Who Will Benefit From The Health Care Reform Bill

July 28, 2010
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When the $940 billion health care plan takes effect, about 32 million Americans who don’t have health insurance will be covered with the new health care plan.  Here are a few ways on how the health care reform bill will help real people with health insurance problems.

* Effective in six months time, children with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied health care.  Even if a child’s parents lose their jobs, they will not be denied a private insurance based on their child’s condition.
* In 2014, insurance companies will not be able to deny adults with pre-existing condition coverage or charge them higher premiums.  Also, in 2014, Medicaid will cover individuals up…

Fried Tofu With Dashi Broth

July 28, 2010
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Tofu is healthy and is a good replacement for meats.  If you have friends who are not tofu eaters, try serving them this Japanese dish called agedashi dofu.  This dish consists of deep fried tofu with dashi broth and is perfect as an appetizer or you can serve them at parties.

Ingredients

2 cups store-bought dashi, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 3 tablespoons mirin, One pack of firm or extra-firm silken-style tofu (cut into 3/4-inch cubes), 1/4 cup corn starch, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 quart peanut oil, salt, 2 finely sliced scallions, 2 ounces grated daikon radish, katsuobushi or dried, shaved bonito found in Asian markets

Procedure:

1.  Combine dashi, soy and…

New Health Law Requires US Restaurant Chains To Show Calorie Counts

July 25, 2010
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Part of the health care bill that was signed by President Barack Obama into law on Tuesday is a legislation that requires restaurant chains with 20 or more outlets to show the calorie count of their food items on menus, menu boards and drive-throughs.  They will also need to show how many calories a healthy person should eat in a day.  Vending machines will also be required to show calorie information.

The new law mandates the US FDA to draft new national standards for menu labeling that will affect some 200,000 fast food and other chain restaurants.  The FDA will enforce the new law and will have the powers to initiate…

National Nutritional Labeling: Part Of The Health Care Bill

July 25, 2010
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Not everyone may be completely happy with the health care reform bill that was passed but there are individual components that will be of benefit to significant portions of the American population. One of these is the provision for chain restaurants and in vending machines to add nutritional labels and calorie contents on their menus.

This provision will provide customers with a wide range of information regarding the food items to help them decide before purchasing.  Calorie information will also be placed on menus, menu boards and drive-thru boards.

Section 2572 of the landmark legislation requires that chain restaurants with 20 or more locations and owners of 20 or more vending machines…

Japanese Style-Fried Chicken

July 25, 2010
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Try this Japanese style fried chicken more commonly known as Karaage.  It’s got everything you want in a snack because it is crispy, juicy and salty.  Make this into a healthy meal by serving with brown rice and sautéed vegetables.

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs (trimmed of fat and cut into1-inch chunks), 2 tbsp. soy sauce, 2 finely minced cloves garlic, 2 tsp. grated fresh ginger, 1 quart peanut oil, 1/4 cup corn starch, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, salt and pepper, 1 finely sliced scallion, 1 lemon

Procedure:

1.  Marinate chicken in a bowl with soy sauce, garlic and ginger.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes up to…

Healthy Moroccan-Style Chickpea Soup

July 9, 2010
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Try making this Moroccan-Style Chickpea soup.  This soup is packed with chickpeas that will easily make you feel full so you’ll eat less.  Add a refreshing burst of flavor by putting fresh lemon and cilantro and make this into a meal by serving with fresh-baked pita bread.

Ingredients:

3 cups low-sodium chicken or veggie broth, 2 cans chickpeas (rinsed and drained), 1 can diced tomatoes, 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, salt and pepper, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 diced medium onion, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, 5 or 6 ounces spinach (cooked), lemon wedges

Procedure:

1.  Combine broth, chickpeas, tomatoes, saffron and ½ teaspoon…

Scallops With Spinach And Arugula

July 9, 2010
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Scallops taste great and are easy to cook.  This easy and simple scallop recipe is more delicious with spinach, arugula, garlic and red pepper flakes.  Impress your partner by serving this when you’re having a romantic dinner.

Ingredients:

16 large sea scallops (rinsed, dried and tough muscles removed), Salt and pepper, 3 tablespoons Canola oil, 2 garlic cloves (thinly sliced), 7 ounces baby spinach, 7 ounces baby arugula, 1/4 teaspoon crush red-pepper flakes

Procedure:

1.  Season the scallops with salt and pepper.  Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat.  Place the scallops in the skillet and cook them for 6 to 7 minutes on one side.  Flip them and cook for another…

How To Avoid Overeating When You’re In A Bad Mood

July 9, 2010
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Some people tend to overeat when they are stressed, anxious, frustrated and bored.  Emotions can make us eat that leads to overeating.  Overeating can lead to weight gain and other diseases.  Here are some tips on how you can avoid and stop eating too much.

* Change your beliefs and your way of thinking.  When you indulge by having 1 or 2 handfuls of potato chips, you’d probably say that you might as well eat the whole bag.  Other examples would be the way you blame yourself and your weight when something wrong happens like not getting promoted.  Stop doing this and begin to identify and change what you say to…

Effective Natural Remedies

June 28, 2010
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Most of the widely used drugs today have a herbal origin.  Herbs and medicinal plants can help us relieve the pain or provide a cure for ailments.  Here is a list of age-old remedies that are proven to be effective.

* A tea made of lemon balm may help you sleep soundly and helps you keep calm and focused.  It is proven to cut agitation in patients with dementia and appears to calm an overactive thyroid in Grave’s disease.
* The thiosulfinates in onions can reduce diabetes symptoms and can help protect against cardiovascular diseases.  Quercetin found in onions prevents inflammations associated with allergies and also protects against stomach ulcers and colon,…

How To Save Your Teeth

June 28, 2010
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Brushing your teeth is not enough to keep your whole mouth healthy.  Here are a few tips on how you can take care of your teeth that will last for a lifetime.

* Do a self exam.  Check your mouth every couple of months.  Check for red and white patches, flaking on the tongue, pigmented lesions and sores with uneven borders.
* Calm cankers are benign but painful sores that tend to pop up when you’re stressed.  To ease the pain, dab a topical pain reliever like Anbesol or Orajel directly on the spot.
* Brush your teeth and the back of your tongue to remove odor-causing bacteria.  You can skip mouthwash because…