicine or cholesterol drugs. You know you need it any way so you might as well stock up by mail.
3. Not Getting a Second Opinion:
Different Insurance professionals have different experiences and abilities. Some Brokers are only Brokers while others are also Licensed Insurance Consultants. Some Brokers specialize in Property and Casualty or Life Insurance while others specialize in Group Health. If you are concerned with your Health Insurance rates and services, perhaps a specialist is what your company really needs.
Speaking as an insurance professional, we of all people, respect and appreciate client loyalty based on past service and existing relationships. On the other hand, how do you really know that you have the most appropriate policy and features if you do not get a second opinion from a different Broker or Consultant? If the relationship with your Broker is that solid, it would not be difficult for your Broker to keep your business. If your Broker’s skills are not current and sharp as it relates to your company, his/her complacency might be costing your company tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars.
Oftentimes, an insurance professional might become complacent with existing clients. This may be due to increased workload, understaffing, or the fact that they are too busy finding new clients. They may not be focusing on your bottom line.
A second opinion introduces a fresh perspective regarding your company’s health insurance needs and options. It keeps your broker honest and reminds them that they need to continue to service and provide creative solutions if they wish to keep your business.
Make sure the carrier alternatives are of “like kind and quality”. That simply means they are an apples-to-apples comparison.
Mix it up a little. Find out what the increase (or decrease) in premiums might be if you increase (or decrease) the co-pay, deductibles, in-network deductibles, and co-insurance. Look at different options with the drug plan as well.
Sometimes it pays to self-insure a portion in order to reduce premiums. Look at the total exposure, have your broker figure out worst cases scenarios, and contemplate the probability that the scenario could come true. This dovetails with mistakes #4, #5, and #6 coming up.
4. Not Looking at the Big Picture of Total Costs
Very often, companies only look at the monthly premiums associated with their healthcare coverage. This is not the only variable when it comes to insurance rates. It is important to look at the total picture which includes:
a. Co-pay amounts
b. In-Network and Out-of-Network Deductibles
c. In-Network and Out-of-Network Co-Insurance Levels
d. In-Network and Out-of-Network out-of-pocket expenses
e. Out-Of-Network Reasonable and customary reimbursement levels
f. Gated or Non-Gated
g. Drug coverage co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles
h. Disease Management and Wellness Programs
i. Employer/Employee Contributions
j. Network Accessibility
k. Disruption Analysis
l. Monthly Premiums
m. Maximum Exposure
n. Maximum Benefits
o. Tax Treatment (See #9)
p. Quality of Coverage
l. Introduced deductibles on drugs
m. Generic and non-formulary drug discounts
Each of the above can be a topic unto itself. We can offer a free consultation to look at your coverage and suggest ways to maximize cost savings and improvements. Please see the “About the Author” section at the bottom of this article for more details.
Paying 100% for Employees
If you pay 100%, by law, employees cannot “waive out” of the insurance plan. Participation must be 100%. By paying less than 100% of the benefits you are able to “create consideration”. This gives you flexibility.
What is so bad about having to take advantage of benefits if you are paying all of it? The fact is, certain employees would not be able to use a spouse’s insurance plan if they had to use yours. The spouse might offer better quality coverage with more options and better quality doctors.
Do you really want to have to pay for everyone’s insurance if they do not want insurance or prefer to waive coverage and go on their spouse’s plan? That means paying higher expenses for something that will likely never get used by certain people.
5. Not Listed as the Right Group Size (or Perhaps a Different Stated Size) Is There Common Ownership?
Depending on your circumstances, such as what state that you do business in, you may or may not benefit by being classified as a small group or as a large group. By simply classifying clients in the most appropriate group size we have saved clients thousands of dollars.
Generally speaking, small groups are considered to be groups consisting of between 2 and 50 full time eligible employees and large groups are considered to be groups consisting of 51+ full-time eligible employees. A full-time eligible employee is not the same as an employee that may be covered under the benefits. For example, a group can have 55 employees, with 40 employees on the group health plan, and be classified as a large group.
Depending on your employee population it could be either advantageous or disadvantageous to be considered a 2-50 sized group. Read #6 of this list for more information.
Is There Common Ownership?
In certain situations some companies have common ownership with other companies. Depending upon the percentage of ownership, in certain cases it makes sense to insure the companies separately, while in other cases it might pay to combine the employees and consider it a larger group.
6. Not Knowing Your Employee Population or Offering Different Plans
Similar to #5 in classifying the group size, money can also be saved by having an overall understanding of the demographics that makes up your group. Typically, younger people are healthier and can often afford to take certain medical risks that older employees cannot afford to take. If you realize that your company is mostly made up of younger people who are healthy, it might be a good idea to utilize a high-deductible tax qualified plan with a Health Savings Account (HSA). A high deductible plan is essentially betting on the fact that claims will be minimal throughout the year, so why not pay the lowest premiums available, and at the same time accumulate cash in the Health Savings Account (HSA)?
A high deductible plan does not necessarily mean that you intend to pass on the increased deductibles to your employees. Your company can be willing to pay the deductible (or a portion) through a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA).
Not Offering Different Plans for Different People
More recently than not, the market has been trending towards companies offering multiple insurance plan options. The company may provide a base contribution allowing the employees to choose between “a base”, “a buy-up”, or “an HSA plan”.
In addition, companies can offer a plan based upon employee classification. For example, “Class 1” employees can consist of executives and managers and “Class 2” employees may consist of all others.
7. Not Comparing your Coverage to Your Peers:
The trick is to be competitive without giving away the shop. Typically, to generalize for a moment, law firms might offer the best insurance available for the money while assembly line workers might be given average benefits for manufacturing. But what is average and how do you find out what is standard and customary?
A “Benchmark Analysis” is a report that can be ordered to get statistics and trends about comparable companies in your industry, company size, and/or in your region. Although these reports often cost some money, the information provided could be valuable in attracting and retaining qualified employees without giving away all of the profits.
8. Blindly Auto-Renewing
Even if you love your Broker, it is a mistake in not treating each renewal period as an opportunity to find out what policies or other insurance companies are more competitive or appropriate for your company. Each renewal period should be treated just like you are looking for insurance companies for the first time.
With our clients this step is invisible to them. We always look at the renewal numbers and compare them to other carriers or to other policies within the same carrier. Over the years it became obvious that the only constant in life is change. Based on the insurance company’s desire to increase or decrease market share, they often choose to increase or decrease their risk tolerance and policies. A renewal period is a great opportunity to make sure you have the right coverage for your circumstances.
9. Not Using the Right Tax Treatment for Your Company
Although we encounter this particular “money-waster” often, we are not an accounting firm and suggest that you speak with your tax advisor, accountant, or CPA before doing anything.
Pre-Tax or After-Tax Dollars:
Typically speaking, health insurance premiums are tax deductible with pre-tax dollars, while co-pays, deductibles, co-insurance, and prescription co-pays are usually paid with after-tax dollars. It might be a good idea for your accountant to work with your broker to come up with a tax strategy that works well with your human resources and health benefits objectives.
Employee Tax Treatment
Are the employees paying for their portion of the health insurance premium through the use of a “Section 125” premium only plan? This will allow employees to pay the health insurance premium on a pre-tax basis thereby reducing the employer payroll taxes.
You may want to consider offering a Flexible Savings Account (FSA). An FSA allows employees to pay for a portion of their un-reimbursed medical expenses on a tax-free basis.
10. Losing Money Due to Poor Administration.
We hear about it almost every day. Due to poor administration, employers neglect to advise the insurance carriers of newly terminated or newly eligible employees.
In many cases, the guidelines are rigid and clear. A simple mistake with administration may cause your company to either pay insurance on someone who is no longer with the company or it may open yourself up to liability. Had an employee been eligible for benefits, but somebody forgot to do the paperwork, your company could be liable for claims.
Liability of not setting out corporate notices
Notices may need to be communicated due to changes in coverage or policy changes. Once again, in many cases the burden of proof might be on you. If you do not notify employees of the changes you might be held accountable for the lack of notifications.
COBRA Notifications
Last but not least, in many circumstances an employee has a legal right to be notified if they are eligible to participate in the COBRA insurance program post termination. COBRA is the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. This gives employees the right to continue health insurance given certain qualifications. By not properly notifying the employee, your company is in violation of federal law and can perhaps be held accountable for claims and medical expenses incurred by the employee. By properly notifying the employee, the liability lies in the hands of the employee and the insurance company if they choose to continue coverage.
So What is Your Next Step?
It’s great that you made it this far into the article and that by itself gives you plenty of things to look at in deciding if you are making any of the above mistakes. In some cases you can change your behaviors midstream. For example, you can find out from your current carrier if there are any Value Added Benefits that you may not be aware of. You can also make sure that your company has an accurate list of employees who should be on the policy or need to be added.
Once again, Group Health Insurance is one of the largest non-producing expenses for most businesses. It is up to the business as well as their employees to maintain an active role with wellness, routine exams, and disease management programs. Insurance might be considered an expense, but when it comes down to it, health and lives are at risk.
DISCLAIMER: Information is intended as a general nature. Always consult a licensed professional before implementing anything.
Copyright© 2008 Economic Evaluation Group, Inc.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
John R. Klimchak has been in the insurance field for over 20 years. He is a licensed Insurance Consultant and a Licensed Insurance Broker. Mr. Klimchak is also the President of Economic Evaluation Group, Inc. (www.eegroup.com), a firm specializing in Group Health benefits and other related services. For a free consultation call (516) 338-2800 and reference the “Top 10 Mistakes Article”.
Primary Health Center ( Issues , Strength and Scope)
The Primary Health Care (PHC) strategy has proved to be a turning point in the history of health care policy. PHC was defined as "essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology, made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost that the community and the country can afford to maintain at every stage of development in the spirit of self-reliance and self determination". PHC was expected to form an integral part of both the country's health system, of which it is the central function and main focus, and the overall social and economic development of the community. It would be the first level of contact of individuals, the family and community with the national health system, bringing health care as close as possible to where people work and live, and constitute the first element of a continuing health
care process.
PHC comprises eight elements:
ü education concerning prevailing health problems and the methods of preventing and controlling them,
ü promotion of food supply and proper nutrition,
ü adequate supply of safe water and basic sanitation,
ü maternal and child health care, including family planning,
ü immunization against major infectious diseases,
ü prevention and control of locally endemic diseases,
ü appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries, and
ü provision of essential drugs.
The ideology and principles behind PHC closely match what was and has since been advocated in human development such as social justice, equity, human rights, universal access to services, giving priority to the most vulnerable and underprivileged, and community involvement. It is a recognized fact that the promotion and protection of the health of the people is essential to sustained economic and social development and contributes to better quality of life and to world peace. These prioritized PHC as the main strategy for achieving health for all. Despite this commitment and several years of work, not much has been achieved.
There is a need to examine the implementation of primary health care and identify strategic interventions needed to cope with the new challenges facing health systems, as a contribution to developing an agenda for strengthening PHC in the 21st century.
Key ISSUES that may need TO BE REVIEWED/addressed for strengthening PHC's are:
ü PHC policy formulation: How was the PHC policy formulated? What was the process of formulating PHC policy, the content of the PHC policy etc.
ü PHC policy implementation: How are the PHC policies being implemented? Aspects to examine include advocacy and marketing, actors and partners, structures and processes etc..
ü PHC resources: What resources are available for PHC implementation, for example human and financial resources, as well as PHC physical resources and structures?
ü PHC monitoring and review: How are PHC policy and strategies being monitored and reviewed?
ü Health trends: What are the trends of the main health and health-related challenges?
PROCESS
Data for the review to be obtained from the following sources:
ü Unstructured interviews with interviewees/informants that have intimate knowledge of PHC implementation, such as policy makers, implementers at all levels, other sectors involved, WHO and other partners.
ü Discussions with a wider audience of people who have intimate knowledge of PHC implementation. These included policy makers implementers, NGOs, private sector, health related institutions, WHO and other partners
ü A desk analysis of available documents and reports specific to the country and extensive analysis of all available published and unpublished documents and materials.
A Review of the Rural Health Care System in India:
Rural Health Care System – the structure and current scenario
The health care infrastructure in rural areas has been developed as a three tier system (see Chart 1) and is based on the following population norms:
1. Centre
Population Norms
2. Plain Area
Hilly/Tribal/Difficult Area
Sub-Centre
5000
3000
Primary Health Centre
30,000
20,000
Community Health Centre
1,20,000
80,000
Sub-Centres (SCs)
The Sub-Centre is the most peripheral and first contact point between the primary health care system and the community. Each Sub-Centre is manned by one Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) and one Male Health Worker MPW (M) (for details of staffing pattern, see Box 1). One Lady Health Worker (LHV) is entrusted with the task of supervision of six Sub-Centres. Sub-Centres are assigned tasks relating to interpersonal communication in order to bring about behavioral change and provide services in relation to maternal and child health, family welfare, nutrition, immunization, diarrhea control and control of communicable diseases programmes. The Sub-Centres are provided with basic drugs for minor ailments needed for taking care of essential health needs of men, women and children. The Department of Family Welfare is providing 100% Central assistance to all the Sub-Centres in the country since April 2002 in the form of salary of ANMs and LHVs, rent at the rate of Rs. 3000/- per annum and contingency at the rate of Rs. 3200/- per annum, in addition to drugs and equipment kits. The salary of the Male Worker is borne by the State Governments. Under the Swap Scheme, the Government of India has taken over an additional 39554 Sub Centres from State Governments / Union Territories since April, 2002 in lieu of 5434 number of Rural Family Welfare Centres transferred to the State Governments / Union Territories. There are 146026 Sub Centres functioning in the country as on September, 2005 as compared to 142655 in September, 2004.
Primary Health Centres (PHCs)
PHC is the first contact point between village community and the Medical Officer. The PHCs were envisaged to provide an integrated curative and preventive health care to the rural population with emphasis on preventive and promotive aspects of health care. The PHCs are established and maintained by the State Governments under the Minimum Needs Programme (MNP)/ Basic Minimum Services Programme (BMS). At present, a PHC is manned by a Medical Officer supported by 14 paramedical and other staff. It acts as a referral unit for 6 Sub Centres. It has 4 - 6 beds for patients. The activities of PHC involve curative, preventive, primitive and Family Welfare Services. There are 23236 PHCs functioning as on September, 2005 in the country as compared to 23109 in September, 2004.
Community Health Centres (CHCs)
CHCs are being established and maintained by the State Government under MNP/BMS programme . It is manned by four medical specialists i.e. Surgeon, Physician, Gynecologist and Pediatrician supported by 21 paramedical and other staff. It has 30 in-door beds with one OT, X-ray, Labour Room and Laboratory facilities. It serves as a referral centre for 4 PHCs and also provides facilities for obstetric care and specialist consultations. As on September, 2005, there are 3346 CHCs functioning in the country.
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