The Healthy Bee

Healthy lifestyles were a challenge during the lifetime of Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). Events that unfolded during these years created general boundaries for the modern world new and old. By then a fellow citizen of what would become Italy had opened up a new world, while Leonardo was some times forced to move to Avignon in France while armies of Florence fought off Venice who fought them all off. In fact in one of these flights for a more healthy lifestyle than dying, he brought along a painting, which he offered the King of France, who was also one of several Popes at that time, safe harbor.

So we should all stop our frowns that the Mona Lisa was war booty by some Napoleon, who did take much from many. But the Mona Lisa, we now learn, was as payment for several years protective custody, where he lived in secure luxury and created much. So, dear France, I take back my fierce glance: your Mona is yours, as if payment to Rome, for healthy lifestyles to Leonardo, until a nicer Borgia said it you can come home.

And my leap to the present is to touch on the point, about how Leonardo would discover a body in it’s complete sense, including doing autopsies to peel away a dead corpse of a human, skin through muscle to organs and bone. He did this once at an old home when he asked questions of a man in his nineties some of his ways. The gentle man talked as our wisdom today, he was poor but he counted his blessings. He tried to be kind and thoughtful to others. He could savor the joys of his long life during famines and plagues. He thanked everyone, was a forgiving soul. He was still close to his family, and he ate well, and walked. He was careful to not fall, as he saw many people end this way.

And then he died. Leonardo was so overwhelmed he requested, and was allowed to do a complete autopsy of this wonderful man. He found a body still inside so unusually young, while he had lived through so much.

So we do know that Leonardo painted the Mona Lisa as his inner eye saw her. He created her skeletal structure, and then filled in the organs and over them the layers of muscle. And over those layers he pulled on her skin, and popped in her eyes, and worked on her smile. There are many layers of muscle under that skin and those lips, and that is one of the magic of her eyes as well. They are rounded with layers, as people can see, that when you walk right to left, her eyes follow you. And her smile changes too. That is Leonardo for you.

My wonderful large book on Leonardo, I have mentioned before, was given to me by a wonderful man named John. He had been a navigator during World War Two, and his caution for air flack had him one of the few to have flown so many missions and made it back each time. They were usually the last to arrive, and always the other half of the mission to make it back had landed earlier, and had the best seats at the bar.

The other pilots, while mourning those did not return, could always tease the pilot of John’s aircraft, late again. But as always, John had kept them alive, and was evading killer fighters and every shooting site he could see. And if he had to zig zag them from Bavaria to Denmark he was taking them home in their same skin. But they were not heroes, as they were not first. But they did still survive, still were alive. Some times it is wise not to rush, but observe. Then orient yourself, decide, and then act on your nerve.



By: Derek Dashwood

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Have you picked up a health and fitness magazine lately and notice how great the models look in the pictures? Well, it’s no surprise that they look amazing because those are mostly professional models or health and fitness trainers. So they spend most of their time working out the gym, to sculpt their bodies. No wonder they look great!

But when we think about workout routines, we know for a fact that most of us cannot afford to follow similar routines. After all, we are real people with real jobs. Who can afford all that time and energy working out in the gym everyday?

Still, that shouldn’t become our excuse to not workout. A great workout plan can help improve overall health and increase energy levels and vitality. Regular exercise will also make you look more youthful. You will have more energy for your children, and your family and friends.

Many people avoid workouts because they want to avoid pain. Some even think that it’s a complete waste of time to workout everyday! The irony is, these very same people age faster compared to everyone else. That’s because they don’t exercise.

So how can a regular man or lady stick to a workout routine?

The first step to take, is to create a workout plan. Your plan is what kicks everything into motion. Without a proper plan that you can stick to, you may just procrastinate and put off your workout routines. On top of that, you won’t even know if you are making any progress. So you definitely need a good workout plan.

When coming up with a plan, be as realistic as you can. If you find your goals to be too ambitious, break your plan into several smaller plans. In other words, create different phases that you can follow. Level 1, what are you going to achieve? Level 2, what are your goals? And you keep going until you attain the fitness level that you want.

As you make realistic plans, you must also be prepared to make time for your workout routines. This boils down to time management. Plan in advance, and block of certain time slots just for your workouts. If you don’t plan in advance, other activities may just creep up on you, and before you know it, the day is over. And you realize that you have missed your workout.

Of course, like most people, you may have a busy work schedule. If you afford just 20 minutes a day, then start with that. Working out for 20 minutes each day is still better than not working out at all.

You can also speak with a professional workout trainer to find out if there are any routines that are easy and convenient to carry out. For all you know, you can even work out while you work!



By: Gen Wright

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People need dietary supplements for a variety of reasons. Bodybuilders, for example, would need supplements to aid muscle buildup and strengthening of muscles such as concentrated protein, glutamine, creatine and weight gain powders. Athletes take in supplements to optimize or enhance their performance.

People with illnesses often require dietary supplements such as concentrated iron for anemia. And those on a diet also take supplements to ensure they get the required amount of minerals, vitamins, amino acids, herbs, enzymes and other nutrients. Most however take supplements for optimum overall health. A lot of people also take them to relieve stress and to boost their energy.

What are dietary supplements and how are they different from medicines and over-the-counter drugs?

The Congress in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, which was enacted into law in 1994, defines dietary supplements or nutritional supplements as supplements to the diet. These supplements contain one or more ingredients or their constituents. These are taken orally in the form of liquid, capsule, pill or tablet and are labeled as dietary supplement in the packaging.

Dietary supplements come in different forms, thus the confusion with over-the-counter drugs. The market is flooded with different types and forms of supplements such as capsules, tablets, drinks, energy bars and powders. Most can be purchased even without a prescription. They are available in drug stores, supermarkets, grocery stores, natural food stores, merchandise retailers and in health stores. One can even buy supplements on line. In order to distinguish these supplements from over-the-counter drugs, always read the Supplement Facts label.

Unfortunately, most of these dietary supplements are not regulated. Unlike with drugs, the US Food and Drugs Administration does not check the safety and effectiveness of supplements before they are sold to the public. In fact, the FDA only has authority over supplements once they have already entered the market. Usually, actions are taken by the FDA once a complaint against a certain brand has been received.

Many dietary supplements are guilty of false claims. Testimonials and so-called proofs of the efficiency and effectiveness of supplements abound in print, broadcast and on line media.

Worse, some are even unsafe. And so, extra precaution must be taken when choosing which dietary supplement to take. Always check with the manufacturer for more information. With the tons of promotional materials that abound, always be wary of the information being presented.

Keen in mind that dietary supplements are not intended to cure or prevent illnesses. In addition, although some supplements have beneficial effects, a significant number of them have potential health risks. Some supplements contain active ingredients that can have negative effects on the body, specially when taken in large doses and with other supplements and medicines. Supplementslike calcium, for example, interact with heart medicines like Digoxin, vitamin K counteracts with blood thinners etc.. In addition, too much intake of certain vitamins and minerals such as oil-soluble vitamin E and A, can be toxic to the body.

Pregnant women, nursing moms, those undergoing surgery and people with chronic illnesses should take extra care in deciding whether to take dietary supplements or not.

And so, when choosing supplements, it is always best to consult with a health care provider to avoid serious side effects. Remember, safety first!

The very first step is to undergo a nutritional assessment or evaluation with a health care provider. This will find out what your nutritional needs are and what dietary supplement is best suited to your medical condition.

Dietary supplements are supplements and not are not meant to replace some of the food needed in a healthy daily diet. Thus, bear in mind that no supplement can ever replace a healthy diet.

Never assume that “natural” is always safe. Some natural ingredients, specially if taken in large doses, can interact with medicines and may even result to life-threatening situations.

In addition, there are certain considerations in purchasing dietary supplements such as the quality, availability, your nutritional needs and price.

On a final note, dietary supplements are meant to supplement the body’s nutritional needs. It can never replace the overall health benefits of regular exercise and a healthy diet. And in choosing supplementary diets, safety should always be the main consideration.



By: Lee Dobbins

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Your health is undoubtedly your most valuable asset. So with that in mind how do you protect your health ?

Yes you probably have health insurance to look after your health if you become ill and car insurance to take car of you should your health suffer as a result of a car accident. But isn’t that paying someone else to look after your health after things go wrong ? A bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted ? What are you doing, or, what should you be doing to look after your health right now ?

Do you get regular health check ups ? Do you exercise & eat all the right foods that are beneficial to your health ? Do you use health care products such as health supplements ? Do you smoke, drink or take drugs ? Are you aware of how these habits affect your health ?

I’m willing to bet that you make darn sure you look after your children’s health, making sure that they are not doing anything that is going to cause long term damage to their health ? But who is watching your health ? Who’s making sure you are not doing anything to damage your health ?

Health is probably something we all take for granted & only realise how important our health is when we are ill or someone close to us is suffering from ill health. However if we all do nothing in regard to our health now, waiting until we begin to suffer from ill health & then trying to do something about it may be too late as we may have already done irreparable damage to our health. If you could do something now to prevent one of your assets diminishing, such as your bank balance, your home or your car would you ? Yes of course you would, so what about your most valuable asset, your health ?

Well it’s about time that someone took control of your health, and that someone is you ! Take control of your health now and make sure that valuable asset, your health, is well and truly looked after. Here are some suggestions that might help you to look after your health:

1. Get regular health check ups. If you have a good health insurance these are probably insisted upon. After all we all give our cars regular “health” checks, isn’t our health more important than the health of our vehicles?

2. Make sure you eat a healthy diet. Even if you don’t need to loose weight the right diet can help to improve your health.

3. Take regular exercise. 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week, even if it’s just a couple of 15 minute strolls, that’s not to great a chore to protect a valuable asset - your health.

4. If you smoke, stop now ! This is probably the best thing you can and ever will do for the sake of your health.

5. Cut down on your alcohol intake. Stick to the recommended guidelines for sensible drinking - for your health’s sake.



By: John Mac

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A healthy food diet is beneficial for everyone. It is important to take care of your body and if you eat well, you will reap the good benefits. A healthy diet does not need to be boring! It should be tasty, balanced and exciting. If you get bored with a diet, you will quickly abandon it!

A healthy food diet is a life eating plan rather than a short term fad diet (fad diets do not work because your body does not get all its required nutrients and you end up with hunger pangs and cravings).

Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins and liquid are all essential for our body to work it’s best. A good selection of vegetables, fruits, grains and proteins is necessary and eating regular meals rather than just one huge one is better for you.

Your chances of getting diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer are all greatly reduced by eating healthy. A poor diet can result in obesity, lethargy and spotty skin. A good diet will help you maintain a healthy weight which is a big factor in overall health.

The body works like a machine in a way

By: Terry Schierer

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The Texas Hospital Association (THA) is urging lawmakers in Dallas, Houston and throughout the rest of the state to take the right steps to make health insurance more affordable and accessible to individuals in Texas. The state ranks first in the country in the percentage of uninsured residents (24.6%).

‘Cover the Uninsured Week,’ which is observed nationally to highlight the importance of access to affordable health care benefits, has garnered particular attention in Texas where Gov. Rick Perry has localized the awareness effort by proclaiming April 23-29, 2007 as Cover the Uninsured Week in the Lone Star State.

“Everyone pays the price when individuals, families and small businesses cannot afford health insurance,” the Governor stated. “The increasing costs of uncompensated care place a strain on Texas hospitals, other health care providers and on the quality of care every patient receives. Texas recognizes the urgency to take meaningful steps to make health insurance more affordable and accessible.”

Nearly one quarter of Texas residents — approximately 5.5 million men, women and children — is uninsured. In addition, the uninsured rate in every major Texas city is higher than the national average, and Texas’ share of uninsured children, more than 25 percent, also is higher than the national average. In 2005, eight in 10 non-elderly uninsured Texans came from working families — nearly 70 percent from families with one or more full-time workers.

“Texas hospitals are working with our elected officials in the battle to provide health care coverage to more Texans through the private sector as well as state-funded programs such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program,” according to THA President/CEO Dan Stultz, M.D., FACP, FACHE. Stultz said, “We know that access to affordable health insurance affects all Texans — because we all pay the price when Texans don’t get the care they need.”

In addition to working to reverse cuts in Medicaid and CHIP funding, and restoring provider reimbursement rates, the THA supports a number of private-sector measures to increase the number of Texans with health insurance coverage. These measures include:

H.B. 882 by Rep. Elliott Naishtat/Rep. John Davis (S.B. 922 by Sen. Kirk Watson) — These measures authorize counties to establish or participate in regional health care programs, which would provide health care services or benefits to the employees of small employers located in the participating counties.

H.B. 1182 by Rep. John Davis — Requires that state agencies and school districts consider whether a vendor provides health care benefits or equivalent health savings benefits to its employees when awarding a contract for goods or services.

S.B. 1023 by Sen. Royce West — Limits the use of money in the Texas Enterprise Fund to recipients that provide health benefit plans.

H.B. 3321 by Rep. Vicki Truitt — Requires students to be enrolled in a health benefit plan and to submit proof of health insurance before enrollment at a public institution of higher education.

H.B. 3361 by Rep. Garnet Coleman (S.B. 1681 by Sen. Kip Averitt) — Requires that health care benefit plans allow unmarried children of any age to be covered under a parent’s or grandparent’s health insurance policy or plan if the cost of the premium is paid.

When uninsured Texans are sick, they currently often turn to hospital emergency rooms because they have no primary care physician. Stultz noted that nearly 20 percent of people who lack health insurance report turning to the ER for what is often routine care, compared to only three percent of those with insurance coverage, according to the National Coalition on Health Care.

“Using hospital emergency rooms for non-critical care takes precious time and scarce resources that doctors, nurses and other health care professionals could put to work for those patients who truly need life-saving care or intervention for serious medical conditions.” Adding that Texas hospitals spent more than $10.1 billion in 2005 to care for patients who have no health insurance, Stultz said, “The costs of uncompensated care strains our physicians’ and hospitals’ ability to provide quality care to all patients — regardless of their insurance status. It also places undue burdens on local taxpayers, workers and health care consumers.”

Health care experts say that increasing the number of people with health insurance will further enhance the quality of care and help reduce the losses that result from doctors and hospitals treating patients with no health insurance. Uncompensated care limits the financial resources available to invest in new technology, electronic communication, education and other enhancements that would improve patient care and outcomes for all patients.



By: Pat Carpenter

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Life is full of unexpected situations which can affect our existence. Health is one of them, although it is often overlooked until we find it failing. ‘Health is wealth’ is a proverb, which has lost its significance in the modern times. The fast-paced life of the contemporary world where everyone is trying meet deadlines and work in a jam-packed scheduled, health is often relegated to being one of the least important considerations. It is only when, we suffer from a sudden difficult health situation that we realize that our well-being is more important than we had previously thought? Serious health issues like cancer, stroke and many more can corner you without a prior indication. What do you do then? If you have a Health Insurance you need not worry about anything other than trying to get better. A health insurance can assist you to take care of this precious possession even in times of distress.

You should note that health insurance differs significantly, but in essence it denotes a type of insurance plan that pays a pre-arranged percentage of an insurance possessor’s enclosed medical treatments. Whether or not your require health insurance depends entirely on your circumstances. However, it is always advisable to obtain insurance for health, keeping in mind the uncertainties that encompass modern way of life and also its associated health implications.

Health insurance comes in various forms like dental insurance, vision insurance, student health insurance, business health insurance, international health insurance amongst others. These different forms of health insurance is to cater to your specific requirement. Health insurance usually covers medical expenses such as:

- Hospitalization;

- Doctors visit;

- Prescription drug;

- Annual check up;

- Emergency room visits; etc.

You must have heard a lot about various health insurance companies offering insurance products with lucrative tags of even returning certain % in fixed yearly dividends. But it is up to you which one to go for. If you are thinking of obtaining a health insurance policy, internet can provide you with an easy route. Are you confused about what kind of health insurance to go for? A simple way to strike upon the desired insurance is to chalk out the expectation you may have from it, how well it suits to your situation amid other factors. Most online health insurance companies can give you a chance to compare and evaluate health insurance that befits your pocket. Online application procedure for health insurance can expedite your path to ensure the most significant part of your existence that is your health.

Before you choose a health insurance plan, it is advisable to be thorough with the terms and conditions of the health insurance providers. This approach would not only keep you at pace with procedures of procurement and functioning of insurance but also save you from confusion later on down the line.

You must realize the importance of you and your loved ones’s well-being with health insurance. It can be the single ray of home in a sea of dark health issues.



By: Ryan Parker

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There are fewer websites today that inform people online about healthy lifestyle choices, food, eating and diets. Finding small kitchen appliances that promote health and assit your family in a healthy lifestyle are few and far between. We are exited as we anticipate the launch of www.saintsvalley.com, serving our health conscious customers. We open our shop front on April 1, 2009. The mission of our web store is to provide healthy kitchen products and appliances and spread knowledge about healthy living and healthy eating habits. Healthy eating is said to be more important than daily exercise. It is also said that 75% of all results in healthy living and weight loss is directly linked to your diet.

Click on this link saintsvalley and visit us to receive information on our pre-launch specials, incentives and updates to enhance the health of your family’s eating. We span a wide range of topic such as Healthy Living, Organic Living, Healthy Cooking, Natural Living Choices, Christian Living, Patriots and Survivalists Living. The other range of our expertise includes Health Appliances, Health Equipment and Health Products.

Visit us at saintsvalley now and receive a free book on healthy eating and lifestyle. The book contains award winning healthy food recipes and healthy cooking ideas. Various Articles, Suggestions, Reviews and Videos will complement Saints Valley Online in order to complement you lifestyle and help you promote a healthy

family and lifestyle.

Life is for the living, and living healthy with proper food choices, food preparation and helping your family prepare food at home the correct way will not only enhance your family’s health, but will also provide you with a low cost solution to feeding your family while being self sufficient and free from the junk food craze in America.

With all the preservatives, GMO modified foods, junk food, sterilised food and variations that provide no nutrition and create starving obese people, we hope to bring new hope to families who are health conscious and determined to live a healthy lifestyle with nutritious food and food preparation advice and products.

At www.saintsvalley.com we are here to provide you with the best products to help you realize your goal of living a healthy life, using healthy lifestyle products and become educated on foods that are good, natural and healthy versus all the bad choices out there which are more accessible. Hope to see you soon.



By: John Deacon

About the Author:

Now that you’ve retired, you have entered an entirely new phase of life, a life filled with new challenges, adventure and hopefully one that brings you complete and total satisfaction. However, if you’re like most people, change isn’t always easy and is sometimes stressful. This stress is completely normal but may be compounded if you don’t learn how to balance all the demands on your time. With this in mind, we’ve developed an innovative questionnaire and article to teach you how to determine how stress affects your life and how balancing it will lead to a more healthy and balanced lifestyle. Sound interesting? Well, sit back, grab a pencil and let’s access how stress is affecting your life.

Make sure that you answer these questions carefully and honestly:

1. I keep spending too much time on unappealing activities and less time doing things that I really want to do.

True

False

2.I often feel I don’t have enough time for myself or for my priorities.

True

False

3.No matter what I do, I can’t seem to get enough done and always feel stressed, tired, overcommitted, and/or exhausted.

True

False

4.Since retirement, I don’t feel that I’m accomplishing my retirement goals.

True

False

5.I often feel guilty when I can’t do the things that make me happy.

True

False

If all of your answers were “false” then you’re on the right track. Congratulations, you’re leading a balanced life and have a very low stress level. If you answered “true” to 1 or more questions then you can really benefit from these 5 steps which will help you more effectively balance your life:

1.Find your purpose. First and foremost, you must take some time for soul searching. During stillness, you must determine what it is that you truly value and what are your priorities. List them from 1-10. Be very specific about what is important to you and how you plan to strengthen those priorities. For instance, let’s say that your first priority is to live a more purpose driven life. If so, what type of activities are you doing to help make your dreams a reality? Are you reading books or listening to purpose driven tapes? Are you attending seminars? The key here is to really hone in on what is most important.

2.Develop a workable plan. Second, now that you know what priorities are important to you, you must develop a workable plan to donate time to each one. To accomplish this, you should write them down and clarify how you can achieve each one. Decide now what steps you will take to fulfill your priorities.

3.Become committed. Third, you must become committed to your plan and realize that you can’t do everything. By being committed to achieving your most important priorities first and getting them done, you’ll enhance your self esteem tremendously and feel powerful.

4.Take care of yourself. Fourth, you must always factor in time to take care of yourself. By being focused on your health and developing a healthy lifestyle, you’ll make sure that you have the stamina to effectively balance your priorities. Therefore, take time to access your current health situation and if necessary, make any needed changes or improvements.

5.Enjoy this time. Fifth, you must be willing to enjoy this precious time. Be grateful that you are gaining control over your retirement goals and take pleasure in being able to live a balanced life.

In conclusion, you can have a healthy and balanced life by finding your purpose, developing a workable plan, becoming committed, taking care of yourself and enjoying yourself.



By: Cynthia Barnett

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HEALTH INSURANCE:

Health insurance, which is coverage for individuals to protect them against medical costs and give them a surity to a secured life in this unsecured world with day to day accidents, enormous infections and diseases which may be highly fatal such as Tuberculosis and other viral infections, Genetic disorders that requires relatively high costs for treatment and diagnosis. It is a wise act to make yourself prepared for such instances by buying a profitable health insurance from us. Unlike other insurance plans , health insurance also should be regarded as an important plan to be taken up for leading a healthy life in this medically advanced world whereby the cost of medication is increasing day by day with the discovery of new therapies and various rapid diagnostic tools.

ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE:

Health insurance companies offer Health insurance plans as a vital part of your full planning picture. Without it your safety and the safety of your family is jeopardized; most qualified heath care providers will not treat you without health insurance.

As we all know, health care is very costly; a prolonged illness or serious injury can easily bankrupt a family without insurance. Not having it is an endangerment to everything you have. After you have read the basics on this page, you can go to choosing a Health Insurance Plan to understand more about all the choices available for your situation.

CHOOSING A HEALTH PLAN:

Health insurance offers better health plans for you and your family’s health needs. With any health plan, however, there is a basic premium, which is how much you or your employer pays, usually monthly, to buy health insurance coverage. In addition, there are often other payments you must make, which will vary by plan. In considering any plan, you should try to figure out its total cost to you and your family, especially if someone in the family has a chronic or serious health condition. Indemnity and managed care plans differ in their basic approach.

Indemnity and managed care plans differ in their basic approach. Put broadly, the major differences concern choice of providers, out-of-pocket costs for covered services, and how bills are paid. Usually, indemnity plans offer more choice of doctors (including specialists, such as cardiologists and surgeons), hospitals, and other health care providers than managed care plans. Indemnity plans pay their share of the costs of a service only after they receive a bill.

Managed care plans have agreements with certain doctors, hospitals, and health care providers to give a range of services to plan members at reduced cost. In general, you will have less paperwork and lower out-of-pocket costs if you select a managed care type plan and a broader choice of health care providers if you select an indemnity-type plan.

SERVICES OFFERED BY US:

We offer a good match between what plans will satisfy your need and the best coverage, which can benefit you from the health insurance plan. For example, if you are suffering from a chronic disease we offer special plans which encompass all the medication and diagnostic costs. You can’t know in advance what your health care needs for the coming year will be. But you can guess what services you and your family might need. Figure out what the total costs to your family would be for these services under each plan and take up the plan in the most profitable way.

Today there is more health plans to choose according to your convenience and choice. You can make your best choice and satisfy with the best health insurance plans offered by us in the most profitable way.



By: Janani

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