Most schools regularly send schedules of cafeteria menus home. With this advance information, you can plan on packing lunch on the days when the main course is one your child prefers not to eat.  Try to get your child’s school to stock healthy choices such as fresh fruit, low-fat dairy products, water and 100 percent fruit juice in the vending machines.  Each 12-ounce soft drink contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories. Drinking just one can of soda a day increases a child’s risk of obesity by 60%. Restrict your child’s soft drink consumption.

The information in this article : Back to School Tips is from the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site ( http://www.aap.org ).

Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC offers discounts in premium to individuals in excellent health.   Practice fitness and good nutrition at an early age and reduce the risk of health problems, regardless of age.

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our professional agents. Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.

Chapel Hill, N.C. – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) announced a partnership Tuesday with the North Carolina Recreation and Park Association (NCRPA) to launch Nourishing North Carolina, a statewide community garden program making local, healthy food more accessible to people across the state. This initiative supports BCBSNC’s longstanding commitment to improve the health and well-being of all North Carolinians.

“The long-term benefit of this effort will extend well beyond the growing season,” said Brad Wilson, BCBSNC president and CEO. “By increasing access to healthy foods, we can all eat better, lower rates of diabetes, heart disease and obesity, and ultimately reduce the impact that unhealthy lifestyles have on our health care system.”

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 Beginning July 1, 2011, BCBSNC will cover the sleeve gastrectomy procedure for qualified members who meet the criteria outlined in our medical policy titled “Surgery for Morbid Obesity.” You can search the medical policy on bcbsnc.com. What is a sleeve gastrectomy? A sleeve gastrectomy is an alternative approach to a standard gastrectomy that can be performed on its own or in combination with other procedures. In this procedure, a portion of the stomach is removed, leaving a stomach remnant shaped like a tube or sleeve.

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School, homework, soccer practice, ballet, board meetings, meal planning, social events – the list goes on and on. The end of summer often means the beginning of a hectic fall, and now is the perfect time to ensure that healthy eating stays on top of your priority list.

A healthy lifestyle for the entire family can be easier than it seems – even for the busiest household. With a little planning, both parents and kids will find themselves prepared for those last-minute meals and snack attacks that may otherwise place them in front of the vending machine, or in the drive-thru line.  As parents are back to work, and kids are back to school, it is even more important than ever to be armed with functional foods that will keep you fueled and feeling satisfied.  Planning ahead for snacks and meals that are both nutritious and delicious is the key to success. Preparing nutritious snacks and meals on a tight schedule is all about being creative, so finding the right go-to foods the whole family will enjoy is important.   Here are a few tips that you may find useful during these hectic times, especially with the holidays just around the corner.

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Cold and Flu season are officially here, beginning in October and continuing through early Spring with February being the peak month.  Want to be one of those people we all envy that NEVER gets sick?  Here are a few points to follow to help you on your mission this season:  Wash your hands – most research recommends at least 5 times per day using soap and warm water.  The average length of time it takes to de-germ those hands is the length of the “Happy Birthday Song” so sing away (more…)

Allergies are defined as a sensitivity to certain substances called allergens.  Allergens are tiny particles that are carried by the air that we breath and bring on allergy symptoms in some people.  Allergens can be harmless to children or adults that are not allergic to them.  If you have allergies, exposure to a particular allergen triggers an allergic response.  Allergic responses can be stuffy, itchy, runny nose and sneezing.  There are 2 types of allergy triggers: those that are Seasonal and those that are Year-Round (perennial).  Seasonal allergies include weeds, grasses, trees and outdoor mold spores.  Year-Round allergies are animal dander, indoor mold spores, dust mites, and cockroaches. 

To limit your exposure to pollen, mold spores and dust:  Shower each night before bed, limit use of fans and open windows during high pollen count days, clean your home with bleach to get rid of any mold you can see, always wash bedding in hot water and dry in a hot dryer to help control dust mites.

For more information about  Medical Conditions and  health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health.  Call us for details.

Get back down to basics and enjoy fresh summer produce from your local North Carolina Farmers Market or local produce stands.   North Carolina offers a wide variety of locally grown fruits and veggies just in time for summer.  Local produce stands are popping up everywhere so find the one “growing” closest to your family.  Are you having a hard time trying to get your children to eat fresh fruits and veggies.  Have you heard the question, “You really want me to eat that?”  If so then try the tips below to get your family back down to basics and jumpstart healthy eating habits for your children.  The strategies are mom tested and kid approved.  Check with your pediatrician to find the vegetable and fruit recommendations for your child.  Vegetable and fruit requirements vary by age and other factors of your child, but generallly children need 2 to 4 servings per day.  There are so many health benefits to eating fruits and vegetables, not to mention the memories your family will make when trying new recipes. Summer is here and it is the perfect time to support your child in creating healthy eating habits.  Your child will thank you later. 

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Red wine, in moderation, has been found to contain powerful substances that benefit the heart, the nervous system, and even your teeth, and it may even offer some cancer protection. It has been said that red wine is good for a man’s health in a number of ways, according to many studies.  But the alcohol in red wine has little to do with it, red wine happens to contain powerful antioxidants, substances that protect your cells against damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals.  The health benefits from wine are the same for men and women, but men can drink more given their generally larger body mass — one or two 4-ounce glasses of wine per day — while women should consume only one glass.  You still need to practice moderation when you drink, research suggest  having more than this amount has been tied to heart disease, liver damage, and other health problems.  Red Wine is rich in Antioxidants which will keep free radicals from attacking the body’s cells and contributing to destructive processes inside the body. (more…)

Summer officially begins on June 21st which to North Carolinians will mean the start of fresh local seafood.  Seafood can be part of good nutrition.  There are various health benefits to seafood.  Incorporating good nutrition into your eating habits can start at a young age. 

Nutritionally speaking fish is a great catch for children.  Research shows that Omega 3’s in certain fish have brain boosting developmental power. Seafood is also high in protein and loaded with vitamins and minerals.  

There are so many benefits in adding seafood into your family’s nutrition.  A basic understanding of cooking techniques, nutrients, and healthy fats that exist in seafood can be the start of a family conversation.  Involve your children in the decision making process by allowing them to choose the type of seafood they find appetizing.  You can even plan a family trip to the beach, lake, or local bodies of water so that the children can experience the joy of catching their own food.  If you aren’t quite ready to become a fisherman yourself, bring your children to the local seafood market.  A visit to the local seafood market can be fun and educational.   

So from the bodies of water to your table, dive in and see what catch of the day can start your family toward healthy nutrition.  Seafood is not only delicious but it is good for you as well and is the start to developing a healthy lifestyle. (more…)

More and more studies are showing how important vitamin D is to women’s health and  women aren’t getting enough of this essential vitamin.  Studies show you can increase levels through both your diet and supplements.  To get enough vitamin D from the sun, you need to spend about 5 to 15 minutes in the sun, just three times each week, without sunscreen. Too much sun exposure can cause sunburn and increase the risk of skin cancer, so make sure you limit your exposure. Also, you can expose your arms and legs, but you should always protect your face with sunscreen. If you don’t feel safe in the sun, turn to your diet and a vitamin D supplement to get the vitamin D you need Vitamin D promotes the body’s absorption of calcium, a mineral that helps keep bones and teeth strong. Vitamin D also regulates the body’s calcium levels in the blood, as well as levels of the mineral phosphorus, which helps promote healthy bones and teeth. Vitamin D deficiency can be serious, causing bones to deteriorate and weaken. In adults, a vitamin D deficiency can lead to the bone condition osteoporosis and, in children, it can cause rickets — soft and weak bones.  Look for discounts on your vitamins when you purchase your health insurance coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. (more…)

Pharmacists in North Carolina have been granted temporary authority to administer seasonal and H1N1 flu shots to patients 14 years of age and older beginning October 9, 2009.

The Pharmacy and Medical Boards passed an emergency amendment to the pharmacist vaccination rule authorizing pharmacists to administer seasonal and H1N1 influenza vaccines to patients age 14 and up. This authorization is expected to extend through July 2010.

Eligible members ages 14 and older may go to an in-network pharmacist or CVS MinuteClinic to receive a seasonal flu shot, as well as an H1N1 vaccine – when it becomes available.

To find in-network pharmacists, visit the Doctors, Rx and Hospitals section on our site, and search for “Pharmacist (Flu & Other Limited Injections)” under Specialty. To find a participating CVS MinuteClinic, search for “Convenience Care Center” under Specialty.

The above information is taken from a News Release from BCBSNC October 2009.

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina and how to utilize My Member Services, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified agents. Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.

H1N1 Prevention, Symptoms and Treatment

Flu season is likely to start earlier and be more widespread this year. The 2009 H1N1influenza virus that triggered the April 2009 outbreak and caused only mild illness will likely be the major strain. Standard strains of the flu will also be circulating, and there is a chance that the flu (seasonal and 2009 H1N1) could cause more severe illness.

Flu symptoms include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. Symptoms may alsoinclude runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. It is hard to tell if someone who is sick has the 2009 H1N1 flu or seasonal flu.

Prevention will play a very key role this year. Prevention includes protecting yourself

and NOT spreading the disease to others. Here’s what you should do:

Prevent:

· A cough or sneeze may be the first symptom of illness. Therefore, every

time you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue and throw

used tissues in the trash.

· If you develop flu symptoms, make arrangements to go home as soon as

possible.

· Stay home until at least 24 hours after you no longer have fever (100

degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (chills, feel very

warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). Checking for absence of a

fever should be determined without the use of ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

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