California fines two health plans $13 million - Los Angeles Times

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California fines two health plans $13 million Los Angeles Times - 20 hours ago Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield also agree to restore coverage to patients whose coverage was canceled after they became ill. By Lisa Girion, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield -- two of the state's biggest health plans ... Blue Shield of California Statement Regarding DMHC Settlement FOXBusiness 2 health insurers to pay $13M to Calif. regulators The Associated Press Wall Street Journal Blogs - eFluxMedia - InjuryBoard.com - Kaiser network.org all 403 news articles

Herbal weight loss supplements have become so popular in the last decade that manufacturers are spinning out more and more products. This leaves us, the consumers, dizzied by the choices. Some of the more popular herbal weight loss supplements are hoodia, guarana, dandelion, cascara, St. John's wort and green tea extract.

Hoodia gordonni is one of the newest herbal weight loss supplements. Hoodia is a cactus found mostly in Africa. It has been touted as an effective appetite suppressant. Apparently, it tricks the brain into thinking blood glucose levels are normal thus suppressing the body's natural response to low blood sugar which is the sensation of hunger. While this pure caffeine promising, there have not been significant studies proving its efficacy in weight loss.

Guarana is a stimulant and diuretic that is made from the seeds of a Brazilian plant. It contains caffeine and though it does speed up the body, thus producing a slight increase in metabolism, its side effects outweigh its efficacy as an herbal weight loss supplement. Some potentially negative effects are high blood pressure, nausea, dizziness and anxiousness.

Dandelion is another diuretic. Side effects are relatively harmless, though allergic reactions have been reported. A diuretic merely increases the body's production and excretion of urine. The immediate result is water weight loss which is temporary at best leaving this herbal supplement ineffective for long-term weight loss.

Cascara is a laxative used in many herbal weight loss supplements. Any laxative will help a person lose weight just like any other form of "purging." Just because it is marketed as an herbal weight loss supplement doesn't make it any better. Also, its overuse can cause depletion in vital nutrients.

St. John's wort has been used as an herbal anti-depressant, but its efficacy as a weight loss supplement has not been proven. In addition, the list of side-effects and potential drug interactions is so extensive that I would need to write a separate article solely on that topic.

Green tea extract is probably the most popular yet safe herbal weight loss supplement. It has appeared in vitamins, energy drinks and even in concentrated pill form. Overall, green tea extract appears to be somewhat effective in increasing thermogenesis which in turn increases energy expenditure. Some studies show positive results for increased weight loss with the use of green tea extract so long as healthy eating and exercise habits are also being followed.

Thousands of dollars are spent on these herbal weight loss supplements, yet there is very little proof that any of them are effective in losing weight. Many of the above herbal supplements can be found in a vast array of teas, juices, energy drinks, vitamins and pills and the price tag reflects the demand for the product. A few products containing hoodia that I've seen are being sold for close to $50.00 for a one month supply. I'm beginning to think that the only weight loss one can expect is more evident in our wallets than around our belly.

Ultimately, there is no more promise in the herbal weight loss supplement than there is in any "miracle in a bottle." A few may offer a bit of assistance when trying to lose weight, but the herbal supplement will not work when used without a healthy weight loss plan.

There are lots of ways to lose weight, so don't get discouraged, get help. For weight loss tips for real people go to http://www.weightloss.best-info-online.com/ and get reliable information for achieving weight loss. For additional information about a weight loss program that really works, please go to Healthy Weight Loss Review.

NYC urges docs to do routine HIV testing on adults (AP)

AP - Health officials are trying to persuade doctors to offer HIV tests to nearly every patient in a New York City community hit harder than most by AIDS.

Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids are important for our health. They make the heart stronger and develop an overall healthy immune system to fight against many diseases. Natural omega 3 has many other benefits to offer in this context. Let's find out what these benefits are.

A range of different nutritional supplements are available on the market. Some of them contain only omega 3 acids like DHA and EPA, while others also contain omega 6 and omega 9 fats. Doctors across the globe advise balancing all these fats in an everyday diet to live a healthy and fruitful life.

Omega 3 is good for people of all ages. It contains around 300 mg of both DHA and EPA which are buy wholesale l-carnosine nutrition supplement for promoting overall health. DHA is important for the brain as it also sharpens the memory and prevents Alzheimer's disease which is a degenerative disease and normally occurs in old age.

In addition to the above-mentioned benefits, they are also important for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes and cancer. It has been found that people who consume these crucial acids on a regular basis are at a reduced risk of suffering from prostate and breast cancer.

Women are advised to increase their intake of both omega 3 and omega 6 to ensure development of a healthy baby. These fatty acids prevent miscarriages and later on help to transfer large quantities of DHA and EPA to the infant through mother's milk.

Since fish oil is the primary source of both DHA and EPA, many nutritional supplements contain refined or filtered fish oil in the form of capsules or liquid tonics. They are easy to consume and do not cause any side effects.

If you suffer from depression, anxiety or any other kind of mental or psychological illness, then omega 3 fish oil capsules are for you. Hyperactive kids should also be given liquid fish oil to control this condition and to help them gain weight at a normal pace. Good quality supplements are not difficult to find, you only have to do a little research and find the best ones available out there.

An indication of a high-quality product is that it has been made from pharmaceutical grade fish oil. Oil of fatty fish like mackerel, sardines, salmon and hoki is recommended by doctors and health specialists.

John Collins is a content editor who focuses on a wide array of niche health topics. His latest website - Natural Dha Fish Oil focuses on omega 3 as a whole, and in particular, a natural product our editors personally use with excellent health results known as - Dha Esters

Be sure to check out our Omega 3 Dha Esters of choice, it is the natural supplement we use and recommend to friends and family, and have done for over 3 years.