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2010-04-26T11:16:00.001-04:00

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Wayne County (Michigan) Health Expo - 2010

2010-03-24T10:00:00.013-04:00

Are you an uninsured Wayne County Resident, looking for a Free Health Expo? The Wayne County Health Expo is set for Friday, April 23, 2010 8am to 5pm in Cobo Hall's Ambassador Room. Services available are: Diabetes Screening, Mental Health Services, Dental Services, HIV/AIDS-STD Testing, and more.

Also present will be support organizations for just about any need you have.
You can also apply for Medicaid enrollment and learn more about health coverage programs offered by Wayne County, City of Detroit, and the State of Michigan. Some programs may require Picture ID, Social Security or Income Information.

For more information call Wayne County Health Choice: 313-833-3438 or Department of Health and Wellness Promotion: 313-961-2229

Not in the Wayne County, MI area? Find a public health center close to you, many offer similar services and programs.

Faulty Heart Cath Sheath recalled, but too late for some

2010-03-11T23:10:00.010-05:00

Why has it taken so long for this recall? The recall is for Torflex Transseptal Guiding Sheath by Baylis Medical Company Inc. The date the recall was initiated was February 8, 2010. The product was sold April 2007 through May 2009.

This is a Class 1 recall which is the most serious type of recall and involve situations in which there is a reasonable probability that use of these products will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

Reason for the recall: During heart procedures, the sheath tip may break off and separate while the sheath is in the blood vessels. If this occurs, the fragment could move through the heart and arteries to vital organs, causing a blockage anywhere, including the brain or heart. This could lead to unplanned open heart surgery, permanent injury, such as a stroke or heart attack, and/or death.

To learn more about this recall - go to Sheath recall

I am going to investigate further how many injuries, death, etc and the time line. I suspect that many injuries and deaths could have been avoided if the recall was issued sooner than 10 months after the last sale. The consequences of this type of product failure is too high.

Is anyone else interested in knowing how many unplanned open heart surgeries occurred because of this issue in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010? (as well as permanent injury, deaths, and AMI/Strokes.)

US Veterans can help fellow Veterans by rating care at VA Hospitals and Outpatient Centers

2010-03-08T09:00:00.009-05:00

Where are the best veterans hospitals? Each and every day veterans are accessing care at the hundreds of hospitals and outpatient centers across the nation. It is important that everyone know how you are treated, especially other veterans who will be seeking care.

That's why is why we have included Veteran Hospitals and Veteran Outpatient Clinics in our health care directory.

Please take a moment and share your experience on WhereToFindCare.com for a VA hospital or VA Outpatient Center. How you are treated is a concern to all of us. If you know a veteran who has received services in a VA hospital or VA Outpatient Center - help them out by asking them to share their experience on WhereToFindCare.com.

One in three home care patients admitted to hospital

2010-02-25T10:00:00.000-05:00

If you are like me, you want to eliminate trips to the hospital when issues can be managed at home or lower level care environments. That's why I was shocked to find out that 29% of home health care patients across the US are admitted to the hospital while under the care of a home health care agency.

According to Medicare, some patients may need to go into the hospital while they are getting home health care. In some cases--like incurable chronic medical conditions--going into the hospital may not be avoidable even with good home health care. However, some inpatient hospital care may be avoided if home health care staff is doing a good job at checking the patient's health condition at each visit (so problems are detected early).

With the national average of home care patients who had to be admitted to the hospital at 29%, you need to understand the differences between home health care providers in your area before you choose. The picture above is the search in my zip code. You can see the large differences between providers ranging for 14% to 60%.

To check out home health care agencies in your area for this specific measure go to Hospital Admissions from Home Care Agencies

To check out other Home Health Care Measures go to CMS Home Care Quality Measures

Have you had experiences with home health care agencies in your area? Share your experiences with other users by rating the home health care agency on WhereToFindCare.com. Your feedback is invaluable to others in your community searching for a homecare agency.

New Home Health Care Quality Comparison Search Released

2010-02-24T12:00:00.004-05:00

Millions of people use home health care agencies across the US each year. Understanding the available quality information can help guide you toward making an informed decision about your choice of over 10,000 home health care providers for your recovery.

WhereToFindCare.com is proud to announce our new home health care quality pages. We believe anyone considering using a home health care agency or referring to home health care agencies should be knowledgeable about the quality measures, what they mean, and how they measure up next to competitors.

The new pages allow users to find information for home health care agencies right in their zip code as well as state and national averages.

Over the next several weeks, I'll post tips on what each measure means and how you can use your search to make your choices.

Have you had experiences with home health care agencies in your area? Share your experiences with other users by rating the home health care agency on WhereToFindCare.com. Your feedback is invaluable to others in your community searching for a homecare agency.

Does your home health care agency have good quality?

2010-02-22T21:50:00.023-05:00

Depending on who you ask, you may get a definite "maybe". With over 10,000 home health care providers in the United States, the availability of quality home health care providers should not be hard to find.

We understand how difficult it can be for a consumer to understand the differences between providers, and that's why many patients and their families allow others to choose for them.

WhereToFindCare.com recognizes these dilemmas and has created a set of resources to help consumers, discharge planners, and even physicians to use quality information when comparing home health care agencies.

The new WhereToFindCare.com Home Health Care Quality pages are scheduled to be released in the next several days. Keep watching WhereToFindCare.com for further updates.

Have you had experiences with home health care agencies in your area? Share your experiences with other users by rating the home health care agency on WhereToFindCare.com. Your feedback is invaluable to others in your community searching for a home care agency.

Know how your hospital performs on quality measures?

2010-02-20T10:00:00.029-05:00

Did you know hospitals that participate with CMS (translation: accepts Medicare patients) are required to submit quality measures on a variety of diagnosis such as Heart Attack, Pneumonia, and Surgery? Each quarter, hospitals across the nation submit patient information that demonstrates whether or not a specific action took place. Some elements factor in whether or not it was done timely, correct medication given, or if the sequence of events were appropriate. (Future blogs will discuss more in detail each measure). This information can be helpful when deciding what hospital you should choose.

WhereToFindCare.com uses this information and simplifies into one value called Quality Score - Government. When you search for a hospital in your area, this score is displayed in your search results and on each hospital's home page. A screenprint of search in my area is shown above. You can see that the Quality Score (yellow highlight) ranges from 100% to 71%.

Each hospital's Quality Score is the percentage of measures that met or exceeded the national average. Sometimes, however, CMS feels a hospital did not have enough patients to make a judgment on its quality. In these cases, those measures are not included in this Quality Score. Detailed quality information by measure is available on the Quality tab of each hospital's home page.

To understand how your hospital rates go to WhereToFindCare.com.

Western Wayne Family Health Center - Inkster

2010-02-16T19:53:00.013-05:00

Opened a little more than three years ago, Western Wayne Family Health Center - Inkster offers affordable quality care to the surrounding community. Western Wayne Family Health Center, like most FQHCs (Federally Qualified Health Centers) offer a variety of care services to be your medical home. Services offered include: medical, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, dental, and mental health. They have even partnered with a community pharmacy to provide a discount on prescriptions needs. Patients of all ages are welcome.

Need to see a physician quickly? No problem - Western Wayne Family Health Centers offer same day and next day appointments. Physicians at WWFHC-Inkster include:

Family Medicine:Dr. Karen Rhodes

Pediatrics: Dr. Philip Jackson

Internal Medicine: Dr. Errol Elrington

And unlike many health care services, Western Wayne Family Health Centers accepts all insurances plans and offering a sliding scale to those without insurance.

You can find more information about each center by visiting the links below:
Western Wayne Family Health Center - Inkster
Western Wayne Family Health Center - Taylor

How does Wrong Site Surgery Happen? Part 1

2010-02-10T09:20:00.012-05:00

Everyone know someone who has had surgery. But did you know that breakdowns in the surgical care process can happen at many points? Procedures are in place to match the patient's arm band with verbally asking the patient what their birth date is to insure it is the correct patient. The surgeon marks the patient prior to arriving in the OR. OR staff is responsible to insure the appropriate consent form indicates the body part the surgeon has marked prior to induction of anesthesia. The area is then prepped and the surgeon's initials should still remain after preparation for surgery to indicate the site. At every point in the process there is a possibility of error.

The actions of the surgeon in the OR are a huge determinant of whether wrong site surgery occurs; surgeons have control of the actual incisions and procedures performed. Despite having all the right consent forms and procedures outlined, ultimately control lies in the hands of the surgeon. With that being said, incidence of wrong site surgery increases with transfer of patients from one surgeon to another as well as having multiple surgeons operating at one time.

The Joint Commission states the root cause analysis (RCA) of wrong site surgeries are that:
1. Time out procedures aren't performed
2. Not verifying consents or site markings
3. Inaccurate consents/diagnostic reports/images,
4. Patient's positioning can be determinants as well. Larger patients/obese patients make positioning of the equipment slightly different than what normally happens in the OR.

Related Articles:
Wrong Site Surgery is a Never Event
Despite efforts to avert - Wrong Site Surgery still occurs

Cardiac Science Automated External Defibrillators Recalled

2010-02-09T20:01:00.008-05:00

Please forward this information to everyone: Schools, physician offices, training centers, senior centers, firemen, etc.

Cardiac Science Corporation and FDA notified healthcare professionals and consumers of a recall because the automated external defibrillator (AED) may not be able to deliver therapy during a cardiac resuscitation attempt, which may lead to serious adverse events or death. These AEDs were manufactured in a way that makes them potentially susceptible to failure under certain conditions. Each of the approximately 12,200 devices affected in this recall can be confirmed at the Cardiac Science Web site, www.cardiacscience.com/AED195.

The affected AEDs were manufactured or serviced between October 19, 2009 and January 15, 2010 and include the following models - Powerheart 9300A, 9300E, 9300P, 9390A, 9390E, CardioVive 92532 and CardioLife 9200G and 9231.

Each affected AED should immediately be removed from service since it may not deliver the expected therapy.

Wrong site surgery is a Never Event

2010-02-09T16:08:00.018-05:00

Wrong site surgeries have been occurring since operations have been performed. Wrong site surgery is considered a preventable error involving a surgical procedure performed on the wrong patient, wrong body part, and/or wrong side of the body. (Chodruff)

The definition also encompasses patients who are not scheduled for a procedure, procedures which are performed and not scheduled, or those which differ from what was scheduled; in all cases, there is a breakdown in communication, causing the error.

According to Medicare, wrong site surgery is a "Never event". Never events are events that should never happen because when they do occur, they can cause serious injury or death to the patient.

Examples of never events include: Surgery on a wrong body part, Surgery on a wrong patient, wrong surgery on a patient. In most cases, Medicare pays only for items or services that are reasonable and necessary for the treatment of the patients condition, or certain preventive services required by the Medicare law. Medicare does not pay the doctor and the hospital/outpatient surgery center for an erroneous surgery.

Despite efforts to avert - Wrong Site Surgery still occurs

2010-02-09T16:00:00.003-05:00

Despite rules and regulations that have been echoed time and again from the many different efforts across this country, wrong site surgery cases are still occurring every day. Just Google the words "operated on wrong side" and you will get quite a few links to recent cases of surgery performed on the wrong site.

In Rhode Island last year, a hospital was fined $200,000 for wrong site surgery that occurred with 5 patients since 2007. The hospital was also ordered to install video cameras in the OR and staff it with a non-clinician "monitoring if surgeons are marking operation sites, and taking time outs to determine if the correct body part has been located for surgery"
This was the first time that the Rhode Island State Health Department has ever issued fines. See article.

Interesting though, is the lack of seriousness to this issue by the State Health Department as "Rhode Island Hospital has 45 days to install the recording equipment in its operating rooms and every doctor will be taped during surgery at least twice a year, reported the AP. It will be at the hospital’s discretion to advice surgeons if they are being monitored."

Surgeons will most likely get advance notice of the taping of two operations a year recorded for posterity making it useless for prevention.

Have you been a victim of wrong site surgery?

Related articles:
Wrong Site Surgery is a Never Event

Need a copy of your medical record? Be prepared to pay

2010-02-01T09:39:00.016-05:00

Recently I can became aware of the price for a few pieces of paper after receiving rejections from the insurer on physician visits and ancillary services (radiology, labs).

The initial request by Blue Cross was for our physicians to send medical records directly to Blue Cross. Both providers did so after we signed a record release (HIPPA), and without a charge.

After waiting the prescribed time period, we were told by Blue Cross that the records were probably somewhere in the Blue Cross system but without a letter stating the specific reason for sending them along with the records they had no way of assigning to a patient. We still don't know where those specific records are: an employee home, the shredder, in a file somewhere, they couldn't tell us.

In order to get our case reviewed for payment, which in our case is application to our high deductible, we had to order the medical records be sent again, except this time we needed them in our hands so we could attach a letter. We contacted the providers again, (one at a practice and another that is a hospital managed office) and were told it would be $26 at one office and $25 at another for a copy given to the patient. Let me repeat - free if sent to the insurance provider, $25 if given to you.

The medical record at the first provider was 6 pages (4 pages were labs), the other about 12 (again - mostly labs). So for 18 pages of information - it was $51 or a cost of $2.83 a page. The fee was not based on how many pages, but a flat fee.

It takes about 10 seconds to copy a page if you are doing it manually, and if you have a higer end copier - about 10 seconds total for the entire chart. Time to pull the chart - about 3o seconds. Total max time: 1 to 2 minutes. At the rate of $26 for 2 minutes - that would be $780 an hour (30 records copied @ $26).

So besides the hassle of being rejected, the hours spent on the phone trying to understand why, and all the other obstacles - we are now being charged extraordinary fees when trying to get our own medical records. It just doesn't seem right to be charged for a copy of the same medical records that are given as a courtesy to the insurance plans.

What do you think?

COBRA Premium Reduction Extension Provisions

2010-01-28T14:40:00.009-05:00

According to the Department of Labor's website, an extension has been granted for those who qualify for the Cobra Premium Reduction for an additional 6 months, totaling of 15 months.

This program, enacted under last year's ARRA, offers qualifying people the ability to pay 35% of the Cobra rate for 9 months (now 15 months). That is significant savings to the many families who need this to continue insurance.

To learn more about the specifics - please read the FAQs at COBRA Premium Reduction Extension Provisions

Southgate Surgery Center

2010-01-28T03:12:00.005-05:00

Southgate Surgery Center specializes in eyes, EGD (scope of the esophagus and stomach), and pain management. Specialties of Southgate Surgery Center include:

-Cataracts
-Eye Lid Defects
-Glaucoma
-Retina
-Colonoscopy
-EGD (Scope of Esophagus/Stomach)
-Pain Management
-Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA)
-Hemorrhoids
-Varicose Veins

The 9,800 square-foot building has four operation rooms, 15 (pre and post) operating bays, and the principal care givers are registered nurses. The family-friendly waiting room includes a big-screen TV and refreshments are always available.

For more information or to contact them, visit Southgate Surgery Center.

Vegetarian Diet

2010-01-24T23:55:00.003-05:00

It is much harder eating as a vegetarian than it is for those who eat meat. Vegetarians need to take those extra steps to make sure they are meeting their daily nutritional needs.

An ideal vegetarian diet consists mostly of plant-based foods. These foods include fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds. A vegetarian diet generally contains less fat and cholesterol and typically includes more fiber because they don't eat meat.

Alternative meat products such as tofu dogs and soy burgers simulate the taste and texture of meat, but have have less fat and fewer calories.

There are nutrients that a vegetarian diet needs to focus on and here are ways to get these nutrients from non-meat products:

-Protein: The body needs protein to maintain healthy skin, bones, muscles and organs. Eggs and other dairy products have convenient sources of protein. Other protein options include soy products, meat substitutes, seeds, whole grains, legumes, lentils, and nuts.

-Iron: Iron is a important for red blood cells. Good sources of iron include dried beans and peas, dark leafy green vegetables, lentils, enriched cereals, whole-grain products, and dried fruit. To help your body absorb non-animal sources of iron, eat foods rich in vitamin C such as strawberries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, cabbage and broccoli while you consume foods that contain iron.

-Vitamin B-12: Your body needs vitamin B-12 to produce red blood cells (like iron) and prevent anemia. Vitamin B-12 is found in animal products, including milk, eggs and cheese. Vegans can get vitamin B-12 from some enriched cereals, fortified soy products or by taking a supplement that contains Vitamin B-12.

-Calcium: This mineral helps to maintain strong teeth and bones. Low-fat dairy foods and dark green vegetables, such as spinach, turnip and collard greens, broccoli, and kale, are good sources of calcium. Tofu enriched with calcium, fortified soy milk, and fruit juices are other options.

-Zinc: This mineral is an essential component of many enzymes, plays a role in cell division, and in the formation of proteins. Good sources of zinc include whole grains, nuts, soy products, and wheat germ.

No matter what your situation is or how old you are, a well-planned vegetarian diet can still be healthy and nutritious. This includes children, teens, and pregnant (or breast-feeding) women. If you're wondering if a vegetarian diet is right for you, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian.

Vegetarian Food Pyramid
Find A Doctor
GoVeg

What to eat while pregnant

2010-01-10T08:55:00.003-05:00

Pregnant women should eat a variety of foods to help keep a balanced diet. If you are pregnant, make sure you have 6-11 servings of breads and grains, 2-4 servings of fruit, 4 or more servings of vegetables, 4 servings of dairy and 3 servings of protein sources (meat, eggs, fish, poultry, or nuts).

Eat plenty of high fiber foods like cereals, whole-grain bread, pastas, rice, fruits, and vegetables.
Take prenatal vitamins. You should make sure that you are getting enough of vitamins and minerals in your diet as well.
Eat at least 3 servings of iron-rich foods everyday to ensure you are getting 27 mg of iron daily.
Eat or drink at least four serving of dairy or calcium products to ensure that you are getting at least 1000-1300 mg of calcium.
It is important to get at least one good source of Vitamin C because pregnant women should get about 70 mg in their bodies per day. Good sources of Vitamin C are grapefruit, oranges, strawberries, cauliflower, broccoli, honey dew, and papaya.
Eat one source of Vitamin A every OTHER day. If you have too much of this vitamin it could cause fetal malformations. Good sources of Vitamin A include carrots, cantaloupe, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, spinach, and turnip, and beet greens.
Each pregnant woman should have 0.4mg of folic acid per day to help protect their baby from developing neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Good sources of folic acid are dark green leafy vegetables and legumes (lima beans, black beans, black-eyed peas, and chickpeas).

Helpful resources for moms-to-be:

Find a birthing center
Find or rate your physician
Find private duty home care (for help after baby comes)
Find a children's hospital

Sugar, Sugar everywhere but how much do we need?

2009-12-30T09:00:00.002-05:00

We all know what sugar is, but do we really know where how we can find it in our daily meals? Sugar is a carbohydrate that is a source of energy for our bodies. It comes in all sorts of forms;

Fructose is found in fruit

Glucose in animal products

Lactose in milk

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a person with a 2000 calorie diet can have 267 calories of - approximately 8 teaspoons a day.

But where are these actually found?
Aside from naturally being in some foods, it is put into most processed foods. And it's everywhere. I was shocked to find it in a can of Kidney Beans. where it is listed as the second ingredient on the can, High Fructose Corn Syrup. By adding this into virtually any processed food, even salad dressings, it's added to the prevalence of obesity and diabetes plaguing our nation. And with our diet consisting of many processed foods, it gets harder and harder to track down how much sugar we are consuming everyday.

Important Tip: Take in some complex carbs instead.

These consists of fruits, green leafy vegetables, pastas, grains and other foods.
By taking in these types of carbs, our body uses almost 25 times more energy to try to store this as fat as opposed to simple sugars which require almost no energy whatsoever to convert and provide almost no nutritional value.

Have you found sugar added to something that surprised you?

Related blogs

Free health calculator: Food Calculator
Healthiest Foods: Seafood
Healthiest Foods: Grains, Beans, and Nuts
Healthiest Foods: Vegetables
Healthiest Foods: Fruit

Free health calculator: Food Calculator

2009-12-29T09:30:00.015-05:00

Interested in understanding how many calories you are consuming in a day or a meal? NutriInfo.com offers a free food calculator where you can enter your desired daily calorie goal, and the number of servings for each of the basic food groups (grains, vegetables, fruit, milk, meat/beans, and fats). Daily recommended servings are also shown to help guide you in balancing your diet.

The result is an easy to understand grid showing the total calorie intake and the number of carbs, proteins, and fat as a percentage of your daily diet. It also shows the same information in grams to help you with day to day monitoring.

The helpful advice at the bottom of the calculator (in red) guides you specifically with reminders to eat more servings of a particular food group, and warnings for excessive consumption of fat or calories.
Eat within your recommended servings to meet your calorie goal.
Your fat intake exceeds the recommended daily maximum of 30%.

This calculator can be used to understand your current consumption as well as help you plan for tomorrow. See the about tab at NutriInfo.com's health calculator to enter your info.

NutriInfo.com's Mission: We strive to provide the most convenient and flexible online tools that help individuals develop healthy lifestyles, stay motivated, and achieve their lifetime health.

10 Tips for Brain Fitness

2009-12-28T10:30:00.004-05:00

Like the rest of your body, your brain requires exercise to stay fit. Fortunately, Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, MI provides us with 10 easy daily activities we can all do to maintain our brains. These tips are especially important for seniors!

Play games for 15 minutes
Meditate daily for relaxation
Eat healthy fats for better brain function: fish oils, olive oil, flaxseed and walnuts
Tell detailed stories - the details help you solidify memories
Turn off your TV!
Exercise your body to increase oxygen to your brain
Branch out and read something different
Learn a new skill
Make simple changes - the more something is second nature, the less your brain has to work to do it
Train your brain by focusing on fun activities that promote memory, visualization and reasoning

Healthiest Foods: Seafood

2009-12-27T08:54:00.001-05:00

Shellfish (Clams, Mussels)
Shellfish have Vitamin B12 which supports nerve and brain function. It also contains iron and minerals like magnesium and potassium. Three ounces has 126 to 146 calories, 2-4 grams of fat, and 0 fiber.

Salmon
Cold-water fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna are the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids which help reduce the risk of cardiac disease. A 3-ounce portion (cooked) has 127 calories, 4 grams of fat, 0 fiber.

Crab
Crab is a great source of vitamin B12 and immunity-boosting zinc. A 3-ounce portion has 84 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0 fiber. You can buy it canned and make your own crab cakes.

Healthiest Foods: Grains, Beans, and Nuts

2009-12-26T09:28:00.000-05:00

Quinoa
A half cup of cooked quinoa has 5 grams of protein, more than any other grain, plus iron, riboflavin, and magnesium. A half-cup has 318 calories, 5 grams of fat and 5 grams of fiber. You can add quinoa to soup for a protein boost.

Wheat Germ
A tablespoon of wheat germ gives you about 7% of your daily magnesium, which helps prevent muscle cramps. Wheat germ is also a good source of vitamin E. One tablespoon has 27 calories, 1 gram of fat and 1 gram of fiber. You can add a pinch to your yogurt, fruit or cereal.

Peanuts
Studies show that peanuts or other nuts (which contain mostly unsaturated fat) can lower your heart-disease risk by over 20%. One ounce has 166 calories, 14 grams of fat and 2 grams of fiber.

Pinto Beans
A half cup of pinto beans has more than 25% of your daily requirement of folate. Folate helps protect against heart disease and reduces the risk of birth defects. A half-cup of canned pinto beans has 103 calories, 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of fiber.

Yogart
Bacteria in active-culture yogurt helps prevent yeast infections. Yogart also contains calcium which helps to strengthen bones. A cup has 155 calories, 4 grams of fat, 0 grams of fiber. If you get plain yogart and mix in your own fruit, it keeps calories and sugar down.

Skim Milk
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is important for good vision and with vitamin A it might help improve eczema and allergies. Also, skim milk contains calcium and vitamin D. One cup has 86 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber.

Healthiest Foods: Vegetables

2009-12-24T18:00:00.000-05:00

Onions
Quercetin is one of the most powerful flavonoids (natural plant antioxidants). Studies show it helps protect against cancer. A cup of chopped onions has 61 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber.

Artichokes
Artichokes contain silymarin which is an antioxidant. This antioxidant helps prevent skin cancer. Artichokes also contain fiber which helps control cholesterol. One regular sized artichoke has 60 calories, 0 fat and 7 grams of fiber.

Ginger
Gingerols may help reduce queasiness and other compounds may help fight off migraines and arthritis pain by blocking inflammation-causing prostaglandins. A teaspoon of fresh ginger root has only 1 calorie, 0 fat and 0 fiber.

Broccoli
Broccoli contains Indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane which help protect against breast cancer. Broccoli also has lots of vitamin C and beta-carotene. One cup of chopped broccoli has 25 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Don't overcook broccoli - instead, microwave or steam lightly to preserve phytonutrients. Squeeze fresh lemon on top for a zesty and taste, added nutrients, and vitamin C.

Spinach
Spinach has Lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that help fend off macular degeneration, a major cause of blindness in older people. Plus, studies show this green veggie may help reverse some signs of aging. One cup has 7 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. You can just add raw leaves to a salad.

Squash (Butternut, Pumpkin, Acorn)
Winter squash contains large amounts of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which may help protect against endometrial cancer. One cup of cooked squash has 80 calories, 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of fiber. You can cut one in half, scoop out the seeds, and bake or microwave until soft. Dust with cinnamon to add flavor.

Garlic
The sulfur compounds that give garlic its pungent flavor can also lower LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), lower blood pressure, and even reduce your risk of stomach and colon cancer. A clove has 4 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber. If you bake a whole head for 15 to 20 minutes until soft, you can spread it on bread instead of butter.

Healthiest Foods: Fruit

2009-12-24T12:05:00.001-05:00

Apricots
The body turns beta-carotene into vitamin A, which may help prevent certain cancers, especially skin cancer. One apricot has 17 calories, 0 fat, 1 gram of fiber. You can nack on them dried, or fresh, but when still firm because they lose nutrients when they get soft.

Avocados
They contain Oleic acid, which is an unsaturated fat that helps lower overall cholesterol and raise levels of HDL, plus a good dose of fiber. One slice has 81 calories, 8 grams of fat and 3 grams of fiber. Try a few slices instead of mayonnaise with your next burger.

Raspberries
Raspberries contain ellagic acid, which helps stall cancer-cell growth. These berries also have a lot of vitamin C and are high in fiber, which helps prevent high cholesterol and heart disease. A cup of raspberries only has 60 calories, 1 gram of fat and 8 grams of fiber. You can add low-fat yogurt or oatmeal (another high fiber food.

Cantaloupe
Vitamin C and beta-carotene are both major ingrediants in cantaloupe and both powerful antioxidants that help protect cells from free-radical damage. Also, half a melon has 853mg of potassium which is almost twice as much as a banana. The potassium helps lower blood pressure. Half a melon has 97 calories, 1 gram of fat and 2 grams of fiber. You can cut a cantaloupe into pieces to freeze and make a smoothie.

Cranberry Juice
Bladder infections can be prevented by drinking cranberry juice because the juice prevents harmful bacteria from growing. A cup has 144 calories, 0 grams of fat and 0 fiber. Make sure you get the 100% juice and you can add it to your water, but don't add sugar.

Tomato
Lycopene, one of the strongest carotenoids, acts as an antioxidant in tomatos. Research shows that tomatoes may cut the risk of bladder, stomach, and colon cancers in half if eaten every day. A tomato has 26 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Add a tiny bit of olive oil, because lycopene is best absorbed when eaten with a little fat.

Figs
Figs are a good source of potassium and fiber. They also contain vitamin B6, which is responsible for producing mood-boosting serotonin, lowering cholesterol, and preventing water retention. Birthcontrol Pills deplete B6, so if you take the pill, make sure to get extra B6 in your diet. One fig has 37 to 48 calories, 0 fat and 2 grams of fiber.

Raisins
These are a great source of iron, which helps the blood transport oxygen (many women need more iron). A half-cup has 218 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. You can add raisins on your oatmeal or cereal. Raisins are good for women during that time of the month.

Lemons/Limes
Limonene, furocoumarins and vitamin C, all of which helps prevent cancer. A wedge has 2 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Lemons and Limes are good when squeezed over salads, fish, beans and vegetables for fat free flavor.