Florida Medicare Plans

Medicare has four main parts:

• Part A covers the hospital and nursing facility
• Part B covers the doctors and medical services
• Part C covers the Medicare Advantage Plans
• Part D covers the Prescription Drug Plans

Part A - The Original Medicare Plan:

Medicare Part A covers in-patient hospital services. Includes semi-private room, food, general nursing, medications as part of your inpatient treatment, as well as other medical services and supplies.

You generally do not pay a monthly premium for Part A Medicare coverage in Florida if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while employed. Other coverage includes:

Home Health Services: restricted to medically necessary skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language-pathology, or a continuing need for occupational therapy. You must receive a doctor order for care from a Florida medicare certified home health agency. Also includes medical social services, medical equipment and supplies for home use.

Hospice Care: For people with a terminal illness. Medicare provides coverage for pain relief and medical services. Respite care is provided for up to 5 days each time you get respite care.

Medicare Part B

Any individual, who passes the eligibility guidelines for Medicare Part A, is also eligible for Medicare Part B. This coverage under the Medicare program is made for health practitioner services, outpatient treatment, as well as some medical services which are not included under Part A.

Medicare Part B pays 80% of most doctor's services, outpatient treatment, and durable medical equipment (such as oxygen or wheelchairs). This also includes services or supplies which are required to diagnose or take care of your medical condition.

Part C - Medicare Advantage Plans:

If you join a Florida Medicare Advantage Plan, the plan must provide all of your Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) benefits, including emergency and urgent care.

The benefits of a Medicare Advantage Plan:

• Low monthly premiums
• Some plans offer additional benefits such as dental and vision
• Only one medical question needs to be answered: Do you have renal disease?

Part D - Prescription Drug Plans:

A Prescription Drug Plan is an insurance policy issued by a private company to help cover the expenses for both brand-name and generic prescription drugs that aren't covered by Part A or Part B.

The benefits of a Florida Medicare Prescription Drug Plan:

• Low out of pocket expenses
• Choose any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare
• Protection from unexpected prescription drug bills in the future

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Naturopathic Health: Ocimum Sanctum for Stress Relief

Dr. Jaclyn Chasse, N.D. is a licensed naturopathic doctor and the Medical Educator for Emerson Ecologics, a distributor of dietary supplements to medical professionals. Dr. Chasse’s clinical practice, Northeast Center for Holistic Medicine ( www.northeast-holistic.com), focuses on women’s health, pediatrics and infertility, with an emphasis on botanical medicine. Dr. Chasse is also a master gardener and spends her free time cooking, playing in the woods with her family and taming her small yard into an urban permaculture oasis. 

I love practicing as a naturopathic doctor. I knew this before I even saw my first patient, but every day since has reinforced that for me. I have always been a nature-lover and a scientist, and the use of herbs as medicine allows me to take those two loves and apply them to help others. It is incredibly fulfilling. But even more than that, I am consistently surprised, taught and humbled by the plants that I use in practice. Like trusted friends, their potent actions exceed what I could expect of them. They go above and beyond to heal in ways that I would not have expected.

One example of this was with a patient who came in to see me for fertility. No clear medical cause for the couple’s difficulty conceiving could be found, but in speaking with them it was very clear that at least part of the problem was the incredible stress the couple was under. On top of the stressors of trying to start a family, they each had stressful jobs along with typical financial and relationship stressors. For the husband, the stress seemed to roll off his back, but the woman was clearly overwhelmed. She complained of anxiety and trouble sleeping, and felt like she was less effective at work and at home than she used to be. 

I ordered the testing that I typically run on couples who come in for fertility and started them on a basic multivitamin and fish oil. I also started the woman on holy basil (one of my favorite plants). Ocimum sanctum, also known as sacred basil, is a well known adaptogen that comes from the Ayurvedic tradition. It has been reported to support almost every system of the body including the cardiovascular system, the digestive tract and the endocrine systems. It is most famous for its effects on the hormones that manage stress—cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Holy basil is a versatile herb used in traditional Indian Ayurvedic healing.
Photo by Jaclyn Chasse 

At their follow up visit a few weeks later, we met to discuss their laboratory test results. When I saw the couple again, there was a visible change in the woman. She reported feeling more grounded. Her anxiety had subsided and she was sleeping again. She noticed that whenever she forgot her holy basil, her feeling of being overwhelmed would creep back.

This plant has had a profound effect on her hormonal system, and I’m happy to report that the couple now has a 1.5 year old daughter. But the holy basil that the woman started on that first visit is what allowed her to heal and to be able to be more present in her own life. Pretty amazing for a little plant!

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Many (Many) Uses for Beeswax

I’ve recently gotten very attached to honey as my sweetener of choice, especially for tea, hot breakfast cereal and homemade bread. But today I want to share some information about another precious honey bee product: beeswax.

Bees use their wax to build honeycomb cells for the raising of young and storing of honey and pollen. For humans, beeswax has had many versatile uses throughout history. The ancient Egyptians used it to seal everything from boats to perfumes to sarcophagi. The ancient Greeks sculpted with it and the Romans used wooden tablets covered with beeswax for easy message writing and erasing. More recently, you consume beeswax every time you indulge in a handful of Jelly Bellies or Haribo Gummy Bears.

 
The Ancient Greeks used beeswax to make statues.
Photo by Shovelling Son/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shovellingson/3419609842/ 

Through the ages beeswax has come to be used for a variety of other purposes in both professional and domestic domains. Perhaps the most pervasive and recognizable presence in our lives is in beeswax candles, whether you’re more familiar with the dipped and herb-infused aromatherapy pillars, tiny tea lights or the often uneven hand-rolled sort you can make with a simple craft kit. Beeswax candles are often preferred for their pure light and scents without smoke. Due to the high price, however, many candles are made of a combination of beeswax and other candle waxes such as tallow.

The popularity of beeswax candles aside, this wax can be used in a number of home projects and crafts.

Herbal uses for beeswax include both cosmetic and medicinal applications. In cosmetics, beeswax is used to make lip balms such as this peppermint orange recipe and stains like this beet root coloring. Medicinal salves (try this one with skin-healing calendula), ointments and plasters also use beeswax to give the product texture, form and easy application as well as to moisturize and condition your skin. 

In the garden, beeswax can be used to make pest deterrents such as this deer-repelling tonic “stick,” and can also act as a polishing finish for granite, wood and wrought iron either outside or in your home. Beeswax combined with oil-eating microbes can help clean up oil spills. 

Do you have heavy clothes or shoes that need to be repaired? Thread coated with beeswax is sturdy and waterproof. Old furniture joints and hinges getting unwieldy? Oiling them with beeswax can provide smooth, quiet motion. Beeswax-based saddle soap can condition and seal leather, and beeswax alone will keep your copper and bronze from oxidizing.

If you’re artistically inclined you might want to try my personal favorites for the use of beeswax in art: batik and Ukranian pysanky, a detailed egg-decoration technique. It takes some special tools and dyes, but it’s a style of art that’s always appealed to me. Besides, the finished eggs would make beautiful gifts.

The art of Ukranian pysanky uses beeswax to create intricately colored designs.
Photo by Kateryna Naumova/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kateryna_naumova/4545877068/  

I’m sure there are more uses for this versatile wax out there. What have you used it for or seen it in? What use is your favorite? 

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Rosmarinus Officinalis: Growing Rosemary for Food and Health

Heidi Cardenas is a freelance writer and gardener in Lake County, Illinois, with a background in human resources. She has written about gardening for various online venues and enjoys The Herb Companion’s valuable resources. 

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an herbaceous perennial plant related to mint. It is used for culinary, medicinal and personal care products. It has straight, pointed green leaves that grow on long branches. The plant’s leaves are very aromatic, releasing a strong pine scent when touched, cut or crushed. Depending on the variety, rosemary grows anywhere from 3 feet to 8 feet high with upright branches that grow from a central base and produce tiny blue, pink or white flowers. Usually grown as a potted herb, rosemary will grow as large as your pot allows.

 
Potted rosemary will grow as large as you allow it; 
it is kept small and bushy by clipping the tips.
Photo by Heidi Cardenas 

Rosemary needs well-drained soil to grow well. Sand and finely crushed gravel should be added to the garden soil where rosemary is planted. In areas where the soil freezes in winter, rosemary will not survive and should be either dug up and brought indoors or transplanted to a winter shelter, such as a cold frame or a greenhouse.
Rosemary has been used since ancient times to season foods, to make personal hygiene products, in religious traditions and for protection from evil. Sprigs of dried rosemary were burned to clear spaces of negativity, evil spirits and illness. Fresh rosemary sprigs were placed in pillows to encourage good dreams and ward off nightmares. Rosemary crowns were worn in the spring and fall during festivities. It was used as a strewing herb to repel fleas, lice and other vermin in homes. Today, chopped fresh or dried rosemary is sprinkled or rubbed on meats, added to stews and soups and used to flavor herb breads. Dried rosemary sprigs are attractive additions to dried flower arrangements and herbal wreaths and braids. Rosemary is used in many herbal preparations such as salves, creams and rinses. One simple preparation that I particularly like is rosemary water hair rinse.

 
Rosemary steeped in filtered or distilled water, or boiled in water,
is a pleasant hair rinse to use after shampooing.
Photo by Heidi Cardenas 

Steep a couple of sprigs of freshly cut rosemary in filtered or distilled water for a couple of days, or boil them in water, add an equal amount of clear water and use it to rinse your hair after shampooing for a fresh, clean, natural shine. Boiled dried rosemary can substitute to make this hair rinse. A stronger preparation from fresh rosemary sprigs makes a good disinfectant.

 
Rosemary has long, pointy leaves that grow from its branches.
Photo by Heidi Cardenas 

To make a natural, pine-scented disinfectant spray chop up fresh rosemary, add it to boiling water for about 3 minutes, strain, and put into a spray bottle. Use it in your kitchen and bathroom.

Rosemary is a sturdy, fragrant herb to grow in the garden or indoors for many uses, including culinary, hygiene, cleaning and even topiary. It’s readily available at garden centers, nurseries and grocery stores; it's an easy herb to grow and use year round indoors and out. 

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Turmeric: Health Benefits with a Kick

As the weather turns cooler I dream of foods that are piping hot inside and out: warm and spicy, spreading comforting heat from my zombie-blue fingertips (my hands get cold as soon as the temperature threatens to drop below 60 degrees) to my numb toes. My favorite is curry, be it Indian, Thai or Japanese, and it was while I was investigating new recipes to try that I stumbled across turmeric (Curcuma longa). Distracted from my desire for mouthwatering spice blends, I decided to investigate.

Turmeric powder is one of the primary ingredients in curry powder.
Photo by Carlos Lorenzo/ Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlos_lorenzo/  

Curcuma longa is one of the primary ingredients in standard curry powders and the source of its bright yellow coloring. Native to South Asia, this herb’s introduction to the West came primarily through dyes and occasionally food as a cheaper substitute for saffron in medieval Europe. It is the yellow that tints many prepared mustard condiments, butters, cheeses, yogurts, pickles and fruit drinks today, and it is still used in dyeing saris in India and Pakistan.

Turmeric has long been used as a fabric and food dye.
Photo by PrincessFroglips/ Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/janed42/  

In addition to its yummy hot-pepper flavor, this member of the ginger family has recently been noticed by Western scientists for the curcumin it contains—a compound that has been shown to suppress tumors, boost the cognitive strength of people struggling with Alzheimer’s and kill cancer cells. Asian medicinal practices, such as the Indian Ayurvedic tradition, have long recognized turmeric as a useful healing herb, but the benefits were largely ignored by Western culture until well into the 20th century. Unlike ginger, it’s only recently that turmeric has joined the ranks of our Western spice racks and acknowledged health-boosting herbs.

As a healing agent, turmeric has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties. It boosts the immune system and is rich in antioxidants that aid in the body’s fight against cancer, heart failure, cataracts, dementia and ulcers. Recent studies show it to be effective in reducing arthritis pain and lowering cholesterol levels.

According to Ayurvedic practice, turmeric is a whole-body-cleanser, and an infusion of turmeric and hot milk is a common home remedy for colds and coughs. (Recommended Dose: 1 teaspoon turmeric per cup of milk.) This herb has long been used in India to prevent food poisoning and other digestive disorders, and it is traditionally considered to keep disease away from the body.

At a traditional Bengali wedding, turmeric paste is applied to the face of both the bride and groom.
Photo by Rajiv Ashrafi/ Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bdgamer/  

Chinese medicine historically used turmeric to treat wounds, primary syphilis, menstrual disorders and digestive worm poison. Today, Chinese scientists consider turmeric to aid the flow of qi (a body’s natural energy) and blood; they use it (in conjunction with other herbs) to treat both viral hepatitis and pain of the chest and abdomen.

If you would like to use turmeric as a health measure, try the infusion mention above (up to three cups a day), or consider a capsule supplement (400mg 3 times per day). Of course, my favorite way to reap the benefits of this rhizome is through the spicy goodness of a bowl of curry. But be cautious, as turmeric can upset the stomach if consumed in large amounts and may interfere with prescription and over-the-counter drugs. If you have any concerns, speak with a health care professional.

Resources: The Healing Power of Chinese Herbs and Medicinal Recipes by Jouseph P. Hou, PhD and Youyu Jin, PhD.
Ayurvedic Herbs: A Clinical Guide to the Healing Plants of Indian Medicineby M.S. Premila, PhD
The New Healing Herbsby Michael Castleman

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In the News: Dallas Woman Promotes Herb Benefits Through the Years

What do you think you’ll be doing when you’re 92 years old? Seventy years from now I’d like to picture myself happily retired and relaxing on a warm beach somewhere without a care in the world. The last thing I imagine I’d be doing is maintaining a thriving community garden filled with more than two dozen herbs. But this is just how Lane Furneaux spends her days at North Dallas’ Edgemere retirement community. I was inspired when I read Betsy Friauf’s article At 92, Dallas woman is the Johnny Appleseed of herbs in The Dallas Morning News. Furneaux has spent the last 30 years working to make Dallas a world class herb education center and she isn’t looking to give up anytime soon.   

Furneaux first started actively pursuing this goal in 1980 when she convinced the Preston Royal Shopping Center to hold Dallas’s first ever week-long fresh herb celebration. The first 500 copies of her 1989 book Heavenly Herbs: Enjoy Them!quickly sold out and copies have now been sold in every state and continent in the world. When Furneaux’s husband Bill passed away eight years ago, she recruited a longtime friend to help convert a landscaped area of the Edgemere grounds into her own special gardening space.

 
Photo by John 'K'/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnkay/ 

Furneaux has not let age slow her down, despite a myriad of health issues including macular degeneration and sciatica, she continues to spend hours each day in Edgemere’s herb garden and is committed to educating as many people as she can on the culinary and health benefits of fresh herbs.

According to Friauf, John Falldine, Edgemere's managing director, plans to start expanding the community's garden plot soon.

Click here to read the original article At 92, Dallas woman is the Johnny Appleseed of herbs.

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Studies Find Increasing Health Benefits From Vitamin D

The US Institute of Medicine is involved in a study that will likely result in an increase in the recommended daily intake of vitamin D. VOAs Carol Pearson reports that research shows vitamin D affects nearly every area of the body and low levels of vitamin D can have serious

vitamin d health benefits

Vitamin D from UV Exposure Can Decrease Cancer By 80% - ABC NEWS

The facts and fiction about Vitamin D, the sun, and tanning. Health Expert Dr. Marc Sorenson interviewed by ABC

Vitamin D uv exposure

Vitamin D - The Forgotten Vitamin

Dr Robert Carlson of Sarasota, FL explaining the benefits, dosing, and other issues surrounding vitamin

vitamin d - the forgotten vitamin

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Beauty Ingredient: The Benefits of Patchouli

Dawn is the owner of Seattle Hill Soap Company and formulates natural and safe soaps and skin care items that are enhanced by herbs, botanicals, or clays. You can find Seattle Hill Soap Company at www.seattlehillsoaps.com. 

Patchouli is a bushy plant with large, soft and furry leaves. It’s native to Malaysia but is now cultivated in a number of southeastern Asian countries. Its essential oil can range from light golden-brown to dark amber-brown, depending on the type of metal used in the distillation. Like wine, patchouli gets better with age. Some suppliers will hold back their premium lots, age it just like a wine, then sell it as premium oil. The fragrance, although difficult to describe, is earthy, musty, pungent and very strong. Patchouli’s fragrance can be very off-putting to some, but it is very alluring to others. My personal experience is that people either love it or hate it. I have many customers that buy my patchouli soap simply because they love its fragrance and for no other reason. Although it is known to be an aphrodisiac, I’m sure its effectiveness would be suspect if one thought it stank. 

( Relax with a patchouli-infused foot soak. ) 

Photo by Sam Ley/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phidauex/3682831457/ 

The skin benefits of patchouli oil are plentiful. It regenerates skin cells, which makes it useful for hastening the healing of wounds and to fade scars. It tightens and tones sagging skin. Because of patchouli’s anti-inflammatory properties, it can calm skin problems such as sunburn, acne, eczema and other forms of dermatitis. It regulates sebum production and helps treat acne and dandruff. The fungicidal properties make it appropriate for combating athlete’s foot, jock itch and fungal problems of the skin such as Candida. It soothes and smoothes cracked skin and is said to be beneficial for helping brittle and weak nails. Patchouli is also known to be an antidepressant and helps treat anxiety, nervous disorders and other stress-related conditions. 

Never use patchouli essential oil neat (without diluting.) There are many applications in which you can use patchouli oil: skin balms, skin oils (macadamia and emu are a couple of my favorites), soaps, lotions and bath salts are a few. My best advice is that you use patchouli sparingly. It is quite strong and a little goes a very long way. 

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Every Herb Has a Story: Fenugreek Uses

Randy Buresh (Registered Nurse and Herbalist), is the co-owner and founder of Oregon’s Wild Harvest. Oregon’s Wild Harvest grows, harvests and produces their own medicinal herbal products, many of which use the herbs grown on their certified Biodynamic® and Organic farm in Sandy, Oregon. www.oregonswildharvest.com 

Open a bottle of fresh fenugreek and the smell is distinctive: maple abounds! Fenugreek is among the best-selling herbs in the United States, and it has been for many years.  Commonly used by nursing mothers, fenugreek is widely known for its lactation support—its ability to increase milk flow.

Fenugreek originates from India and northern Africa, and has a long history of medicinal and culinary use. Medicinal applications of fenugreek were documented in ancient Egypt, where it was used for embalming mummies.

Fenugreek has historically been valued across many cultures and eras.  

As an aid to increasing milk flow, fenugreek has been historically valued across many cultures and eras, from the relatively recent use by wet nurses in the southern United States to other cultures such as Sudan, Egypt, Iraq and Argentina. In India, once a child has been born, women are encouraged to eat fenugreek seeds as a supplement to encourage the healthy flow of milk.

The benefits of fenugreek in breastfeeding likely stem from the diosgenin in its seeds, a compound similar to estrogen. As such, it increases milk production and stimulates breast tissue.

Fenugreek also contains a gumming substance called mucilage. When mixed with water mucilage expands and becomes gelatinous, and effectively soothes irritated tissues, making fenugreek an effective aid for digestion.

It’s an herb with a story—and many helpful uses. That's why fenugreek is Oregon Wild Harvests' herb of the month.

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Weekend Getaway: Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference

Erin is the Communications Manager at Mountain Rose Herbs and an apprenticing herbalist at the Columbines School of Botanical Studies, where she botanizes and wildcrafts medicinal plants in the magnificent Oregon Cascades. www.mountainroseherbs.com 

Henry wore a straw hat and a friendly smile. Holding a sign that read Traditions in Western Herbalism, his eyes scanned the Albuquerque airport for arriving passengers. One by one, the five of us gathered with bags in arms as we exchanged hugs and greetings. Sparkling with excitement, our small group of herbal adventurers climbed into Henry’s truck and followed the Rio Grande three hours north through rural desert towns and stunning landscapes to the Ghost Ranch in Abiquiú, where the herbalist's revival would soon transpire. 

 
Beautiful striped mesa on the horizon.
Photo by Erin McIntosh 

Fragrant sagebrush and junipers ornamented the majestic red and orange painted mesas that welcomed us on Friday morning. We settled into our adobe dwellings, which softened harmoniously
against the exquisite ochre terrain, and prepared for the weekend’s promise. An extraordinary medley of teachers, including Rosemary Gladstar, Paul Bergner, Matthew Wood, Phyllis Light and many others, had traveled from all corners of the country to share their wisdom with eager attendees. The days would surely be steeped in diverse tradition, innovation and revelry. 

Oregon herbalist Howie Brounstein’s hilarious skullcap lecture.
Photo by Erin McIntosh 

Classes gathered under towering cottonwoods and beautiful wooden pavilions. Around the ceremonial fire pit, Kiva Rose and Jim McDonald led a fascinating discussion of plant energetics and intuitive herbalism through the exploration of aromatics, flavor and form. Howie Brounstein’s lecture on the benefits of skullcap, a nutritive and calming herb, had an unexpected effect on the crowd, instigating thunderous spells of uproarious laughter that could be heard echoing well down the trail! Through powerful anecdotes and cautious guidance, Charles Garcia taught techniques for safely distributing basic herbal formulas like teas, salves and medicinal syrups to help nourish and heal the homeless in our neighborhoods. All the sessions were thought-provoking and deeply stirring.

Discovering the high desert flora during 7Song’s plant walk.
Photos by Erin McIntosh 

Touring the high desert flora during 7Song’s sunny plant walk was another highlight. Punctuated by lovely botanical language and cleverly crafted mnemonic jokes, 7Song helped us identify the fruiting cholla cacti, vibrant orange globe mallows, tumbleweeds and flame colored Castillejas. Mimi Hernandez’s class on Appalachia’s wild mountain roots boasted a mesmerizing assortment of freshly harvested specimens. During her talk, we examined mammoth poke roots, knobby black cohosh, spindly blue cohosh and fleshy bloodroot that oozed gorgeously when snapped open. We were also treated to sassafras, yellowroot, stoneroot and a trove of wild-crafted tinctures for sampling.

Studying freshly harvested bloodroot.
Photo by Erin McIntosh 

After spending the hot southwestern days immersed in plant talk, a brilliant waxing moon lured us to the awaiting nighttime festivities. Rosemary Gladstar blessed the gathering with an impassioned call to steward our wild medicinal plants by spreading their seeds in our gardens. Her extraordinary work with the United Plant Savers was met with immense gratitude from all in attendance. Soon, storytelling by a spirited Jesse Wolf Hardin was in full swing as Rising Appalachia strummed their twinkling banjos and flamenco dancers swirled with grace around the stage. The colorful congregation of plant teachers, performers and attendees bounced and swayed as the poetry and rhythms inspired buoyancy.

Rising Appalachia singing a Bulgarian lullaby.
Photo by Erin McIntosh 

Sunday afternoon of the conference was anchored by an impressive panel of speakers who possess over 200 years of combined experience in herbal studies. The honored teachers shared their unique voices to weave a collective image of what they envision grassroots herbalism will become. At the heart of their dream was hope that humanity will allow the plants around us to be our teachers and that we will fearlessly use the knowledge we gain to enrich and empower our communities. I cannot imagine a more proper finale to this potent, surprising and beautiful weekend amongst herb loving friends in the New Mexican wilds.

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Role Of Vitamin D In Reducing Osteoporosis

Vitamin D helps prevent osteoporosis, a painful disease caused by the thinning of bones. It is usually considered that calcium deficiency is responsible for weakening of bones leading to fractures and mobility problems but research has shown that along with calcium, deficiency of Vitamin D is equally responsible for unhealthy bones.

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a degenerative disease which affects your bones and makes them thin and brittle which increases risks of a fracture. It involves reduction of the BMD or

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Vitamin D Is Essential For Women

With the consumption of vitamin D, women can benefit in a number of ways. Vitamin d is a kind of fat-soluble secosteroids, present in milk, fish, meat and eggs. It can also be obtained from exposure to sunlight and dietary supplements. It is important for maintaining a healthy body. Women who are more prone to suffering from its deficiency than men are can profit a lot by eating food rich in vitamin D.
Deficiency of Vitamin D
Vitamin D has a significant role to play in ensuring a healthy life. Deficit of this nutrient can have

vitamin d and women

Vitamin D Test: Are You Deficient?

Vitamin D test can be described as an examination to find out the presence of 25-hydroxyvitaminD2 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 metabolites that form the major active state of vitamin D circulating in the body. Vitamin D is a kind of fat-soluble secosteroid. They play an important role in ensuring a healthy body. Getting a vitamin D test is the most effective way to test the quantity of vitamin D present in the human body.
Why is getting tested important?
Lack of vitamin D is now known to be the cause of many complicated diseases;

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Get The Best Health Insurance

Getting the right type of health insurance coverage is crucial. Good Insurance Matters will help you find the best health insurance plan to suit your needs. They will compare rates and plans across several of the top health insurance carriers in order to give you the highest quality plan at the lowest possible price. Good Insurance Matters provides:

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How to Supplement Vitamin D into Your Diet

Vitamin D supplementation is vital as it improves your body’s immune system. There are a number of benefits it has on your overall health and well being.
Benefits of vitamin D supplementation
This is a great supplement to take as proper supplementation prevents you from getting sick as often, especially if you are prone to a lot of allergies. If you have proper levels of vitamin D in your diet, you are less prone to respiratory illness than you would normally be. Studies have shown that vitamin D supplementation is

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Vitamin D Pain Treatment

By an added consumption of Vitamin D, pain can be relieved to a great extent, researches pronounce. At least 8 out of every 10 people experience pain in one form or the other in their span of life. The symptoms and causes of pain however, differ from person to person. A deficiency of Vitamin D is a cause for many forms of pain, the most common among which is muscle pain. You may feel that this deficit of vitamin D is rare. In that case, you will be surprised to know that in a recent study concentrating on the six regions of

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Understanding Vitamin D Levels

Your Vitamin D level is one of the most important things which need to be checked regularly in a human body. The Vitamin D can be obtained through the sunlight and also through food. Some of the most common diseases or body malfunctions which arise as a result of improper Vitamin D levels are rickets, osteoporosis and osteomalacia.
What are the consequences of the Vitamin D deficiency?
The lack of vitamin D in the body results in the decrease of absorption of calcium from the intestine. Due to this deficiency in the body, the

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Vitamin D3 – What It Does For Your Body

While vitamin D is good for your health, very few people are aware of its two different forms and their effect on the body.

Vitamin D is often known as the sunshine vitamin and most people do not know that it has two forms, D2 and D3, of which only vitamin D3 is produced through the natural synthesis of sunlight on the skin. Plants and fungi on the other hand produce Vitamin D2. You can find vitamin D2 more commonly, as milk, cereals and juices are fortified with it. The two forms are commonly known as ergocalciferol (vitamin

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Vitamin D Toxicity - Is It A Matter Of Concern?

The facts about vitamin D are mostly unexplored especially when it comes to vitamin D toxicity, even though we need this for our proper growth and health. The more facts researchers are discovering about vitamin D from various study’s, the more it is found to be essential for our overall well-being. There are large pools of people who are suffering from vitamin D deficiency. Everything from immune system dysfunction, poor bone health, anti-aging, heart disease and cancer is related to vitamin D deficiency.
Toxicity from

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The Many Sources of Vitamin D

There are many different kinds of vitamin D sources available. In order for you to determine which of the vitamin D sources are beneficial to you, you need to speak to your physician who will recommend the right vitamin D sources for you to take. There are varied vitamin D sources such as the sun, food and supplements. Any one of the vitamin D sources can improve your health greatly.

Different Vitamin D Sources

There are different kinds of vitamin D sources here such as the sun as well as vegetables and not to mention the

vitamin d sources

Vitamin D – Depression and Other Mental Illness Treatment

There are many health benefits for the presence of Vitamin D in your body. Many mental illnesses can be treated with Vitamin D. Depression is seen when there is a lack or insufficiency of the vitamin. This is also effective against illnesses such as Seasonal Affective Disorder and dementia. Many health care professionals advocate the use of Vitamin D to ward it off. Vitamin D is a hormone, and not literally a vitamin like the others. The best way to get it is from being in sunlight. There are other sources of it as well such

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Importance Of Proper Vitamin D IU Levels

Vitamin D plays an essential role in the body which is absolutely necessary for the absorption and maintenance of calcium. Having the required amount of calcium in the body enables the maintenance of the appropriate structure within the bones, teeth and proper functioning of the nervous system. This is the major reason why we require the appropriate levels of vitamin D in our body. Vitamin D belongs to a group of fat-soluble vitamins. This means you need to transport the fats. In order for the Vitamin to become active, it needs

vitamin d iu

Importance Of Proper Vitamin D IU Levels

Vitamin D plays an essential role in the body which is absolutely necessary for the absorption and maintenance of calcium. Having the required amount of calcium in the body enables the maintenance of the appropriate structure within the bones, teeth and proper functioning of the nervous system. This is the major reason why we require the appropriate levels of vitamin D in our body. Vitamin D belongs to a group of fat-soluble vitamins. This means you need to transport the fats. In order for the Vitamin to become active, it needs

vitamin d iu

Importance Of Proper Vitamin D IU Levels

Vitamin D plays an essential role in the body which is absolutely necessary for the absorption and maintenance of calcium. Having the required amount of calcium in the body enables the maintenance of the appropriate structure within the bones, teeth and proper functioning of the nervous system. This is the major reason why we require the appropriate levels of vitamin D in our body. Vitamin D belongs to a group of fat-soluble vitamins. This means you need to transport the fats. In order for the Vitamin to become active, it needs

vitamin d iu

The Vitamin D Cancer Link

Recent studies showing strong evidence of vitamin d cancer fighting properties has increased the possibilities of finding a cure or ways to prevent the disease. A deadly disease which has been the bane of the modern society, cancer is caused by uncontrolled growth and division of a group of cells. These genetically abnormal cells divide rapidly and spread into adjacent healthy tissues forming malignant tumors. This invasion is followed by metastasis i.e. the breaking away of the cancer cells from the tumor and their spread by

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