Medicare, Alternative Medicine, and Quality of Senior Health Care

In 1992, a Congressional mandate established the Office of Alternative Medicine, a small

office in the National Institutes of Health. They were tasked with reviewing the wide range

of alternative treatments, methods, and practices outside mainstream Western Medicine. Some of these are Acupuncture, Biofeedback, Chiropractic, Naturopathy, and Homeopathy. Until recently, alternative medical treatments and practices have not been reimbursed by medical insurance companies, or used in hospitals.

In a report on recent research, John A. Astin, "Why Patients Use Alternative

Medicine,"(Journal American Medical Association 279(19), May 20, 1998, pp. 1548-1553),

reported on the characteristics of people who use these forms of treatment. He reported that

First, individuals with college or graduate degrees were found to be more likely to use

alternative medicine than those with high school education or less. Second, individuals

reporting serious health problems were more likely to use alternative medicine than

healthier individuals. Furthermore, the majority of individuals who used alternative

medicine did so largely because they viewed these practices as being compatible with their

own values, beliefs, and philosophy toward life and health.

"Some health plans and employers have begun to voluntarily cover different types of

alternative medicine. In January 1997, Oxford Health Plans became the first major health

care plan in this country to offer comprehensive coverage for a range of alternative care

services, including acupuncture, chiropractic, naturopathy, and other specialties (e.g.,

nutrition, yoga, massage therapy). Policy holders, if they choose to pay an additional three

percent premium, are reimbursed for these alternative services. Unlike other health plans

that offer some coverage for alternative medicine, Oxford does not require a referral by a

patient's primary care physician (PCP) to use these services." AARP,Alternative Medicine: An

Overview Fact Sheet, Craig Caplan, AARP Public Policy Institute.

Still, Medicare does not recognize nor reimburse for expenses which are incurred in

Alternative Medicine Health Care. With over 9% of the workforce currently unemployed, with

the increase in health care costs escalating, and with the dubious effects of this current

Administration's proposed Health Plan, including rising copay percentages in Medicare, many

will be uninsured or underinsured and need these alternative methods.

Alternative medicine may reduce primary health care costs and provide more effective care;

it is difficult to generalize about the usefulness and effectiveness of alternative medicine

as a whole. While acceptance of an alternative approach has grown in parts of the medical

community, diehard skeptics will still abound. More research will make acceptance easier for

insurers, providers, employers, and others to evaluate which treatments effectively

complement traditional medicine. Hopefully, this Administration has allocated new funds for

this research.

Do You Really Want Fries With That?

Science Daily (Apr. 25, 2008) — "America's aging citizens are facing a health care workforce

too small and unprepared to meet their needs, according to a new report from the Institute

of Medicine (IOM) titled 'Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care

Workforce' ." This warning from last year has not been heeded. As we head further into this

recession, as medical costs increase and co-pay deductibles increase, medical care for the

aging "boomers" dwindles dangerously.

According to the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), a labor pool of adequate size and

competency to care for a rapidly increasing over-65 population is mandatory. In their

report, they said that there is ".. a much-needed strategy for developing a network of

health professionals and frontline workers to avert a crisis in quality care for older

persons. Complex chronic illness is an issue that we all will face with age. The current

fragmented system of care desperately requires an increase in better-prepared personnel to

sustain itself.The combination of the aging of the Baby Boom generation and the increase in life expectancy is going to yield a doubling of the numbers of older people , and it's important to

understand that older people themselves account for a disproportionate amount of the

utilization of health care resources."

Marie Bernard, MD, president of The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (GSA's

educational unit), said "..policymakers must act quickly to address these problems.

To meet the needs of our aging parents and grandparents, we need to increase the number of

geriatric health specialists — both to provide care for those older adults with the most

complex issues and to train the rest of the workforce in the common medical problems of old

age," Bernard said.

We "Boomers" must act in our own interests to insure that we are subjected to the fewest

number of age related illnesses as possible, and this begins with the WEIGHT EPIDEMIC in our

age group ( a reported 1 in 4 is OBESE!) The bottom-line message from a decades-long study

of monkeys on a restricted diet is simple: Consuming fewer calories leads to a longer,

healthier life.

Writing July 10 in the journal Science, a team of researchers at the University of

Wisconsin-Madison, the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center and the William S.

Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital reports that a nutritious but reduced-calorie diet

blunts aging and significantly delays the onset of such age-related disorders as cancer,

diabetes, cardiovascular disease and brain atrophy.

"We have been able to show that caloric restriction can slow the aging process in a primate

species," says Richard Weindruch, a professor of medicine in the UW-Madison School of

Medicine and Public Health who leads the National Institute on Aging-funded study. "We

observed that caloric restriction reduced the risk of developing an age-related disease by a

factor of three and increased survival. In terms of overall animal health", Weindruch notes,

"the restricted diet leads to longer lifespan and improved quality of life in old age. There

is a major effect of caloric restriction in increasing survival if you look at deaths due to

the diseases of aging," he says.

In the following picture, see what person these brave cousins of ours look like, and how old

do they appear? This is visual proof of the effectiveness of a healthy diet and moderate

exercise (how much room does the monkey have to move?). Start making the corrections

today...the number of years you have left is up to you!

Medicare Recipients Challenged By Health Insurance Companies

"Insurance Commissioner Jim Long urged Medicare recipients - particularly senior citizens -

and their families to be aware that some health insurance companies are employing aggressive

marketing tactics to sell Medicare Advantage products which may mislead consumers. According to the Department's respected Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), many Medicare beneficiaries are receiving bad financial advice leading them to make decisions which are not in their best interest". So wrote Health Plan One in a recent article.

Commissioner Long further said: "..companies are fighting for business. If the number of complaints fielded by SHIIP staff is any indication, some of these companies have resorted to using questionable tactics to win customers ". (Medicare Advantage is HMO, PPO, Medicare Medical Savings Accounts and Private- Fee-for-Service products)

Boomer Generation and older citizens are particularly at risk. Aggressive marketing tactics

ranging from insurance agents soliciting seniors at discount stores to "cold calls" by

agents wishing to set up sales appointments in homes are being used, even recommendations of

canceling other insurance policies to sell theirs. Commissioner Long and the staff at SHIIP

are extremely concerned that this type of solicitation may lead citizens to make poor

decisions that could negatively affect their insurance coverage.

The following recommendations are outlined by Long as things that Medicare recipients should

know about Medicare Advantage (also known as Medicare Health) plans:

You should fully understand the details and terms regarding Medicare Advantage plans, and

the plan you are looking at specifically. Some things to note include:

1. These plans are part of the Medicare program and provide Part A, Part B and sometimes

additional benefits. You may have to pay a monthly premium, or you may have out-of- pocket costs such as co-pays.

2. Medigap or Medicare Supplement policies do not coordinate with any Medicare Advantage

plan.

3. Not all doctors or hospitals accept all Medicare Advantage plans. Make sure your

healthcare providers will accept the plan you are considering before you buy it, or you may

be stuck paying for all your charges yourself! Call your doctor and ask before you buy.

4. Insurance agents cannot come to your home without permission. If they call you to

schedule an appointment, first do the following:

Get the agent's name, the company name, and a phone number.

Call back to verify the person is who he says he is. If you have any doubts, SHIIP can

tell you if that person is a licensed agent; call 1-800-443-9354.

Try to schedule the appointment for a time when a trusted family member or financial

advisor can be with you. Someone you trust can help you make a decision in your best

interest without giving in to any sales pressures from the agent.

If you have other health insurance, such as your employer plan through retiree coverage,

check with that plan before you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan.

The main thing which every senior should remember- Do not be pressured into making quick

decisions. The agent can wait for you to think this over, discuss it with someone else, call

your doctor and/or call SHIIP for assistance. SHIIP counselors are specifically trained to

assist you with your health insurance questions. Call 1-800-443-9354.

Senior Medical Dilemma: Western or Alternative Medicine?

In a recent article by Djehuty Ma'at-Ra of Dherbs. com (“First Consult Your Physician?”, April 6, 2009), he discused the strength of Western Medicine or allopathy and the reasons for weakness in Alternative Medicine in America. He said :

“No matter what the alternative health product, modality, or therapy, you will always find a disclaimer on the bottle, box, machine, or advertisement, stating: "CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE USE" as though Western medical physicians actually study up on all the new alternative health products, therapies, procedures, and gadgets/technology on the market today. Physicians don't even study basic nutrition so what makes anybody think they are going to study up on any alternative measures (products, therapies, procedures, and technology) that poses a threat to their linear and specific modality of health (if you can in fact call it a health modality), and their profits?”

While Western Medicine has made significant strides due in part to Federal Grants for research and advances made in Space Medicine from NASA's efforts, Alternative Medicine and its deep ancestral roots cannot should not be overshadowed and ignored. Long before RNA or DNA, practitioners were curing with herbs and plants, minerals, metals, and mixtures which are just as effective today as then. Homeopathy is not NEW, it is our past and should not be forgotten.

Senior Dilemma: Fixed Income vs. Variable Prices

The key to the success of any plan for healthy eating is to eat what you like, but to eat in moderation when it comes to the less healthy foods. Improving your health and fitness does not mean ignoring a piece of chocolate cake.. it does mean, however, just one piece. A healthy diet must contain all types of foods.....carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and oils.

When shopping, it is usually better to opt for less processed foods. For instance, 100% fruit juice would be better than a fruit juice blend that may contain as little as 5% or 10% fruit juice. And plain frozen vegetables would be healthier than vegetables in a butter sauce. When shopping for meat, try to buy fresh meat whenever possible. Frozen meat products, or those already seasoned, heat and eat products, often contain unhealthy ingredients as well as preservatives.

Yet, in this Recession, with many Senior Citizens on a fixed income (retirement, social security) food purchasing becomes quite a chore. What was planned to be sufficient for retirement, in many cases, just isn't enough. So, the real issue facing the “Baby Boomer” generation can be summed up in answering these questions:

Do I eat a wide variety of foods?

Do I recognize the importance of cereals, breads and other grain products?

Do I eat lots of fruits and vegetables?

Do I eat a good breakfast every morning?

Do I choose low fat foods over higher fat alternatives?

Do I drink plenty of water?

A healthy living plan for seniors is one that includes balance in diet and nutrition, strength training for exercise, plenty of fluids, and good restful sleep. One must try to achieve the balance within the budget one has available.

Strength Training for Seniors

Conventional vs. Organic - Which Are You?

First, you don’t need organic produce to be healthy. A live, conventionally raised salad over an organic white flour pasta can be most rewarding, as well as cheaper. Food that is alive has more power to nourish us than dead-processed organic food any day. So, consider conventional produce, IT IS ALIVE. And if you are at the point in your life where you can afford to choose between dead and alive, choose alive conventional produce.

Second issue, Cost. Where are you at financially, can you really afford organic in this recession? Although the margin of cost difference is decreasing, it is still a reality that organic is more expensive. This cost is offset by the more nutrients available in the organic production and growing.On the flip side, does going for organic place such a strain on your budget that you feel like you can’t get very much, if any at all?

If this is where you are, and the question is conventional produce or no produce, buy conventional. The road to being Truly Healthy is paved with live vegetation. Keep your house full of produce, because that matters more than whether or not it is organic.

The decision to go organic is going to depend on you as an individual.Where you and your family stand in this recession, and what you can afford to buy. Start to add in produce of fruits and vegetables as you can afford.. try to get off of processed foods, white flour, sugar and dairy, focus on that. If you truly desire to be eating healthfully and the price between an organic salad and a non organic one is substantial,stay with the conventional. What is ultimately important is to increase your diet of fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts, and reduce those processed foods!

Lose That Belly Fat Fast and Safely

Our society today certainly struggles with a weight epidemic. The media is more than confusing when it comes to this dilemma. While we are flooded with fast food adds, we then see how unbearably thin our entertainers are becoming. It's an odd situation. People continue to stuff their faces with pizza and burgers, yet always seem to want that size six waist. There is probably no ideal solution to this age-old problem if dieting is the only approach.

When it comes to our weight and health, a reasonable diet and sufficient exercise always prove superior. We all have different nutritional needs on some level. While some of us need more fiber in our meals, others need more protein. Yet, do we really know why some people can lose weight faster than others, why we seem to plateau at a certain weight and can't lose anymore..no matter what diet we try?

While exercise, a controlled dietary intake and good nutrition are important to overall health and weight control, other factors come into play. The truth of these factors will surprise you! For a thorough and comprehensive look at what REALLY PREVENTS you from losing the weight you want to lose, visit the site below:

Secrets of Fast Belly Fat Loss

Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes

One of the most undemanding and the most workable ways to knock over
blood sugar amount, eliminate the dangers of “cardiovascular disease,”
and perk up health and welfare in general is exercise.
In spite of that, in today’s inactive world where almost every
indispensable job can be carried out online, from the ergonomic chair in
front of a computer, or with a streaming line of messages from a fax
machine, exercising can be a hard argument to win over.

The good news is that it is never too late to get moving, and exercise is
one of the easiest ways to start controlling your diabetes. For people
with type 2 diabetes in particular, exercise can improve insulin
sensitivity, lower the risk of heart disease, and promote weight loss.

Diabetes is on the rise. The number of people diagnosed with diabetes
every year increased by 48% between 1980 and 1994. Nearly all the new
cases are Type 2 Diabetes, or adult-onset, the kind that moves in around
middle age. Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes include increased thirst,
appetite, and need to urinate; feeling tired, edgy, or sick to the
stomach; blurred vision; tingling or loss of feeling in the hands.

The causes of type 2 diabetes are complex and not completely understood,
although research is uncovering new clues at a rapid pace. However, it
has already been proven that one of the reasons for the boom in type 2
diabetes is the widening of waistbands and the trend toward a more
deskbound and inactive lifestyle in the United States and other developed
countries. In America, the shift has been striking; in the 1990s alone,
obesity increased by 61% and diagnosed diabetes by 49%.

For this reason, health experts encourage those who already have type 2
diabetes to start employing the wonders that exercise can do for them.
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that over
80% of people with type 2 diabetes are clinically overweight. Therefore,
it is high time that people, whether inflicted with type 2 diabetes or
not, should start becoming more active.

Its hard to get started, and hard to think of something that may prove to
be long term to gain the good health that one wants. It is certainly
easier to think in terms of weeks or days. In this vein, I suggest that
one consider short term trial programs of 30 days or less and check for
improvement. It your body, your health, your life - what do you have to
lose?


21 Day Trial Exercise and Nutrition Program

Diet and Fitness - A Powerful Combo

Diet fitness is as essential as exercise itself. Diet for fitness provides the essential nutrition one needs to restore worn-out muscles and should never be taken for granted. With the popularity of keeping fit, many different views, methods, programs and dieting strategies have been formulated by many professionals. Among these are high carb diets and high fat diets. Which one is more effective and which one should one choose to follow?


Diet fitness is not all about losing fat - one must also consider his diet in order to keep fat away. Research shows that sustainable loss of weight can only be achieved on a diet which suits the individual food preferences, lifestyle, medical profile and satiety signals. Diet programs overall can help you shed off excess pounds, but only one diet can help you stay sexy, healthy, and fit and it is the one that satisfies you most.


Diets for fat loss and fitness should be in moderation, with balance and variation. One must be careful not to leave out important nutrients and other substances necessary for healthy body functioning. There should be an additional and emphasized focus on nutrition (and supplements when necessary). Achievement of fitness goals can only happen when the body has all the nutrients it needs to sustain your efforts.

Low fat high carbs, high carbs low fat; the question is not which diet program will work out but which is it that will work for you. Striving for a sexy and healthy body does not have to burden an individual, diet fitness does not have to mean sticking to the same kind of food for life. There must be variety and adventure. After all, why did you go to all the effort to make the change?

Nutrition and Fast Fat Loss

Deal or No Deal?

One doesn't need to look very far on the Internet to find someone doing research on the benefits of Multivitamins and Supplements. Their studies conclude that "you don't need to supplement a good diet", that "they don't add benefits", or that "they are beneficial"..results conflicting at best. Yet, the real question remains "When did you last read a report on the nutritional benefits of the produce you buy, or the meat products?"

Many talented researchers are wasting their efforts on vitamins and supplement research without answering the question of "why are they needed in the first place?" Wouldn't their time be more appropriately
spent on discovering why nutritional values of meat, dairy, and produce have been falling over the past ten years?

Much has been written about the benefits of a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, but to what avail when the core elements (vegetables) are consistently losing nutritional values due to the manner in which they are grown? How beneficial is it when vitamins and supplements are needed to achieve the MINIMUM Required Daily Intake?

The consumption of vitamins, minerals, and supplements to insure RDI is the only Deal when this Recession forces families to change their normal diet to a cheaper one. Ignoring the RDI for one's health is No Deal at all.

21 Day Trial Exercise and Nutrition Program

America's Very Dangerous Vitamin Craze

Americans have gone crazy about vitamins and herbal supplements in reaction to the many health reports on the benefits of taking vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and other nutrients. While taking a daily multi-vitamin with minerals supplement is generally safe, getting too much of certain vitamins in excess of the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) or RDI (Reference Daily Intake) can have extremely toxic effects.

While the need for taking a multivitamin cannot be overstressed, with nutrient levels in our produce and manufactured foods falling daily, we need to be especially mindful of the side effects that can be created by consuming high doses on a daily basis. The mindset that “A little is good, more is better” should not apply to our supplement intake.

Excess amounts of Fat Soluble vitamins like A, D, and E are not flushed from the system through urine. Overdose can cause liver problems, kidney stones, joint pain, nausea,, constipation, blurred vision, and, in extreme amounts, even death. Water Soluble vitamins like C, B-3 (niacin), Folic Acid, and B-6 are largely flushed from the system daily, but this process can take several hours, and very high doses (10 times the RDI or higher) often have toxic effects.

The Bottom Line....Since its hard to tell how much of any vitamin we are consuming throughout the day, it's safest to limit intake of any supplement to the RDI or RDA as stated on the container. After all, supplements are intended to be as their name implies...added to the nutrients we consume.

Nutrition Based Fat Loss Trial Program

The Way We Eat is Making Us Sick

Our health is an issue not to be taken lightly. Many of us are afflicted
at some point in our lives by sickness, disease, or minor health problems,
especially as we age. When such things occur, it may be essential to
adapt a new lifestyle or diet.

Three major health issues that a number of Americans grapple with on a
daily basis is diabetes, obesity, and arthritis. Once these health issues
occur, the individual will typically need to diet - develop a new and
improved routine that decreases any further risks or complications.
Nutrition then becomes an imperative, not just a desire.

Americans certainly need to be concerned with these issues. The fact that
the number of cases of Diabetes is on the rise seems to be linked with
the fact that Americans are overweight! The fact is that thin is healthy,
whether people want to hear it or not.

You don't have to be supermodel thin, but you need to maintain a healthy
weight. Eating right is always a concern. Once you have acquired
diabetes, you will need to diet for it. This means less of things you may
love, and ditching all of those refined sugars to increase your health
and life span.

So does the arthritis sufferer need to change from those foods which
aggravate and cause them pain and discomfort.All of those rich foods like
cake, cookies, and fast foods have to be monitored. Reduce the weight to
a comfortable size, exercise regularly to aid in increased metabolism,
and thereby reduce the excess weight more rapidly.

Exercise for fitness is more than just for appearance, it reduces the
chances of other debilitating diseases, increases self-awareness,
self-image, and self respect. Your body, your life - why not make a
commitment to yourself in a new lifestyle which makes you feel good about
yourself?

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Fad Diets: Why Don't They REALLY Work?

Our society today certainly struggles with a weight epidemic. The media is more than confusing when it comes to this dilemma. While we are flooded with fast food adds, we then see how unbearably thin our entertainers are becoming. It's an odd situation. People continue to stuff their faces with pizza and burgers, yet always seem to want that size six waist. There is probably no ideal solution to this age-old problem.

When it comes to our weight and health, a reasonable diet and sufficient exercise always prove superior. We all have different nutritional needs on some level. While some of us need more fiber in our meals, others need more protein. Yet, do we really know why some people can lose weight faster than others, why we seem to plateau at a certain weight and can't lose anymore..no matter what diet we try?

While exercise, a controlled dietary intake and good nutrition are important to overall health and weight control, other factors come into play. The truth of these factors will surprise you! For a thorough and comprehensive look at what REALLY PREVENTS you from losing the weight you want to lose, visit the site below:

The Real Secret to Fat and Weight Loss

Send me One Million FREE Guaranteed Visitors

Fitness is NOT Bodybuilding!

With the widening of waistbands and the trend toward a more desk bound and
inactive lifestyle in the United States, cases of Type 2 Diabetes and
Arthritis are on the rise. This rise has been striking: in the 1990s
alone, obesity increased by 61% and diagnosed diabetes by 49%.Investing a
little time in developing a good weight-bearing low-impact exercise and
stretching plan can stave off arthritis pain since strong muscles help
protect the joints from wear and tear, keeping them flexible, while a
change in diet and nutrition combined with a controlled weight loss
program reduces the risk of Diabetes.

The first order of business with any exercise plan, especially if you are
a “dyed-in-the-wool” sluggish, is to consult with your health care
provider. If you have cardiac risk factors, the health care provider may
want to perform a stress test to establish a safe level of exercise for
you. Your exercise routine can be as simple as a brisk nightly
neighborhood walk. If you have not been very active before now, start
slowly and work your way up. Walk the dog or get out in the yard and
rake. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park in the back of the
lot and walk. Every little bit does work, in fact, it really helps a lot.

As little as 15 to 30 minutes of daily, heart-pumping exercise can make a
big difference in your blood glucose control and your risk of developing
diabetic complications. You do not have to waste too many expenses on
costly “health club memberships,” or the most up-to-date health device to
start pumping those fats out. What you need is the willingness and the
determination to start.

The bottom line is that of all the healthful habits, exercise is the most
important, because people are designed to be active. You can prove this
to yourself! Try this dynamic program for 21 days for $4.95 and see the
difference in how you feel. Go here today and find out what you've really
been missing in yourself. There really is no better time to start than
today!

Turbulence Training Trial Program

Exercising Adds Years to Your Life

Throughout your lifetime, some older bone is removed (resorption) and some new bone is added to your skeleton (formation). During the growth years, childhood and the teenage years, bone formation exceeds bone resorption. Bones stop growing after the teenage years but bone formation exceeds resorption right up until about age 30. After 30, the pace of bone formation slows and bone resorption begins to exceed bone formation. This age-related bone loss begins earlier and proceeds more rapidly in
women and tends to accelerate just after menopause.

As we age, we become less active, becoming more settled in careers, families, and in sedentary activities which can introduce a variety of health problems, like arthritis, diabetes, heart problems, and more. In today’s inactive world where almost every indispensable job can be carried out online, from the ergonomic chair in front of a computer, or with a streaming line of messages from a fax machine, the most undemanding solution to this problem is a "hard sell" to the general public - EXERCISE.

Everyone should exercise, yet the health experts tells us that only 30% of the United States population gets the recommended thirty minutes of daily physical activity, and 25% are not active at all. In fact,inactivity is thought to be one of the key reasons for the surge of type 2 diabetes in the U.S., because inactivity and obesity promote insulin resistance. Many seek "fad diets", "quick weight loss programs", and "no workout weight loss programs" as their solution, misunderstanding that good health is a balance of BOTH weight control and exercise.

Yet, who has the money in today's economy for home delivery weight programs, or work at home exercise equipment? In this recession, many cannot eat healthy because they cannot afford it, settling instead to eat as healthy as possible as cheaply as possible. There is a solution, however, affordable in most budgets, one which combines both nutrition and exercise, and at $4.95 for the 21 day trial is a remarkable deal.

No matter what age you are, from 19 to 90, exercise is mandatory to longevity, a good self-image, and inner contentment of being the person you desire to be. Check out the link below...you have nothing to lose but unwanted weight, and EVERYTHING to gain!


21 Day Trial Exercise Program

Coffee or Tea: Damage or Benefit?

If you drink Black tea regularly, you will have healthy arteries and increase your blood flow because it has antioxidants known as falconoid that also give the tea this rich flavor. Your cholesterol levels will also drop, you can protect yourself from certain cancers, develop stronger bones, have fresher breath and fewer cavities.

Just like coffee, Black Tea contains caffeine. The difference between the two is the fact that a cup of Black Tea or any other only contains 30 to 40 mg. of caffeine while coffee contains about 135 mg. Green, White, Orange Pekoe, and Oolong are the same...they differ only in the processing.

Coffee has consistently been degraded because of the high levels of caffeine, that drinking in excess of 2 cups a day creates health problems (high blood pressure, hypertension, etc). Yet, current studies show that coffee potentially may prevent the onset of dementia.

So, why not have both? Have the coffee in the morning, and tea for the rest of the day. You might even try varying the schedule and see what works best for you.

Obesity: A National Pandemic

Obesity is rapidly becoming the major concern for health professionals in the United States today. Obesity in adults, adolescents, and even children aged 2- 10 is on the rise. With the recession deepening in an ever increasing spiral towards depression, with fewer dollars being available for food, more Americans will join the ranks as they choose cheaper foods (as opposed to healthier foods) to stay in their budget. These same inexpensive foods are loaded with fats, oils, and carbohydrates which inevitably will add weight.

Obesity raises concern because of its implications for the health of Americans, by increasing the risk of many diseases and health conditions, such as:

• Coronary heart disease

• Type 2 diabetes

• Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)

• Stroke

• Liver and Gallbladder disease

• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems

• Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)

• Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

We are inundated with media coverage of “healthy lifestyles”, of “quick weight loss” programs which only seem to make the billfold thinner. Yet, we know that we need to be healthier to live longer, a fact fully realized by the “baby boomers”, children of WWII. So, how can we get healthy and comfortable with our weight and be the person we want to be? Weight Control and Fitness

Weight Control is only half of the problem...fitness must follow to help maintain weight control. Here lies problem #2.......who has the time or the money to spend hours in the gym to achieve this fitness? Solutions, however, are available. There are many concerned in your individual health and well being..their programs do work and are more reasonable than the gym or expensive equipment. For more information, see My Favorite Websites.