0 For Those About to Gestate We Salute You

“Aw, look. You’re having a Hellboy.” – our friend Chad

There comes a time in a young-ish married lady’s life when she looks at her husband and has to make a choice, to a) beat him in Scrabble, b) mold his beard into funny shapes, or c) do it. And sometimes, choosing “c” results in being 12 days late with her ladytime, taking four negative pregnancy tests followed by a fifth positive one, and then gaining 400 pounds, roughly half of which is fetus and its accompanying goo. (Note: The other half is burgers and lemonade.)

Which is to say, I’m knocked up. (Due on Cinco de Mayo! Break out the virgin margaritas.)

Yay! Husband and I and ESPECIALLY OUR PARENTS are thrilled with this development, as it means our familial line will continue for at least another generation, or in nerd terms, through iPhone57G. We look forward to all the cuteness and wonder and giggles and poop, which weve been assured there will be lots of. In fact, we’re even looking forward to the inevitable moment when the baby pukes into our open mouths, which, if friends and family on Facebook are to be believed, happens alarmingly often.

And while were over the moon, I gotta tell you guys – pregnancy is kind of funky.

Don’t get me wrong - the prospect of introducing a new human to the wonders of Pixar and brownies is dumbfounding in its awesomeness. But my first trimester was a little rough. Meaning: I did not take the Barftrain all the way to Vomitville, but I did make a month-long stop in Queasytown. (Motto: “Where you always feel like s**t.”)

There was a span of about two weeks during which I slept negligibly, ate weirdly, and cooked nothing – not a slice of toast, not a bowl of cereal, not liver with fava beans with a nice Chanti. We subsided mainly on Chipotle and the kindness of passing Chinese takeout delivery boys, who, as it turns out, per to be paid for their troubles. My diet was neither cheap, nor healthy, nor particularly good, unless you count the burgers. And there were many.

It’s Month #4 now, and the nausea has finally begun to subside. I’m cooking again, and my appetite has returned with all its friends and relatives. According to the medical books (a.k.a. Manuals of Horror) Ive read, the rest of my pregnancy should proceed thusly:

Month 1: Sore bosom
Month 2: Fatigue
Month 3: Nausea
Month 4: Raging indigestion
Month 5: Pregnancy … thing … bus … uh, brain
Month 6: Carpal Tunnel Body
Month 7: Hormone conflagration
Month 8: Beatlemania
Month 9: Gigantism
Month 10: Pass a human through my nethers

Im looking forward to it - the pregnancy, the birth, and especially the whole "raising a child" part. Because Ive tried to teach the cat how to read, and hes just not getting it.

In the meantime, Ill blog when I can, hopefully regarding food. And if yall have any suggestions? Im all ears. And abdomen.

0 Saturday Throwback 11 Things Dwight K Schrute Taught Me About Food and Frugality

Every Saturday, we post a piece from the CHG vault. Today, we salute the end of the 2010 television season with this feature from October 2007. Beets. Bears. Battlestar Galactica.

Hardworking. Alpha Male. Jackhammer.

A renowned beet farmer, volunteer Sheriff’s Deputy, and Assistant to the Regional Manager at the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company Scranton branch, Dwight K. Schrute embodies all these enviable qualities, and then some. (He’s also merciless and insatiable.) Yet, the goose-bating, martial arts-trained Schrute makes cultural contributions that go far beyond his multiple jobs.

Of course, I er to his insights.

Our lives can only benefit from Schrutes somewhat obtuse, yet priceless aphorisms. Especially the ones about food. And cooking. And saving money.

So read on, dear … uh, readers. Learn from our fair farmer, and one day you, too, may join the DWIGHT ARMY OF CHAMPIONS.

DWIGHT SAYS: “Michael always says ‘K-I-S-S. Keep it simple, stupid.’ Great advice. Hurts my feelings every time.”
DWIGHT MEANS: Fresh, simple ingredients are the best way to a cheap, healthy meal.
In other words, eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, dabs of dairy, healthy fats and lean meats are the building blocks of delicious dinners and happy digestive systems. In the long run, they cost less and taste better than pre-packaged stuff, too.

DWIGHT SAYS: “My grandfather left me a 60-acre working beet farm. I run it with my cousin Mose. We sell beets to the local stores and restaurants. It’s a nice little farm ... sometimes teenagers use it for sex.”
DWIGHT MEANS: Buy local.
Not only does it support neighborhood farmers (who need security to keep randy kids away), but food that’s shipped from nearby tastes better, is better for you, and is easier on the environment. See here for more.

DWIGHT SAYS: "First rule in roadside beet sales, put the most attractive beets on top. The ones that make you pull the car over and go, Wow, I need this beet right now. Those are the money beets."
DWIGHT MEANS: Knowing how food is marketed is vital to saving cash.
There’s a reason grocery stores put expensive, good-looking food at eye level. It’s the same mentality behind placing pricey victuals in gigantic, showy displays. When you go food shopping, don’t forget to look at the top and bottom shelves - beyond what’s immediately apparent. You’ll spend less. (Also: Stick to the perimeter of supermarkets, shop from the circular, only use coupons for stuff you’d buy anyway, keep a price book, etc.)

DWIGHT SAYS: “Studies show that more information is passed through watercooler gossip than through official memos, which puts me at a disadvantage because I bring my own water to work.”
DWIGHT MEANS: Bottled water is a big, wet cheat.
Packing a thermos from home, using the cooler at the office, or simply gathering H2O from the tap can conserve up to $600 per year, depending on how often you buy bottled. (See here, here, and here for more.)

DWIGHT SAYS: “Yes, I have decided to shun Andy Bernard for the next three years, which Im looking forward to. Its an Amish technique; its like slapping someone with silence. I was shunned from the age of 4 until my 6th birthday, for not saving the excess oil from a can of tuna.”
DWIGHT MEANS: Save leftovers, or suffer the terrible consequences.
Whether it’s excess mashed potatoes or those last two slices of pizza, try to pack your extras away. It’ll keep your portion size down, make a delicious office meal the next day, and put your lunch money back where it belongs – in your pocket.

DWIGHT SAYS: "Oh you know that line on the top of the shrimp? Thats feces."
DWIGHT MEANS: Don’t play around with food safety.
Yeah, I think this ones pretty self-explanatory.

DWIGHT SAYS: “In the wild, there is no health care. In the wild, health care is, ‘Ow, I hurt my leg. I cant run. A lion eats me and Im dead.’ Well, Im not dead. Im the lion, youre dead.”
DWIGHT MEANS: Eating smart and modestly will save your money and your life.
Obesity contributes to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer – all difficult and expensive illnesses to treat. (See Get Rich Slowly’s The High Cost of Being Fat.) Plus, it makes it very difficult to run away from lions.

DWIGHT SAYS: “Whenever I’m about to do something, I think, ‘Would an idiot do that?’ And if they would, I do not do that thing.”
DWIGHT MEANS: Find a food anti-idol.
Imagine your most extravagant friend. You know, the high roller - the one that doesn’t think twice about his finances. For what does he dole out the most dough? If he’s anything like my big-spender buds, it’s food. Learn from his bad example and try to use good judgment when buying groceries, ordering out, or settling down for a restaurant meal.

DWIGHT SAYS: [to Tobys daughter] “Hello, tiny one. YOU ARE THE FUTURE!”
DWIGHT MEANS: Teach your children well.
When it comes to eating and budgeting, kids learn largely from the examples set by their parents. Whether it’s having dinner together or serving more vegetables, changing a bad habit or starting a few good ones will benefit them for life.

DWIGHT SAYS: “When you are ready to see the sales office, the sales office will present itself to you.”
DWIGHT MEANS: Honest change can not come until one is truly ready.
If you’re looking to cut costs or make a switch to simpler foods, you must first commit yourself to the idea, and then be ready to follow through on the behaviors. Think of it like smoking: every single person on Earth can warn you to stop, but until you want to, there’s no chance.

DWIGHT SAYS: “I do not fear the unknown. I will meet my new challenges head-on, and I will succeed, and I will laugh in the faces of those who doubt me.”
DWIGHT MEANS: You don’t know unless you try.
So you’d like to make more money, cook more wholesome meals, lose a few pounds. What’s stopping you? Don’t let the fear of failure keep you from reaching your dreams - gastronomic, economic, and otherwise.

(Catch more of Dwight on The Office every Thursday on NBC.) Photos from Flickr and Buddy TV.

0 The Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services CMS Gets Nudged to Do Something About Shared Decision Making SDM

Medicare tackles the shared decision
making requirement in the ACA

In a recent New England Journal of Medicine article, Emily Lee and Ezekiel Emanuel point out that its high time for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to wake up and do something about Section 3506 of the Affordable Care Act.

Thats the section of the law that deals with "shared decision making" (SDM):

"The Secretary shall establish a program to provide for the phased-in development, implementation, and evaluation of shared decision making using patient decision aids to meet the objective of improving the understanding of patients of their medical treatment options...."

In particular, they argue that CMS should expedite the creation of an independent entity that would certify and implement patient decision aids and begin piloting SDM among Medicare beneficiaries who are contemplating having one of the 20 most frequently performed procedures (a list can be found on page 3).

And they dont stop there. 

They recommend that Medicares coverage for the "top 20" should be made contingent on the documented delivery of SDM to the beneficiary

"To give such a requirement teeth, full Medicare reimbursement could be made contingent on having documentation in the patients file of the proper use of a decision aid for these 20 procedures. Providers who did not document the shared-decision-making process could face a 10% reduction in Medicare payment for claims related to the procedure in year 1, with reductions gradually increasing to 20% over 10 years. This payment scheme is similar to that currently tied to hospital-readmissions metrics."

In contrast to the NEJM readership, the thousands of regular visitors to the Disease Management Care Blog arent surprised. Theyve known all along that "shared decision making was an important if unknown part of the Affordable Care Act.  To them its not news that SDM is an evidence based approach that combines patient engagement with physician participation to optimize the utilization of potentially harmful therapies.

Pity that CMS leadership isnt regularly reading the DMCB.  Whether a NEJM article by one of D.C. health care mandarins spurs CMS to action remains to be seen.

Stay tuned!

0 7 Things you should know about wrinkles

7 Things you should know about wrinkles - Wrinkles are one of the biggest fears women. This is because the wrinkles will ruin the appearance of wrinkles mereka.Padahal is the aging process that can not be avoided.

However, with diligent skin care done, then one can avoid wrinkles.

Here are 7 reasons behind the appearance of wrinkles you should know as quoted magforwomen.com.

1. Wrinkles are derivatives

Wrinkles can be caused by pollution, sunlight, and stress interfere. But in addition to these factors, it turns out wrinkles can also be caused by genetic derivatives. You will tend to have the same wrinkles parents or your grandparents.

2. Food can cause wrinkles

Eating too much or too little can cause wrinkles. When you decide to go on a diet then your weight will drop that causes saggy skin. On the other hand, people who eat too little wrinkles will also be affected because they are not getting enough nutrients to meet their skin health.

3. People who often drive more vulnerable wrinkles

They are too often drive will easily stressed and too much exposure to sunlight. If this continues, it will cause wrinkles to appear.

4. Eating habits cause wrinkles

Eating too much junk food will cause the skin to certain nutritional deficiencies that can cause wrinkles. Theore, change your diet to be more healthy by eating vegetables and fruits and drink plenty of water.

5. Natural vitamins good for preventing wrinkles

In addition to moisturizing the skin as well as sunscreen, vitamin A and vitamin C is also good for preventing wrinkles in the skin.

6. Sleeping position can cause wrinkles

Although it may sound a little strange, the position you sleep can also cause wrinkles in the skin. If you tend to like sleeping position tilted to one side, then you will easily wrinkled skin.

7. Stress can cause wrinkles

Stress that you experience can cause skin wrinkled and ends with skin wrinkles. Theore, when you approach stressful, try to resolve it in order not to affect the firmness of the skin.

Wrinkles can interfere with your performance. Theore avoid wrinkles with various ways of preventing both from within and from outside the body.

0 Why People With Diabetes Need To Be Vigilant About Food Safety

As of Friday, the number of eggs recalled in the latest salmonella-in-eggs debacle reached half a billion. The FDA considers this "one of the largest shell egg recalls in recent history."

Thoroughly cooking eggs kills salmonella, but it doesnt prevent infection via cross-contamination (or undercooking).

People with diabetes are more susceptible to infection from contaminated food. The USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) explains:

• The diabetics immune system may not readily recognize harmful bacteria. This delay in fighting off foreign invasion places a person with diabetes at increased risk for infection.
  
  
• Diabetes can damage cells that create stomach acid and nerves that help move the food through the intestinal tract. Stomach and intestines may hold on to food for a longer time, allowing harmful bacteria to grow.
  
  
• The diabetics kidneys may not be functioning properly and may hold on to harmful bacteria, toxins, and other pathogens.

Not only are people with diabetes more susceptible to infection, but if they do get sick it may last longer, it may require hospitalization, and there is a higher risk of death.

FSIS brochure, Food Safety for People with Diabetes (pdf), goes into more depth about:

• Specific pathogens.
  
• Which foods are more likely to be contaminated (namely uncooked produce and animal products). Eggs are notorious carriers of Salmonella.
  
• How to handle food safetly.
  
• Cooking and storage guidelines.
  
• Wise choices when eating out.

The FDA is maintaining a page to update which brands have been recalled and how to determine if your eggs are part of the recall. (Check Plant Number and Julian Date.):
FDA: Salmonella Enteritidis Outbreak in Eggs
________

0 5 Myths About Food for Weight Loss

Currently undergoing a weight loss diet, there is only information about the food that should be stopped and should not be consumed. Often dieters hunger for hours or exposed to malnutrition because they do not eat food that is touted to be avoided in the diet.Skipping carbs, drinking only water and fruit or slimming pill instead of making the body lean but it gives a more serious health problem. Diet does not mean you have to starve, but how to arrange a proper diet. Here are the myths about foods that could fatten the body, you need to know.

1. Rice Make Fat 
Fact: You will not get fat by eating rice, if the portions are not excessive. Rice will give you nutrients like magnesium, iron, fiber, protein and niacin. But keep in mind the type of rice that is consumed. Choose brown rice, brown rice or black rice instead of white rice. They are better because of its high fiber content as well as having a more healthy complex carbohydrates.

2. Coconut Oil is Good for Health 
Fact: Even though coconut oil belongs to the class of saturated oil, but coconut oil is good for health because abortion is good. Virgin coconut oil has the main content of lauric acid which acts as an antibiotic, anti-bacterial and fungi. Coconut oil can also increase your metabolism, increase energy, cure the infection quickly and easily absorbed by the body. Its just that limit their use, no more than two tablespoons per day.

3. All Saturated Fat Bad For Health
Fact: butter and cheese are in the category saturated oils, but they are still a family with coconut oil and palm oil are good for you. Fatty acids improve brain function and reduce osteoporosis in women. Even so, it remains wise use of saturated fat in your diet. Learn to differentiate between good fats and bad fats.

4. Bananas Make Fat
Fact: This fruit will actually give you an energy boost after exercise. Bananas can you eat to increase your intake of carbohydrates, fiber and vitamins. Bananas have no fat and are low in calories, so suitable to be consumed when you are on a weight loss diet.

5. Potatoes are fattening
Fact: It depends on how you cultivate potatoes. If you are frying and soaking in oil, there will be a form of fat deposits in your body. However, if the serve with roasted, boiled or steamed, potatoes are a healthy source of carbohydrates.

So what foods are fattening and should be removed?Rice, potatoes, coconut oil, banana and saturated fats instead of unhealthy foods. But there are some other foods that are potentially causing obesity. These foods should be avoided if you want a successful diet:- Foods containing sugar- A sweet snack- Ice cream- Carbonated beverages (soda)

0 About Tooth Whitening Systems And White Light Refills

Most of the stains and problems in teeth may be caused by tobacco, coffee, tea or age. But sometimes such type of stains can be caused by some antibiotics as well such as tetracycline or too much fluoride.

At this condition you can consult your dentist about tooth-whitening options. It includes a number of whitening systems. But now a days Teeth whitening systems like Bleaching kits, Bonding, Porcelain veneers, Whitening Toothpastes used by dentists can be purchased. The ingredients in the tooth whitening systems can be used carefully at home. These home tooth whitening systems do not require extensive treatment sessions; you have to spend only fifteen to thirty minutes in a day. How many days the tooth whitening system can be used depend on the amount of whitening the customer prefers to have on his/her teeth?

To use the tooth whitening systems, customer must put on thin thermoforming trays over the top and bottom teeth for only 15 -30 minutes a day. This formula has much whitening power than other tooth whitening systems, white light refills and therefore requires less application, less time and less effort. It improves higher percentage of active tooth whitening ingredients and is ph optimized to maximize the tooth whitening process.

Some teeth whiting systems:
Bleaching kits—it is mostly accepted whitening tool for tooth bleaching.
Bonding—a complex resin that is molded onto the teeth to change their shade and to reform them.
Porcelain veneers— it is used to reshape and/or lengthen teeth as well as to whiten.
Whitening Toothpastes— whitening toothpastes effectively keep the teeth cleaner and looking whiter. The stronger toothpastes rely on scratch to remove external stains as opposed to actually changing the color of teeth.

It is very important to isolates your gums and lips with a protective material in order to avoid burning of your soft tissue. It is for this reason that home whitening kits usually have a low concentration of peroxide so that there is less change of any damage at home. The tooth whitening system does not contain any fluoride and its quality formula actually reduces tooth sensitivity. We unconditionally guarantee your total satisfaction with the results of our product or your money back - no matter how many you order.

If you want to know more about white light refills as well as tooth whitening systems visit our site and learn more about these great products.

0 Nourishing our children documentary blows away illusions about processed food vs traditional diets

Nourishing our children documentary blows away illusions about processed food vs. traditional diets

A new two-hour video available on Premium NaturalNews TV blows away any remaining illusions about "healthy," processed food.

"Nourishing Our Children" advocates traditional diets, and is radical in that it turns the food pyramid upside down. For example, it shows how unhealthy processed cereals are, despite decades of "food pyramids" having conditioned us into believing cereals and cooked grains were a foundation of good health.

Watch the preview at: http://premium.naturalnews.tv/Nourishing_Our_Children.htm

If you were outraged by our investigation last year that uncovered how cereal companies only mimic blueberries through artificial chemicals in their "blueberry" products like cereals, wait until you see what is said in "Nourishing Our Children."

"Nourishing Our Children" is based on the work of Weston A. Price, a dentist who kept notes during his worldwide travels that correlated traditional diets with more robust and healthy people, from a young age onward. The genius of "Nourishing Our Children" is that it puts Dr. Prices work into very understandable sections, and orients it for the modern parent and child.

One review of "Nourishing Our Children" by Amy Love says:

"A well-organized and thorough examination of the incredible work and life-changing teachings of Dr. Weston A. Price, Nourishing Our Children is a most helpful resource for anyone looking for true guidance in the realm of nutrition. As a nutritional therapist, I see day in and day out how necessary education is, and Nourishing Our Children is an invaluable resource in my practice."

It is notable that there are several testimonials of parents who say their nine-year-old children viewed the film with them, and the kids were fascinated by how different the diet that Dr. Price recommends is from the government recommendations today. It is refreshing to know that a video on nutrition that takes them away from candy, processed foods, and confusing, industry-influenced, ever-waffling government recommendations can make sense, even to children.

Sections of "Nourishing Our Children" include:

• "Whats Really in the Cereal Bowl"
• "The Ploy of Soy"
• "What You Dont Know About Your Protein Bar"
• "The Skinny on Fat"
• "Got Real Milk? Chances Are You Dont"
• "Diet for Motherhood," and more

Plus there are sections that deal with fluoride in the water, traditional fats and oils, and healthy meal preparation for the whole family.

If you are a parent imagining a child:

• Raised according to the nutritional wisdom of our ancestors
• Growing up free of the common ailments and diseases that we currently take for granted
• Whose strong, white teeth grow in straight - and free of tooth decay
• Who is attentive and engaged, and can learn easily and readily because of optimal brain development
• Who is energetic by day and sleeps soundly at night
• Who has a strong immune system, does not experience childhood illnesses or allergies, and has a stable, cheerful and optimistic disposition

And youd like to learn "how to nourish, rather than merely feed, your family," as the filmmaker says, then click now to "Nourishing Our Children:"

http://premium.naturalnews.tv/Nourishing_Our_Children.htm

The maker of this video, Sandrine Hahn, was inspired by hearing a wake-up call that nutrient-dense foods are key for childhood development into healthy adults. She transformed 107 PowerPoint slides into 1,500 animated frames that run like a movie. The narration is accompanied by a musical score and sound effects that create a dynamic, inspirational, educational experience!

To view this informative and visually beautiful program and learn one of the most important things in our lives - to nourish our children, click here:

http://premium.naturalnews.tv/Nourishing_Our_Children.htm

0 Revealing Facts and Myths About Beer

Revealing Facts and Myths About Beer - Beer is one of the most popular beverage. Thousands or even millions of people around the world has ever drank, and even some people believe that what they are doing right. Many people believe that beer has a lot of the content of minerals and vitamins that are beneficial to the body and can promote a healthier life.

So, what is true of beer can be used as medicine to improve health? Lets find out myths and facts about beer below so there is no misconception about the beverage that can actually damage the body is:

1. Myth: Beer is a natural drink that is useful. Some people believe that beer is a drink which is very useful and should be part of their daily diets. Many people think that beer contains small amounts of alcohol concentration and if taken in reasonable doses, it may be beneficial to health.

Fact: In real, the beer should be considered more dangerous than wine (wine) or vodka, because it contains many harmful composites are processed from the fermentation. The composite is toxic (usually fermented waste) include aldehydes, Fusel oil, methanol, ether and so on. In addition, the alcohol content in beer is not always low and there is sometimes reached 14 percent.

2. Myth: Beer does not have such an effect that alcohol can make people addicted.

Fact: beer addict will experience severe psychological disorders and is often accompanied by anosognosia or get people out of control and difficult to get rid of these bad habits. It did not take long for someone to fall on a psychological dependence due to consumption of beer. So you should be careful to try this drink.

3. Myth: Beer is useful to help people switch from heavy drinking alcohol like vodka, wine and whiskey.

Fact: Many people have been fooled and assume that the consumption of beer is better than vodka or whiskey. In fact, beer and vodka are equally harmful.

4. Myth: Beer is useful for our brains. Beer contains silica, which can prevent brain atrophy, difficulty speaking and other problems.

Fact: Actually, alcohol destroys brain cells and this process takes place very rapidly in adolescents and youth. Regular beer consumption affects human intelligence and learning ability.

5. Myth: Beer good for the heart and blood vessels

Fact: Beer is very dangerous cause changes in physical form and working of human heart and the entire cardiovascular system. Beer contains large amounts of carbon dioxide rapidly into the blood and cause blood vessel problems, such as varicose veins.

6. Myth: Beer has a sense of fun and useful for our digestion.

Fact: Studies show that drinking too much beer increases the risk of someone suffering from colon cancer. In addition, beer contains elements such as cobalt, which is known for its trigger inflammation in the esophagus and stomach.

7. Myth: Beer is useful because it has lots of vitamins. Some beer lovers believe that by drinking a liter of beer a day can meet the daily allowance of all the required elements and vitamins.

Fact: Actually, the beer almost no vitamins at all. During the manufacturing process, all the vitamins that initially there will be lost. As a result, a liter of beer contains only 0.005 to 0.15 mg of thiamine and riboflavin from 0.3 to 1.3 mg.

8. Myth: Beer can improve sexual function

Fact: Alcohol is always bad for sexual function in both men and women. Alcohol inhibits the production of androgens in the body, which can substantially lower the sex drive. In addition, beer also contains some toxic substances, including heavy metal composites, which can cause dangerous changes in the endocrine system.

9. Myth: Beer is useful for our nervous system because it has a calming effect and helps to relieve stress

Fact: Beer affects the nervous system because it contains certain psychoactive ingredient, which makes beer acts as a dangerous intoxicating beverage. In addition, the beer has properties such as sedation, which affect working memory and sensorimotor.

10. Myth: Beer is good for the kidneys because of the nature diuretic

Fact: Beer to wash out the proteins, fats, carbohydrates and essential elements of good for our body, especially potassium, magnesium and vitamin C. Potassium deficiency can cause the body undergoes changes in heart rhythm, dry skin, pain in the legs. While magnesium deficiency triggers sleep disorders, irritability and nervousness. Lack of vitamin C in the body also cause immune problems, decreased concentration and mental imbalance.