Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival June 28, 2009

Welcome to the June 28, 2009 edition of take charge of your health care.

As I sit here in cool, rainy New York, I am wondering where summer is, but I know that it will soon be here. Summer is definitely a time to get fit and healthy, and our authors have provided many useful tips on nutrition and fitness.

We have a number of good articles this month on how to save money on healthcare and also some good information on health insurance. For those of us in the United States, we must call our congressmen and senators and demand that a government run insurance plan be a part of our health reform package. Even better would be a single payer health care system which would be the most affordable in the long run. Our employer based and insurance company sponsored health insurance programs are broken leaving over 47 million Americans without healthcare coverage and an even larger number underinsured. When something is broken, you really need to tear down the system and build it from the ground up. My concern about the health care system in America is what prompted me to begin this blog carnival.

President Obama and Vice President Biden have put together an interesting website with the personal experiences of those affected by the healthcare crisis. They urge that we pass on these stories to those we know. You can visit the Health Care Stories for America at: http://stories.barackobama.com/healthcare.

Of course, staying healthy and preventative medicine can save money on healthcare as well. Our authors have provided some excellent submissions on nutrition and fitness, alternative medicine, and consumer driven health care. There are also several good articles on brain fitness.

Because our Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival has been growing in traffic, remember that only well written articles with good content will be selected. Also, only 2 articles per author, including myself, will be published in each monthly carnival. Thanks for submitting your quality articles this month.

Alternative Medicine

Dave Fobare presents Don't Be Afraid Of Your CPAP Mask posted at Beat Sleep Apnea. Editor’s note: If you suffer from sleep apnea, you will want to read this well written article on how to adjust to using your CPAP mask.

FitJerk presents How To Boost & Strengthen Your Immune System With Top Herbal Remedies posted at FlawlessFitness, saying, "Although Swine Flu is the talk of the town, preventing swine flu is the best option. Here's a list of some of the top herbal remedies that are known to help boost your immune system and help keep it strong year-round. These immune boosters are pretty inexpensive and can be taken as a preventative measure."

FitJerk presents Build Self Confidence In Mere Weeks! The Newbie Self Conscious Drill posted at FlawlessFitness, saying, "Do you feel you lack confidence or self worth? It's a hard thing to admit. Here is an awesome technique to boost self confidence in weeks! A more confident you will be respected & admired no matter WHAT you look like."

Scientific Living presents Get Rid of Your Chronic Pain!!!- Part 1 of 5 posted at Scientific Living, saying, "There is a treatment for chronic pain called prolotherapy, which is 80 to 100 percent curative, when performed by a skilled physician. Though acknowledged by reputable sources, prolotherapy is still not widely known. Please help me spread information about this wonderful treatment!"

Chris & Chat presents Warts Removers posted at C&C Spa and Facial Care Center. Editor’s note: The author presents an informative post on warts and wart removal.

Paul Hooper presents H Miracle - The Most Effective Hemorrhoid Cure on the Market posted at online-niche-store.com. Editor’s note: The author provides some natural ways to treat hemorrhoids without surgery.

pnreddy presents Treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder With Hypnotherapy posted at Alternative Medicine Zone. Editor’s note: Hypnotherapy can be effective for OCD without the side effects of medication.

Megan Wong presents Popular and Classic Sore Throat Remedies posted at Sinus Home Remedy. Editor’s note: This is timely advice when so many colds and the flu are going around.

Megan Wong presents Your loyal sinus blockage companion posted at Sinus Home Remedy. Editor’s note: The author provides useful information on using essential oils to treat sinus blockage.

Consumer Driven Health Care

Alvaro Fernandez presents Book Announcement: The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness posted at SharpBrains: Your Window into the Brain Fitness Revolution, saying, "While most of us have heard the phrase “use it or lose it,” very few understand what “it” means, or how to properly “use it” in order to maintain brain function and fitness. Here's the story on how my interest turned into a blog and now a book!"

Brain Blogger presents Reflections on Plasticity posted at Brain Blogger, saying, "Neuroplasticity is a relatively new concept for researchers. Up until the 1970s, scientists held firm to the belief that once we exit childhood, our neurons are fixed and we are unable to grow any new ones, except for very select areas of the brain such as the hippocampus where memory is processed."

Alvina Lopez presents 100 Awesome Anti-Aging Brain Games (Online and Off) posted atMasters of Healthcare. Editor’s note: Use these on and offline games to help keep your brain well tuned. Use it or lose it is very important when it comes to brain function especially as we get older.

Margaret Garcia presents 50 Fascinating Online Psychology Tests posted at Forensic Science Technician, saying, “Find out more about yourself with these 50 online psychology tests and Web sites packed full of interesting quizzes.”

Mike Wheeler presents Brain Memory Pill posted at Brain Stimulant, saying, “Astra-Zeneca in conjunction with Targacept is developing new memory pills that could become available for sale over the counter.

Lucky Balaraman presents See Yourself with Your Eyes Closed! posted at Calm and Cool, “once you are settled into your true identity, the people who move with you closely become nicer to you and your immediate environment consequently becomes more pleasant!”

Mike Wheeler presents Brain Stroke Clinical Trial Using Stem Cells posted at Brain Stimulant, saying, “The company Reneuron has just recently gotten the go ahead to commence a new trial that will use stem cells to treat patients with stroke damage. The trial will use stem cells to replace missing brain matter in those who have had stroke brain trauma.”

pankaj gupta presents How to - Learn About Any Disease Online (For Free) posted at Best ultrasound schools. Editor’s note: The author provides good information on how to search online for accurate information on illnesses.

sagarika presents Dimensions of Health posted at Social Work for Mankind, saying, “According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948, “ Health is generally defined as being "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".” Editor’s note: The author reminds us that good health is more than just physical health and you must consider emotional and social well being as well.

Aparna presents Rubbing nails cures hair loss? posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "rubbing the nails of both the hands can reduce hair fall and give you dense, thick and strong hair. Moreover, it can also prevent graying of hair."

James J. Gormley presents One flu over the cuckoo’s nest? Phony Swine Flu products are dangerous posted at The Gormley Files, saying, "Swine flu swindlers are peddling a variety of bogus "cure" kits. This article alerts readers to these scams and shows what is being done to protect consumers."

Mick Hart presents Stop Drinking Alcohol - Join The Alcoholics Online Support Group posted at Stop Drinking Advice, saying, "Discover just how easy it is to stop drinking alcohol through the support of people who have been there before and who understand the real hardships involved."

SwissTgallery presents Johnson & Johnson Refuses to Remove Cancer Causing Chemicals from Baby Products posted at Organic Baby Wearhouse, saying, "Last Friday a letter signed by 50 groups representing about 1.7 million people was sent to William Weldon, the CEO of Johnson & Johnson. The letter was asking the company to reformulate its iconic baby shampoo and other care products to be free of the cancer causing chemicals 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde. The widespread response it in reaction to a recent study showing many J&J products as containing small amounts of these dangerous chemicals."

Mikkal Travvis presents How To Survive A Flu Pandemic posted at Bird Flu Pandemic. Editor’s note: Some helpful tips to help you avoid catching the flu.

Mesquite Pete presents Mosquitoes - Fact and Fiction posted at Mosquito Basics, saying, "Some myths and facts about mosquitoes."

Victor presents Being You in How to Get Rid of Anxiety and Panic.Testing. posted at How to get rid of anxiety and panic, saying, “constructive and positive thinking can reduce your stress level when problems and confrontations come around.”

Paul Hooper presents 7 Methods to Help You Quit Smoking posted at online-niche-store.com. Editor’s note: The author has provided some excellent tips on how to stop smoking.

Patricia Turner presents The Top 50 Surgeon Bloggers posted at Surgical Technician Schools, saying, “With the internet making all sorts of information possible, medical professionals have found a place they can share their thoughts, insight, advice, and more. Visit these top 50 blogs for answers to general surgery, specialty, cosmetic, and more.”

Den Levin presents Top Causes of Anxiety and How to Handle Them posted at Battle Anxiety, saying, "There are many common causes of anxiety."

Farid presents Five Steps to Better Skin posted at Acne treatment, saying, "There are five essential steps in skin care regime. By following this progression of steps regularly, you will be giving yourself better skin. Skin is like any other of the body's organs, and it needs to be healthy to operate correctly, which, in the case of skin, means looking great. If you want better skin, you should start following these five steps immediately"

Farid presents Puffiness Around Eyes Treat, Reduce Under Eye Puffiness posted at Puffiness around the eye, saying, "If you're predisposed to under eye puffiness, or you just find yourself looking in the mirror and seeing bags under the eyes, there are several different types of remedies and treatments to fix it. From cucumbers and tea bags to eye masks, there are a number of temporary, short-term solutions. But when you have puffiness around the eyes that occurs more regularly, you may want to explore other, more effective long term treatments available out there."

Dental Care

dentalheroes presents Comprehensive List of Dental Plan Providers posted at Dental Plan & Dental Insurance News. Editor’s note: If you are looking for a dental plan, you will find this list very helpful.

Dr Tooth presents Affordable Dental Care for Low-Income Adults posted at WorlDental, saying, "Millions of Americans still do not have access to any affordable dental care, to a qualitative and the most necessary treatment procedures. In the same time, any untreated dental problem will affect the whole body, causing other, bigger health problems."

The Mouth Doctor presents Treating Gum Disease The Natural Way: Treating Gum Disease The Natural Way posted at Treating Gum Disease The Natural Way, saying, "Learn about the causes of gum disease, gingivitis, bleeding gums, bad breath and the natural and safe way to cure gum disease, gingivitis, bleeding gums, bad breath."

Nutrition & Fitness

Helene Zemel presents The Science behind GeneWize LifeMap Nutrition™ posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "There is proven scientific research that demonstrates that vitamins and other supplements can repair DNA damage."

Rusty Moore presents Why Walking is Necessary for Good Health - Even If You Are Extremely Fit and Lean posted at Fitness Black Book, saying, "I use to think that walking was just for people who weren't fit enough to do any "real" exercise. I figured that any activity that 99% of the population can easily do, just can't be tough enough to make a real difference in health. Walking just doesn't seem to challenge the body like "true" exercise (intervals, circuits, HIIT). I am first to admit that I have been wrong when it comes to this line of thinking. Not only do I admit my thinking has been wrong, I'm immediately going to do my best to walk daily. Some recent studies have proven how valuable walking is to long-term health."

Helene Zemel presents GeneWize LifeMap™ Alert Chocolate Chews posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "GeneWize Life Sciences has just released the LifeMap™ Alert Chocolate Energy Chews. With LifeMap™ Alert you get all the health benefits of chocolate without the calories, fat, sugars, or dairy that you would find in chocolate candy."

Scientific Living presents How to Choose a Supplement posted at Scientific Living, saying, "A guide on how to navigate through the myriad of supplement choices, and find something that is affordable, effective, and safe."

Darwin presents Will Resveratrol Benefits Create the Biggest Blockbuster Drug Ever? posted at Darwin's Finance, saying, "This article highlights how the "fountain of life" drug resveratrol with weight loss benefits may be the biggest blockbuster drug ever - but thinks about supplements vs FDA approved source."

Sarah Scrafford presents The Twitter Diet: 100 Tips, Tools, and Twitter Feeds for Your Weight Loss posted at Ultrasound Technician Schools, saying, “Twitter is a powerful tool for both business people and the regular Joes and Janes. From marketing to sharing information to creating community, Twitter does it all. Now, Twitter has become a new way to help people lose weight too.” Editor’s note: This is an excellent resource for those that are interested in weight loss.

Andy presents 100 Weight Loss Tips & Tricks posted at Personal Hack, saying, "The following 100 weight loss tips are divided into 4 sections: Get Moving, Adjust Your Eating Habits, Adjust Your Thinking, and Additional Tips." Editor’s note: The author provides some very good weight loss suggestions and tips.

vegefood presents Spicy Chicken with Green Chillies Vegetarian Culinary Recipes posted at Vegetarian Culinary, saying, "Great vegetarian culinary recipe for spicy chicken with the delicious green chillies. Mmm!" Editor’s note: You will find some good healthy recipes on this site.

Alisha Harmann presents What Are Superfoods? Top 10 Facts (and Myths) posted at My Health, saying, “Superfoods are foods said to be able to improve your health and are sometimes touted as having abilities that so called "normal foods" do not.” Editor’s note: The author presents 10 facts and myths about superfoods.

South Beach Steve presents Cinnamon, Diabetes, and Heart Health posted at Log My Loss. Editor’s note: The author sites numerous studies showing the beneficial effects of cinnamon on blood sugar.

Margaret Garcia presents Walk the Path to Good Health posted at Dental Assisting School. Editor’s note: Good article on the benefits of walking as an exercise.

Chris presents How to Feel Your Chi Energy in Just Ten Minutes posted at Martial Development, saying, "Qigong is popular form of preventative medicine. Learn the basics here."

Kasha Deveine presents Ban the Treadmill! The Role of Cardio Exercise in Losing Weight and Burning Fat posted at Ask Kasha, saying, “I’d like to introduce you to High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), the key to getting all the benefits of cardio in an exercise program that will blast away fat, increase growth hormones and change the way you look in minimum time.”

Phil B. presents Bodybuilding Problems posted at Phil for Humanity, saying, "I always wondered if extreme bodybuilding has any bad effects on the human body."

Cory presents How To Change Your Eating Habits posted at Eating Healthy, saying, "By the time we become aware of the fact that we need to change the way we have been eating, for our entire life, we are kind of attached to it."

Cash Tree presents Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Aging posted at Acids and Aging, saying, "Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness in industrialized countries. DHA is a key fatty acid found in the retina. Epidemiological studies examining the association between DHA or fish intake and AMD have generally shown a protective relationship”

Nancy Miller presents 50 Best Foods for Weight Loss posted at Radiography Schools, saying, “This list of 50 delicious super foods will help you lose weight, stay healthy and feel great. Fit one of two of these foods into your diet each day to keep yourself looking fabulous and away from the doctor.”

pnreddy presents Healthy Food Choices For Children posted at Fitness Health Zone.com, saying, “There are many nutritious foods you can offer that your children will love to eat.”

Sarah Scrafford presents 100 Nutrition Tips for Before, During, and After Pregnancy posted at Healthcare Administration Degree, saying, “Nutrition is an important element of pregnancy beginning before conception and continuing until after the baby is born. Here you’ll find helpful tips to ensure you understand all you need to when it comes to nutrition and your pregnancy–before, during, and after.”

Robert Galway presents Ab Workouts posted at robertgalway.com, saying, "Ab workouts are meant to train the abs as a muscle group to make them defined or larger and not target the area for fat burning. I know people that are super lean but they over train there abs and not a single one pops out. Ab workouts are a dime a dozen these days but most people are focusing on the wrong type of exercises in their quest for six pack abs. Regular crunches and situps are out and swiss ball exercises are in if you are seeking the very best ab workout. We hear it all the time that if you want to burn fat then you have to get off your couch and stop watching so much television."

Joshua presents How to Help Your Child Lose Weight posted at Family and Parenting, saying, "Childhood obesity is an epidemic. Here are some tips on how to help your child lose weight.

Ashley Cook presents How to Get a Good Workout on a Treadmill posted at Healthy Living Tips, saying, "Tips to get a good workout on a treadmill."

SwissTgallery presents Sticking With Your Home Workout Routine posted at healthy diet, saying, "You can often find motivation in dedication. When you truly make up your mind to see something through, it can be motivating. However, on days when the motivation isn’t there, dedication needs to be present to carry you through. Don’t give yourself an option to workout, make it a necessity, a daily requirement. More than likely you will find that you will never regret a workout after the fact."

Darryl Kimball presents Weight Loss 4 Dumb Asses - My Dumb Ass Work Out Book - Are You Mentally Conditioned to Stay Overweight? posted at www.weightloss4dumbasses.com, saying, "Has the constant advertising of the diet, weight loss, and fitness industry convinced you that losing weight is difficult. Have you been convinced that it takes a lot of time, or that it is just too hard, or that it takes money to lose weight? Perhaps you have allowed yourself to become mentally conditioned to stay overweight!"

Steve Faber presents Belly Fat Loser » How to Lose Belly Fat – An Easy to Follow Plan for Success posted at Belly Fat Loser, saying, “Although it’s has been known for quite some time that the layer of fat surrounding your abdominal organs wasn’t healthy, the dangers appear to far more serious than was originally thought.”

Jack presents Urban Fitness posted at Urban Lover, saying, "Some tips for getting fit while living in the inner city."

Save Money on Health Care and Health Insurance

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Get The Right Coverage! Insurance Policies You Need and Those To Avoid posted at The Digerati Life. Editor’s note: The author explains the different types of insurance available plus some sources for getting quotes.

MatthewPaulson presents What Are Health Savings Accounts and Should I Have One? posted at Fine-Tuned Finances, saying, “an HSA can be set up to help pay for costs associated with high deductible health care plans and do so from a tax-advantaged position.” Editor’s note: Health savings accounts are explained by the author.

MatthewPaulson presents How to Pay off a Big Medical Bill posted at Fine-Tuned Finances, saying, “Each year, more than 80 million people struggle to pay medical bills in reality they can not fit into their budget. Additionally 700,000 are forced into bankruptcy because of medically-related expenses. So what do you do if you have a whopper of a bill you can not afford to pay?” Editor’s note: Many people don’t realize that medical bills can be negotiated.

The Smarter Wallet presents 12 Ways To Save On Drugs: Cut Your Medication Costs posted at The Smarter Wallet. Editor’s note: These 12 tips will help you save money on prescription drugs.

Carl Stevens presents Three Ways to Find Affordable Health Insurance posted at Three Ways to Lower Your Health Insurance Premium, saying, "How to lower the cost of your health insurance premium without changing your type of health insurance or level of coverage."

Debt Freedom Fighter presents The Benefits of Insurance for Your Family posted at Discover Debt Freedom!, saying, “It is very important to obtain the different types of insurance that may be needed by your family prior to an adverse event occurring, as that is what insurance is supposed to protect you from. The numerous benefits of insurance for your family can only be obtained if the insurance policy is in place before the unexpected occurs.”

J.D. Bell presents Barack Tells Congress To Get Off Their Pork-Filled Butts posted at It Takes Work, saying, "Mr. Obama is getting a little impatient with his Legislative backup singers." Editor’s note: An interesting perspective on healthcare reform.

Jack Schmidt presents Health Insurance Can Improve Your Love Life posted at SectorMatic Money Journal, saying, "Personal Finance - Everything for the Big Spender on a Budget. Now you can live like a fat cat, even if you're on a money diet. Laugh all the way to the bank with Jack Schmidt and SectorMatic. It's for you!" Editor’s note: A humorous look at a serious subject—health insurance.

Miscellaneous

Ashley Cook presents Spring Cleaning and Women's Health posted at Healthy Living Tips, saying, "Some natural alternatives for cleaning around the house."

Lucy presents Uncovering the True You posted at Lucy's Life, saying, "Why do so many of us not truly know ourselves?"

Lucky Balaraman presents When I Called God with a Complaint posted at Calm and Cool. Editor’s note: You will enjoy this story.

Susan Johnston/Julie Salickram/Allan-Michael Brown/Megan Johnson/Chris Gesualdi presents Boston’s Best Outdoor Dining Options The Blog @ Directory of Boston posted at The Blog @ Directory of Boston, saying, "Now that warm weather is returning to Boston, this is prime time for al fresco dining. Here's a list of 5 favorite Boston outdoor restaurants."

Ruoall Chapman presents Everything you need to know about how to Make Online Beats posted at Make Online Beats. Editor’s note: This article is a must read if you are considering a career in the music industry. As a pianist and teacher, I know that music can help with cognitive development and concentration.

Ruoall Chapman presents Online Spyware Removal posted at Online Spyware Removal. The author presents some good information and reviews on antispyware.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of take charge of your health care using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: take charge of your health care, blog carnival.

GeneWize LifeMap™ Alert Chocolate Chews

I am pleased to announce that GeneWize Life Sciences has just released the LifeMap™ Alert Chocolate Energy Chews. This is the first of the GeneWize LifeStyle Boosts products to be released to the general public.

Researchers have found that certain compounds in chocolate cause the brain to release endorphins which are chemicals that make us feel good. Other compounds in chocolate improve cognitive function, increase energy, and help normalize appetite. A study led by Professor Ian MacDonald of the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom found that “consumption of a cocoa drink rich in flavanols — a key ingredient of dark chocolate — boosts blood flow to key areas of the brain for two to three hours” thus improving cognitive ability. (Science Daily)

Chocolate is also rich in the same polyphenol antioxidants found in red wine. Antioxidants have been scientifically proven to protect the body against free radical damage—one of the main causes of premature aging and artery-clogging plaque, a main cause of atherosclerosis. According to Penny Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., a registered dietitian at Pennsylvania State University: “New and yet-to-be-published studies are showing that antioxidants in chocolate -- dark chocolate and cocoa powder -- may increase "good" (HDL) cholesterol levels by as much as 10 percent.” (CNN.com) Other studies have shown that consuming chocolate can indeed lower blood pressure, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation.

LifeMap™ Alert Chews are a low calorie chocolate-based confection containing a patented dietary supplement called Chocamine®. Chocamine® is a cocoa extract containing an exclusive blend of the compounds associated with the health benefits of chocolate without the calories, fat, sugars, or dairy that you would find in chocolate candy. The result is a clinically tested product that has all the benefits of chocolate without the drawbacks!

For more information on LifeMap™ Alert Chews, visit

www.customizednutrition4u.com or contact me at 888-404-8363 to order.

Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival May 29, 2009

Welcome to the May 2009 edition of take charge of your health care. This is our getting ready for summer edition. As I write this, it is Memorial Day weekend here in the United States. It is a time to reflect on the sacrifice made by our men and women in uniform to keep us safe. It is a tragedy that man has to resort to killing others in the name of war and over the millennia has not learned to live in harmony with his or her fellow human kind. Fortunately most of us are very helpful to one another. Even after the terrible tragedy of 9/11 that took place only about 26 miles from where I live on Long Island, New York, I was heartened to see all of the people who came to the aid of the victims and our city. Those of us who are health care writers and/or practitioners are doing our part in bringing helpful information to others. Thanks for your contributions to this carnival.

The H1N1 Swine Flu has been in the news lately. We have a number of articles which address this issue. Do your best to keep your immune system healthy and get plenty of rest while this pandemic is going on. Also use common sense techniques such as frequent hand washing and staying out of large crowds when possible.

My roses bloomed early this year. I already brought some cut roses into the house, and I am about to have a yard full of roses. This brings us to the subject of healthy outdoor living. As always, our readers have brought us some good and timely information.

Healthcare reform is very much in the news here in the U.S. We have some good articles on health insurance as well as some tips on how to save money on your healthcare. On an editorial note, one of the problems that we have here in the U.S., is that our healthcare system was originally set up to be an employer pay system. With the recession and fewer companies able to pay the exorbitant cost, this system has led to 47 million uninsured Americans and even more underinsured. I'm sorry to see that Obama is thinking more along the lines of a hybrid system, including a choice of business and a national system, when a single payer universal system would offer the best cost savings. I do believe that our president is concerned about the state of healthcare in this country, and any reform will be very welcome.

Because of the success that I have had with this carnival, I am starting a new carnival next month called “The Work at Home Family Carnival.” The host blog for this carnival will be: www.workathomemom-dad.blogspot.com. Read the article http://workathomemom-dad.blogspot.com/2009/05/introducing-work-at-home-family.html which introduces the new carnival for more information.

I had over 200 submissions to Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival this month. Please limit your submissions to just 2 per author per carnival. To keep the carnival fresh and interesting, starting next month, I will no longer publish weight loss blog posts. If you feel that you have new and ground breaking information on the subject of weight loss, you can e-mail me directly for consideration of your article otherwise it will not be posted. Also, if your post looks like an ad, and I can’t post a comment, your submission will not be posted. Also, make sure that your article is readable. I will also not list products or diets that I feel are extreme or unsafe. Thanks for your cooperation.

Alternative Medicine

Helene Zemel presents Sound Advice from Vice President Biden on Protecting Your Family from the Flu posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, “Much ado has been made about Vice President Joe Biden’s remark on advice that he would give his own family members on how to protect against the H1N1 flu better known as the Swine Flu.”

Deb Serani presents A Life of "Weisure" posted at Dr. Deb, saying, "this post looks at the trend of "Weisure". How we are blurring work and leisure and leaving little time for refueling."

Kelly Sonora presents 25 Ancient, Proven Home Remedies With Science Behind Them posted at Nursing Assistant Guides. Editor’s note: Many herbs have proven medicinal benefits. This is a good list to start with.

floid presents Raw Garlic for Your Health posted at Branches Of Health, saying, For centuries now, people have been using garlic to treat numerous conditions and ailments and these people have been reeping the garlic benefits.”

Kalidasda presents 30 Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue Natural Healing and Back Pain Relief posted at Natural Healing and Applied Kinesiology, saying, “Do you feel tired all the time? Maybe you get plenty of sleep and just don’t feel rested. Or maybe you have trouble sleeping. Low energy? Difficulty thinking or focusing? These are all symptoms of adrenal fatigue.”

Kalidasda presents Broken Bone Healing In Half The Time Or Better, My New Broken Arm posted at Natural Healing and Applied Kinesiology. Editor’s note: Supplements can help bones heal quicker.

Tami Blodgett presents Emotional Release through Time Empowerment Techniques posted at Online Wellness: A Safe Haven, saying, "Achieving Professional Excellence: Whether you’re already succeeding in your profession, having some difficulties, or if you’re transitioning into a new position, NLP and Time Empowerment™ techniques can help you achieve, maintain and enhance excellence. Achieving Personal Excellence: Whether in your family life, personal relationships, health, or breaking through a creative barrier, Time Empowerment™ techniques can help you break through limitations and achieve the results you desire."

Megan Wong presents SWINE FLU FAST BASIC FACTS posted at Sinus Home Remedy. Editor’s note: Some timely information on the H1N1 flu pandemic that has hit Mexico and the United States.

Megan Wong presents Are You Willing To Use Antibiotics For Sinus Infections following Mother Nature Secrets posted at Sinus Home Remedy, saying, “Do you know that antibiotics for sinus infections are abundantly provided by our Plant Kingdom, but antibiotics in its most natural form having fewer side effects than prescribed drugs and are very effective in treating sinus infections.”

Terry Young presents Could Magnetic Therapy Be The Answer ? posted at How To Relieve Chronic Low Back Pain, saying, "It is truly a time-tested therapy, which has been around since 2000 BC. The Ancient Chinese, Egyptians, Indians and Greeks were among the first to use it and give recognition to its’ therapeutic benefits."

Brandon Harshe presents Oil Changes and Upper Cervical Adjustments: A Close Similarity The Atlas of Life posted at The Atlas of Life, saying, “Just like getting an oil change maintains the health of your vehicle, getting your Upper Cervical spine checked and/or adjusted on a regular basis is key to allowing your body to function at 100%.”

WP presents 5 Simple Ways to Boost Your Immune Health posted at The Conscious Life, saying, "With A (H1N1) flu virus on the loose, it is all the more important to strengthen our immunity. Find out how you can strengthen your immune health and ward off bacteria and viruses with these natural and easy-to-use methods."

floid presents Help Keep Small Farms Alive!! posted at Branches Of Health, saying, “Buying locally is a great way to ensure that the food you are eating IS safe. These farmers’ livelihood depends on their reputation and word of mouth; they cannot risk doing anything that could compromise their products.”

00FF00 presents Repel mosquitoes naturally - 5 tips by Rachelle Strauss – ooffoo.com posted at ooffoo, saying, "Five safe and natural remedies for mosquitoes. Read on for alternatives to the many over the counter remedies for mosquitoes which contain harmful ingredients"

Marrian Garzon presents Relieve Back Muscle Pain posted at Back Pain Relief Tips, saying, “Almost everyone who has back muscle pain can warm up to the idea of soothing sore, aching muscles with heat. But who ever heard of treating your back muscle pain by curling up in bed with a shockingly cold ice pack?”

Marrian Garzon presents Low Back Pain posted at Back Pain Relief Tips, saying, “Whether you have recently had an acute case of low back pain, or have a chronic and ongoing painful condition, you can begin to address your needs with some basic preparation exercises.”

Jocke Adepoju presents 5 Plants Used for Eczema Treatment posted at Eczema Treatment, saying, “You may not know it yet, but a natural eczema treatment may be right in your garden or kitchen.”

Jocke Adepoju presents Best Supplement for Mood Swings posted at Mood Swings, saying, “Moods swings are not a disease or condition in and of themselves. They are actually a symptom of a condition. Unless the condition was caused by an underlying disease, mood swings can often be attributed to a vitamin and mineral deficiency.”

Carole Gold presents Miracle Healing posted at Carole Gold, saying, "A miracle healing following medical negligence."

Wendy Brook presents Internal Hemorrhoids posted at Hemorrhoid Treatment, saying, "Informative blog about internal hemorrhoids and its nature"

Beauty (Healthy Hair and Skin)

Local Nourishment presents To Screen or Nourish: Summer Skin posted at Local Nourishment, saying, “What if moderation really is the key and a time spent each day in bright sunlight and fresh air will help our body cleanse itself and remain healthier in the long run?”

Melanie presents How to Get Rid of Skin tags posted at How to Get Rid Of, saying, "If you have been struggling with skin tags, you must be looking for a way to get rid of them!"

PK Shukla presents Latest Beauty Tips posted at Fenny Lopez, saying, "We at Latest Beauty Tips look forward to provide you the best. Latest-Beauty-Tips.com is a platform to discuss about beauty tips, fashion, health care, weight loss, cosmetic surgery, makeup trick and lot of similar issues. Please feel free to post all feedback, concerns, comments & suggestions here."

Farid presents Mineral Makeup Jane Iredale, GloMinerals, Mineral Cosmetics posted at Mineral Makeup101, saying, "One of the most popular types of makeup to take the beauty cosmetics market by storm is something called Mineral Makeup. These are cosmetics products formulated with all natural, finely ground minerals from the earth, minus the chemicals, dyes, and preservatives found in traditional makeup. From foundations to loose powders and blushes, there's now a wide variety of mineral makeup products at a wide variety of prices, ranging from less than $12 to more than $55 per product."

Farid presents Puffiness around Eyes Treat, Reduce Under Eye Puffiness posted at Puffiness around the eye, saying, "At one time or another, we've all experienced a day when we've had puffiness under the eyes, something we also often call "bags" under the eyes. What we perceive as puffiness is a form of fluid buildup under the skin. Some degree of puffiness can be normal, which is something that varies with each individual. However, certain internal and external factors can exasperate the puffiness."

Courtney presents Healthy Hair Means A Healthy Internal Body posted at Female and Proud, saying, "Eating foods that are high in B vitamins are crucial to the development of healthy hair." Editor’s note: I have a problem with the link to the article itself, so click on Female and Proud and scroll down to read the article.

Consumer Driven Health Care

Beth L. Gainer presents A Train Car Named Quagmire posted at Calling the Shots, saying, "This is a true story of my self-advocacy in a public arena: a train car, whose passengers got to see and hear first-hand how to advocate for oneself through the medical system." Editor’s note: This is a great post on the importance of self advocacy.

Beth L. Gainer presents 'You're Too Young for Breast Cancer' posted at Calling the Shots, saying, "This article reminds everyone that doctors can be wrong when they say a person is too young to get breast cancer."

Erika Collin presents How to Prepare for a Pandemic: 100 Tips, Tools, and Resources posted at Masters in Health Care. Editor’s note: The author has presented some excellent tips and resources to help you prepare for a possible flu pandemic.

Erika Collin presents 25 Best Twitter Feeds to Follow the Swine Flu posted at Masters of Healthcare. Editor’s note: You will want to follow these twitter feeds from government and news organizations for breaking news on swine flu.

Concerning Kids presents Raising A Highly Sensitive Child posted at Concerning Kids. Editor’s note: One of the most important things that you can do as a parent is to help your child develop his or her self esteem. This will give them the confidence to do well and help them avoid mental health problems.

Kelly Sonora presents 25 Excellent Social Media Sites for Your Health posted at Nursing Assistant Guides. Editor’s note: The author has provided an excellent resource of social media sites that provide health news.

Stanley Samuel presents A glimpse into the future IV - Cancer Research posted at Wall & Main. Editor’s note: This article shows some encouraging cancer research progress.

Mesquite Pete presents Interesting Facts About Mosquitoes posted at Mosquito Basics, saying, "Mosquitoes are annoying, but when you really start to study them, you can find out some surprisingly interesting things about them."

Mesquite Pete presents How to Treat Mosquito Bites posted at Mosquito Basics, saying, "Everything you need to know about treating a mosquito bite."

Sam presents NEW !! Prevent and Cure Colon Cancer posted at Surfer Sam and Friends, saying, "We know how to prevent and cure colon cancer. But colon cancer still killed over 56,000 men and women last year. Many of them didn't have to die. Ninety percent of colon cancer can be prevented and cured. A simple exam called a colonoscopy can detect and remove the cause of colon cancer."

Roy Schwartz presents Abdominal Pain – Is It Serious? posted at A Disease A Day. Editor’s note: Very informative post. Good information.

Alvaro Fernandez presents Maintain Your Brain and Stay Sharp: An Upcoming Guide and Resource posted at SharpBrains, saying, "You may be reading all about brain fitness and brain training. It seems every week brings a new barrage of articles and studies which often contradict what you read the month before: Does Gingko Biloba help delay Alzheimer’s Disease? Can physical exercise help you stay sharp as you age? Which computer-based “brain fitness programs”, if any, are worth your money?"

Amy B. Scher presents Medical Tourism: Tips To Start Your Journey posted at Healthcare Hacks. Editor’s note: This is an informative post on the subject of medical tourism.

Debbie Ducker presents Eye Exercises to Naturally Correct Vision posted at Plugged-N Free RSS Blog Advertising, saying, "I found this article and was so impressed with it I had to pass it on. It" Editor’s note: The author presents information on visual training and eye exercises to improve your vision.

Abdulrasool Sumar presents Prevention of Lung Cancer when You are at Risk, or when You Already Have Lung Cancer posted at Mesothelioma, saying, "As the old adage goes, prevention is better than cure! In this topic, we will explore the types of things you should do to prevent or avoid developing lung cancer if you don't already have it. If you do already have it, we will discuss how to minimize the symptoms, live a better life and steps to better pain management. Some reasons why patients could potentially develop lung cancer include exposure to Asbestos or Radon, smoking cigarettes or tobacco related products, second-hand smoke, or if your family member has lung cancer and you are close to that person or through other environmental factors."

Roy Schwartz presents Chest Pain – Is It a Heart Attack? posted at A Disease A Day. Editor’s note: The author provides good information on the possible causes of chest pain.

Victoria Jennings presents Thoughts On Vaccines posted at My Path, saying, "With the swine flu in the media, let us talk about vaccines some."

nissim ziv presents Reasons to Quit Smoking Cigarettes Why Quit Smoking? posted at Quit Smoking Guide. Editor’s note: The author presents 13 good reasons to quit smoking.

nissim ziv presents What to expect when you Quit Smoking Cigarettes posted at Quit Smoking Guide, saying, “Quitting Smoking is not an easy task. However, you have the best chance of quitting if you are clear in mind what you are up against.”

Yoav B presents Things you know that you don't know posted at Israeli Soldier's LIFE & THOUGHTS, saying, "Funny post about medicine in the Israeli army, and probably any other typical army medicine out there"

Den Levin presents Specific Phobias Battle Anxiety: Tips to Help Reduce And Control Anxiety posted at Battle Anxiety, saying, "A specific phobia is a type of anxiety disorder."

Vichuda presents Indonesia Combat Aids Ignorance posted at Kota Medan City Indonesia, saying, “These tragedies remind us that people living with HIV/AIDS are still vulnerable to human rights violations such as discrimination as well as social exclusion. These heartbreaking stories show how hard it is for such people to live with dignity.”

Dental Care

Peggy presents Natural tooth care and no more morning breath posted at Local Nourishment. Editor’s note: The author has done considerable research on ingredients that kill mouth bacteria and shares a recipe for a home made mouth wash.

samuel james presents Dentists - Why Do We Need To Go and Should We Fear Them? posted at Take Care Of Your Teeth. Editor’s note: Dental anxiety is a common problem. Be sure to seek out a dentist who will help you feel more relaxed and comfortable in the dental chair.

Aparna presents Sanitize your toothbrush posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "We often neglect little things of life; but little things do matter"

Diet & Fitness

Helene Zemel presents Despite the Weak Economy, Sales of Nutritional Supplements are Up posted at Work at Home Mom and Dad, saying, "Since the start of the economic recession, we read every day how retail sales are down for almost every product category including cars, restaurant meals, clothing, jewelry, and movies and entertainment. Despite the gloomy economic picture, there is one bright light. Sales of nutritional supplements have been increasing."

South Beach Steve presents Cinnamon, Diabetes, and Heart Health posted at Log My Loss. Editor’s note: The author reports on research showing the beneficial effects of cinnamon on blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides.

FitBuff presents Top 10 Lower Cholesterol Foods posted at FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog, saying, "You may be able to lower your cholesterol without expensive medications by eating more of these lower cholesterol foods..."

robert galway presents Sports and Fitness posted at robertgalway.com, saying, "Active people are also spending more and more time in fitness clubs, working to stay in shape so they can play the sports they love. Baby boomers have more time than ever before to be active, and there are also many who take to fitness to combat health issues such as obesity."

robert galway presents What is Healthy Eating posted at robertgalway.com, saying, What is healthy eating? It’s eating the types and amounts of foods that promote the best possible health for you within the limits of your environmental and genetic makeup."

Verna Morris presents 25 Bookmark-worthy Cheat Sheets for Healthy Living posted at Nursing Assistant Guides, saying, “You are what you eat, and others are making it easier to find those healthy food choices.”

lavender presents High-Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury, study finds posted at News for Freedom Daily. Editor’s note: We all need to be aware of the mercury levels in our foods.

Joel Gray presents Learn About The History And Health Benefits Of Sassafras Tea posted at Health Tips 101, saying, “When turning to herbal tea, it is best for individuals to approach them with care. They should learn everything they can about a product, before introducing it to their bodies. This way they can get all the health benefits of tea, without the harmful effects!”

Kara-Leah Grant presents Am I a bad yogi because I want to eat steak? posted at Prana Flow NZ, saying, "You’re practicing yoga and you want to eat vegan, yet every time you go out to dinner all you feel like eating is steak. What to do, what to do?"

FitJerk presents Grunt You Wimp! - Increase Power In Your Workouts posted at FlawlessFitness, saying, "Today we are going to cover a controversial topic that can actually increase your power output by 20% when you understand how to use it!"

FitJerk presents Building Muscle Mass By Eating More? Carbs? Why Gluconeogenesis Is Your Enemy posted at FlawlessFitness, saying, "Most know that protein is the fundamental element that you need to eat to build rock hard muscles, and carbs are something you should cut down on to avoid getting fat. Right? WRONG! Learn the secret carb to protein ratio that explodes muscle mass!"

Chris presents These Tough Guys Did Martial Arts…For Health posted at Martial Development, saying, "Arthritis, bronchitis, cancer...these are just a few of the many conditions that have been cured through the practice of martial arts."

Renato Garcia presents $1000 Million Secret: RESVERATROL posted at FOUNTAIN of YOUTH: secrets revealed, saying, "Resveratrol is one of the most exciting antioxidants out there, as it’s been found to extend life, prevent Alzheimer’s disease and inhibit the spread of cancer."

Local Nourishment presents But how much sugar is that posted at Local Nourishment. The author reports on a website that lets you actually visualize the sugar content of foods. You will be in for a surprise when you view these graphics.

Ralph Jean-Paul presents Lessons Learned During My Self-Discipline Fast posted at ralphs words, saying, "The benefits and lessons I learned during a challenging juice fast."

Tristan presents Diet And Fitness Program posted at Body And Fitness Blog, saying, "A useful article about diet and fitness to help get you into shape and losing weight quickly."

Mike Robbins presents Wedding Weight Loss posted at BODY SOLID FITNESS, saying, "Every year about this time I get e-mails from brides to be, in a panic."

Pius Ephenus presents Better Living Through Technology posted at http://www.wellnessfitnessblogger.com/, saying, "You can do a lot to improve your physical fitness in your living room, your garden or even sitting at the dinner table, if you have the time and inclination and the needs that can be served by such a regime. But depending on the levels of fitness you may be trying to attain, there are certainly ways and means to ramp up how much you can improve on different aspects of your fitness."

Pius Ephenus presents You Are What You Eat posted at http://www.wellnessfitnessblogger.com/, saying, "There are many drawbacks to having a poor diet. Not only will constant takeaways and microwave meals cause you to put on weight, they will have an effect on so many other parts of your make-up that you will suffer more than you can possibly believe. The effects on the waistline are the first that people will notice, but you will also have less energy, your skin will suffer and there is plenty of evidence to suggest that your mental well-being will be affected as well. Your body needs the nutrients that fresh food provides, otherwise it will suffer. "

Cash Tree presents Omega 3 Fatty Acids and the Heart posted at Omega 3 Fatty Acids and the Heart, saying, "The mechanisms by which omega 3 fatty acids reduce CVD risk remain under investigation. However, research to date suggests that ALA, EPA and DHA can lower risk of mortality from heart disease. The omega 3"s can reduce the chance of uncontrolled heart rhythms and developing fatal blood clots, two major causes of heart disease deaths. Omega 3's, therefore, lower the chances that heart attacks will be fatal"

Dejan Banovic presents All About What You Gain posted at Weight Loss Writings, saying, “Well, losing weight is just like quitting smoking, the more good reasons you have to do it, the more likely you are to act on it and make it happen.”

Dejan Banovic presents Melt That FAT Away! posted at Weight Loss Writings, saying,” permanent weight loss requires you to make changes to your lifestyle. If you do not change your lifestyle then no matter what diet or supplement you choose, weight loss is temporary and short lived.”

Jack Russel presents Buy Acai And Get These Benefits posted at Pure Acai - Acai Berry Info Blog, saying, "No other food known has been as widely ascribed with health benefits as acai berries. These small blue-purple berries have a vast wealth of nutrients stored in them. These nutrients and other benefits have made The Acai berry widely recommended by health specialists and dieticians."

C. Anderson presents Should You Try Jenny Craig? Losing Weight Feels Great posted at Simplicity for Weight Loss Success, saying, "Jenny Craig is a popular weight loss program. Is it for you?"

Cory presents Sneaky Sources Of Sugar In Your Diet posted at Eating Healthy, saying, "Cutting back on sugar is a key factor in losing weight."

Cory presents What Is The Mediterranean Diet? posted at Eating Healthy, saying, "Description of the Mediterranean Diet."

Paul Hooper presents A Real Deal Body Transformation System posted at online-niche-store.com, saying, "Whether it be just a couple of extra pounds or 50 or more pounds you want to lose and develop a solid muscle structure, it is possible for all of us..."

Health Insurance

jim presents Negotiating Your Medical Bills posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity. Editor’s note: Did you know that you can negotiate with your doctor or hospital for better rates. The author tells you how.

marjorie presents Where to Start With COBRA posted at Wealth Junkies, saying, "The idea behind COBRA is fairly well known. Federal law requires insurance companies to give employees the ability to continue health insurance coverage after they leave a job. The exact amount of time a person can hang on to COBRA coverage after leaving a job varies and coverage can be expensive — but under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, it’s possible to get a subsidy towards COBRA coverage. But understanding your access to COBRA coverage requires a little more knowledge than the basics."

Corbett Barr presents You made the country more productive, so why can’t you get health care? posted at Free Pursuits. Editor’s note: The author writes about the difficulties and expense for self employed people in finding affordable health insurance.

Jim DeSantis presents 3 Major Ways Your Life Insurance Company May Be Scamming You posted at On Line Tribune Health, saying, "You are being foolish by not having Life Insurance to cover your dependents in the eventuality of your untimely death. At the same time, there are integrity issues surrounding Life Insurance companies and smooth-talking agents you need to watch for. Here are the 3 major ways that some Life Insurance companies and agents can scam you."

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Get The Right Coverage! Insurance Policies You Need and Those To Avoid posted at The Digerati Life, saying, " What insurance policies should we own? From auto insurance coverage to health insurance and homeowner’s policies, we discuss what coverage to get and what we consider optional.”

Biotunes presents Tax corn products for health care posted at Bioblog by Biotunes, saying, "Some ways we could find the money for a universal, government health plan"

Save Money on Health Care

The Smarter Wallet presents 12 Ways To Save On Drugs: Cut Your Medication Costs posted at The Smarter Wallet. Editor’s note: These 12 tips will definitely save you money on your prescription drugs.

Buck Weber presents Save Money on Meds posted at THE BUCK LIST, saying, "How do you get the highest quality drugs you need for the lowest price? One option is to purchase what you need using the internet."

Joe E presents Bartering for Lower Health Care Costs?…Sounds Strange but Works! posted at Promote Health, saying, "The tried-and-true technique of bartering doesn't just work at flea markets, car dealerships, or when purchasing a home - it applies to health care as well. Here's how..."

CreditCardAssist.com presents Paying Medical Bills With Credit Cards posted at Credit Card Assist, saying, “It is becoming more and more common for people with high medical bills to pay for them with credit cards.” Editor’s note: If you are without health insurance, try negotiating rates with your health care provider or hospital. A discount health plan can do this for you.

Women’s Health

SJ presents Birthing Position That Makes Your Delivery Easy posted at Pregnancy Info, saying, "Certain birthing positions are more comfortable than others."

Pregnancy Hut presents Preparing for Your Baby ?Recipes that Freeze Well posted at Pregnancy Calendar, saying, "Preparing meals and freezing them is good planning when having a baby."

Jack Russel presents What You Should Know About Acai And Pregnancy posted at Acai Berry Info Blog, saying, "Do acai and pregnancy go together? Is Acai supplements safe to take during the entire pregnancy? The answers will surprise you."

Miscellaneous

Cash Tree presents ?Organic? Is More Than Just Edibles posted at Organic Baby Wearhouse, saying, "When we tell people about Organic Baby Wearhouse, all too often the response is "How are clothes even organic" or "How is organic any better than regular baby clothing". More and more people are beginning to accept and embrace organic foods, but when it comes to clothing there is often a disconnect. Many just don't understand the problems with traditionally produced clothing and the benefits (health and environmental) of organic baby clothing."

David Miller presents Software to send you to sleep posted at Windows Mac and Mobile. Editor’s note: Try these to help you get to sleep.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of take charge of your health care using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: take charge of your health care, blog carnival.

Introducing a New Blog Carnival

Due to the success of the Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival which appears monthly on this blog, I have decided to publish a new blog carnival, The Work at Home Family Carnival on http://www.workathomemom-dad.blogspot.com/.

This carnival is for busy moms and dads who work from home and manage a family at the same time. Accepted articles should focus on business solutions and tips for moms, dads, and grandparents who work at home as well as suggestions for managing a busy household while working from home. All articles must have good content, and no more than 2 articles will be accepted per author.

I am looking for blog posts in the following areas: working from home, internet marketing, marketing and advertising tips, quick and easy recipes, family management. I promise to promote the carnival to gain traffic for your posts.

To submit an article to the carnival, visit

www.blogcarnival.com and look for The Work at Home Family Carnival under business or click here. I look forward to reading your submissions.

Sound Advice from Vice President Biden on Protecting Your Family from the Flu

Much ado has been made about Vice President Joe Biden’s remark on advice that he would give his own family members on how to protect against the H1N1 flu better known as the Swine Flu.

Joe Biden made the following remark while a guest on Thursday’s Today show: “I would tell members of my family — and I have — I wouldn’t go anywhere in confined places now... It’s not that it’s going to Mexico. It’s [that] you’re in a confined aircraft. When one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft. That’s me … So, from my perspective, what it relates to is mitigation. If you’re out in the middle of a field when someone sneezes, that’s one thing. If you’re in a closed aircraft or closed container or closed car or closed classroom, it’s a different thing.”

While politically incorrect because it may cause people to think twice before taking an airline trip, or even a bus or train trip, and we all know how much the airline and travel industries are hurting during this economic downturn, Joe Biden’s advice makes a lot of common sense.
From personal experience, we all know that colds and flues travel quickly in confined environments. That is why schools are asked to close down and you see the residents of densely populated Mexico City riding buses and subways wearing facial masks.

I remember an experience many years ago. My husband and I took an escorted 9 day trip to Italy. Upon arrival in Rome, we met our tour director. During the first few days in Rome, we were primarily on our own with a half day escorted tour through Rome. During the remainder of the trip, we spent many long hours riding in a bus with our fellow tour mates as we visited such beautiful destinations as Florence, Venice, and Milan. By the time we reached Venice, many members of our tour group were coming down with severe cold or seasonal flu symptoms. I remember my husband not appreciating Milan very much because he was suffering from a bad cold. By the time we left to go back to New York, I was starting to feel the effects of a cold. So, one way to avoid catching the H1N1 flu is to avoid unnecessary travel in confined spaces. I must add that we were traveling during rainy and chilly April to save money which was right in the heart of flu season.

Of course, most of us can’t avoid traveling in public transportation as we go about our daily commute. In this case, be sure to follow the hygiene advice of our health officials by washing your hands frequently or using a hand sanitizer if you are not near soap and water. Teach your children to cover their mouths when they cough and use tissues when they sneeze. I teach piano, and you would be surprised at the poor hygiene that I seem among the children that I teach. Also, if you are sick, do yourself and others a favor by staying home if you can. You will feel more comfortable and your fellow employees will appreciate your consideration.

Do keep your immune system strong during cold and flu season. Get plenty of rest. Maintain any exercise routines that you follow, but be sure not to overexert yourself or get yourself chilled and sweaty.

A number of nutrients are known to protect immunity. For example antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, carotenoids as well as white tea, green tea, and other fruits and vegetables high in ORAC value (a measure of antioxidant capacity) are known to protect the immune system. There is also proven research that beta glucans found in various types of mushrooms help to protect the immune system by actually helping to activate the body’s macrophages (white blood cells) to help fight infection.

One way to provide your body with the nutrition that it needs to stay fit and resist infection is to take a good nutritional supplement. The

GeneWize LifeMap Nutrition supplement is customized to the individual customer based on a DNA analysis. The GeneWize LifeMap Nutritional formula contains nutrients to correct deficiencies found in the DNA that effect wellness and healthy aging.

The GeneWize LifeMap Nutrition product also contains the ingredients needed to boost the immune system. The GeneWize product contains maitake, shitake, and reishi mushroom extracts for immune boosting beta glucans; white tea, green tea, resveratrol, and broccoli for antioxidant protection; the high antioxidant protection of super fruits: acai, goji, mangosteen, pomegranate and blueberry; and selenium, beta-carotene, vitamin C, A, & E which are vitamins and minerals known for their anti-oxidant protection. LifeMap Nutrition also contains astragalus and AC-11 which help protect the immune system. There is proven research demonstrating that AC-11 can repair DNA. These are just some of the ingredients of the GeneWize nutritional supplement.

Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival April 26, 2009

Welcome to the April 26, 2009 edition of take charge of your health care. Wow! We had over 100 submissions to the Carnival this month. Our Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival is really growing and getting traffic.

Here in the Northeastern United States, April is a time to get out those gardening tools. In an effort to economize during this economic downturn, I decided to do the landscaping myself this year. I am pleased to report that I am getting a great aerobic work-out especially with my non-power tools. I am enjoying the fresh air as well and relaxing my mind as I concentrate on gardening tasks. I’ve got a lot more work to do, so these gardening activities should help this baby boomer stay fit.

I am enjoying watching everything come to life during the month of April, starting with a few crocuses emerging, followed by the beautiful yellow blooms of the forsythia shrubs. Soon the hyacinths and tulips bloomed which is a prelude of more flowers to come. The trees started blooming beginning with the majestic magnolia and soon to be followed by other fruit trees and later the beautiful dogwood trees.

It’s not too soon to be thinking of summer and looking good in that bathing suit. We had many good blog posts about diet and fitness this month. We also had some excellent posts on nutrition, saving money on health care, health insurance, alternative medicine, and consumer driven healthcare. There were also some good blog posts on women’s health, so I will be adding this as a separate category. You will find many good tips in this carnival, but remember to check with a health care provider if you have any questions particularly in relationship to dietary changes. Acceptance in this carnival does not mean that I recommend any particular plan. This is for you, the reader, to decide.

A number of authors submitted multiple submissions to the carnival this month. To keep the carnival manageable and published in a timely manner, I have limited submissions to only 2 per author. While I accept over 90% of article submissions, I am basically looking for family friendly articles on health related topics with good content and decently written. Preferred submissions are true blog posts with comments enabled. Also, a well written comment accompanying your submission will also help to get this carnival out in a timely manner. Spun articles that don’t make sense and blog posts that are primarily advertisements with little or no content will not be published. Thanks for your cooperation.

Alternative Medicine

Alvin Hopkinson presents Tips in Preparing a Diet to Prevent High Blood Pressure posted at High Blood Pressure Treatment and Medication Reviews, saying, "Observing and maintaining a proper diet is often the key solution we arrive at as we evaluate certain causes for high blood pressure. We should be aware that some food, even if it is the right kind should still be handled or prepared in such a way that can prevent high blood pressure."

Alvin Hopkinson presents How to Treat Gout the Easy Way posted at Relief From Gout - How to Gain Comfort, saying, "How to treat gout is what immediately comes into our mind if ever we are diagnosed of having one. The joint lining of the sufferer becomes inflamed resulting to severe pain, warmth, tenderness and redness thereby needing an immediate remedy on how to treat gout."

Joseph Alban, L.Ac. presents What can Acupuncture Treat? posted at Alban Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs Clinic, New York City. Editor’s note: This article is a good introduction into conditions that are helped by acupuncture.

Y Niz presents Exercise Can Reduce Risks Of Diabetes(Natural Cure For Diabetes) posted at Natural Cure For Diabetes, saying, "The 2 types of diabetes are type I and type II. Type I diabetes is characterized by the pancreas making too little or no insulin. An individual with diabetes type I will have to inject insulin throughout the day in order to control glucose levels."

Aparna presents Kapalabhati Pranayam posted at Beauty & Personality Grooming, saying, "Persons doing Kapalabhati will be inhaling a good amount of oxygen which purifies the blood and in turn strengthens the nervous and brain centres. It also gives good massage to the internal abdominal organs. Incorporating Anulom Vilom Pranayam and Kapalabhati breathing exercises in your daily exercise regimen not only cures chronic diseases but also strengthens your immune system, thus, warding off many diseases."

Ann Monahan presents Anxiety and Panic Attacks posted at Find Panic Attack Solutions, saying, "A PANIC ATTACK is the sudden onset of intense anxiety, characterized by feelings of intense fear and apprehension and accompanied by palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, and trembling. This site is dedicated to Finding Panic Attack Solutions."

Megan Wong presents Affordable Sinus Infection Home Remedies posted at Sinus Home Remedy, saying, “Sinus infection home remedies are about discovering sinus home remedies to stimulate your body to stay strong and healthy by using drug-free treatments and most important with no side-effects.”

Ann Monahan presents Rosacea - Banish Embarrassing & Painful Rosacea Symptoms posted at Find Rosacea Treatment Solutions. Editor’s note: This is a review of a book which recommends a natural treatment for Rosacea.

Brett Slansky presents How to treat your Baby’s Eczema: a Healthy Alternative to Steroids and Prescribed Medications posted at Baby-Eczema.net. Editor’s note: Some good advice for handling your child’s eczema.

Cyndi presents Another Simple Way to Release Stress Now posted at Evolution Ezine?Evolution Ezine - Collect your free mind power and self growth gifts, saying, "Feeling down and need a fast way to turn it around? This article gives you a step by step FREE method to improve your mood and decrease negative side affects instantly. It takes very little time and the rewards are endless."

Y Niz presents The Difference Between Anxiety Attacks And Anxiety Reactions(Anxiety Symptoms) posted at Anxiety Symptoms, saying, "Ninety-five-percent of Americans experience Anxiety Reactions occasionally while five-percent are battling to survive Anxiety Attacks almost on a daily basis. In which group are you?"

Farid presents Acne Treatment Products posted at Acne treatment, saying, "Many teens suffer from unsightly blemishes as their hormones fluctuate during puberty, and there is an acne treatment for every teen's skincare needs."

Consumer Driven Health Care

Beth L. Gainer presents Don't Be Complacent posted at Calling the Shots, saying, "This article is about self-advocacy and being proactive in your own health care."

Beth L. Gainer presents The Gateway Doctor posted at Calling the Shots, saying, "This article is about how to find a good primary care physician."

Roy Schwartz presents 5 Genetic Diseases You Might Have And Not Know About, and What You Can Do About Them posted at A Disease A Day. Editor’s note: This is a well written and informative article.

cfgoulart presents What are the Symptoms of Diabetes posted at Your Health n Mind, saying, "A look at the symptoms of diabetes - many people have symptoms, but do not get diagnosed. If you have any of these symptoms, a simple blood test can check for diabetes."

Gary R. presents Basic Camping First Aid posted at Camping Tips, saying, "Nothing ruins your camping trip like a brush with poison ivy, a pesky bee sting or other minor injury."

Joshua Seth presents Reasons to Stop Smoking posted at Joshua Seth Blog, saying, "Want to motivate someone to stop smoking? Then take them to see the “Bodies Exhibition” that’s touring the country. It offers one of the most compelling reasons to stop smoking I’ve ever seen. I just went to it this past weekend in Puerto Rico and was really struck by the room that features the effects of smoking on the lungs."

Verna Morris presents 25 Amazing Nurses on Twitter posted at Online Nursing Degree Guide. Editor’s note: This is a good resource of 25 top nurses and their websites.

Margaret Garcia presents The Top 50 Pharmaceutical News and Research Blogs posted at Pharmacy Technician Certification, saying, to help you find the best of the best in what the web has to offer, we’ve sifted through hundreds of blogs to compile our rankings of the top 50 pharmaceutical news and research blogs.

Ashley Cook presents The Relation between Anxiety & Depression & How to Overcome It posted at Anxiety Go Away, saying, "Anxiety and depression can feed off of each other."

Mesquite Pete presents West Nile Virus posted at Mosquito Basics, saying, "Must know information about the West Nile virus."

Cory presents Coping with Seasonal Allergies posted at Eating Healthy, saying, "As Spring comes upon us, many will begun suffering seasonal allergies."

Nancy Miller presents Physical Therapy Assistant Schools posted at Physical Therapy Assistant Schools. Editor’s note: Some good anti-aging tips.

Den Levin presents Types of Anxiety Disorders posted at Battle Anxiety, saying, "An introduction to the various types of anxiety disorders."

Steve Parkinson presents Mobility Scooters can give you freedom posted at Mobility Scooters Birmingham. Editor’s note: Some good information is presented on mobility scooters.

Steve Norris presents Scooter vs. Wheelchair Power - by Lala B. Mobility Scooters Bradford posted at Mobility Scooters Bradford. Editor’s note: The author provides a good comparison on power wheelchairs vs. mobility scooters.

Farid presents Acne Information101 Acne Facts and Acne Treatments posted at Acne Facts, saying, "Let's start by understanding some key acne facts... Acne is a skin condition marked by inflammatory outbreaks, consisting of lesions and cysts that result from the blockage of hair follicles and pores, which in turn can be caused by a number of factors, including genetics, your body's hormonal balance and changes in hormone levels, skin irritation, stress, hyperactive sebaceous glands, the accumulation of dead skin cell's on the surface of skin, bacteria in skin pores, use of certain medications, and even exposure to certain chemicals. Many people associate diet and acne, because diet can also play a role as a cause"

Beauty

Helene Zemel presents Ground Floor Opportunity with GeneWize Life Sciences posted at Work at Home Mom and Dad, saying, This is an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a revolutionary new health, beauty and wellness company, a subsidiary of a 12 year publicly traded company. At GeneWize, we make a customized nutritional supplement based on an assessment of the customer's DNA. Coming soon will be our LifeStyle Boosts and DNA based skin care program.

Sally Tyler presents Sensible Advice On Body Creams posted at Anti Aging Products 101. Editor’s note: Some good advice on skin care and body creams.

Eric White presents Why not Treat yourself to some spa time? posted at Skin Care Tips and Treats, saying, " If you have a spa or beauty salon near you, the chances are that they have regular promotions offering free or discounted treatments on certain days ."

Eric White presents Skin Care - Things to avoid at all costs posted at Skin Care Tips and Treats. Editor’s note: Some tips to follow when selecting a good skin care product.

Kylie presents Patient Gagging & Your Plastic Surgeon? - Medical Spa MD - Forums and clinical exchange directory listings for Plastic Surgeons, Dermatologists, Cosmetic Physicians, & Med spas, posted at Kylie, saying, "Information on 'patient gagging' for women. Why some plastic surgeons and dermatologists don't want you looking for information about their laser clinic or medical spa online."

Kylie presents Cosmetic Dermatology from the Point of View of a Full-Time, Non-Core Cosmetic Physician - Medical Spa MD - Forums and clinical exchange directory listings for Plastic Surgeons, Dermatologists, Cosmetic Physicians, & Med spas. Editor’s note: This post contains some good information on cosmetic dermatology.

PK Shukla presents Latest Beauty Tips posted at Fenny Lopez, saying, "We at Latest Beauty Tips look forward to provide you the best. Latest-Beauty-Tips.com is a platform to discuss about beauty tips, fashion, health care, weight loss, cosmetic surgery, makeup trick and lot of similar issues. Please feel free to post all feedback, concerns, comments & suggestions here."

Farid presents Lip Treatments, Lip Plumpers and Enhancers, Lip Repair posted at Lip Conditions and Lip Repair, saying, "When it comes to facial skin care, our lips our often the most neglected part of our face, even though they need the most care. The skin on our lips only contain three to five cellular layers, which makes it much thinner than facial skin, which means it's also more sensitive, to weather and other environmental conditions and to health.

Steve Philips presents Various Filler Applications posted at Medicadepot.com The Blog, saying, "The following chart describes the 10 most popular treatments for facial lipoatrophy, how each works and the comparative benefits and risks."

Steve Philips presents Radiesse the long lasting filler posted at Medicadepot.com The Blog, saying, "It’s quite impressive because much like other fillers it gives instant results but over time stimulating collagen production for a longer period of time than Restylane and far longer than collagen."

Diet & Fitness

Helene Zemel presents Introducing GeneWize LifeMap Nutrition™ System posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "All of us have unique nutritional needs. Everyone at some point will feel the effects of aging, but some of us will come down with lifestyle related conditions such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, and even Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases much sooner than others. Now you can have a customized nutritional supplement based on an assessment of your DNA to address this problem."

FitJerk presents What Is MSG & Why You Should Avoid It! posted at FlawlessFitness, saying, "Information about the dangers of MSG and why you should avoid it." Editor’s note: This is a must read. The food industry uses many different names to disguise the use of MSG.

Irene Rivera presents Phytosterols in Acai Found to Reduce Bad Cholesterol posted at Acai Facts Online. Editor’s note: Well thought out and researched article on cholesterol and the health benefits of the acai super fruit.

Mike Robbins presents Best Exercise to Lose Weight posted at Body Solid Fitness, saying, “The best exercise to lose weight is to begin a full and truthful assessment of where you are, and where you want to go.”

Jerry Navarro presents The Ultimate Anti-Aging Vitamins posted at All About Family and Health. Editor’s note: When evaluating antioxidants, let’s not forget the importance of Vitamin C.

Joshua Seth presents Lose Weight or Die posted at Joshua Seth Blog, saying, "Here’s a thought: What if being overweight were as lethal as being a smoker? What if it could literally kill you? We all know how bad smoking is for your health. It can take years off your life. We beg our loved ones not to destroy their health by smoking but think nothing of “carrying around a little extra weight” ourselves, right?"

Dejan Banovic presents How To Loss Weight posted at Weight Loss Writings, saying, if you are one of those who have lost weight, then put it back on, perhaps a more important question is how to you keep the weight off once you’ve lost it..

Dejan Banovic presents Healthy Weight Loss posted at Weight Loss Writings. Editor’s note: 20 sensible tips to help you lose weight.

FitJerk presents See Fast Fitness Results Using The Power Of Social Media posted at FlawlessFitness, saying, "Alright, so we all know how well social media works from a business standpoint...but how do we relate it to fitness? Let me show you the ways Social Media can boost your fitness results."

robert galway presents Fitness Boot Camp posted at robertgalway.com, saying, "Boot camp exercises are chosen to build strength and total body conditioning through repetition, duration, and gradual intensity. A typical day of full basic training in the booth camp exercises are also easy to weave into your running program, as you can do them at regular intervals during your workout at a park, trail or track. Depending on your fitness level and length of your run, do 5 to 10 minutes of running and then stop to do a boot camp workout, then run for another 5 to 10 minutes, do another boot camp exercise, run, etc. Boot camp exercises are great for losing body weight, fat loss, endurance, and fitness. The practice also improves other areas including, stability, balance, flexibility, agility, and posture. Train hard but train within your capabilities." Editor’s note: Click on the title of this blog to read the full article.

robert galway presents Fitness and Exercise posted at robertgalway.com, saying, "Fitness training courses train you to get a fit and fine body through toning and conditioning, weight training, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness exercise techniques. Fitness training also helps in increasing the metabolism of the body, which means more muscles using more calories in the body. The training helps increase fit muscles in the body, by burning the calories." Editor's note: Click on the title of this blog to read the full post.

Jack Russel presents The Amazing Benefits of the Acai Berry posted at Pure Acai - Acai Berry Info Blog, saying, "The Acai berry has been heavily promoted by the media in recent times. It has been endorsed by top celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Rachel Ray. The Acai fruit is believed to have many health benefits, and is therefore gaining prominence very quickly. Although many people are still learning about the health benefits of the Acai berry, the fact is, Central and South Americans have long known about these benefits."

Jack Russel presents Diet Pill Reviews to Choose the Best Diet Pill posted at Pure Acai - Acai Berry Info Blog, saying, "Diet pills are gaining immense popularity when it comes to putting off weight in a short span without indulging in any physical activity. Before you purchase any diet pill, it is necessary to know the best diet pills available in the market, which are safe in use, do not have any side effect and should also help in shedding the extra bulk from your body."

Yanda Atmaja presents Cellulite Remedy With Endermologie Cellulite Treatment posted at Cellulite Remedies Tips, saying, "The Endermologie cellulite treatment is today one of the most popular ways to treat cellulite because it is the only non-surgical technique which gives amazing results. What is cellulite? Cellulite is nothing more than fat, combined with toxins, which are packed tightly in between tissues under the skin. When this happens, you will find that the skin gets a typically puckered or dimpled look, which most find unsightly."

James presents 3 Day Heart Diet, posted at Lose Weight In A Week. Editor’s note: the diet presented by the author is a good way to jumpstart your diet.

Terry Young presents how-does-the-acai-berry-help-with-diabetes? posted at Your Complete Diabetes Health Care Information, saying, "Many doctors believe that the underlying cause of diabetes is chronic inflammation, but what does that mean? Quite simply, it means that type two diabetics can benefit tremendously from eating a balanced diet of low glycemic index foods and taking anti-inflammatories, such as acai."

Ralph Jean-Paul presents Building Self-Discipline posted at Potential 2 Success, saying, "Having trouble sticking to your diet or exercise program? Take charge of your health by adding more discipline to your life. Learn some steps needed for you to build discipline in every aspect of your life."

Mike Robbins presents Never Ever Go Food Shopping Hungry! posted at Body Solid Fitness. Editor’s note: In addition to not going to the supermarket with an empty stomach, it is also a good idea to bring a list and strictly adhere to only purchasing the items on your list.

Mike Batey presents Jivamukti Yoga posted at Yoga Mad, saying, "Created by David Life and Sharon Gannon, Jivamukti yoga is a yoga style that combines physical, spiritual and philosophical aspects of traditional yoga. The Jivamukti method of yoga is one of the nine internationally recognized styles of Hatha yoga, the other eight being Ashtanga, Iyengar, Viniyoga, Sivananda, Integral, Bikram, Kripalu, and Kundalini."

VikramKir presents What to eat to lose fat? Food for weight loss! posted at Thoughtfully Vikram...., saying, “The secret of fat lose is Metabolism!” Editor’s note: the author provides some good weight loss tips.

Cynthia Kerry presents Different ways you can get rid of belly fat posted at Best Fat Loss Reviews. Editor’s note: Some good advice on how to get rid of belly fat.

Wayne Hairston presents Reduce Chest Fat - The Best Way to Get Rid of Man Boobs in 3 Steps posted at Lose Your Man Boobs Now, saying, “There are 3 things you can do to reduce chest fat starting today.

Wayne Hairston presents Exercise Man Boobs with 3 Effective Techniques posted at Lose Your Man Boobs Now. Editor’s note: The author lists several exercises to help men get rid of chest fat.

Paul Hooper presents How to Lose Weight posted at online-niche-store.com, saying, "So what is the best way to lose weight? Well, there are a million and one answers to that question, as you can see by all of the weight loss products on the market these days.But one thing is for sure. In order for you to start and maintain a healthy diet and fitness program, one that will work, and continue to work for you for years to come, you need something that you feel comfortable and have confidence in."

Joel Riley presents How to Use Diet Bets And Other Tips posted at Master Cleanse Diet Blog, saying, “There's really no other detoxification and cleanse program other than the Master Cleanse that has been so well received by health professionals around the world.”

Joel Riley presents How To Lose Weight - Starting With Just A Glass Of Water posted at The Master Cleanse Diet, saying, “The trouble with dieting is that low calorie diet would throw the body into starvation mode.”

Health Insurance

Jim DeSantis presents How To Investigate Health Insurance Providers posted at On Line Tribune Health, saying, "The growing number of consumers needing reasonably priced health insurance plans with decent coverage has led to the mushrooming of scam health insurance providers. These providers often target new retirees, the elderly, young families, and small-business owners who can't negotiate group rates with legitimate insurers. Here's how to find legitimate low cost providers."

Nancy Miller presents Safety First – For Your Child posted at Comments on: Top 100 Diet and Fitness Blogs. Editor’s note: Some important safety pointers to protect your children. It’s a sad world, but I remember my mother telling my daughter who was just a toddler at the time about the “bad man.” Of course, there are women who one must watch out for as a sad case in the news about an 8 year old California girl who was abducted, sexually abused, and murdered.

Save Money on Health Care

Ishan B presents How to Save Money on Prescription Drugs posted at Save Few Bucks, saying, “In this tight economy, it is very difficult to take out money for expensive Prescription Drugs. But there are a few simple ways in which you can Save Few Bucks on Prescription Drugs. I have detailed those in this article.”

Kirby Horton presents Help With Prescription Assistance Programs posted at Rx HELP, saying, "Advice and guidance on how to apply for prescription assistance programs."

Stanley Samuel presents Use leverage to transform health care in the US posted at Wall & Main. Editor’s note: The author suggests that preventative medicine be added to the four essential principles of healthcare reform: coverage for the uninsured, cost control, coordinated care, and choice.

floid presents Its Time for an FDA Makeover! posted at Branches Of Health. Editor’s note: The author reports on some of the important changes that the Obama administration will be bringing to the FDA.

J.D. Bell presents Howard Dean Triple Dog Dares Barack Obama To Compromise On Health Care it-takes-work.com posted at It Takes Work. Editor’s note: The author presents an alternative view on the healthcare crisis. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the current U.S. health care insurance system, which was based on an employer pay model, has grown too expensive for small businesses, the self employed, and individuals to afford. When the cost of health insurance is as much as a mortgage or rent payment, something is radically wrong. I also think that it is a question of morality that all have access to quality healthcare.

Women’s Health

Pregnancy Hut presents Introducing Your Dog to Your New Baby posted at Pregnancy Calendar, saying, "If you're a die-hard dog lover, you've got to be prepared for the fact that bringing home a baby will have a huge impact on the relationship you and your pooch share."

Pregnancy Hut presents Preparing for Your Baby ?Recipes that Freeze Well posted at Pregnancy Calendar, saying, "As a new mom, you'll be lucky if you have time to sleep at all - spending an hour on dinner the way you did before you got pregnant is probably out of the question until your baby is old enough to spend time alone."

Asheesh presents Pregnancy Spotting - It Can Be a Warning Sign Pregnancy Advisor posted at Pregnancy Advisor, saying, "Pregnancy spotting can be a form of implantation bleeding as well as a sign of danger."

Elisha Webster Emerson presents The Labor Politic posted at My Inconvenient Body, saying, "Musings on the political condition that is child delivery."

Pregnancy Advisor presents How to Choose a Pregnancy Doctor Pregnancy Advisor posted at Pregnancy Advisor, saying, "It is important to be under the care of a qualified pregnancy doctor."

Erika Collin presents 100 Best Wellness Blogs for Women posted at Masters in Health Care, saying, “These blogs offer sound advice from those who have made positive changes in their lives as well as experts in a variety of fields.”

Miscellaneous

Gary R. presents Easy to Prepare Campsite Meals posted at Camping Tips, saying, "When you're packing up for your big camping trip, the last thing you want to do is to weigh down your car with all the extra pots, pans and kitchen utensils you'll need to prepare your favorite meals over the camp stove."

swapnil warang presents Are Cell Phones Harmful to Our Health posted at switch2life. Editor’s note: Some good information on cell phone use.

mangoz presents RAW VEGAN NORI SUSHI ROLL DEMONSTRATION posted at Vegetarian Culinary, saying, "Easy guide on how to make vegan sushi rolls!" Editor’s note: You will enjoy watching the chef prepare sushi on this video.

Pat Doyle presents How to Arrange Your Bedroom for Good Feng Shui posted at Feng Shui Crazy, saying, "The bedroom is one of the most important rooms for Feng Shui. You spend one third of your life in bed, and a restful sleep is important for your general energy level."

Jenny Jen presents Yoshiblade posted at JennyReviews.com, saying, "I got an expensive kitchen knife a while back, and I love it, but now it’s getting pretty old and sharpening it is just a pain. That’s why I decided to get the Yoshiblade ceramic knife, no sharpening needed!"
J.D. Bell presents Dr. Seuss Explains The Bailout it-takes-work.com posted at It Takes Work. Editor’s note: An interesting and different perspective on the bailout situation.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of take charge of your health care using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: take charge of your health care, blog carnival.

Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival March 26, 2009

Welcome to the March 26, 2009 edition of Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival. It’s still a bit chilly here in the U. S. Northeast, but it is so refreshing to see the tulips and daffodils sprouting, trees and bushes budding, and my crocuses bloomed 2 days before the start of spring. Spring is always a new beginning, and this can be your new beginning in getting started on a health regimen.

Starting with our April edition, all blogs submitted to the carnival should have comments enabled. Also, as with previous editions, I will only accept 2 articles per author for each edition. If you submit more than 2 blog posts, I will select the 2 best or most appropriate articles. I want to keep this carnival manageable and also with a focus on good quality and content. I personally review every blog post submitted for content.

With nice weather on the horizon, I am going to add a new category—Recreation. Recreation is important to both mental and physical well being. Perhaps this could also belong under the category of diet and fitness, but I am thinking more in terms of lighter activities, recreation, brain fitness, activities that promote well being and better mental health.

A good internet marketing friend of mine is having a contest. Submit a graphic of an Easter egg and receive free advertising on her website. Visit her website at: http://wildheartsworks.com for more information.

We had a large number of quality submissions this month. Thanks for your enthusiastic support of this carnival.

Alternative Medicine

Brandon Harshe presents Advocating Upper Cervical Chiropractic: An Interview With Dr. James Tomasi posted at The Atlas of Life. Editor’s note: This inspirational article offers hope to those suffering from painful and debilitating Trigeminal Neuralgia. Alvin Hopkinson presents Passing Kidney Stones posted at Kidney Stone Remedy, saying, "Here then are some tips that may help you go through the process of passing kidney stones with as little pain as possible:"

Sarah Scrafford presents 50 Surprising Ways to Boost Your Brain's Performance posted at Online Best Colleges.com, saying, “with these 50 tips and ideas for flexing your brain power, you’ll be able to boost performance right now and in the future.”

Dean Moyer presents Sciatica Relapse Question posted at The Back Pain Blog, saying, "This week we attempt to answer the question, Sciatica and Food: Is There a Secret Cure? Apparently, planting your face in a watermelon isn't the panacea we've all been hoping for. (At least, when it comes to sciatic nerve pain.)"

James Colquhoun presents Heart Disease Prevention Made Easy posted at FOODMATTERS. Editor’s note: Good post on the role that nutritional supplements play in helping to prevent or reverse heart disease.

Aparna presents Zinc pills to help rosacea posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "Rosacea is a common but little-known disorder of the facial skin that affects mostly fair-skinned people. It’s often mistaken for acne. While the cause of rosacea is unknown and there is no cure, today medical help is available that can control the signs and symptoms of this potentially life-disruptive disorder. Some symptoms include redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead, small visible blood vessels on the face, bumps or pimples on the face and watery or irritated eyes."

Kara-Leah Grant presents How to build a home yoga practice posted at Prana Flow NZ, saying, "One of the best ways to stay healthy at very little cost... develop a home yoga practice. Find out how!"

Brandon Harshe presents Superior Brain Congestion-Inferior Body Starvation posted at The Atlas of Life. Editor’s note: The author discusses some of the benefits of chiropractic treatment.

Lindsay presents 3 Home Remedies to Fix Your Allergies Naturally posted at Off the Urban Grid. Editor’s note: Some good advice for those that suffer from allergies. The author even suggests the burning of Bees Wax candles to reduce allergens.

Tami Blodgett presents "Inspired Choices for Staying Emotionally Balanced posted at Online Wellness: A Safe Haven, saying, "During this time of tremendous emotional, mental, physical, spiritual and economic upheaval, it is imperative that we set a conscious intention to stay rooted within ourselves. Catherine offers choices for Staying Emotionally Balanced. Online Wellness Association provides a safe platform for online practitioners and clients."

Sigrid Landau presents Learn The Natural Cold Sore Cures posted at A1 How To, saying, "It has been said that the viruses that causes cold sores actually do not leave your body once you contract them. However, this bitter fact must not keep you from looking for home remedies to lessen your pain."

Alvin Hopkinson presents How Fats in our Diet Cause High Blood Pressure posted at High Blood Pressure Treatment and Medication Reviews, saying, "Aside from salt we also include in our diet, fats that can cause high blood pressure. Fats in our diets come in different forms wherein some may promote good blood circulation while others will cause poor blood circulation."

Victor presents Facing Reality in How to Get Rid of Panic and Anxiety. Self Help Guide. posted at How to get rid of anxiety and panic. Editor’s note: Some good psychological advice.

Consumer Driven Health Care

Nancy Miller presents Make Sure Your Pills Don’t Become Ills posted at Pharmacy Technician Certification. Editor’s note: Some sound advice on prescription and over the counter medicines.

Sarah McCurdy presents Preventing Acne. posted at Health Log, saying, "Many people want to know if there are ways of preventing acne. Well, if someone has a predisposition to acne, it cannot be totally prevented but it can be controlled somewhat."

Jerry Navarro presents Fourth Stroke Indicator - the Tongue posted at All About Family and Health. Editor’s note: Knowing these 4 stroke indicators can save lives.

Jerry Navarro presents Brain and Healthy Aging posted at All About Family and Health, saying, "Growing older and learning from your mistakes is a clear sign that our brain is improving."

Sarah Scrafford presents 50 Successful Open Source Projects That Are Changing Medicine posted at Nursing Assistant Guides. Editor’s note: The author presents a well-researched list of open source projects for the medical field.

J.D. Bell presents Barack Obama Says Grow Old and Die posted at It Takes Work. Editor’s note: We do need some form of National health care in the U.S., but this article raises some concerns and potential problems that need to be considered.

J.D. Bell presents The Answer: Popsicles, Pizza, and Painkillers posted at It Takes Work. Editor’s note: While I am not a fan of big Pharma, as a benefits consultant with AmeriPlan, our Prescription Advocacy Program, which is based on the Patient Assistance Programs sponsored by the Pharmaceutical companies, has the patient’s medications delivered to the patient’s own pharmacy or doctor’s office. These are not left over samples.

Roy Schwartz presents 10 (Proven!) Reasons to Quit Smoking and How You Can Start posted at A Disease A Day. Editor’s note: Some good reasons to quit smoking with some helpful hints on how to quit.

Nancy Miller presents Bioethics and a Woman’s Right to Choose posted at Becoming A Radiologist, saying, “With all these issues that affect the women who are pregnant and who wish to abort their unborn babies for some reason or the other, why is it that it’s the policymakers and lobbyists who get to decide on an inflammatory subject like abortion? Isn’t it more a question of personal choice and belief?”

John Catanach presents How Effective The Birth Control Shot Is posted at Woman Health News. Editor’s note: It is important to know the side effects and possible dangers of various birth control methods.

Dental Care

Dr Tooth presents Dental Tourism - Dentistry In The Time Of Crisis posted at WorlDental, saying, "Dental care in Europe and America is notoriously expensive. With the economic crisis wreaking havoc in the pockets of workers in the West, taking care of one’s teeth has become prohibitive."

Dr. Davon Jacobson presents Easy Dental Care with Highly Sensitive Teeth posted at *Health and Nutrition Facts*. Editor’s note: The author offers some helpful advice for dealing with the problem of highly sensitive teeth.

Diet & Fitness

Helene Zemel presents AC-11 and DNA Repair posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "Most of us are familiar with the role that antioxidants provide in protecting our bodies from the damage and inflammation caused by free radicals. Are there also compounds that will actually repair DNA damage?"

robert galway presents Fitness posted at robertgalway.com, saying, "Fitness is also about good nutrition, flexibility, relaxation, sleep, and more. Fitness is good for your heart, lungs, bones, and joints. And it lowers your risk for heart attack, diabetes, colon cancer, and high blood pressure."

Mike Robbins presents Body Solid Fitness posted at BODY SOLID FITNESS, saying, "I was unbalanced, I was unhappy, I was depressed. Happily I found my way out of it. I began what I knew to do and got back in shape again. So I'm not one of those people looking from the outside in."

Mike Robbins presents Eat Fat to Lose Weight-Are You Kidding? posted at BODY SOLID FITNESS, saying, "The fitness/weight loss category has been through the mill when it comes to information on fat."

J.D. Bell presents Get On Your Bikes and Ride posted at It Takes Work, saying, "The title of this post is an obscure lyric reference to an old Queen song called Fat Bottomed Girls. This was the first thought that entered my head when I read about a gym in San Francisco that offers bikaraoke classes." Editor’s note: Bike riding is a great way to combine fun and fitness.

John Duke presents Acai Berry Capsules posted at Pure Acai - Acai Berry Info Blog, saying, "he acai berry fruit is rich in antioxidants, amino acids, essential omegas, fibers and protein. The intake of Acai Berry Capsules is therefore beneficial for weight reduction, boosting sustained energy level, healthy cholesterol management, improvement of digestive system, strengthening of immune system among others."

John Duke presents Pure Acai Berry Ingredients - Good or Bad? posted at Pure Acai - Acai Berry Info Blog, saying, "You will have heard of the acai berry recently catapulted from humble beginnings as a niche health food, to the worlds number one super food but you might not be aware of just how much good it can do your body. Hopefully this brief idea will give you a better idea as to why you should be considering adding the acai berry, or at least some acai berry products into the diet of you and your family."

Helene Zemel presents Despite the Weak Economy, Sales of Nutritional Supplements are Up posted at Work at Home Mom and Dad, saying, "Since the start of the economic recession, we read every day how retail sales are down for almost every product category including cars, restaurant meals, clothing, jewelry, and movies and entertainment. Despite the gloomy economic picture, there is one bright light. Sales of nutritional supplements have been increasing."

Kara-Leah Grant presents FEATURED POST: Top Eleven reasons to start practicing yoga TODAY! Prana Flow NZ posted at Prana Flow NZ, saying, "You know you've been thinking about starting yoga for ages now... here's eleven reasons why you want to take the leap and start practicing today!"

Joel Gray presents Summer Tea: Blackberry/ Raspberry Leaf Tea posted at Health Tips 101, saying, “During the warm and fall months, try a new flavor in your tea. Use the blackberry/ raspberry tealeaf to bring wild fruitiness to your drink. Read this article to know more about it.”

Ashley Cook presents Quick Home Meal Ideas posted at Frugal Girl, saying, "Some ideas for a quick, healthy, and cheap treat."

PK Shukla presents Nutrition Tips posted at Fenny Lopez, saying, "Nutrition forum is a great place to share your experience in dieting, eating habits or possible disorders. Are your eating habits supporting a healthy lifestyle? Read the questions and answers posted on this forum."

PK Shukla presents Latest Beauty Tips posted at Fenny Lopez, saying, "We at Latest Beauty Tips look forward to provide you the best. Latest-Beauty-Tips.com is a platform to discuss about beauty tips, fashion, health care, weight loss, cosmetic surgery, makeup trick and lot of similar issues. Please feel free to post all feedback, concerns, comments & suggestions here."

The Smarter Wallet presents 8 Weight Loss Tips and Weight Management Ideas To Battle The Bulge posted at The Smarter Wallet. Editor’s note: The author presents some helpful tips on how to avoid temptation during holidays and at restaurants.

John Catanach presents Weight Loss Surgery For Men Should Include A Medical ID posted at My Passion for Better Health, saying, "Big Little John is a blog about better health for men."

James presents Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle Review posted at Lose Weight In A Week, saying, "Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle is a comprehensive 357 page fat loss guide. This guide has helped thousands of people lose weight and tone muscle naturally. Written by Tom Venuto, a professional bodybuilder of almost 20 years and certified conditioning specialist and personal trainer. You are assured to receive the most effective fat loss technique provided in his guide. Tom relates all he knows about fat loss in a very concise and easy to read manner."

Steve Faber presents Belly Fat Loser » The Ab Diet – the Lucky 13 Foods posted at Belly Fat Loser, saying, "Americans eat too much garbage every year. To be proactive about your health, diet is an area that absolutely must be addressed."

Bretislav Slansky presents The Best Workout Routines forToning posted at Workouts routines for Toning. Editor’s note: A good toning routine is important for optimal health.

Logan presents Stress - HOWTO Manage It posted at Lose Over Weight. Editor’s note: The author presents some good stress reduction techniques.

Logan presents The Secrets to Weight Loss After Pregnancy posted at Lose Over Weight, saying, “Over time, you should be able to lose the weight you gained during your pregnancy. In fact, you might find that you’re actually healthier after your baby is born.”

swapnil warang presents How to find out if you are overweight or not posted at switch2life. Editor’s note: Good information on how to determine Body Mass Index.

Health Insurance

Cory presents Exercising in a Recession posted at Eating Healthy, saying, "Thinking that exercise is too expensive is no excuse to avoid it. Here are some tips to get good, fun exercise for cheap."

Den Levin presents Tips for Hypochondriacs posted at Battle Anxiety, saying, "Six self-help tips for people who worry too much about their help."

Mesquite Pete presents Mosquito Basics posted at Mosquito Basics, saying, "Some basic information about mosquitoes."

Jim presents » Health Insurance Plan Types posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity. Editor’s note: The author explains the difference between an HMO, PPO, and indemnity plan.

Steve Philips presents MedicaDepot.com The Blog- Botox, Radiesse, Juvederm posted at Medicadepot.com The Blog. Editor’s note: Some good information on various cosmetic surgery techniques.

Save Money on Health Care

ishanbansal presents How to Save Money on Prescription Drugs posted at Save Few Bucks, saying, "This article has practical money saving tips to save money on Prescription Medicines.”

Chris presents Medical Tourism - 5 Reasons to consider Goa posted at nomad4ever. Editor’s note: Medical tourism is becoming increasingly more popular due to the exorbitant costs in the West especially here in the U.S.

Miscellaneous

Jenny Jen presents PhotoLab Reviewed posted at JennyReviews.com, saying, "Health, Beauty, Software, and As Seen On TV Product reviews by Jenny and friends. Add Your Review for a Chance to Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of take charge of your health care using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: take charge of your health care, blog carnival.

AC-11 and DNA Repair

Our bodies are constantly under oxidative stress and damage caused by toxins and pollutants in our environment, diet, and even in the air that we breathe. Damage to our cells and DNA caused by carcinogens, cigarette smoke, air pollution, certain drugs, and exposure to the sun is well documented. Over time this oxidative stress can actually lead to damage to the DNA of the cells themselves which can lead to premature aging, degeneration of the nervous system, and even cancer.

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology: “Thus, oxidative DNA damage is implicated in carcinogenesis and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. There is also strong evidence for the role of this type of DNA damage in the aging process. The accumulation of oxidative DNA damage in non-dividing cells is thought to contribute to age-associated diseases.”

Most of us are familiar with the role that antioxidants provide in protecting our bodies from the damage and inflammation caused by free radicals. Are there also compounds that will actually repair DNA damage?

Scientific Studies Prove the Efficacy of AC-11 to Repair DNA

Scientific research has demonstrated that a number supplements can actually repair DNA. The compound AC-11 or Uncaria tomentosa has attracted considerable attention as a repairer of DNA. AC-11 is extracted from Cat’s Claw, a woody vine found in South American rain forests.

Several studies have proven that AC-11 can repair DNA damage. In one study, hairless mice were subjected to ultraviolet radiation which is known to cause DNA damage and skin cancer. According to Dermatology Online Journal Volume 13 Number 3: “AC-11-treated animals almost completely repaired single-strand DNA breaks “ and “double-strand DNA breaks were substantially fewer in animals treated with 40 mg of AC-11 and significantly fewer in animals treated with 80 mg of AC-11 compared to untreated animals.” In another study, human subjects who had undergone previous chemotherapy and later given AC-11 supplementation demonstrated DNA repair. AC-11 is also known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune enhancing properties.

AC-11 is one of the key ingredients in the base product of the GeneWize LifeMap Nutrition™ supplement. GeneWize customers send in the Healthy Aging DNA Assessment and GeneWize custom makes a nutritional supplement based on this DNA assessment. In addition to AC-11, the GeneWize product contains antioxidants; super fruits such as Acai, Goji, Mangosteen, Pomegranate; resveratrol, green tea, folate, vitamins, and other ingredients important for optimal health.

For more information on GeneWize Healthy Aging Assessment and LifeMap Nutrition visit: www.lifemapnutrition.com/helenezemel.

Take Charge of Your Health Care - February 24, 2009

Welcome to the February 24, 2009 edition of take charge of your health care. We have a great selection of good quality blog posts this month which I am sure that you will enjoy reading.

February is heart health month, so I encourage my readers to exercise, quit smoking if they are smokers, and eat a healthy diet. We have some good articles on stress management which will also help with this goal. I must remember the diet , exercise, and stress management advice myself. The weather here in the Northeast U.S. and other cold weather areas should start to improve by our next issue which will encourage more outdoor exercise. If you have any blog posts on family fun and fitness and healthy outdoor activities, please contribute these to next month’s carnival.

In the interest of helping me to get this carnival published in a timely manner, I will accept no more than 2 posts per carnival per author. I hold to this rule strictly with my own posts. If you submit more than 2 articles, I will post the articles most relevant to this carnival. As a reminder, all accepted posts must contain good content and be from an actual blog. Any post that is primarily an advertisement with little or no content will not be published in the Carnival.

Alternative Medicine

Heather Johnson presents 101 Easy Ways to Cut Your Cancer Risk posted at U.S. PharmD, saying, “Because there’s no cure for cancer yet, there’s also no surefire way to see it coming or blame the development of cancer on any specific lifestyle or diet choices. There are, however, studies that show how certain foods, habits and genetics can increase your chances of getting cancer.”

Nancy Miller presents

77 Easy, Painless Tips to Focus & Invite Tranquility In posted at Nursing Assistant Guides. Editor’s note: Some great tips to help you focus, reduce stress, and achieve tranquility.

Brandon Harshe presents

Chiropractic is Much More Than Back Pain and Neck Pain posted at The Atlas of Life. Editor’s note: This is a very informative post about the benefits of Chiropractic.

Brandon Harshe presents The Power of Less: The Chiropractic Version posted at The Atlas of Life, saying, “In our society today, the allopathic model still dominates. Millions and millions of people still think that prescription drugs and needless surgeries will fix the problem. They think first to look to an external source for their cure, instead of realizing the cure lies within and that it flows Above-Down-Inside-Out.”

C. Myers presents Boil, Boil, Toil and Trouble posted at Mind Mart, saying, "Boils are a painful nuisance, but fortunately there are several alternative remedies."

Dr. Davon Jacobson presents Migraine Headache Relief: The Power of a Massage posted at *Health and Nutrition Facts*. Editor’s note: These natural massage techniques are certainly worth a try to alleviate severe headaches.

Tanya Zafino presents Cure Acne With the Zafino Method posted at The Tragedy of the Female Acne Sufferer. Editor’s note: the author presents some good information on acne treatment and suggests that you avoid the usual treatments recommended by dermatologists.

Shamelle presents Is Heavy Thinking Ruining Your Life? posted at Enhance Life, saying, “How do you know, when heavy thinking is gradually ruining your life? The simplest answer is that it paralyzes you in certain functions of your daily lifestyle.”

Ian Richardson presents

Colon health: Natural approach posted at Best Natural Remedies Online. Editor’s note: Some good guidelines to follow for better colon health and regularity.

Astrid Lee presents How God Tells You It’s Time For a Change (Wayne Dyer) posted at World Healing, saying, "Good health starts with a good mind set. This interesting article and video details how to live in peace at times of uncontrollable and unforeseeable change."

Consumer Driven Health Care

Dean Moyer presents

Mysterious Morning Neck Pain posted at The Back Pain Blog, saying, "Most neck pain is not serious and will resolve on its own. However, for times when it doesn't, here's a simple checklist you can use to answer the question, Neck Pain: When to See a Doctor?"

Alvaro Fernandez presents Brain Training: It Works, and It Doesn't Work posted at SharpBrains: Your Window into the Brain Fitness Revolution, saying, "In short, if you are considering buying some of these new programs, for yourself, your patients, a loved one...you do need to do a bit of homework."

Patricia Turner presents After a Knee Replacement Surgery posted at Comments on: Top 100 Diet and Fitness Blogs. Editor’s note: The author provides some good advice to follow for those who have had knee surgery.

Patricia Turner presents Epidural or Natural – That is the Question - Pharmacy Technician Certification posted at Pharmacy Technician Certification. Editor’s note: The author provides some good information on the choice of epidural anesthesia for childbirth.

Rachel presents What Causes Dyslexia. posted at Adult Dyslexia, saying, "Dyslexia is a common condition, but its causes are not well understood. Read about some possible causes of dyslexia in this article."

Aparna presents Fashionable Flu masks posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "Donning a flu mask is a great way to protect yourself from flu, influenza or pandemics like SARS, Bird Flu/Avian flu. In a world-first clinical trial of the efficacy of masks, researchers found adult mask wearers in the home were four times more likely than non-wearers to be protected against respiratory viruses, including the common cold. Professor MacIntyre says: "There is no effective treatment for the 90 or so common cold viruses that make families sick each winter, but masks could provide simple and effective protection.""

Pregnant Woman presents Identical Triplets - Three Bundles Of Joy posted at Pregnancy, saying, "Triplets occur in one of every eight thousand live births"

Dental Care

dentalheroes presents

Does Mouthwash Cause Oral Cancer? posted at Dental Heroes. Editor’s note: If you use mouthwash, you will want to read this informative post.

Diet & Fitness

Helene Zemel presents GeneWize at the Super Bowl posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "GeneWize kicked off the official launch of the GeneWize Sports Nutrition program with an exhibit at the Super Bowl. You don’t have to be an athlete to benefit from the GeneWize LifeMap Nutrition program. Now you can have a nutritional supplement specially customized for you and based on a confidential assessment of your DNA."

Cary Anderson presents

How Overweight Are You? Losing Weight Feels Great posted at Simplicity for Weight Loss Success, saying, "Before you can start to lose weight, it's a good idea to have a concept of how overweight you are."

Don Reding presents The modern day lifestyle. Is this why we are so sick? posted at Red Dog's Health Topics, saying, “We are not living a lifestyle that is anywhere near as healthy that it should be.”

Helene Zemel presents Ground Floor Opportunity with GeneWize Life Sciences posted at Work at Home Mom and Dad, saying, "It's all about timing. This is an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a revolutionary new health, beauty and wellness company, a subsidiary of a 12 year publicly traded company. At GeneWize, we make a customized nutritional supplement based on an assessment of the customer's DNA."

Health Insurance

Insurance Toolbox presents Does Fido or Whiskers Need Health Insurance? posted at Insurance Toolbox. Editor’s note: If you want to keep your pets healthy, pet insurance can help with unexpected costs.

Insurance Toolbox presents The Ups and Downs of COBRA posted at Insurance Toolbox. Editor’s note: As this blog post points out, COBRA is a mixed blessing. While it is great that you can keep your current coverage, the unemployed person must now pay the full cost of this insurance. This can be extremely difficult after the loss of income from your job.

Matthew Paulson presents Beware the Insurance Sales Pitch posted at American Consumer News. Editor’s note: Always read the fine print on any health plan that you purchase.

Ben presents 7 Things Your Insurance Company or Agent Won't Tell You posted at Money Smart Life, saying, “The insurance companies I worked for put a lot of pressure on you to save them money, and their company policies always favored the best interest of the company rather than the customer.”

Nancy Miller presents Healthcare Information Systems posted at Ultrasound Technician Schools. Editor’s note: This is an informative read about some of the security risks that healthcare information systems pose.

Matthew presents Home Safety Information for Alzheimer’s Disease posted at Fast Medical Information, saying, "If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease then there are many challenges to face in everyday life. This will include the freedom that you provide within your home that will keep them safe and stop you from worrying."

Allison presents How to Buy Health Insurance posted at AfterGraduation, saying, "New graduates who aren't covered by their employers often have no clue how to purchase a policy. This article is for them."

Woman Tribune presents Senate Approves SCHIP Expansion Bill posted at Woman Tribune. Editor’s note: What a difference a new administration makes! Now it is time to do something for the adults stuck in the middle. They are even more likely to need good health care.

mybestme presents

Prescriptions for free? Yes! posted at My Best Me, saying, "Medical care can be costly, but oh so necessary. There is a government incentive program available to help us out in the need of prescriptions."

Beauty

Aparna presents Puff out puffy eyes posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "A lot of people get puffy eyes during different phases of their lives. A teenager can wake up with puffy eyes after strenuous hours of studying overnight, an adult due to water retention, too much salt in the diet, improper sleep, consumption of excess liquor, certain medications or improper ventilation. Allergies, skin disorders like dermatitis are also common causes of puffy eyes."

Julena presents Organic Skin Care vs Nanotechnology posted at Organic Makeup and Skin Care, saying, "There is a new technology lurking in our skin care products. Nanotechnology. And it might be linked to cancer."

PK Shukla presents Latest Beauty Tips posted at Fenny Lopez, saying, "We at Latest Beauty Tips look forward to provide you the best. Latest-Beauty-Tips.com is a platform to discuss about beauty tips, fashion, health care, weight loss, cosmetic surgery, makeup trick and lot of similar issues. Please feel free to post all feedback, concerns, comments & suggestions here." Editor’s note: This is actually a forum with good beauty and skin care advice that you can join.

Miscellaneous

Erika presents posted at

Visiting Spanish Speaking Countries, saying, "f you are planning to travel to Spain, you can expect to have quite the culinary experience while you are there."

Erika presents posted at Visiting Spanish Speaking Countries, saying, "Going to Argentina this year? Here's a rundown of some of the more popular festivals."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of take charge of your health care using our

carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: take charge of your health care, blog carnival.

GeneWize at the Super Bowl

GeneWize kicked off the official launch of the GeneWize Sports Nutrition program with an exhibit at last Sunday's Super Bowl.

75 past and present NFL players and their guests signed up for the GeneWize LifeMap Nutrition product. The NFL teams included: the Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins, and the Miami Dolphins.

Athlete Testimonials

According to Stephanie Miner, head of the GeneWize Sports Health Advisory Council, who attended the event:

"My husband played for the Boston Celtics, and like many other Athletes, he was approached to try different products all the time. It was gratifying to see the NFL Players actually getting excited about OUR product! They found the idea of Genetically Guided Nutrition based on their own DNA fascinating. Everyone is excited about receiving their Healthy Aging Assessment™ and getting on our amazing product."

Here is another testimonial from an athlete, former LA Raider and 1992 Olympic Bobsled team member, Gregory Harrell:

"I was very excited to receive my Healthy Aging DNA assessment along with the LifeMap Custom supplements, which I’ve been taking now for about five months. One of the first changes I noticed was that my knees don’t ache anymore after my daily run. My late night craving for sweets is gone; I feel more rested in the daytime and have more energy because I’m sleeping through the night. This is truly an awesome product."

And yet another sports testimonial by Tony Chung, Former World Martial Arts Council World Champion 1997:

"I have never performed at this level, on any nutritional program I’ve been on in the past, even with the assistance of a nutritionist. I totally believe in the LifeMap Nutrition™. It has changed my life as far as my health is concerned. After looking deeper into the company, I am certain it will change my financial future as well."

You don’t have to be an athlete to benefit from the GeneWize LifeMap Nutrition program. Now you can have a nutritional supplement specially customized for you and based on a confidential assessment of your DNA. For more information, visit: www.lifemapnutrition.com/helenezemel.