There is definitely truth in that old saying. What you put into your body really does affect how you function and how you feel. It can even affect how you think. There are foods that research shows are good for your brain. And, on the flip side, foods that are not so good for your brain. Whether you are trying to boost your brain power for a scholarship, or whether you want to do your best in a new career, you can eat foods that will help you excel.

Best Foods for Your Brain

If you want to boost your performance, consider ingesting these foods. They can provide you with the brain power you need for better memory, faster thinking and more:

1. Wild Salmon: It’s amazing how healthy wild salmon is. In fact, it’s one of the healthiest foods out there — and its great for your brain function. Wild salmon is known to help you improve the quality of your brain matter, smooth your synaptic connections, and reduce the chance of developing dementia. Salmon is also high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for brain function as well as the heart. It is important to note that farm raised salmon do not have all of the same benefits that you get from wild salmon. So be picky.
2. Acai Berry: The Acai berry has received widespread interest lately for its health benefits. This little berry is native to South America, especial Brazil. Acai has a number of benefits, including antioxidants that are good for health. Additionally, Acai includes Omega-3 fatty acids, which is a rarity in berries and fruit. However, it is important to be careful. There are a number of scams out there claiming that you can get the brain benefits of Acai. This is untrue. Outside of South America, you need your Acai to be flash frozen to get the benefits.
3. Blueberries: You don’t need to be exotic in order to get the benefits of a berry brain food. Bluberries have many of the properties of Acai berries, and are more widely accessible. Blueberries have been shown to provide help for long-term memory, protecting your brain from the free radicals that can damage your thinking ability and result in dementia.
4. Peppermint Tea: Do you need to concentrate? If so, you can use peppermint tea to help you focus better. Researchers have found that you can boost brain performance, at least in the short term, with the effects of peppermint tea. Additionally, the tea can help you retain alertness without becoming anxious.
5. Arugula/Spinach: If you are looking to boost your mood and your brain performance in terms of avoiding nervousness and irritability, you should consider leafy greens. Dark colored leafy greens. Spinach and arugula are high in B vitamins that can help your brain with dopamine and serotonin production. You can also ease symptoms of depression with a little help from leafy greens. You can also get some of the same benefits from chard.
6. Coffee: Yes, in moderation coffee can be a brain food. Coffee is a stimulant that can actually help your short-term memory. As long as you prudent enough to get it fresh brewed. Coffee can help you focus your attention, and the caffeine in coffee can also slow the aging process — including brain aging. One cup of coffee can help you focus better and improve your problem solving.
7. Cacao: Many people use the fact that cacao can boost brain performance as an excuse to eat more chocolate. And, it is true that dark chocolate can sharpen your mind and boost your cognition on a short term basis. However, you can’t just eat any old chocolate. Your best bet is to get your hands on quality dark chocolate that has been minimally processed. The best is to stir a little cacao powder into a drink. Next best is to get chocolate bars with at least 75% cacao content.
8. Matcha: Green tea is renowned for its health benefits, and for its ability to help boost brain performance. It calms and focuses, stimulating the brain and helping you concentrate without an excessive nervousness. The best green tea, though is Matcha. Matcha is finely stone-ground and specially prepared in the best Japanese tradition. No soaking tea bags or any of the other things you think of with green tea.
9. Ground Flaxseed: If you want to improve the way your cerebral cortex works, you can take a little ground flaxseed. One tablespoon a day can help you improve your senses, better processing the sensory information you receive. You can mix flaxseed into shakes, or sprinkle it on salad or cereal. It’s a great way to get Omega-3 fatty acids as well.
10. Curry: If you like a taste of the exotic, you can feed your brain with the help of curry. Turmeric is a yellow spice, in the ginger family, used in many curries. It has shown promise in reducing the deposits in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s, and has antioxidants that slow brain aging.

Worst Food For Your Brain

You also need to be aware of the ways you could be inhibiting your brain performance. Here are some of the worst foods for brain performance:

1. Alcohol: It’s probably no surprise that this drink is probably one of the worst for brain performance. While a glass of wine can be helpful to your health, drinking more than a serving can make you sloppy, and binge drinking destroys brain cells.
2. Energy Drinks: While caffeine in moderate amounts can be good for your brain, too much of it causes problems. And that is the issue with energy drinks. When you have too much caffeine, or drink energy drinks a great deal (especially after 3 pm) you can mess up your sleep cycle — which is vital for brain health.
3. Full Fat Ice Cream: It may be tasty, but full fat ice cream is horrible for your brain. High saturated fats can clog your blood vessels and reduce the amount of nutrients that are getting to your brain. So, enjoy an occasional serving of low fat ice cream, but be careful to avoid high fat ice cream.
4. Unripe Berries: While ripe berries can be a great brain food, you need to be wary of unripe berries. The best results for your brain come when the fruit is eaten at peak ripeness, when the natural nutrients are at their height. Hard, unready berries don’t have all the same nutrients. If the berries are out of season, look for frozen berries that have been picked and preserved at peak ripeness.
5. Pancakes: You might like to have some pancakes for breakfast, but these are terrible in terms of brain food. High in simple carbohydrates, pancakes may give you a small boost, but you quickly get through that boost. Plus, eating a high carb breakfast increase the tryptophan in your brain — making you groggy and energy-less just two hours later.
6. Bagels: Like pancakes, bagels are high in refined carbohydrates. If you have a bagel — especially one that appears white — you are looking for trouble. At least as far as your brain goes. Sadly, muffins aren’t any better. It may seem like bagels and muffins should be healthy breakfast choices, but they aren’t.
7. Soda: Here’s another drink to avoid if you want to improve your brain function. The sugar in soda, when taken very sparingly (no more than 12 oz. a day) can aid in some short-term memory retention, but most people overdo the soda to an unhealthy level. As with other sugars, having all that soda can make you anxious, and then crash later, losing alertness. Plus, those who drink more soda are more prone to depression.
8. Candy: Yet another common treat, exposed as being bad for your brain. Again, the main issue is the sugar. You will end up with sugar highs and lows, due to the glucose, and you will end up with a fuzzy mind state. Clear thinking can be impaired by candy, and it contributes to other health problems (too much can lead to diabetes) that can in turn speed up the effects of aging on the brain.
9. White Chocolate: This might come as a surprise to the crowd that believes that chocolate can be good for your brain. But it is important to remember that not all chocolate is created equal. Dark chocolate is the best. And, truth to tell, white chocolate isn’t actually chocolate, since it lacks the cocoa solids. So, really, eating white chocolate helps your brain just about as much as candy. Which is not at all.
10. Potato Chips: Potato chip products are horrible for your brain, since they include hydrogenated oils, refined carbs and large amounts of fat, all things that promote sluggish thinking and brain aging that can result in dementia.

More appropriately, how much less should that man eat before he can lose weight, because that man’s BMI (Body Mass Index) is 25.8. This means he is overweight in the first place. After you read this article and learn about the calories involved in the following ten disgusting yet delicious breakfast sandwiches, you might learn about your BMI and whether or not you need to bypass that fast-food place in the morning. It may be that these sandwiches are destroying the country’s public health…and you don’t want to be a statistic (although you might help a CNA obtain a job with the various illnesses you could incur as an overweight person).

The list below contains fat, sodium and total caloric intake for each sandwich. The sodium intake is noted, as most adults should eat less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Some of these sandwiches contain at least half of that amount, which means that you might need to restrict sodium intake for the rest of the day. The list below is listed by highest calories first, least calories last, and each link leads to a page that contains other nutrition information for each sandwich.

1. Jack in the Box Sirloin Steak & Egg Burrito with Fire Roasted Tomato Salsa: Eat this 10-inch flour tortilla stuffed with strips of 100 percent sirloin steak, scrambled eggs, hash brown sticks, shredded cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, and chipotle sauce, served with a side of fire-roasted salsa, and you will have eaten 74 percent of your daily fat intake (48 grams), 75 percent of which is saturated fat. Sodium intake is 1,440 mg. Total calories: 790.
2. Burger King’s Meat’Normous Omelet Sandwich: Chow down on three full slices of crispy bacon, two slices of smokey ham and a sizzling sausage patty between two omelet eggs, two slices of American cheese and a toasted specialty bun for 47 grams of fat. That would be 410 calories of fat, 85 percent saturated fat. While the calorie intake in this sandwich is slightly lower than the sandwich noted above, the sodium intake for the Meat’Normous is 1,940 mg (almost 2/3 of an adult’s daily intake). Total calories: 730.
3. Hardee’s Frisco Breakfast Sandwich: This breakfast sandwich includes a folded egg and thinly sliced ham, topped with American and Swiss cheeses stacked on fresh sourdough bread. While the calories and fat are lower in this breakfast sandwich than the previous two sandwiches, the sodium intake is through the roof. Total fat is 20 grams, 35 percent saturated fat. Sodium intake is 1,340 mg. Total calories: 420.
4. McDonald’s McGriddle: The McGriddles have three different incarnations: sausage; sausage, egg and cheese; or bacon, egg and cheese. And they’re all wrapped in high-tech syrup-infused pancakes. To keep it simple, this is the information you need to know about the simplest of the three, the sausage McGriddle: You are looking at 22 grams of fat, 40 percent saturated. Sodium is 1,030 mg. Total calories: 420.
5. Wendy’s Sausage Biscuit: Order just one, not two, unless you want to give away the other sandwich. This is a plain sausage with a plain biscuit, nothing else added — one sausage biscuit from Wendy’s contains 261 calories from fat, and 75 percent of that fat is saturated fat. Total sodium intake is 1,120 mg (nearly half of what a normal adult needs per day — from one sausage biscuit!). Total calories: 420.
6. Dunkin’ Donuts’ Waffle Breakfast Sandwich: This sandwich contains cherrywood smoked bacon, eggbeaters egg, cheese and maple syrup-infused waffles. This sandwich contains 23 grams of fat, 40 percent of which is saturated fat. Sodium is 1000 mg, almost half an adult’s daily intake. Total calories: 390.
7. Starbuck’s Low-Fat Turkey Bacon Breakfast Sandwich: If you can refrain from ordering a high-calorie coffee drink, this breakfast sandwich is the best bet by far (unless you want to order the last sandwich on this list, also from Starbucks). Total fat is 11 grams, and saturated fat takes up only 20 percent of that fat intake. Sodium intake is 820 mg. Total calories: 330.
8. McDonald’s Egg McMuffin: This is the best bet on a breakfast sandwich at McDonald’s. Total fat intake is 12 grams, with 25 percent of that fat as saturated fat. Sodium intake still is high at 840 mg. Total calories: 300.
9. Jack in the Box Breakfast Jack: If you can forgo the Sirloin Steak and Egg Burrito noted in the #1 spot above, this choice might be better, although a lot blander. You get a fried egg, ham and American cheese on a bakery bun. Total fat equals 12 gram, and 23 percent of that fat is saturated. Sodium intake is 760 mg. Total calories: 290.
10. Starbucks’ Egg White, Spinach & Feta Wrap: The issue here is whether or not you can bypass the Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha (540 calories – more calories than contained in this sandwich) while you’re ordering. This sandwich contains 9 grams pf fat, and 18 percent of that fat is saturated fat. Total sodium intake is a whopping 1,140 mg. Total calories: 280.

Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day, so you should not skip that meal. You need the energy, even sitting at a desk. Additionally, eating a healthy breakfast can help you stay full longer, which means you may not be tempted to overeat for lunch or dinner.

Two options to the breakfast sandwiches listed above include:

1. Healthy Breakfast Sandwich Recipe: It may take some time to get used to the veggie sausage in this sandwich, but this alternative contains only 4 grams of fat, 731.7 mg of sodium and 230.5 calories.
2. Oatmeal Breakfast: Granted, this is not a breakfast-on-the-go, but sometimes it’s good to sit and eat. A generic bowl of oatmeal contains 1.5 grams of fat, no sodium and only 75 calories. But, if you get a flavored oatmeal or dress it up, you’ll see some changes. For instance, if you add a teaspoon of honey to that bowl of oatmeal, you add 60 calories for a total of 135 calories.

If you add a glass of milk and an orange to that oatmeal breakfast, you have a balanced meal that contains a total of 9.7 grams of fat (25 percent saturated fat), 125 mg of sodium (from the milk) and a total of 380 calories. Compare these numbers to any of the breakfast sandwiches listed above, and you might realize why these breakfast sandwiches — even the healthiest of those sandwiches — do not contribute to a balanced meal nor to sodium issues nor to weight loss.

Healthcare Job Search

These blogs can help you find a job in healthcare, and understand what is available. Figure out what you need to do in order to find success as a healthcare worker.

1. Health Careers Blog: This blog from About.com offers information on a number of healthcare jobs, and what you need to do in order to qualify.
2. Healthcare Career Blog: Learn about different aspects of working in healthcare, and different tools for helping you find a job.
3. Health Care Scouts: Tools and tips for finding a healthcare career. Includes information on conferences and management as well.
4. Non-Clinical Medical Jobs, Careers and Opportunities: Learn about what is available in healthcare for those who are not interested in clinical work.
5. Healthcare Executive Careers Blog: Learn about becoming a healthcare executive, working your way to the top in the health field.
6. BioJobBlog: While the emphasis is on pharma careers, this blog also features helpful information on advancing your career in other areas of healthcare.

Public Health

Public health provides interesting opportunities to be involved in healthcare, without necessarily being involved with clinical programs. Here are some blogs that can help you learn more about a career in public health.

7. why public health?: Folks in Yale’s public health program have put together an unofficial blog discussing issues in public health, as well as insights into policy, and encouragement as you work toward a degree.
8. BYU Public Health: Learn about public health career opportunities and what you need for a degree from this blog set up by BYU’s public health program.
9. Dr. Buttery’s Public Health BLOG: Explore public health issues and learn more about what it takes to be successful in the field.
10. Public Health Matters: Learn all about public health and its issues from the Centers for Disease Control.
11. In Case of Emergency: A blog on public health issues, providing insight on how things are handled.

Physicians

Learn about what it’s like to be a doctor, and get insight into what they have to deal with every day.

12. Physician Careers Blog: Learn about different careers available to different kinds of doctors.
13. Notes on a Physician’s Life: This blog looks at different aspects of being a doctor, written by a physician and career consultant.
14. The Entrepreneurial MD: Learn how you can be a doctor and an entrepreneur at the same time, advancing your career potential.
15. MD Salaries: An interesting look at how much different types of doctors can make in the United States and in the rest of the world.
16. Physician Jobs and Healthcare Careers: Learn more about becoming a doctor, as well as other jobs in healthcare. Includes jobs open to physicians.

Nurses

One of the jobs in highest demand is nursing. Here are some blogs that can help you with your nursing career.

17. Nursing Career Blog: Just what it sounds life, this blog is about different nursing jobs and career opportunities.
18. Nursing Jobs Blog: Learn about different nursing jobs available, and a number of tips for enhancing your career.
19. St. Vincent’s Hospital Darlinghurst – Male Nurses: An Australian perspective on what’s it like to have a career as a “murse”.
20. Travel Registered Nurse: Learn how you can enjoy a career as a travel nurse.
21. Nurse Healers: Learn about what nurses do as part of the healing process, and how you can become a better nurse.

Medical Assistants

If you want to help people, but aren’t sure about becoming a doctor, you can become a medical assistant, helping doctors and nurses, and doing good for your patients.

22. Medical Assistant Net Career Blog: Get helpful pointers on how you can enhance your career in medical assisting.
23. Medical Assistant Jobs: Learn about different job openings for medical assistants around the world.
24. The American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistant’s Blog: Learn about life as a medical assistant in the healthcare field of podiatry, including job openings.
25. American Dental Hygienists’ Association’s MySpace Blog: Get information on becoming a dental hygienist and assisting in that way.

Radiology and Lab Technicians

You can do some good in healthcare as an x-ray technician or working in some other radiology related and laboratory health professions.

26. The Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Medicine Podcast: Learn about different aspects of nuclear medicine and radiology.
27. Radiology 2.0: A blog about issues in radiology, as well as career tips and information.
28. scan man’s notes: Learn about notes on radiology from a radiology professional.
29. Advance for Medical Laboratory Professionals: A blog and portal aimed at helping those who serve as lab techs.
30. Medical Laboratory Technician Career Training: Learn about different jobs associated with being a lab tech or radiologist.

Psychiatrist

This interesting healthcare career can allow you the chance to help people sort through their problems.

31. American Psychiatric Association: Get news about a job in psychiatry, straight from the source.
32. Shrink Rap: Interesting look at different aspects of a career in psychiatry.
33. The Carlat Psychiatry Blog: A look at healthcare education, with a special emphasis on psychiatry.
34. The Last Psychiatrist: Insights about issues facing psychiatry today.
35. The Amazing World of Psychiatry: A peek into what goes on inside the human mind, and what is happening in the career field of psychiatry.

Dentists and Orthodontists

You can do quite well in healthcare as a dentist or an orthodontist.

36. The Dental Implant Blog: Learn about things going on in the world of dentistry — and how you can improve your own dental practice.
37. The Tooth Booth Dental Blog: Insights into a career in dentistry.
38. Dental Technology Blog: Helpful gadgets and gizmos that can help you take your dental practice up a notch.
39. Ask Dr. Straight: This orthodontist blog answers questions about the practice, and can help you enhance your career.
40. Braces in L.A.: Learn about orthodontics from professionals. Provides insight on jobs and pricing.

Medical Coding, Transcription and Billing

You don’t have to be int there getting your hands dirty to be in the healthcare field. Administrative type positions in coding, transcription and billing can be good fits for many people.

41. Your Medical Coding Career: Learn about what it takes to become a medical coder.
42. Medical Coding and Billing Blogspot: Learn about different issues you’ll run into as a coder and biller, and how to overcome them.
43. Medical Transcription Blog: A career in medical transcription, including tips and helpful insights.
44. Medical Billing Software Blog: The ins and outs of medical billing, and the different types of software used.
45. Medical Transcription Blog: Learn about medical transcription, including opportunities to advance your career while working from home.

Medical Sales

Be involved in healthcare by selling essential equipment to doctors and hospitals and others who may need it.

46. Medical Sales Recruiter: Get tips and helpful information related to being in medical sales.
47. Medical Sales Job Blog: Learn about jobs available in medical sales, and how to get them.
48. Specialty Medical Sales Blog: Keep up to date on the latest information on medical sales.
49. Medical Sales Talk: Insights and news on the latest in medical sales.
50. Cafe Pharma: Learn about pharmaceutical sales and how to improve your career in that area.

Aerobics

Aerobic exercise is vital if you want to burn calories and fat. Aerobics can also help you strengthen your heart. These videos can help you learn aerobic exercises and follow along to help you improve your health.

1. Doing Warm Up Aerobic Exercises: Properly warming up so that you are properly warmed up for safer aerobic exercises.
2. How To Do Aerobics Exercises: How to Do Lunges for Aerobic Exercises: This is a great way to learn more about how to properly to do lunges properly.
3. 10 Minute Jump Start Cardio Workout: Great cardio aerobics to help you really get things moving.
4. Aerobic – 8 Minute Abs: This video gives a look at how you can get a good aerobic ab workout to help you can help your abs.
5. Step Aerobics Made Easy: Learn the basics of step aerobics for a dynamic and effective workout.
6. Smart Bounce Beyond Basics Rebound Aerobic Workout: If you are into using bounce and small trampolines, this video can help you improve your health in a fun way.
7. Gospel Aerobics: Do some aerobics to gospel music, and improve your spirit as well as your physical condition.
8. Power Aerobic Workout with Lorraine Kelly: This is a great power aerobic workout aimed at helping you increase the efficiency of your calorie burning.
9. Aerobic Dance Workout by Patrick Goudeau: Make working out a little more fun with a dance workout.
10. Exercise Tips for Pole Dancing: Learn about some tips to make your pole dancing more effective and comfortable. Look to the right for more great tips and exercises for pole dancing for fitness.
11. Do the Hip Hop Hustle: A fun aerobic move you can do to hip hop music. Learn the dance moves and then listen to the hip hop music of your choice for exercise.
12. Lower body DB workout at home – circuit style: A circuit style aerobic workout that can help you burn fat.
13. Exercise is Medicine – Home Gym – Aerobic Exercise: A helpful video that can help you figure out how to make a home aerobic gym on a shoestring.
14. Aerobic Exercise – Home Exercise: A personal trainer offers you some easy to do exercises at home — no equipment needed.
15. 4-Minute Rapid Fat Loss Cardio Intervals at Home – Tabatas Workout: A quick 4-minute cardio workout at home to help you lose weight.

Strength Training

You want to be able to properly hold your body up. Strength training is an important part of being fit. So here are some videos that can help you with you tone your muscles.

16. Strength Training at Home: A basic look at some things you can do to tone your muscles at home.
17. Real Man Dumbbell Workout for Strength: Using dumbbells for strength training.
18. Strength Training Part 1: Learn some basic strength training and toning exercises that can help you condition your core.
19. No Gym, No Problem! Military Core Body Fitness: Strengthen your core with the help of these toning exercises.
20. Extreme Strength: Training exercises you can do to stay fit and toned.
21. Kickboxing Technique: Hook: Learn how to do a hook punch. Other kickboxing videos from this same source can help you tone your muscles while burning fat.
22. Side Plank Exercise for Core Muscle Toning & Strength: This move can help you learn how to tone your core and strengthen those muscles with the plank.
23. How to Define Your Upper Arms: Some helpful exercises you can do to help define your upper arms.
24. Build Muscle Tone: Helpful tips for building better muscle tone.
25. Strength Training and Weight Exercises for Fitness: Helpful exercises you can do to improve your muscle tone and general overall fitness.
26. Dumbbell Row Exercises: Learn how to tone using the dumbbell row exercise.
27. How to Increase Muscle Tone in 10 Minutes a Day: You can work your muscle groups and improve your tone with only 10 minutes a day.
28. How to Tone Up in a Week: You can improve your muscle tone with only a week with help from this basic fitness video.
29. Stretch and Tone Your Body Workout 1: Learn some basic toning and stretch exercises to get a sexier body. There are additional videos (look to the right) that can help you with additional exercises.
30. Weight Lifting/Training Exercises to Tone Arms, Workout Biceps, Triceps, Chest & Shoulder Muscles: Tone your upper body with help from a few dumbbells at home.
31. Lower Body Toning/Cardio Routine: This video can help you tone your lower body. Includes cardio to help you burn fat.

Mind/Body Fitness

Part of good physical health can include exercises designed to help you increase your mindfulness. You can improve overall physical fitness with these different types of exercises.

32. Denise Austin Yoga Workout: This 10 minute workout can help you use yoga to increase your health.
33. Power Yoga Total Body Workout: This four minute workout will show you how you can build graceful strength using power yoga moves. Tips for better yoga practice
34. Yoga Routine for Lower Back Pain: You can ease lower back pain with these yoga exercises.
35. Prenatal Yoga Flow Pregnancy Fitness: Learn some yoga exercises that are appropriate for pregnant women.
36. How to Do Tai Chi Forms & Exercises: Basic Tai Chi Stance: You can improve your health and wellness with tai chi. This video helps you learn a basic stance. Additional videos from this user can help you learn how more tai chi moves.
37. Scott Coles Discover Tai Chi: Weight Loss Workout: A mind/body workout for weight loss.
38. 10 minute solution slim and sculpt pilates: Learn some basic pilates moves you can do at home to improve your health and your mindfulness and awareness of your body.
39. Beginner Pilates Workout: Easing into a basic pilates workout.
40. Sexy Pilates Workout Side Leg Series: Become more comfortable with your body with these sexy leg exercises.

Food and Nutrition

An essential part of physical health is diet and nutrition. These YouTube videos will help you learn more about proper food intake.

41. 7 Nutrition Fundamentals for Losing Fat: Learn the basics to follow if you want to lose fat.
42. Top 10 Worst Foods: Avoid these foods at all costs.
43. Reading Nutritional Labels: Learn how to properly read nutrition labels so that you understand how you are eating.
44. Eat Healthy Food on a Budget Tips: Learn how you can eat healthy, even if you are on a budget.
45. Nutrition Advice: Top Antioxidant Foods: Great foods you can eat for their antioxidant content.
46. Darin Steen’s Fatloss LifeStyle Nutrition Do’s & Don’ts for Fat Loss & Muscle Gain: Get rid of fat and build muscle with a little help from these nutrition tips.
47. Healthy Diet Tips: Foods to Avoid for Weight Loss: Stay away from these foods if you want to lose weight.
48. Diet Tips: Eat Breakfast & Lose Weight: Don’t skip breakfast. Lose weight the healthy way with a good
    breakfast.
49. Eating Organic Food on a Budget: You can eat organic food — even if you are on a budget.
50. Healthy Weight Loss Tips: If you want to lose weight, do it in a healthy manner.

Nursing

Brush up on your knowledge of nursing, and learn to understand some of the issues facing nurses today. This knowledge could help you better sell yourself as a knowledgeable and capable CNA.

1. Health Assessment and Promotion: This course from UMass Boston can help you learn how to provide health assessment services and better understand the nursing process. Focuses on assessing the health of patients across the lifespan.
2. Caring in Hospitals: Learn about the type of care offered by different hospitals from The Open University. Get a better look at the different roles played by those who work in hospitals, and learn how you can integrate yourself.
3. Medical Terminology: The College of Eastern Utah provides you with a working knowledge of the different terms that are used in medicine, and helps you understand their use. Valuable if you want to showcase your knowledge of the medical profession.
4. The Human Body: This open courseware collection from Harvard University’s medical school provides a helpful look at how the human body is put together, and provides you with basic knowledge of anatomy.
5. Health: Yale’s open courseware collection offers you a chance to address health issues and understand the workings of diseases, epidemics and public health concerns.

Communication

One of the most important things you can do as a CNA is to be able to communicate effectively. But before you get the job, you have to be able to show your interviewer your communication skills. Enhance your ability to communicate your ideas and present yourself with a little help from some open courseware.

6. Business Communications in the Age of Spin: While it may seem pointless to learn about business communications, the fact of the matter is that a CNA needs to understand how business works — since the medical profession includes business.
7. What is Good Writing?: Showcasing your “soft skills” can make you more attractive. Learn to write well and express yourself with the written word.
8. Dynamic Leadership: Improvisation in Business: This course from MIT can help you learn how to improvise smoothly and enhance your leadership skills — which can be helpful if you plan to advance in your career.
9. Language and Communication: Foundations: Western Governors University offers a course in the fundamentals of language and communication.

Time Management and Productivity

As a CNA, you need to learn how to manage your time. You can get a better job, and do better at your current job, if you learn a little bit about time management and about increasing your productivity.

10. Time Management Exercise: This helpful and informative course from Notre Dame provides you with insight into how you can better manage your time and use your time more efficiently.
11. Time Management: This presentation can help you learn more about better time management.
12. Crisis Management and Emergency Preparedness: Harvard can help you get a grip on what needs to happen during an emergency, and how you can perform better during a crisis situation.
13. Strategic view of performance: Learn about management strategy and improving productivity. Having this knowledge can help you position yourself as you search for a job as a CNA.

Behavior

Understanding human behavior can not only help you as a CNA, but it can also provide you with insight into how you can do better in your interview, and what you need to do in order to behave in such a way as to connect with others.

14. Establishing Relationships with Other Professionals: Networking, and the relationships you develop with others, can be a big part of whether or not you can find a job. This course can help you learn how to connect with others.
15. Emotional Intelligence: Learn about being better connected to others on an emotional level. Recognize other emotions, and learn to adjust your own responses accordingly.
16. Making decisions: The decision making process is an important part of life — and your career. This course can help you become more adept at decision making and display your skills to others.
17. Eight Leader Behaviors That Increase Motivation, Morale, and Performance…And One That Won’t: This course is aimed at helping you develop better leader behaviors. Develop these, and your interviewers will notice a difference.

People

Learn about how to connect and interact with others. Your people skills can make a big difference in whether or not you get a job.

18. Giving and Receiving Feedback: Understanding how to give and receive effective and helpful feedback is important. And you may even have to do it in an interview!
19. Managing Relationships: While this course focuses mainly on fundraising, it is also helpful from the standpoint that knowing how to manage resources and relationships is an important skill to have.
20. New Media Literacies: This course helps you learn how to utilize new media. Learn how to use social media and networking to reach out to others online and find a job.
21. Power Play: Learn about the important dynamics of power in work settings, and learn how to use them to your advantage.

Ethics

Get a good foundation in ethics and questions of “right” behavior. This can be helpful when answering questions from interviewers and letting others know that you are well-versed in appropriate behavior.

22. Ethical Issues in Public Health: Learn about the types of concerns and issues that are common in a public health setting with this course from Johns Hopkins University.
23. Dilemmas in Bio-Medical Ethics: Get an overview of what goes on in modern medical ethics from this MIT course and study “bio-politics.”
24. Creating an ethical organisation: Learn how you can help develop a workplace that focuses on ethics.
25. Business Ethics: In the medical business, it is a good idea to understand the underlying theories of ethics. This course can help you discover how businesses consider ethical questions.

The CNA may work in nursing homes, hospitals, adult day health centers, assisted living facilities and in personal homes under the supervision of a nurse. In that light, the following list is divided into categories that shed light on various CNA working situations, and each link is listed in alphabetical order within those categories. This method shows our readers that we do not favor one blog over another.

Working in…Nursing Homes

The following blogs are some of the best on various nursing home topics…

1. ElderCare Expert Blog: Cheryl Mathieu, Ph.D., M.S.W. helps people manage the challenges of aging and caregiving, especially with aging parents. However, her blog speaks to problem solvers and eldercare advocates, caregivers and other professionals in the aging profession. “Dr. Cheryl” also owns a Geriatric Care Management business in southern California.
2. Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog: Written by Frances Parker, a consultant, hospice volunteer and former school principle, this blog focuses on Parker’s experiences and knowledge about hospice care. She shares stories and general information about hospice care, urban nursing homes, caregiving and more. She also is author of the book, Becoming Dead Right, which is focused on the same topics.
3. Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog: Levin & Perconti, attorneys, compile various nursing home abuses throughout Illinois. While this is a state-specific blog, you may find more information about the state where you plan to practice. Nursing home residents are among society’s most vulnerable citizens, and many people are committed to improving the quality of nursing home care and holding these facilities accountable for substandard care and conduct through litigation.
4. My Better Nursing Home: This blog is written from yet another perspective – Dr. Barbera is an author and a licensed psychologist consulting in long-term care facilities in the New York City area. She lectures on issues related to aging, psychology and nursing homes, so her blog may prove productive reading for any CNA.
5. The Nursing Home Administrator: Matthew Maupin has been a nursing home administrator in Indiana for over five years. You can learn about topics ranging from diseases to tech tools that can make your nursing home career easier.

Working in…Hospice Care

More blogs have begun to focus on end-of-life issues, and the following are just a few of those writings…

6. Dethmama Chronicles: One perspective from a hospice nurse. You may enjoy the humor, the insights into the hospice industry and the fascination with the afterlife (ghosts and paranormal) contained in this blog.
7. Hospice Blog: This blog is dedicated to hospice professionals nationwide.
8. Hospice Foundation Blog: If you’re interested in stories and articles about the end-of-life experience, you might want to follow this blog. Various writers offer their perspectives on a platform hosted by the Hospice Foundation of America.
9. Pallimed: This is one of the “go to” blogs for people who are interested in palliative care. Its mission is educational, and the content is provided by individuals who work in the hospice community.
10. The Good Death: Jessica Knapp has been blogging about end-of-life issues since early 2008. She is a PhD student and freelance writer who wants to help people better handle all facets of death and dying. Her posts are filled with facts, questions and many links to other resources.

Working in…Hospitals

You might pick up a few cues on how hospitals operate through the people who work there…

11. Code Blog: Tales of a Nurse: This blogger has been an intensive care nurse for over a decade. She blogs about her experiences as a nurse and the stories of others in the healthcare system including patients, other nurses, doctors, paramedics and more.
12. Emergiblog: Learn more about hospital workings in an emergency and critical care unit from Kim. This nurse blogger is a registered nurse with an ADN degree and thirty-one years of experience also worked in psychiatry and pediatric telephone triage.
13. Nurse Ratched’s Place: This is one of the hottest nurse blogs on the Internet. Learn from a nurse who writes composite stories about many different people that she’s cared for over the years. Plenty of links to other nurse and doctor sites, too.
14. Running a Hospital: Learn more about how a hospital is run from a CEO of a large Boston hospital (which happens to be Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School). Paul Levy shares thoughts about hospitals, medicine and health care issues.
15. The Happy Hospitalist: “Unfiltered medicine” from a board-certified internist who works in a hospital. The focus from medicine strays at times, but so does conversation amongst hospital staff. This is just one perspective among several internist blogs found on the Web.

Working with…Patients

Sometimes the way to learn more about a disease is through the person who has it…

16. A Chronic Dose: This blog is written by Laurie Edwards, author of Life Disrupted: Getting Real About Chronic Illness in Your Twenties and Thirties, and a victim of multiple chronic illnesses including PCD, bronchiectasis, celiac disease and more. Her blog was named one of Health Central’s Top Sites for Pain in 2007.
17. Healthy Concerns: Elisa Camahort, co-founder and COO of Blogher, a source for women bloggers, is the author of this blog. She has allergies, she’s concerned about health care and she supplies plenty of resources for the self-motivated reader.
18. Imagine Bright Futures II: Diagnosed with breast cancer at age 29, this woman had a mastectomy sixteen days after her diagnosis. She writes about her “adventures in medical land,” with information about her ongoing chemo, radiation and tamoxifen treatments.
19. The Gimp Parade: Kay is a thirty-something disabled feminist, who writes about disabilities and other topics such as abortion, abuse, AIDS and, naturally, feminism.
20. Undiagnosed Illness: More of an online book with a forum, this patient provides in-depth insights into what it’s like to be an undiagnosed patient for at least four years. Learn more about the frustrations, pain and anger involved in this type of patient.

Skill Blogs (Problems and Policies)

21. Be In the Know! This blog talks to facilities that hire CNAs. But, the blog is open, and you can read any entry. Their blog focus is on problems that CNAs face, and they provide solutions to those issues. Consider this a learning and skill-honing blog for your career.
22. HealthWonk Review: Use this biweekly compendium of the best in health policy blogs to learn more about health policy, infrastructure, insurance, technology, and managed care.
23. HIPAA Blog: Updated information on HIPAA issues, legalities and policies, written by Jeffery Drummond. Drummond’s expertise includes hospital and health care provider representation and working with managed care entities such as HMOs, PPOs, IPAs, and PHOs.
24. HR Web Cafe: This blog is sponsored by the ESI Employee Assistance Group and focuses on employment issues, people matters and work trends. Although this site does not focus on CNAs in particular and workplaces in general, the issues are universal.
25. The Health Care Blog: One of the best blogs on the Web for discussion of health care, tech and health 2.0 issues.

The following list of 25 reasons why you should drink more tea is divided into categories. The links contained within each category are alphabetized to show our readers that we do not favor one reason to drink tea over another. A warning, though – try to avoid using sugar or sweeteners in your tea, as these additives may alter any progress toward your better health.

Cancer

1. Breast Cancer: After studying 3454 women with breast cancer and 3474 healthy controls between ages 20 and 74, scientists discovered that a modest reduction in breast cancer was observed for regular green tea drinkers.
2. Esophageal Cancer: Although a study in China showed that green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer by nearly sixty percent, be aware that very hot tea may cause the very same cancer. Drink your tea tepid or warm. This is the world’s most common type of esophageal cancer.
3. Liver Cancer: Green tea consumption has varying results on cancers, according to Dr. Katja Boehm of the Unconventional and Complementary Methods in Oncology Study Group in Nuremberg, Germany. According to one study, it appeared that green tea could prevent liver cancer.
4. Ovarian Cancer: A Swedish study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in December 2005, showed that, on average, each additional cup of tea consumed by women ages 40 to 76 for more than fifteen years was associated with an eighteen percent decrease in the risk for ovarian cancer development.
5. Prostate Cancer: Men with prostate cancer who consumed the active compounds in green tea demonstrated a significant reduction in serum markers predictive of prostate cancer progression, according to results of a study published in Cancer Prevention Research , a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
6. Reduce Existing Cancers: A study conducted by Rutgers University showed that tea may actually halt cancer growth when used in combination with certain chemotherapeutic agents. Tea contains EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), a powerful anti-oxidant that helps build healthy tissues.
7. Stomach Cancer: A study conducted in China on people who had stomach cancer showed that green tea may disrupt gastric carcinogenesis at both the intermediate and late stages.

Heart Disease

8. Blood Pressure: According to research presented at the meeting of the American Heart Association, an ingredient in herbal tea may lower blood pressure. In a study of 65 people who were pre-hypertensive or mildly hypertensive, those who drank three eight-ounce cups of tea containing hibiscus each day saw their systolic blood pressure drop by 7.2 mm Hg, compared to 1.3 mm Hg among those who took a placebo.
9. Blood Vessel Health: A study suggests that black tea reverses endothelial vasomotor dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease, which reduces the risk for heart attack and stroke in these patients. The study was published in the 10 July 2001 issue of Circulation.
10. Cholesterol: Drinking tea can lower low-density lipprotein, or the LDL “bad” cholesterol. The study was conducted by research chemist Joseph T. Judd with the agency’s Diet and Human Performance Laboratory, one of seven laboratories at ARS’ Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center on a small group of volunteers.
11. Heart Attack Risk: The authors of a meta-analysis conducted in 2002, based on ten prospective cohort studies and seven case-control studies, concluded that an increase in daily tea consumption of three cups decreased the risk of heart attack by eleven percent.
12. Recovery: In addition to blood vessel health, a study has shown that EGCG found in tea can reduce cell death following a heart attack or stroke. Cell death following these traumatic events leads to tissue death and organ failure, protecting the heart and brain. Tea also hastens the recovery of these cells.

Teeth and Bones

13. Halitosis: Teas that help to fight cavities and gum disease (see below) also help to keep your breath fresher. Even though tea contains disease-fighting anti-oxidants, it can still stain your teeth. After each cup, be sure to rinse.
14. Inhibits Growth of Periodontal Pathogens: In a Japanese study, green tea was shown as a modest factor in the prevention of periodontal disease.
15. Osteoporosis: Women, drink tea with a bit of milk and you may protect yourself against osteoporosis. The study, conducted in England, showed that older women who drank tea had higher bone mineral density measurements than those who did not drink tea. However, it has been shown that milk may counteract any benefits to vascular function offered by tea.
16. Prevent Tooth Loss: Drink unsweetened green and black tea rather than soft drinks or orange juice to reduce the long-term risk of tooth erosion. While long-term tea usage also may decrease the pH at tooth surfaces, it is much better for your health than sodas.
17. Promote Bone Creation: Researchers discovered that some ingredients in tea may inhibit bone resorption and boost metabolic creation of bone. This study would be complimentary to the previous study that showed decrease in bone loss. But, it is not the amount of tea you drink that is important – it’s the length of time you drink tea.
18. Reduce Cavities: Green and black tea help to fight cavities, reduce plaque build-up and help control bacteria. Participants in the study rinsed with tea for 30 seconds, five times, waiting three minutes between each rinse.

Other Health Benefits

19. Immune System Boost: A component in tea was found in laboratory experiments to prime the immune system to attack invading bacteria, viruses and fungi, according to a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences released in 2003. A second experiment, using human volunteers, showed that immune system blood cells from tea drinkers responded five times faster to germs than did the blood cells of coffee drinkers.
20. Inrease Metabolism: Oolong tea has been shown to increase metabolic rates and fat oxidation in men. The tea was prepared by adding equal amounts of brewed tea and distilled deionized water.
21. Reduce Dementia Risk: According to a recent study, people who enjoy two to three cups of black tea daily are half as likely to have early signs of the dementia as those who rarely drink it. Tea may also be able to prevent the build-up of dangerous brain deposits called plaques that are found in Alzheimer’s disease.
22. Reduce Stomach Fat: Although there were no differences in body fat mass between tea drinkers and non-tea drinkers in this study, it was shown that the catechin contained in tea did reduce the subcutaneous abdominal far area in the tea-drinking group. This study was done among people who used exercise as a means to loose weight.
23. Skin Care: Tea extracts were shown to work as an effective treatment for patients who suffered from damaged skin following radiation treatment for cancer. The anti-inflammatory properties of tea act at the cellular level to reduce inflammation. Green tea extracts proved more beneficial than black tea extracts in some patients. This method may also work for acne or other skin inflammations, but check with your doctor first.
24. Stop Bleeding: If you’ve had a tooth extraction lately, your dentist may have suggested using a moistened tea bag to stop the bleeding. Tea contains tannic acid, which can aid in blood clot formation. Try using a poultice of black tea bags on a minor cut or wound as well to stop the bleeding.
25. Ward Off Arthritis: Green tea contains anti-inflammatory properties that may help those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. The inflammatory chemicals that the green tea component has been shown to block are some of the same chemicals blocked by cutting-edge biologic drugs taken for some several autoimmune diseases.

1. Grey’s Anatomy Insider provides a behind the scenes look at the show, and offers spoilers and episode recaps. There is also plenty of information on cast members and characters, as well as links, music, quotes, forums and more.
2. Grey Matter is a great fan site from the writers of the show. It’s not as flashy as some of the other fan sites, but it is solid. It provides insights from the people that make it all happen — and provide the cliffhangers. It’s an interesting read for the more cerebral of Grey’s Anatomy fans.
3. Grey’s Anatomy News provides up-to-date information on what’s happening with Grey’s Anatomy. Interviews with cast members, as well as news about the set, cast and plot are covered. You can also read about guest stars, discuss the latest developments and even shop for Grey’s Anatomy merchandise.
4. Official Grey’s Anatomy site from ABC offers episode teasers, plot recaps, information about characters, forums, episode guides and more.
5. Grey’s Anatomy from TV Guide includes spoilers, recaps, photos, cast bios and videos. Learn about the upcoming season, and refresh yourself on information from past seasons. Also includes plenty of news and other information on Grey’s Anatomy.
6. Grey’s Anatomy from About.com offers some great information and images from the TV show. All of the main cast bios can be found in one place, which is extremely helpful. There are also helpful links and other resources.
7. Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice Wiki is a really fun place to interact with other Grey’s fans. This wiki allows you to add your own tidbits to the massive amounts of information available. Great videos, information on characters and more. Includes a new areas surrounding Private Practice, the Grey’s Anatomy spin-off.
8. Grey’s Anatomy TV Fan Site provides a fun place for fans to interact. Buy seasons of the show, get the latest news, and enjoy quotes and pictures from the TV show. Also includes Grey’s Trivia and a link to Private Practice, the spin-off featuring Addison.
9. Grey’s Anatomy from IMDB offers great information on the TV show. There are full cast bios, images and videos. There is also information on future episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, from the upcoming season.
10. Grey’s Anatomy from TV.com is a great headquarters for all things Seattle Grace. Includes behind the scenes videos, cast bios, forms, episode guides, triva and a blog about the show. Fans can contribute through forums and leave their own insights about the show.
11. Grey’s Anatomy Fan Club from fanpop features videos and photos from the TV show. Additionally, there are answers pages, articles and forums about various Grey’s Anatomy topics and fun polls such as “McDreamy or McSteamy?” and “Who should get to have a baby?”
12. Grey’s Anatomy Fan offers a look at what’s going on at Seattle Grace. Photos, videos and other media are included, as well as news articles. Information also includes news and latest happenings from cast members.
13. Grey’s Anantomy Fan Site is interestingly organized into different categories, including one where you can look at characters by couples (Meredith and Derek, Alex and Izzie, for example). There is also a fan forum, links to other great sites and information about cast members.
14. Grey’s Anatomy Club offers a news feed, as well as a number of other cool fan tools. Includes video clips and photo galleries, downloads and wallpapers.
15. Grey’s Anatomy from the News and Observer provides thought-provoking opinions about Grey’s Anatomy happenings. Also offers access to cast news, spoilers and more.
16. The Intern Formerly Known as Steve offers a funny look at Grey’s Anatomy from the viewpoint of a character (surgical intern) on the show.
17. The Nurse’s Station is another blog from ABC, looking at the happenings inside Seattle Grace from a character point of view. In this case, it’s Debbie.
18. The Emerald City Bar gives you a look at what’s going on in the favorite hang-out of the Seattle Grace staff. This blog is written by “Joe” the bartender.
19. Grey’s Anatomy on Wikipedia provides a fairly comprehensive rundown of Grey’s Anatomy. And because it’s a wiki, you can add your own changes. Get information on episodes from all the seasons, learn about literary tie-ins and read about cast members.
20. Alex and Izzie Online provides pictures and insight into the romance between Alex and Izzie. Includes information on Justin Chambers and Katherine Heigl.
21. Grey’s Anatomy Icons’ Journal is an interesting place where fans can congregate and create icons based on the show. You can see others’ icons — and even use them. Or create your own icons and share them with the rest of the community.
22. Grey’s Anatomy Fan Club on MySpace is a great place to go for news, music from the TV show, episode summaries and more. If you are on MySpace, you can interact even better.
23. Watching Grey’s Anatomy provides news snippits on what is happening with the show. Episode recaps and cast news are the staples on this site.
24. Grey’s Anatomy Cafe is a group of dedicated fans interested in talking about the show. There is a chat and a forum. You can also find useful links, icons and connection with other fans of Grey’s Anatomy.
25. Grey’s Directory offers news and photos, as well as information on Grey’s celebrities. This is a directory, though, with links to other Grey’s fan sites. A great resource itself that includes fan sites from around the world, including France and Brazil.

This course takes as little as half a year to complete. In the course one learns to define various medical terms. The medical billing specialist also establishes common abbreviations and used symbols in the medical profession. The trainee has to know about health insurance service and terms. During learning the student must also learn about (CPT) better known as current procedural terminology. These are the words and terms commonly used in the medical profession. The medical billing specialist also is taught how to develop and manage effectively an insurance claim. Finally he or she is taught the difference in medical profession.

2. A physical therapist assistant

The medical assistant’s work is to assist the physical therapist. Other duties that may be assigned to the medical therapist assistant is paperwork dealing with the patients. This may be information regarding the patients’ personal information and medical history. The physical therapist is also delegated the task of transporting the patients during and after therapy sessions. He also is supposed to look after the patient and report changes in medical condition to the therapist. He or she can also perform simple treatments as advised by his superior. It’s a very rewarding career and in the US a physical therapist can earn $35,000 annually.

3. Medical office receptionist

Individuals are trained to provide optimum service to customers. They are trained on how to receive and handle visitors in the health facility under the supervision of professional receptionist. The medical receptionist must learn how to handle an in house patient and discharge one. He or she must learn basic principles in the health care industry and learn to work in a medical office. The trainee is taught how to keep proper records and maintain acceptable interpersonal skills. The receptionist is also in charge of the telephone. Every medical facility/office varies a lot; in that respect the medical receptionist must learn the particular policies of the organization he or she is working for. The medical receptionist course takes less than 1 year to complete.

4. Certified nursing assistant

The certified nursing assistant is credited with helping the nurses in the health facility. This position requires one to be a great communicator. He or she is supposed to explain the task to be carried to the patient. Most patients and their families have a lot of questions regarding their ailments. The certified nursing assistant must explain the procedures thoroughly to both the patient and family and erase any doubts that they may have regarding the medical procedures. The certified nursing assistant must be of great patience. This is because he will have the job of assisting the patient during recovery which can be quite tasking.

5. Resident assistant

This job is mostly in old people homes. The job involves the ability to communicate effectively with the patients. Older patients may experience a communication problem and one is entitled to determine what they are saying and whatever they require. This job also requires one to have a basic knowledge of medical terms. The job also involves a lot of physical ability as one will sometimes be required to wheel patients and lift them on the bed. The job requires less than one year of education.

Attempts to control, regulate and to verify the quality of education have been done in some parts of the world all in a bid to ascertain and rubberstamp that indeed a person has gone through rigorous training and attained the statutory level of workplace experience and qualified academically from a recognized institution or a recognized central body. The central certification gives room for an employer to ascertain experience, skills and knowledge and also help in barring individuals who have been struck off from continuing to carry out their services in health care regulations. In the United States of America, credibility of the health care assistant and other social workers stands to be strengthened by registration which is compulsory.

One needs to have a mastery of the basic knowledge and skills as one of the requirements in becoming a state certified nurse. The basic skills are required since they help in caring for the patients in specialized care facilities and also in home settings among others. Basically, the nursing assistant skills descriptions refer mainly to tending to the elderly patients. In most cases, the nursing assistants are used in hospitals though, they are not restricted here as there are hospitals that have no certified nursing assistants at all.