AmeriPlan Launches SecureNet Roadside Assistance, Legal Services, ID Theft Protection, Credit Repair & More

On September 15, 2009, AmeriPlan, the premier discount medical and dental benefits company launched the new AmeriPlan SecureNet program. This program includes ID Theft Protection, National Child ID, a Family Legal Plan, Roadside Assistance plus Financial Services.

In these uncertain financial times, many families have faced credit problems, legal problems, and even bankruptcy. ID theft affects almost 10 million Americans annually and over 800,000 children are reported missing each year. We have all experienced the frustration of an unexpected automobile breakdown or being locked out of our car or perhaps running out of gas.

With this in mind, AmeriPlan created the new SecureNet program. Affordable at only $24.95 per month, SecureNet provides Roadside Assistance, Identity Theft Assistance, a National Child ID Kit, a Family Legal Plan, and Financial Services to help provide security to our member families.

Identity Theft Protection

ID theft is the fastest growing crime in America and over 10 million Americans are affected annually. With SecureNet, you receive 24/7/365 days a year monitoring of your Social Security Number. Should your identity be breached, AmeriPlan provides $25,000 in theft reimbursement insurance coverage, notifies banks and other agencies, places credit alerts with all 3 credit bureau, provides an identity restoration specialist to provide a plan of action, and more.

National Child ID

It is a fact that 800,000 Children are reported missing each year, yet less than 10% of American families have a sample of their child’s fingerprints. When you become a SecureNet member, you will receive a Free Child ID kit which includes an inkless fingerprint card, a DNA cheek swab collection envelope, and an ID wallet card. Additional kits are available at a discount. Our child ID kit is endorsed by the National Child Identification Program and was developed in partnership with the FBI.

Family Legal Plan

Many US households will face a legal problem this year. Unfortunately, the cost of hiring an attorney can be quite costly. With AmeriPlan SecureNet, members have access to a nationwide network of high-quality attorneys as well as free and pre-negotiated services. Free services include preparation of a simple will, phone and office consultations, contract and document review, and assistance in solving problems with government programs such as welfare or INS. Our plan also offers deeply discounted services for such matters as divorce, traffic ticket defense, personal real estate closing, chapter 7 bankruptcy and regular incorporation. Click here to see a table of cost savings.

RoadSide Assistance

Locked out? Need a tow? Out of gas? Our roadside service can provide peace of mind when traveling either alone or with your family. We have contracted with 35,000 reputable service providers across the U.S. Should you need roadside service, our $75 sign-n-drive service includes towing, battery jump start, flat tire assistance, fuel delivery, and lockout service. If your car needs additional servicing, as a member you can take advantage of our pre-negotiated discounted rates.

Financial Services

During this economic recession, many families will face financial difficulties which will effect their credit scores, financial solvency, and even their ability to keep their homes. AmeriPlan SecureNet provides bankruptcy counseling, foreclosure avoidance counseling, and financial education through an extensive library of financial resources. SecureNet also provides low cost credit repair and debt relief services.

For more information on AmeriPlan SecureNet call 1-888-357-1768 or visit:

http://apsecurenet.com/hlz.

GeneWize Launches LifeMap Me™ DNA Customized Skin Repair Serum

On September 16th, GeneWize Life Sciences launched LifeMap Me (made exclusively) DNA Skin Repair Serum. This “one of a kind” skin repair serum is made exclusively for each customer based on an analysis of key genes that effect skin firmness and wrinkling. Clinically shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines; improve skin tone; and optimize elasticity and firmness; the serum is suitable for women; men; and all skin types.

Due to aging and environmental stresses, our skin is subject to collagen breakdown, photo aging from the sun, skin wrinkling, skin slacking, mild irritation and damage from environmental pollutants. Some of us are more subject to wrinkling, collagen breakdown, and environmental damage to our skin than others due to SNPs in genes that influence skin health. SNPs or single nucleotide polymorphisms account for the variations that make us different from one another. Since our genes control the enzymes that our bodies produce, research has proven that various vitamins and supplements that influence enzymatic activity can compensate for these small genetic variations. For more information on the science behind the GeneWize products see my article: The Science Behind GeneWize LifeMap™ Nutrition.

LifeMap Me™ is made up of 100% natural, active ingredients with no artificial preservatives, parabens, or petroleum and uses a liposomal delivery system to penetrate the active ingredients deep into the skin for maximum efficacy. This liposomal delivery system is similar to the technology used in patches used to deliver medication. Based on your GeneWize DNA Assessment, SNPActive™ ingredients are added to the formulation to compensate for the genetic variations that influence skin health.

LifeMap Me™ has been scientifically proven, through third party validated double blind test studies, to reduce the appearance of fine lines, and improve skin tone, elasticity and firmness. GeneLink, the GeneWize parent company, completed a double blind, randomized, controlled test on human subjects of the efficacy and anti-wrinkle effects of the specific skin-care regimen versus placebo. Test subjects were given either a placebo skin care formula or the GeneWize formulation. “The purpose of this study was to determine if skin care products, "custom made" for various individuals using information from their individual DNA Skin Aging skin health profile, would show improved performance over individuals similarly tested but who had been given placebo creams in which the custom SNPActive™ ingredients had been left out.” Results were seen after just 14 days of treatment. After 8 weeks of treatment using the genetically guided formula,70% of participants reported the reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and increased skin firmness. Read more about these studies at:

https://helenezemel.mygenewize.com/product/life_map_me_supplement.html.

The LifeMap Me DNA Customized Skin Repair Serum is now available for sale. A one month supply of the skin repair serum is just $129. When you sign up for an autoshipment, your DNA assessment is free. Learn how to receive discounts and even receive your product for free as a GeneWize distributor. To order visit: https://helenezemel.mygenewize.com/join/index.html

Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival - September 15, 2009

Welcome to the September 15, 2009 edition of take charge of your health care.

I have been closely following the health care reform negotiations here in the United States. I am hoping that President Obama holds strong and does not sign a health reform plan without a strong public option to keep down the escalating health care costs. Even better would be a single payer system or “Medicare for all.” I don’t know why so many people on the right are fighting this. I am sure that these same people use our interstate highways, send their children to public schools, will accept social security and Medicare when they reach 65, and use other government services. Some on the right worry about the cost of this program, but a single payer system would be the most cost effective method and assure health care access to all citizens and legal residents. Certainly allowing for profit health insurance companies and the big pharmaceutical companies to hold our country hostage will do nothing to contain costs. Our government has plenty of money to fight 2 wars which should never have been started. It is a question of priorities. Let’s spend a small part of this money on the health and welfare of Americans. You will find some good articles this month on health care reform.

Another timely topic that has been addressed in this Carnival is the H1N1 flu pandemic. We have some articles on the possible dangers of a flu vaccine which has not been adequately tested. Is the H1N1 “much ado about nothing?” The best way to fight the flu is to keep your immune system strong and use some good common sense hygiene. Our nutrition and fitness section will give you some good guidelines for staying healthy this Fall.

Welcome to our new authors. You will find some great articles on other health care topics. As always, I enjoyed reading your submissions to this carnival. Happy back to school to all of our parent readers!

To keep the carnival fresh and manageable, I will no longer accept articles that are just lists of the 100 best blogs, etc. which are basically ads for programs. I will also not include blogs that are primarily sales pages for products. You must have well written, new and original content. Thanks for keeping to the 2 submissions per author guidelines.

Alternative Medicine

Scientific Living presents

Vaccine Scandal posted at Scientific Living, saying, "Evidence that vaccines are very profitable, but not safe."

Health Fitness How To presents Simple Secrets For Natural Healing of any Diseases posted at Health Fitness Article Directory, saying, "The secrets of natural healing revolve around our own body’s system – the immune system which is already built-in within us to combat any bacteria or viruses which are attacking us and if you learn how to properly nourish and “exercise’ our immune system, you have already discovered the core secret to good health."

Raw Radiant Health presents

Raw Radiant Health » Reversing Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) with Raw Food Diet, Ep20 posted at Raw Radiant Health. Editor’s note: An inspiring video on how diet and nutrition helped reverse some medical conditions.

Sue Vittner presents

Law of Attraction Hypnosis posted at Helping Your Entrepreneurial Spirit Create Self, Create Health and Create Wealth. Editor’s note: You will enjoy the relaxing nature video on this post.

Sue Vittner presents

Are You Being A Seal Or A Waterfall? posted at Helping Your Entrepreneurial Spirit Create Self, Create Health and Create Wealth, saying, “Do you ever have those days when you don’t want to do anything but lay on the couch and veg out? And then the next day, you find yourself full of energy, working non stop, and pumping it out? What creates our change in energy?”

CPF presents

What are the health benefits of raw honey? posted at Natural Health Ezine, saying, "Honey has been used for thousands of years for all of it's wonderful medicinal uses.”

Gary Mullen presents

The Health Benefits of Chinese Baoding Balls posted at HandcraftedUk: Interesting Articles, saying, "For centuries Chinese Baoding balls have been used to promote many health benefits. This article will explore these benefits, the use of Baoding balls in Chinese alternative therapies and, how to use the balls effectively."

Jessica Nagel presents

Cancer Prevention Series Introduction posted at Sustainable Halo. Editor’s note: This is the introductory article on a cancer prevention series.

bradley002 presents

Strengthen Immune System posted at Cold Showers, saying, "A cold shower is an often overlooked method of strengthening the immune system."

Kizie presents

Black clover usefully effects posted at Kizie blog. Editor’s note: Many herbs, including black clover, can be very beneficial to good health.

Nesher presents

May Alcohol Trigger Genetic Marker for Depression? posted at Clinical Depression: Symptoms and Treatment. Editor’s note: The author provides some good information on depression and alcohol.

Covert Hypnotist presents

How Rapport Can Help You in Hypnosis Conversational & Covert Hypnosis Blog posted at Conversational & Covert Hypnosis Blog, saying, "A fundamental understanding of what makes up a good rapport between two people will help you to create the type of deepened relationships you require as a hypnotist. Rapport will build trust and comfort between you and your clients."

Barbra Sundquist presents

Wayne Fleisher: A Man on the Move posted at HomeBusinessWiz. Editor’s note: This is an inspirational story about an entrepreneur who has overcome physical disability challenges and built a career helping others.

Consumer Driven Health Care

Amy B. Scher presents

You’re sick? They’re quick! The pros and cons of Retail Clinics posted at Healthcare Hacks, saying, “Next time you are heading to the grocery store, remember to add “healthcare” to your shopping list! Yes, healthcare services are now being offered at local grocery stores, drug stores and general merchandise retailers, such as Shopko, Carnival, Cubfoods, Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, and Walgreens to name a few. “ Editor’s note: You can’t beat this for cost and convenience.

James J. Gormley presents

Making the “Cut”: What the Latest Recall Tells us … and Doesn’t posted at The Gormley Files, saying, "So we’ve all read the headlines about the recent recall of a line of 14 dietary supplements due to 23 reports of serious adverse events linked to (but not proved to caused by) the weight-loss and bodybuilding products in question."

Local Nourishment presents

Swine flu: Stop and think – UPDATED « Local Nourishment posted at Local Nourishment, saying, "The swine flu vaccine is nearly ready in several countries. Will you have one? What should you know before you decide? This post is updated frequently with the most up-to-date information available to help you stay informed."

Dave Fobare presents

The Secret Of My CPAP Success posted at Beat Sleep Apnea. Editor’s note: Good information for those who suffer from sleep apnea.

Chris & Chat presents

Warts Removers posted at C&C Spa and Facial Care Center. Editor’s note: The author presents helpful information on warts and wart treatments.

Alvaro Fernandez presents

Preparing Society for the Cognitive Age (Frontiers in Neuroscience article!) posted at SharpBrains: Your Window into the Brain Fitness Revolution, saying, "The opportunity to use new research findings to improve our "brain fitness" is immense, but we will need to ensure the marketplace matures in a rational and sustainable manner, both through healthcare and education channels."

Mick Hart presents

Alcoholism Treatment - 5 Reasons To Stop Drinking Alcohol posted at Quit Alcohol Today, 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."

00FF00 presents

Should the government make 'Right to Die' facilities publicly available? posted at ooffoo, saying, "Ooffoo asks "Should the government make 'Right to Die' facilities publicly available?" and kicks off the debate by inviting two leading voices, Dignity in Dying & Care Not Killing, to contribute. But most importantly, they want to hear what you think."

Vichuda presents

Dengue Fever Cause, Symptoms, Treatments posted at Kota Medan City Indonesia, saying, “Although Dengue may not be a deadly a disease, it is dangerous and is vital to take precautions especially for the elderly and young children.”

Vicky presents

Dengue Fever Patient Experience Recovery posted at Kota Medan City. Editor’s note: The author reports on her experience with Dengue fever.

Dental Care

dentalheroes presents

How to Find Free or Low Cost Dental Care posted at Dental Heroes, saying, However, a lack of dental insurance doesn’t mean you have to go without much needed dental care. In fact, dentists across the country have recognized this need and have organized free clinics to help the uninsured cope with high dental care costs. Below, I’ve compiled some tips for locating free or low cost dental care in your area.” Editor's note: If you need dental care but can't afford it, the author has provided some resources that can help.

Angela Stringfellow presents

Eliminate Jaw Pain With a Bruxism Cure posted at Megavista Health Blog, saying, “The primary concern with grinding teeth is that most people are unaware they have the problem until it has led to further complications, such as damaged teeth, jaw pain, headaches, or conditions such as TMJ.”

ynohtna presents

How to Keep Teeth Clean eHow.com posted at How to Groom a Dog. Editor’s note: Good article on dental hygiene.

Health Insurance

Helene Zemel presents

Urge Your Representatives & Senators to support a Single Payer Health Care System posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "According to Physicians for a National Health Program: “Single payer would be the simplest and most efficient health care plan that Congress could implement.” Unfortunately we are not likely to see a single payer healthcare system unless we the people place enough pressure on our Congressional officers who seem to worry more about their re-election possibilities rather than the health of their constituents."

Mrs Bankrupt presents

No insurance. No doctor. You?re screwed. (part 2) posted at Mrs. Bankrupt. Editor’s note: This article about the problems faced by Americans without health insurance is a must read for those concerned about the health care system in the U.S.

Katie presents

Robot Heart: Sex, Religion, and Politics - Do you know what terrifies me, Peggy? posted at Robot Heart: Sex, Religion, and Politics. Editor’s note: A good response to a conservative commentator’s takes on health care. This is a good read for all those who are concerned about the 47 million uninsured and the millions of underinsured Americans.

Rose Hillbrand presents

Fix Health-Care: Pay your own way, not the insurance companies? posted at Newholisticliving's Blog, saying, "Thanks for an excellent and very relevant carnival!" Editor’s note: Insurance has definitely fed into the spiraling out of control health care costs. If we did not have health insurance, providers, including hospitals, would have to keep fees to what people could actually afford.

Chris presents

Senate Proposes “Health Tax” on Fittest Americans posted at Martial Development, saying, “In a revamped health care system envisioned by senators, people would be required to carry health insurance just like motorists must get auto coverage now.”

Madeleine Begun Kane presents

Waterloo Lies posted at Mad Kane's Political Madness, saying, “Back in July, South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint bragged about Republican plans to “break” Obama. How? By killing health care reform, turning health care into Obama’s Waterloo, so it’s no surprise that the President’s foes are wielding the Big Lie in their non-stop efforts to block reform.”

Joshua Dorkin presents

Health and Life Insurance: Two Policies – Two Different Needs (slightly off topic of RE) posted at Real Estate Investing For Real. Editor’s note: Good information on life and health insurance.

Zach Scheidt presents

Health Care Reform Quotes: An Assortment of Opinions posted at ZachStocks, saying, "Health Care Reform continues to be a hot topic on Capital Hill and across the country. Here are is a growing number of quotes from prominent voices on both sides of the isle. Please check back as I will continue to update throughout the coming weeks." Editor’s note: A good article, but it slants towards the right. In my opinion, It is quite obvious that the present employer sponsored/ insurance company run health care system is a complete failure leaving many Americans, many of them working families, uninsured and underinsured. I would rather have the government between me and my doctor than a company that cares only about profits in charge of my health care. A single payer system will save us all a lot of money in the end.

Steven Handel presents

The Last Thing We Should Do Right Now: Rush Into A Government-run Health Care System The Emotion Machine posted at The Emotion Machine. Editor’s note: This is another alternative on our health care crisis. For all of those people who are afraid of government getting involved in health care, do you not use Federal highways, the postal service, our public schools? Will you turn down Medicare and social security when you reach 65? Some things are just too big for private industry to handle effectively and with cost efficiency. We already have a rationing of health care with our private insurer/ employer sponsored system.

J.D. Bell presents Government 101 - How To Ram A Bill Down The Throats Of The American Public posted at It Takes Work. Editor’s note: This is an alternate view on our health care crisis. In my opinion, when you leave a health care system in the hands of companies whose only interest is to turn a profit, it is no wonder that we have 47 million Americans uninsured and even more underinsured and prices becoming unaffordable for only the wealthiest Americans. Many of these uninsured people are hard working Americans. One of our problems is that we rely on companies to provide health insurance and many small companies can no longer refuse to provide this coverage. For all those people complaining at the town hall meetings, will they refuse Medicare when they are 65, refuse to use government built roads, not send their children to public school.

Nutrition & Fitness

Helene Zemel presents AC-11 and DNA Repair posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "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."

Brain Blogger presents

Improve Childrens Mental Health – Turn Off the TV posted at Brain Blogger, saying, "Obesity is a global epidemic, in adults and children. The increase in childhood obesity has been linked to behavioral and environmental factors: decreased physical activity and increased television viewing."

Andy presents

Food Addiction Treatment posted at Overcoming Food Addiction, saying, "Food addiction is simply out of control eating. It’s characterized by eating beyond the satisfaction of physical hunger. As a matter of fact a big part of food addiction treatment is learning to differentiate between real hunger and emotional hunger (which leads to emotional eating)."

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."

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."

FitJerk presents

Training Your Speed And Quickness? posted at FlawlessFitness, saying, "Are you slow? Not in the head but... would you like to have reflexes like a CAT? How bout the speed of a pro boxer? Or the reaction time of a black belt MASTER? Well now you can, try out this technique!"

Mick Hart presents

How To Quit Drinking On Your Own 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."

Catherine VanWetter presents

Daily Awareness: Energy can enhance or destroy a meal, flowers and your health posted at Daily Awareness, saying, "How a meal is prepared makes a huge difference in how you feel as you eat it and how you will feel after the meal is complete."

robert galway presents

Weight Loss posted at robertgalway.com, saying, "The Atkins diet is not a new phenomenon. The diet first appeared in the late 1970s and has grown popularity in recent years in response to the low-fat diet craze. As dieters had trouble with low-fat plans, they searched for a new solution and Dr. Atkins"

Vihar Sheth presents

The Future of Aging posted at Vihar Sheth, saying, “The mystery of aging is that scientists don’t know why when our cells divide there is a degradation in quality of the split cells. The theory is that if we can reduce the harm done when cells divide we can increase our lifespans.”

Brian presents

Healthcare Costs Of The Obese posted at How To Live a Longer Life, saying, "Politics aside: Until we start spending less on marginal life extension and start focusing on the obesity epidemic in America healthcare costs will continue to rise."

Local Nourishment presents

On dining out and personal responsibility « Local Nourishment posted at Local Nourishment, saying, "Denny's is facing a lawsuit for the high sodium content of their foods."

The Smarter Wallet presents

Ways To Exercise For Cheap posted at The Smarter Wallet, saying, " Want to get fit and trim? We’ve got some weight loss tips and a few suggestions on exercising for cheap!"

Daniel James presents

Sugar Cola For Fat Loss? posted at Weight Loss Dude,saying, “That's what the Swap Diet protocol is all about. It is about actually finding out how your body works and what foods and drinks cause you to gain or lose fat so you can make decisions based on real data instead of the thousands of rumors floating around out there on the Internet.”

Daniel James presents

How To Fail posted at Weight Loss Dude, saying, “More than half of Americans are overweight because they are following the path laid out for them by failures. It works perfectly. It always leads to failure.”

Mick Hart presents

What Is An Alcoholic And How To Stop Drinking Alcohol Naturally 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."

Heartstrong presents

Is Obesity Hereditary? posted at Healthy Hearts with Heartstrong. Editor’s note: Is obesity a case of nature vs. nurture?

Andy presents

How to Stop Overeating posted at test, saying, "Sick of being overweight? Maybe you’ve been fat all your life, I have and I hated it. Until recently I was a slave to junk food. I always asked how to stop overeating and I got all kind of answers that never really worked. After years of trial and error, I finally started getting my eating under control and started losing weight."

Tony presents

32 Weight Loss Tips That Work posted at Health Fitness Article Directory, saying, "In an attempt to go from flab to fab you’ve tried pounding the pavements and treading the treadmills; climbing stairs in your building and counting steps on the Stairmaster; cycling outdoors on sunny days and stationery cycling indoors on rainy days! You’ve tried the Cabbage Soup diet, the Atkins Diet, the All-Protein-No-Carbohydrate diet and the Near-Starvation Diet! You’ve invested money in exercise videos and state of the art exercise equipment; bought special foods and diet pills."

Mikkal Travvis presents

Fascism On The Farm: H.R. 2749 - The Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 posted at The Truth. Editor’s note: Interesting perspective on our food safety laws.

Save Money on Health Care

CPF presents

4 ways to lower your prescription drug costs posted at Money in the Bible Christian Personal Finance Blog, saying, "These are some tips for those who frequent the pharmacy to save money!" Editor’s note: For people who earn less than 2 times the poverty rate, who must take expensive medications, look into the patient assistance programs sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies.

Dave Greene presents

How much does a colonoscopy cost? Here's one answer posted at BaltoNorth, saying, "Getting price information from providers before a procedure is an important part of controlling healthcare costs. To that end, here's a real-world price for a colonoscopy in Baltimore."

Aparna presents

Beating stress – some tips posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "1 Develop a good self-image. Give yourself credit when you accomplish a difficult task. Even if you do not succeed, give yourself credit for trying. 2. Worrying about what will happen or what has happened is unproductive. Live your life and enjoy it now. 3. Learn to enjoy the moment. Many of us are victims of “hurry sickness”, we live too much of the future and don’t enjoy the moment."

Silicon Valley Blogger presents

Smart Moves To Lower Your Health Care Costs posted at The Digerati Life. Editor’s note: The author provides some important tax information on health care costs.

Wenchypoo presents

This Just In: Study Names 4 Common Ways to Cut Disease posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket, saying, "I added a fifth one: WASH YOUR HANDS! With 5 simple things anyone can do to improve health and cut disease. why are we even having a debate on health care overhaul? Nobody will NEED it!"

Heartstrong presents

Carotid Artery Stenting Can Prevent Strokes posted at Healthy Hearts with Heartstrong, saying, “.Recent improvements in the stent technology and use of embolic/distal protection devices have now demonstrated that balloons and stents for carotid disease may be a beneficial alternative to surgery especially for high risk patients. “

Information for Practitioners

Bill Mayes presents

Chiropractic Marketing That Makes Money For Your Practice Chiropractic Marketing Success posted at Chiropractic Marketing Success, saying, "Chiropractic Marketing Blueprint Reveals Proven Web Marketing Strategies for Chiropractors to Add 21 to 25 New Patients To Their Practice Every Month... Automatically!" Editor’s note: These internet marketing techniques will not only help chiropractors but other practitioners as well.

Beauty

Farid presents

Five Ways to Prevent Wrinkles posted at Acne treatment, saying, "Preventing wrinkles is one of the primary concerns of most people who are concerned with their own appearance. People don't want wrinkles for a few reasons. The first is because they change the look of our skin, and make us appear older, but even more important is that they make us FEEL old. When you look in that mirror and see wrinkles, it makes you feel old and tired. Luckily, with all we now know about skin care, there are many steps that can be taken in order to prevent wrinkles."

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.

AmeriPlan Half Price Discount Dental & Medical Benefit Plans

It comes as no surprise that the American healthcare system is broken. We have 47 million Americans with no health insurance, many more are underinsured, and 7 out of 10 Americans lack dental insurance.

If you are one of the many Americans with inadequate or no dental or medical insurance, a discount dental or medical plan can help you save money on needed doctor and dental visits, prescription medications, lab tests, vision care, chiropractic, and ancillary services such as hearing aids, diabetic supplies, and more. Our medical plans have a hospital advocacy program which can help to substantially reduce those high hospital charges.

To help out uninsured and underinsured Americans during these tough financial times, AmeriPlan is offering a special half price sale. Just sign up for one of our discount dental or medical plans on or before 5:00 p.m. Central Standard Time September 14, and pay half price for your benefit package for one full year.

Here are our prices:

Basic Wellness was $14.95 a month NOW ONLY $7.48 a month

Single Dental Plus was $14.95 a month NOW ONLY $7.48 a month

Household Dental Plus was $19.95 a month NOW ONLY $9.98 a month

Total Health was $39.95 a month NOW ONLY $19.98 a month

Total Health Plus was $59.95 a month NOW ONLY $29.98 a month

Learn more about our different health care options at

www.healthplansplus.net. To join AmeriPlan and start receiving these valuable benefits for your family visit: www.mybenefitsplus.com/hlz or call 888-357-1768.

Take Charge of Your Health Care August 3, 2009

Welcome to the August 3, 2009 edition of take charge of your health care.

Here in the U.S., Congress will be adjoining for the August recess without having produced a healthcare reform bill for President Obama to sign. Some progress has been made, but I am fearful that the final bill will be a watered down version of healthcare reform. Unfortunately there are too many special interests in the U.S., and the big corporate pharmaceutical companies and particularly the big health insurance companies are spending millions on lobbying and ads to try to scare the public. Some version of healthcare will eventually pass which is better than nothing. It can’t come too soon for the 47 million Americans who are uninsured and the millions who are underinsured.

I never thought that I would complain about too many submissions, but I am getting more than 150 submissions per month which is slowing down publication of the carnival. Starting with next month’s carnival, I would like to narrow the focus of this carnival to just the subject topics, and all submissions must be true blogs. Submissions without comments enabled will no longer be accepted by this carnival. I will only accept weight loss articles that have something new to offer. The usual diet and fitness tips and lists will not be included in the Carnival. Preference will be given to those articles dealing with health insurance and benefits, alternative medicine, consumer directed health care, and nutrition and fitness. Again, only 2 articles will be accepted per author or blog, and all articles must have good content and not be spammy. I hold to this strictly for my own posts as well.

To my readers: Thanks for your submissions this month. Let me know what your favorite articIes are and I will be sure to include them in this carnival. I look forward to reading next month’s articles.

alternative medicine

Alvin Hopkinson presents Natural Cures UTI - Addressing the UTI Root Causes are the Best Natural Cures posted at UTI Natural Remedies, saying, "Most UTI cases are due to E coli infections, and the root cause of the problem often involves poor hygiene. Therefore, most of the natural cures UTI specialists recommend are concerned with proper hygiene, as well as lifestyle and diet changes."

Susie presents Patients Remained Free of Diabetes Years after Getting Gastric Bypass Surgery posted at Diabetes Updates. Editor’s note: Some studies suggest that gastric bypass surgery can eliminate diabetes for some, especially type 2 diabetes, which would also indicate that diet and lifestyle changes alone should have an effect on this condition.

brit67chick presents Blood Sugar Support Supplements Part One posted at Reactive Hypoglycemia Info, saying, "Many people take blood sugar supplements for diabetes and hypoglycemia. What the research really says, and why you should probably save your money."

Ross presents Here’s A Quick & Easy Way To Strong & Healthy Bones posted at Energise for Life, saying, "Osteoporosis and bone weakness effects one in three women and 1 in 12 men over the age of 50. In total, osteoporosis causes 310,000 fractures in the UK every year. This is a dramatic statistic and one that actually surprised me. That is really high."

ESN presents 11 Anti-Stress Techniques You Can Use Right Now posted at Massage Therapy Schools. Editor’s note: Everyone can benefit from these stress reduction techniques.

Scientific Living presents Lack of Reason in Modern Medicine posted at Scientific Living, saying, "Discusses some inherent problems and irrational behavior in the current medical system."

00FF00 presents HERBS AND PANDEMICS posted at ooffoo, saying, "Reflecting on the current threat of Swine Flu Pandemic, a classical herbalist and member of the ooffoo community reviews a few herbs, which he values as great anti-virals and which have been found to be useful in both stimulating and strengthening the immune system. Some of these herbs have even been used with some success in previous pandemics (including the 1918 ‘Spanish Flu’ and the SARS virus)."

Brian presents 11 Ways to Reduce Insulin Resistance posted at How To Live a Longer Life, saying, "The following list contains 11 ways to reduce insulin levels, increase insulin sensitivity, reduce insulin resistance, and decrease blood sugar levels without the use of medication."

Christopher X. Gerber presents Fighting Physical Ailment ? With Cognitive Help posted at Experiment: Gerbus, saying, “Maybe it’s true that we can’t always find or create placebos for our problems, sure, but we can at least admit that the potential to heal is not exclusive to external medicine or therapy. There is something internal and mental that can have a healing effect.”

Amy B. Scher presents Apple Cider Vinegar and Diabetes posted at Healthcare Hacks, saying, “The popularly held notion that apple cider vinegar has healthful qualities is gaining acceptance in the scientific community. In fact, this commonly held household item may help people suffering from type-2 diabetes while also helping to lower blood glucose levels and lose weight.”

ChristianPF presents Apple cider vinegar removes warts! posted at Natural Health Ezine, saying, "This is a very effective, cheap, and painless home remedy to remove warts using natural methods..."

Astrid Lee presents Protect Yourself from Negativity with Black Tourmaline posted at World Healing, saying, "Some may not know this, but black tourmaline is a crystal that can absorb negativity from your surrounding/within you (think electronic radiations, nagging colleagues, fights, competition, your own negative self talk, etc ) and bring your mind and body back into balance! An inexpensive but powerful crystal that can help you gain the grounding you wish and need."

Brian presents Think Positive & Fight Depression posted at How To Live a Longer Life, saying, "Thinking positive can can help improve mortality rates and assist in disease prevention and recovery but only in cases where the positive thinking is genuine. How then do you think genuinely positive thoughts when you're fighting depression?"

Justin Hall presents How To Balance Your Life posted at Justin Hall, saying, “Keeping balance in your life is what keeps you healthy, both mentally and physically.”

Brooklyn White presents 100 Ways to Make Your Brain Better, Faster, and Stronger posted at MRI Technician Schools, saying, “In today’s fast-paced, competitive world, building your brain power gives you an edge in the job market as well as other aspects of life. These tips will teach you how to boost your brain and memory to increase productivity and make you a superstar at trivia.”

Alisha Harmann presents Top 50 Blogs for Positive and Conscious Living posted at Master Of Health Administration, saying, “Here are 50 blogs that can get you on the path to positive and conscious living:”

Alisha Harmann presents Top 50 Alternative Medicine Blogs posted at Online Nursing Degree Guide, saying, “Alternative medicine has been shown to be reasonably effective in some cases, and it has even surpassed more conventional treatments.”

Martha Jackson presents Top 50 Holistic Medicine Blogs posted at Nursing Online Degree, saying, “With holistic medicine, the health of the patient involves spiritual, lifestyle, nutritional, emotional, mental, social and environmental aspects in addition to the physical. Holistic medicine can be used in a manner that is complementary to medical practices present in modern Western health care.”

Patricia Turner presents 100 Best Health Blogs for Soon-to-be Moms posted at Becoming A Radiologist, saying, “Soon to be moms and dads can save hours of sifting through internet sites and blogs by visiting these top pregnancy and parenting blogs.”

Nancy Miller presents 50 Social Networks for Healthy and Happy Moms posted at Pharmacy Technician Certification. Editor’s note: The author has compiled a list of some of the best blogs and social networking sites for moms.

Barbara Williams presents 100 Useful Websites for Medical Librarians posted at Nursing Schools.net. Editor’s note: The author has provided an excellent resource for medical information.

Brooklyn White presents 50+ Ways to Germ-Proof Your Home, Office, and Life posted at Radiography Schools, saying, “It seems each headline brings a new flu, disease, or other bacterial worry and who has the time to learn them all? Take a proactive stance by learning the best ways to germ proof yourself, kids, office, home, and more.”

Elisha Knackwood presents 25 Free iPhone Apps to Help You Live Healthy posted at Masters In Health Care Online, saying, “Here are 25 free iPhone Apps to help you live a healthy lifestyle.”

Beauty

Robin presents Skin Care posted at Skin Care. Editor’s note: Some good advice on choosing a skin care product.

Consumer Driven Health Care

Beth L. Gainer presents Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Medical Administrator? posted at Calling the Shots, saying, “I'm hoping that this posting can help you stand up to rude administrators who seem bent on placing hurdles in your way or being rude and inappropriate during your visit to the office.”

Beth L. Gainer presents Say 'No' to Thugs posted at Calling the Shots, saying, “We are able to say “no” to our children, teenagers, relatives, friends, and significant others. So why is it so difficult to say "no" to doctors?”

Scientific Living presents Drug Company Hypnotizes Viewers posted at Scientific Living. Editor’s note: The author provides an interesting analysis of those television drug ads.

Alvaro Fernandez presents Debunking 10 Brain Training/ Cognitive Health Myths posted at SharpBrains: Your Window into the Brain Fitness Revolution, saying, "Think about this: How can anyone take care of his or her brain when every week brings a new barrage of articles and studies which seem to contradict each other?"

Brain Blogger presents Natural Good, Chemical Bad ? Right? posted at Brain Blogger, saying, "Arsenic sandwich anyone? Mercury soup, deadly nightshade surprise? No? Really? Well, I’m baffled! They’re all natural you know. And as we know, natural is good; natural is pure. Best of all, natural is healthy"

Brain Blogger presents Time for a Change ? Gender Reassignment posted at Brain Blogger, saying, "I still remember him plainly: middle-aged, married, paunchy around the middle. He didn’t come in to the clinic because he was sick or had a chronic medical illness. He came in because he wanted to be a woman."

Ross presents Hidden Health Danger in the Home posted at Energise for Life, saying, "Every day we are surrounded by silent killers. In our lounge, in our kitchen and in our bedroom. In our pocket and on our lap."

Mick Hart presents Women Under Threat From Alcohol Related Cancer posted at Quit Alcohol Today, saying, " Medical studies have shown that women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol increase their risk of a variety of types of cancer."

Mick Hart presents Understanding Your Drinking Habits And How To Quit Alcohol 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."

Vichuda presents H1N1 Virus in Indonesia posted at Kota Medan Guide. Editor’s note: We must still take precautions when traveling to help prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu.

Alvaro Fernandez presents Daniel Goleman: Yes, You Can Build Willpower (meditate on neuroplasticity!) posted at SharpBrains: Your Window into the Brain Fitness Revolution, saying, ""brain science now tells us the brain makes about 10,000 new cells every day, and that they migrate to where they are needed. Once there, each cell makes around 10,000 connections to other brain cells over the successive four months.""

Joel Gray presents Skin Cancer Risks And How To Prevent It From Happening To You posted at Health Tips 101. Editor’s note: The author provides good information about skin cancer prevention and treatment.

Sagarika presents Types of Communicable Diseases posted at Social Work for Mankind. Editor’s note: The author has provided some good information about infectious diseases.

Heartstrong presents Less Than 25% of Heart Problems Diagnosed Before Symptoms Appear posted at Healthy Hearts with Heartstrong. Editor’s note: The author discusses the importance of preventative health care.

Megan Wong presents Little Kiwi, the nutritional powerhouse to combat your sinus drainage posted at Sinus Home Remedy. Editor’s note: The author describes some of the important benefits of kiwi fruit.

Mesquite Pete presents Protect Yourself from Mosquitoes While Backpacking posted at Mosquito Basics, saying, "If you are going hiking or camping, you will want to make sure you are protected from mosquitoes."

Dave Fobare presents Conquer Your CPAP Fears posted at Beat Sleep Apnea. Editor’s note: Some good advice for those who use a CPAP mask for sleep apnea.

lavender presents Swine Flu: Deadly Vaccine posted at News for Freedom Daily, saying, “The swine flu vaccine may cause more harm to you than the actual disease.”

Vichuda presents H1N1 Symptoms and Precautions posted at Kota Medan City Indonesia. Editor’s note: The author provides some good information about the H1N1 Swine Flu.

Dental

Ross presents Mercury Fillings & Mercury Amalgam Removal? The Answers! posted at Energise for Life, saying, "I have absolutely no doubt that having mercury fillings in your mouth is a very bad idea, but having them removed properly is an absolute must." Editor’s note: Good article reminding us of the dangers of amalgam fillings.

Nutrition & 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."

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."

Ashley Cook presents Juggling for Fun and Exercise posted at Healthy Living Tips, saying, "Juggling can not only be a fun hobby, but a great source of exercise."

Greg presents The Rise of Albino Wheat -- Whitewheat Bread Live Fit Blog posted at Live Fit Blog, saying, “Early humans consumed a variety of grain products. That has changed drastically in the last few hundred years, as wheat has become the favored grain crop among Western societies. More specifically, red (durham) wheat gained prominence, primarily by simple luck of the draw, as settlers moving to North America from Europe happened to favor red wheat. The now lesser known albino wheat was left behind. “

Britannica Blog presents Can Calorie Restriction Increase Ones Life Span? posted at Britannica Blog, saying, "In the 1930s scientists discovered that a low-calorie diet could increase life span in certain organisms. In the decades since, the effects of calorie restriction have been described in animals such as mice and rats and in smaller organisms, including yeast, worms, and fruit flies. Scientists also have begun to investigate the effects of low-calorie diets in primates. But there remains a burning and as yet unanswered question: does calorie restriction increase life span in humans? The experiments conducted so far have indicated that this route to increased longevity is not universally effective."

Resveratrol Explained presents What Is Resveratrol ? posted at Resveratrol Explained. Editor’s note: There has been proven research demonstrating the efficacy of resveratrol and other anti-oxidants.

Szabolcs Illes presents Easy Exercises – Have A Joy In What You Do And Stay Fit posted at Blog. Editor’s note: The author makes the point that to keep to an exercise routine, it must be fun to do. Choose 1 or more fitness activities that you will really enjoy.

J.D. Bell presents Resveratrol Supplement Web Scam posted at It Takes Work, saying, "Who says nutritional supplement marketers aren't honest?" Editor’s note: The author warns us to be aware of deceptive advertising of nutritional supplements.

Andy presents 5 Binge Eating Recovery Tips posted at Health Fitness Article Directory, saying, "Binge eating recovery might seem hard or even impossible especially if you’ve tried and failed in the past. Many binge eaters spend years trying to recover and only make little or no progress. The following 5 tips are going to save you years of trial and error when trying to stop binge eating."

Andy presents Why Real Weight Loss Will Always Be Hard posted at Weight Loss Window, saying, "I’m sure you’ve seen the “lose 10 pounds in 7 days” ads, all the deceiving miracle diets and all the different weight loss marketing media messages. Well real weight loss is hard and here is why."

Joel Gray presents Healthy Cooking for Special Diets posted at Health Tips 101, saying, “Healthy cooking for special diets doesn’t need to be a chore. The key is to remember important issues for each diet, and to creatively change your recipes to meet those needs.”

Joel Gray presents Exercise The Main Ingredient In A Healthy Diet posted at Health Tips 101, saying, “The importance of exercise regarding a healthy diet cannot be ignored. The lack of a quality exercise plan, will result in not being able to maintain your optimum weight and will not allow for long term weight loss.”

robert galway presents Atkins pre maintenance posted at robertgalway.com, saying, "After experiencing the Induction and OWL phases of the Atkins diet, your next step is to enter the pre-maintenance phase. This phase will set you up for a lifetime of healthy and balanced eating and living. You should begin this phase as you come within 5 to 10 pounds of your target weight goal. Your weight loss will be slowed down even further but it is for a purpose. You want to learn the practices and habits that will determine your long-term success."

robert galway presents Weight Loss posted at robertgalway.com, saying, "Atkins diet foods are easy to find and available everywhere. There are many varieties to choose from, whether you pick prepackaged low-carb diet foods or make your own meals. No matter how you want to do the Atkins plan, there is a solution out there for you."

Daniel James presents Staying Motivated posted at Weight Loss Dude, saying, “Weight loss can be fun, and it should be fun. Get creative with the foods you eat. Go for a nice walk outside in the sun. Don't restrict yourself so much that you go crazy. Enjoy the journey!”

Lucky Balaraman presents Finding Unshakable Happiness: The 5 Pristine Pillars posted at Calm and Cool, saying, “Everyone wants to be happy: it’s human nature. However, finding happiness is not always a piece of cake.”

brit67chick presents Ovo-vegan Diet Cured my Tietze's Syndrome posted at All About Tietze's Syndrome, saying, "I became a vegan not because of ethics, but to help with my hypoglycemia. The vegan diet not only helped control my blood sugar, it also eradicated the joint pain I had had for sixteen years!"

Daniel James presents Self-Experimentation for Weight Loss posted at Weight Loss Dude. Editor’s note: The author reports on some of his weight loss discoveries.

weight loss plans presents Ways To Get Exercise posted at weight loss plans, saying, " You don’t have to bench press 250 pounds or run the Boston Marathon to get exercise. There are some very simple, easy, and fun ways to get exercise!”

weight loss plans presents weight loss, diets, fitness,fat loss, eating , losing weight, Fat burning , nutrition , how to burn fat ,vitamins , diet program ,lose fat posted at weight loss plans. Editor’s note: The author provides some good tips on how to get started on an exercise and fitness program.

Martha Jackson presents Nutrition.edu: 25 Excellent Open Courseware Classes on Nutrition and Healthy Eating posted at Online Radiology Technician Schools, saying, “Are you confused by all the news about food and nutrition? According to Tufts University, only 25 percent of U.S. medical schools have a required nutrition course. You can overcome this knowledge deficiency through open courseware projects that focus on nutrition. These courses are online, they’re free and you can learn at your own pace.”

Elisha Knackwood presents Top 50 Blogs for Healthy Eating & Nutrition posted at Online Surgical Technician Courses. Editor’s note: This list is an excellent resource of blogs on healthy eating and nutrition.

Cory presents Frisbee for Fun and Fitness posted at Eating Healthy, saying, "Frisbee can be both a lot of fun and a great source of exercise."

Alisha Harmann presents Top 25 Ways You’re Wrecking Your Immune System posted at Masters in Nursing Online. Editor’s note: Some good information on how to keep your immune system healthy.

FitJerk presents Energy Bars & Protein Bars - Nutritious Mini-Meal Or Glorified Candy? posted at FlawlessFitness, saying, "Health Bars- They're jam packed with nutrients, minerals and vitamins and come in a million different flavors… BUT, are they really as “healthy” and “nutritious” as they claim to be? Find out..."

Heartstrong presents HEARTSTRONG BLOG posted at HEARTSTRONG BLOG, saying, “Rachel Ray talks about EVOO all the time, but is it really worth the money? And what exactly is extra-virgin olive oil?”

Jessica presents Random Ways To Feel Healthier Today posted at Jessica's Health Tips, saying, "Seven easy to implement ideas to make your life a little healthier."

Health Fitness How To presents Help for Eating Disorders posted at Health Fitness Article Directory, saying, "It’s not every day that a person with an eating disorder crosses the path of another individual. In fact, Eating Disorders are often hidden by women and men for years."

Robin presents Dressing For Yoga posted at Yoga Blogger. Editor’s note: The author provides some good information on how to choose comfortable clothing for yoga.

Kelsey Grace presents Top 10 Anti-Aging Supplements posted at Vitamins. Editor’s note: The author provides a good list of some of the best anti-aging supplements.

Kelsey Grace presents Top 10 Memory Improvement Supplements posted at Vitamins. Editor’s note: The author provides a list of supplements that can improve your memory.

Nancy Miller presents The Relationship Between Sleep, Exercise and Diabetes posted at LVN to RN, saying, “You need to realize the importance of sleep, especially if your genes and lifestyle makes you more prone to becoming a diabetic. If you’re having trouble falling asleep, you could try turning to exercise as a solution.”

Margaret Garcia presents Napping Power – How a Snooze Can Do You Good posted at Earn LPN Degree Online, saying, “We all know how essential sleep is to our general well being – normal adults need between six and eight hours each night to recharge our bodies so that we’re fit for a new day. But not many people know that there’s as much benefit in a daytime snooze, the forty winks we call “power naps”.”

Health Fitness How To presents The Must Buy Organic Produce List posted at Health Fitness Article Directory, saying, "Continuing on my transition to becoming an organic consumer, I have discovered some other useful information to consider."

Lucky Tuff presents Want Some Information on How to Lose Weight Fast? posted at How to lose weight fast - weight loss tips, saying, "Are you trying to figure out how to lose weight fast? Then you should know that there is no perfect weight loss tips that everyone should follow. This is simply because everyone’s body type is different. We all have diverse body types, various energy levels, different metabolic rates and varied dietary requirements. There are of course some proven techniques which if followed religiously can give positive results...."

Darryl Kimball presents If You Don't Give Some Thought To The Body Fat Set Point- You Might Be A Dumb Ass! posted at http://www.weightloss4dumbasses.com/, saying, "A very powerful article on the Body Fat Set Point. Is there scientific evidence that it exist and what is the best way to change it. Don't spend another dime on weight loss products and don't start another diet until you read this article on the body fat set point!"

Health Insurance

Abigail Perry presents Why we need a single-payer system posted at i pick up pennies, saying, "My husband and I both have chronic illnesses. Yet conservatives, who have probably never had anything worse than the flu, keep trying to tell me that we have "the best health care system in the world." I'd love for them to try and find $502 a month to keep my husband insured when we only bring in $3245 a month. Or try to find the $1000 in copays he's already racked up in the past 6 months. Or maybe they could just try being minimum-wage, uninsured workers who wait to go to the ER until the staph infection is in their blood, ensuring medical bills they'll never be able to repay."

Brian McKay presents Choosing the Best Health Insurance posted at MonitorBankRates.com, saying, "Health care costs have been increasing by leaps and bounds over the past 20 years. Costs have been driven up because of the increased advances in medical care."

Hal LaPray presents Geography Plays Role of Disparator in Approval Rates for Disability Benefits posted at Disability Information & Resources, saying, "Whether or not you're approved for Social Security benefits may depend on where you live. A survey of more than 200 Social Security Attorneys nationwide revealed that one of the most important factors in determining whether or not a disabled person will be approved for Social Security benefits is Geography."

Michael presents Handling a Hit and Run Accident. What to do in a Hit and Run. posted at Vital Motion, saying, "Chances are you or someone you know may be involved in a hit and run accident at some point."

Hal LaPray presents Interview With A Social Security Attorney posted at Disability Information & Resources, saying, "Steven Packard, a Social Security Attorney who represents disability claimants granted an interview to the local news."

Doug Boude presents Employers: Save Yourself And Your Employees Some Healthcare Cash! posted at Doug Boude (rhymes with 'loud'), saying, "this blog post explores a potential alternative to the way companies currently provide health coverage to their employees; an idea that potentially could save both employer and employee money"

Wenchypoo presents Wenchypoo's Health Care Proposal posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket. Editor’s note: The author raises the point that preventive medicine should be incorporated into any health care plan and this would save taxpayers considerable money.

Save Money on Health Care

Smart Unemployment presents Individual Health Insurance: How To Lower Your Premiums In Three Steps posted at Smart Unemployment, saying, "Three ways to lower the cost of your health insurance premium."

Ron King presents Crisis in Caregiving: Can Seniors Go On Living at Home? posted at Blog Long Term Care - Long Term Care for Elders, saying, "A recent study funded by the Connecticut State Legislature found that community-based services such as home care were inadequate to meet the needs of the state"

Health Care Careers

edmond elaine presents 5 Reasons Every Healthcare Worker Should Be Paid More posted at online MHA degree, saying, “The range of service provided by healthcare workers is something that will always be needed in the community.”

Margaret Garcia presents 55 Tips to Survive a Long Hospital Shift posted at Online Nurse Practitioner Schools. Editor’s note: Some good and sometimes humorous tips for surviving those long shift hours.

Aland Amherst presents How Much Money Can a Nurse Make? (It's Surprising) posted at Certified Nurse Assistant, saying, “Nurses at different levels earn according to their specialty. The shortage of nurses makes the career quite a lucrative one. Nurses who start off at the lower levels have a chance of making their salaries better by getting an advanced level of nursing course certificate.”

Barbara Williams presents 50 Happy Nursing Blogs posted at Nursing Schools.net, saying, “These 50 blogs offer a positive spin on nursing.”

Alisha Harmann presents Top 50 Blogs to Help You Further Your Healthcare Career posted at Online Radiology Technician Schools, saying, “the following top fifty blogs can help you stay in tune with healthcare and help you further your healthcare career.”

Barbara Williams presents The 100 Best Blogs For Pharmacy Students posted at Nursing Schools.net, saying, “As healthcare costs boom and the number of Americans on prescription drugs increases, pharmacy’s future looks bright. Here are the 100 best blogs for pharmacy students.”

Brooklyn White presents The Importance of Open Access in Medicine posted at LVN Schools, saying, “open access promotes progress in the field of medicine and allows people in the medical community and patients to keep abreast of the latest developments in the field of medicine.”

PicktheBrain presents 200+ Health and Medical Accounts Worth Following on Twitter posted at Medical Future. Editor’s note: Great list of people to follow on Twitter for the health professional.

Miscellaneous

Reba Haas presents Puget Sound Clean Air news for July - check that chiminea and reduce neighbor stress posted at Team Reba Real Estate, saying, "There are ways we can all take control of our environment, even when it's the neighbor with the heavily smoking fire or BBQ. Read this Puget Sound Clean Air newsletter for info and suggestions on how to handle wood smoke issues this summer."

Jason Hulott presents Have you got public liability insurance for your business? posted at Small Business Cover, saying, “Whether you run a small business from home or whether you are the boss of a huge business that employs a great deal of staff it makes sense to consider liability insurance.”

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.

Urge Your Representatives & Senators to support a Single Payer Health Care System

It will come as no surprise to most that the health care system in the United States is badly broken. With 47 million uninsured Americans and many more underinsured, many people find themselves not getting the basic care that they need. Often less serious conditions become more serious and costly conditions because many people who lack health insurance simply avoid going to a doctor. In some cases care for the uninsured and underinsured can be similar to that found in Third World Nations. Read my blog post on the Shame of the U.S. Healthcare System: http://healthplansplus.blogspot.com/2007/11/shame-of-american-health-care-system.html.

One major problem is that the U.S. health care system has been held hostage by the for profit insurance companies. With the large profits that these companies make by denying coverage to many or not paying claims, they are able to use these profits to lobby our politicians, pay for ads frightening people from supporting health care reform, and paying 7 figure salaries to their top executives. These companies are clearly in the pockets of our politicians.

Another problem is that the U.S. system is basically an employer sponsored system. Unfortunately the price of health insurance has become so exorbitant that many of the smaller companies have dropped health insurance altogether or have asked their employees to contribute larger and larger percentages of their incomes for their health insurance package with many opting not to take coverage. If you are self-employed, you must pay even higher costs and will be lucky to receive any coverage at all especially if you have a pre-existing condition. Often individuals must pay premiums of over $500 per month and families will usually pay premiums greater than $1200 per month. This is equivalent to paying a second rent each month. Many hard working middle income and working class families will have very little left after paying for food, rent or mortgage, utilities, car expenses, clothing, and other household expenses. With this being the case, many families simply go without any health insurance coverage.

Although some of the blame must also be placed on our health care providers for not containing costs, much blame lies in the reimbursement schedule. One suggestion has been to pay a certain amount to the provider for treatment of a particular condition rather than paying for each visit, procedure, and test ordered separately. If we make a comparison to a restaurant, it might be akin to choosing a prix fixe dinner as opposed to ordering everything a la carte. Clearly some oversight is necessary and would be provided by a single payer system.
Accessibility to health care should be a basic human right. The United States is the only major industrialized country to not have a national health care plan.

When a system is this badly broken, the best solution is just to replace it with something completely different. Only a single payer system would provide healthcare coverage for all. This system, also called Medicare for all, would offer cost savings not found in any other system.

According to Physicians for a National Health Program: “Single payer would be the simplest and most efficient health care plan that Congress could implement.” Unfortunately we are not likely to see a single payer healthcare system unless we the people place enough pressure on our Congressional officers who seem to worry more about their re-election possibilities rather than the health of their constituents. It is about time that they listen to the people that they represent and not the big insurance companies. So for all of my readers in the U.S., who are serious about healthcare reform, please take a few minutes to write or call you representatives in Washington today and ask that they consider a single payer health care option.

If you find yourself without health insurance but need to see a doctor or dentist or save money on prescriptions, visit www.healthplansplus.net.

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.