* Grand Circle Island Tour
* Pearl Harbor & Honolulu City Tour
* Polynesian Cultural Center (Bonus Choice with 3, 5, and 7 Day Cards)
* Germaines Luau (Bonus Choice with 3, 5, and 7 Day Cards)
* Sea Life Park by Dolphin Discovery
* Hawaiian Oceans Surf Lesson (Bonus Choice with 3, 5 and 7 Day Cards)
* Hanauma Bay Snorkeling Adventures
* Makani Catamaran
* Waikiki Trolley
* Hawaiian Style Rentals: Moped and Bike Rentals
* Battleship Missouri Memorial
* Bishop Museum
* Byodo-In Temple
* Diamond Head Crater Hike (with Shuttle Service)
* Dole Plantation: Pineapple Express
* Dole Plantation: The Maze
* Dollar Rent A Car (Bonus Choice with 3, 5, and 7 Day Cards)
* Hawaii Childrens Discovery Center
* Hawaii Heritage Center and Chinatown Walking Tour
* Hawaiian Oceans Beach Gear
* Hawaiian Oceans Outrigger Canoe Ride
* Hawaiis Plantation Village
* Honolulu Academy of Arts
* Iolani Palace
* Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii
* Kailua Sailboards & Kayaks Half Day Snorkel
* Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks: Bike Rental
* Kayaking in Hawaii
* North Shore Surf and Cultural Museum
* Pacific Aviation Museum
* Queen Emma Summer Palace
* Rainforest and Waterfall Adventure
* The Contemporary Museum, Honolulu
* U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii
* USS Arizona Memorial Audio Tour
* USS Bowfin Submarine & Museum
* Waimea Valley
* Wet n Wild Hawaii
Sunday, August 15, 2010
cheap house insurance- how to get lower rates
Geico Home Owners Insurance - 8 Things That Will Make You Get Lower Rates
1. Just as a newly built house attracts reduced rates, you get discounts if your house undergoes a renovation. The reason for this isn't hard to guess since we all understand that once a house is renovated, it's as good as new and as a result the owner is very unlikely to make a claim for repairs soon. All renovations won't bring similar savings since the degree of renovation done is rightly a defining factor. You can find out what you'd get as discounts if you ask an agent.
2. Don't add the cost of the land when you apply for your homeowners insurance policy. You insure the home to get coverage from perils that could make you lose it. No matter what happens, the land on which your house is built will still be where it was. When you apply, remember to deduct the land's value. If you fail to do this you'll be buying far more insurance than is necessary. You'll simply be spending a lot more than you should.
3. You'll attract more affordable rates if your home is better secured. Certain security systems will attract discounts of about 5 percent. Certain insurers take it even further and offer between 15-20% reduction in rates if you get special fire and security systems that ring at a police station, fire station or any monitoring outfit. Just bear in mind that such devices must be such recommended by such an insurer for you to qualify for such huge discounts. The huge markdown you get might not be worth it since these advanced systems cost quite a lot.
4. A home of smokers will attract expensive premiums. Your home insurance rate will be less if any smoker in your household quits. More than 20,000 residential fires are traceable to smoking yearly. Do bear in mind that some insurers may not offer any markdowns for this.
5. If you're retired, you've qualified for discounts in home insurance from certain home insurance providers. This discount is based on the thinking that retirees spend more time to look after their home and are also likely to spot fires more easily.
6. Rebates are usually given to those who remain with the same insurance company more than three years. The longer the time you stay loyal to an insurance company, the higher the concession you get. The rebates you get for remaining with an insurance company may be smaller than what you'll gain by switching. Knowing which is better for you is very easy. You can know for sure by getting quotes from as many insurers as you can and then compare savings you'll realize if you switch with what your current insurer gives as concession.
7. You'll get a cheaper Geico home owners insurance premium if you opt for a higher deductible.
A deductible is the amount a policyholder must pay before his/her insurer becomes bound by law to pay as indicated in the terms of their policy. The least deductible normally in home insurance is about $250. By increasing your deductible to $500 you'd likely realize savings of about 12%. Increasing it more to $1000 may result in twenty-four percent discount. Different insurance companies could offer more or less so check with your agent before you make this decision.
8. Get and compare quotes from not less than three quotes sites. Although Geico home owners insurance rates might be good for your profile, some other reputable insurance companies might have rates that are up to 50% less.
Requesting quotes from a minimum of three quotes sites increase the chances that you'd get more affordable home insurance quotes. This is because insurance companies not represented by one site would be represented by the other. And, you should understand that because the likelihood of getting lower home insurance quotes has to do with the number of quotes you obtain, the more insurers you get quotes from, the higher your chances will be. Requesting for your home insurance quotes online will help you save much more if you sacrifice just 15 minutes to obtain quotes from a minimum of 3 quotes sites.
1. Just as a newly built house attracts reduced rates, you get discounts if your house undergoes a renovation. The reason for this isn't hard to guess since we all understand that once a house is renovated, it's as good as new and as a result the owner is very unlikely to make a claim for repairs soon. All renovations won't bring similar savings since the degree of renovation done is rightly a defining factor. You can find out what you'd get as discounts if you ask an agent.
2. Don't add the cost of the land when you apply for your homeowners insurance policy. You insure the home to get coverage from perils that could make you lose it. No matter what happens, the land on which your house is built will still be where it was. When you apply, remember to deduct the land's value. If you fail to do this you'll be buying far more insurance than is necessary. You'll simply be spending a lot more than you should.
3. You'll attract more affordable rates if your home is better secured. Certain security systems will attract discounts of about 5 percent. Certain insurers take it even further and offer between 15-20% reduction in rates if you get special fire and security systems that ring at a police station, fire station or any monitoring outfit. Just bear in mind that such devices must be such recommended by such an insurer for you to qualify for such huge discounts. The huge markdown you get might not be worth it since these advanced systems cost quite a lot.
4. A home of smokers will attract expensive premiums. Your home insurance rate will be less if any smoker in your household quits. More than 20,000 residential fires are traceable to smoking yearly. Do bear in mind that some insurers may not offer any markdowns for this.
5. If you're retired, you've qualified for discounts in home insurance from certain home insurance providers. This discount is based on the thinking that retirees spend more time to look after their home and are also likely to spot fires more easily.
6. Rebates are usually given to those who remain with the same insurance company more than three years. The longer the time you stay loyal to an insurance company, the higher the concession you get. The rebates you get for remaining with an insurance company may be smaller than what you'll gain by switching. Knowing which is better for you is very easy. You can know for sure by getting quotes from as many insurers as you can and then compare savings you'll realize if you switch with what your current insurer gives as concession.
7. You'll get a cheaper Geico home owners insurance premium if you opt for a higher deductible.
A deductible is the amount a policyholder must pay before his/her insurer becomes bound by law to pay as indicated in the terms of their policy. The least deductible normally in home insurance is about $250. By increasing your deductible to $500 you'd likely realize savings of about 12%. Increasing it more to $1000 may result in twenty-four percent discount. Different insurance companies could offer more or less so check with your agent before you make this decision.
8. Get and compare quotes from not less than three quotes sites. Although Geico home owners insurance rates might be good for your profile, some other reputable insurance companies might have rates that are up to 50% less.
Requesting quotes from a minimum of three quotes sites increase the chances that you'd get more affordable home insurance quotes. This is because insurance companies not represented by one site would be represented by the other. And, you should understand that because the likelihood of getting lower home insurance quotes has to do with the number of quotes you obtain, the more insurers you get quotes from, the higher your chances will be. Requesting for your home insurance quotes online will help you save much more if you sacrifice just 15 minutes to obtain quotes from a minimum of 3 quotes sites.
cheap house insurance
1. Shop Around
It'll take some time, but could save you a good sum of money. Ask your friends, check the Yellow Pages or contact your state insurance department. (Phone numbers and Web sites are listed here.) National Association of Insurance Commissioners (www.naic.org) has information to help you choose an insurer in your state, including complaints. States often make information available on typical rates charged by major insurers and many states provide the frequency of consumer complaints by company.
Also check consumer guides, insurance agents, companies and online insurance quote services. This will give you an idea of price ranges and tell you which companies have the lowest prices. But don't consider price alone. The insurer you select should offer a fair price and deliver the quality service you would expect if you needed assistance in filing a claim. So in assessing service quality, use the complaint information cited above and talk to a number of insurers to get a feeling for the type of service they give. Ask them what they would do to lower your costs.
Check the financial stability of the companies you are considering with rating companies such as A.M. Best (www.ambest.com) and Standard & Poor’s (www.standardandpoors.com) and consult consumer magazines. When you've narrowed the field to three insurers, get price quotes.
2. Raise Your Deductible
Deductibles are the amount of money you have to pay toward a loss before your insurance company starts to pay a claim, according to the terms of your policy. The higher your deductible, the more money you can save on your premiums. Nowadays, most insurance companies recommend a deductible of at least $500. If you can afford to raise your deductible to $1,000, you may save as much as 25 percent. Remember, if you live in a disaster-prone area, your insurance policy may have a separate deductible for certain kinds of damage. If you live near the coast in the East, you may have a separate windstorm deductible; if you live in a state vulnerable to hail storms, you may have a separate deductible for hail; and if you live in an earthquake-prone area, your earthquake policy has a deductible.
3. Don’t confuse what you paid for your house with rebuilding costs
The land under your house isn't at risk from theft, windstorm, fire and the other perils covered in your homeowners policy. So don't include its value in deciding how much homeowners insurance to buy. If you do, you will pay a higher premium than you should.
4. Buy your home and auto policies from the same insurer
Some companies that sell homeowners, auto and liability coverage will take 5 to 15 percent off your premium if you buy two or more policies from them. But make certain this combined price is lower than buying the different coverages from different companies.
5. Make your home more disaster resistant
Find out from your insurance agent or company representative what steps you can take to make your home more resistant to windstorms and other natural disasters. You may be able to save on your premiums by adding storm shutters, reinforcing your roof or buying stronger roofing materials. Older homes can be retrofitted to make them better able to withstand earthquakes. In addition, consider modernizing your heating, plumbing and electrical systems to reduce the risk of fire and water damage.
6. Improve your home security
You can usually get discounts of at least 5 percent for a smoke detector, burglar alarm or dead-bolt locks. Some companies offer to cut your premium by as much as 15 or 20 percent if you install a sophisticated sprinkler system and a fire and burglar alarm that rings at the police, fire or other monitoring stations. These systems aren't cheap and not every system qualifies for a discount. Before you buy such a system, find out what kind your insurer recommends, how much the device would cost and how much you'd save on premiums.
7. Seek out other discounts
Companies offer several types of discounts, but they don't all offer the same discount or the same amount of discount in all states. For example, since retired people stay at home more than working people they are less likely to be burglarized and may spot fires sooner, too. Retired people also have more time for maintaining their homes. If you're at least 55 years old and retired, you may qualify for a discount of up to 10 percent at some companies. Some employers and professional associations administer group insurance programs that may offer a better deal than you can get elsewhere.
8. Maintain a good credit record
Establishing a solid credit history can cut your insurance costs. Insurers are increasingly using credit information to price homeowners insurance policies. In most states, your insurer must advise you of any adverse action, such as a higher rate, at which time you should verify the accuracy of the information on which the insurer relied. To protect your credit standing, pay your bills on time, don't obtain more credit than you need and keep your credit balances as low as possible. Check your credit record on a regular basis and have any errors corrected promptly so that your record remains accurate.
9. Stay with the same insurer
It'll take some time, but could save you a good sum of money. Ask your friends, check the Yellow Pages or contact your state insurance department. (Phone numbers and Web sites are listed here.) National Association of Insurance Commissioners (www.naic.org) has information to help you choose an insurer in your state, including complaints. States often make information available on typical rates charged by major insurers and many states provide the frequency of consumer complaints by company.
Also check consumer guides, insurance agents, companies and online insurance quote services. This will give you an idea of price ranges and tell you which companies have the lowest prices. But don't consider price alone. The insurer you select should offer a fair price and deliver the quality service you would expect if you needed assistance in filing a claim. So in assessing service quality, use the complaint information cited above and talk to a number of insurers to get a feeling for the type of service they give. Ask them what they would do to lower your costs.
Check the financial stability of the companies you are considering with rating companies such as A.M. Best (www.ambest.com) and Standard & Poor’s (www.standardandpoors.com) and consult consumer magazines. When you've narrowed the field to three insurers, get price quotes.
2. Raise Your Deductible
Deductibles are the amount of money you have to pay toward a loss before your insurance company starts to pay a claim, according to the terms of your policy. The higher your deductible, the more money you can save on your premiums. Nowadays, most insurance companies recommend a deductible of at least $500. If you can afford to raise your deductible to $1,000, you may save as much as 25 percent. Remember, if you live in a disaster-prone area, your insurance policy may have a separate deductible for certain kinds of damage. If you live near the coast in the East, you may have a separate windstorm deductible; if you live in a state vulnerable to hail storms, you may have a separate deductible for hail; and if you live in an earthquake-prone area, your earthquake policy has a deductible.
3. Don’t confuse what you paid for your house with rebuilding costs
The land under your house isn't at risk from theft, windstorm, fire and the other perils covered in your homeowners policy. So don't include its value in deciding how much homeowners insurance to buy. If you do, you will pay a higher premium than you should.
4. Buy your home and auto policies from the same insurer
Some companies that sell homeowners, auto and liability coverage will take 5 to 15 percent off your premium if you buy two or more policies from them. But make certain this combined price is lower than buying the different coverages from different companies.
5. Make your home more disaster resistant
Find out from your insurance agent or company representative what steps you can take to make your home more resistant to windstorms and other natural disasters. You may be able to save on your premiums by adding storm shutters, reinforcing your roof or buying stronger roofing materials. Older homes can be retrofitted to make them better able to withstand earthquakes. In addition, consider modernizing your heating, plumbing and electrical systems to reduce the risk of fire and water damage.
6. Improve your home security
You can usually get discounts of at least 5 percent for a smoke detector, burglar alarm or dead-bolt locks. Some companies offer to cut your premium by as much as 15 or 20 percent if you install a sophisticated sprinkler system and a fire and burglar alarm that rings at the police, fire or other monitoring stations. These systems aren't cheap and not every system qualifies for a discount. Before you buy such a system, find out what kind your insurer recommends, how much the device would cost and how much you'd save on premiums.
7. Seek out other discounts
Companies offer several types of discounts, but they don't all offer the same discount or the same amount of discount in all states. For example, since retired people stay at home more than working people they are less likely to be burglarized and may spot fires sooner, too. Retired people also have more time for maintaining their homes. If you're at least 55 years old and retired, you may qualify for a discount of up to 10 percent at some companies. Some employers and professional associations administer group insurance programs that may offer a better deal than you can get elsewhere.
8. Maintain a good credit record
Establishing a solid credit history can cut your insurance costs. Insurers are increasingly using credit information to price homeowners insurance policies. In most states, your insurer must advise you of any adverse action, such as a higher rate, at which time you should verify the accuracy of the information on which the insurer relied. To protect your credit standing, pay your bills on time, don't obtain more credit than you need and keep your credit balances as low as possible. Check your credit record on a regular basis and have any errors corrected promptly so that your record remains accurate.
9. Stay with the same insurer
Cheap health insurance
In October of 2009, I decided that I would no longer run the 9-5 gauntlet. And with that decision came a few immediate changes in my life. Working from home and for myself meant that I could set my own schedule, make my own decisions and only have myself to blame when something I’ve implemented did not work out. For me, the upside to this decision was infinite because I was slowly getting beaten down by “the man” and couldn’t take it anymore. Unfortunately though, there were downsides to my decision, two of which I’m dealing with right now.
The first of these downers is the amount of taxes I now pay as an independent contractor. Unknown to me at the time was that I would owe a self-employment tax that my previous employer use to pick up. Half of my social security and Medicare taxes were paid for when I had that office job, but now I foot 100% of the bill. The second and more important change was that I no longer had health or dental insurance from my employer. Truth be told, five months since my decision you still won’t find me visiting any hospitals or dentists because I still don’t carry any medical or dental insurance. I’m relatively healthy and now that I never leave the house, I have only my apartment to fear for an accident. But I’ve tempted fate long enough and now it’s time to find my own health insurance plan.
Like any important decision, this one is going to take a little time and a lot of research before I decide on the plan that’s right for me. Before spending thousands of dollars a year, I’m going to educate myself as best I can on the coverage that suits my needs, and that means going through the following step-by-step process.
1. Why I NEED Health Insurance
Something I learned at the age of five when biting through an electrical cord is that I’m not invincible. Even though I keep myself in relatively good health with exercise and home cooked meals, routine check-ups and emergency care are necessary to keep myself that way. Should the time come when I am unfortunate enough to need expensive medication or a medical procedure, I want to make sure that I “can afford” to stay alive.
My finances are certainly not where I want them to be, but without health insurance, I am taking a huge risk in saving a few bucks now for a potential catastrophe later. All of my current payments and bills will now take a backseat to making sure I’m alive long enough to pay them. The cost of surgery without insurance would derail all of the progress I have made over the last few years.
2. Understanding the Medical Mumbo Jumbo
When you carry health insurance through your employer, you are usually limited to the types of coverages available to you. Because you only have to pay a fraction of what you would had you worked on your own, the downside to having limited options is outweighed by the money you save over time. For me, I have the entire health care system available (99% of the health care system would be more accurate), and I want to review the most common plans taken out by consumers today.
* PPO: PPO stands for “Preferred Provider Organization” which means that my coverage will only extend to a list of doctors and hospitals that the insurance company provides. Should I want to visit a doctor that is not on my PPO list, I will probably be responsible for 100% of the costs. PPO’s are the most common of health care plans for individuals like myself, and as long as I can find a doctor and hospital that I like, I would imagine this is the plan for me.
* HMO: HMO stands for “Health Maintenance Organization” and those three letters continue to make consumers cringe. HMO’s are usually the plan you will find provided by your employer because it caters to group rates. While generally the cheapest of all health insurance policies, the rules and regulations that need to be followed in order to be covered are very strict. Getting medical treatment from anyone outside your HMO group must be first cleared by the HMO. It’s important to know exactly what is and is not covered because going in blind to a visit can result in a hefty bill later.
* HSA-Eligible Plans: HSA plans are extremely similar to PPO’s in the sense that you can choose which doctor and hospital you want to visit. The added benefit to this plan is that pre-taxed income can be put aside in an interest bearing account, known as a Health Savings Account (Hence the HSA) so when you file your taxes at the end of the year, less of your income is taxed. If you’re wondering why you wouldn’t always choose this plan vs. a PPO, the HSA-Eligible plans have a much higher deductible than that of a PPO.
* Indemnity Plans: If you’re more of a free bird that likes to take care of things on your own, then the indemnity plan is perfect for you. Indemnity plans are much more expensive then their above brethren, but you have the freedom to choose any doctor or hospital you want and usually any coverage or treatment you want as well. An indemnity provider will pay a certain percentage of every visit, medication or procedure and all of the reimbursement paperwork is taken care of by you, not the insurance company. Freedom comes with a heavy price in the medical insurance world.
In addition to the plan types, there are a few health insurance terms that you will need to know in order to get the best coverage possible.
* Copayment: The copayment is the amount of money that you will owe before any service is provided. For example, if your insurance provider says your office visit copayment is $20, that’s just how much each doctor’s visit will cost you. The remaining costs, whatever they are, will be paid by the insurance company.
* Deductible: Your deductible is the amount of money you will be asked to pay for your medical expenses each year before your insurance will take full effect. Should you have a $1,000 deductible and need a procedure that costs $5,000, you will be required to pay $1,000 out of pocket and the insurance company will pay the remaining $4,000. Unlike auto insurance deductibles which are applied with each claim you submit, deductibles for health insurance are for the entire year. So if you have multiple procedures in one year, you are not required to meet the deductible each time.
* Coinsurance: A sneaky little tactic that insurance companies use is providing coinsurance, which is the money covered after your deductible. Assuming you have already paid your deductible for the year and have a coinsurance amount of 20%, you will be asked to pay 20% of all future medical costs out of pocket. A 0% coinsurance amount means that after your deductible, you are 100% covered. So if you can find a 0% coinsurance at a reasonable price, that might save you thousands in the future.
3. Deciding Just How Much Coverage I Need to Carry
Because I am on an extremely tight budget right now, I won’t be able to get all of the coverages I would want. But I will be able to find the ones that I need. Luckily for me, I’m young, have no pre-existing medical conditions and have only myself to care for, so the plans I will be shopping for should all be relatively inexpensive (when compared to what’s available). The five questions you should ask yourself before deciding which coverages are best to suit your needs are:
1. How many times do I plan to visit the doctor for routine check-ups this year?
2. How much money did I spend on health-care last year?
3. Do I have any pre-existing medical conditions?
4. Am I looking for a specific benefit in my coverages or is this a general plan?
5. What is my budget for health insurance?
The last one is the most important one because you should never let money get in the way of your health. If you find that the coverage you feel most comfortable with is a little out of your budget, do your best to cut the fat from other areas before deciding against a lesser health insurance plan. You’re no good to anyone if you’re not healthy.
4. Comparing Health Insurance Quotes Online
EHealthInsurance.com continues to be the best site for comparing health insurance plans. In fact, it was just voted by Kiplinger to be the best health insurance website around. The process is very simple and will only take a few minutes of your time. After filling out my zip code, gender, age and whether or not I’m a student that uses tobacco, all of the available coverages in my area are displayed.
The first of these downers is the amount of taxes I now pay as an independent contractor. Unknown to me at the time was that I would owe a self-employment tax that my previous employer use to pick up. Half of my social security and Medicare taxes were paid for when I had that office job, but now I foot 100% of the bill. The second and more important change was that I no longer had health or dental insurance from my employer. Truth be told, five months since my decision you still won’t find me visiting any hospitals or dentists because I still don’t carry any medical or dental insurance. I’m relatively healthy and now that I never leave the house, I have only my apartment to fear for an accident. But I’ve tempted fate long enough and now it’s time to find my own health insurance plan.
Like any important decision, this one is going to take a little time and a lot of research before I decide on the plan that’s right for me. Before spending thousands of dollars a year, I’m going to educate myself as best I can on the coverage that suits my needs, and that means going through the following step-by-step process.
1. Why I NEED Health Insurance
Something I learned at the age of five when biting through an electrical cord is that I’m not invincible. Even though I keep myself in relatively good health with exercise and home cooked meals, routine check-ups and emergency care are necessary to keep myself that way. Should the time come when I am unfortunate enough to need expensive medication or a medical procedure, I want to make sure that I “can afford” to stay alive.
My finances are certainly not where I want them to be, but without health insurance, I am taking a huge risk in saving a few bucks now for a potential catastrophe later. All of my current payments and bills will now take a backseat to making sure I’m alive long enough to pay them. The cost of surgery without insurance would derail all of the progress I have made over the last few years.
2. Understanding the Medical Mumbo Jumbo
When you carry health insurance through your employer, you are usually limited to the types of coverages available to you. Because you only have to pay a fraction of what you would had you worked on your own, the downside to having limited options is outweighed by the money you save over time. For me, I have the entire health care system available (99% of the health care system would be more accurate), and I want to review the most common plans taken out by consumers today.
* PPO: PPO stands for “Preferred Provider Organization” which means that my coverage will only extend to a list of doctors and hospitals that the insurance company provides. Should I want to visit a doctor that is not on my PPO list, I will probably be responsible for 100% of the costs. PPO’s are the most common of health care plans for individuals like myself, and as long as I can find a doctor and hospital that I like, I would imagine this is the plan for me.
* HMO: HMO stands for “Health Maintenance Organization” and those three letters continue to make consumers cringe. HMO’s are usually the plan you will find provided by your employer because it caters to group rates. While generally the cheapest of all health insurance policies, the rules and regulations that need to be followed in order to be covered are very strict. Getting medical treatment from anyone outside your HMO group must be first cleared by the HMO. It’s important to know exactly what is and is not covered because going in blind to a visit can result in a hefty bill later.
* HSA-Eligible Plans: HSA plans are extremely similar to PPO’s in the sense that you can choose which doctor and hospital you want to visit. The added benefit to this plan is that pre-taxed income can be put aside in an interest bearing account, known as a Health Savings Account (Hence the HSA) so when you file your taxes at the end of the year, less of your income is taxed. If you’re wondering why you wouldn’t always choose this plan vs. a PPO, the HSA-Eligible plans have a much higher deductible than that of a PPO.
* Indemnity Plans: If you’re more of a free bird that likes to take care of things on your own, then the indemnity plan is perfect for you. Indemnity plans are much more expensive then their above brethren, but you have the freedom to choose any doctor or hospital you want and usually any coverage or treatment you want as well. An indemnity provider will pay a certain percentage of every visit, medication or procedure and all of the reimbursement paperwork is taken care of by you, not the insurance company. Freedom comes with a heavy price in the medical insurance world.
In addition to the plan types, there are a few health insurance terms that you will need to know in order to get the best coverage possible.
* Copayment: The copayment is the amount of money that you will owe before any service is provided. For example, if your insurance provider says your office visit copayment is $20, that’s just how much each doctor’s visit will cost you. The remaining costs, whatever they are, will be paid by the insurance company.
* Deductible: Your deductible is the amount of money you will be asked to pay for your medical expenses each year before your insurance will take full effect. Should you have a $1,000 deductible and need a procedure that costs $5,000, you will be required to pay $1,000 out of pocket and the insurance company will pay the remaining $4,000. Unlike auto insurance deductibles which are applied with each claim you submit, deductibles for health insurance are for the entire year. So if you have multiple procedures in one year, you are not required to meet the deductible each time.
* Coinsurance: A sneaky little tactic that insurance companies use is providing coinsurance, which is the money covered after your deductible. Assuming you have already paid your deductible for the year and have a coinsurance amount of 20%, you will be asked to pay 20% of all future medical costs out of pocket. A 0% coinsurance amount means that after your deductible, you are 100% covered. So if you can find a 0% coinsurance at a reasonable price, that might save you thousands in the future.
3. Deciding Just How Much Coverage I Need to Carry
Because I am on an extremely tight budget right now, I won’t be able to get all of the coverages I would want. But I will be able to find the ones that I need. Luckily for me, I’m young, have no pre-existing medical conditions and have only myself to care for, so the plans I will be shopping for should all be relatively inexpensive (when compared to what’s available). The five questions you should ask yourself before deciding which coverages are best to suit your needs are:
1. How many times do I plan to visit the doctor for routine check-ups this year?
2. How much money did I spend on health-care last year?
3. Do I have any pre-existing medical conditions?
4. Am I looking for a specific benefit in my coverages or is this a general plan?
5. What is my budget for health insurance?
The last one is the most important one because you should never let money get in the way of your health. If you find that the coverage you feel most comfortable with is a little out of your budget, do your best to cut the fat from other areas before deciding against a lesser health insurance plan. You’re no good to anyone if you’re not healthy.
4. Comparing Health Insurance Quotes Online
EHealthInsurance.com continues to be the best site for comparing health insurance plans. In fact, it was just voted by Kiplinger to be the best health insurance website around. The process is very simple and will only take a few minutes of your time. After filling out my zip code, gender, age and whether or not I’m a student that uses tobacco, all of the available coverages in my area are displayed.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Budapest, Hungary. The folk dances of Hungary
Budapest. The beautiful city on the Danube. It’s a city I’ve never heard anything bad said about. “If you love Prague, you’ll love Budapest” people would tell me. And they were right- I did like Budapest, though not nearly as much as I like Prague but that’s another story. This story is about Hungarian folk dancing.
Hungarian folk dancing reminds me of Irish folk dancing mixed with a bit of Russian and Jewish folk dancing. Everyone dances in a circle or twirls around partners. There’s a lot feet stomping and singing. Here’s a small sample.
Hungarian folk dancing reminds me of Irish folk dancing mixed with a bit of Russian and Jewish folk dancing. Everyone dances in a circle or twirls around partners. There’s a lot feet stomping and singing. Here’s a small sample.
hungary; hungarian women dating.
Joining a Hungary dating site is the best way to find thousands of Hungarian women, brides, and men for love and romance. There are many Hungarian dating services that provide the tool to search for Hungary women and men. We live in this electronic day so looking for Hungarian brides online is easy and simple. Hungarian single men and women can meet each other at a total free Hungary dating site. There are many dating agencies on the Internet which provide the convenient way for Western men to seek Hungarian women. Like I mentioned above, there are free dating sites and paid services. These paid services are not expensive. They also have language translators who need to translate English to Hungary language. Hungarian mail order brides are different from singles online. International brides who get married with Western men are called mail order brides.
pinay scandal
Pinay scandal refers to scandalous videos, pictures or stories where a Filipina woman is involved. This is a favorite keyword among bloggers since this has been used to drive traffic into blogs.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro ("River of January", English pronunciation: /ˈriːoʊ deɪ dʒəˈnɛəroʊ/; Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʁiu dʒi ʒaˈnejɾu]), commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America,[1][2][3] 6th largest in the Americas and receives more international visitors than any other city in the Southern Hemisphere.[4]
The city was the capital of Brazil for nearly two centuries, from 1763 to 1815 during the Portuguese colonial era, 1815 to 1821 as the capital of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and Algarves, and from 1822 to 1960 as an independent nation. Rio is nicknamed A Cidade Maravilhosa or "The Marvelous City." It is considered a Beta World City.[5]
Represents the second largest GDP in the country [6] (and 30th largest in the world [7]), estimated at about 140 billion reais (IBGE/2007), and is the headquarters of two major Brazilian companies - Petrobras and Vale, and major oil companies and telephony in Brazil, besides the largest conglomerate of media and communications companies in Latin America, the Globo Organizations. Considered by many universities and institutes, is the second largest center of research and development in Brazil, accounting for 17% of national scientific production - according to 2005 data.[8]
Rio de Janeiro is known for its natural settings, carnival celebrations, samba, Bossa Nova, beaches[9] such as Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. Some of the most famous landmarks in addition to the beaches include the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer ('Cristo Redentor') atop Corcovado mountain, named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World; Sugarloaf mountain (Pão de Açúcar) with its cable car; the Sambódromo, a permanent parade avenue lined with grandstands which is used during Carnival; and Maracanã stadium, one of the world's largest football stadiums. Rio de Janeiro will host the 2016 Summer Olympics, the first South American city to host the event[10] and will host the final match for 2014 FIFA World Cup.[11]
Boracay Philippines
Boracay is an island of the Philippines located approximately 315 km (200 miles) south of Manila and 2 km off the northwest tip of the island of Panay in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. In 1990, it was voted by the BMW Tropical Beach Handbook as one of the best beaches in the world and again in 1996 by British publication TV Quick as the world's number one tropical beach.[2][3][4]
The island comprises the barangays of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak (3 of the 17 barangays which make up the municipality of Malay), and is under the administrative control of the Philippine Tourism Authority in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan.
The world famous Boracay is the hottest and most popular travel destination here in the Philippines. Every year it attracts thousand of visitors, tourist and adventurers around the globe. Boracay island is famous for its white sand beaches, diving sites, resorts, natural attractions, water sports and many more. Boracay Philippines is an island paradise here in the Philippines that is surrounded by coral reefs. This famous island is located in the Aklan Province that is 345 kms. South of Manila.
pattaya thailand known for red light district
The city of Pattaya in Thailand is certainly not well known for it's beaches, but the glowing red light district in this sprawling city draws millions of visitors from all over the world. And staying in the right hotel is key to experiencing the vacation of a lifetime.
When planning a trip to Pattya's red light district, or sex district as most would call it, you should choose a hotel that doesn't charge their guest a fee for inviting a Thai bar girl back to your room. This is called a joiner fee and in Pattaya it's usually between 300 Baht to 1300 Baht, depending on the hotel's policy.
What you should do is make sure the hotel you're staying in has a girl friendly policy. You may have heard of the other terms such as guest friendly hotels or no joiner fee hotels. This just means that these types of hotels don't care if you bring in a lady for an overnight stay. However, if you're the sexually adventurous type, they may request a joiner fee from you if you bring in two or more ladies.
Girl friendly hotels in Pattaya are conveniently found near and around the sex districts located in the southern end of the city. Walking Street, Beach Road, Soi Diamond are areas in south Pattaya filled with go go bars and massage parlors. Some cheap hotels are even right next to a sex business. However, those hotels are not recommended as the noise level may be quite high.
Compared to Bangkok
, Pattaya's girl friendly hotels are much more affordable and you get a lot of value for the amount you pay. For instance many of these hotels have swimming pools and modern equipped fitness centers for guest use. Even better is that many of these hotels are so well maintained they look almost brand new. Yet the rule of thumb is still the more you pay, the better the hotel rooms.
The best girl friendly hotels are located along the areas of Second Road and parts of Third Road. These areas are close to Walking Street yet far enough for seclusion and quiet for peaceful relaxation.
Such examples of these hotels are Sabai Inn, LK Metropole, LK Renaissance, Sunshine Hotel & Residence, Areca Lodge and Tim Boutique Hotel.
When you're booking a girl friendly hotel in Pattaya on the Internet you should keep several alternative hotel choices in mind. Because Pattaya is a very popular tourist destination and your first choice hotel may
not have any rooms available. By selecting a few back up choices you'll be able to avoid ruining your vacation plans.
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/hotels-articles/pattaya-red-light-district-where-you-should-stay-for-holiday-956065.html#ixzz0uMKFyj16
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
Pattaya
Pattaya (Thai: พัทยา, About this sound พัทยา (help·info), RTGS: Phatthaya) is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung (Banglamung) in the province of Chonburi.
The city of Pattaya is a self governing municipal area which covers the whole tambon Nong Prue (Nongprue) and Na Kluea (Naklua) and parts of Huai Yai and Nong Pla Lai. It is located in the heavily industrial Eastern Seaboard zone, along with Si Racha (Sri Racha), Laem Chabang, and Chon Buri (Chonburi).
Pattaya is also the center of the Pattaya-Chonburi Metropolitan Area, the conurbation in Chonburi Province.
phuket thailand
Phuket (Thai: ภูเก็ต, IPA: [pʰuːkɛt]; formerly known as Tha-Laang or Talang, or Junk Ceylon in Western sources, a distortion of the Malay Tanjung Salang, i.e. "Cape Salang")[1] is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Phang Nga and Krabi, but as Phuket is an island there are no land boundaries.
Phuket, which is approximately the size of Singapore, is Thailand’s largest island. The island is connected to mainland Thailand by two bridges. It is situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Phuket formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber, and enjoyed a rich and colorful history. The island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently mentioned in foreign ship logs of Portuguese, French, Dutch and English traders. The region now derives much of its income from tourism.
clubbing holidays in Ibiza spain
For many it is quite simply THE NO.1 clubbing holiday in the world. Ibiza is a must visit if you are looking for a serious clubbing holiday, with world famous super-clubs like Es Paradis, Privelege, Eden, Space, Pacha & Amnesia all attracting world-renowned DJ's and large party crowds night after night throughout the summer season.
Whether your taste in music is pure House, Electronica, Hip Hop, RnB, Trance, UKG, Breaks & Beats, Ambient, Happy Hard-Core and more recently Rock & Indie, one of the many clubs in Ibiza will have something to offer you.
San Antonio Town is the liveliest resort on the island of Ibiza and buzzes with activity non-stop from June to September. There's a small beach on the edge of town and plenty more can be reached by water taxi or ferry. Watersports, go-karts and the legendary Sunset Strip ensure the days of your clubbing holiday are just as action packed as the nights!
San Antonio Town is the ultimate clubbing destination where the action starts as soon the sun goes down in the legendary Chill out bar Café Del Mar, before moving on to “The West End” were you will find the highest density of clubs and bars you will find in Ibiza. Ibiza will always be seen as one of the best clubbing holiday destinations (if not THE best!) for party people clubbing abroad.
Santorini Church Imerovigli Greek Islands
An icon of Santorini and the Greek Islands, the famous blue domed church in the village of Imerovigli is built in the cycladic architectural style.
Santorini Church Imerovigli Greek Islands
An icon of Santorini and the Greek Islands, the famous blue domed church in the village of Imerovigli is built in the cycladic architectural style.
Paradise is found in the Greek Islands - in particular on the island of Santorini in the village of Imerovigli.
Being built on a cliff, the village of Imerovigli has a stunning view of the Aegean Sea and the volcanic caldera which it's built on. Being amongst the villages and buildings of the Greek Islands is like stepping into a romance novel with the white houses trimmed by blue windows or blue domes of the churches.
The famous Santorini Church found in the village of Imerovigli on the island of Santorini, Greek Islands, Greece, South East Europe.
Santorini Church Imerovigli Greek Islands
An icon of Santorini and the Greek Islands, the famous blue domed church in the village of Imerovigli is built in the cycladic architectural style.
Paradise is found in the Greek Islands - in particular on the island of Santorini in the village of Imerovigli.
Being built on a cliff, the village of Imerovigli has a stunning view of the Aegean Sea and the volcanic caldera which it's built on. Being amongst the villages and buildings of the Greek Islands is like stepping into a romance novel with the white houses trimmed by blue windows or blue domes of the churches.
The famous Santorini Church found in the village of Imerovigli on the island of Santorini, Greek Islands, Greece, South East Europe.
the greek islands
The Greek Islands are traditionally divided into seven groups: Cyclades, Aegean, Dodecanese, Sporades, Ionian, Argosaronic Gulf and Crete. Crete, as a single island, is the largest one in the group.
When staying on a Greek Island for the holidays, opt to stay at a boutique hotel. This will give you a whole fresh experience by staying in a small, intimate hotel with minimum decorations and very friendly service. Elounda Gulf Villas and Suites on Crete, Katikies on Santorini and Ostraco Suites on Mykonos are unique choices to stay at and offer you the utmost serenity in an understated lap of luxury.
The part that visitors love most about the Greek Islands is the beach. Depending on which island you stay on, there are beaches of various sizes and qualities. The number of islands itself means that you are sure to find what you are hoping to, from 24-hour entertainment to historical landmarks, traditional villages and museums.
It is easy to get to some of the islands, such as Santorini and Mykonos by plane, but some of them can be reached by taking a ferry from Athens. Ferries usually follow a regular schedule and can be used to visit any island during your entire stay. These ticket operators can be found at the harbors. When on an island, however, it is recommended to hire a bike or a car, or to use the local buses for transportation. Trains are unavailable once you hit the mainland. For those who are feeling slightly more adventurous, hire a sailing boat and sail around the islands – it’s the best experience ever!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Make money with sharingmatrix ( work at home online make money at home online)
As part of our goal to always improve our site, we have implemented a new payout scheme which we believe will be the best to date.
Just upload your files and we give you a choice to choose between an aggressive pay-per-download scheme for ALL countries, or 60% of all premium sales sold!
For pay-per-download, here is the scheme:
Size/Country A B C D
I - 1-50 MB $7 $5 $2 $1
II - 50-100 MB $10 $7 $4 $2
III- 100-250 MB $16 $14 $6 $3
IV- 250-400 MB $25 $19 $10 $4
V - 400+ MB $30 $23 $18 $6
That is for every 1,000 downloads of your files.
GROUP A
United States, United Kingdom
GROUP B
Germany, France, Canada, Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Finland, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, Iceland, Brunei Darussalam
GROUP C
Brazil, Spain, Poland, Japan, Russian Federation, Italy, Hungary, Portugal, Czech Republic, Greece, Bulgaria, Hong Kong, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Islamic Republic Of, Lithuania, Kuwait, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Armenia, Nigeria, Liechtenstein, Mozambique
GROUP D
Others
DOUBLE YOUR WEEKEND PAYOUTS IN JULY will help you earn even more! If you make $1000 on Saturday & Sunday, we will pay you $2000 !
Just upload your files and we give you a choice to choose between an aggressive pay-per-download scheme for ALL countries, or 60% of all premium sales sold!
For pay-per-download, here is the scheme:
Size/Country A B C D
I - 1-50 MB $7 $5 $2 $1
II - 50-100 MB $10 $7 $4 $2
III- 100-250 MB $16 $14 $6 $3
IV- 250-400 MB $25 $19 $10 $4
V - 400+ MB $30 $23 $18 $6
That is for every 1,000 downloads of your files.
GROUP A
United States, United Kingdom
GROUP B
Germany, France, Canada, Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Finland, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, Iceland, Brunei Darussalam
GROUP C
Brazil, Spain, Poland, Japan, Russian Federation, Italy, Hungary, Portugal, Czech Republic, Greece, Bulgaria, Hong Kong, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Islamic Republic Of, Lithuania, Kuwait, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Armenia, Nigeria, Liechtenstein, Mozambique
GROUP D
Others
DOUBLE YOUR WEEKEND PAYOUTS IN JULY will help you earn even more! If you make $1000 on Saturday & Sunday, we will pay you $2000 !
Saturday, April 17, 2010
What are some good herbs or foods for helping the kidneys?
Some people recommend eating parsley. Celery is good. Eat more seafood and more raw vegetables and less meat. There are a lot of benefits to parsley and it is high in Vitamin C. Also taking a cranberry supplement is supposed to be good (it helps to acidify and lubricate the urinary tract). Garlic is very good to take for this and for general health. There are other herbs which are benefitial. Lots of Vitamin C (not the "ester") and Vitamin B6 (and, also, generally your B-complex) can be helpful. Arginine might help (seeds and legumes as part of diet). Eating ginger root can be very benefitial. Aloe vera juice could also help to reduce the size of stone formation.
Some other herbs: dandelion root, hydrangea, uva ursi, marshmellow root, juniper berries, red clover, goldenrod tea (if not suffering from allergies), gravel root.
Magnesium. Contrary to what is popular in the media, most people get enough calcium. They lack magnesium. The two balance. You can over-do calcium, but not magnesium. In order for the body to properly absorb magnesium, it needs an acidic context. Natural Vitality (California) is a company that carries a magnesium product called "Calm". Within a few minutes you will find it effective. Not only will it help one sleep, but it is great if you have muscle related problems, back pain, or any of a whole list of ailments. This could help.
There is a lot that can be done. A primary thing is a proper balanced diet and exercise. You know...the food groups.... Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats (or better yet fish or seafood), whole grain breads, drink lots of fluids, exercise, etc. The good balance type routine. As an example, the exercise will help the body with any type of waste elimination activity. You must cut out sugars or refined starchy foods (like macaroni or white bread), because these really make it worse. Be cautious about exposing your body to chemicals or preservatives or food additives. An example: many chemicals can be dramatically absorbed by the skin, and cleaners or some body-care products are not healthy for the body to absorb. Limit your intake of calcium rich foods like cheese or milk. I recommend consulting a good health food store. People can "overdo" calcium. Calcium works with magnesium. Often the magnesium is deficient. Kidney stones often are mostly composed of calcium.
All of us develop crystals which hopefully get washed out from time to time with the fluids we drink. These crystal deposits vary in material...often calcium and other materials. Since the kidneys flush out poisons, the toxins (like metals) can get hung up on these crystals. Accumulation of toxins and blockage compound the problem as these crystals increase in size (stones). This is a great reason to drink plenty of fluids...to help keep the system washed out and clean.
Actually, some people have had success in eliminating stones by drinking lots of water and then just running up and down the stairs. It gets the "engine" going. Fluids, heat, circulation... ...the system is pumping.
Some other herbs: dandelion root, hydrangea, uva ursi, marshmellow root, juniper berries, red clover, goldenrod tea (if not suffering from allergies), gravel root.
Magnesium. Contrary to what is popular in the media, most people get enough calcium. They lack magnesium. The two balance. You can over-do calcium, but not magnesium. In order for the body to properly absorb magnesium, it needs an acidic context. Natural Vitality (California) is a company that carries a magnesium product called "Calm". Within a few minutes you will find it effective. Not only will it help one sleep, but it is great if you have muscle related problems, back pain, or any of a whole list of ailments. This could help.
There is a lot that can be done. A primary thing is a proper balanced diet and exercise. You know...the food groups.... Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats (or better yet fish or seafood), whole grain breads, drink lots of fluids, exercise, etc. The good balance type routine. As an example, the exercise will help the body with any type of waste elimination activity. You must cut out sugars or refined starchy foods (like macaroni or white bread), because these really make it worse. Be cautious about exposing your body to chemicals or preservatives or food additives. An example: many chemicals can be dramatically absorbed by the skin, and cleaners or some body-care products are not healthy for the body to absorb. Limit your intake of calcium rich foods like cheese or milk. I recommend consulting a good health food store. People can "overdo" calcium. Calcium works with magnesium. Often the magnesium is deficient. Kidney stones often are mostly composed of calcium.
All of us develop crystals which hopefully get washed out from time to time with the fluids we drink. These crystal deposits vary in material...often calcium and other materials. Since the kidneys flush out poisons, the toxins (like metals) can get hung up on these crystals. Accumulation of toxins and blockage compound the problem as these crystals increase in size (stones). This is a great reason to drink plenty of fluids...to help keep the system washed out and clean.
Actually, some people have had success in eliminating stones by drinking lots of water and then just running up and down the stairs. It gets the "engine" going. Fluids, heat, circulation... ...the system is pumping.
What food or vegetable is good for the liver?
Following are some more foods that have the nutrients needed to help Phase One and Phase Two of the liver that work as well as they can:
Beets contain antioxidants such as beta-carotene, other carotenoids and healing flavonoids. Antioxidants help to limit the damage caused by free radicals, thus they have a healing and cleansing effect on the liver; beets also have folic acid which is necessary for Phase One detoxification.
Broccoli contains B vitamins and vitamin C both of which help Phase One detoxification; it also is a source of folic acid.
Brown Rice provides B vitamins and the antioxidant selenium.
Carrots contain beta-carotene and other carotenoids that help to protect the liver.
Eggs supply B vitamins.
Garlic has selenium and glutathione, both of which act as antioxidants.
Spinach provides folic acid and other B vitamins.
Tomatoes have vitamins C and E which are both needed for Phase One detoxification. They are also a good source of the antioxidant lycopene.
Wheatgerm contains selenium and vitamin E and is an excellent source of phytochemicals.
Melons and peppers are good sources of vitamin C.
Tomatillos, papaya, plantains, carambola and guava are good sources of the antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C.Foods to Help Phase Two Detoxification
Broccoli contains natural sulfur compounds which are needed to enhance Phase Two detoxification.
Cabbage like broccoli, contains natural sulfur compounds.
Eggs contain methionine, a sulfur-containing compound needed for detoxification.
Brazil Nuts contain selenium, an antioxidant needed for detoxification.
Garlic has methionine which is needed for detoxification; also contains glutathione, a powerful antioxidant.
Onions have sulfur compounds which are important in both detoxification pathways; also a source of glutathione.
Asparagus and Watermelon are rich, natural sources of glutathione which is important for liver detoxification.
Papaya and Avocado help the body to produce glutathione.
Mushrooms have a lot of glutamic acid which is needed to produce glutathione and help with liver detoxification.
Foods for the General Health of the Liver
Soy Beans contain lecithin which helps the liver break down fats and helps reduce high cholesterol levels; lecithin also helps maintain healthy membranes around liver cells.
Cayenne Pepper contains many phytochemicals including beta-carotene and lutein and is rich in certain B vitamins as well as vitamins C and E. It also aids in digestion.
Lemon is a bitter, acidic food which is helpful for general cleansing of the body.
Walnuts are a source of arginine which helps the liver detoxify ammonia, a waste product in the body; they are also a rich source of glutathione and omega-3 fatty acids.
Wheatgerm has arginine and essential fatty acids.
Caraway Seeds contain many flavanoids and carotenoids which act as antioxidants. Caraway is helpful in liver and gallbladder disease and helps produce glutathione in the body.
General Tips for Foods that are Especially Good for the Liver
Eat plenty of fresh fruits and lightly cooked vegetables especially dark green, leafy vegetables and orange, yellow, purple, and red colored fruits and vegetables—they contain living enzymes, fiber, vitamin C, natural antibiotic substances, and anti-cancer phytonutrients.
Eat foods that are rich in glutathione or help to produce glutathione in the body. Asparagus, watermelon, broccoli and boldo are good sources of glutathione while papayas and avocados are foods that help the body to produce glutathione.
Bitter foods like dandelion greens, mustard greens, bitter melon, Romaine lettuce and broccoli raabe can help in cleansing the liver.
Herbs like dill, caraway seeds, garlic, onions, boldo, turmeric and cayenne are easy to use in cooking and can help protect the liver.
Green tea has immune-boosting properties and contains less caffeine than coffee.
Drink lots of water (6–12 cups per day) because it helps the kidneys to get rid of the toxins that the liver has broken down.
Omega-3 fats are very helpful. These fats are found in cold water fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines and halibut. Other good sources are ground flaxseeds, flaxseed oil and walnuts.
Nuts, seeds, and avocados are good food sources of polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats that are less harmful to the liver than saturated fats.
Foods that can Make the Liver Work Harder
Saturated fats are harder for the liver to process. Limit high fat meats like sausage, bacon, salami, hot dogs and high fat dairy products like whole milk, ice cream and cheese, which contain saturated fats.
Other foods to limit that have a lot of saturated fat are french fries and high fat snack foods like potato chips, Doritos and Cheese Doodles.
Limit processed foods like white bread, white rice, cakes, cookies, donuts and candy. Add whole grains like whole grain breads and cereals, brown rice, quinoa and barley to your diet.
Limit caffeine to 2-3 cups/day. Caffeine is broken down by the liver and may make it more difficult to cleanse the liver. Coffee, tea and most sodas contain a lot of caffeine.
Eat light meals more frequently. Eating a light evening meal can help to reduce the liver’s work during the healing hours of sleep.
Things to Avoid
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is known to be a powerful toxin that will damage the liver. Recreational drugs can also be stressful to the liver.
Limit, as much as possible, chemicals such as food colorings, flavorings and preservatives as well as toxins such as insecticides and pesticides because these substances make the liver work harder.
Avoid multi-vitamins that contain iron. Iron is stored in the liver and supplementing with iron may increase the risk of iron toxicity
Beets contain antioxidants such as beta-carotene, other carotenoids and healing flavonoids. Antioxidants help to limit the damage caused by free radicals, thus they have a healing and cleansing effect on the liver; beets also have folic acid which is necessary for Phase One detoxification.
Broccoli contains B vitamins and vitamin C both of which help Phase One detoxification; it also is a source of folic acid.
Brown Rice provides B vitamins and the antioxidant selenium.
Carrots contain beta-carotene and other carotenoids that help to protect the liver.
Eggs supply B vitamins.
Garlic has selenium and glutathione, both of which act as antioxidants.
Spinach provides folic acid and other B vitamins.
Tomatoes have vitamins C and E which are both needed for Phase One detoxification. They are also a good source of the antioxidant lycopene.
Wheatgerm contains selenium and vitamin E and is an excellent source of phytochemicals.
Melons and peppers are good sources of vitamin C.
Tomatillos, papaya, plantains, carambola and guava are good sources of the antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C.Foods to Help Phase Two Detoxification
Broccoli contains natural sulfur compounds which are needed to enhance Phase Two detoxification.
Cabbage like broccoli, contains natural sulfur compounds.
Eggs contain methionine, a sulfur-containing compound needed for detoxification.
Brazil Nuts contain selenium, an antioxidant needed for detoxification.
Garlic has methionine which is needed for detoxification; also contains glutathione, a powerful antioxidant.
Onions have sulfur compounds which are important in both detoxification pathways; also a source of glutathione.
Asparagus and Watermelon are rich, natural sources of glutathione which is important for liver detoxification.
Papaya and Avocado help the body to produce glutathione.
Mushrooms have a lot of glutamic acid which is needed to produce glutathione and help with liver detoxification.
Foods for the General Health of the Liver
Soy Beans contain lecithin which helps the liver break down fats and helps reduce high cholesterol levels; lecithin also helps maintain healthy membranes around liver cells.
Cayenne Pepper contains many phytochemicals including beta-carotene and lutein and is rich in certain B vitamins as well as vitamins C and E. It also aids in digestion.
Lemon is a bitter, acidic food which is helpful for general cleansing of the body.
Walnuts are a source of arginine which helps the liver detoxify ammonia, a waste product in the body; they are also a rich source of glutathione and omega-3 fatty acids.
Wheatgerm has arginine and essential fatty acids.
Caraway Seeds contain many flavanoids and carotenoids which act as antioxidants. Caraway is helpful in liver and gallbladder disease and helps produce glutathione in the body.
General Tips for Foods that are Especially Good for the Liver
Eat plenty of fresh fruits and lightly cooked vegetables especially dark green, leafy vegetables and orange, yellow, purple, and red colored fruits and vegetables—they contain living enzymes, fiber, vitamin C, natural antibiotic substances, and anti-cancer phytonutrients.
Eat foods that are rich in glutathione or help to produce glutathione in the body. Asparagus, watermelon, broccoli and boldo are good sources of glutathione while papayas and avocados are foods that help the body to produce glutathione.
Bitter foods like dandelion greens, mustard greens, bitter melon, Romaine lettuce and broccoli raabe can help in cleansing the liver.
Herbs like dill, caraway seeds, garlic, onions, boldo, turmeric and cayenne are easy to use in cooking and can help protect the liver.
Green tea has immune-boosting properties and contains less caffeine than coffee.
Drink lots of water (6–12 cups per day) because it helps the kidneys to get rid of the toxins that the liver has broken down.
Omega-3 fats are very helpful. These fats are found in cold water fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines and halibut. Other good sources are ground flaxseeds, flaxseed oil and walnuts.
Nuts, seeds, and avocados are good food sources of polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats that are less harmful to the liver than saturated fats.
Foods that can Make the Liver Work Harder
Saturated fats are harder for the liver to process. Limit high fat meats like sausage, bacon, salami, hot dogs and high fat dairy products like whole milk, ice cream and cheese, which contain saturated fats.
Other foods to limit that have a lot of saturated fat are french fries and high fat snack foods like potato chips, Doritos and Cheese Doodles.
Limit processed foods like white bread, white rice, cakes, cookies, donuts and candy. Add whole grains like whole grain breads and cereals, brown rice, quinoa and barley to your diet.
Limit caffeine to 2-3 cups/day. Caffeine is broken down by the liver and may make it more difficult to cleanse the liver. Coffee, tea and most sodas contain a lot of caffeine.
Eat light meals more frequently. Eating a light evening meal can help to reduce the liver’s work during the healing hours of sleep.
Things to Avoid
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is known to be a powerful toxin that will damage the liver. Recreational drugs can also be stressful to the liver.
Limit, as much as possible, chemicals such as food colorings, flavorings and preservatives as well as toxins such as insecticides and pesticides because these substances make the liver work harder.
Avoid multi-vitamins that contain iron. Iron is stored in the liver and supplementing with iron may increase the risk of iron toxicity
Ginger
Ginger
Also listed as: African ginger; Black ginger; Jamaican ginger; Zingiber officinale
Ginger, the underground stem, or rhizome, of the plant Zingiber officinale has been used as a medicine in Asian, Indian, and Arabic herbal traditions since ancient times. In China, for example, ginger has been used to aid digestion and treat stomach upset, diarrhea, and nausea for more than 2,000 years. Since ancient times, ginger has also been used to help treat arthritis, colic, diarrhea, and heart conditions. In addition to these medicinal uses, ginger continues to be valued around the world as an important cooking spice and is believed to help the common cold, flu-like symptoms, headaches, and even painful menstrual periods. Native to Asia where its use as a culinary spice spans at least 4,400 years, ginger grows in fertile, moist, tropical soil.
Plant Description
Ginger is a knotted, thick, beige underground stem (rhizome). The stem extends roughly 12 inches above ground with long, narrow, ribbed, green leaves, and white or yellowish-green flowers.
What's It Made Of?
The important active components of the ginger root are thought to be volatile oils and pungent phenol compounds (such as gingerols and shogaols).
Medicinal Uses and Indications
Today, ginger root is widely used as a digestive aid for mild stomach upset and is commonly recommended by health care professionals to help prevent or treat nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness, pregnancy, and cancer chemotherapy. Ginger is used as support in inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, and may even be used in heart disease or cancer.
Motion Sickness
Several studies suggest that ginger may be more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms associated with motion sickness. In one trial of 80 novice sailors (prone to motion sickness), those who took powdered ginger experienced a significant reduction in vomiting and cold sweating compared to those who took placebo. Similar results were found in a study with healthy volunteers. While these results are promising, other studies suggest that ginger is not as effective as medications in reducing symptoms associated with motion sickness. In a small study of volunteers who were given ginger (fresh root and powder form), scopolamine (a medication commonly prescribed for motion sickness), or placebo, those receiving the medication experienced significantly fewer symptoms compared to those who received ginger.
Conventional prescription and non-prescription medicines that decrease nausea may also cause unwanted side effects, such as dry mouth and drowsiness. Given the safety of ginger, many people find it a welcome alternative to these medications to relieve their motion sickness.
Pregnancy Related Nausea and Vomiting
A limited number of human studies suggests that 1 gram daily of ginger may be safe and effective for pregnancy-associated nausea and vomiting when used for short periods (no longer than 4 days). Several studies have found that ginger is more effective than placebo in relieving nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. In a small study including 30 pregnant women with severe vomiting, those who ingested 1 gram of ginger every day for four days reported more relief from vomiting than those who received placebo. In a larger study including 70 pregnant women with nausea and vomiting, those who received a similar dosage of ginger felt less nauseous and experienced fewer vomiting episodes than those who received placebo.
Chemotherapy nausea
There is evidence from a few studies that suggests ginger reduces the severity and duration of nausea (but not vomiting) during chemotherapy. Long-term studies should be performed to confirm these results and to establish safety.
Nausea and vomiting following surgery
Research has produced mixed results regarding the use of ginger in the treatment of nausea and vomiting following surgery. In two studies, 1 gram of ginger root before surgery reduced nausea as effectively as a leading medication. In one of these two studies, women who received ginger also required fewer nausea-relieving medications following surgery. Other studies, however, have failed to find the same positive effects. In fact, one study found that ginger may actually increase vomiting following surgery. For this reason, further studies are needed to determine whether ginger is safe and effective for the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting following surgery.
Inflammation
In addition to providing relief from nausea and vomiting, ginger extract has long been used in traditional medical practices to decrease inflammation. In fact, many health care professionals today use ginger to help treat health problems associated with inflammation, such as arthritis and ulcerative colitis. In a study of 261 people with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, those who received a ginger extract twice daily experienced less pain and required fewer pain-killing medications compared to those who received placebo. Although there have also been a few other studies of the benefit of ginger for arthritis, one trial found that the herb was no more effective than ibuprofen (a medication frequently used to treat OA) or placebo in reducing symptoms of OA.
Other uses
* Although it is much too early to tell if this will benefit those with heart disease, a few preliminary studies suggest that ginger may lower cholesterol and prevent the blood from clotting. Each of these effects may protect the blood vessels from blockage and the damaging effects of blockage such as atherosclerosis, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
* Laboratory studies have also found that components in ginger may have anticancer activity. More research needs to be performed to determine the effects of ginger on various cancers in humans.
Available Forms
Ginger products are made from fresh or dried ginger root, or from steam distillation of the oil in the root. The herb is available in extracts, tinctures, capsules, and oils. Fresh ginger root can also be purchased and prepared as a tea. Ginger is also a common cooking spice and can be found in a variety of foods and drinks, including ginger bread, ginger snaps, ginger sticks, and ginger ale.
How to Take It
Pediatric
Ginger should not be used by children under 2 years of age.
Ginger may be used by children over 2 years of age to treat nausea, digestive cramping, and headaches. Adjust the recommended adult dose to account for the child's weight. Most herbal dosages for adults are calculated on the basis of a 150 lb (70 kg) adult. Therefore, if the child weighs 50 lb (20 - 25 kg), the appropriate dose of ginger for this child would be 1/3 of the adult dosage.
Adult
In general, ginger intake should not exceed 4 grams in one day (this includes the ginger obtained through diet such as from ginger ale, ginger snaps, and ginger bread). Usually, food sources contain no more than 0.5% ginger.
Standardized dose: Take 75 - 2,000 mg in divided doses with food, standardized to contain 4% volatile oils or 5% total pungent compounds including 6-gingerol or 6-shogaol.
For nausea, gas, or indigestion: 2 - 4 grams of fresh root daily (0.25 - 1.0 g of powdered root) or 1.5 - 3.0 mL (30 - 90 drops) liquid extract daily. To prevent vomiting, take 1 gram of powdered ginger (1/2 tsp) or its equivalent, every 4 hours as needed (not to exceed 4 doses daily), or 2 ginger capsules (1 gram), 3 times daily. You may also chew a 1/4 oz piece of fresh ginger when needed.
To relieve arthritis pain: Take fresh ginger juice, extract, or tea, 2 - 4 grams daily. Topical ginger oil may also be rubbed into a painful joint. Fresh ginger root may also be placed in a warm poultice or compress and apply to painful areas.
For cold and flu symptoms, sore throat, headache and menstrual cramps: Steep 2 tbsp of freshly shredded ginger in hot water, 2 - 3 times daily. A drop of ginger oil or a few slices of fresh rhizome may also be placed in steaming water and inhaled.
Precautions
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain components that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a health care provider qualified in the field of botanical medicine.
Side effects associated with ginger are rare, but if taken in excessive doses the herb may cause mild heartburn. Some of the mild gastrointestinal side effects, such as belching, heartburn, or stomach upset, may be relieved by taking ginger supplements in capsules.
People with gallstones should consult a doctor before taking ginger. Make sure to tell your doctor if you are taking ginger and will be going to surgery or placed under anesthesia for any reason.
Do not take ginger if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking blood thinning medications, including aspirin.
Possible Interactions
Ginger may alter the effects of some prescription and non-prescription medications. If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use ginger without first talking to your health care provider.
Blood-thinning medications -- Although ginger may interfere with blood clotting, there have been no scientific or case reports of interactions between ginger and blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin and warfarin. However, people taking medications that thin the blood should use ginger only under the supervision of a health care provider.
Also listed as: African ginger; Black ginger; Jamaican ginger; Zingiber officinale
Ginger, the underground stem, or rhizome, of the plant Zingiber officinale has been used as a medicine in Asian, Indian, and Arabic herbal traditions since ancient times. In China, for example, ginger has been used to aid digestion and treat stomach upset, diarrhea, and nausea for more than 2,000 years. Since ancient times, ginger has also been used to help treat arthritis, colic, diarrhea, and heart conditions. In addition to these medicinal uses, ginger continues to be valued around the world as an important cooking spice and is believed to help the common cold, flu-like symptoms, headaches, and even painful menstrual periods. Native to Asia where its use as a culinary spice spans at least 4,400 years, ginger grows in fertile, moist, tropical soil.
Plant Description
Ginger is a knotted, thick, beige underground stem (rhizome). The stem extends roughly 12 inches above ground with long, narrow, ribbed, green leaves, and white or yellowish-green flowers.
What's It Made Of?
The important active components of the ginger root are thought to be volatile oils and pungent phenol compounds (such as gingerols and shogaols).
Medicinal Uses and Indications
Today, ginger root is widely used as a digestive aid for mild stomach upset and is commonly recommended by health care professionals to help prevent or treat nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness, pregnancy, and cancer chemotherapy. Ginger is used as support in inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, and may even be used in heart disease or cancer.
Motion Sickness
Several studies suggest that ginger may be more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms associated with motion sickness. In one trial of 80 novice sailors (prone to motion sickness), those who took powdered ginger experienced a significant reduction in vomiting and cold sweating compared to those who took placebo. Similar results were found in a study with healthy volunteers. While these results are promising, other studies suggest that ginger is not as effective as medications in reducing symptoms associated with motion sickness. In a small study of volunteers who were given ginger (fresh root and powder form), scopolamine (a medication commonly prescribed for motion sickness), or placebo, those receiving the medication experienced significantly fewer symptoms compared to those who received ginger.
Conventional prescription and non-prescription medicines that decrease nausea may also cause unwanted side effects, such as dry mouth and drowsiness. Given the safety of ginger, many people find it a welcome alternative to these medications to relieve their motion sickness.
Pregnancy Related Nausea and Vomiting
A limited number of human studies suggests that 1 gram daily of ginger may be safe and effective for pregnancy-associated nausea and vomiting when used for short periods (no longer than 4 days). Several studies have found that ginger is more effective than placebo in relieving nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. In a small study including 30 pregnant women with severe vomiting, those who ingested 1 gram of ginger every day for four days reported more relief from vomiting than those who received placebo. In a larger study including 70 pregnant women with nausea and vomiting, those who received a similar dosage of ginger felt less nauseous and experienced fewer vomiting episodes than those who received placebo.
Chemotherapy nausea
There is evidence from a few studies that suggests ginger reduces the severity and duration of nausea (but not vomiting) during chemotherapy. Long-term studies should be performed to confirm these results and to establish safety.
Nausea and vomiting following surgery
Research has produced mixed results regarding the use of ginger in the treatment of nausea and vomiting following surgery. In two studies, 1 gram of ginger root before surgery reduced nausea as effectively as a leading medication. In one of these two studies, women who received ginger also required fewer nausea-relieving medications following surgery. Other studies, however, have failed to find the same positive effects. In fact, one study found that ginger may actually increase vomiting following surgery. For this reason, further studies are needed to determine whether ginger is safe and effective for the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting following surgery.
Inflammation
In addition to providing relief from nausea and vomiting, ginger extract has long been used in traditional medical practices to decrease inflammation. In fact, many health care professionals today use ginger to help treat health problems associated with inflammation, such as arthritis and ulcerative colitis. In a study of 261 people with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, those who received a ginger extract twice daily experienced less pain and required fewer pain-killing medications compared to those who received placebo. Although there have also been a few other studies of the benefit of ginger for arthritis, one trial found that the herb was no more effective than ibuprofen (a medication frequently used to treat OA) or placebo in reducing symptoms of OA.
Other uses
* Although it is much too early to tell if this will benefit those with heart disease, a few preliminary studies suggest that ginger may lower cholesterol and prevent the blood from clotting. Each of these effects may protect the blood vessels from blockage and the damaging effects of blockage such as atherosclerosis, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
* Laboratory studies have also found that components in ginger may have anticancer activity. More research needs to be performed to determine the effects of ginger on various cancers in humans.
Available Forms
Ginger products are made from fresh or dried ginger root, or from steam distillation of the oil in the root. The herb is available in extracts, tinctures, capsules, and oils. Fresh ginger root can also be purchased and prepared as a tea. Ginger is also a common cooking spice and can be found in a variety of foods and drinks, including ginger bread, ginger snaps, ginger sticks, and ginger ale.
How to Take It
Pediatric
Ginger should not be used by children under 2 years of age.
Ginger may be used by children over 2 years of age to treat nausea, digestive cramping, and headaches. Adjust the recommended adult dose to account for the child's weight. Most herbal dosages for adults are calculated on the basis of a 150 lb (70 kg) adult. Therefore, if the child weighs 50 lb (20 - 25 kg), the appropriate dose of ginger for this child would be 1/3 of the adult dosage.
Adult
In general, ginger intake should not exceed 4 grams in one day (this includes the ginger obtained through diet such as from ginger ale, ginger snaps, and ginger bread). Usually, food sources contain no more than 0.5% ginger.
Standardized dose: Take 75 - 2,000 mg in divided doses with food, standardized to contain 4% volatile oils or 5% total pungent compounds including 6-gingerol or 6-shogaol.
For nausea, gas, or indigestion: 2 - 4 grams of fresh root daily (0.25 - 1.0 g of powdered root) or 1.5 - 3.0 mL (30 - 90 drops) liquid extract daily. To prevent vomiting, take 1 gram of powdered ginger (1/2 tsp) or its equivalent, every 4 hours as needed (not to exceed 4 doses daily), or 2 ginger capsules (1 gram), 3 times daily. You may also chew a 1/4 oz piece of fresh ginger when needed.
To relieve arthritis pain: Take fresh ginger juice, extract, or tea, 2 - 4 grams daily. Topical ginger oil may also be rubbed into a painful joint. Fresh ginger root may also be placed in a warm poultice or compress and apply to painful areas.
For cold and flu symptoms, sore throat, headache and menstrual cramps: Steep 2 tbsp of freshly shredded ginger in hot water, 2 - 3 times daily. A drop of ginger oil or a few slices of fresh rhizome may also be placed in steaming water and inhaled.
Precautions
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain components that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a health care provider qualified in the field of botanical medicine.
Side effects associated with ginger are rare, but if taken in excessive doses the herb may cause mild heartburn. Some of the mild gastrointestinal side effects, such as belching, heartburn, or stomach upset, may be relieved by taking ginger supplements in capsules.
People with gallstones should consult a doctor before taking ginger. Make sure to tell your doctor if you are taking ginger and will be going to surgery or placed under anesthesia for any reason.
Do not take ginger if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking blood thinning medications, including aspirin.
Possible Interactions
Ginger may alter the effects of some prescription and non-prescription medications. If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use ginger without first talking to your health care provider.
Blood-thinning medications -- Although ginger may interfere with blood clotting, there have been no scientific or case reports of interactions between ginger and blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin and warfarin. However, people taking medications that thin the blood should use ginger only under the supervision of a health care provider.
How Is Cancer of the Esophagus Diagnosed?
How Is Cancer of the Esophagus Diagnosed?
Signs and symptoms of esophageal cancer
In most cases, cancers of the esophagus are discovered because of the symptoms they cause. Diagnosis in people without symptoms is rare and usually accidental (because of tests done to check other medical problems). Unfortunately, most esophageal cancers do not cause symptoms until they have reached an advanced stage, when a cure is less likely.
Dysphagia
The most common symptom of esophageal cancer is a problem swallowing, with the feeling like the food is stuck in the throat or chest. This is called dysphagia. This is often mild when it starts, and then gets worse over time. The opening of the esophagus is often narrowed to about half of its normal width. Dysphagia is commonly a late symptom caused by a large cancer.
When swallowing becomes difficult, people often change their diet and eating habits without realizing it. They take smaller bites and chew their food more carefully and slowly. As the cancer grows larger, the problem gets worse. People then may start eating softer foods that can pass through the esophagus more easily. They may avoid bread and meat, since these foods typically get stuck. The problem swallowing may even get bad enough that some people stop eating solid food completely and switch to a liquid diet. If the cancer keeps growing, at some point even liquids will not be able to pass. To help pass food through the esophagus, the body makes more saliva. This causes some people to complain of bringing up lots of thick mucus or saliva.
Pain
In some cases, people complain of pain or discomfort in the middle part of their chest. Some people describe a feeling of pressure or burning in the chest. These symptoms are more often caused by problems other than cancer, such as heartburn, and so they are rarely seen as a signal that cancer is present.
Pain with swallowing may occur when the cancer is large enough to block the esophagus. Pain may be felt a few seconds after swallowing, as food or liquid reaches the tumor and cannot pass it.
Weight loss
About half of patients with esophageal cancer lose weight (without trying to). This happens because their swallowing problems keep them from eating enough to maintain their weight. Other factors include decreased appetite and increase in metabolism from the cancer.
Other symptoms
Hoarseness, hiccups, pneumonia, and high blood calcium levels are usually signs of more advanced cancer of the esophagus. Sometimes the cancer will bleed. If there is enough blood, stools may turn black. This can also occur with other cancers and with some benign (noncancerous) diseases. It does not always mean that cancer is present.
If you have any of the following symptoms, please see a doctor right away for appropriate examination and diagnosis:
* dysphagia (a feeling of food getting stuck in your throat or chest)
* significant weight loss without dieting
* avoidance of solid food because of pain when you swallow
* hiccups and dysphagia together
History and physical exam
The doctor will take a complete history (medical interview) to check for risk factors and symptoms. The physical exam will provide information about signs of esophageal cancer and other health problems. If your doctor is concerned that you may have esophageal cancer, further tests will be needed to find out what is causing your problems.
Imaging studies
Barium swallow
In a barium swallow, a liquid called barium is swallowed. It coats the walls of the esophagus. When x-rays are taken, the barium outlines the esophagus clearly. This test can be done by itself, or as a part of a series of x-rays that includes the stomach and part of the intestine, called an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series. A barium swallow test can show any irregularities in the normally smooth surface of the esophageal wall.
A barium swallow test is often the first test done to see what is causing a problem with swallowing. Even small, early cancer can be seen using this test. Tumors grow out from the lining of the esophagus. These masses stick out into the lumen (the open area of the tube). They cause the barium to coat that area of the esophagus unevenly. In the barium x-ray, early cancers can look like small round bumps. They also can appear as a flat, raised area called a plaque. Advanced cancers look like large irregular areas and cause a narrowing of the width of the esophagus. A barium swallow test cannot be used to determine how far a cancer may have spread outside of the esophagus.
A barium swallow test can also be used to diagnose one of the more serious complications of esophageal cancer called a tracheoesophageal fistula. This occurs when the tumor destroys the tissue between the esophagus and the trachea (windpipe) and creates a hole connecting them. With this connection, anything that is swallowed can pass from the esophagus into the windpipe and lungs. This leads to frequent coughing and gagging. This problem can be helped with surgery or an endoscopy procedure.
Computed tomography (CT)
The CT scan is an x-ray procedure that produces detailed cross-sectional images of your body. Instead of taking one picture, like a conventional x-ray does, a CT scanner takes many pictures of the part of your body being studied as it rotates around you. A computer then combines these pictures into an image of a slice of your body.
CT scans are not usually used to make the initial diagnosis of esophageal cancer, but they can help see how far it has spread. CT scans often can show where the cancer is in the esophagus. These scans can also show the nearby organs and lymph nodes (bean-sized collections of immune cells that help fight infections and cancers), as well as distant areas of cancer spread. The CT scan can help to determine whether surgery is a good treatment option.
Before any pictures are taken, you may be asked to drink 1 to 2 pints of a liquid called oral contrast. This helps outline the esophagus and intestines so that certain areas are not mistaken for tumors. If you are having any trouble swallowing, you need to tell your doctor before the scan. You may also receive an IV (intravenous) line through which a different kind of contrast dye (IV contrast) is injected. This helps better outline structures in your body.
The injection can cause some flushing (redness and warm feeling that may last hours to days). A few people are allergic to the dye and get hives. Rarely, more serious reactions like trouble breathing and low blood pressure can occur. Medicine can be given to prevent and treat allergic reactions. Be sure to tell the doctor if you have ever had a reaction to any contrast material used for x-rays.
CT scans are more inconvenient than regular x-rays because they take longer and require you to lie still on a table while they are being done. Still, these scans are getting faster and the stay might be pleasantly short. Also, some people feel a bit confined by the ring they have to lie in when the pictures are being taken.
CT scans can also be used to guide a biopsy needle precisely into a suspected area of cancer spread. This procedure is called a CT-guided needle biopsy. The patient lies on the CT scanning table while a radiologist advances a biopsy needle toward the location of the mass. CT scans are repeated until the doctors can see that the needle is in the mass. A fine-needle biopsy sample (tiny fragment of tissue) or a core needle biopsy sample (a thin cylinder of tissue about one-half inch long and less than 1/8-inch in diameter) is removed and examined under a microscope.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
MRI scans use radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays. The energy from the radio waves is absorbed and then released in a pattern formed by the type of tissue and by certain diseases. A computer translates the pattern of radio waves given off by the tissues into a very detailed image of parts of the body. Not only does this produce cross-sectional slices of the body like a CT scanner, it can also produce slices that are parallel with the length of your body. A contrast material might be injected just as with CT scans but is used less often.
MRI scans are also very helpful in looking at the brain and spinal cord. They are not often needed to assess spread of esophageal cancer. MRI scans are a little more uncomfortable than CT scans. First, they take longer -- often up to an hour. Also, you have to be placed inside tube-like equipment, which is confining and makes many people uneasy. To stay calm, try keeping your eyes closed. Thinking of pleasant, relaxing mental images has also been shown to be helpful in making the time pass quickly. While you are in the MRI machine you will be able to talk to the technician during the whole procedure.
People with a fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia) have a very hard time getting an MRI. If you have a problem with tight spaces, talk to your doctor about it. Your doctor may give you a medicine for anxiety to take before the scan. If that is not enough, your doctor may be able to have the scan done using an open MRI. An open MRI does not have an enclosed tube. Although these scanners are less available than regular MRI machines, many cities have a center with an open MRI.
The MRI machine also makes a thumping noise like a washing machine that you may find annoying. Some places provide headphones with music to block this out. Most people have little difficulty with their MRI experience, but you should feel free to discuss any concerns you have with your health care team.
Positron emission tomography (PET)
In this test, radioactive glucose (sugar) is injected into the vein. Because cancers use sugar much faster than normal tissues, the radioactivity will tend to concentrate in the cancer. A scanner is used to spot the radioactive deposits. This test is useful for finding areas of cancer spread. It can help find small collections of cancer cells that may not be seen on other tests.
The uptake of the radioactive glucose ("brightness") may be measured. Studies are ongoing to see if the degree of uptake or "brightness" can be used as to tell how fast the tumor is growing. Studies are also looking to see if changes in the brightness on a PET scan can be used to see if treatment, such as chemotherapy, is working.
Endoscopy
Upper endoscopy
An endoscope is a flexible, very narrow tube with a video camera and light on the end. During an upper endoscopy procedure, the patient is sedated (made sleepy) to allow the endoscope to pass through the mouth and into the esophagus and stomach. The camera is connected to a television set, allowing the doctor to see abnormalities in the wall of the esophagus clearly.
Endoscopy is an important test for diagnosing esophageal cancer. The doctor can see the cancer through the scope and biopsy it. A tissue sample (biopsy) can be removed from any area that doesn't look normal (through the endoscope). These samples are sent to the laboratory so that a doctor can look at them under a microscope to see if cancer is present. If the esophageal cancer is blocking the opening (called the lumen) of the esophagus, then certain instruments can be used to help enlarge the opening to help food and liquid pass. Upper endoscopy can give the surgeon information for follow-up surgery, including the size and spread of the tumor and whether the tumor can be completely removed.
Endoscopic ultrasound
Ultrasound tests use sound waves to take pictures of parts of the body. For an endoscopic ultrasound, the probe that gives off the sound waves is at the end of an endoscope. This allows the probe to get very close to the cancer.
This test is very useful in finding the size of an esophageal cancer and how far it has grown into nearby tissues. The endoscope with the small ultrasound probe is placed into the esophagus. The probe sends out very sensitive sound waves that penetrate deep into tissues. The sound waves bounce off normal tissue and any cancer that is present. They are picked up by the probe and a computer turns the pattern of sound waves into a picture. The picture shows how deeply the tumor has invaded into the esophagus. This test uses no radiation and is very safe. It can detect small abnormal changes very well.
Endoscopic ultrasound can help determine how much of the tissue next to the esophagus (including nearby lymph nodes) is affected by the cancer. This helps surgeons decide which tumors can be surgically removed and which cannot.
Bronchoscopy
This procedure uses an endoscope to look into the trachea (windpipe) and bronchi (tubes leading from the trachea into the lung). This lets the doctor see if the cancer has grown into these structures. The patient is sedated for this procedure.
Thoracoscopy and laparoscopy
These procedures allow the doctor to see lymph nodes and other organs near the esophagus inside the chest (by thoracoscopy) or the abdomen (by laparoscopy) through a hollow lighted tube. The surgeon can operate instruments through the tube and remove lymph node samples and take biopsies to see if the cancer has spread. This information is often important in deciding whether or not a person is likely to benefit from surgery. These procedures are done in an operating room and under general anesthesia.
Biopsy
An area may look like cancer, but the only way to know for sure is to do a biopsy. For a biopsy, the doctor removes a small piece of tissue (usually from an area that looks abnormal). A doctor called a pathologist then looks at the tissue under the microscope to see if any cancer cells are present. If there is cancer, the pathologist will determine what type it is (adenocarcinoma or squamous cell). It takes at least a couple of days to get the results of a biopsy.
Signs and symptoms of esophageal cancer
In most cases, cancers of the esophagus are discovered because of the symptoms they cause. Diagnosis in people without symptoms is rare and usually accidental (because of tests done to check other medical problems). Unfortunately, most esophageal cancers do not cause symptoms until they have reached an advanced stage, when a cure is less likely.
Dysphagia
The most common symptom of esophageal cancer is a problem swallowing, with the feeling like the food is stuck in the throat or chest. This is called dysphagia. This is often mild when it starts, and then gets worse over time. The opening of the esophagus is often narrowed to about half of its normal width. Dysphagia is commonly a late symptom caused by a large cancer.
When swallowing becomes difficult, people often change their diet and eating habits without realizing it. They take smaller bites and chew their food more carefully and slowly. As the cancer grows larger, the problem gets worse. People then may start eating softer foods that can pass through the esophagus more easily. They may avoid bread and meat, since these foods typically get stuck. The problem swallowing may even get bad enough that some people stop eating solid food completely and switch to a liquid diet. If the cancer keeps growing, at some point even liquids will not be able to pass. To help pass food through the esophagus, the body makes more saliva. This causes some people to complain of bringing up lots of thick mucus or saliva.
Pain
In some cases, people complain of pain or discomfort in the middle part of their chest. Some people describe a feeling of pressure or burning in the chest. These symptoms are more often caused by problems other than cancer, such as heartburn, and so they are rarely seen as a signal that cancer is present.
Pain with swallowing may occur when the cancer is large enough to block the esophagus. Pain may be felt a few seconds after swallowing, as food or liquid reaches the tumor and cannot pass it.
Weight loss
About half of patients with esophageal cancer lose weight (without trying to). This happens because their swallowing problems keep them from eating enough to maintain their weight. Other factors include decreased appetite and increase in metabolism from the cancer.
Other symptoms
Hoarseness, hiccups, pneumonia, and high blood calcium levels are usually signs of more advanced cancer of the esophagus. Sometimes the cancer will bleed. If there is enough blood, stools may turn black. This can also occur with other cancers and with some benign (noncancerous) diseases. It does not always mean that cancer is present.
If you have any of the following symptoms, please see a doctor right away for appropriate examination and diagnosis:
* dysphagia (a feeling of food getting stuck in your throat or chest)
* significant weight loss without dieting
* avoidance of solid food because of pain when you swallow
* hiccups and dysphagia together
History and physical exam
The doctor will take a complete history (medical interview) to check for risk factors and symptoms. The physical exam will provide information about signs of esophageal cancer and other health problems. If your doctor is concerned that you may have esophageal cancer, further tests will be needed to find out what is causing your problems.
Imaging studies
Barium swallow
In a barium swallow, a liquid called barium is swallowed. It coats the walls of the esophagus. When x-rays are taken, the barium outlines the esophagus clearly. This test can be done by itself, or as a part of a series of x-rays that includes the stomach and part of the intestine, called an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series. A barium swallow test can show any irregularities in the normally smooth surface of the esophageal wall.
A barium swallow test is often the first test done to see what is causing a problem with swallowing. Even small, early cancer can be seen using this test. Tumors grow out from the lining of the esophagus. These masses stick out into the lumen (the open area of the tube). They cause the barium to coat that area of the esophagus unevenly. In the barium x-ray, early cancers can look like small round bumps. They also can appear as a flat, raised area called a plaque. Advanced cancers look like large irregular areas and cause a narrowing of the width of the esophagus. A barium swallow test cannot be used to determine how far a cancer may have spread outside of the esophagus.
A barium swallow test can also be used to diagnose one of the more serious complications of esophageal cancer called a tracheoesophageal fistula. This occurs when the tumor destroys the tissue between the esophagus and the trachea (windpipe) and creates a hole connecting them. With this connection, anything that is swallowed can pass from the esophagus into the windpipe and lungs. This leads to frequent coughing and gagging. This problem can be helped with surgery or an endoscopy procedure.
Computed tomography (CT)
The CT scan is an x-ray procedure that produces detailed cross-sectional images of your body. Instead of taking one picture, like a conventional x-ray does, a CT scanner takes many pictures of the part of your body being studied as it rotates around you. A computer then combines these pictures into an image of a slice of your body.
CT scans are not usually used to make the initial diagnosis of esophageal cancer, but they can help see how far it has spread. CT scans often can show where the cancer is in the esophagus. These scans can also show the nearby organs and lymph nodes (bean-sized collections of immune cells that help fight infections and cancers), as well as distant areas of cancer spread. The CT scan can help to determine whether surgery is a good treatment option.
Before any pictures are taken, you may be asked to drink 1 to 2 pints of a liquid called oral contrast. This helps outline the esophagus and intestines so that certain areas are not mistaken for tumors. If you are having any trouble swallowing, you need to tell your doctor before the scan. You may also receive an IV (intravenous) line through which a different kind of contrast dye (IV contrast) is injected. This helps better outline structures in your body.
The injection can cause some flushing (redness and warm feeling that may last hours to days). A few people are allergic to the dye and get hives. Rarely, more serious reactions like trouble breathing and low blood pressure can occur. Medicine can be given to prevent and treat allergic reactions. Be sure to tell the doctor if you have ever had a reaction to any contrast material used for x-rays.
CT scans are more inconvenient than regular x-rays because they take longer and require you to lie still on a table while they are being done. Still, these scans are getting faster and the stay might be pleasantly short. Also, some people feel a bit confined by the ring they have to lie in when the pictures are being taken.
CT scans can also be used to guide a biopsy needle precisely into a suspected area of cancer spread. This procedure is called a CT-guided needle biopsy. The patient lies on the CT scanning table while a radiologist advances a biopsy needle toward the location of the mass. CT scans are repeated until the doctors can see that the needle is in the mass. A fine-needle biopsy sample (tiny fragment of tissue) or a core needle biopsy sample (a thin cylinder of tissue about one-half inch long and less than 1/8-inch in diameter) is removed and examined under a microscope.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
MRI scans use radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays. The energy from the radio waves is absorbed and then released in a pattern formed by the type of tissue and by certain diseases. A computer translates the pattern of radio waves given off by the tissues into a very detailed image of parts of the body. Not only does this produce cross-sectional slices of the body like a CT scanner, it can also produce slices that are parallel with the length of your body. A contrast material might be injected just as with CT scans but is used less often.
MRI scans are also very helpful in looking at the brain and spinal cord. They are not often needed to assess spread of esophageal cancer. MRI scans are a little more uncomfortable than CT scans. First, they take longer -- often up to an hour. Also, you have to be placed inside tube-like equipment, which is confining and makes many people uneasy. To stay calm, try keeping your eyes closed. Thinking of pleasant, relaxing mental images has also been shown to be helpful in making the time pass quickly. While you are in the MRI machine you will be able to talk to the technician during the whole procedure.
People with a fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia) have a very hard time getting an MRI. If you have a problem with tight spaces, talk to your doctor about it. Your doctor may give you a medicine for anxiety to take before the scan. If that is not enough, your doctor may be able to have the scan done using an open MRI. An open MRI does not have an enclosed tube. Although these scanners are less available than regular MRI machines, many cities have a center with an open MRI.
The MRI machine also makes a thumping noise like a washing machine that you may find annoying. Some places provide headphones with music to block this out. Most people have little difficulty with their MRI experience, but you should feel free to discuss any concerns you have with your health care team.
Positron emission tomography (PET)
In this test, radioactive glucose (sugar) is injected into the vein. Because cancers use sugar much faster than normal tissues, the radioactivity will tend to concentrate in the cancer. A scanner is used to spot the radioactive deposits. This test is useful for finding areas of cancer spread. It can help find small collections of cancer cells that may not be seen on other tests.
The uptake of the radioactive glucose ("brightness") may be measured. Studies are ongoing to see if the degree of uptake or "brightness" can be used as to tell how fast the tumor is growing. Studies are also looking to see if changes in the brightness on a PET scan can be used to see if treatment, such as chemotherapy, is working.
Endoscopy
Upper endoscopy
An endoscope is a flexible, very narrow tube with a video camera and light on the end. During an upper endoscopy procedure, the patient is sedated (made sleepy) to allow the endoscope to pass through the mouth and into the esophagus and stomach. The camera is connected to a television set, allowing the doctor to see abnormalities in the wall of the esophagus clearly.
Endoscopy is an important test for diagnosing esophageal cancer. The doctor can see the cancer through the scope and biopsy it. A tissue sample (biopsy) can be removed from any area that doesn't look normal (through the endoscope). These samples are sent to the laboratory so that a doctor can look at them under a microscope to see if cancer is present. If the esophageal cancer is blocking the opening (called the lumen) of the esophagus, then certain instruments can be used to help enlarge the opening to help food and liquid pass. Upper endoscopy can give the surgeon information for follow-up surgery, including the size and spread of the tumor and whether the tumor can be completely removed.
Endoscopic ultrasound
Ultrasound tests use sound waves to take pictures of parts of the body. For an endoscopic ultrasound, the probe that gives off the sound waves is at the end of an endoscope. This allows the probe to get very close to the cancer.
This test is very useful in finding the size of an esophageal cancer and how far it has grown into nearby tissues. The endoscope with the small ultrasound probe is placed into the esophagus. The probe sends out very sensitive sound waves that penetrate deep into tissues. The sound waves bounce off normal tissue and any cancer that is present. They are picked up by the probe and a computer turns the pattern of sound waves into a picture. The picture shows how deeply the tumor has invaded into the esophagus. This test uses no radiation and is very safe. It can detect small abnormal changes very well.
Endoscopic ultrasound can help determine how much of the tissue next to the esophagus (including nearby lymph nodes) is affected by the cancer. This helps surgeons decide which tumors can be surgically removed and which cannot.
Bronchoscopy
This procedure uses an endoscope to look into the trachea (windpipe) and bronchi (tubes leading from the trachea into the lung). This lets the doctor see if the cancer has grown into these structures. The patient is sedated for this procedure.
Thoracoscopy and laparoscopy
These procedures allow the doctor to see lymph nodes and other organs near the esophagus inside the chest (by thoracoscopy) or the abdomen (by laparoscopy) through a hollow lighted tube. The surgeon can operate instruments through the tube and remove lymph node samples and take biopsies to see if the cancer has spread. This information is often important in deciding whether or not a person is likely to benefit from surgery. These procedures are done in an operating room and under general anesthesia.
Biopsy
An area may look like cancer, but the only way to know for sure is to do a biopsy. For a biopsy, the doctor removes a small piece of tissue (usually from an area that looks abnormal). A doctor called a pathologist then looks at the tissue under the microscope to see if any cancer cells are present. If there is cancer, the pathologist will determine what type it is (adenocarcinoma or squamous cell). It takes at least a couple of days to get the results of a biopsy.
10 Diabetes Super Foods
1. Vegetables. Packed with powerhouse nutrients, vegetables are naturally low in calories, and they're full of fiber, so they're plenty filling. Loading your plate with vegetables will automatically mean you're eating fewer simple carbs (which raise blood sugar) and saturated fats (which increase insulin resistance). Aim to get four or five servings a day. (A serving is 1/2 cup canned or cooked vegetables or 1 cup raw vegetables.) Go easier on starchy vegetables -- including potatoes, corn, and peas -- which are higher in calories than other vegetables.
2. Fruit. Packed with almost all the same advantages as vegetables fruit is brimming with nutrients you need, it's low in fat, it's high in fiber, and it's lower in calories than most other foods. Best of all, fruit is loaded with antioxidants that help protect your nerves, your eyes, and your heart.
Because fruit has more natural sugar and calories than most vegetables, you can't eat it with utter abandon. Aim to get three or four servings a day. (A serving is one piece of whole fruit, 1/2 cup cooked or canned fruit, or 1 cup raw fruit.) Choose whole produce over juice. Many of the nutrients and a lot of the fiber are found in the skin, flesh, and seeds of fruit, so they’re lost during juicing, and more of the calories and sugar remain.
3. Beans. Beans are just about your best source of dietary fiber, which not only makes you feel full longer, it actually slows digestion and keeps blood sugar from spiking after a meal. This effect is so powerful that it can even lower your overall blood sugar levels.
Throw canned beans into every salad you make (rinse them first), and add them to pasta and chili. Black bean, split pea, or lentil soup is an excellent lunch, even if it comes from a can.
4. Cereal. The right breakfast cereal is your absolute best opportunity to pack more fiber into your day. There's a bonus: Studies show that people who start the morning with a high-fiber cereal actually eat less later on. So don't forgo breakfast. Better yet, choose a cereal with at least 5 grams fiber per serving. Good choices include Kashi GoLean Crunch! (10 grams), Kellogg's Raisin Bran (8 grams), General Mills Multi-Bran Chex (8 grams), Post Wheat 'N Bran Spoon Size (8 grams), Kellogg's All-Bran Original (10 grams) and General Mills Fiber One (14 grams). Top your cereal with fruit and you've checked off a fruit serving for the day.
5. Fish. Fast and easy to prepare, fish is a good source of protein, and a great substitute for higher-fat meats. Also, fatty fish is the best source of omega-3 fatty acids, those remarkable good-for-you fats that help keep the arteries clear. People with diabetes often have high triglycerides and low levels of HDL, the "good" cholesterol. Omega-3 fatty acids can improve both numbers. Aim to eat fish at least twice a week. Excellent sources of omega-3s are salmon, mackerel, and tuna.
6. Poultry breast. Versatile, extremely lean, and low in calories, chicken breast is practically a miracle food. Unlike steaks and hamburgers, it's low in saturated fat, which raises "bad" cholesterol and may increase insulin resistance, making blood sugar control more difficult. A 3-ounce serving of skinless chicken breast has only 142 calories and 3 grams fat. Turkey breast is even leaner and lower in calories.
6. Poultry breast. Versatile, extremely lean, and low in calories, chicken breast is practically a miracle food. Unlike steaks and hamburgers, it's low in saturated fat, which raises "bad" cholesterol and may increase insulin resistance, making blood sugar control more difficult. A 3-ounce serving of skinless chicken breast has only 142 calories and 3 grams fat. Turkey breast is even leaner and lower in calories.
8. Olive oil. At the center of the famously heart-healthy Mediterranean diet is olive oil is considered a "good" fat that helps slash the risk of heart attack -- and has been shown to help keep blood sugar steady by reducing insulin resistance. So toss the butter and cook with olive oil instead. At home and in restaurants, dip your bread in a bit of the stuff. Just watch how much you eat, because at 119 calories per tablespoon, even "good" fat can pack on the pounds.
9. Yogurt. Yogurt is rich in protein and another weight loss powerhouse: calcium. Several studies have shown that people who eat plenty of calcium-rich foods have an easier time losing weight -- and are less likely to become insulin resistant. As a snack or for breakfast, choose nonfat plain yogurt, and add your own fresh fruit or a sprinkling of wheat germ or low-fat granola for a burst of extra nutrients.
10. Cinnamon. Believe it! Amazingly, just by sprinkling cinnamon on your foods, you could lower your blood sugar. Components in cinnamon help the body use insulin more efficiently, so more glucose can enter cells. A recent study found that in people with diabetes, just 1/2 teaspoon a day can significantly lower blood sugar levels. So go ahead and add powdered cinnamon to your whole wheat toast, oatmeal, baked apples, or even chicken dishes. Or soak a cinnamon stick in hot water to make a soothing and curative cup of cinnamon tea.
2. Fruit. Packed with almost all the same advantages as vegetables fruit is brimming with nutrients you need, it's low in fat, it's high in fiber, and it's lower in calories than most other foods. Best of all, fruit is loaded with antioxidants that help protect your nerves, your eyes, and your heart.
Because fruit has more natural sugar and calories than most vegetables, you can't eat it with utter abandon. Aim to get three or four servings a day. (A serving is one piece of whole fruit, 1/2 cup cooked or canned fruit, or 1 cup raw fruit.) Choose whole produce over juice. Many of the nutrients and a lot of the fiber are found in the skin, flesh, and seeds of fruit, so they’re lost during juicing, and more of the calories and sugar remain.
3. Beans. Beans are just about your best source of dietary fiber, which not only makes you feel full longer, it actually slows digestion and keeps blood sugar from spiking after a meal. This effect is so powerful that it can even lower your overall blood sugar levels.
Throw canned beans into every salad you make (rinse them first), and add them to pasta and chili. Black bean, split pea, or lentil soup is an excellent lunch, even if it comes from a can.
4. Cereal. The right breakfast cereal is your absolute best opportunity to pack more fiber into your day. There's a bonus: Studies show that people who start the morning with a high-fiber cereal actually eat less later on. So don't forgo breakfast. Better yet, choose a cereal with at least 5 grams fiber per serving. Good choices include Kashi GoLean Crunch! (10 grams), Kellogg's Raisin Bran (8 grams), General Mills Multi-Bran Chex (8 grams), Post Wheat 'N Bran Spoon Size (8 grams), Kellogg's All-Bran Original (10 grams) and General Mills Fiber One (14 grams). Top your cereal with fruit and you've checked off a fruit serving for the day.
5. Fish. Fast and easy to prepare, fish is a good source of protein, and a great substitute for higher-fat meats. Also, fatty fish is the best source of omega-3 fatty acids, those remarkable good-for-you fats that help keep the arteries clear. People with diabetes often have high triglycerides and low levels of HDL, the "good" cholesterol. Omega-3 fatty acids can improve both numbers. Aim to eat fish at least twice a week. Excellent sources of omega-3s are salmon, mackerel, and tuna.
6. Poultry breast. Versatile, extremely lean, and low in calories, chicken breast is practically a miracle food. Unlike steaks and hamburgers, it's low in saturated fat, which raises "bad" cholesterol and may increase insulin resistance, making blood sugar control more difficult. A 3-ounce serving of skinless chicken breast has only 142 calories and 3 grams fat. Turkey breast is even leaner and lower in calories.
6. Poultry breast. Versatile, extremely lean, and low in calories, chicken breast is practically a miracle food. Unlike steaks and hamburgers, it's low in saturated fat, which raises "bad" cholesterol and may increase insulin resistance, making blood sugar control more difficult. A 3-ounce serving of skinless chicken breast has only 142 calories and 3 grams fat. Turkey breast is even leaner and lower in calories.
8. Olive oil. At the center of the famously heart-healthy Mediterranean diet is olive oil is considered a "good" fat that helps slash the risk of heart attack -- and has been shown to help keep blood sugar steady by reducing insulin resistance. So toss the butter and cook with olive oil instead. At home and in restaurants, dip your bread in a bit of the stuff. Just watch how much you eat, because at 119 calories per tablespoon, even "good" fat can pack on the pounds.
9. Yogurt. Yogurt is rich in protein and another weight loss powerhouse: calcium. Several studies have shown that people who eat plenty of calcium-rich foods have an easier time losing weight -- and are less likely to become insulin resistant. As a snack or for breakfast, choose nonfat plain yogurt, and add your own fresh fruit or a sprinkling of wheat germ or low-fat granola for a burst of extra nutrients.
10. Cinnamon. Believe it! Amazingly, just by sprinkling cinnamon on your foods, you could lower your blood sugar. Components in cinnamon help the body use insulin more efficiently, so more glucose can enter cells. A recent study found that in people with diabetes, just 1/2 teaspoon a day can significantly lower blood sugar levels. So go ahead and add powdered cinnamon to your whole wheat toast, oatmeal, baked apples, or even chicken dishes. Or soak a cinnamon stick in hot water to make a soothing and curative cup of cinnamon tea.
Several lines of recent scientific evidence have shown that individuals who followed a low GI diet over many years were at a significantly lower risk for developing both type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease than others. High blood glucose levels or repeated glycemic "spikes" following a meal may promote these diseases by increasing oxidative stress to the vasculature and also by the direct increase in insulin levels
The glycemic index, glycaemic index, or GI is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels.[citation needed] Carbohydrates that break down quickly during digestion and release glucose rapidly into the bloodstream have a high GI; carbohydrates that break down more slowly, releasing glucose more gradually into the bloodstream, have a low GI. The concept was developed by Dr. David J. Jenkins and colleagues[1] in 1980–1981 at the University of Toronto in their research to find out which foods were best for people with diabetes.
A lower glycemic index suggests slower rates of digestion and absorption of the foods' carbohydrates and may also indicate greater extraction from the liver and periphery of the products of carbohydrate digestion. A lower glycemic response usually equates to a lower insulin demand but not always, and may improve long-term blood glucose control and blood lipids. The insulin index is also useful, as it provides a direct measure of the insulin response to a food.
The glycemic index of a food is defined as the area under the two hour blood glucose response curve (AUC) following the ingestion of a fixed portion of carbohydrate (usually 50 g). The AUC of the test food is divided by the AUC of the standard (either glucose or white bread, giving two different definitions) and multiplied by 100. The average GI value is calculated from data collected in 10 human subjects. Both the standard and test food must contain an equal amount of available carbohydrate. The result gives a relative ranking for each tested food.[2]
The current validated methods use glucose as the reference food, giving it a glycemic index value of 100 by definition. This has the advantages of being universal and producing maximum GI values of approximately 100. White bread can also be used as a reference food, giving a different set of GI values (if white bread = 100, then glucose ≈ 140). For people whose staple carbohydrate source is white bread, this has the advantage of conveying directly whether replacement of the dietary staple with a different food would result in faster or slower blood glucose response. The disadvantages with this system are that the reference food is not well-defined and the GI scale is culture dependent
A low GI food will release glucose more slowly and steadily. A high GI food causes a more rapid rise in blood glucose levels and is suitable for energy recovery after endurance exercise or for a person experiencing hypoglycemia.
The glycemic effect of foods depends on a number of factors such as the type of starch (amylose versus amylopectin), physical entrapment of the starch molecules within the food, fat and protein content of the food and organic acids or their salts in the meal — adding vinegar, for example, will lower the GI. The presence of fat or soluble dietary fiber can slow the gastric emptying rate, thus lowering the GI. Unrefined breads with higher amounts of fiber generally have a lower GI value than white breads.[3] Many brown breads, however, are treated with enzymes to soften the crust, which makes the starch more accessible (high GI).
While adding butter or oil will lower the GI of a meal, the GI ranking does not change. That is, with or without additions, there is still a higher blood glucose curve after white bread than after a low GI bread such as pumpernickel.
The glycemic index can be applied only to foods with a reasonable carbohydrate content, as the test relies on subjects consuming enough of the test food to yield about 50 g of available carbohydrate. Many fruits and vegetables (but not potatoes) contain very little carbohydrate per serving, and the average person is not likely to eat 50 g of carbohydrate from these foods. Fruits and vegetables tend to have a low glycemic index and a low glycemic load. This also applies to carrots, which were originally and incorrectly reported as having a high GI.[4] Alcoholic beverages have been reported to have low GI values, but it should be noted that beer has a moderate GI. Recent studies have shown that the consumption of an alcoholic drink prior to a meal reduces the GI of the meal by approximately 15%.[5] Moderate alcohol consumption more than 12 hours prior to a test does not affect the GI.[6]
Many modern diets rely on the glycemic index, including the South Beach Diet, Transitions by Market America and NutriSystem Nourish Diet.[7] However, others have pointed out that foods generally considered to be unhealthy can have a low glycemic index, for instance chocolate cake (GI 38), ice cream (37), or pure fructose (19), whereas foods like potatoes and rice, eaten in countries with low rates of diabetes, have GIs around 100.[8][9]
The GI Symbol Program is an independent worldwide GI certification program that helps consumers identify low GI foods and drinks. The symbol is only on foods or beverages that have had their GI values tested according to standard and meet the GI Foundation's certification criteria as a healthy choice within their food group, so they are also lower in kilojoules, fat and/or salt.
The glycemic index, glycaemic index, or GI is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels.[citation needed] Carbohydrates that break down quickly during digestion and release glucose rapidly into the bloodstream have a high GI; carbohydrates that break down more slowly, releasing glucose more gradually into the bloodstream, have a low GI. The concept was developed by Dr. David J. Jenkins and colleagues[1] in 1980–1981 at the University of Toronto in their research to find out which foods were best for people with diabetes.
A lower glycemic index suggests slower rates of digestion and absorption of the foods' carbohydrates and may also indicate greater extraction from the liver and periphery of the products of carbohydrate digestion. A lower glycemic response usually equates to a lower insulin demand but not always, and may improve long-term blood glucose control and blood lipids. The insulin index is also useful, as it provides a direct measure of the insulin response to a food.
The glycemic index of a food is defined as the area under the two hour blood glucose response curve (AUC) following the ingestion of a fixed portion of carbohydrate (usually 50 g). The AUC of the test food is divided by the AUC of the standard (either glucose or white bread, giving two different definitions) and multiplied by 100. The average GI value is calculated from data collected in 10 human subjects. Both the standard and test food must contain an equal amount of available carbohydrate. The result gives a relative ranking for each tested food.[2]
The current validated methods use glucose as the reference food, giving it a glycemic index value of 100 by definition. This has the advantages of being universal and producing maximum GI values of approximately 100. White bread can also be used as a reference food, giving a different set of GI values (if white bread = 100, then glucose ≈ 140). For people whose staple carbohydrate source is white bread, this has the advantage of conveying directly whether replacement of the dietary staple with a different food would result in faster or slower blood glucose response. The disadvantages with this system are that the reference food is not well-defined and the GI scale is culture dependent
A low GI food will release glucose more slowly and steadily. A high GI food causes a more rapid rise in blood glucose levels and is suitable for energy recovery after endurance exercise or for a person experiencing hypoglycemia.
The glycemic effect of foods depends on a number of factors such as the type of starch (amylose versus amylopectin), physical entrapment of the starch molecules within the food, fat and protein content of the food and organic acids or their salts in the meal — adding vinegar, for example, will lower the GI. The presence of fat or soluble dietary fiber can slow the gastric emptying rate, thus lowering the GI. Unrefined breads with higher amounts of fiber generally have a lower GI value than white breads.[3] Many brown breads, however, are treated with enzymes to soften the crust, which makes the starch more accessible (high GI).
While adding butter or oil will lower the GI of a meal, the GI ranking does not change. That is, with or without additions, there is still a higher blood glucose curve after white bread than after a low GI bread such as pumpernickel.
The glycemic index can be applied only to foods with a reasonable carbohydrate content, as the test relies on subjects consuming enough of the test food to yield about 50 g of available carbohydrate. Many fruits and vegetables (but not potatoes) contain very little carbohydrate per serving, and the average person is not likely to eat 50 g of carbohydrate from these foods. Fruits and vegetables tend to have a low glycemic index and a low glycemic load. This also applies to carrots, which were originally and incorrectly reported as having a high GI.[4] Alcoholic beverages have been reported to have low GI values, but it should be noted that beer has a moderate GI. Recent studies have shown that the consumption of an alcoholic drink prior to a meal reduces the GI of the meal by approximately 15%.[5] Moderate alcohol consumption more than 12 hours prior to a test does not affect the GI.[6]
Many modern diets rely on the glycemic index, including the South Beach Diet, Transitions by Market America and NutriSystem Nourish Diet.[7] However, others have pointed out that foods generally considered to be unhealthy can have a low glycemic index, for instance chocolate cake (GI 38), ice cream (37), or pure fructose (19), whereas foods like potatoes and rice, eaten in countries with low rates of diabetes, have GIs around 100.[8][9]
The GI Symbol Program is an independent worldwide GI certification program that helps consumers identify low GI foods and drinks. The symbol is only on foods or beverages that have had their GI values tested according to standard and meet the GI Foundation's certification criteria as a healthy choice within their food group, so they are also lower in kilojoules, fat and/or salt.
Diabetes - What Should My Blood Sugar Levels Be?
For most people, good blood sugar levels are:
On waking up (before breakfast) 80 to 120
Before meals 80 to 120
2 hours after meals 160 or less
At bedtime 100 to 140
Ask your healthcare provider what your blood sugar levels should be. If you have diabetes
On waking up (before breakfast) 80 to 120
Before meals 80 to 120
2 hours after meals 160 or less
At bedtime 100 to 140
Ask your healthcare provider what your blood sugar levels should be. If you have diabetes
15 Diabetes-Friendly Snack Tips
If you go more than four or five hours between meals, a mid-afternoon snack might be just what the doctor ordered to help you keep your blood sugar steady. Snacking is also important if you're taking medication that could cause a blood-sugar low between meals. Discuss with your doctor or a registered dietitian what snacking approach is right for you.
1. Keep your snacks to 150 calories or less. The danger of snacks is that they can become more like extra meals if you go overboard. First, make sure you're truly hungry—and not just bored or stressed or craving chocolate—before reaching for a snack. Then limit yourself to 150 calories per snack. This will help keep your snacking "honest." After all, it's hard to find a candy bar with only 150 calories. And if you're hankering for a candy bar, but a healthier snack doesn't appeal, you're probably not truly hungry.
2. Beware of low-fat snacks. Studies show that people tend to eat about 28 percent more of a snack when it's low-fat because they think they're saving on calories. But low-fat snacks such as cookies only have about 11 percent fewer calories than their full-fat counterparts. Stick to the same amount you'd eat if you thought the snack was full-fat.
3. Plate your snacks. Eat straight out of the bag and you're guaranteed to eat more, whether it's chips, pretzels, or cookies. Instead, put a small portion on a plate, seal up the bag and put it away, then sit down and enjoy your snack.
4. Grab the whole bag. A single serving bag, that is. You're much more likely to stop after one serving if you don't have to measure it out yourself. If paying more for extra packaging that will eventually clog landfills bothers you, separate your snacks yourself into reusable single-serving containers when you get home from the grocery store so they're ready to grab when you're ready to eat them.
5. Pour a handful of nuts. Almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, and cashews contain the healthy monounsaturated fats that lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. And because they're packed with protein and "good" fat, they won't raise blood sugar as much as crackers or pretzels do. Because many nuts are high in calories (almonds are the lowest), stick to an ounce, or about the amount that will fit in the palm of your hand.
6. Have a few whole-grain crackers with peanut butter. You'll eat more protein and fewer carbs than if you have a bigger pile of crackers with no peanut butter, and your blood sugar won't rise as much.
7. Snack on raw veggies. Get in an extra serving of vegetables by nibbling on grape tomatoes, carrots, red and green peppers, cucumbers, broccoli crowns, and cauliflower. Eat them plain or dip them into nonfat yogurt, a light salad dressing, or hummus (stick with 1 to 2 tablespoons' worth).
8. Spread some black bean salsa over eggplant slices. The salsa has only about 15 grams of carbs, 80 calories, and 1 gram of fat.
9. Sip a small cup of vegetable soup. Cook non-starchy vegetables such as spinach, onion, celery, green beans, and squash in some vegetable or chicken stock. It's filling, full of veggies, and low in carbs.
10. Indulge in a few decadent bites. Have a snack of three dried apricots, a small piece of dark chocolate (about the size of a Hershey's miniature chocolate bar), and three walnuts or almonds, suggests Vicki Saunders, RD, who teaches nutrition education programs at St. Helena Hospital in Napa Valley, California. Savor every nibble!
11. Blend a fruit smoothie. Combine half of a chopped banana, 3⁄4 cup nonfat plain yogurt, and a non-nutritive sweetener, and blend until smooth.
12. Freeze grapes and peeled bananas. Seal them in a sandwich bag and throw it into the freezer. Once frozen, they're a refreshing and healthy treat. You can eat 20 red seedless grapes and still consume only 100 calories.
13. Eat an apple—and the skin. An apple with the skin contains about 3 grams of fiber. The skin packs a double whammy, carrying healthy soluble fiber that helps to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease and antioxidants that fight free radicals and lower the risk of diabetes complications.
14. Try low-fat string cheese. Each one contains only 80 calories. These are one of the few portable goodies rich in sugar-steadying protein.
15. Have your chocolate "bar" frozen. By that we mean enjoy a frozen fudge pop. They taste delightfully chocolatey but contain only about 80 calories.
1. Keep your snacks to 150 calories or less. The danger of snacks is that they can become more like extra meals if you go overboard. First, make sure you're truly hungry—and not just bored or stressed or craving chocolate—before reaching for a snack. Then limit yourself to 150 calories per snack. This will help keep your snacking "honest." After all, it's hard to find a candy bar with only 150 calories. And if you're hankering for a candy bar, but a healthier snack doesn't appeal, you're probably not truly hungry.
2. Beware of low-fat snacks. Studies show that people tend to eat about 28 percent more of a snack when it's low-fat because they think they're saving on calories. But low-fat snacks such as cookies only have about 11 percent fewer calories than their full-fat counterparts. Stick to the same amount you'd eat if you thought the snack was full-fat.
3. Plate your snacks. Eat straight out of the bag and you're guaranteed to eat more, whether it's chips, pretzels, or cookies. Instead, put a small portion on a plate, seal up the bag and put it away, then sit down and enjoy your snack.
4. Grab the whole bag. A single serving bag, that is. You're much more likely to stop after one serving if you don't have to measure it out yourself. If paying more for extra packaging that will eventually clog landfills bothers you, separate your snacks yourself into reusable single-serving containers when you get home from the grocery store so they're ready to grab when you're ready to eat them.
5. Pour a handful of nuts. Almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, and cashews contain the healthy monounsaturated fats that lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. And because they're packed with protein and "good" fat, they won't raise blood sugar as much as crackers or pretzels do. Because many nuts are high in calories (almonds are the lowest), stick to an ounce, or about the amount that will fit in the palm of your hand.
6. Have a few whole-grain crackers with peanut butter. You'll eat more protein and fewer carbs than if you have a bigger pile of crackers with no peanut butter, and your blood sugar won't rise as much.
7. Snack on raw veggies. Get in an extra serving of vegetables by nibbling on grape tomatoes, carrots, red and green peppers, cucumbers, broccoli crowns, and cauliflower. Eat them plain or dip them into nonfat yogurt, a light salad dressing, or hummus (stick with 1 to 2 tablespoons' worth).
8. Spread some black bean salsa over eggplant slices. The salsa has only about 15 grams of carbs, 80 calories, and 1 gram of fat.
9. Sip a small cup of vegetable soup. Cook non-starchy vegetables such as spinach, onion, celery, green beans, and squash in some vegetable or chicken stock. It's filling, full of veggies, and low in carbs.
10. Indulge in a few decadent bites. Have a snack of three dried apricots, a small piece of dark chocolate (about the size of a Hershey's miniature chocolate bar), and three walnuts or almonds, suggests Vicki Saunders, RD, who teaches nutrition education programs at St. Helena Hospital in Napa Valley, California. Savor every nibble!
11. Blend a fruit smoothie. Combine half of a chopped banana, 3⁄4 cup nonfat plain yogurt, and a non-nutritive sweetener, and blend until smooth.
12. Freeze grapes and peeled bananas. Seal them in a sandwich bag and throw it into the freezer. Once frozen, they're a refreshing and healthy treat. You can eat 20 red seedless grapes and still consume only 100 calories.
13. Eat an apple—and the skin. An apple with the skin contains about 3 grams of fiber. The skin packs a double whammy, carrying healthy soluble fiber that helps to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease and antioxidants that fight free radicals and lower the risk of diabetes complications.
14. Try low-fat string cheese. Each one contains only 80 calories. These are one of the few portable goodies rich in sugar-steadying protein.
15. Have your chocolate "bar" frozen. By that we mean enjoy a frozen fudge pop. They taste delightfully chocolatey but contain only about 80 calories.
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