You are invited to The Soup to Nuts Progressive Dinner Carnival

Dear Health Plans Plus Readers



I am proud to be one of the hosts of the Soup to Nuts Progressive Dinner Carnival. For those of you who write blogs, participating in blog carnivals is a great way to meet other writers in the blogosphere and as a result increase traffic to your blog. The Soup to Nuts Carnival will take place on April 30th, and Health Plans Plus Blog will be hosting the first course right here at www.healthplansplus.blogspot.com. See below for more information on how to contribute your blog posts to the Soup to Nuts Carnival.

{Enter}Blogospherians in the know, those who value the social aspects of blogging above all, participate regularly in carnivals. There's no better way to promote your site and to connect with other bloggers.The latest, greatest innovation is the:

Soup To Nuts

Progressive Dinner Blog Carnival.

The way a progressive dinner works is...

You start out at one house or restaurant to have hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, then move on to a different one for appetizers, and continue moving from place to place all the way through dessert.

Soup To Nuts combines the power of blog carnivals with the adventure of a progressive dinner, while adding a dash of whimsy.

You can enter as many as five posts in the Soup To Nuts PROGRESSIVE DINNER Blog Carnival. If you wish, you can enter a single submission; or two or three or four or five.

How does it work that you can submit multiple posts to one carnival; and why would you?---(-)->

You could say, Soup to Nuts is FIVE CARNIVALS in one. All five are connected, to make one megacarnival. <-(-)--- Remember, there are five different host blogs involved. If you submit five posts, every one of the host blogs will have a link to your site. Entries are being accepted NOW. Don't be one of the people who come to enter late; to find they have no seat at the table. {Enter}

Dinner is being served 30 April

No entries will be accepted after 11:59 pm, Saturday, 26 April
Entries are being accepted NOW

The Rules...

---(-)-> Only English language posts will be accepted.

---(-)-> It's a FREE FOR ALL! - meaning you can submit posts on any subject, no matter when they were written.

---(-)-> No posts with titles that include profanity or pictures of a sexual nature.

--(-)-> Posts will not be accepted from blogs that publish primarily adult-oriented material; that means no sex blogs.

---(-)-> Please do not submit the same post for more than one course.

The individual portions, in the progressive dinner, are referred to as courses. The lineup for the second Soup To Nuts PROGRESSIVE DINNER Carnival:

The Hors d'oeuvres & Cocktails course...will be served by Soham at

The Soul And The Witness. {Enter} - Choose hors d'oeuvres category or email your name as you want it to appear, blog/url and post/url to sohamdas@gmail.com - subject line: progressive dinner.

The Appetizer course...will be served by Nicole at Musings Of A Manic Mom.{Enter} - Choose appetizer categoryor email your name as you want it to appear, blog/url and post url to musingsofamanicmom@gmail.com - subject line: progressive dinner.

The First Course...will be served by Helene at Health Plans Plus.{Enter} - Choose first course category or email your name as you want it to appear, blog/url and post url to hlzmarketing@gmail.com - subject line: progressive dinner.

The Main Course...will be served by Dana at Simple Pleasures.{Enter} - Choose main course categoryor email your name as you want it to appear, blog/url and post url to gottsegnet@gmail.com - subject line: progressive dinner.

The Dessert Course...will be served by Kilroy_60 at The Gonzo Papers.{Enter} - Choose main course categoryor email your name as you want it to appear, blog/url and post url to kilroy60@gmail.com - subject line: progressive dinner.

We would appreciate your help in promoting the Soup To Nuts Progressive Dinner Blog Carnival. Please email the url of your promotional post to kilroy60@gmail.com - you will receive links back in future announcements by the hosts.This is a unique event. Please follow the format of this post to make the submission process as easy as possible for all involved.{Enter}

Gap in Life Expectancy Widens for the Nation

Once more we are reminded of the healthcare crisis that we have here in the United States. In an article in the March 23, 2008 edition of The New York Times, the author states that: “New government research has found ‘large and growing’ disparities in life expectancy for richer and poorer Americans, paralleling the growth of income inequality in the last two decades.”

According to the article, from 1966 to 1980, the gap in life expectancy between rich and poor actually decreased. It is not surprising that this same period saw the creation of Medicaid and Medicare, the growth of community health centers, the “war on poverty,” and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

According to Dr. Singh, a demographer at the Department of Health and Human Resources, the wealthiest Americans could be expected to live 2.4 years longer than those in the most impoverished groups (75.8 years vs. 73 years). By 1998 to 2000, this gap had widened to 4.5 years (79.2 years vs. 74.7 years), and it continues to grow. Even more alarming, the contrast between certain groups was much wider. The difference between poor black men and affluent white women was 14 years (66.9 years vs. 81.1 years).

Several reasons were given for this wide difference in life expectancy between rich and poor. One of the reasons cited was that lower income people were less likely to have health insurance. This meant that they were less likely to receive checkups, diagnostic tests and screenings, prescriptions, and adequate treatment. It is not uncommon to hear stories of patients cutting their pills in half because they can’t afford their prescription medications.

This disparity in health care should not exist in a wealthy country like the United States. Not only has the cost of medical care, hospitalization, and prescription drugs risen steeply, but health insurance has become unaffordable unless you are either wealthy or work for a large company.

If you are either uninsured or underinsured, consider AmeriPlan. We have 4 different health plans to choose from: Dental Plus, Basic Health, Total Health, and Total Health Plus. For a low monthly fee, these plans save your family up to 80% on all health care services. For more information visit:

www.healthplansplus.net. If you are unable to afford your prescriptions and can qualify financially, you may be able to receive your medications for free with the AmeriPlan Prescription Advocacy Program. For more information visit: www.healthplansplus.net/APAP.html.

Great News! AmeriPlan $25 Business Opportunity Extended to March 31st

In a previous blog post (see my February 3, 2008 post below), I wrote about a special opportunity to start your own health care benefits business with AmeriPlan for just a $25 startup fee. I have some great news; the $25 promotion has been extended until March 31, 2008. So, if you did not have the opportunity to start your AmeriPlan business last month, you now have until 5:00 p.m. Central Standard Time to get started for just $25.

As a reader of this blog, you know that we have a serious health care crisis in the United States. There are over 47 million Americans who do not have any health insurance. Health insurance has become unaffordable unless you work for a large company. Even among those individuals and families who do have health insurance benefits, many are underinsured. Insurance companies can even drop your coverage if you become ill. If you are self employed and even have a minor pre-existing condition, you can be denied coverage. It seems as though those who need health insurance most are unable to either afford it or obtain it.

Why the AmeriPlan Business Opportunity?

As an AmeriPlan Independent Business Owner, you will have the opportunity help individuals and families save money on their health and dental care with our affordable discount health and dental plans. In addition to our Dental Plus, Basic Health, Total Health, and Total Health Plus plans, AmeriPlan offers discounts on diabetic supplies, hearing aids, cosmetic dentistry, orthodontia, lasik eye surgery, cosmetic surgery, and alternative medicine. To read more about our discount health plans visit and how they can help you save money visit:

www.healthplansplus.net.

What do you receive for $25?

Every new Independent Business Owner receives the following:

1. A Fantastic Marketing Kit which will include Brochures, DVDs, Forms, and a $50 certificate for additional sales aids and supplies.
2. 5 Websites to market your business.
3. Personal one on one training and mentoring.
4. training from the best in the industry.
5. Dental, Vision, Prescription, and Chiropractic Benefits for your entire household.

Other Benefits:

1. Set your own hours! Work from home!
2. Be your own Boss!
3. Earn true residual income and make what you are worth!
4. This business is willable and sellable.
5. LOVE WHAT YOU DO!
6. Help others everyday get the healthcare they desperately need!
7. Help others work from home just like you, so that they can spend more time with their families.

Why AmeriPlan?

AmeriPlan is a 16 year old company. We are the nation’s largest discount health benefits company and are members in good standing of the Consumer Health Alliance, National Association of Dental Plans, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Health Underwriters. We have almost 2 million satisfied members nationwide. From the comfort of our home, we offer a service that allows people to save money on their healthcare costs…which is very rewarding.

For more information:

To start your career in the health benefits industry, simply visit:

www.freedomathometeam.com/workathome to explore the opportunity. Feel free to call me 24/7 at 800-635-3394. To get started today, visit: www.iboplus.com/hlz and hit the red Join Now button. Just complete the online application and you will receive your AmeriPlan Independent Business number. I will be in contact with you to help you get started.

Carnival of Family Life

Welcome to the February 11, 2008, edition of the Carnival of Family Life! I am honored to have been asked to be the host for this week’s Carnival. I was impressed with the quality and variety of the posted articles on a wide range of topics including education, family humor, family finance, parenting tips, family health and wellness, and even the family pet.

As you read through these excellent articles, you will find helpful tips and ideas which will definitely benefit your family life. Remember that a strong family life is essential to your health and well being.

Education

Summer presents Gender and Education posted at Mom Is Teaching.

Alvaro Fernandez presents Musical Training as Mental Exercise for Cognitive Pperformance posted at SharpBrains which he describes as "a great essay by Megan, a high school student, as part of her Psychology class at Red Land High School (West Shore School District, PA)."

HowToMe presents How To Make a Quiet Book posted at HowToMe, saying, "When I was little, my grandmother made and gave each of her little ones their very own 'My Quiet Book.' Finding patterns for those has become hard to do. With many modifications, this is a fun (time consuming) and easy way to make a quiet book."

Kelsey presents Is Homeschooling in Your Future? posted at Vanilla Joy - Family Fun and Education.

pickel presents Dysfunction or ADHD? posted at My Two Boys.

Family Finance

DotLobby presents What is a Recession? 4 Signs and Symptoms posted at DotMakeMoney, saying, "Of course, you probably could have looked that up yourself, so let’s look at the subject in a more 'How does this affect me?' way . . ."

Melissa presents Get Your Doctors To Give You The Goods! posted at A Penny Closer.

Stephanie presents Beating the Winter Doldrums Cheaply posted at Unclaimed Money, saying, "Got cabin fever? Get out and do something with out spending a lot of money!"

Matthew Paulson presents Go on a Mini-Vacation: Take a Weekend Roadtrip Without Breaking the Bank posted at American Consumer News.

paidtwice presents Assumptions and Expectations posted at I've Paid For This Twice Already..., saying, "Communication with your spouse is important in all aspects of your relationship."

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Teaching Our Kids How To Handle Debt and Credit posted at The Digerati Life.

Super Saver presents How Children Can Cause Taxes To Increase Sharply posted at My Wealth Builder, saying, "Watch out when a child no longer qualifies for a tax deduction or credit anymore."

Family Health and Wellness

Tupelo Kenyon presents Finally the Truth About Diet – The China Study Review posted at Tupelo Kenyon, saying, "Finally, here’s an authoritative diet and nutrition book based on hard science and exhaustive research, written by one of the world’s most respected authorities in the field of nutrition. There is so much useful information in this book. Change your diet and change the quality of your life."

Jennifer in OR presents Valentine's Day: What Not To Do posted at Diary of 1, saying, "What not to do for a Happy Valentine's Day: Top 10 List!"

Aparna presents Swimming in over-chlorinated pools can have adverse effects on your skin, hair and teeth posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "If wading in the cool waters of a swimming pool during weekends is your idea of breaking from the monotony and humdrum of daily activities, then you are indeed a wise fitness freak, who combines leisure, hobby and exercise in an amazing way. And why not - swimming is one of the best aerobic exercises around with tremendous health benefits. However there are certain tribulations that have to be faced."

Warren Wong presents What Committing to Something Means and Why You Should Do It posted at Personal Development for INTJs, saying, "Here are good reasons why you shouldn't be afraid of commitment."

changeyourtree presents Newsflash: You Teach Others How to Treat You posted at Change Your Tree, saying, "There is a huge misunderstanding that other people get to decide how they treat you. If you don't want this to be the case, this article will empower you to take that control back."

Chief Family Officer presents How to keep your baby warm at night posted at Chief Family Officer.

I (Helene) present Finding an Affordable Dental Plan - Questions to Ask posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "Here are some questions to ask when searching for an affordable dental plan for your family."

Family Pets

Matt M presents Why Dogs Burrow posted at The Pet Haven.

Family Humor

Sutocu presents Home Theater for the Family posted at Home Theater Point, saying, "The natural place for a home theater is often the living room. The problem with it is that everyone in a family loves to watch television. In fact, in many homes it is the one room that is most often used by the family. However, it is likewise obvious that everyone doesn’t always agree on what is it that should be played."

Holly Ord presents Moving Tip: Avoid Moving in an Ice Storm posted at Menstrual Poetry.

Nathaniel Scott presents Don't Blink Or You'll Miss It posted at A Beautiful Collision.

WhatWorksForUs presents Purge-atory posted at What Works For Us.

Lill Hawkins presents Icicles and Undies posted at News from Hawkhill Acres.

Robert Bach presents Super Sunday Daddy Day posted at Kintropy In Action, saying, "Celebrating Super Bowl Sunday with the kids."

Miscellaneous

Tiffany Washko presents Organic and Natural Home Cleaning Products! posted at Natural Family Living Blog.

Rob Moshe presents Live Your Best Life By Serving Others posted at Rob Schaumer, saying, "Once the project starts, each day I will recognize a fellow blogger who helped."

Joshua Wagner presents Instant Gratification Doesn’t Always Mean Instant Success posted at Total Possibility, saying, "In a world of million dollar prizes, and surgeries that can make us skinny in a few months, we have gotten used to the idea of instant gratification. The problem with instant gratification is that it often has consequences down the line that are not always foreseeable, nor is instant gratification as fulfilling as actually doing the work necessary to achieve true success. It is the difference between robbing a bank and earning a paycheck- one comes with potentially dire consequences, and the other, while taking a bit longer, achieves the same ends through a meaningful expression of our abilities."

Hopeful Spirit presents God-Reality, God-Initiative and God-Provisions posted at On the Horizon, saying "We cannot see what the future holds for us, nor are we meant to. Rather, we are meant to be faithful, trust and enjoy our families and neighbors in the 'here and now.' Everything will fall into place as it is meant to."

Micellaneous Mum presents Premenstrual Syndrome for (ex)beginners posted at Miscellaneous Adventures of an Aussie Mum, saying, "PMS is confusing and stressful for everyone!"

Lisa Mitchell presents Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for A New Mom posted at Let's Talk Babies.

GP presents Innside Montana-Your Home at the Range, saying, "How much do we really need? Have you ever noticed how much stuff we collect? How many times have you bought something, only to discover later, that you don’t really use it?"

Laurie Bluedorn presents Pie Auction Benefit Pictures posted at Truvium Pursuit.

Freddie L. Sirmans, Sr. presents Cold Steel Raw Buck Naked Economocis 101. posted at Can U.S. Economy Survive Doomsday?.

Christine presents Our Berlin Film Festival (Berlinale) Travel Plans posted at Me, My Kid and Life: An American Single Mom Living in France.

Jenny presents The New Mom Blog Network On The Block posted at the so called me.

Renae presents Preserving Sanity posted at Life Nurturing Education.

Laura Scarborough presents leftovers posted at Adventures in Juggling.

Alex Blackwell presents How to Love Consciously posted at The Next 45 Years.

the simple nickle presents Cheap Eats: Recipes for Around $1 Per Serving: Dark Molten Chocolate Cakes posted at the simple nickle, saying, "These individual chocolates cakes are perfect for Valentine's Day or another special occasion: simple, delicious, and always impressive."

Terri Mauro presents Two Steps Forward, One Step Back posted at About Parenting Special Needs.

pickel presents Valentine, You Drive Me Crazy! posted at A Child Chosen, saying, "Valentine fun without candy! It really will drive you crazy!"

Parenting Tips and Advice

Tea Party Girl presents How Often Do You Set the Table? posted at Tea Party Girl.

Melitsa presents The Parent's Journal posted at Play-Activities.com.

PlanningQueen presents Children's Jobs and Our Family Meetings posted at Planning with Kids.

Joanne presents 10 Adoption Profile Tips posted at Forever Parents.

Stephanie presents Another Boy-Friendly Valentine posted at Stop the Ride!, saying, "Valentine even your boys will like!"

MamaArcher presents MamaArcher's Blog posted at MamaArcher's Blog, saying, "Teach your children how to forgive."

OurBlogs presents Raising Boys and Protecting Their Feelings posted at A Guide to Raising Great Kids.

Kevin Heath presents Harnessing the Power of Positive Peer Pressure posted at More4kids.

Submit your blog article for next week's edition of the Carnival of Family Life using this submission form. Past editions and the hosting schedule can be found here!

The AmeriPlan Business OpportunityGet Started for $25

• Have you ever dreamed of a career in the healthcare field?


• Have you ever dreamed of being in business for yourself?


• Have you ever dreamed of firing your boss some day?


• Have you dreamed of having the financial freedom to do the things that you want and spend more time with your family?


• Have you dreamed of being able to earn a lifetime of residual income from the comfort of your own home?

What if you could do all of this for just a $25 start-up fee?

I have some really great news for you! For a limited time only, you can start your AmeriPlan business for just $25.00 for the first month. This promotion begins on February 1, 2008 and ends February 29th, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. This is an excellent opportunity to try a new business and see if it is right for you with minimal financial risk. Visit my website at:

www.bestnewhomebiz.com to find out more about the AmeriPlan opportunity.

What You Will Be Doing?

As we are all aware, there is a serious healthcare crisis in the United States. There are over 47 million Americans with no health insurance at all and even more Americans are underinsured. Insurance companies hold the reins and can decide to cancel you if your expenses are too high or not insure you if you have a pre-existing condition. Even more people have no dental insurance. It is estimated that 7 out of 10 Americans do not have a dental plan. People need dental and health insurance policies, yet the high price puts this coverage out of the reach of many Americans.

Discount health plans can provide individuals and families with a low cost and effective alternative to expensive medical and dental insurance coverage. At AmeriPlan, we have 4 great affordable plans to choose from. Prices range from $19.95 to $59.95 per month and cover an entire household. These plans include:

1. Dental Plus – Save up to 80% on all dental services. Includes discounts on prescriptions, vision care, and chiropractic treatment. Savings are available on cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, orthodontia, and lasik eye surgery.
2. Basic Health – Discounts on doctor visits, lab tests, hospital advocacy, hearing aids, diabetic supplies, a 24 hour Nurseline, and much more.
3. Total Health – Includes everything in both the Dental Plus and Basic Health programs.
4. Total Health Plus – This is our complete package. It includes everything in both the Dental Plus and Basic Health programs plus the AmeriPlan Auto Club, the AmeriPlan Identity Theft Assistance program, and AmeriPlan Legal Services.

As an AmeriPlan Independent Business Owner, you will be signing up members in our affordable medical and dental plans and helping families save money on their benefits and healthcare. To learn more about our discount health plans visit:

www.healthplansplus.net. You will also have the opportunity to introduce other people interested in a homebased business to the AmeriPlan Business Opportunity.

About this opportunity

As a new Independent Business Owner, you will receive the Dental Plus plan for your entire family. This plan will help you save up to 80% on dental, vision, prescription and chiropractic services. You will also receive 5 professionally designed websites, a computerized back office, full training and staff support, and a broker's kit containing brochures, DVDs, and application forms to help you make those sales. In addition you will receive two $25 certificates redeemable in our sales aids store for additional sales tools and supplies. I will personally mentor you to make sure that you get your business off to a great start.

AmeriPlan has been in business for 16 years and is a member in good standing of the Consumer Health Alliance, the National Association of Dental Plans, Dun & Bradstreet, the Direct Selling Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Well-known companies such as Lenscrafters, Pearle Vision, J C Penney, CVS, Walgreens, and Rite-Aid are vision and prescription providers for AmeriPlan.

Earn True Residual Income

With AmeriPlan, you have the opportunity to earn true residual income. In other words, you can keep getting paid on work that you did months or even years ago. Because our plans are so affordable and save people significant money on medical and dental care, our members tend to keep our plans for years. Each time one of your medical or dental plan members makes a payment to AmeriPlan, you will receive commission.

Visit our website for more information about the company


Great Time to Become an AmeriPlan Broker

What a time to get started with AmeriPlan. Not only will you be able to start your own AmeriPlan business for just a $25.00 start-up fee, but you will also be able to sign up new Independent Business Owners for your team for just a $25.00 start-up fee. In fact, the sooner you get started, the more new brokers you will be able to sign up and the more you will earn. Remember that the promotion ends February 29, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.

Get Started Today

For more information on the Ameriplan business opportunity visit my website at: www.freedomathometeam.com/workathome. Please do not hesitate to contact me toll free at (800) 635-3394. You can also self enroll at: www.iboplus.com/hlz.

Finding an Affordable Dental Plan - Questions to Ask

As a Regional Sales Director for Ameriplan, a discount dental and medical provider access organization, I speak to many people each day who are among the 7 in 10 Americans without an affordable dental plan. Even when an employer provides medical insurance, it is rare to have a dental plan. Dental insurance is often the forgotten coverage.

For self employed people, the price of dental insurance can be quite formidable. If the self employed entrepreneur has an ongoing or pre-existing condition, he or she will not be able to purchase this insurance. Even among those families that are fortunate enough to have dental insurance, often this coverage is not complete. There can be restrictions for ongoing conditions, long waiting periods, massive paperwork, age limits, and annual limits on how much the patient can spend. Often orthodontia is not fully covered and cosmetic dentistry and dental implants are almost never included. That is where an affordable dental plan like AmeriPlan Dental can help.

Questions to ask when purchasing a dental plan

American consumers have a number of good dental plan companies to choose from. However, not all dental plan companies are the same. Here are some good questions to ask when purchasing an affordable family dental plan:

1) How many years has the company been in business? The number of years that a company has been doing business will affect the size of the provider networks as well as give you confidence in the service.

2) Is the company a member of the NADP (National Association of Dental Plans)?

3) What other consumer protection organizations does the plan belong to?

4) Is there an 800 customer service number to call for information?

5) Is there a wide choice of dental providers in my area?

6) Are dental maintenance organizations used or does the company have its own proprietary network of dentists?

7) What procedures are covered by the dental plan and what are the savings? Is there an available fee schedule that can be printed out?

8) Are there any value added services available such as a prescription card or discounts on vision care and chiropractic?

Why AmeriPlan Dental?

If you are one of the 7 out of 10 Americans who do not have a dental plan and have put off having needed dental work because you cannot find an affordable dental plan, look no further than AmeriPlan Dental. AmeriPlan has been in business for 16 years and has over 30,000 dental providers in 44 different states. Visit my website at:

www.healthplansplus.net to locate a provider. If you do not see your own dentist on our list, remember that we are continually expanding our networks, and when you become a member of our benefit plans, you are encouraged to ask AmeriPlan to invite your provider to join. AmeriPlan maintains its own proprietary network of dentists which was built up over 16 years by members referring their own providers.

Ameriplan is a proud member of the National Association of Dental Plans, the Consumer Health Alliance, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Direct Selling Association, and Dun & Bradstreet. Some of our company providers include CVS, Walgreens, J C Penney, Sears, Lenscrafters, and many others.

At the AmeriPlan corporate offices, over 250 people are employed just for customer service. So if you need information on a provider or have any questions or concerns, you will always find a friendly customer service representative by calling our customer service 800 number. A full schedule of dental procedures and fees is available upon request and will also be included in your membership packet.

An important feature of the AmeriPlan Dental Plus program are the value added services. Not only will you save up to 80% on all dental services, but you can also save money on both generic and brand name medications with our convenient prescription card, save money at the chiropractor, and save money on contact lenses, eye exams, eyewear, and even lasik eye surgery with AmeriPlan Dental.

My Tomato Rarebit Recipe A Good Source of Lycopene

We all know the nutritional benefits of tomatoes. Tomatoes are a great source antioxidant vitamins A & C, various minerals including potassium and iron, and are a particularly good source of the powerful antioxidant lycopene which is responsible for the red coloring in tomatoes and other fruits such as guava, pink grapefruit, etc.

According to mayoclinic.com: Lycopene is a carotenoid, and is present in human serum, liver, adrenal glands, lungs, prostate, colon, and skin at higher levels than other carotenoids. Lycopene has been found to possess antioxidant and antiproliferative properties in animal and in vitro studies, although activity in humans remains controversial.

What this means is that not only is lycopene a powerful antioxidant which can reduce the cell and DNA damaging affects of free radicals, but that it possesses antiproliferative properties which can help prevent the spread of cancer cells especially in the breast, uterus, colon, lungs and prostate. The Mayo Clinic website also lists a number of conditions where lycopene can be helpful. These conditions include: age related macular degeneration, exercise induced asthma, atherosclerosis and high cholesterol, sun protection, and the prevention of certain cancers including those of the prostate, cervix, colon, lungs, and breast.

While fresh tomatoes are a good source of lycopene, and lycopene is available as a supplement, some consider cooked tomatoes such as that found in ketchup, tomato sauce and tomato paste the best source. Whoever knew that ketchup could be so good for you?

Simple Tomato Rarebit Recipe

Here is a very simple but tasty recipe that has been in my father’s family for many years and is a good source of vitamins A, C, K and lycopene.

Ingredients: 1 can condensed tomato soup, 2 – 3 slices of American cheese cut up into small pieces, and 4 – 6 slices of bread.

Directions: In a small saucepan combine the soup and cut up pieces of American cheese. Use at least 2 slices of American cheese per can of soup. If you prefer a more mellow and less acidy taste, as I do, use 3 slices of cheese per can of soup. Heat on medium stirring constantly until all of the cheese is melted. Serve over lightly toasted bread or plain bread. This makes a hearty lunch on a cold Winter day. Serves 2. Just double the recipe to serve more people. To make a fancier rarebit, just add bacon bits to garnish or stewed or sun-dried tomatoes. This simple version tastes just fine, especially if you use a good quality condensed tomato soup.

Take care of your family's health by visiting: Health Plans Plus.
Happy and healthy eating!

Hormone Replacement Therapy - Part 2 Estrogen Dominance and Natural Progesterone

While many troublesome menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, insomnia and anxiety are caused by too little estrogen, other symptoms during perimenopause and menopause can be caused by estrogen dominance. This is most often due to either too much estrogen or a reduction in progesterone. Estrogen dominance can be a problem even for younger women who experience PMS, painful menstrual cramps or long, heavy periods.

In my post of October 7, 2007, Hormone Replacement Therapy – Part 1, I focused on Estrogen Replacement Therapy. Because of the known side effects of estrogen replacement, especially its known effects on the hyper-proliferation of both breast and uterine tissue, many women suffering from menopausal symptoms are looking for a natural alternative.

As I stated in my previous post: It has long been known that estrogen (both natural and synthetic) can increase the risk of certain cancers, yet these hormones continue to be prescribed by physicians. Estrogen has a direct effect on the uterine lining and is known to increase a woman’s risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer and some pre-cancerous conditions such as atypical hyperplasia. Estrogen can also increase the risk of breast cancer because of the effect of estrogen on breast tissue as well as the development of potentially deadly blood clots.

In my previous post, I recommended the use of black cohosh, red clover, and soy which contain natural phytoestrogens which can reduce and eliminate annoying menopausal symptoms without the dangerous side effects of estrogen. Since women during perimenopause and menopause experience a reduction in both estrogen and progesterone, it seems quite natural to add natural progesterone to balance the phytoestrogens in the formula. Natural progesterone is available in creams available in health stores and as Wild Yam Root which contains diosgenin from which progesterone can be synthesized. I will not recommend any specific products, but combinations of natural herbs with both estrogenic and progesterone effects can be found in pharmacies, health product catalogs, and on the internet.

And what about estrogen dominance? In this case, we will want to use progesterone to counteract the effects of too much estrogen secretion. This is a common occurrence in both menopause and perimenopause and is responsible for extremely heavy, anemia causing periods during perimenopause and the spotting that can occur during early menopause. While synthetic progesterone such as Provera and generic version medroxyprogesterone can have serious side effects such as proliferation of breast tissue, increase in blood glucose, anxiety, weight gain, blood clots, and even cancer, women can enjoy the benefits of progesterone therapy through the use of natural progesterone cream or Wild Yam Root cream or capsules without these side effects. These products can be easily found in pharmacies, health stores and catalogs, or online.

Although there is some controversy over the effectiveness of Wild Yam Root, probably brought on by the big pharmaceutical companies, in a future post, I will describe how Wild Yam Root cured my estrogen dominance.

For an affordable health plan that encourages consumer driven health care and alternative medicine visit: Health Plans Plus.

Gift Ideas for Mental and Physical Fitness

Whether you are shopping for holiday gifts or a gift for a special occasion like a birthday or graduation, why not choose a gift that has real educational value—a gift that promotes physical and mental fitness. These gifts will be appreciated by both young and old alike.

When my daughter was in elementary school, and even before that as a preschooler, I always chose gifts that had educational value and could help develop small motor skills. My daughter developed reading readiness through colorful rhyming and rebus books. Even before we had a computer with good graphics capabilities, we chose board games with educational value. Candy Land has always been a kid’s favorite. It may seem like a simple game, but it teaches cooperation and following directions. Other games such as I Spy Preschool Game help develop the child’s matching, reading, and social skills. Preschool puzzles and Lego blocks help to promote small motor and spatial skills. Even a doll house or play kitchen can provide hours of imaginative fun. I enjoyed my second childhood as well while playing these games with my small daughter.

Once my daughter started elementary school and we bought a more up to date computer, we spent hours playing computer games. Every game that I purchased had an educational goal in mind whether science, thinking, reading or mathematical skills. These games were both challenging and a lot of fun to play. One of our favorite games was Math Rescue which combined drill on math facts with a challenging arcade style game. We also enjoyed The Learning Company’s Super Solver series with such titles as Treasure Mountain, Treasure Cove, Midnight Rescue, and Outnumbered. We spent many hours playing these games, and not only did my daughter and I have fun while she improved her math and reading skills, but we also spent quality time together and helped to build a strong relationship which we still have today.

As my daughter got older, we continued to play these computer games adding more sophisticated titles such as Where in the World is Carmen San Diego (also available as a board game) and more advanced math games. One of our favorites was Broderbund’s Math for the Real World which has the student solve real world math problems. We continued our use of both educational computer and board games during our six years of homeschooling 7th through 12th grades. An even greater variety of quality computer game titles is available.

Today many parents want to get away from video and computer games and encourage more physical activity. A large variety of fun physical fitness products are available. Parents can choose from inexpensive volley ball and soccer goal sets to trampolines, pogo sticks and more adventurous z-lines and rope climbing sets. Bicycle riding can be fun for all members of the family and provide a great aerobic workout. Weather permitting families can engage in outdoor lawn games such as croquet, bocce, badminton, and miniature golf.

Classic board games such as monopoly, chess, and checkers offer many hours of fun while building strategic thinking skills. Multi-game tables are popular today, and provide children and adults with a variety of games to choose from at an affordable price—all promoting small motor coordination, skill building, and physical fitness. For the more serious sports people in your household, billiards tables and supplies, ping pong tables, and air hockey tables make beautiful and well appreciated gifts and are available in a variety of price ranges.

For more gift ideas visit The Family Gamer.

The Tragedy of the Nebraska Mall Shooting - A Commentary

At a time that should be filled with the joy and warmth of holiday shopping for friends and loved ones, 8 Nebraska families are instead facing a terrible tragedy and have lost mothers, fathers, siblings, and close friends. Our hearts and prayers go out to these families in their time of need.

Could this incident have been prevented? It is hard to say, but I have no doubt that incidents such as the Westroads Mall shooting in a suburb of Omaha, Nebraska, the Virginia Tech massacre, and the tragic school shootings could have been prevented by a combination of better mental health services affordable for all and stricter gun control legislation.

What I don't understand is that we have strict licensing laws for driving an automobile, yet licensing laws for guns are very casual. Everyone agrees that it is important to have strict motor vehicle laws. In order to get a license to drive in most states, one has to pass a written test and take a 6 hour class before being issued a learner’s permit. In order to have the right to drive, the driver must pass a vigorous road test proving that he or she can handle the motor vehicle safely. No such requirement exists for gun ownership.

Why can’t the same standards apply to gun ownership? Shouldn’t potential gun owners have to take a required safety course? Shouldn’t a license and a very strict background check be required for all firearms, not just hand guns? Shouldn’t we make it more difficult for mentally ill or former felons to purchase guns? Should dangerous assault firearms, such as the SKS assault weapon used by the mall shooter, even be sold to the public? Surely this is no hunting rifle.

Instead, the NRA (National Rifle Association) and their Republican cronies fight every piece of gun legislation that is brought before the Congress. Even the Democrats run scared and have to show that they are macho and be photographed with hunting gear. At least as a woman, Hillary Clinton won’t have to demonstrate her hunting prowess as did Senator Kerry, when he was running for President in 2004, so that he would not offend the powerful lobbying arm of the NRA.

Those of us who are for strict gun licensing are not trying to take away the guns of hunters although in my personal opinion one can certainly choose a more constructive sport than shooting innocent animals. We are only trying to regulate the ownership of guns so that mentally ill punks like the Nebraska mall or the Virginia Tech shooter can't get their hands on deadly assault rifles.

It is time to stand up and demand sensible gun legislation. Adequate mental health treatment must be made available to all who need it regardless of their ability to pay. This is an educational issue as well. People need to learn the signs of serious mental illness so that they can intervene before tragedy strikes. The shooters in the incidents above all displayed signs of serious mental illness.