Health

Hair Loss Remedies for Men and Women

2009-07-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

Regardless of your age, you need to be concerned about your hair. The appearance and quantity of hair that you have is a reflection of your internal health. You can use natural hair loss remedies to save your hair.
Of course, when you are young you have plenty of hair. But, there are even some of you at an early age, twenties, start to lose your hair.

The appearance and quantity of hair that you have is a reflection of your internal health.

Aside from a having a serious illness, your hair loss is affected by scalp cleanliness, stress, diet, and excess DHT. Knowing this, you can check out many hair loss remedies available to you.

Scalp cleanliness
If you have dandruff, you need to get rid of it. Dandruff can be a source of hair loss when it combines with dirt, shampoo chemicals, excess sebum follicle oil. Over time this combination of chemicals can create a film on your scalp that hardens and start to plug up your hair follicles. Once plugged, your follicles can't support hair growth.

Dandruff can be caused by excess stress, dry scalp, or chemical irritations. Look to see if you have excess stress in your life and find a way to reduce it. Chemical irritations can come from the shampoos that you are using.

Look for shampoos and conditioners that have natural ingredients. Start moving away from those hair products that have so many petrochemicals and dyes. Petrochemicals are those ingredients that you are not familiar with on the ingredient label - propylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and FD&C colorings.

Stress
Stress is a major contributors to many illnesses. It can also be the main reason you can experience loss of hair. Many years I was under a lot of stress at my new job. During the first 3 month there I experience excessive hair loss on the top of my head.

When you have hair loss due to stress, you can recover this hair if you take action right away. First look at your high stress level and start reducing it. Next, start supplementing your diet with a good hair loss nutritional supplement.

Diet
What you eat feeds your body. The type of body you have is based on what you eat. If you do not provide enough nutrients to your body, you hair will not receive enough nutrients to grow and be healthy. Your hair is last in line for the nutrient you supply your body. One way to improve your diet is eat more fruits in the morning and more vegetable for lunch and dinner. You can consider eating natural food hair loss remedies.

DHT (di-hydro-testosterone)
When excessive amounts of testosterone are converted to DHT by the enzyme 5 alpha reductase, this DHT accumulates at the hair root where it blocks blood circulation to that hair follicle. This decrease in blood to the hair root weakens it and it loses its health.

DHT also accumulates in the follicle and starts to plug it, thus further inactivating this hair follicle. The result is your hair start to thin out.

For women, DHT formation is not a major activity until menopause. Before menopause, estrogen blocks the formation of DHT. When estrogen decreases after menopause, DHT starts to form causing hair loss in women.

There are now shampoos that help to clean off accumulated DHT from the scalp and from within the hair follicles. Use them to stop hair loss and to recover some of the hair follicles that are still alive.

There are also some pills that block the formation of DHT in the blood, but I don't recommend them since it is not known what the longer term effects are of this blocking.
Go to google to find out more about DHT (di-hydro-testosterone) shampoos.

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What is cancer in your mind?

2009-07-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

The human body is made up of a wide range of cells. These cells are the simplest units of living matter. When cells become abnormal and they divide themselves without control, cancer appears. In this case, the extra tissue formed by the abnormal reproduction of cells, produces tumors, which can be benign or malign. Malign tumors are cancerous.

The word "cancer" is a general term to define a group of more than 100 diseases. There are many kinds of cancers. Cancer can develop in different parts of the body. For this reason, when people suffer from cancer, they need special therapy to treat their particular kind of cancer.

Nowadays, millions of people around the world have or have had cancer. It is important to explain some factors that can reduce the risk of developing cancer. First, some changing in lifestyle can reduce the possibility of having cancer (physical exercise, a healthy diet and giving up smoking, among others). Secondly, the sooner cancer is found, the better chances are for recovering from this disease.

Breast cancer develops in the cells of the breast in women and men. Despite that, this type of cancer is the most common in women and it is the cause of cancer death in millions of women around the world. In fact, it is the second most common type of cancer after lung cancer. Although breast cancer is more common in women, breast cancer can occur in men also. Incidences of breast cancer in men is one hundered less common than in women, but breast cancer in men shows the same statistical survival figures as women.

Breast cancers are classified according to different categorizations, which have been designed for a special purpose:

1-Pathology: Pathologists are the experts who classify each tumor according to its histological (microscopic anatomy) appearance by using a variety of techniques and methods, which may include the most modern discoveries such as tumor classification by tissue microarray profiling. The most frequent pathologic kinds of breast cancer are invasive ductal carcinoma, malignant cancer in the breast's ducts, and invasive lobular carcinoma, malignant cancer in the breast's lobules.

2- Tumor grade: This is a method to evaluate cancer cells in terms of their abnormality under a microscope and how fast the tumor is about to develop and spread. A low grade tumor shows normal tissue. A high grade tumor is composed of disorganized cells therefore, so it looks like abnormal tissue. Regarding intermediate grade is situated in the middle of both grades that have explained before.

3- Protein & gene expression status: At present all types of breast cancer must be tested for expression, or detectable effect, of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2/neu proteins. These studies are often performed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) process and are offered in every pathologist's report. The profile of expression of a given tumor offers the possibility of predicting its prognosis, or outlook, and helps oncologists choose the most appropriate treatment and chemical therapy, if necessary. More genes and/or proteins may be tested in the future.

4- Stage of a tumor. There is an accepted staging scheme for breast cancer and it is the TNM classification.

This general information can provide people with basic data to face their medical controls with responsibility.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukimia in Children

2009-07-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

1. What is acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)?

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the white blood cells, the cells in the body that normally fight infections. There are two main types of white blood cells-lymphoid cells and myeloid cells. ALL affects lymphoid cells.

Leukemia cells are abnormal cells that cannot do what normal blood cells do. The abnormal cells are immature white blood cells that cannot help the body fight infections. For this reason, children with ALL often get infections and have fevers.

ALL is also called acute lymphocytic leukemia. It is the most common leukemia in children.

2. What are the symptoms of ALL?

Like all blood cells, leukemia cells travel through the body. Depending on the number of abnormal cells and where these cells collect, patients with leukemia may have a number of symptoms. Children with ALL frequently have low amounts of healthy red blood cells and platelets. As a result, there are not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen through the body. With this condition, called anemia, patients may look pale and feel weak and tired. When there are not enough platelets, patients bleed and bruise easily.

Some of the common symptoms of ALL include:
• Fever;
• Fatigue;
• Frequent infections;
• Swollen or tender lymph nodes, liver, or spleen;
• Paleness or pallor;
• Easy bleeding or bruising;
• Tiny red spots (called petechiae) under the skin; and/or
• Bone or joint pain.

In ALL, the abnormal cells may collect in the brain or spinal cord, also called the central nervous system (CNS). The result may be headaches with or without vomiting, although most children with the disease do not have these symptoms. Leukemia cells also can collect in the testicles and cause swelling.

3. Is there a screening test for ALL?

No. Screening is a means of detecting disease in people who have no symptoms. As described in the National Cancer Institute's "Cancer Screening Overview (PDQ)," two requirements must be met for screening to be useful:

(1) There must be a test or procedure that will detect cancers earlier than if the cancer were detected as a result of the development of symptoms and,

(2) There must be evidence that treatment initiated earlier as a consequence of screening results in an improved outcome.

These two requirements have not been met for childhood ALL.

In cancers such as leukemia that appear throughout the body during their earliest stages, screening does not appear to be useful. Rather, children with any symptoms that suggest the possibility of ALL should be seen by their physician. The physician can then examine the child and determine if further testing is needed.

4. How is ALL diagnosed?

If a child has symptoms that suggest leukemia, the physician may first order blood tests. A sample of blood is examined to determine the number of normal blood cells, to see what the cells look like, and to find out if any leukemia cells are present in the blood. For a definitive diagnosis of ALL, a doctor who specializes in leukemia examines a sample of bone marrow under a microscope. The sample is obtained by a procedure called bone marrow aspiration. In this procedure, the doctor inserts a needle into a large bone, usually the hip, and removes a small amount of liquid bone marrow for examination.

If leukemia cells are found in the bone marrow sample, the patient's doctor orders other tests to find out the extent of the disease. For example, a spinal tap, which is also called a lumbar puncture, checks for leukemia cells in the cerebrospinal fluid-the fluid that fills the spaces in and around the brain and spinal cord.

5. Are there different types of ALL?

Although leukemia cells from different children with ALL often look very similar under the microscope, there are actually many distinctive subtypes of ALL. Most cases of leukemia are associated with changes in genes and chromosomes in the cancerous white blood cells. The various subtypes of ALL can be identified using special laboratory tests that look for specific changes in genes and chromosomes. It is increasingly important for doctors treating children with ALL to determine their patients' subtype of ALL, as some treatments work better for some subtypes than for others.

6. How common is ALL?

Cancer in children and adolescents is rare. But, ALL is the most common cancer in children, representing 23 percent of cancer diagnoses among children younger than 15 years of age. It occurs in about one of every 29,000 children in the United States each year.

7. What causes ALL?

With the exception of prenatal exposure to X-rays and specific genetic syndromes, such as Down syndrome, little is known about the causes of and risk factors for childhood ALL.

Scientists know that ALL in children occurs slightly more often in boys than in girls and in white children more often than in black children. However, they cannot explain why one person gets leukemia and another does not.

8. What treatments are available for the disease?

There are treatments for all children with ALL. The primary treatment for ALL is chemotherapy. The specific drugs used for chemotherapy are different for the various subtypes of ALL and are not the same for all patients.

Treatment for children with ALL is complex and involves multiple drugs given in precise schedules over a period of two to three years. Because of this, children with the disease should be treated by doctors with experience and expertise in the treatment of childhood leukemias.

Many children with ALL participate in clinical trials. These studies test a new drug or a new combination of drugs, often comparing them to the current standard treatment. A participant will usually be assigned to the standard group or the new group by chance, a process called randomization. It is not known at the start of the trial whether the new treatment is better than, the same as, or worse than the standard treatment. Clinical trials for children with ALL often enroll large numbers of children and are conducted at children's cancer centers nationwide. Much of the success in curing children with ALL is the result of better treatments that were identified in such clinical trials. Still, doctors are doing clinical trials to try to improve ALL treatments and reduce side effects.

9. What is the survival rate for children with ALL?

The improvement in survival for children with ALL over the past 35 years is one of the great success stories of cancer treatment. In the 1960s, less than 5 percent of children with ALL survived for more than five years. Today, about 85 percent of children with ALL live five years or more.

10. What factors determine successful treatment for children with ALL?

The chance of survival for children with ALL is dependent upon a number of factors. The most important factor is receiving optimal care at a center experienced in the treatment of children with ALL. Even with optimal care, some children with ALL are much more difficult to treat successfully than others.

In the past, factors such as age and white blood cell count at diagnosis were commonly used to predict outcome. For example, children 1 to 9 years old have higher survival rates than do infants or older children. However, factors such as age and white blood cell count at diagnosis are, at best, crude predictors of outcome.

It is now clear that the patient's subtype of ALL has a powerful impact on survival. For example, infants commonly have a subtype of ALL in which a specific gene is modified. This subtype of ALL is very hard to treat successfully and only a minority of infants with this subtype of ALL survive with current therapy. Other subtypes of ALL in which different genes are modified occur more commonly in older children and have a much more favorable outcome.

It is now common practice for the leukemia cells of children with ALL to be tested for the gene modifications. The type of treatment is then based on the particular change seen in the leukemia cells.

Aloe Vera

2009-07-17T10:33:00.000-07:00

ALOE VERA

Living First-Aid Plant, Medicine Plant, Wand of Heaven, Burn Plant, Divine Healer

Aloe vera barbadensis F. Asphodelaceae

Description

Erect perennial, originating from North Africa and the Mediterranean, with thick, very succulent, dagger shaped 30- 80cm long leaves, encircling a thick, central stem. The oldest and largest leaves are at the base, with leaves in the centre of the rosette formation being younger and smaller. Mature leaves can be 2-2.5cm thick and 6-10cm wide at the base, gradually tapering to a point at the apex. The upper leaf surface is flat or slightly dish-shaped and the lower surface rounded, with both surfaces being smooth to the touch. However, the margins of the leaf are armed with firm, spreading, triangular-shaped teeth 2-4mm long. Leaves on mature plants are a distinctive grey-green, due to the surface being covered by a greyish bloom, although during summer they can be greener and during winter they can take on a bronze tinge. I personally feel the plant colour depends a little on fertility and moisture available to the plant. New young plants, called pups or suckers, develop near the base of the parent plant as it grows to a good size or to maturity, which may take 2-4 years, depending on climate and growing conditions. Leaves of young pups tend to fan sideways and are pale green with white spots. The spots and fan shape disappear as the pups become older.

Flower stalks develop from the main stem of the plant and stand upright, reaching a height of 60-90cm. They may have 2-3 terminal branches and poker-like blossom heads 5- 8cm long, made up of many pendulous tubular flowers with a green tinge that changes to bright yellow at maturity. Pistil and stamens protrude beyond the end of the petal tube, which is an identifying feature of this species. Another identifying feature of A. vera barbadensis is that when the leaf is cut, the sap has a str

Medicinal Uses

Man has used aloe for over 5000 years. Egyptians first wrote of the healing powers of the plant on their ancient papyrus texts calling it the plant of immortality. Cleopatra and Nefertiti bathed in aloe juice to retain their youth and beautiful looks. Aloe is mentioned several times in the Bible. It was used in the burial of Jesus. History and legend tells that Aristotle convinced Alexander the Great to conquer the island of Socotra in order to collect aloe plants to use as medicine for his soldiers. Greek writer Dioscorides made detailed accounts of aloe’s uses. Aloe’s influence spread far and wide. In our century, we have the opportunity to read numerous books, hundreds of scientific papers and search the internet to discover the many benefits of aloe.

Research studies highlight the tremendous healing powers of aloe when used both internally and externally. Some of the benefits include: as a pain and allergy inhibitor, for inflammation, fluid retention, perspiration odours, itching, hemorrhaging and to close cuts for cell regeneration and healing, to destroy parasites, harmful bacteria and fungi in the intestinal tract, to relieve bowel tension and help produce bowel movements, moisturise skin, increase blood flow, remove toxins and dead tissue, penetrate skin to reach tendons, muscles, joints and the lymph system, and promote the growth of new tissue. It also has a normalising action on fluid levels and the acid/ alkaline balance in the body. Research has shown that aloe vera can increase the proliferation of lymphocytes and stimulate natural immunity through killer cell activity. Aloe has a strong effect on the immune system, by activating and stimulating macrophages, monocytes, antibodies and T-cells, as well as increasing the number of anti-body forming Bcells in the spleen.

One of the most important functions of aloe is to aid the digestive system, as poor digestion can be responsible for many diseases. Our food comprises proteins, carbohydrates and fats that must undergo a process of digestion, which consists of breaking down complex substances into simpler ones so they can be absorbed and used by the body. Aloe is able to assist the body by providing the active properties of a large range of amino acids, monosaccharides, fatty acids and enzymes that act as catalysts in breaking down complex foods so the body can assimilate the nutrients more efficiently. Considerable in-vitro and in-vivo research has been done with the concentration of mucopolysaccharides (MSPs) found in aloe vera. MSPs are long-chained sugar molecules, which are found naturally in every cell of the body, however, around the time of puberty, the body stops producing them. When taken internally, they have been shown to have immune stimulating effects. The MSPs of aloe vera interact with the body’s immune system, enhancing rather than over-riding this system. MSPs interject themselves into the cell membranes of the body resulting in much greater cell fluidity and permeability, allowing toxins to flow out of the cells more freely and nutrients to flow in. These nutrients include electrolytes and water, so the MSPs are able to facilitate absorbtion in the gastro-intestinal tract. The overall effect on the body is a rise in energy and cell metabolism activity which leads to a feeling of wellbeing. MSPs also act to protect cells from invasion by microbes such as viruses by setting up a protective barrier, which forms a lining on the colon and keeps toxic wastes from entering the body. MSPs will also lubricate the joints and relieve pain by dilating capillaries, which increases the supply of oxygen and blood to the area. Aloe vera’s properties are extraordinary and have been used to treat man’s many ailments from A to Z. Its uses and the conditions it may relieve include: abscesses, abrasions, acne, allergies, AIDS, anemia, arterial insufficiency, arthritis, athlete’s foot, asthma, bad breath, baldness, blisters, bed sores, bladder infections, blood pressure, bruises, bronchitis, burns, bursitis, bunions, bed wetting, boils, bone fractures, candida, canker sores, cancer, carbuncles, cataracts, cramps, chilblains, chemotherapy side effects, chapped skin and lips, coughs, colds and cold sores, colic, constipation, cystitis, conjunctivitis, colon cleanser, complexion enhancer, chicken pox sores, lowers serum cholesterol, convulsions, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, dandruff, dysentery, depression, dry skin, dermatitis, denture sores, detoxifier, duodenal ulcers, oedema, Epstein Barr virus, earache, fevers, fungus, frost bite, fluid retention, gastrointestinal problems, genital herpes, gangrene, gingivitis, glaucoma, gynaecological diseases, gall ailments, heat rash, headaches, hemorrhoids, heart burn, high blood pressure, hang-overs, hives, heat exhaustion, insomnia, ingrown toenails, indigestion, insect bites, inflamed joints, jaundice, kidney infections, leprosy, laryngitis, lupus, liver ailments, leukaemia, lacerations, multiple sclerosis, mouth ulcers, moles, migraines, menstrual pain, nausea, nervous stress, nappy rash, obesity, psoriasis, prostatitis, pancreas problems, pimples, problems caused by protozoa (ringworm, fungi, virus), prickly heat, periodontal disease, radiation burns, rashes, scar tissue, skin lesions, stings, styes, sprains, sores, scalds, stretch marks, shingles, staph infections, sunburn, sore throat, stomach ulcers, sports injuries, sinus, sun spots, spurs, tonsillitis, tendonitis, trachoma, tuberculosis, tiredness, tropical ear, ulcers, vaginitis, venereal sores, varicose veins, worms, worts, wounds, X-ray burns, yeast infection and zoster (shingles).

Aloe vera has six antiseptic agents (sulphur, lupeol, salicylic acid, cinnamic acid, urea nitrogen and phenol) which act as a team to provide antimicrobial activity thus eliminating many internal and external infections. The pain relieving action is due to the effective analgesics in salicylic acid, magnesium and lupeol. Fatty acids also have a pain reducing, allergy and inflammation relieving effect, and work to lower harmful cholesterol levels.

Researchers have found that aloe vera applied externally has the ability to reach the deepest body tissues, penetrating some seven layers. Research at the University of Texas showed that aloe penetrates human skin almost four times faster than water. A friend, Joyce, who has discovered the many benefits of aloe vera says, "If it hurts, stings, itches or burns, put aloe vera on". Apply the gel from the leaf immediately for burns and scalds, insect bites, nettle stings, chilli burns, pain in general and for quick healing. For external use, a fresh leaf can be cut open with a knife and the gel applied to the skin. When wiping the aloe leaf directly on the skin, all the sap can appear to have been used up, but if you take a knife and score the inside surface of the leaf with a few cuts, more juice will be released.ong smell.

Constituents: beneficial HDL cholesterol, creatin, creatinine, aloin, aloe emodin, barbaloin, glycoside barbaloin, ester of cinnamic acid, isobarbaloin, chrysophanic acid, ethereal oil, resistannol, anthranol, anthracene, aloetic acid; enzymes oxidase, lipase, emylase, catalase, aliinase; mono and poly saccharides, cellulose, glucose, aldonentose, L-Rhamnose, mannose; lupeol, phenol; protein 2%, essential amino acids lysine, leucine, valine, isoleucine, threonine, methionene phenylalanine; and secondary amino acids histidine, proline, arganine, glycine, hydroxyproline, alanine, aspartic acid, tyrosine, chrystine, serine, glutamic acid; fatty acids linoleic, linolenic, myristic, caprylic, oleic, palmitic, stearic, B-sitosterol Vitamins: A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, folic acid, choline, K Minerals: calcium, zinc, chromium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, manganese, chlorine, copper, phosphorus, sulphur, silicon, iron, cobalt

Actions: antimicrobial, astringent, antibiotic, antioxidant, analgesic, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antiperspirant, antipruritic, cathartic, demulcent, fungicidal, germicidal, diuretic, detoxicant, vermifuge, vulnerary, emmenagogue, emollient, cosmetic, aphrodisiac, coagulant, antipyretic

.. ... see How can I use HERBS in my daily life? for full text

5 Great Reasons for Drinking Wu Yi Tea

2009-07-15T10:17:00.000-07:00

These days, more and more people are hearing about Wu-Yi tea and are making the switch. This particular type of tea, also referred to as oolong tea, is an ancient Chinese secret for losing and maintaining weight. It can be found in the mountainous region of the same name in the country of China. With effectiveness that has lasted for over four hundred years, it would be a wise decision for you to try out the Wu Yi system for yourself - right now, not later. This article provides you with 5 great reasons for drinking WuYi tea.

Reason number one is none other than how easy it is to follow the Wu Yi system. You only need to drink two cups of Wu-Yi tea every day, preferably around thirty to sixty minutes before you take your morning and afternoon meals. Taking it within three hours before you sleep should be avoided. In addition, it is strongly recommended that you consume a minimum of six 8-0z glasses of water every day and regular exercise to achieve weight loss faster. There are no strict schedules to follow, unlike when you opt to take weight loss prescription drugs or pills.

Reason number two is the cheapness of Wu-Yi tea compared to other weight loss methods you can find in the market. It does not cost as much as those expensive weight loss prescription drugs, pills, creams, sauna belts, spa treatments, and cosmetic surgery. You won't have to spend a fortune just to have the body you've always dreamed of. You can look like a slim, slender celebrity without having to burn holes in your pocket like celebrities do.

Reason number three is the safeness of the Wu Yi system. Most, if not all, of the weight loss methods around can give you side effects that may be harmful or dangerous for your body. Depression and mood swings are usual side effects since diet programs typically deprive your body from the sugar it needs. Drinking Wu Yu tea assures you of getting the energy your body require, so you can be free from an emotional down. And since it is tea, Wu Yi won't give you heartburns, headaches or stomachaches because it works to soothe and calm you.

Reason number four is the fact that the Wu Yi system embraces and all-natural secret weapon: the Wu-Yi tea. These days, more and more people are looking for healthier alternatives to losing weight; they have realized the importance of keeping the body pure from harsh ingredients. Wu Yi tea is organic so you won't have to worry about getting harmful chemicals into your body. Once again, Mother Nature proves her powers over manmade products.

And finally, reason number is nothing less than the effectiveness of Wu-Yi tea in helping you lose weight safely in a matter of weeks. Of course, real and lasting weight loss is achieved over time, and with the Wu Yi system, you'll see and feel significant results within four weeks. The first cup will tell you how much your body loves the soothing effect of tea.

So there are your 5 great reasons for drinking Wu-Yi tea. What are you waiting for? Get your pack of Wu Yi tea now.

About the Author: WuyiReview.com offers even more excellent reasons to start drinking wu-yi tea. Learn more about the wu yi system and see how it can help you look great and get healthier, visit our website today!

5 Reasons To Eat More Cherries

2009-07-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

Fresh, canned or frozen, this flavorful stone fruit is great for your health. Find out why you should make cherries a regular part of your diet.

1. Ease aching joints: Cherries’ rich red colour comes from anthocyanins—the antioxidants found in grapes (and red wine)—that inhibit enzymes associated with inflammation, and may help soothe soreness linked to muscle and joint pain.

2. Guard your colon: These mighty fruits also contain quercetin, which is a flavonoid with anti-carcinogenic activity.

3. Control cholesterol: All cherries are high in pectin—a soluble fibre that helps to prevent heart disease by lowering “bad” cholesterol.

4. Help your eyesight: A precursor to vitamin A, it helps maintain eyesight and healthy skin.

5. Improve your sleep: Cherries, part of the stone fruit family that includes apricots, peaches and plums, are one of the few known food sources of melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone that helps to regulate the body’s circadian rhythms and our sleep patterns.

[Via Best Health – Click to read the full post]

10 Reasons To Drink Your Milk Raw

2009-07-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

Fresh, organic raw milk and dairy items are a treat – and a worthy treat at that. The consumption of organic raw milk and dairy products is linked to relief from asthma and eczema. Furthermore, organic raw milk is a living food replete with enzymes and beneficial bacteria that would otherwise be killed through pasteurization. In this post, I tell you more reasons to drink raw milk.
Raw milk is a living food: Unlike pasteurized and ultra-high-temperature (UHT) pasteurized milk, raw milk is a living food. Several of milk’s natural components including beneficial bacteria, food enzymes, natural vitamins and immunoglobulins are heat-sensitive.
Raw milk is rich in beneficial bacteria: As a living food, raw milk is rich in beneficial bacteria. These bacteria are critical to your health; indeed,beneficial bacteria are so critical to human health that you cannot live without them. like we cannot live without oxigen.
Raw milk is rich in food enzymes: As a living food, raw milk is also rich in natural food enzymes: lactase, lipase and phosphatase number among many of these natural enzymes. These enzymes help your body to better digest milk and better metabolize its vital nutrients.
Raw milk is rich in natural vitamins: The butterfat present in raw milk is rich in natural fat-soluble soluble vitamins, particularly preformed vitamin A, vitamin K and vitamin E. Raw milk is also rich in water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and B-complex vitamins.
Raw butterfat is rich in Conjugated Linoleic Acid: Meat and milk from grass-fed animals is rich in fatty compound called Conjugated Linoleic Acid or CLA. Actually classified as a trans-fatty acid (but a good transfat!), CLA offers myriad myriad positive effects for those who consume it.
Raw milk supports small farmers, not feedlots: Pastuerization of milk was born out of necessity – as unhealthy cows from concentrated animal feed operations produce unhealthy milk.
Raw milk is not homogenized: Raw milk is not homogenized; rather, the beautiful fresh raw cream rises to the top to produce a lovely creamline. You can skim this cream for use in making butter or a beautiful panna cotta, or just shake the jar up to evenly distribute the cream into the milk for drinking.
Raw milk is easier to digest: Fresh, raw milk is easier on your stomach and digestive tract. Components naturally present in raw milk, but killed by pasteurization, enable you to digest raw milk better than cooked, pasteurized milk.
Raw milk clabbers: Leave a carton of pasteurized milk out on the counter for a day, and you’ll end up with a putrid, stinking glop. By contrast, raw milk will clabber as its beneficial lactic-acid producing bacteria proliferate and turn raw milk into a probiotic-rich, yogurt-like food.
Raw milk supports your local economy: 100% of the money you spend on your raw milk stays in your farmers pocket and in your local economy.
[Via The Nourished Kitchen – Click to read the full post]

Can Yoga For Kids Be A Cure For Diseases???

2009-07-10T09:02:00.000-07:00

Yoga for kids has been developed to build up stamina in the young children and to give them a better quality of life. However, children cannot do every type of yoga. Since they are growing and so are their muscles and organs, it will not be wise for them to do all the strenuous kinds of poses. It might take a toll on their physical and mental well-being. So specific poses in yoga can be given to the kids for improving their health and also concentration powers. Yoga can be used as a treatment for specific diseases. However, be careful that you don’t make kids with physical deformities do yoga. It will be very difficult for them to practice the various asanas.

How Yoga Benefits Kids

There are many ways in which yoga benefits kids. Besides endowing the children with perfect health, it also acts as a cure for many diseases.

• Overall health – Yoga for kids builds up the overall health. It makes him strong and fighting fit. Children can practice the easy and delicate poses and still get a lot of benefits. It improves the stability and brings about a general balance in him. It straightens the spine and lends good posture to the body. Yoga also strengthens the muscles and aids in digestion. A good workout will cause the perspiration to flow, releasing the toxins and the waste products of the body.

• Down Syndrome – One in every 700 kids has the Down syndrome. Most of the activities that a kid does during its growing stages are delayed or retarded. Learning to walk, motor skills, communicating with others and learning a language are all delayed. The eyes are very obviously defective. Yoga for kids helps children with Down syndrome in a significant manner. It perks up the body muscles and makes all the organs of the body perform their functions normally. It strengthens the body and the endocrine glands are systematized. It prevents the kids from putting on extra weight, which would have been unavoidable if the kids would not have been practicing yoga. The breathing exercises further stimulate the nervous system and improve the mental powers and concentration of the kids.

• Cerebral Palsy – This defect occurs when the motor areas of the brain are damaged thereby affecting the capability to make movements and also the posture of a kid. Some difficult periods during pregnancy or child birth result in this defect. Meningitis or traumatic brain injury can also lead to this dreadful condition. Yoga for kids is very helpful in such cases as it boosts muscle coordination and also the motor skills. It releases the pent-up stress in the muscles and joints. The stretching will lead to realignment of the spine. The child will be able to move his hands and legs in an independent way.

Yoga can be made a pleasure activity for kids. By introducing several interactive methods to interpret the poses, it will add a new dimension for the kids. Children will be delighted to indulge in poses which pique their curiosity. Thus yoga for kids can be made very interesting by an intelligent teacher and the kids will look forward to learning the various poses with pleasure.

By: MarkSmith01

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Mark Smith believes that yoga can be made an integral part of life. He believes that yoga should be started at the very beginning in the tender years of the kids. Yoga for kids is the best way to develop the concentration power of kids. Yoga for kids will also keep them healthy, both in body and mind.

What is Asthma?

2009-07-08T00:11:00.000-07:00

As a parent with 3 children who suffer from asthma I appreciate the need to understand asthma and how to treat it.

The incidence of asthma has increase dramatically in Australia through out the 1980�s and 1990�s but seems to have levelled out since then. In Australia something like 2.2 million people suffers from Asthma, with the Indigenous people having a much high figure proportionate to their population.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America 20 million Americans suffer from asthma.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is commonly divided into two types; allergy induced asthma and non- allergic asthma. Both result in the similar symptoms:

A dry, irritating, persistent cough, particularly at night, early morning
A tightness in the chest
A shortness of breath and
A wheeze when breathing

When then symptom occur a visit to your local G.P. is advised.

People with asthma have sensitive airways and these become restricted when exposed to certain triggers cause by both allergic and non-allergic reactions.

In an allergic reaction can be triggered by inhaling allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, pollen, mould and some food additives etc.

Non-allergic triggers could be things such as exercise, stress, anxiety, cold air, dry air, smoke, chemicals such as perfumes and other irritants.

Asthma is the restriction of the airway;

� through inflammation where the airway becomes red and swollen

� the production of excess mucous to block the airway

� and bronchoconstriction where the muscle in the airway tighten restricting breathing.

As the airways become constricted the person begins to find it difficult to breathe in, but particularly difficult to breathe out causing a considerable amount of coughing and distress. Many asthmatics are so distressed they need to be hospitalized to help their condition.

The exact cause of Asthma and why some people are more susceptible to asthma than other is not yet fully understood, however, there is often a family history of asthma, eczema or severe hay fever. Although in Australia something like one in six children has been diagnosed with asthma, it can strike at any age. Evidence has shown that unborn babies whose mothers smoke during pregnancy or children who are exposed to a smoke filled environment during their early childhood have an increased risk of developing childhood asthma.

Australia is among the highest in world when it comes to asthma. People need to be aware of the symptoms and consult their doctors if needed. Asthma is controllable with the correct medications and asthma action plan.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Asthma Australia

The Asthma Foundation Victoria

Choose the Right Sunblock This Summer

2009-07-04T21:47:00.001-07:00

By Kevin Purdy

Even if you're truly light-skinned, buying an expensive sunblock with a super-high SPF rating won't really protect you much more than a standard brand. Putting enough of that goop on is what really counts.

Photo by Robert S. Donovan.

Because the U.S. Food & Drug Administration had considered capping SPF claims at a level of 50, but has yet to take action. The reasoning holds up, however—even 100+ SPF sunblocks can't offer 100 percent protection against both UVA ("aging" rays) and UVB (the sunburn kind). And everything North of SPF 30 is just a numbers game:

The difference in UVB protection between an SPF 100 and SPF 50 is marginal. Far from offering double the blockage, SPF 100 blocks 99 percent of UVB rays, while SPF 50 blocks 98 percent. (SPF 30, that old-timer, holds its own, deflecting 96.7 percent).

Aside from scolding the sunblock makers, the New York Times article linked below offers an important take-away visualization:

To get the SPF advertised, you must use a full shot glass on your body. That's an ounce, which means a three-ounce tube should last, at most, a few outings. ... "If people are putting on about half, they are receiving half the protection," said Yohini Appa, the senior director of scientific affairs at Johnson & Johnson, of which Neutrogena is a subsidiary.

Bottom line: Find a sunblock that offers a decent SPF protection, contains UVA-fighting agents like avobenzone, put a full shot glass on your exposed body, and reapply every two hours or after noticeable sweating, or swimming.

Get Ready For Summer With Homemade Sunblock

2009-07-04T21:45:00.000-07:00

By Rosa Golijan

Choosing the right sunblock is important, but let's say you're more of a DIY type, or maybe your skin is sensitive to many of the common ingredients. The solution is simple: make your own sunblock.

Instructables user scoochmaroo's detailed guide to making your own sunscreen demonstrates the process either completely from scratch or using a store-bought lotion as a base. She goes as far as to include a chart that gives you measurements for the ingredients based on the SPF you're aiming for.

Follow the link for the "recipe," and make your high school science teacher proud by heeding the warnings about wearing gloves and a mask while blending the ingredients (zinc oxide should be on your nose, not in it).

Have you ever tried a homemade sunblock? What do you use to protect yourself from the sun? Let's hear it in the comments.

Homemade Sunscreen [Instructables]

How to Do Laundry

2009-07-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

By eHow Fashion, Style & Personal Care Editor

Doing laundry is not that hard to do

Has a parent, spouse or someone else determined that it's time you did your own laundry? You'll soon discover it's a snap to get your clothes clean. Just sort and separate colors from whites and don't wash anything at hot temperatures if it might shrink. Everything else you need to know is below.

To do laundry, first sort your dirty clothes, making separate piles for whites, bright colors and darks. If you mix whites with colors in the wash, the colors may bleed onto and ruin your whites. Also separate clothes that tend to produce lint (towels, sweatshirts, chenille and flannel) from clothes that tend to attract lint (corduroy, velvets and permanent-press clothes)
As you sort, close zippers to prevent snagging, and empty pockets (you don't want soggy shreds of facial tissue all over your clothes!).
Pre-treat heavy stains with laundry detergent or stain remover, heeding instructions on the product label.
Use the measuring cap of the detergent bottle or the cup found in detergent boxes to measure out the right amount of laundry soap according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Pour the soap into your washer or its detergent dispenser. Add liquid fabric softener, if desired, according to the product instructions.
Choose the water temperature for the wash cycle:hot, warm or cold; save on energy and opt for a cold rinse cycle for any load. Consult the labels on your clothes, your washing machine's instruction manual or the detergent container for recommendations on washing temperature. In general, use cold water to protect colors and darks from bleeding or fading, and to avoid shrinkage. Use warm or hot water for durable fabrics like cotton (make sure they're preshrunk), and to ensure that your whites stay white.
Start the washer before adding clothes, if you have time, to allow the detergent to dissolve in the water. The regular cycle suffices for most laundry, but use the gentle cycle for sheer or delicate fabrics. Adjust the water level to the size of your load.
If you need to add bleach, allow the machine to run for a few minutes to mix the detergent and water, then add about a cup of bleach to the washer or the bleach dispenser.
Add your clothes, close the lid and let the machine do its dirty work. Washing takes approximately 45 minutes.
Put the clothes (and an anti-static sheet, if desired) in the dryer after the wash is complete. Hang delicates (such as bras and certain sweaters) to air dry on a clothing rack or hanger. Check tags if in doubt.
Remove lint from the dryer's lint tray.
Select the correct drying temperature for your laundry load: low for delicates, medium for most fabrics and high for cotton. When in doubt, low or medium is the safest bet.
Close and turn on the dryer. Expect the drying cycle to take an hour or more for a full load.
Once the clothes are completely dry, remove them from the dryer or drying rack and fold your clean laundry.

Relaxation Technique

2009-07-04T09:41:00.000-07:00

Relaxation techniques often can help people with sleep problems get a good night's sleep. Several relaxation techniques are listed below.

· Progressive Relaxation

· Toe Tensing

· Deep Breathing

· Guided Imagery

· Quiet Ears

Progressive Relaxation

This technique is often most useful when you tape the instructions beforehand. You can tape these instructions, reading them slowly and leaving a short pause after each one.

· Lie on your back, close your eyes.

· Feel your feet. Sense their weight. Consciously relax them and sink into the bed. Start with your toes and progress to your ankles.

· Feel your knees. Sense their weight. Consciously relax them and feel them sink into the bed.

· Feel you upper legs and thighs. Feel their weight. Consciously relax them and feel them sink into the bed.

· Feel your abdomen and chest. Sense your breathing. Consciously will them to relax. Deepen your breathing slightly and feel your abdomen and chest sink into the bed.

· Feel your buttocks. Sense their weight. Consciously relax them and feel them sink into the bed.

· Feel your hands. Sense their weight. Consciously relax them and feel them sink into the bed.

· Feel your upper arms. Sense their weight. Consciously relax them and feel them sink into the bed.

· Feel your shoulders. Sense their weight. Consciously relax them and feel them sink into the bed.

· Feel your neck. Sense its weight. Consciously relax it and feel it sink into the bed.

· Feel your head and skull. Sense its weight. Consciously relax it and feel it sink into the bed.

· Feel your mouth and jaw. Consciously relax them. Pay particular attention to your jaw muscles and unclench them if you need to. Feel your mouth and jaw relax and sink into the bed.

· Feel your eyes. Sense if there is tension in your eyes. Sense if you are forcibly closing your eyelids. Consciously relax your eyelids and feel the tension slide off the eyes.

· Feel your face and cheeks. Consciously relax them and feel the tension slide off into the bed.

· Mentally scan your body. If you find any place that is still tense, then consciously relax that place and let it sink into the bed.

Toe Tensing

This one may seem like a bit of a contradiction to the previous one, but by alternately tensing and relaxing your toes, you actually draw tension from the rest of the body. Try it!

1. Lie on your back, close your eyes.

2. Sense your toes.

3. Now pull all 10 toes back toward your face. Count to 10 slowly.

4. Now relax your toes.

5. Count to 10 slowly.

6. Now repeat the above cycle 10 times.

Deep Breathing

By concentrating on our breathing, deep breathing allows the rest of our body to relax itself. Deep breathing is a great way to relax the body and get everything into synchrony. Relaxation breathing is an important part of yoga and martial arts for this reason.

1. Lie on your back.

2. Slowly relax your body. You can use the progressive relaxation technique we described above.

3. Begin to inhale slowly through your nose if possible. Fill the lower part of your chest first, then the middle and top part of your chest and lungs. Be sure to do this slowly, over 8 to 10 seconds.

4. Hold your breath for a second or two.

5. Then quietly and easily relax and let the air out.

6. Wait a few seconds and repeat this cycle.

7. If you find yourself getting dizzy, then you are overdoing it. Slow down.

8. You can also imagine yourself in a peaceful situation such as on a warm, gentle ocean. Imagine that you rise on the gentle swells of the water as you inhale and sink down into the waves as you exhale.

9. You can continue this breathing technique for as long as you like until you fall asleep.

Guided Imagery

In this technique, the goal is to visualize yourself in a peaceful setting.

1. Lie on your back with your eyes closed.

2. Imagine yourself in a favorite, peaceful place. The place may be on a sunny beach with the ocean breezes caressing you, swinging in a hammock in the mountains or in your own backyard. Any place that you find peaceful and relaxing is OK.

3. Imagine you are there. See and feel your surroundings, hear the peaceful sounds, smell the flowers or the barbecue, fell the warmth of the sun and any other sensations that you find. Relax and enjoy it.

4. You can return to this place any night you need to. As you use this place more and more you will find it easier to fall asleep as this imagery becomes a sleep conditioner.

5. Some patients find it useful to visualize something boring. This may be a particularly boring teacher or lecturer, co-worker or friend.

Quiet Ears

1. Lie on your back with your eye close.

2. Place your hands behind your head. Make sure they are relaxed.

3. Place your thumbs in your ears so that you close the ear canal.

4. You will hear a high-pitched rushing sound. This is normal.

5. Listen to this sound for 10-15 minutes.

6. Then put your arms at your sides, actively relax them and go to sleep.

How to Overcome Insomnia Without Pills

2009-07-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

Insomnia is difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep. For those with chronic insomnia, a doctor's visit is recommended. Other individuals who may suffer from insomnia occasionally or for a short period of time may try to overcome insomnia without medications and now i will share to you step by step to overcome insomnia.

Use a white noise machine. These machines create a consistent sound that drowns out other noises that can interfere with falling and staying asleep. The sound is similar to a fan, but without the creaks that fans can have. White noise can also help fill empty silences that can lead to anxiety or worry for some people.
Take a hot bath before bedtime. This will help you feel drowsy and relaxed. You can also add lavender oil to you bath. It has long been used as a calming agent and some studies suggest that it can increase feelings of peacefulness.
Turn off the TV and computer at least an hour before bedtime. These items can increase stimuli and create greater stress. Shutting them down can give you a period of tranquility and calmness.
Practice relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation or massage. Studies have suggested that regular practice of such techniques help people sleep.
Try cognitive behavior therapy to learn ways to improve sleep and let go of counter-productive ideas about sleep. Studies suggest that such methods may be more productive than medications in altering sleep patterns and controlling insomnia
Make your bedroom conducive to sleep. Use it only for sleeping and sex, only go to bed when you feel drowsy and get up at the same time every morning regardless of how many hours of sleep you may have got.
Drink herbal teas or use aromatherapy to help you feel sleepy and relaxed. Lavender is a good scent to try and chamomile tea is a good one to drink. There are others that can promote sleep as well. Research different blends online or talk to experts in your area

How To Get A Six Pack Stomach

2009-07-04T08:01:00.000-07:00

Everywhere you look on the Internet now you'll see a way of getting six pack abs. Some of the methods work, and unfortunately some of them are a complete waste of money.

Diet pill manufacturers and ab-machine manufacturers are making millions of dollars every month selling stuff that people desperate for that wonder product will purchase at any cost. Weight loss and fat burning supplements will make your pocket thinner than your body, and these cost a lot more per month than a lifetime of help from an expert.

This hub should give you an understanding into what you can do to get six pack abs without the need of any wonder pills or expensive ab-machines. The most important part of getting a six pack stomach is speeding up your metabolism. Until you do that you'll always have that layer of fat covering your abs.

You can get a six-pack stomach in 3 months just if you eat a healthy diet and exercise correctly. It really is that easy.

More information from a six pack guru

Turbulence Training is a weight loss/six pack training program from Craig Ballantyne. In 12 weeks you can have results with just 3 intense workouts a week of 45 minutes.

This is perfect for anyone who doesn't want to waste time in the gym doing long boring cardio that lowers your metabolic rate.

What you eat is important

What you put into your body is the most important part of any fat burning program. You can't eat what you want and then expect the fat to start disappearing from your stomach.

A healthy diet that is low in sugar will keep your body in a fat burning state. Eating your meals at the right time of day will increase yoru metabolism so your body continues to burn fat instead of storing it.

Protein

Protein is the building blocks of your muscular structure. This is important when it comes to burning fat as your muscles are more important than you might think.

Eating more protein also gives you a fuller feeling after you have eaten a meal.Protein also burns more calories while it's being digested than carbohydrates will.

Fat

Don't be afraid of eating fat when you're trying to burn it from your body. You're not carrying extra fat now because you've eaten too much of it. You're carrying extra fat because your metabolism isn't as fast as it could be, and your insulin levels are too high.

Eating good healthy fats controls your insulin levels, and this prevents your body storing the calories you eat as fat.

Low fat diets are not healthy, you only need to eat a low fat diet if your doctor has advised you to.

Carbohydrates

Some people who are trying to burn fat will start one of those fad, low carb diets that have been given a lot of exposure over the last few years. These diets will work wonders in the short term when you're trying to lose weight, but most of the weight loss is water weight and your muscles getting smaller.

Carbohydrates are fuel for your muscles and carbs also help your muscles recover faster after exercise. If you eat a low carb diet you won't have the energy to exercise, and you need to exercise to burn fat for a six pack stomach.

Low carb diets also cause depression as carbs are a good mood food. You won't feel very good if you have no energy either which adds to the depression.

5 to 6 meals a day

To burn fat from your body you need to eat 5 to 6 meals a day. This might sound a lot more than you're eating now, but the meals will be smaller.

Eating more often speeds up your metabolism, and prevents your body from storing calories as fat. If you only eat three meals a day the time between your meals will be too long. This causes your body to go into starvation mode, and when it does this it starts storing fat.

Most people that are overweight don't sit around eating all day. They're probably yo-yo dieters who aren't eating enough, or they only eat one big meal a day late at night. Your body learns that it is only getting food so many times of the day so it will store the calories as fat as a natural survival instinct.

Your body will also use your muscles as energy between your meals as these burn the most calories, and your body will want to burn less calories because of the lack of meals in your day. So it does this by naturally making your muscles smaller so your metabolic rate slows down.

Your body learns to adjust to the amount of calories you're eating so it doesn't mater if you're eating 2000 a day or 1000 a day, your body will make sure it only burns off what you're putting in to it.

Once your body gets to know that it will be receiving a meal every 2 to 3 hours during the day it will have no need to start storing fat, and it will burn off what you have eaten a lot quicker.

Exercise

After working out what you're going to eat every day your exercise program is next. For most people trying to get a set of six pack abs this means doing as many crunches a day or using their latest ab-machine for hours.

These are not the way you get a flat, washboard stomach. Burning fat from your stomach requires you to exercise your whole body, and not just your abs.

You can't burn fat from one part of your body. Fat burns at the same rate over your entire body, but your stomach is usually the last place that your muscles will start showing.

Building your muscles

Making your muscles bigger is the next important part of your six pack routine after you have a healthy diet worked out. Bigger muscles means a faster metabolic rate, and when you raise your metabolism your body burns fat even when you're resting.

You haven't got to start looking like a body builder for a faster metabolic rate, you just need to add some more muscle than your have now. A few extra pounds of muscle will help your body naturally burn more calories every day.

A few gym workouts a week will be enough to increase your metabolic rate to the point where you're burning fat continuously.

Work on the large muscle groups

Because most people think that working the abs gives them a six pack they forget about the rest of their muscles, and this is a big mistake. The person that works on their back, chest and legs will see the muscles in their stomach a lot quicker than someone who works on their abs all the time.

Working on these larger muscles increases your metabolism at a faster rate. These muscles need burn more energy than other muscles so as they get bigger your whole body gets leaner.

Working on these muscle groups also help the rest of your muscles get bigger. Doing bicep curls doesn't make your arms bigger, getting the rest of your body bigger makes your arms grow.

Working on these larger muscles needs all of your other smaller muscles to work as well so they get a workout at the same time. This has a massive effect on the rate in which your body burns fat.

Exercises like squats and dead-lifts workout your whole body, and strengthen you from the core. Your abs are used in these exercises as well even if you don't feel it.

Doing your cardio

Your cardio will give your metabolism an extra boost, and this is the part of your program that burns extra fat. You don't want to do long boring cardio though, you need to do interval training which much more of a shock to your body, and will burn a lot more fat.

Interval training is hard exercise for about 30 seconds to a minute then you rest for a short period of time to get your breath back, then you go again. This raises your heart rate for a short period, then it drops again, and then you raise it again.

This type of cardio burns a lot more fat then a steady boring program that keeps your heart at a constant rate in the so called "fat burning zone". Interval training like this also prevents your muscles from being used as fuel when you do your cardio. Just look at sprinters compared to long distance runners. Sprinters are powerfully built because they do their training in short bursts, and long distance runners do long boring cardio that uses the whole body as fuel.

It's the same with sprint cyclists and athletes in the Tour De France. Sprint cyclists are powerfully built and long distance cyclists are small framed .

The less your muscles break down when you're doing your cardio the higher your metabolism will be. Your resting state metabolism is important to successfully burning fat and giving you your six pack abs.

What you must avoid

Things you must avoid are expensive supplements. These are appetite suppressants and fat burning supplements. The only thing they will do is make your pocket smaller.

Appetite suppressants ( the most popular being Hoodia ) will make you fatter in the long term. Because you'll be eating less your body will start losing muscle, and this will mean your metabolism will slow down.

When you start eating properly again after you stop taking the pills ( no one can stay on them forever, and it's not recommended you do ) your new slower metabolism will mean your body will store all the extra calories you're eating as fat.

The companies that supply these pills love this because they know when the person gets fatter again they will be straight back purchasing more pills.

Fat burning pills are a waste of money as well. There's no scientific proof that these burn fat, and in the end just cost you a fortune every month.

The Fat Burning Zone

There are a lot of myths about the fat burning zone. This is where your body will burn the most fat, and to surprise you the REAL fat burning zone is not when you're exercising.

How many times have you heard that you need to exercise for 20 minutes before your body gets in the fat burning zone. Your body is burning fat all the time, even while your reading this Hub.

There isn't anything that is different to the 1st, 2nd or third 20 minutes when you're doing an hour of long boring cardio. All your burning for the whole hour is calories. And at the end of the hour you'll be burning muscle. This will slow down your metabolic rate so you'll start burning less fat when you're sitting their watching TV.

The fat burning zone is the time when you've finished one workout and your body is repairing itself for the next. If you exercise properly then this zone will be 48 hours long, not for 40 minutes during a long cardio session.

Once the 48 hours is up your body is ready for the next intense workout. With the correct exercises and healthy eating plan you'll be burning 1 to 2 pounds of fat a week while your doing teh things you enjoy most. And you'll get plenty of time seeing as you only need to do 3 workouts a week that last 45 minutes.

You just need focus and dedication

To successfully get a set of six pack abs you just need to focus on the end result. Once you know what you want and what you need to do to get their your enthusiasm will take over.

All you need is a balanced diet where you eat the correct amount of food at the right time of the day, and a good exercise program. You won't need any expensive ab-machines or supplements.

Once your routine kicks in and your metabolism speeds up you'll start noticing your results.

The Best Diet Plan - How to Find Yours

2009-07-04T07:32:00.000-07:00

by: Barb Dearing

Looking for the best diet plan? Convinced it doesn't exist? In a way, you are right. There is no perfect diet plan that is going to allow you to shed weight -- without you having to change a thing about your lifestyle. Sorry, Virginia, but there is no Santa Claus and there is no magic weight loss pill

On the other hand, there are literally hundreds of successful diet plans that can assist you on your journey to Thinsville. But, fair warning, they all require a bit of effort and a ton of commitment on your part. The commitment is actually more important than the effort. You'll find that once you have made the decision to do whatever it takes to shed the weight, the actions themselves become much easier. This is because you know, in your heart of hearts, that each action is bringing you closer to your goal weight, so it's actually easy to make the choices that are aligned with your desire.

So here's the secret. The best diet plan is the one that you will actually follow. Not the one that looked good on TV but ends up requiring sacrifices you are not willing to make. Or the one that worked great for you friend, but doesn't fit you own lifestyle. Nope, it's the one that resonates with you, your weight loss goal and your lifestyle.

Once again, there are hundreds of different ways to reduce your calorie intake and lose weight. And let's be honest, it all comes down to calories in vs. calories burned. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter so much where those calories came from as it does how many "net" calories you consumed. Whether you control carbs and gorge on fats, or control fat and gorge on carbs, the net caloric intake is the determining factor in your weight loss success (or failure).

So pick the diet plan that speaks to you. Do you like to cook? Then Weight Watchers may be a great choice because it allows a great deal of flexibility in your eating choices. Hate to cook? Then you may be a good candidate for a plan like Bistro MD, where healthy gourmet meals are delivered to your door -- prepared in the exact caloric portions that assist you in losing weight.

Whatever eating plan you choose, it's important to back it up with accountability. Studies have shown that the most successful dieters are the ones who write down every calorie consumed. This forces the dieter to acknowledge every calorie and causes them to reconsider calories they might otherwise have unconsciously consumed.

There are even some great software programs today that take the accountability factor one step further. These programs, such as DietPower, help the dieter set a weight goal by a certain target date, and then it recommends a daily calorie budget. The dieter then enters information throughout the day, tracking calories, exercise, water consumption and the nutritional intake of all food consumed.

So whichever diet plan you choose, make sure it fits your lifestyle, and make sure you have a method of accountability. It won't always be easy, but you'll know that each choice you make is bringing you closer to the day when you can claim "I did it!"

About The Author

Barb Dearing is a writer specializing in the topics of health, beauty and weight loss. She recommends the following website to read actual user comments on the products and programs discussed in this article: http://www.consumer-health-report.com

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_7738.shtml

How to make sushi at home

2009-07-04T01:35:00.000-07:00

An ancient delicacy of Japan, sushi has been a staple food of the country for nearly 1000 years. While in old times fish would be wrapped in fermented rice to preserve the raw fish, today, we wrap sushi in vinegar rice, adding to the texture, flavor, and to increase the ease of consuming sushi. There are many different types of sushi available. The form of sushi you may most recognize, though, is known as "makizushi": a form of sushi rolled in seaweed.

Buying Sushi Ingredients and Equipment

It is important that you use Japanese rice. American rice will not be sticky enough to produce a proper sushi roll. Also, make sure you purchase Japanese rice vinegar to enhance the rice.

Most ingredients you need for any type of sushi can be found at any local grocery store. If you wish to use fish in your makizushi roll, try to find fish labeled as "Sashimi-Grade." This means it is clean and has been frozen below -4F. Shellfish, tofu, or egg can be used instead of raw fish.

Adding vegetables to your dish, such as avocado, carrots, and cucumber, can add to the zest and texture of your sushi roll.

Nori, or seaweed, will be used to wrap the sushi rolls. This should be available at any supermarket or Asian specialty shop.

Using condiments such as ginger root, wasabi, and soy sauce is common practice for Japanese sushi eaters. Real wasabi may be difficult to find, so making it from wasabi powders might be easier in western countries.

Purchasing a sushi mat will make rolling the sushi a breeze. These come available in kits that may include how-to books, chopsticks, and other helpful tools.

Preparing the Rice

Rinse the rice thoroughly, making sure the water runs clear before moving further into preparations. Use a rice cooker to boil the rice. Wrap the rice in a light cloth to lock in moisture. Heat the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small pan until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Then let the mixture cool. Spread the rice evenly over a flat plate, and lightly pour the rice vinegar mixture over that. Gently fold the rice over itself without squishing the rice together. Once the rice has cooled, it should have a shiny appearance and be ready for use immediately.

Rolling Some Sushi

Place the nori seaweed over the sushi mat shiny side down. Using a spatula, spread a thin layer of sushi rice over the seaweed, leaving about an inch of space with no rice on the side opposite of you. Align the fish and vegetable ingredients in a narrow strip over the rice on the side closest to you. Get your fingers moist with water and get the bare seaweed wet. Using the bamboo sushi mat, roll the sushi tightly until the nori is touching each other. This should create a seal between them.

Serve and Enjoy

You can now cut the makizushi roll into several slices with a sharp steel knife. Place the cut sushi pieces on decorative plates and serve. You can add flavor to the sushi by dipping it in soy sauce or wasabi, and clearing your palette with sliced and pickled ginger. While most unknowingly eat sushi using chopsticks, the Japanese eat it using their hands. Chow down and enjoy this amazingly simple, yet delicious Japanese treat.

How to Make a Whole New Wardrobe by Recycling Your Clothes

2009-07-01T08:19:00.000-07:00

Getting tired of wearing the same old thing or looking like everyone else? You don't have to spend a ton of money or shop for hours to get a whole new wardrobe. Instead of getting new clothes or throwing out your old ones, why not try recycling them?

Steps

1. Plan Set aside some time to go through your closet or dresser and pull out anything you are tired of, hate, or never wear. Put these clothes into a pile (or a box if you are super neat).

2. Organize Pick one item at a time to recycle (or re-vamp) and find one thing you like about it. Maybe it has super fabric, a great print, or the style is awesome. If you can't find anything good about it, put it aside for now and choose something else.

3. Think Creatively Decide if you can embellish it in some way to spice it up (paint, beads, extra fabric, trim, lengthen it, etc.) or if you can deconstruct it into something else (take off sleeves, shorten it, slash it for peek-a-boo effect with or without fabric underneath, iron on a transfer that you printed from your computer, etc). Maybe you can dye it a different color (or colors).

4. Find Inspiration Search the Internet and in magazines for inspiration and how-to's. Some terms to do searches on are "deconstructed clothing" and "D.I.Y." (do-it-yourself). Great sites are listed below, too, but don't forget to look on your own - there are lots of ideas and how-to's out there!

5. Branch Out Learn to sew, but if you're really bad with crafty things, don't despair! Try alternative methods like using safety pins instead of sewing, for example. You can probably get help from a friend or a relative who sews if you ask.

6. Have fun! Make something that is uniquely yours and that you just love. Then when someone gives you a compliment, or asks you where you got that amazing shirt/dress/etc., proudly say "I made it myself!"

7. Accept "Defeat" Sell or give away the items that you absolutely can't find anything you like about them or think of anything to do with them. Or find a local, second-hand consignment clothing store, and take them there. Usually these stores give you the option of receiving cash or in-store credit for your items that sell. You will receive more in credit than you would in cash, and then when you come back to the store in a month or two, you can use your credit to get clothes you do like. If you bring in clothes to consign every time you visit the store, you will most likely have credit the next time you come in, and can establish a monthly or bi-monthly wardrobe rotation without spending any money.

· Focusing on one item at a time helps you to actually complete what you start and doesn't make you feel overwhelmed.

· Can't think of what to do? Invite all of your friends over for a night, and tell them to bring clothes they are tired of and swap!

· Don't do too much to an item. Less is usually more for embellishment and making things too short or with too many holes is not in good taste.

· If you are not sure you will like the result, practice on something else so you don't regret it.

· You can get fabric cheap in remnant bins at places like department stores or fabric stores and also from other clothes you either have around or get from thrift stores or garage/yard/rummage/car boot sales.

· If you don't like what you did or think it isn't good enough, first check to make sure you aren't being too hard on yourself and then try to figure out what you could have done differently to make it better. If you still don't like it, maybe you can fix it or even recycle it further.

· Try to tailor things before recycling them. You are more likely to wear something when it fits.

· Before you start, sketch what you want. Then look for pieces you have which can be used for the item you want. Then go to a craft or fabric store to buy embellishments if you need them.

· Use what is in stores or what celebrities wear as inspiration for an item.

· Start out with easy projects and work your way up to more complex ones if you are not confident at first.

How To Cleaning White Shoes

2009-07-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

Cleaning shoes has been a challenge for humans since we first covered our feet. White shoes are a particular problem, especially in the summer months when people are active. White shoes are made from a variety of materials and your cleaning method will depend on what material your shoes are made from. In this wikiHow we'll examine the culture of shoe cleaning, and cobble together some advice for those who prefer not to buy new shoes every three months.

Steps

Rubber Shoes

· If your shoes are not made of leather, follow these steps. Warning: Don't do this with leather shoes or they will be ruined!

1. Assess the damage to your shoes. Are they muddy? Scuffed? Or just lightly soiled?

2. Get a good cloth and wrap around it around your hands like brass knuckles. use this to scrub away obvious dirt, mud and grime.

3. Wash the cloth with a liberal amount of soap. Rub the soap all over the white part of the shoes.

4. Get a stiff brush and brush all over the soap covered parts.

5. Wash the soap off with a clean cloth.

Suede shoes

1. Any leather shoe not made from smooth leather needs special cleaning techniques.

o Clean suede shoes using this method.

Canvas shoes

1. Clean canvas shoes by spot washing using a mild detergent and soft toothbrush.

2. Once clean, consider spraying canvas shoes with a "Scotchguard" type fabric protector. Test the spray on the tongue of the shoe to make sure it won't stain.

Machine washing

· Some people wash their shoes in the washing machine. There are a few tips to remember:

1. Remove the laces and any other removable parts.

2. Use the warm, not hot, cycle.

3. Add regular detergent.

4. Either place the shoes in a bag with towels to protect your washing machine or just dump them in with a load.

5. Do not use the dryer as this will probably melt your shoes, destroy your dryer, or both. If you feel you must use the dryer use a very low heat and a protective bag.

6. Let the shoes air dry or use paper towels.

7. Note: even if the shoe is machine washable multiple washes can break down the adhesive that holds the shoe together.

Clean smooth white leather shoes

· Cleaning leather shoes is considerably more complicated. Leather is skin, and so most methods that clean skin will also clean leather. To complicate matters there are a vast set of choices in commercial leather cleaning products. Proper care for leather shoes involves more than cleaning, but also protecting and polishing the leather. To clean leather properly, determine which type of leather you have. The instructions here are for smooth leather.

Clean smooth leather with soaps.

1. Use a soft cloth to remove obvious dirt and dust from the surface of the shoe.

2. Remove the laces.

3. Rinse the shoes with warm, not hot, water, inside and out.

4. Prepare a solution of warm water and a 'natural soap'. Common soaps for cleaning shoes include:

o Saddle soap is the most common choice.

o Liquid detergent like dish-washing liquid.

o Regular hand soap.

5. Use a soft brush and scrub every part of the shoe with the soap mixture.

o Do not scrub too hard or your could damage the surface of the leather.

o Remove scuff marks with a nylon backed brush, or wait until the conditioner is applied.

6. Rinse the shoes in warm water again, both inside and out.

7. Stuff your shoes with paper towels. The paper will absorb the water and make the drying process go faster.

o Replace the paper when it gets water logged.

o Do not use newspaper as the black ink can run and ruin your shoes.

o Stuffing your shoes with paper also helps them hold their shape as they dry.

8. Allow your shoes to drip dry.

Clean your shoes with commercial products

· Shoe cleaners come in gels, foams, sprays, liquids and creams. You can also use leather cleaning products designed for car seats.

1. Put your shoes and all materials on top of several layers of newspaper before you begin.

2. Remove any laces.

3. If your leather shoes have a lot of old polish buildup, you may want to use a pre-cleaner.

4. Read the directions on your leather cleaner.

5. Many leather cleaners come with an applicator top, or you can use a soft shoe brush.

6. Use the brush to rub the cleaner into any cracks and seams.

7. Remove the cleaner based on the packet instructions.

Leather shoe products

There are many products on the market for cleaning leather shoes. Leather is leather, so any leather cleaner, be it for jackets or car seats, will also clean your leather shoes.

Shoe wipes can be bought all over and are great for spot cleaning. Some people also use Baby Wipes.
A Clorox Bleach Pen is used by many to spot clean white shoes, especially in seams and in stitching.
Clean-n-Brite is also used by many to safely clean white leather. You can visit website, there is a page about cleaning leather.
KIWI Sport Shoe Scrub-Off Heavy Duty Cleaner has good results.
A Magic Eraser, which you can buy in any art store, has also had good results in spot cleaning shoes.
Permatex DL Hand Cleaner is a product for cleaning skin that works well on almost all leather. You can find this product in hardware stores.
Goo Gone is an excellent cleaner, also often found in hardware stores. Follow the dilution directions on the packet and eventually Goo Gone will remove just about anything.
Goop waterless hand cleaner is another excellent hand cleaning product used by contractors to remove the harshest dirt from skin and as such is also a great leather cleaner. Goop also removes stubborn stains that other products may not reach, and thus is a good first treatment for very dirty shoes.

How To Increase Psychic Ability

2009-07-01T06:43:00.000-07:00

Psychic ability is an ability everyone has, but lies dormant in many people. Many people have a natural talent for this ability and it suddenly comes out. This is so because the psychic ability in a person comes from sources of knowledge that are beyond the normal perception of events and time Many times people are trained from a young age to ignore these perceptions and are told by parents and other adults that there abities are fantasy rather than the genuine natural abilty inherent to most humans. What we know as intuition,hunches or gut responses, are forms of a person’s psychic ability, as they seem to defy all reason or logic.

Psychic ability in a person is a talent, and like all talents, there is every possibility of increasing psychic ability through training.

The Basic Technique

The psychic ability of an individual varies in intensity and strength. There is one basic technique by which an individual can go about increasing his psychic ability. This method help him increase his intuitive skills, and hone his focusing skills. Various psychics have various different ways of performing their psychic reading skills. Some are exponents of Tarot cards, or Rune stones. Some show their skills through tealeaf reading or by reading palms. There are others who use crystal balls to show their psychic ability.

It does not matter in what way a psychic shows his psychic talents, but he needs to enter a frame of mind that ‘heightens his intuitive awareness.’ Most psychics use some form of meditation – which is a basic technique - to do so. Focused meditation goes a long way in increasing the psychic ability of a person by enhancing his intuitive focus.

A focused meditation produces a frame of mind that receives intuitive information from the Universal Mind. The process of meditation is one way to filter out the unwanted conscious noise. This filtering enables the subconscious mind to tune in to the heightened state of awareness. This heightened state of awareness is also known as detached awareness, or altered consciousness. The ability to enter into this state of heightened awareness goes a long way in increasing one’s psychic ability.

The technique of meditation focuses on controlled breathing and visualization. Controlled breathing increases the supply of oxygen to the brain. To perform meditation, you will need to find a place that is comfortable. It could be any place, as long as it relaxes you, and is comfortable. Many people find it easy to meditate while sitting. Some do not, as they cannot sit for long in one place. It does not matter. One can easily meditate while walking slowly. It all depends on how you feel comfortable.

Focus on your controlled breathing. Focus your attention on the air as it enters your body. Breathe through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Your breath should be deep and slow.

• Slowly inhale through your nose.
• Hold your breath for nine seconds.
• Slowly exhale through your mouth for nine seconds.
• Do not rush in while inhaling, and do not let the exhaling be sluggish.
• Count out the nine seconds steadily each way.
• Your breathing should be relaxed, and at a comfortable pace.

Repeat the process nine times to enhance your intuitive focus and your psychic ability.

The Easy Way to Drop 5 Pounds in One Week!

2009-07-01T06:33:00.000-07:00

Do you have a big event coming up? Maybe you're a bride to be, or perhaps you're heading off to a vacation at the beach. You want your body to look it's very best, but you're carrying around a few extra pounds. Don't despair -- there are ways to shed that unwanted weight quickly, easily and safely!

Leek Soup Technique

One technique that's often used by French women is leek soup. Simply simmer a large pot of leeks in water until they're soft. Eat this for three days. You can also have vegetables, fruits, and water or herbal tea. After three days of eating primarily leek soup, then you can start adding healthy, low calorie fare to your meals like lean protein such as fish or skinless chicken. You'll find that after a week of eating like this, you're at least five pounds lighter!

Juice Diets

Many people wanting to lose weight quickly try fasts or juice diets. If you'd like to do this for yourself, it's important to do it right. A juice diet can help your body detox and shed excess weight quickly, but it should not be followed for longer than a few days. Choose juices that don't contain sugar, and that feature a blend of healthy fruits and vegetables. For three days, drink nothing but water and your juices. After three days, introduce light, low-calorie foods in small portions back to your diet.

Cardio

While you're dieting, it's crucial to jumpstart your metabolism with cardiovascular exercise. Be sure to get at least 30 minutes of cardio at least three times a week. This will ensure that you're burning calories and staying strong.

Tips to Increase Your Weightloss Success

Regardless of what kind of diet you choose, there are some things that can help increase your success. Along with regular exercise, be sure to drink plenty of healthy liquids like water and herbal tea. Try adding lemon to your water for an added Vitamin C boost.

Be sure you stay away from sugar, processed foods, red meat, dairy, and empty carbs like white breads. Your regular diet should consist of primarily vegetables and fruits. For carbs, eat only whole grain, nuts and seeds. If you must eat meat, stick to lowfat choices like fish, chicken, or lean red meat in small doses. Dairy is important for healthy bones, but during your diet you should avoid it. If you must have dairy products, stick to low or no fat.

By finding a diet plan that's right for you and choosing wisely when it comes to food, you can drop five pounds in as little as a week and be ready to fit into that little bikini or gorgeous gown!

So, never give up to get body slim.

How Can We Stop Smoking ?

2009-06-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

smoker total at world year 2030 estimated to achieve 1,6 person milliards, fifteen percents from there live in developed countries. it's a fantastic...

Are you a smoker? Do you smoke five, ten or even 50 a day? It really doesn’t matter how many you puff your way through, I will bet a King’s ransom that there really isn’t a day goes by that you wish you didn’t smoke.

So what is it about smoking that keeps us hanging in there? I will tell you here and now the absolute fact of the matter remains that SMOKING IS NOT ADDICTIVE!

‘NOT ADDICTIVE!” I can almost hear howls of disbelief as I write!

I will say it again, ‘It’s not addictive!’

Here are some facts:

Smoking is not addictive in the way that crack cocaine is or methyl amphetamines are…Think about it hard, really hard yes I know….

I’d say with some certainty that 99% smokers out of a hundred can go to bed and sleep cheerfully right through the night. If you were a crack addict, let me tell you that sleep just doesn’t come in to the picture when you need a hit.

Yes, I will admit Nicotine is a very fast acting drug that gives you a minor hit and satisfies the central pleasure seeking part of the brain but this hit only lasts an few minutes and soon wears off but does NOT give you the mind paralysing smash that that crack or heroin does that leaves you blank for days on end and wrecks you life totally.

Crack and heroin addicts will prowl through the night, in every kind of filthy weather looking for a way, any way, possible to get their next fix. Some of them will support a crack or cocaine habit that requires two to three thousand dollars a week to feed…Now, that’s what you call addiction!!

The reason I wrote this article is simple. I too smoked fairly heavily for many years and know extremely well the feeling of utter misery and depression when after some years I attempted to stop, time after time. I even tried acupuncture and even stopped going out and socialising because I couldn’t have a drink or a meal without the pressing, insistent pain of wanting a smoke afterwards.

I did manage to stop for about a year at one stage and then when I though I had it whipped, I had a cigarette and I was back into it again, with a vengeance…but ,I didn’t really know the trick and my demise was inevitable…sounds familiar?

However, something happened to me that I am eternally grateful for. I discovered a method, quite by accident, that enabled me to stop smoking, totally, forever, without any agonies of withdrawal, no drugs, no hypnosis no chemicals and without any counselling at all.

The way I stopped smoking was a minor miracle for me because I happened, by chance, one night to meet a man who worked as a research chemist in a large Laboratory for a chain of Tobacco companies. What he told me was all the really easy way around the tricks of the Tobacco Companies and how, once you know your enemy, how really easy it is to stop smoking, without drugs, patches, hypnotism or any other aids.

The facts I am about to tell are absolutely true. I am not going to try to try to scare you with all the morbid facts about the chemicals and the effects of passive smoking, the horrendous cost and the dreadful slow suicide smokers embark on and so on, but I can say that I am so convinced that this method is the simplest of all and I have to say that every one I have ever shown this method to has shrugged off cigarette smoking and never gone back to it.

I wont make you any promises that you will stop smoking if you try this method because there are many people that smoke that will constantly complain and whine they want to but really don’t have any serious intentions to at all.

However, I will say if you are serious about stopping and truly want to, you now have all the help and information in the fight to stop smoking that you will ever need right now.

If you are interested in learning more about the simplest way ever to knock over your smoking habit and put an end to the confining, miserable life of the smoker and his evil companion, the Nicotine Monster, why not visit this site and find out for yourself without giving yourself any more pain and misery! You will be in for a big surprise!! And do it to your self and never give up like a chinese language cia yo!!!!

How Artificial Sweeteners Are Making You Fat ?

2009-06-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

Losing weight is hard enough, and to change your eating habits and still see no results, that’s even more frustrating.

Why do these people not lose weight? If I had to pick the most common reason why most people’s efforts have proved no results, I would say it is the deception of artificial sweeteners and processed diet foods. Yes, you heard right. It is the diet coke, diet snacks, processed foods and artificial sweetener in your coffee that is keeping you fat.

How is this so???

Artificial sweeteners overwhelm your liver

Your liver is your largest internal organ, and it’s responsible for an astonishing variety of life-sustaining and health-promoting tasks, including those that make healthy weight loss and weight management possible. Integral to countless metabolic processes, the liver supports the digestive system, controls blood sugar and regulates fat storage. One of your liver’s most important functions, and the most crucial to your weight loss, is chemically breaking down everything that enters your body, from healthy vegetables, to not so healthy fast food, from healthy water to not so healthy soda.

It’s your liver’s job to distinguish between the nutrients you need to absorb and the dangerous or unnecessary substances that must be filtered out of your bloodstream. But when the liver is clogged and overwhelmed with toxins, like artificial sweeteners, it can’t do a very effective job of processing nutrients and fats. If it can not process the nutrients and fats that your body needs, this will cause you to gain weight or will prevent you from losing weight.

Your liver also produces bile, a crucial substance for detoxifying our bodies. It is the job of bile to help our bodies break down the fats we need and to assimilate fat-soluble vitamins. But when our bile becomes overly congested with the toxins it’s trying to filter out, it simply can’t function properly. It becomes thick, viscous and highly inefficient in breaking down fats. The result: You are more likely to gain weight and to have a greater difficulty losing it. So the more toxic your body becomes, the more difficulty you’ll have losing weight and keeping it off because your liver just can not work properly to break down fat.

Are artificial sweeteners considered a toxin?

What qualifies something as a “toxin”? A toxin is anything that your body does not recognize as a natural food source. The reason why artificial sweeteners have “zero” calories is because your body does not recognize them as a food source. For example, the chemical process to make Splenda (sucralose) alters the chemical composition of the sugar so much that it is somehow converted to a completely different molecule than sugar. This type of “fake” sugar molecule does not occur in nature and therefore your body does not possess the ability to properly metabolize it. This is how the makers of Splenda claim that it has zero calories, because in theory it should not be digested or metabolized by the body (Although it has been shown that some people’s body do absorb up to 15% of the artificial sweeteners they ingest). So the more artificial sweeteners that you consume in one day, the more you are overwhelming your liver with toxins and the less able it is to do its job of processing fat. And what happens if the liver can’t do its job? You can’t lose weight or worse yet, you gain weight.

What if you don’t use artificial sweeteners? Don’t be fooled. Almost every diet product on the market has some kind of artificial sweetener added to it. Even some children’s snacks are now being made with sucralose (Splenda) and most flavored waters contain sucralose or aspartame.

Now add up how many things you eat in one day that contain some form of artificial sweetener. The list may be very long. How overwhelmed do you think your liver is? Does it have the ability to work properly? Even if you keep your calories at bay and only drink Diet Coke with your meals, will you truly get down to the weight that you want, and stay there? It has been in my experience that the answer is “no” and until you are ready to commit yourself to a healthy way of eating, weight loss will always be a constant struggle.

What else do sweeteners do?

Sweeteners increase appetite

Artificial sweeteners tell your taste buds that, “sweet stuff has arrived,” which to the brain means, “nutrition has arrived.” When artificial sweetened drink or food reaches the small intestine, the receptors find no nutrition. A message is then sent back to the brain saying, “We’ve been tricked-there’s no nutrition here.” The appestat (the part of your brain that triggers satiety) sends the message to “keep eating because we need nutrition to help process all this fake food and run your body.” So even after you eat a good portioned healthy meal (along with your diet coke) you still feel like your starving all day, or you become very hungry soon after. Your healthy eating efforts may be sabotaged if you continue to feel hungry all day. No one likes to feel hungry so you continue to eat more food until you feel satisfied, which in your effort to lose weight, may just be too much.

Sweeteners Increase our Sweet Tooth

Saccharin (Sweet n Low) is 300 times sweeter than sugar, aspartame (Equal) is 200 times sweeter than sugar and sucralose (splenda) is 600 times sweeter than sugar. Such sweeteners can only increase our sweet tooth and increase our taste of sweet things. If you can never get rid of your sugar cravings, any healthy eating plan will be difficult because you will constantly be craving “sweet”. Artificial sweeteners have also shown to promote the same blood sugar fluctuations as regular sugar, which, again will bring on “sugar lows” which will increase appetite and cravings. This is not to say, that something sweet now and again is not ok, but it is those people who can not control their sugar cravings that are being sabotaged by these artificial sweeteners.

What are some alternatives to sweeteners?

Giving up sugar and artificial sweeteners may be difficult, especially if you are accustomed to everything having such a sweet taste. A wonderful alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners is an herb called Stevia. Stevia is an extraordinarily sweet herb, 200-300 times sweeter than sugar. Stevia is almost calorie-free, so it is perfect for people who are watching their weight. Unlike sugar, it does not trigger a rise in blood sugar so you will not get a sudden burst of energy followed by fatigue and a need for another “fix”. It increases energy and aids digestion by stimulating the pancreas. Stevia also presents great advantages over saccharine and other artificial sweeteners in that it is not toxic. Stevia is a plant that is found in nature and is not man-made in a laboratory. Stevia can be found at almost all health food stores such as Whole Foods, and is listed under the “supplement” section. Stevia can be used exactly like sugar and artificial sweeteners to sweeten drinks and it can even be used in baking.

If weight loss or staying away from sweets has always been a problem for you, take notice of how much artificial sweetener you have been ingesting. That just may be the culprit. Make a resolution this year to give up the “fake” stuff and stick to natural alternatives like Stevia. You will not only be helping your weight loss efforts but you will also be benefiting your health.

If you or someone you know is addicted to sweet drinks such as sodas or beverages sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners, try this “Tea Juice” and you will see that weaning yourself off sugar or sweeteners will be much easier.

Tea Juice

5-6 bags of any caffeine free herbal tea of your choice (green tea, peach tea, berry tea, orange zinger, lemon, etc.)

3 quarts water

Stevia powder or liquid to taste

Boil tea bags in a large pot. Add 1-2 full teaspoons of stevia while still hot. (You may add more or less, based on your desired sweetness) Let tea cool and then transfer to the refrigerator in Ice Tea pitchers or individual size water bottles.

This drink is a great replacement to Diet Coke or Diet Snapple.
Also Keep up to date with the best nutrition and weight loss information.

How to Achieve Family Flexibility in Times of Financial Flux

2009-06-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

by: Rosemary Lichtman, Ph. D. & Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D.
As Leo Tolstoy put it in Anna Karenina, "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." What about other family traits? Are families who are flexible all flexible in the same way? And are rigid families each set in their own ways?

Today, families are being shaken up in record numbers as financial turmoil hits home. With all the job-related uncertainties facing them, families must be able to make changes in order to adjust to the current economic climate. They may even need to adapt to role reversals when a husband experiences a job loss and the family must depend on the wife's wages alone.

Even before the current recession, women made up close to one-half of the work force. This percentage will likely increase since men held over 80% of the over 6 million jobs that have already been lost since last November. With more and more companies faltering and failing, the unemployment rate continues to rise, reaching 10% in some areas - the highest levels in over 25 years. As more men lose their jobs, the financial responsibilities of families are increasingly falling on the already burdened shoulders of women. When a woman becomes the sole breadwinner, the dynamics of the relationship change for everyone - husband/father, wife/mother and children. And as the family deals with the job loss, domestic stability may crumble and tensions climb. But it doesn't have to be that way. Women can make adjustments at home that will help the family adapt to the turbulent changes in society.

Here are six tips to help you, and other women, combat the reorganization your family life may be facing as the economy continues to impact everyone.

1. Educate yourself about family finances. Get involved with the family budget as you seek out ways to reduce your expenses. Keep track of minor expenditures that can add up, like dinners out, entertainment and credit card interest rate costs. Think outside the box as you educate yourself on new possibilities open to you. They may involve dramatic changes like downsizing your home, selling possessions or even giving up plans for early retirement.

2. Expect a husband who has lost his job to have an emotional reaction. It's normal to feel frustrated, tense and anxious at this time. But look for signs of more serious emotional changes such as depression, anger, or feelings of worthlessness. Stress can lead to dysfunctional responses like excess drinking, gambling or acting out. Acknowledging the common effects of job loss will help you avoid conflicts over minor issues.

3. Schedule family meetings to discuss changes you want to make. Get together to decide what needs to be done and who is best able to take on the responsibility of household chores. Involve your teenagers and emerging adult children so that they know what is expected of them. Take help from the family, especially if you are a Sandwiched Boomer. Everyone will feel better when they are doing their fair share. Present these challenges as a way to increase family resolve as you distinguish between wants and needs.

4. Let go of control. For many women, you are likely juggling work and parenting responsibilities already. Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that two-thirds of women with children under 18 work outside the home. Now is the time to prioritize and simplify. Don't hesitate to ask your husband for more help with housework and the kids. Let go of how you did things before and allow your husband to do it his way. And have realistic expectations. It need not be perfect, as long as it gets done. Trust your family as you do yourself. Set reasonable standards, not ideal ones.

5. Take better care of yourself. Discover how to nourish yourself and set aside the essential time for this. Take a walk, stop to watch a beautiful sunset, listen to soothing music. Practice deep breathing to relax and positive imagery to improve your mood. Reach out to your friends for support. Draw on your spiritual connection for grounding as you find your center.

6. Stay optimistic and flexible. Redefine the crisis you are facing as a challenge and your fears as opportunities for change. Review how you have solved other major problems before. Focus on what you can do about solutions even though you didn't create the problem itself. Remind yourself of all you are grateful for as you rebalance your life. Don't give up when things don't work out as you originally expected. Instead, put your Plan B in place.

There will be new perspectives and positives that come out of this ordeal for you and your whole family. Be proud of how you all are rising to the challenges. Recognize your strengths, assets, resources and the foundation of the family that will carry you through this transition. Change comes when you least expect it. The realities of the economy may eventually improve the careers of women even more than feminism alone did. In the meantime, your flexibility will serve you in good stead.

© 2009, Her Mentor Center

About The Author
Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D. & Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D. are co-founders ofhttp://www.HerMentorCenter.com, a website for midlife women andhttp://www.NourishingRelationships.Blogspot.com, a Blog for the Sandwich Generation. They are authors of a forthcoming book about Baby Boomer's family relationships and publish a free newsletter, Stepping Stones, through their website.

The author invites you to visit:
http://www.HerMentorCenter.com

Every one is number 1

2009-06-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

I want to shared this video to aLL, song every one is number 1 sing by andy lau this be song song most amaze for me

because at this song us all can feel that physical conditon can not determine to what that man can success or not but hard will that can make us this can succes.As the goodwillambassadorofthe 2008 Beijing Paralympics,"Every oneis Number One"specially madeforthe event andexpressed his admiration and support for athleteswith disabilities.

Every one is number 1"

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