State prescription drug databases like KASPER cut back doctor shopping and drug abuse, new study shows

Photo by iStockphoto

Research from the University of North Carolina indicates drug databases like the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting system do reduce doctor shopping and change prescribing behavior.

Another article showed state drug databases "facilitate a relative decrease over time in prescription drug misuse, despite state differences in program administration," reports Maggie Clark for Stateline, the freshly revised news service of The Pew Center on the States.

A 2010 evaluation of KASPER showed 90 percent of doctors who used the system found it effective in preventing drug abuse and doctor shopping. A new Kentucky law "mandates that all physicians and pharmacists who prescribe schedule II and III drugs, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, check the patient's prescription records before writing or filling a prescription," Clark reports. Dispensers must also register prescriptions in the state database without 24 hours of writing or filling the prescription.

Clark points out the legislation change sparked a debate about "how to balance patient privacy and law enforcements needs in fighting a serious criminal and public health problem." Attorney General Jack Conway, who wanted KASPER put into his office's hands, lost that fight as part of the legislative compromise. It will remain the responsibility of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and, by extension, the doctor-run Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure.

Privacy issues have likewise surfaced in Vermont. "The discussion really is about what kind of access the police will have to electronic personal health information," said Allen Gilbert, executive director of the Vermont Civil Liberties Union. (Read more)

Major newspapers publish reflections, reactions and details (including videos) on new law that will fight 'pill mills'

Reflections on the new law to fight "pill mills" are in both of Kentucky's major metropolitan newspapers today.

The Courier-Journal, which rightly takes partial credit for focusing attention on the issue, has a story by Laura Ungar that summarizes what the bill will do and not do. In the Lexington Herald-Leader, Kentucky Medical Association President Shawn Jones has an opinion piece defending his organization's lobbying against key parts of the bill.

"Unfortunately, in a desire to pass something, many did not consider the details of proposed legislation, and many of the details were extremely troublesome," writes Jones, right. "Most troubling were the proposed infringements on patient privacy through access to the state's Kentucky All Scheduled Prescription Electronic Reporting, or KASPER, system, which contains what is essentially a log of all of the controlled substances an individual has bought. A controlled substance is not just what many people have characterized as 'pain medicine.' It also includes prescriptions for medicines for anxiety, depression or attention deficit disorder." (Read more)

Jones is among the people featured in videos posted with The Courier-Journal's story. Others include Dr. Greg Cooper of Cynthiana; attorney Fox DeMoisey, who represents physicians accused of malpractice; and Dr. Patrick Murphy, a pain-management physician, talking about the various responsibilities of doctors in his field.

Tonsillectomies not necessary much of the time; among $158 billion spent each year on unnecessary health care

Photo by Matthew Staver, Bloomberg

Tonsillectomies are the most common procedure for children requiring anesthesia. "The only problem is there's no evidence they work for most" kids, reports Sarah Cliff of The Washington Post.

"The procedure does show some benefits for those with really serious symptoms — very sore throats, fevers and other symptoms at least seven times in the past year — but no improvement for those whose indications are milder," Cliff reports.

Yet, more and more of the procedures are being performed. Between 1996 and 2006, the number of tonsillectomies increased by 74 percent.

"It's a silent epidemic of unnecessary care," said David Goodman of the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care. "In most instances, it's done for patients with much less recurrent symptoms than should be indicated. I think a lot of this is unbeknownst to providers."

Unnecessary health care costs about $158 billion every year, Cliff reports, and the sum is partly to blame on demanding patients, to whom doctors acquiesce. Because doctors are paid based on volume, there is also an incentive to provide more care, even if it's not necessary.

Goodman said the medical education system is one main culprit. "Medical schools and graduate schools are failing us deeply," he said. "We need to move some of these ideas about the evidence being uncertain into the beginning of education. There's been such little work on that." (Read more)

Benefit of Pineapple Fruit | Pineaple Tree

Benefit of Pineapple fruit | Pineapple fruit is very delicious fruit taste, sour mix with sweet make this fruit flavor be favorite. Pineapple plants can grow in places recklessly, not need the special places for breeding. Aside from the sweet taste, people really like to pineapple, because benefit of pineapple fruit on health is enormous.

Benefit of pineapple fruit like this is much less pronounced in women, even women away from eating lots of pineapple, because pineapple is believed be the caused of vaginal discharge and a frequent cause of miscarriage for pregnant women. The fruit like a grenade shaped, in addition benefit of pineapple fruit, this fruit also became a favorite in summer because of its flavor makes it feel fresh fruit.

Behind the controversy of the pineapple fruit, especially the myth that state: a pineapple is not safe for women. Apparently pineapple save and have great benefit of pineapple fruit for health if consumed properly.

Benefit of pineapple fruit for health

1. Benefit of pineapple fruit is able to supply vitamin C in body because body can not produce their own vitamin c

2. Benefit of pineapple fruit can make a person resistant to the virus, because the content of vitamin B contained in pineapple fruit.

3. Prevent and reduce the risk of disease stroke and heart disease that often haunts the lives of adults.

4. Treating the body's digestive infection

5. Other Benefit of pineapple fruit is healing of wounds quickly.


May this article that said about benefit of pineapple fruit for health can be our guidelines us to love the fruit.

Couple loses combined 347 pounds in 2 years, pretty simply; similar success stories are always compelling

"When Art and Betty Halcomb look at each other, they still have a hard time believing how much weight they have lost," reports Nola Sizemore for the Harlan Daily Enterprise. Together, the couple has lost 347 pounds, a journey that started in April 2010.

Art weighed 384 pounds and Betty was 308. "We decided we were going to do everything we could do in a three-month period to see how much weight we could actually lose," Betty said. That included counting calories and daily exercise, which at first comprised for a half-mile of walking. Within two weeks, they were able to walk one mile.

"We did portion control with our meals, actually measuring out serving sizes," Betty said. "I was eating 1,200 calories per day and Art was eating 1,500 calories per day. We didn't limit ourselves to any certain foods. We wanted it to be a lifestyle change, not just another diet."

One of their major motivations was their daughter, Kristen Swanner, a two-time cancer survivor who has endured chemotherapy, radiation and a stem-cell transplant. To watch her "literally fight for her life and we were just throwing ours away, we felt so guilty," Betty said.

When they discovered Swanner was pregnant, after being told by doctors that she couldn't conceive, the couple had even more drive to shed the weight, knowing they were soon to be grandparents.

"Jesus says he wants us to have an abundant life," Betty said. "If we can do this, anyone can do it. Make that decision today to lose weight and live a more happier life. Don't give up — keep trying." (Read more)

Floyd County woman is Kentucky's smoke-free advocate of year

For her work spreading the word about second-hand smoke and founding the coalition that ultimately helped Prestonsburg pass a smoke-free ordinance in 2009, Floyd County's Jean V. Rosenberg was named 2012 advocate of the year at the annual Smoke-Free Policy Conference hosted by the University of Kentucky's Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy. She stands with center Director Dr. Ellen Hahn, left, and Dr. Melissa Walton-Shirley, right, the Glasgow cardiologist who won in 2011.

Rosenberg started her work in 2005 when she began working for the Floyd County Health Department as a program specialist to increase awareness about the dangers of second-hand smoke, reports Ann Blackford reports in a university press release. During that time, she founded the Breathe Easy Floyd County Coalition, which educated people about second-hand smoke and supported local smoke-free initiatives.

On Nov. 1, 2009, the City of Prestonsburg implemented a 100 percent smoke-free ordinance in all workplaces and enclosed public places, with Rosenberg at the helm to propel the effort forward. (Read more)

Benefit Mangosteen Fruit for Health

Did you know that the mangosteen fruit (mangostana Garnicia) is the fruit that comes from Southeast Asia. Benefit Mangosteen Fruit to health has long been recognized, because the mangosteen fruit is rich in the antioxidant content of mangosteen peel and fruit.

The first Benefit Mangosteen Fruit is to prevent the deadly disease. This is due to the mangosteen fruit contains xanthones substance. According to research xanthones substance is believed to overcome a deadly disease like cancer, diabetes, heart disease and so on.

Substances contained in the mangosteen xanthone is also able to treat some types of cancer such as liver cancer, gastrointestinal, lung and other cancers. Benefit Mangosteen Fruit can also reduce high blood pressure, hypertension is the result of vascular disorders and the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Not only the mangosteen fruit, leather and even mangoosteen has efficacy as well. Mangosteen fruit is nutritious for the skin-cancer, antioxidants and tackle coronary heart disease, and HIV. Antiproliferasi mangosteen peel extract is a function to inhibit cancer cell growth and as a destroyer of nature apotosis of cancer cells. Xanthones in mangosteen peel too powerful to overcome the disease tuberculosis (TB), asthma, leukemia, inflammatory, and antidiarrheal.

Other Benefit Mangosteen Fruit are: to fight free radicals in our bodies, because of the mangosteen fruit contains catechins. Consume mangosteen fruit as a food supplement every day, will get more antioxidants than any supplements offered in medicine.

Also in the mangosteen fruit contains alpha-mangostin and gamma-maostin that are as antibacterial. The effectiveness of alpha-magodtin have the same effectiveness as good as antibiotics that are in the market such as amphicillin and minocycline.

Thus this brief article about the Benefit Mangosteen Fruit, may be useful for us all. Good luck

Masturbation is not harmful

Masturbation is not harmful | Stimulation with your fingers should be done, and not cause any harm. Not a few women who can feel satisfied or reach orgasm that way. Of course it is understandable, because the stimulus itself, women receive adequate stimulation effective as desired.

But with sexual intercourse, not necessarily able to receive effective stimulus because it is highly dependent on the partner's sexual function, and sexual positions. But if you want an orgasm, and satisfaction with sexual intercourse, the husband's sexual function and the position must be well organized to be effective for you.



About the pregnancy yet, please check yourself if you want, neither you nor your husband. Fertility examination to be easier to perform than the husband and wife. Of course the sooner the better, so if an interruption occurs can be more quickly resolved.

Measles is still around; rate in 2011 was highest in 15 years

Measles virus (Photo by Scott Camazine/CDC/Getty Images)

In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared measles had been eliminated in the United States. But last year, the nation had the most cases of the infectious disease since 1997.

A report released last week shows there were 222 cases of measles and 17 measles outbreaks in 2011. In a typical year, there are usually just 50 to 60 cases. This year, there have already been 25 cases.

"Of the 222 reported cases, 50 percent were associated with the 17 outbreaks and 90 percent were associated with importations from foreign countries — 26 percent from U.S. residents traveling abroad and 10 percent from foreign visitors," reports Alexandra Sifferlin for Time magazine.

Each case is treated with intense investigation because of the highly contagious nature of the virus. "You can catch measles just by being in a room where someone with measles has been, even if they left," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diesease. "It's serious; one out of three people who got it last year had to be hospitalized." No one died, however.

Of the 196 U.S. residents who contracted the virus last year, 166 had not been or did not know if they had been vaccinated. More than 80 percent of them were eligible for vaccine.

"Many people think diseases like measles are gone and that they do not need to vaccinate themselves or their children," Sifferlin reports. "But the CDC warns measles is still prevalent worldwide. Globally, about 20 million people get measles each year." (Read more)

Beshear OKs prescription bill, telling pill mills, 'Get out of this state'

Saying it couldn't get to his desk quickly enough, Gov. Steve Beshear signed a bill aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse in celebration today, warning so-called pill mills to "Get out of this state, because we're coming after you."

House Bill 1 requires doctors and pharmacists who prescribe or dispense Schedule II and III drugs, such as oxycodone and morphine, to use the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting system and requires pain clinics to be owned by at least one physician. Clinics already in operation that have not had trouble with the law but are not owned by doctors will be grandfathered in under the law.

Though there was a strong push for it by law enforcement, the bill will not move KASPER over to the attorney general's office but will stay under the control of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the doctor-controlled Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo, who sponsored the bill, called the legislation "a major step forward in the ongoing battle to put the brakes on prescription drug abuse."

Though KASPER will not move to  Attorney General Jack Conway's office, as Conway wanted, he endorsed the effort. "It helps keep entrepreneurs out of the pill mill business and requires doctors, with reasonable exceptions, to use the KASPER system," he said. "I encourage those who are fearful of increased oversight to end the hyperbole and begin a constructive process with the legislature and executive branch to implement this bill." (Read more)

10 Facts About Water Fluoridation Everyone Should Know

On March 15, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 253-23 in favor of mandating infant fluoride warnings on all water bills in fluoridated communities. The bill will now go to the Senate

According to the text of the bill, the warning would read, in part: “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if your child under the age of 6 months is exclusively consuming infant formula reconstituted with fluoridated water, there may be an increased chance of dental fluorosis.” But dental fluorosis is not “just cosmetic.” It can also be an indication that other tissues, such as your bones and internal organs, including your brain, has been overexposed to fluoride as well

A repeated theme in recent cases where communities successfully removed fluoride from their water supply is the shifting of the burden of proof. Rather than citizens taking on the burden of proving that fluoride is harmful and should be removed, champions in positions of some authority have managed to end water fluoridation in their communities by demanding that any fluoride product used must be able to prove its compliance with the regulations, laws, and risk assessments already required for safe drinking water

1. Bottle-fed infants receive the highest doses of fluoride as they rely solely on liquids for food, combined with their small size. A baby being fed formula receives approximately 175 times more fluoride than a breast-fed infant
2. There is not a single process in your body that requires fluoride
3. A multi-million dollar U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) -funded study found no relation between tooth decay and the amount of fluoride ingested by children
4. Water fluoridation cannot prevent the oral health crises that results from inadequate nutrition and lack of access to dental care
5. Water fluoridation is a violation of your individual right to informed consent to medication
6. Forty-one percent of all American children aged 12-15 are now impacted by dental fluorosis, rising to more than sixty percent of children in fluoridated communities
7. The chemicals used to fluoridate water supplies are largely hazardous by-products of the fertilizer industry and have never been required to undergo randomized clinical trials for safety or effectiveness by any regulatory agency in the world
8. The U.S. FDA classifies ingested fluoride for purposes of reducing tooth decay as an "unapproved drug"
9. Ingesting fluoride has been found to damage soft tissues (brain, kidneys, and endocrine system), as well as teeth (dental fluorosis) and bones (skeletal fluorosis). There are also 24 studies demonstrating a strong relationship between fairly modest exposure to fluoride and reduced IQ in children
10. Fluoridation discriminates against those with low incomes. People on low incomes are least able to afford avoidance measures, such as reverse osmosis filters or bottled water

Article from Dr. Mercola

Nearly half of Kentuckians keep guns in their home, and 9 percent keep a gun loaded and unlocked

Forty-five percent of Kentucky adults keep a gun or other firearm in their home, and one-fifth of those (9 percent of the population) keep them loaded but unlocked, the 2011 Kentucky Health Issues Poll has found. Children are present in almost half of homes that have firearms.

"Whether or not you keep guns in your home, if you have children, this should be a reminder to talk to them about gun safety," said Susan Zepeda, CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which released the poll results. In 2008, 576 Kentuckians died from injury by firearms, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranking the state 16th in firearm deaths that year.

The poll found that men, people with higher incomes and people who live in the Appalachian part of the state are more likely to keep firearms around the home. People who live in large urban areas had fewer of the weapons — 39 percent in the Lexington area, 37 percent in Northern Kentucky and 32 in the Louisville area, compared to 57 percent in Eastern Kentucky.

The poll was funded by The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, as well as the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. A random sample of more than 1,600 Kentuckians responded to the survey, which was conducted Sept. 27 to Oct. 27, 2011 by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. A random sample of adults across Kentucky were interviewed, including 1,313 landline interviews and 308 cell-phone interviews. (Read more)

Mayor will propose smoking ban in Hopkinsville, largest Kentucky city without one

The largest Kentucky city that has not banned smoking in public places may change that.

Hopkinsville Mayor Dan Kemp's proposal "fundamentally resembles Lexington's ban," reports Nick Tabor for the Kentucky New Era. The law would apply to bars and restaurants but not private clubs; retail tobacco stores and tobacco warehouses; and rented rooms in hotels, hospitals and nursing homes. "The best thing would be to have no exemptions," Kemp said, adding that he recognizes the need for compromise. 

An online survey by the Christian County Health Department two years ago indicated strong support for a ban. A recent, scientific survey of 500 Kentuckians shows 59 percent support a statewide ban, the American Cancer Society found. Kemp said he has "received a mostly positive response from local businesses," Tabor reports.

As for a smoking ban imposing on a person's right to light up, Kemp said, "I just think it's such an overriding health concern that that trumps the individual rights argument." Kemp hopes the council will vote on the proposal June 5. If they ratify it, the ban could take effect July 1. (Read more)

April 28 is National Drug Take-Back Day; three Kentuckians die each day from prescription drug abuse

April 28 is National Drug Take-Back Day, with Kentuckians encouraged to dispose of the expired, unused and unwanted drugs in their medicine cabinet at locations set up by law enforcement across the state. The national effort comes on the heels of Kentucky legislators passing a bill Friday evening aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse.

Dozens of sites will be set up across the state and will accept medication from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To find a disposal location nearby, click here.

"Prescription drug abuse is the most urgent substance abuse issue facing Kentucky — one that kills nearly three Kentuckians every day — and we know that number is woefully underreported," Gov. Steve Beshear said in a statement. "We can't stress enough that medications, once they are no longer needed for their prescribed purposes, should be disposed of properly to reduce their risk of being diverted and abused."

A national survey found that 70 percent of people aged 12 and over who took prescription drugs for non-prescribed reasons got the drugs from a friend or relative. That includes raiding their medicine cabinets.

Disposing of the drugs properly is also important since some medications, if just flushed or thrown in the garbage, can leach into the water table and contaminate the water supply.

Since take-back days started being hosted by law enforcement, 500 tons of medication at more than 5,300 sites have been disposed of nationwide, though a recent poll found 2 out of 3 Kentuckians still dispose of their medication improperly.

House Bill 1, which passed Friday, left the state's prescription drug-monitoring system under the control of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the doctor-controlled Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure rather than move it to the attorney general's office. It will require doctors and pharmacists who prescribe or dispense Schedule II and III drugs, such as oxycodone and morphine, to use the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting System. Only about 25 percent of Kentucky physicians now use KASPER.

Health Facts of Watermelon Fruit

* Watermelon fruit is a natural source of most antioxidant vitamins C and A to protect us from lots of diseases.

* It is low in calories and an excellent fruit for those who are calorie alert.

* Watermelon is a fruit that is rich in electrolytes sodium & potassium that they lose through our sweat. It also reduces the risk of dehydration.

* Watermelon is rich in the B vitamins like Vitamin B1 & B6 necessary for energy production.

* Watermelon is a lovely source of thiamin, potassium and magnesium which protect our body from so lots of diseases.

* Consuming Watermelon or applying externally can do wonders for the skin by making it fruit healthy and glowing. Chilled watermelon may also be used as a compress on sore skin.

Top 7 fruits wonders in human health

Cranberries

Cranberries helps to prevent urinary tract infections. The anti-bacterial chemicals in cranberry helps to prevent gum disease and tooth decay and the antioxidant present in this fruit also helps to raise levels of HDL, and maintains maintains arteries healthy.These fruits are also rich in flavonoids. These phytonutrients have been shown to inhibit certain types of cancer. Polyphenolic compounds found in cranberry may help to protect against neurodegenerative diseases.

Raspberries

Raspberries primarily comes in red, it also also be black, purple and even golden. There are two types of raspberries that are commercially available, the wild type summer bearing and the double or ever bearing plants.They are rich in vitamin C and potential anti-cancer agents. It also helps in protection against cardiovascular and cancer diseases. The antioxidants present in this fruit have been shown to fight against cancer cells.

Apples

Apples are amazing for controlling blood sugar.Apples are an excellent source of soluble fiber, especially pectin, which helps to control insulin levels by slowing the release of sugar into your bloodstream. Pectin also helps to reduce the cholesterol level by lowering insulin secretion.The flavonoid called Quercetin present in apple is a powerful antioxidant, a natural anti-histamine, and anti-inflammatory.The quercetin reduces cancer risk of prostate, ovary, breast, gastric and colon cells.Do not peel your apples, as quercetin is found only in the skin.

Pineapple

Bromelain present in pineapple fruit is a mix of enzymes helps in the reduction of certain types of swelling. Pineapple is an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of vitamin B1, copper, dietary fiber and vitamin B6. Among the many benefits of vitamin B1 is its ability to increase blood circulation and provide a greater supply of oxygen to the blood cells.

Blueberries

Blueberries ranks higher in antioxidant benefits. Antioxidants helps to neutralize harmful free radicals that can lead to cancer and other age-related diseases. The total antioxidant capacity of blueberries is twice that of spinach and three times that of oranges. This extraordinary fruit is also rich in pectin. Fresh blueberries are higher in vitamins A and C than frozen or canned.

Strawberries

Strawberries contain ellagic acid, that acts as a scavenger to bind cancer-causing chemicals, thus making them inactive. It inhibits the ability of other chemicals to cause mutations in bacteria. It also prevents binding of carcinogens to DNA and reduces the incidence of cancer in cultured human cells exposed to carcinogens.

Bananas

The people with high potassium in their diet have a lower incidence of hypertension, even if they don’t watch their salt intake.The banana is low in calories, fat, sodium, and much of its fiber is soluble — the kind that can help lower cholesterol. Bananas are also a very good source of vitamin B6, providing one-third of the RDA in a single serving.

Benefits of Soursop Fruits | Cancer Treatment

Soursop fruit cure cancer - the discovery of benefits of soursop fruits is the greatest invention of the 20th century. The invention is related to the research, said that benefits of soursop fruit can cure cancer and tumors, which is a vicious disease over the world.

Before the discovery of benefits of soursop fruits, the tumor disease and cancer remains a disease that is deadly and terrifying human beings.

According to one source stated that soursop fruit is not fruit that comes from Asia, but originated from the Caribbean, Central America and South America. Soursop fruit is then taken by Netherlands to Indonesia in the 19th century.

Now researchers at the Health Science Institute, found the benefits of soursop fruits is awesome. It turns out soft and fleshy fruit has a white anti-tumor effects and cancer are very powerful. It has been proven through medical research. In that study, found that the soursop fruit is able to cure all types of cancer.

Benefits of Soursop Fruits to Health

Aside from being a cancer cure, Benefits of Soursop Fruits as the other is an antibacterial anti-fungal. Soursop fruit is very effective against many types of parasites/worms that damage the health of the human body.

In addition, the soursop is very suitable for people with high blood pressure, and also improve the nervous system that is not good. In his research, the team of the Health Sciences Institute conducted basing on the habits of Indians who live in the Amazon jungle. This tribe has a habit of using all parts of the soursop tree, from wood, leaves, fruits and seeds of the soursop as a treatment media. The Indians believe that the benefits of soursop fruit can be used to cure heart disease.

Benefit of Soursop fruits | Cure Cancer

The discovery of Benefits of Soursop Fruits as a healer of cancer occurred in 1976. This was after a trial that involved 20 independent laboratories working under the coordination and supervision of the National Cancer Institute.

From this research, the fact there is a chemical element found in soursop fruit that can kill cancer cells. In contrast to systems that are widely used chemotherapy as the cancer cell killing, soursop fruit to work smarter. Therefore, the elements contained in the soursop fruit is able to distinguish between the bad cells that are destructive, and where the cells are still healthy.

Soursop fruit would choose to kill the bad cells, and allow the healthy cells. Its ability to kill this bed cells is 10,000 more powerful than chemotherapy that uses laser light technology assistance. In addition, chemotherapy was not able to distinguish cells that are still healthy and damaged cells. All cells will be turned off if using chemotherapy. This is what distinguishes soursop treatment to chemotherapy.

Treatment with chemotherapy will cause hair loss affects the emergence of cancer as well as nausea. Whereas treatment with the soursop, it will not happen.

May this Benefits of soursop fruits be useful. Thank

Nutrition for better smiles | Nutrition

Nutrition for better smiles | Truth be told, nutrition for children must target healthy teeth and good oral hygiene to inculcate the principles for good oral health from very young, which children should practice through to adulthood.

Starches and sugars

While you were told that eating sugary foods led to tooth decay, other factors lead to tooth decay, so sugars are not the only culprits. Acid produced by bacteria in the mouth will wear down tooth enamel, resulting in dental cavities or tooth decay.

Hard candy

The more often you eat carbohydrate foods, especially as snacks between meals, the more likely acid will form and attack the teeth. Bacteria covers teeth with plaque acids and the action continues up to 30 minutes after eating, especially if you eat sticky foods.

Anti-cavity foods

Saliva

Saliva has minerals - calcium, phosphorus and fluoride - which provide protection for the teeth.

Tips for healthy gums and teeth

Limit carbonated sodas and sweet fruit drinks.
If you have a sweet tooth, try replacing sweets with a healthy choice like fruits and vegetable sticks.

Efficacy of Dragon Fruit

Efficacy of Dragon Fruit | Dragon fruit has beneficial properties for human health, such as balancing blood sugar levels, protective oral health, prevention of colon cancer, reduce cholesterol, preventing bleeding and treat complaints of vaginal discharge.

Dragon fruit is usually consumed as fresh fruit, as relieving thirst, because the dragon fruit contains a high water content of about 90% of the weight of the fruit. It was pretty sweet, because it contains sugar content reaches 13-18 briks. Dragon fruit can also be presented in the form of juice, fruit juice, sweets and jam, or various forms of presentation according to your taste.

In general, the experts agree and acknowledge that dragon fruit is rich in potassium, ferum, protein, fiber, sodium and calcium are good for health versus other fruits that are imported.

According to AL Leong from Johncola Pitaya Food R&D, an organization that examines the red dragon fruit, cactus honey fruit is quite rich with a variety of vitamins and mineral substances which greatly helped improve the durability and useful for metabolism in the human body.

"Research shows that red dragon fruit is very good for the circulatory system, also gives the effect of reducing emotional stress and neutralize toxic in the blood." Research also shows this fruit can prevent colon cancer, in addition to preventing high cholesterol content in the blood and reduce levels of fat in body." he said.

Overall, each of the red dragon fruit contains a protein that is able to increase metabolism and maintain cardiovascular health; fiber (to prevent colon cancer, diabetes and diet); carotene (eye health, strengthen the brain and prevent disease), calcium (bone strengthening).

Dragon fruit also contains iron to increase the blood, vitamin B1 (to prevent fever entity); vitamin B2 (add to taste), vitamin B3 (lower cholesterol) and vitamin C (increase slipperiness, smoothness of skin and prevent acne).

Here is a complete nutritional content of dragon fruit:

Sugar content: 13-18 briks
Water: 90%
Carbohydrates: 11.5 g
Acid: 0.139 g
Protein: 0.53 g
Fiber: 0.71 g
Calcium: 134.5 mg
Phosphorus: 8.7 mg
Magnesium: 60.4 mg
Vitamin C: 9.4 mg

Efficacy of Pineapples Fruits

Efficacy of Pineapples Fruits | Pineapple fruit contains vitamins A and C as an antioxidant. Also contains calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, sodium, potassium, dextrose, sucrose, and the enzyme bromelain.

Bromelain efficacious as anti-inflammatory, helps soften the food in the stomach, as well as inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Fiber content may facilitate defecation in patients with constipation.

Some efficacy pineapple that has been ripe

are cold,
can reduce the discharge of excess stomach acid,
aid in digestion of food in the stomach,
anti-inflammatory,
laxative urine (diuretic),
clean up of dead skin tissue,
interfere with the growth of cancer cells,
inhibits platelet clumping.

Some diseases can be cured with a pineapple

Water (juice) pineapple: worms, sore throat, Give, give, lose weight, digestion problems

Pineapple leaf (washed, finely ground, then smeared on a hospital): For burns, itching and ulcers

Dandruff: Provide 1/4 ripe pineapple. Peel the skin, and scar, and filtered. Add the juice 1 orange juice and stir until blended. Use this mixture to rub the scalp of dandruff. Do it at night before bed. The next morning your hair. Do it 2-3 times a week.

Inflammation of the skin: provide 1/2 pineapple that has been cooked. Peel the skin, and scar. Results of scar used to rub the skin scaly and peeling. Do it once a day, at night before bedtime. The next morning freshly washed clean. Do it every day.

Constipation: drinking water of 3 pieces of pineapple, but choose fruit that is immature and a bit sour.

Side Effects of pineapple:

Young pineapple, potentially as abortivum or similar drugs that can abort the womb. Therefore, the pineapple can be used to launch a late period. Therefore, pregnant women are prohibited from consuming young pineapple.

trigger arthritis. In the gastrointestinal tract, pineapple fruit fermented into alcohol. This could trigger a recurrence of rheumatic gout. Rheumatism and arthritis sufferers are advised to limit consumption of pineapple.

increase blood sugar. Ripe pineapple fruit contains a high sugar content. So, for people with diabetes, should not consume excessive pineapple.

itchy. Sometimes after eating fresh pineapple, mouth and tongue itch. To avoid this, before eating, soak the pineapple pieces with salt water. Simple is not it?

Source: http://suaramerdeka.com

Efficacy and benefits of Papaya Fruit for beauty.

Efficacy and benefits of Papaya Fruit for beauty. Papaya is not only men that can be utilized, almost from all parts of the papaya can be utilized. Starting from the root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit, bark, sap even have properties that are useful for the body.

According to VN Villegas in his article published Vegetable Resources of Southeast Asia 2: Fruits Edible, about 60 percent of the ripe papaya can be eaten.

Every 100 grams of papaya contains an average of 86.6 grams of water, 0.5 grams protein, 0.3 grams fat, 12.1 grams carbohydrates, 0.7 grams fiber, 0.5 g ash, 34 mg calcium, 11 mg phosphorus, 1 mg iron, 3 mg potassium, 450 mg vitamin A, vitamin C 74 mg, 0.03 mg tiamina, 0.5 mg niasina, and 0.04 mg of riboflavin. The energy value kJ/100 200 grams and is the main sugar content of sucrose (48.3 percent), glucose (29.8 percent), and fructose (21.9 percent) Aside from being a fruit that can be obtained throughout the year, the papaya salad is also used for materials, beverages, jelly, jam, cakes, and frozen fruit. 

In Java, the flowers also made candied papaya and young leaves or herbs for a side dish. Karpaina, a kind of alkaloid contained in papaya can be used to reduce heart disease, anti-amoebic drugs, and drug urine laxative.

Did you know that papaya fruit also had a very good therapeutic effect?

particularly for women such as beauty therapy slimming, toning and youthful breasts

Slimming Body 

Papaya fruits arrange to have property of the body. Diligently taking papaya enzyme can generate double the ripe papaya. Well, this enzyme acts as a decomposition of fat in our body. These enzymes break down proteins are also better and healing of excess flesh.

Breast Tightening

Papaya in trust by our ancestors long ago as the fruit that can tighten the breast. Enzymes in papaya can help breast growth resulting in more firm and supple. Papaya is also fortified with vitamin D hormone fasteners and female hormones that stimulate spending and stimulate the ovaries release the female hormone.Mammary glands of these hormones will be smooth and shape of the ideal breast.

Ageless

Levels of vitamin C in papaya is 48 times that of apples!. Papaya is also active as a detoxification so it can refresh the skin from within.Papaya can also promote skin metabolism processes. Papaya is also a good melt the layers of skin aging and substance arising horn dipori pores so the skin firmer and brighter. So, from now on be diligent wear facial masks papaya fruit or papaya.

Here are some of the benefits of papaya fruit for the health of our bodies:

- Papaya fruit contains a variety of enzymes, vitamins and minerals.In fact it contains more vitamin A than carrots and more vitamin C than oranges. Also rich in vitamin B complex and vitamin E.

 · Papaya fruit contains the enzyme papain. This enzyme is very active and has the ability to accelerate the process of protein digestion. Digest the protein is a major problem commonly faced by many people in the daily diet. The body has limited due to lack of protein mencerba spending hydrochloric acid in the stomach. 

· Levels of protein in papaya fruit is not very high, only 4-6 grams per kilogram weight of the fruit. But this small amount of the almost completely digested and absorbed by the body. This is due to the enzyme papain in papaya able to digest the substance as much as 35 times larger than its size alone. The digestibility of the protein is reminiscent to more carefully select the food, that food that contains high protein tenti not be beneficial to the body. What matters is whether or not the protein is easily absorbed by the body.

· Papain can break down proteins into arginine. Arginine compound is one of the essential amino acids in normal conditions can not be produced by the body and obtained through foods such as eggs and yeast. However, if the enzyme papain pencerbaan protein involved in the process, naturally some proteins can be converted into arginine. 

The process of formation of arginine with papain also affect the production of human growth hormone is popularly known as human growth hormone (HSG), because arginine is a full mandatory in the formation of HGH. Well, HGH is that helps improve muscle tone and reduce fat accumulation in the body. Other important information, laboratory tests showed arginine serves to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.

 · Papain can also break down foods containing protein compounds to form various amino acids that are autointoxicating or automatically removes unwanted substances formation due to incomplete digestion. High blood pressure, constipation, arthritis, epilepsy and diabetes are diseases that arise due to the process of digestion is not perfect. Papain is not always able to prevent it, but at least to minimize the negative effects that arise. What is clear papain can help make the process pencenaan better food. 

· Papain helps the arrangement of amino acids and help detoxify the body. In this way the immune system can be improved.

 · Papaya can also speed up the digestion of carbohydrates and fats. The enzyme papain can break down the fibers of the meat, making it more digestible. No wonder the papaya meat tenderizer is often used as a material, especially for the manufacture of cooking kebabs or stews. 

· Papaya has antiseptic properties and helps prevent the proliferation of harmful bacteria in the gut. Papaya helps normalize the pH of the intestine so that the situation became normal intestinal flora.

 · Papain formed in all parts of the fruit, good skin, flesh, and seeds.So it should be fully utilized papaya. In fact, for those who have digestive problems, it is advisable to eat papaya fruit and its seeds.

· The fruit is still half-baked mengkal or have a higher nutrient content than ripe fruit. But women who want to have children or are pregnant are prohibited from eating them, because the raw fruit and mengkal have the effect of the womb. 

Because the effects of this one, in many countries such as Papua New Guinea and Peru, papaya is used as a contraceptive. Advice for pregnant women, if you want to get the properties of papaya, eat only the ripe fruit

Appalachian hospital chain, facing loss of 25,000 Medicaid patients, sues managed-care firms and state

"Appalachian Regional Healthcare, the largest health care system in Eastern Kentucky, has filed lawsuits against two of the state's Medicaid managed care companies, alleging that the managed care companies had not paid claims promptly," report Valarie Honeycutt Spears and Beth Musgrave of the Lexington Herald-Leader. ARH said it treats about 25,000 Medicaid patients at its eight Kentucky hospitals.

The moves came after Coventry Cares, one of three managed-care organizations hired by the state, said it would cancel its contract with ARH as of May 4. ARH sued Coventry in federal court on Monday; the previous Thursday, April 12, it sued "in Franklin Circuit Court against Kentucky Spirit Health Plan Inc. and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services." On March 29, "Coventry Coventry told ARH that it was terminating its contract with ARH effective May 4."

Coventry spokesman Matthew Eyles told the Herald-Leader, "We were effectively forced to break our ties with ARH until the Commonwealth takes steps to treat all MCOs equally and makes some key decisions to guarantee greater stability in the program, such as paying MCOs fairly based on whether they have healthier or sicker members." Cabinet spokeswoman Jill Midkiff said the issues don't indicate a problem with the managed-care system the state adopted Nov. 1. (Read more)

Food that makes you healthy

Yogurt

 The probiotic bacteria in most yogurts helps to  keep your digestive system healthy, that translates into a lower incidence of gas, bloating, and constipation, which can keep your tummy looking flat.

Whole Grains

The body shows a decreased insulin response to whole grain as compared to refined carbohydrate like rice and white bread. So replace those meals with whole grains like lentils, brown rice, and whole wheat bread for a trimmer waistline.

Veggies

Stock up on cruciferous veggies like broccoli, brussels sprouts, asparagus, peppers, and yellow beans as they contain folate, beta-carotene, calcium, magnesium, and fiber, and are rich in vitamins A, C, and K.

Olive Oil

Mono-unsaturated fats found in olive oil, reduces belly fat.

Apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar consumed daily for a period of 12 weeks, works to lower body weight and reduce belly fat.

Green Tea

Green tea contains certain chemicals known as polyphenols and catechins that boost metabolism and help to reduce fat in the body. Including 2-3 cups of green tea in your diet will help reduce that waistline.

Apple

Apples are one of the most popular negative calorie foods. This means that an apple burns more calories that it adds to the body, while being digested, making for a great, tasty snack that does nothing to add to body fat.

Almond

Almonds provide the body with minerals like magnesium, and regulate blood sugar levels. A stable blood sugar level is key to prevent cravings that can lead to overeating.

Pill-mill bill passes; attorney general won't get drug-monitoring system but narcotic-prescribing doctors will have to use it

House Speaker Greg Stumbo, center, walks
with House budget committee chair Rick
Rand and House Majority Floor Leader
Rocky Adkins. (Courier-Journal photo).

Legislators have sent Gov. Steve Beshear a bill to curb prescription drug abuse and crack down on rogue pain clinics, ending the special session of the General Assembly.

The final version left the state's prescription drug-monitoring system under the control of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the doctor-controlled Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure rather than move it to the attorney general's office, as the last version in the regular session would have. But in another significant change, it will require doctors and pharmacists who prescribe or dispense Schedule II and III drugs, such as oxycodone and morphine, to use the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting system. Only about 25 percent of Kentucky physicians now use KASPER.

Putting the drug-monitoring system in the hands of the attorney general was considered a linchpin of efforts to help law enforcement to proactively identify suspicious prescribers; law enforcement officers can access the database only if they have a case opened, and say they need the data to open cases. But the Kentucky Medical Association called giving law enforcement oversight of information with prescription-drug information a violation of personal privacy. "You are essentially legislating medical care," said Shawn Jones, president of the KMA.

Beshear, who repeatedly pressured legislators to pass a bill pertaining to the issue, issued a statement this evening expressing his delight. "Even though the prescription drug bill doesn't include every element we had hoped, it is an enormous bipartisan accomplishment, and it restores Kentucky as a leading state in innovative tactics in battling prescription drug abuse," he said. "The elements of the bill also help prevent Kentucky from becoming a source state for prescription pills.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo, who sponsored the bill, called its passage "a step forward" though he "would have preferred a stronger version." He told reporters that he did not feel this would be the last time lawmakers would be changing laws to fight the problem, and noted that Beshear could use his gubernatorial reorganization powers to change the administration of the system: "I think the governor, in the days ahead, will continue to take aggressive action on addressing this problem."

The measure will require pharmacists to submit information to KASPER within 24 hours of dispensing a narcotic and doctors must check the system before prescribing one to a new patient. They then would be required to check a KASPER report every three months during a patient's treatment.

As before, the measure will require most pain clinics be owned by at least one doctor; 33 of Kentucky's 77 pain clinics are owned by people with no medical background. Those who already own clinics and haven't had run-ins with the law will be "grandfathered" and be allowed to continue operating. "That really waters it down. A lot!!" Operation UNITE Director Karen Kelly said on Facebook.

Lawmakers also passed the transportation budget bill, which was the main reason why they were called in for a special session by Beshear. They reached an impasse last week when the Senate would not approve the budget, a move Beshear and Senate President David Williams blamed on each other.

There were suggestions that the road and drug issues, the only items that the legislature could consider under Beshear's call of the session, were related. "As the Senate receded on the amendment to put back $50 million of [road] money into Senate President David Williams' district, word went out that the House would compromise on the pill bill and let the Senate keep KASPER [where it is] as long as a funding change took place," Ryan Alessi reports for cn|2. "The Senate sprang into action amended the pill bill and leaders from the two chambers worked together to pass legislation before supper time."

Food After Exercise | Weight Loss | Sport

Food after exercise | Sport is very important for fitness, but very few people can optimize their sport. After the exercise we need to eat certain foods that we do exercise to be optimal. The name is Food after exercise. there is a line of Food after exercise which very important for our consumption.

According to one source stated that: the body after exercise be hungry, so that after exercise, our bodies need food to recover his fatigue.

We see this is as the important to known by everyone, so we try to include information about Food after exercise in this post. OK, let's see what are Food after exercise it.

List of Food after exercise

1. Cherries and yogurt
Research conducted at the University of Michigan shows that eating cherries before and after exercise can reduce inflammation, because this fruit contains anthocyanins (powerful antioxidants giving the cherry red color) is high. Combine a handful of cherries with a cup of yogurt that contains lots of protein and calcium. Then feel the results. These foods can recharge your body after exercise.

2. Low-fat chocolate milk
Drinking low-fat chocolate milk after exercise.

3. Whole-grain cereal and milk
Other Food After Exercise, Eat a bowl of cereal made from the original wheat with non-fat milk after you finish working out because it can replenish your muscle glycogen.

4. Salmon, sweet potatoes and spinach
If you exercise before lunch or dinner, fitness trainers and dieticians from Los Angeles, Cassandrea Corum, advised to eat foods that contain protein, complex carbohydrates, and fats.

5. Tuna, brown rice and vegetables
one more Food After Exercise, One more food can you eat after a workout is a blend of tuna, brown rice and vegetables. Brown rice contains fiber and carbohydrates.

Kentucky's pill mill fight makes headlines in Wall Street Journal

A man gets arrested at a pain clinic in Lexington.
Photo by Charles Bertram for the Lexington
Herald-Leader.

The Wall Street Journal has featured Kentucky's legislative battle over its pill-mill bill in today's paper, calling the state an "epicenter of abuse."

"Kentucky is ground zero of the effort to move prescription-drug monitoring programs out of the health-care arena into law enforcement," said Even Jenkins, executive director of the West Virginia State Medical Association, a physicians trade group, and a Democratic state senator.

"The Republican-controlled Senate is considering a vote as early as Friday on a bill that would restrict ownership of pain clinics to licensed physicians and give law enforcement easier access to the state's prescription-drug database," writes Timothy W. Martin.

But, he notes, there is strong opposition to the bill from the Kentucky Medical Association, which worries "giving law enforcement oversight of a database with prescription-drug information is a violation of personal privacy."

"You are essentially legislating medical care. We think doctors should write those regulations, not legislatures," said Shawn Jones, president of the KMA. He called the bill an "overreach."

"The struggle over the Kentucky bill highlights the complicated path policy makers and law enforcement are traversing nationwide in their attempts to fight abuse of prescription painkillers," Martin reports. "Unlike importers and dealers of illicit drugs such as cocaine, the supply chain for prescription drugs is made up largely of legitimate businesses and professionals."

Legislative pushes in Ohio, West Virginia, Florida and other states have been met with fierce opposition from physician and pharmacy trade groups, Martin writes.

About 48 states have legislation requiring prescription drug-monitoring programs. That's up by 16 from 10 years ago, but restrictions for who can access the data varies by state, Martin reports. Kentucky law enforcement has complained it cannot access the data in time to single out problem prescribers, which is the reason House Bill 1 would transfer the tracking system from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to the attorney general's office.

"The data is all there — it's just under a rug," said Attorney General Jack Conway, saying law enforcement cannot know now who are the highest prescribers in the state. Having access to the database would solve that problem, he said. (Read more)

Purple Vegetable Benefits | Purple Fruits

Purple Vegetable Benefits, What do you know about the Purple Vegetable Benefits. Purple vegetables that contain lots of benefits, especially to keep the appearance of youthfulness. who would not want to stay young, everyone wants to stay young. so, do not be lazy to eat Purple Vegetable.

Vegetables and fruits are purple purple, like eggplant, purple cabbage, red onions, sweet potatoes, grapes, raisins, plums and blackberries, also rich in substances that are necessary to nourish the body.

Here are Purple Vegetable Benefits

1. Prevent premature aging
Purple Vegetables and fruit have a pigment called anthocyanin, a powerful antioxidant and as a safeguard to reduce the risk of cancer, improve memory and prevent premature aging.

2. protects the heart
Purple Vegetable Benefits, colored vegetables also contains flavonoid component, called resveratol. Content is shown to inhibit endothelin-1, which is one cause of heart disease, beneficial to the cardiovascular system and can be heart healthy. Also facilitate the flow of blood to the brain, reducing the risk of stroke, cancer prevention and as an anti inflammatory.

3. Prevent breast cancer
Purple Vegetable Benefits, Eating purple vegetables also contain ellagic acid or acid elagik. Research Dr. Daniel Nixon of the Medical University of South Carolina (1993) showed that the acid can elagik against and inhibit the growth of cancer cells as well as stop the process of mitosis (cell growth).

Purple fruit should also be consumed by women. Some research suggests that elagik acid can reduce the effects of estrogen in influencing the growth of breast cancer cells.

Hospitals get antsy about leasing space to fast-food chains

McDonald's has space in the Cleveland Clinic. (AP photo)

While the U.S. Department of Agriculture decides what to suggest about junk food in schools, hospitals are likewise at a crossroads, with many administrators feeling conflicted about housing fast-food chains in their facilities.

At Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, the cafeteria features low-fat meals, on the other side of a wall from a McDonald's. CEO John Bluford said the golden arches send "an inconsistent message" to patients, staff and community because of the unhealthy offerings, but Truman agreed to a 25-year contract with the chain in 1992 "at a time when the financial benefit of having a stable food-service client in the hospital outweighed any potential health concerns," reports Elana Gordon for NPR.

Getting out of these contracts can be tricky. The Cleveland Clinic tried to end its agreement with McDonald's 10 years ago, but the restaurant remains in operation. "We're just going to live with it," said Bill Barum, director of hospitality and retail services. "When the contract ends, we'll have the opportunity to reexamine the space."

Of the 14,000 McDonald's in the country, there are 27 in hospitals, and officials say the restaurant's menu can be tailored to health-conscious diners.

Some hospitals have five fast-food outlets, a survey by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine found. The report's top five "worst hospital environments" housed at least one fast-food restaurant. "In this day and age, you would think a hospital might be proud enough, if not shamed enough, to cut or end these contracts with fast-food outlets," said Susan Levin, a dietitian with PCRM.

But while some hospitals are looking to end fast-food contracts, some are signing them, including the Texas Medical Center's St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital and the Medical University of South Carolina University Hospital, where Chick-fil-A is  open for business. (Read more)

Poll finds parents overwhelmingly support more nutritious school food; USDA expected to issue new guidelines

Photo by Reuters' Lucy Nicholson

Chocolate bars, Cheetos and cheesy fries may soon be a thing of the past at public schools in America, and that's fine with parents, a new poll has found.

The survey found "most people agreed the chips, soda and candy bars students buy from vending machines or school stores in addition to breakfast and lunch are not nutritious, and they support a national standard for foods sold at schools," reports Susan Heavey for Reuters.

As it did for school lunch earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected to release new guidelines for vending machines and à la carte sales by June, some experts say.

In Kentucky, schools are already not allowed to sell food that competes with the national school lunch and breakfast programs from the minute students arrive in the morning until 30 minutes after the last lunch period. Only water, 100 percent fruit juice, lowfat milk and any beverage that contains no more than 10 grams of sugar per serving are allowed to be sold in school vending machines, as per state mandate. There are no limits as to what food or drinks that can be sold in fundraisers.

The poll, conducted by advocacy group Kids' Safe and Healthful Foods Project, found 80 percent of the 1,010 adults surveyed said they would support nutritional standards that limit the calories, fat and sodium in such schools.

Students eat one-fifth to one-half of their daily diet at schools, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report 20 percent of American children are obese, As of 2007 in Kentucky, more than 37 percent of children were either obese or overweight, a study by the National Conference of State Legislatures shows.

A study by the National Academy of Sciences reports that about $2.3 billion worth of snack food and drinks are sold each year in schools nationwide. As such, changes might be controversial. The new guidelines for school lunch met with resistance from lawmakers, who "locked limits to french fries and counted pizza as a vegetable because it contains tomato sauce," Heavey reports.  There are concerns industry lobbyists and members of Congress could dilute the USDA proposals. (Read more)