Whether you are a college going girl, working lady or a house maker; glowing, clear and healthy skin is a dream of every woman. A flawless skin enhances the beauty and builds great confidence. Skin is one the very first part that is noticed when you meet new people. Whether you are going on a date or a job interview, clear skin will snatch the attention of the people around and make the first impression favourable. Face carries a lot of value in our society and holds a unique charm. When a woman thinks about beauty, the very first thing she desires for is a clear skin, which explains as to why beauty and cosmetic industry is one of the booming sectors globally. However, aiming for a clear skin is not directly proportional to beauty products and expensive treatments. Nonetheless, if you want to resort to commercial products, make sure that you cross check the ingredient employed in the making of the product, lest you do more harm to your skin than good. Using natural skin care products is, the best way towards a clear and glowing skin. Getting clear skin is easy with the following tips given in the lines below.
Getting Clear Skin
Natural Care
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Wash your face at least twice a day without any failure. Your face is the most exposed part of your body and ends up accumulating a lot of dirt and grime. Regular cleansing would make sure that it is disinfected.
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The best way to get clear skin naturally is by drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily without any fail. The water keeps the skin moisturized and hydrated as well as helps to flush out the toxins from the body.
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If you have whiteheads and blackheads on your face skin, never attempt to poke or squeeze them. Poking allows bacteria to enter deep inside the skin making it more prone to pimples and scars.
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One must inculcate some exercises in the daily routine. Exercises will make a person sweat, thus opening the pores and clearing the complexion.
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Include lot of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet. They have lots of nutrition in them, and thus, help in fighting off radicals present in the body. They also prevent the occurrence of wrinkles. Make changes in your diet and eliminate oily food.
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Exclude smoking and alcohol from your lifestyle. They both are responsible for various skin problems. Also, over consumption of these will make your skin look dull.
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Be natural and avoid using harsh chemicals on the face skin. If you love putting on make up, switch to mineral or organic make up. Avoid sharing your makeup with anyone else as it can lead to infection.
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Never go to the bed with the makeup on. Always use a toner, cleanser and moisturizer to clean the makeup from the face. Then rinse with cold water.
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Apply lemon juice on the face’s dark spots. It will help in lighten them and make your skin look polished and vibrant.
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Apply honey as a natural moisturizer. It helps in drying up the pimples. Also, honey tones the skin and makes it supple.
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Never make yourself too much stressful. Be relaxed and happy. A happy you would be a happy skin.
Using Skin Care Products
*
You should choose a gentle face cleanser which is suitable for your face skin type. Wash your face in the morning with it. Take small quantity of the cleaner and rub in a circular fashion all around the face for about ½ minute. Then rinse off with warm water and pat dry using a soft cotton face towel.
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Women, who have oily skin, must go for a toner first, while ones with dry skin should avoid using a toner.
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Never apply a body lotion on your face, rather go for oil-free moisturizer. Also avoid heavy skin creams.
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Whenever you go out in the sun, remember to apply a sun block lotion that has an SPF of 15 or higher. Sunrays can really damage your skin, and as such, applying a sun block lotion becomes imperative.
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If you are going through acne breakouts, use acne cleansers and moisturizers available, especially for treating acne. However, never use acne cleanser during spot breakouts, as they would make the skin dry.
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In case the skin is going through zits, use creams containing salicyclic acid or benzoyl peroxide. These creams would reduce the redness of the skin.
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Exfoliate your skin with a microdermabrasion kit available at your home, at leat once a week. It is affordable and effective too.
Tips
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It must be surprising to you but your pillow can affect your skin. Change the pillow cover often, as a dirty pillow can be the cause for acne.
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Before touching your face, make sure that your hands are clean and washed.
Following the tips and get clear skin that is glamorous and glowing quickly. So what are you waiting for, get ready to flaunt a beautiful clear skin.
Showing posts with label Health and Fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health and Fitness. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Healthy Living Tips Without Medicine
Healthy Living Tips Without Medicine – Multicomplex adult life that make us devastated “disease” strange that difficult to overcome, either by itself or immune drugs. How tricks to keep us healthy without frequent treatment.
It is no secret that our bodies have immune systems that can protect the body from disease attack. That is if the system works! Sometimes like to crash. If it were so, so what can make! We are forced to seek treatment. However, it would also not hurt, trying various tricks to prevent disease to live without depending on drugs. Everywhere, which can be used to it: to prevent before it happens is better than cure that was already rife.
Here are 10 tips that can help you:
1. Know yourself, whether physical or psychological
This is somewhat philosophical, indeed, but in fact it is precisely here lies the key to everything. By knowing ourselves, we can know the physical weakness of our bodies, and then can decide what is good and don’ts for the body, and what is not. The person who has unwittingly eat foods that are salty delicacy unnecessarily, for example, over time felt his body change, as quickly felt dizzy, his balance is reduced, and often feel various symptoms of not feeling well. After a doctor examined the body, known to his body began to develop a new “disease” of high blood pressure. If it ever since he tried earnestly to reduce salty foods and fatty foods, while doing moderate exercise regularly, then the “disease” it is not easy to recurrence, and he does not need frequent trips to the doctor again.
If you have a complaint like that, seyogianyalah example of people who know the weaknesses of his own. Likewise, people who easily upset and difficult to control myself for not knowing her own shortcomings. After identifying weaknesses, and willing to fix any adverse habits, after a long time he was adept at keeping his emotions are not easily provoked. That blessing he sought to know himself as well.
2. Not in a hurry to feel pain
Just because a sneeze, cough, or a slight fever, people have decided to take medicine. Though often after left three days, the symptoms of the disease go away. The body does have the ability to heal itself. Only with enough rest, pain symptoms were gone themselves. Dizziness symptoms can sometimes disappear simply by inhaling the fresh air in the park that are not contaminated exhaust air.
Symptoms are coughing and sneezing is also a serious sign that the body is trying to remove germs from the respiratory tract. Fever sweating is a sign the body is fighting an attack germs. If symptoms lasted for three days, because the weight of the attack, so what may make, we go to the doctor for a medical consultation.
3. Ensuring day-to-day variation of food
Doing variation meal, start from the assumption that there are certain foods that are more useful than ordinary foods daily. If we use this as a distraction to the kind of daily food, then the two groups of materials that can complement each other. When we used to eat chicken and beef, you should change the habit, and an occasional meal of fresh fish, tempeh, and tofu as a distraction. This material has not saturated fat content of many, and potentially reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Conversely, if we are accustomed to eating fish, tempeh, and tofu egg everyday, eat meals on a special occasion at the invitation temanten, or large family gathering, just take chicken or beef. Animal meat proteins act to maintain the rate of body growth and to replace cells damaged tissue.
So also with the vegetables. If day after day we eat green vegetables, because they thought that that was definitely a good all-round green, occasionally need to eat variety of vegetables and fruit is not green, such as tomatoes, carrots, baby corn, red peppers (as vegetable), bananas, mangoes , apples, oranges (as dessert).
4. Adjusting consumption by age level
The amount of nutrients the body needs varies depending on age, type of activity, and body condition (in sickness or health). In children and adolescents who are aggressive, grow jealous, the five elements in food (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, and water) is necessary, so it does not need to be restricted. Conversely, in adults and elderly, the restriction is absolutely necessary. Carbohydrate and fat as energy producers should be reduced in number, given their physical activity has decreased. How to reduce carbohydrates and fat is to reduce the portion of rice and fried. In contrast, vitamins and minerals and should be eaten with just water enough. These substances are very necessary to facilitate the body’s metabolism, and increase durability. Just keep in mind that the best is to use natural vitamins, such as that contained in fruits and vegetables fresh. While the water you drink should be a sterile, safe from germs, such as mineral water that really qualifies as a mineral water. It may also plain water is always boiled first. Approximately 60% of our body weight in the form of water or liquid. That means we have to drink more water than other food elements. People who are sick and was forced to take medication, even should drink more water. Patients ‘disease’ is difficult bowel movements, can be saved from his suffering with every day drinking 2-3 glasses of water before going to the rear.
Protein consumption in adults and the elderly also need to be reduced, although not as much carbohydrate and fat reduction. How to reduce this protein is to replace sources of animal protein diet with food sources of vegetable protein, the protein content of less than or only slightly. For example, beans, tofu, and tempeh.
5. Exercise regularly according to ability
Exercise aimed at improving blood circulation, and accelerate the spread of nerve impulses to parts of the body or vice versa, so that the body always fit. Many people argue, without any sport we actually also have been moving bodies like sports, when doing physical work everyday like sweeping floors, cleaning, washing, and drying clothes. But whether the “sport” of this sort can we do regularly and continuously? That’s a separate issue! It takes a strong will, based on the belief that the exercise is absolutely necessary for the body stay fit, because the blood circulation diperlancar earlier. In turn this could boost immunity. The people with high blood pressure, heart disease, lung infections, and diabetes, should consult a doctor first to find out what kind of sports matches. Usually low-intensity exercise and do not be too long.
Normal people who do not suffer from the disease, very well choose a high aerobic capacity sports like swimming, high impact aerobics, stationary bicycle, and jogging.
6. Always keep cleaning
Clean environment at home, page, and residential complexes to give fresh and comfortable atmosphere. A study in the United States shows that the group homes that have a courtyard and well-ordered environment, green, and beautiful, has an occupant health is much better than the poor house plants.
Clean environment makes our bodies are clean, both physical and spiritual. This condition can prevent physical diseases such as skin infections, dust allergy, flu, bronchitis, and “disease” spiritual such as stress, frustration and depression, the culprit of the immune system.
7. Taking the time to relax
Spending time ask for a break does not mean much more than working productively until beyond propriety. No! Taking the time to break it up a little while, and this is necessary, to set the kendo for a while in between the tension at rush hour to work everyday. This should be done routinely. Relaxing does not mean having to make recreation an exhausting, but quite come together to discuss similar problems with office colleagues, neighbors or family at home. It is not possible, they can help solve the problem, or at least lighten the burden of the mind. Relax with a self-reflection and introspection are also necessary. The more frequent and routine is done, the better the balance of our souls. Sleeping comfortably is also a relaxing alone. Stamina will recover quickly, and the balance of hormones in the body too quickly achieved.
The body was tired and disheveled mind if allowed prolonged (until it is brought into the bedroom), would reduce the power of the immune system. In turn, facilitate the attack of diseases.
8. Back to nature
Trends in the early 1990s in Western countries is based on experience that lifestyle in modern times to encourage people to change their eating habits, such as more frequent eating canned food, bottled chili sauce, or fruit preserved. Also rarely move the body because of ease of use of household tools, such as washing clothes with washing machine, sweeping the floor with a vacuum cleaner, traveling by vehicle, but only closer and healthier done by foot. Our bodies are so spoiled, because it rarely moves, so easily hurt because of softening. Conversely, a martial arts warrior, despite living in modern times, always healthy body because it is still often walk, exercise routine by moving the body, and do not use the tools of modern technology results that make people so soft.
To return close to nature, we instead have to come into martial arts warriors, but at least avoid canned food, and even multiply eat fresh vegetables and fruit.
9. Treat respiratory
Treat respiratory means regulate the manner and frequency of breathing to be more efficient. By inhaling air (oxygen) slowly in a matter of 15 then slowly release it also in a matter of 15, we can keep the oxygen in the body longer than usual. Oxygen will be used by the body’s organs in an effective, albeit only slightly. So far, we breathe with an irregular frequency. Sometimes slow, sometimes fast. Oxygen is also fast diirup out again. Not to put to good use, was already out. In one minute we benapas five times or more.
However, with regular exercise breathing frequency can be less than five times in a minute. Every time is always in, and efficient. As a result, oxygen is inhaled quite a bit, but was effective. The organs of the body would adjust to the availability of this little oxygen, and it actually benefit the body. Because, with little oxygen, but was effective nonetheless, the body is not overwhelmed with the respiratory form of CO2 a lot, which is not good for health.
10. Fond of reading health
The phrase “Do not know it was love, not love then no love” is very fitting to satirize people who want a healthy body, but did not bother reading about health approach. If closer, we will know the ins and outs of health is better, and then can use them to formulate strategies to avoid disease.
It is no secret that our bodies have immune systems that can protect the body from disease attack. That is if the system works! Sometimes like to crash. If it were so, so what can make! We are forced to seek treatment. However, it would also not hurt, trying various tricks to prevent disease to live without depending on drugs. Everywhere, which can be used to it: to prevent before it happens is better than cure that was already rife.
Here are 10 tips that can help you:
1. Know yourself, whether physical or psychological
This is somewhat philosophical, indeed, but in fact it is precisely here lies the key to everything. By knowing ourselves, we can know the physical weakness of our bodies, and then can decide what is good and don’ts for the body, and what is not. The person who has unwittingly eat foods that are salty delicacy unnecessarily, for example, over time felt his body change, as quickly felt dizzy, his balance is reduced, and often feel various symptoms of not feeling well. After a doctor examined the body, known to his body began to develop a new “disease” of high blood pressure. If it ever since he tried earnestly to reduce salty foods and fatty foods, while doing moderate exercise regularly, then the “disease” it is not easy to recurrence, and he does not need frequent trips to the doctor again.
If you have a complaint like that, seyogianyalah example of people who know the weaknesses of his own. Likewise, people who easily upset and difficult to control myself for not knowing her own shortcomings. After identifying weaknesses, and willing to fix any adverse habits, after a long time he was adept at keeping his emotions are not easily provoked. That blessing he sought to know himself as well.
2. Not in a hurry to feel pain
Just because a sneeze, cough, or a slight fever, people have decided to take medicine. Though often after left three days, the symptoms of the disease go away. The body does have the ability to heal itself. Only with enough rest, pain symptoms were gone themselves. Dizziness symptoms can sometimes disappear simply by inhaling the fresh air in the park that are not contaminated exhaust air.
Symptoms are coughing and sneezing is also a serious sign that the body is trying to remove germs from the respiratory tract. Fever sweating is a sign the body is fighting an attack germs. If symptoms lasted for three days, because the weight of the attack, so what may make, we go to the doctor for a medical consultation.
3. Ensuring day-to-day variation of food
Doing variation meal, start from the assumption that there are certain foods that are more useful than ordinary foods daily. If we use this as a distraction to the kind of daily food, then the two groups of materials that can complement each other. When we used to eat chicken and beef, you should change the habit, and an occasional meal of fresh fish, tempeh, and tofu as a distraction. This material has not saturated fat content of many, and potentially reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Conversely, if we are accustomed to eating fish, tempeh, and tofu egg everyday, eat meals on a special occasion at the invitation temanten, or large family gathering, just take chicken or beef. Animal meat proteins act to maintain the rate of body growth and to replace cells damaged tissue.
So also with the vegetables. If day after day we eat green vegetables, because they thought that that was definitely a good all-round green, occasionally need to eat variety of vegetables and fruit is not green, such as tomatoes, carrots, baby corn, red peppers (as vegetable), bananas, mangoes , apples, oranges (as dessert).
4. Adjusting consumption by age level
The amount of nutrients the body needs varies depending on age, type of activity, and body condition (in sickness or health). In children and adolescents who are aggressive, grow jealous, the five elements in food (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, and water) is necessary, so it does not need to be restricted. Conversely, in adults and elderly, the restriction is absolutely necessary. Carbohydrate and fat as energy producers should be reduced in number, given their physical activity has decreased. How to reduce carbohydrates and fat is to reduce the portion of rice and fried. In contrast, vitamins and minerals and should be eaten with just water enough. These substances are very necessary to facilitate the body’s metabolism, and increase durability. Just keep in mind that the best is to use natural vitamins, such as that contained in fruits and vegetables fresh. While the water you drink should be a sterile, safe from germs, such as mineral water that really qualifies as a mineral water. It may also plain water is always boiled first. Approximately 60% of our body weight in the form of water or liquid. That means we have to drink more water than other food elements. People who are sick and was forced to take medication, even should drink more water. Patients ‘disease’ is difficult bowel movements, can be saved from his suffering with every day drinking 2-3 glasses of water before going to the rear.
Protein consumption in adults and the elderly also need to be reduced, although not as much carbohydrate and fat reduction. How to reduce this protein is to replace sources of animal protein diet with food sources of vegetable protein, the protein content of less than or only slightly. For example, beans, tofu, and tempeh.
5. Exercise regularly according to ability
Exercise aimed at improving blood circulation, and accelerate the spread of nerve impulses to parts of the body or vice versa, so that the body always fit. Many people argue, without any sport we actually also have been moving bodies like sports, when doing physical work everyday like sweeping floors, cleaning, washing, and drying clothes. But whether the “sport” of this sort can we do regularly and continuously? That’s a separate issue! It takes a strong will, based on the belief that the exercise is absolutely necessary for the body stay fit, because the blood circulation diperlancar earlier. In turn this could boost immunity. The people with high blood pressure, heart disease, lung infections, and diabetes, should consult a doctor first to find out what kind of sports matches. Usually low-intensity exercise and do not be too long.
Normal people who do not suffer from the disease, very well choose a high aerobic capacity sports like swimming, high impact aerobics, stationary bicycle, and jogging.
6. Always keep cleaning
Clean environment at home, page, and residential complexes to give fresh and comfortable atmosphere. A study in the United States shows that the group homes that have a courtyard and well-ordered environment, green, and beautiful, has an occupant health is much better than the poor house plants.
Clean environment makes our bodies are clean, both physical and spiritual. This condition can prevent physical diseases such as skin infections, dust allergy, flu, bronchitis, and “disease” spiritual such as stress, frustration and depression, the culprit of the immune system.
7. Taking the time to relax
Spending time ask for a break does not mean much more than working productively until beyond propriety. No! Taking the time to break it up a little while, and this is necessary, to set the kendo for a while in between the tension at rush hour to work everyday. This should be done routinely. Relaxing does not mean having to make recreation an exhausting, but quite come together to discuss similar problems with office colleagues, neighbors or family at home. It is not possible, they can help solve the problem, or at least lighten the burden of the mind. Relax with a self-reflection and introspection are also necessary. The more frequent and routine is done, the better the balance of our souls. Sleeping comfortably is also a relaxing alone. Stamina will recover quickly, and the balance of hormones in the body too quickly achieved.
The body was tired and disheveled mind if allowed prolonged (until it is brought into the bedroom), would reduce the power of the immune system. In turn, facilitate the attack of diseases.
8. Back to nature
Trends in the early 1990s in Western countries is based on experience that lifestyle in modern times to encourage people to change their eating habits, such as more frequent eating canned food, bottled chili sauce, or fruit preserved. Also rarely move the body because of ease of use of household tools, such as washing clothes with washing machine, sweeping the floor with a vacuum cleaner, traveling by vehicle, but only closer and healthier done by foot. Our bodies are so spoiled, because it rarely moves, so easily hurt because of softening. Conversely, a martial arts warrior, despite living in modern times, always healthy body because it is still often walk, exercise routine by moving the body, and do not use the tools of modern technology results that make people so soft.
To return close to nature, we instead have to come into martial arts warriors, but at least avoid canned food, and even multiply eat fresh vegetables and fruit.
9. Treat respiratory
Treat respiratory means regulate the manner and frequency of breathing to be more efficient. By inhaling air (oxygen) slowly in a matter of 15 then slowly release it also in a matter of 15, we can keep the oxygen in the body longer than usual. Oxygen will be used by the body’s organs in an effective, albeit only slightly. So far, we breathe with an irregular frequency. Sometimes slow, sometimes fast. Oxygen is also fast diirup out again. Not to put to good use, was already out. In one minute we benapas five times or more.
However, with regular exercise breathing frequency can be less than five times in a minute. Every time is always in, and efficient. As a result, oxygen is inhaled quite a bit, but was effective. The organs of the body would adjust to the availability of this little oxygen, and it actually benefit the body. Because, with little oxygen, but was effective nonetheless, the body is not overwhelmed with the respiratory form of CO2 a lot, which is not good for health.
10. Fond of reading health
The phrase “Do not know it was love, not love then no love” is very fitting to satirize people who want a healthy body, but did not bother reading about health approach. If closer, we will know the ins and outs of health is better, and then can use them to formulate strategies to avoid disease.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Most Gorgeous Skin Ever In Just 10 Minutes A Day!
Our skin is the first thing that every notices, and yet it one of the most neglected areas of the body. Did you know that if you can dedicate just 10 minutes a day for your skin, preferably before going to sleep, you won't need the dreaded anti-ageing cream. The following story I read on Shine tells you just that.
Remember, only 10 mins can make a difference. Trust us.
Manhattan dermatologist Eric Schweiger M.D., says an evening skin regimen is actually much more important to maintain. These four easy steps will help you achieve a flawless face in next to no time.
Step 1: Cleanse
Dr. Schweiger says there's no need for a fancy, expensive makeup remover, so cut down on time and your beauty budget by thoroughly washing with a gentle cleanser that removes products and oil but doesn't over-dry.
Time spent: three minutes
Step 2: Moisturise
No matter what your skin type, you should slather on a light lotion to your face and neck every night. For this, Dr. Schweiger says to look for oil-free products that are also fragrance-free.
Time spent: two minutes
Step 3: Apply retinoids
"Of all the anti-aging and photo damage correction products on the market, retinoids have the most scientific evidence," explains Dr. Schweiger. He says retinoid creams, either prescription or over-the-counter, can be the most beneficial. "Retin-A, Renova, and Tazorac have been shown, in one month or two, to decrease fine lines and wrinkles." Three times a week use a pea-size amount on your face, and once or twice a week apply the cream under your eyes to banish those dark circles. Retinoids should always be applied at night since they can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
Time spent: three minutes
Step 4: Hydrate
"Toners are not necessary—they over-dry the skin and can actually increase oil production, and then the cycle is hard to break," says Dr. Schweiger. But he does suggest a final application of moisturizer after the retinoid cream to prevent redness and flaking, especially in the winter when skin is drier.
Time spent: two minutes
Really, that's it! Ten minutes of devoted attention is all your face needs before bed. If you follow these steps every evening, an a.m. quick rinse with face wash and a light SPF will get you out the door and on your way to a gorgeous glow.
Remember, only 10 mins can make a difference. Trust us.
Manhattan dermatologist Eric Schweiger M.D., says an evening skin regimen is actually much more important to maintain. These four easy steps will help you achieve a flawless face in next to no time.
Step 1: Cleanse
Dr. Schweiger says there's no need for a fancy, expensive makeup remover, so cut down on time and your beauty budget by thoroughly washing with a gentle cleanser that removes products and oil but doesn't over-dry.
Time spent: three minutes
Step 2: Moisturise
No matter what your skin type, you should slather on a light lotion to your face and neck every night. For this, Dr. Schweiger says to look for oil-free products that are also fragrance-free.
Time spent: two minutes
Step 3: Apply retinoids
"Of all the anti-aging and photo damage correction products on the market, retinoids have the most scientific evidence," explains Dr. Schweiger. He says retinoid creams, either prescription or over-the-counter, can be the most beneficial. "Retin-A, Renova, and Tazorac have been shown, in one month or two, to decrease fine lines and wrinkles." Three times a week use a pea-size amount on your face, and once or twice a week apply the cream under your eyes to banish those dark circles. Retinoids should always be applied at night since they can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
Time spent: three minutes
Step 4: Hydrate
"Toners are not necessary—they over-dry the skin and can actually increase oil production, and then the cycle is hard to break," says Dr. Schweiger. But he does suggest a final application of moisturizer after the retinoid cream to prevent redness and flaking, especially in the winter when skin is drier.
Time spent: two minutes
Really, that's it! Ten minutes of devoted attention is all your face needs before bed. If you follow these steps every evening, an a.m. quick rinse with face wash and a light SPF will get you out the door and on your way to a gorgeous glow.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
10 Amazing Dangerous Toothpaste Ingredients
Toothpaste even though (in some form or another) has been around as long as the Ancient Greeks have, the formula (as we know it) did not become popular until World War I. As soon as companies began manufacturing toothpaste, people began to purchase the magical concoction - guaranteed to produce glistening teeth! White teeth were all the rage after World War I had ended, and toothpaste quickly became a product that most people simply couldn't live without.
Toothpaste is one item that nearly everyone uses today, but what makes this concoction so special? Whether you brush your teeth once per day or three times per day, chances are that you've never taken the time to read that ingredient list. Some believe that the ingredients contained in a standard package of toothpaste are essential - others believe that water may be just as effective. In the end, there's a good reason why most toothpaste packages warn: "Do Not Ingest!"
10. Formaldehyde
That same ingredient that coroners can't live without can be found inside of your toothpaste tube. Formaldehyde kills all of those small bacteria that climb onto your teeth after eating or sleeping. If a large amount of formaldehyde is accidentally ingested, the result could be fatal. Severe formaldehyde ingestion results in jaundice, kidney damage, liver damage, and death.
9. Detergent
Foam, suds, activation! What would toothpaste be without that satisfying soapy feeling? Manufacturers use regular detergent in order to appease the masses that prefer bubbly toothpaste. While bubbles may be fun, be careful if you accidentally ingest a large amount of this stuff - swallowing detergent can cause digestive tract burning.
8. Seaweed
Stretchy and slimy, seaweed holds that paste together. Without this green stuff, toothpaste would simply fall apart! The good news is that seaweed isn't toxic. Infact, seaweed has a number of nutritional benefits, though hitting the sushi bar is a better way of gaining those benefits.
7. Peppermint Oil
Minty, minty, minty! Fresh breath can only be kept fresh with the help of peppermint oil! While refreshing when brushing your teeth using toothpaste, peppermint oil can cause a slow pulse, heartburn, and muscle tremors if it is consumed.
6. Paraffin
As slick as the petroleum that it is derived from, paraffin creates a smooth paste that oozes onto your toothbrush using toothpaste. As you might imagine, paraffin wasn't meant to be eaten. If you happen to swallow this ingredient, you may end up with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and severe constipation.
5. Glycerin Glycol
Never heard of this ingredient before? Sure about that? Glycerin glycol is added to toothpaste in order to prevent the paste from becoming too dry – it's also found in antifreeze. Even though glycerin is not toxic, this additive may cause nausea if swallowed.
4. Chalk
That's right - chalk. Thanks to the fact that chalk is made from exoskeletons, it's hard enough to remove all of that caked on gunk from your pearly whites. Chalk dust may cause lung problems if inhaled via toothpaste, and swallowing a bit of chalk could cause bleeding.
3. Titanium Dioxide
This is another common toothpaste ingredient, though it's usually found in white paint. When added to toothpaste, titanium dioxide has the safe effect on your teeth as it does on walls - it keeps them nice and white (for a few hours, at least!). Ingesting titanium dioxide won't hurt you, but it isn't recommended either.
2. Saccharin
Something has to combat that terrible detergent taste! Saccharin is sweet, but not too sweet - just the way that most people like their toothpaste! Saccharin has been a hot topic of debate every since Theodore Roosevelt was in the White House. The USDA tried to ban the substance in 1972, though it is considered "safe" to ingest today.
1. Menthol
One last ingredient to add a minty note to your breath. Without menthol, toothpaste might taste like, well, chalk, glycerin, paraffin, detergent, titanium dioxide, and seaweed! Go ahead and ingest menthol if you like, but sipping some tea containing menthol is a far better idea than chewing on your tube of toothpaste.
Toothpaste is one item that nearly everyone uses today, but what makes this concoction so special? Whether you brush your teeth once per day or three times per day, chances are that you've never taken the time to read that ingredient list. Some believe that the ingredients contained in a standard package of toothpaste are essential - others believe that water may be just as effective. In the end, there's a good reason why most toothpaste packages warn: "Do Not Ingest!"
10. Formaldehyde
That same ingredient that coroners can't live without can be found inside of your toothpaste tube. Formaldehyde kills all of those small bacteria that climb onto your teeth after eating or sleeping. If a large amount of formaldehyde is accidentally ingested, the result could be fatal. Severe formaldehyde ingestion results in jaundice, kidney damage, liver damage, and death.
9. Detergent
Foam, suds, activation! What would toothpaste be without that satisfying soapy feeling? Manufacturers use regular detergent in order to appease the masses that prefer bubbly toothpaste. While bubbles may be fun, be careful if you accidentally ingest a large amount of this stuff - swallowing detergent can cause digestive tract burning.
8. Seaweed
Stretchy and slimy, seaweed holds that paste together. Without this green stuff, toothpaste would simply fall apart! The good news is that seaweed isn't toxic. Infact, seaweed has a number of nutritional benefits, though hitting the sushi bar is a better way of gaining those benefits.
7. Peppermint Oil
Minty, minty, minty! Fresh breath can only be kept fresh with the help of peppermint oil! While refreshing when brushing your teeth using toothpaste, peppermint oil can cause a slow pulse, heartburn, and muscle tremors if it is consumed.
6. Paraffin
As slick as the petroleum that it is derived from, paraffin creates a smooth paste that oozes onto your toothbrush using toothpaste. As you might imagine, paraffin wasn't meant to be eaten. If you happen to swallow this ingredient, you may end up with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and severe constipation.
5. Glycerin Glycol
Never heard of this ingredient before? Sure about that? Glycerin glycol is added to toothpaste in order to prevent the paste from becoming too dry – it's also found in antifreeze. Even though glycerin is not toxic, this additive may cause nausea if swallowed.
4. Chalk
That's right - chalk. Thanks to the fact that chalk is made from exoskeletons, it's hard enough to remove all of that caked on gunk from your pearly whites. Chalk dust may cause lung problems if inhaled via toothpaste, and swallowing a bit of chalk could cause bleeding.
3. Titanium Dioxide
This is another common toothpaste ingredient, though it's usually found in white paint. When added to toothpaste, titanium dioxide has the safe effect on your teeth as it does on walls - it keeps them nice and white (for a few hours, at least!). Ingesting titanium dioxide won't hurt you, but it isn't recommended either.
2. Saccharin
Something has to combat that terrible detergent taste! Saccharin is sweet, but not too sweet - just the way that most people like their toothpaste! Saccharin has been a hot topic of debate every since Theodore Roosevelt was in the White House. The USDA tried to ban the substance in 1972, though it is considered "safe" to ingest today.
1. Menthol
One last ingredient to add a minty note to your breath. Without menthol, toothpaste might taste like, well, chalk, glycerin, paraffin, detergent, titanium dioxide, and seaweed! Go ahead and ingest menthol if you like, but sipping some tea containing menthol is a far better idea than chewing on your tube of toothpaste.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Healthy Foods Instead of a Diet
Choose Healthy Foods to Fit your Lifestyle
Healthy Foods for a Healthy Lifestyle
There are several fad diets that will lead to successful weight loss if you follow them exactly as they are designed. That doesn't mean every food that fits into a diet is a healthy food, but it does mean you have to change your eating patterns to fit the diet's rules.
Rather than worry about following a fad diet, think about your health and your lifestyle instead. Start by learning which foods are good for you
Healthy Foods to Eat
The closer a food is to its natural state, the better it is for you. Fresh fruits and berries are great and will satisfy a craving for sweets. Whole vegetables have lots of vitamins and minerals, so eat more green, orange and yellow vegetables. Steam them to retain the most nutritional value and be careful with sauces, they may be high in calories and fats that aren't good for you.
Any pasta or baked goods should be made from whole grains. Avoid sugary snacks and pastries as well. An apple is good for you, an apple pie really isn't.
Shop for lean meats and don't forget the fish. The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in ocean fish are often deficient in our diets, so serve seafood two or three times per week. Baked fish and chicken are healthier than fried, and lean meats like bison or venison may be healthier than higher fat beef.
Processed lunch meats, hot dogs, bacon, and sausages have a lot of saturated fat and nitrates in them you don't want in your body. If you love these meats, you can find healthier versions sold at health food stores.
Remember to eat a variety of foods to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy.
Stick to water, milk and 100% fruit and vegetable juices as your main beverages and limit sugary soft drinks. If you get tired of plain water, add a slice of lemon or lime to add a touch of flavor. For kids, try some fruit juice jazzed up with carbonated water.
Unhealthy Foods
* Battered and deep fried foods
* Sugary sodas
* Processed lunch meats
* Greasy snack chips
* White bread and refined pasta
* Most canned spaghetti and ravioli
* Sugary breakfast cereals
* Frozen fried chicken, fish sticks and corn dogs
Healthy Foods
* Green and brightly colored vegetables
* Dark leafy greens and lettuce
* Fresh fruits and berries
* Lean turkey and chicken
* Nuts, dried fruits and healthy snacks
* Whole grain breads and pasta
* Healthy cooking oils like canola and olive oils
* Grass fed beef and bison
* Cold water oily ocean fish
* Low fat milk or soy beverages
* Nuts, seeds, and legumes
Assess Your Lifestyle
Once you learn which foods are good for you, you need to look at your eating habits. If the foods you eat are not healthy, you might want to work within your habits and current lifestyle conditions, since they are usually tough to change. Consider these questions, then read on for tips to help you add healthy foods:
* Do you eat because you are bored, sad, or happy?
* Do you snack in front of the TV without even giving it much thought?
* Are most of your meals eaten at home or in restaurants?
* How often do you eat fast food?
* Do you like to cook?
* How often do you grocery shop?
* Do you skip breakfast or lunch, then overeat later in the day?
* How big are the portions you consume?
* Do you crave sweets?
* Are there foods you won't give up?
Healthy Foods for Snackers
If you are an emotional eater, keep the junk food like potato chips, tortilla chips, ice cream, and candy out of the house. Keep healthy snacks like fruits, crunchy vegetables with dips, or nuts handy. If you absolutely feel the need for a treat, then purchase a small piece of high quality chocolate or your favorite treat and enjoy it, just don't buy any to bring home.
The same tips are helpful for those who enjoy TV snacking at home. If you don't want to give up nibbling while watching your shows, keep low calorie foods close by, because it is very easy to eat too much when you are entranced by your favorite drama, football game or cooking show. Eat crisp raw vegetables with your dip instead of greasy chips.
Healthy Foods When Eating Out
It is difficult to maintain good health if you eat out a lot. Those salads might not be as appealing as a greasy cheeseburger and fries. Restaurants frequently serve huge portions of food too, much more than you need. If you can't hold your resolve to stick to the salads, compromise; pick out an appetizer that you love, combine it with a salad or a cup of soup, and skip the larger entrees. You can also share a meal or take half of it home. You could die for dessert? Order as small a size as possible, or maybe just one scoop of ice cream, rather than a larger, heavier dessert. Try a dish of mixed berries topped with nuts and a small bit of whipped cream. Be careful with the after-dinner drinks as well. Maybe just have one glass of wine with your meal.
If you eat a lot of fast food, you have found out how difficult it is to feel good and stay healthy. Some places have added salads and some better choices, but it really isn't a good way to eat. Keep fast food dining to a minimum, don't go with the super sizes and choose places that offer more fresh ingredients.
Eating Healthy Foods at Home
If you hate to cook, all that fresh produce you bought may just rot in your refrigerator. You might prefer to purchase prepared foods from markets that specialize in healthier whole foods, or even hire a personal chef to prepare meals that only need to be heated and served. If you have a tighter budget, perhaps you can set aside some time on weekends to prepare meals and freeze them to be reheated later that week.
It is important to be prepared if you are going to eat good foods at home and not run out for fast food when you don't feel like cooking. Unfortunately, grocery shopping can be very tedious. Set aside enough time to do your shopping for a few days' worth of healthy food and ingredients. Make a list and stick to it. Don't go shopping when you are hungry, and once you are at the store, stay away from the junk and the processed food aisles. Buy lots of fresh produce and choose lean meats and fish. Stay away from processed meats, fake cheese products, processed boxed and canned meals and avoid the snack aisle. Better yet, shop for organic products whenever possible. If you have no choice but to shop infrequently, choose frozen fruits and vegetables over canned, as they may retain more of their nutrients and don't have the extra sodium.
Don't Skip Meals
If you skip breakfast, you may find that you lose energy by midmorning. Rather than skipping breakfast completely, split it in half. Eat a small breakfast early, such as an egg, small serving of oatmeal, or a slice of whole grain bread. Have a small snack on hand such as raisins and 10 or 12 almonds to eat at midmorning. This split breakfast is a much better solution than reaching for coffee and candy bars to perk yourself up.
Control Portion Size
Our stomachs really aren't that big. Without stretching, the stomach will hold about two cups of food, but because the stomach will stretch, it can hold considerably more food than we need at any given meal.
When you eat at home, serve your meals already dished up on individual plates rather than family style at the table. You will be less likely to reach for "seconds" that way. At restaurants, ask for "take home" containers and take half of your meal home to heat up tomorrow. Avoid buffets, unless you are very disciplined. It is way too tempting to load up three or four plates plus dessert.
Tame Your Sweet Tooth
Curb your cravings for sweets with fruits and stay away from sugary snacks and pastries. These treats have lots of calories and can be loaded with unhealthy fats. If the fruits and berries aren't sweet enough for you, add just a bit of Splenda, stevia or even a tiny sprinkling of sugar. Avoid sugary sodas and try iced herbal teas or ice water with Splenda, and a slice of lemon or lime.
Things You Won't Give Up
Do you feel like you can't live without your chocolate? If there are foods you won't give up, enjoy them in smaller amounts. Buy one tiny high quality piece of candy and enjoy it, but don't buy a bag full of snacks to take with you. Limit other treats or favorite foods that aren't healthy, maybe let yourself eat them one time per month, or search for healthier versions at natural foods markets.
Rome Wasn't Built in a Day
If you can't transform your unhealthy diet overnight, don't despair. Most people can't. Start implementing some of these ideas, even just one at a time. Every change you make will be one step in the right direction.
Healthy Foods for a Healthy Lifestyle
There are several fad diets that will lead to successful weight loss if you follow them exactly as they are designed. That doesn't mean every food that fits into a diet is a healthy food, but it does mean you have to change your eating patterns to fit the diet's rules.
Rather than worry about following a fad diet, think about your health and your lifestyle instead. Start by learning which foods are good for you
Healthy Foods to Eat
The closer a food is to its natural state, the better it is for you. Fresh fruits and berries are great and will satisfy a craving for sweets. Whole vegetables have lots of vitamins and minerals, so eat more green, orange and yellow vegetables. Steam them to retain the most nutritional value and be careful with sauces, they may be high in calories and fats that aren't good for you.
Any pasta or baked goods should be made from whole grains. Avoid sugary snacks and pastries as well. An apple is good for you, an apple pie really isn't.
Shop for lean meats and don't forget the fish. The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in ocean fish are often deficient in our diets, so serve seafood two or three times per week. Baked fish and chicken are healthier than fried, and lean meats like bison or venison may be healthier than higher fat beef.
Processed lunch meats, hot dogs, bacon, and sausages have a lot of saturated fat and nitrates in them you don't want in your body. If you love these meats, you can find healthier versions sold at health food stores.
Remember to eat a variety of foods to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy.
Stick to water, milk and 100% fruit and vegetable juices as your main beverages and limit sugary soft drinks. If you get tired of plain water, add a slice of lemon or lime to add a touch of flavor. For kids, try some fruit juice jazzed up with carbonated water.
Unhealthy Foods
* Battered and deep fried foods
* Sugary sodas
* Processed lunch meats
* Greasy snack chips
* White bread and refined pasta
* Most canned spaghetti and ravioli
* Sugary breakfast cereals
* Frozen fried chicken, fish sticks and corn dogs
Healthy Foods
* Green and brightly colored vegetables
* Dark leafy greens and lettuce
* Fresh fruits and berries
* Lean turkey and chicken
* Nuts, dried fruits and healthy snacks
* Whole grain breads and pasta
* Healthy cooking oils like canola and olive oils
* Grass fed beef and bison
* Cold water oily ocean fish
* Low fat milk or soy beverages
* Nuts, seeds, and legumes
Assess Your Lifestyle
Once you learn which foods are good for you, you need to look at your eating habits. If the foods you eat are not healthy, you might want to work within your habits and current lifestyle conditions, since they are usually tough to change. Consider these questions, then read on for tips to help you add healthy foods:
* Do you eat because you are bored, sad, or happy?
* Do you snack in front of the TV without even giving it much thought?
* Are most of your meals eaten at home or in restaurants?
* How often do you eat fast food?
* Do you like to cook?
* How often do you grocery shop?
* Do you skip breakfast or lunch, then overeat later in the day?
* How big are the portions you consume?
* Do you crave sweets?
* Are there foods you won't give up?
Healthy Foods for Snackers
If you are an emotional eater, keep the junk food like potato chips, tortilla chips, ice cream, and candy out of the house. Keep healthy snacks like fruits, crunchy vegetables with dips, or nuts handy. If you absolutely feel the need for a treat, then purchase a small piece of high quality chocolate or your favorite treat and enjoy it, just don't buy any to bring home.
The same tips are helpful for those who enjoy TV snacking at home. If you don't want to give up nibbling while watching your shows, keep low calorie foods close by, because it is very easy to eat too much when you are entranced by your favorite drama, football game or cooking show. Eat crisp raw vegetables with your dip instead of greasy chips.
Healthy Foods When Eating Out
It is difficult to maintain good health if you eat out a lot. Those salads might not be as appealing as a greasy cheeseburger and fries. Restaurants frequently serve huge portions of food too, much more than you need. If you can't hold your resolve to stick to the salads, compromise; pick out an appetizer that you love, combine it with a salad or a cup of soup, and skip the larger entrees. You can also share a meal or take half of it home. You could die for dessert? Order as small a size as possible, or maybe just one scoop of ice cream, rather than a larger, heavier dessert. Try a dish of mixed berries topped with nuts and a small bit of whipped cream. Be careful with the after-dinner drinks as well. Maybe just have one glass of wine with your meal.
If you eat a lot of fast food, you have found out how difficult it is to feel good and stay healthy. Some places have added salads and some better choices, but it really isn't a good way to eat. Keep fast food dining to a minimum, don't go with the super sizes and choose places that offer more fresh ingredients.
Eating Healthy Foods at Home
If you hate to cook, all that fresh produce you bought may just rot in your refrigerator. You might prefer to purchase prepared foods from markets that specialize in healthier whole foods, or even hire a personal chef to prepare meals that only need to be heated and served. If you have a tighter budget, perhaps you can set aside some time on weekends to prepare meals and freeze them to be reheated later that week.
It is important to be prepared if you are going to eat good foods at home and not run out for fast food when you don't feel like cooking. Unfortunately, grocery shopping can be very tedious. Set aside enough time to do your shopping for a few days' worth of healthy food and ingredients. Make a list and stick to it. Don't go shopping when you are hungry, and once you are at the store, stay away from the junk and the processed food aisles. Buy lots of fresh produce and choose lean meats and fish. Stay away from processed meats, fake cheese products, processed boxed and canned meals and avoid the snack aisle. Better yet, shop for organic products whenever possible. If you have no choice but to shop infrequently, choose frozen fruits and vegetables over canned, as they may retain more of their nutrients and don't have the extra sodium.
Don't Skip Meals
If you skip breakfast, you may find that you lose energy by midmorning. Rather than skipping breakfast completely, split it in half. Eat a small breakfast early, such as an egg, small serving of oatmeal, or a slice of whole grain bread. Have a small snack on hand such as raisins and 10 or 12 almonds to eat at midmorning. This split breakfast is a much better solution than reaching for coffee and candy bars to perk yourself up.
Control Portion Size
Our stomachs really aren't that big. Without stretching, the stomach will hold about two cups of food, but because the stomach will stretch, it can hold considerably more food than we need at any given meal.
When you eat at home, serve your meals already dished up on individual plates rather than family style at the table. You will be less likely to reach for "seconds" that way. At restaurants, ask for "take home" containers and take half of your meal home to heat up tomorrow. Avoid buffets, unless you are very disciplined. It is way too tempting to load up three or four plates plus dessert.
Tame Your Sweet Tooth
Curb your cravings for sweets with fruits and stay away from sugary snacks and pastries. These treats have lots of calories and can be loaded with unhealthy fats. If the fruits and berries aren't sweet enough for you, add just a bit of Splenda, stevia or even a tiny sprinkling of sugar. Avoid sugary sodas and try iced herbal teas or ice water with Splenda, and a slice of lemon or lime.
Things You Won't Give Up
Do you feel like you can't live without your chocolate? If there are foods you won't give up, enjoy them in smaller amounts. Buy one tiny high quality piece of candy and enjoy it, but don't buy a bag full of snacks to take with you. Limit other treats or favorite foods that aren't healthy, maybe let yourself eat them one time per month, or search for healthier versions at natural foods markets.
Rome Wasn't Built in a Day
If you can't transform your unhealthy diet overnight, don't despair. Most people can't. Start implementing some of these ideas, even just one at a time. Every change you make will be one step in the right direction.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Green Tips for Your Diet
The foods we buy and consume have an impact on our economy as well as our environment and there is a growing concern about how the way we live affects our global environment. Two words that are growing in popularity are green and sustainability. They both refer to the idea that products can be high quality and good for the environment, or at least not harmful.
The cost of putting food on our tables has gone down over the past few decades, mostly due to advances in agricultural techniques that allow farms to produce massive amounts of crops and animals in less time or in smaller spaces. But there are questions about how this food production is affecting our planet. Fisheries are being over-fished, rain-forests are being destroyed to make way for food production, and fertilizer and pesticide use is increasing as farmland erosion occurs worldwide. Large-scale farming also relies on massive amounts of fossil fuels and water. Plus even more fuel is used to transport foods to the market.
Some forms of agriculture are more sustainable. They pollute less, may be better for the environment and include more humane farming practices for food animals. You can support sustainable agriculture by following a few green tips for your diet. Here are some ways:
Support locally grown foods. Food grown close to home requires less fuel and other resources to get to your grocery store. Eating local is also a good way to support your local economy because you buy products produced by farmers who live in your area. You can also join a Community Supported Agriculture group in your area to make supporting nearby growers easy.
Eat less beef. Meat products require more resources to produce because the animals need to be fed until they are large enough for slaughter. It takes eight pounds of grain to produce one pound of beef. From this perspective, chicken is a more sustainable choice because it takes about two pounds of grain to produce one pound of chicken. Fish and seafood require even less - about a pound in a half to produce a pound of farm raised fish.
Choose fish carefully. When you buy fish, you can choose either wild-caught fish or farm-raised fish. The most sustainable choices include farm-raised plant-eating species such as catfish, tilapia, and trout, which are grown in farm ponds that take up relatively small amounts of space and are quite productive. Wild-caught salmon and pollack from the Pacific ocean are also fairly sustainable, but farm-raised salmon and other carnivorous species such as tuna and sea bass are not as sustainable when compared to their plant-eating counterparts. Also avoid predator species such as swordfish, marlin, bluefin and albacore tuna.
Go organic. Plants that have been raised organically have not been exposed to artificial fertilizers or pesticides. Organically produced animal products such as milk, milk, eggs, poultry and seafood are produced from animals that have not been raised with growth hormones or given antibiotics. Organic foods are becoming more common in most grocery stores, just be sure to look for the "100% Organic" label on the product.
Read labels carefully. Some labels, such as the 100% organic labels are regulated, but words like natural and healthy aren't regulated to mean anything specific. Other labels have low standards, for example free range chickens only need to be outside for five minutes each day. They can spend the rest of the day confined in small cages and still be considered to be free range. When you read the claims on food packaging labels, look for some indication of a certification from an organization - they're more likely to be sustainable.
Grow your own foods. Depending on the time you have and the amount of land you own, you can grow some of your own food in a vegetable garden or possibly raise a few chickens for poultry and eggs. But even if you don't have much space, you can still grow a few greens or tomatoes in a small container garden on your deck or if space is even tighter you can have a little herb garden in your kitchen.
Buy shade-grown, fair-trade products. Many of the regions where coffee and cocoa for chocolate are grown are suffering from loss of biodiversity as the forests are destroyed to produce cropland. Shade-grown, fair-trade products may be better for the environment and buying them helps to support small farm families who grow them.
Reuse grocery bags and containers. Many stores offer inexpensive but durable grocery bags that you can reuse every time you shop. Some stores offer incentives such as giving you a few cents off your order when you bring a bag back in. Reusing grocery bags cuts down on the number of plastic or paper bags that need to produced, and since most of them end up in the garbage, reusing garbage bags cuts back on litter and landfill use.
Filter your own water. Those plastic bottles of water may be convenient but they take a lot of resources to produce. And while some bottles are recycled, most end up in the trash. You'll save money and help the environment by filtering your own tap water (Compare Prices) and reusing your own water bottles.
The cost of putting food on our tables has gone down over the past few decades, mostly due to advances in agricultural techniques that allow farms to produce massive amounts of crops and animals in less time or in smaller spaces. But there are questions about how this food production is affecting our planet. Fisheries are being over-fished, rain-forests are being destroyed to make way for food production, and fertilizer and pesticide use is increasing as farmland erosion occurs worldwide. Large-scale farming also relies on massive amounts of fossil fuels and water. Plus even more fuel is used to transport foods to the market.
Some forms of agriculture are more sustainable. They pollute less, may be better for the environment and include more humane farming practices for food animals. You can support sustainable agriculture by following a few green tips for your diet. Here are some ways:
Support locally grown foods. Food grown close to home requires less fuel and other resources to get to your grocery store. Eating local is also a good way to support your local economy because you buy products produced by farmers who live in your area. You can also join a Community Supported Agriculture group in your area to make supporting nearby growers easy.
Eat less beef. Meat products require more resources to produce because the animals need to be fed until they are large enough for slaughter. It takes eight pounds of grain to produce one pound of beef. From this perspective, chicken is a more sustainable choice because it takes about two pounds of grain to produce one pound of chicken. Fish and seafood require even less - about a pound in a half to produce a pound of farm raised fish.
Choose fish carefully. When you buy fish, you can choose either wild-caught fish or farm-raised fish. The most sustainable choices include farm-raised plant-eating species such as catfish, tilapia, and trout, which are grown in farm ponds that take up relatively small amounts of space and are quite productive. Wild-caught salmon and pollack from the Pacific ocean are also fairly sustainable, but farm-raised salmon and other carnivorous species such as tuna and sea bass are not as sustainable when compared to their plant-eating counterparts. Also avoid predator species such as swordfish, marlin, bluefin and albacore tuna.
Go organic. Plants that have been raised organically have not been exposed to artificial fertilizers or pesticides. Organically produced animal products such as milk, milk, eggs, poultry and seafood are produced from animals that have not been raised with growth hormones or given antibiotics. Organic foods are becoming more common in most grocery stores, just be sure to look for the "100% Organic" label on the product.
Read labels carefully. Some labels, such as the 100% organic labels are regulated, but words like natural and healthy aren't regulated to mean anything specific. Other labels have low standards, for example free range chickens only need to be outside for five minutes each day. They can spend the rest of the day confined in small cages and still be considered to be free range. When you read the claims on food packaging labels, look for some indication of a certification from an organization - they're more likely to be sustainable.
Grow your own foods. Depending on the time you have and the amount of land you own, you can grow some of your own food in a vegetable garden or possibly raise a few chickens for poultry and eggs. But even if you don't have much space, you can still grow a few greens or tomatoes in a small container garden on your deck or if space is even tighter you can have a little herb garden in your kitchen.
Buy shade-grown, fair-trade products. Many of the regions where coffee and cocoa for chocolate are grown are suffering from loss of biodiversity as the forests are destroyed to produce cropland. Shade-grown, fair-trade products may be better for the environment and buying them helps to support small farm families who grow them.
Reuse grocery bags and containers. Many stores offer inexpensive but durable grocery bags that you can reuse every time you shop. Some stores offer incentives such as giving you a few cents off your order when you bring a bag back in. Reusing grocery bags cuts down on the number of plastic or paper bags that need to produced, and since most of them end up in the garbage, reusing garbage bags cuts back on litter and landfill use.
Filter your own water. Those plastic bottles of water may be convenient but they take a lot of resources to produce. And while some bottles are recycled, most end up in the trash. You'll save money and help the environment by filtering your own tap water (Compare Prices) and reusing your own water bottles.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Interesting Facts About Human Body
1 ) HEART beats 1,03,689 times.
2 ) LUNGS respire 23,045 times.
3 ) BLOOD flows 16,80,000 miles.
4 ) NAILS grow 0.00007 inches
5 ) HAIR grows 0.01715 inches
6 ) Take 2.9 pounds WATER (including all liquids)
7 ) Take of 3.25 pounds FOOD.
8 ) Breathe 438 cubic feet AIR.
9 ) Lose 85.60, BODY TEMPERATURE.
10 ) Produce 1.43 pints SWEAT.
11 ) Speak 4,800 WORDS.
12 ) During SLEEP move 25.4 times
FACTS ABOUT YOUR BRAIN:
Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression than men in the United States.
The human brain has about 100,000,000,000 (100 billion) neurons.
From all the oxygen that a human breathes, twenty percent goes to the brain.
People who ride on roller coasters have a higher chance of having a blood clot in the brain.
Once a human reaches the age of 35, he/she will start losing approximately 7,000 brain cells a day. The cells will never be replaced.
It is not possible to tickle yourself. The cerebellum, a part of the brain, warns the rest of the brain that you are about to tickle yourself. Since your brain knows this, it ignores the resulting sensation.
A women from Berlin Germany has had 3,110 gallstones taken out of her gall bladder.
In America, the most common mental illness is Anxiety Disorders.
Your brain is 80% water.
Your brain is move active and thinks more at night than during the day.
TONGUE FACTS :
Close to fifty percent of the bacteria in the mouth lives on the surface of our tongue.
There are approximately 9,000 taste buds on the tongue.
Your tongue has 3,000 taste buds.
85% of the population can curl their tongue into a tube.
EYES FACTS :
We should never put anything in or near our eyes, unless we have a reason to use eye drops. We would only do that if our doctor or parent told us to use them.
Blinking helps to wash tears over our eyeballs. That keeps them clean and moist. Also, if something is about to hit our eye, we will blink automatically.
Our body has some natural protection for our eyes. Our eyelashes help to keep dirt out of our eyes. Our eyebrows are made to keep sweat from running into our eyes.
Our eyes are very important to us, and we must protect them. We don't want dirt, sand, splinters or even fingers to get in our eyes. We don't want our eyes to get scratched or poked. That could damage our sight!
The study of the iris of the eye is called iridology.
The shark cornea has been used in eye surgery, since its cornea is similar to a human cornea.
The number one cause of blindness in adults in the United States is diabetes.
The eyeball of a human weighs approximately 28 grams.
The eye of a human can distinguish 500 shades of the gray.
The cornea is the only living tissue in the human body that does not contain any blood vessels.
The conjunctiva is a membrane that covers the human eye.
Sailors once thought that wearing a gold earring would improve their eyesight.
Research has indicated that a tie that is on too tight cam increase the risk of glaucoma in men.
People generally read 25% slower from a computer screen compared to paper.
Men are able to read fine print better than women can.
MOUTH FACTS:
In a month, a fingernail grows an eighth of an inch.
People whose mouth has a narrow roof are more likely to snore. This is because they have less oxygen going through their nose.
While sleeping, one man in eight snores, and one in ten grinds his teeth.
It takes food seven seconds to go from the mouth to the stomach via the esophagus.
BONES FACTS :
The smallest bone in the human body is the stapes bone which is located in the ear.
There are 54 bones in your hands including the wrists.
The only bone fully grown at birth is located in the ear.
The human face is made up of 14 bones.
The chances of getting a cavity is higher if candy is eaten slowly throughout the day compared to eating it all at once and then brushing your teeth.
If an identical twin grows up without having a certain tooth, the other twin will most likely also grow up with that tooth missing.
Humans are born with 300 bones in their body, however when a person reaches adulthood they only have 206 bones. This occurs because many of them join together to make a single bone.
Gardening is said to be one of the best exercises for maintaining healthy bones.
Enamel is hardest substance in the human body.
Although the outsides of a bone are hard, they are generally light and soft inside. They are about 75% water.
Adult human bones account for 14% of the body's total weight.
In 2000 babies are born with a tooth that is already visible.
Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails!
Your thigh bone is stronger than concrete.
The strongest bone in your body is the femur (thighbone), and it's hollow!
HAIR FACTS:
On average, a man spends about five months of his life shaving.
On average, a hair strand's life span is five and a half years.
On average redheads have 90,000 hairs. People with black hair have about 110,000 hairs.
Next to bone marrow, hair is the fastest growing tissue in the human body.
In a lifetime, an average man will shave 20,000 times.
Humans have about the same number of hair follicles as a chimpanzee has.
Hair will fall out faster on a person that is on a crash diet.
The average human head weighs about eight pounds.
The reason why some people get a cowlick is because the growth of their hair is in a spiral pattern, which causes the hair to either stand straight up, or goes to a certain angle.
The reason why hair turns gray as we age is because the pigment cells in the hair follicle start to die, which is responsible for producing "melanin" which gives the hair colour.
The big toe is the foot reflexology pressure point for the head.
The loss of eyelashes is referred to as madarosis.
The longest human beard on record is 17.5 feet, held by Hans N. Langseth who was born in Norway in 1846.
The fastest growing tissue in the human body is hair.
The average human scalp has 100,000 hairs.
Hair and fingernails are made from the same substance, keratin.
Hair is made from the same substance as fingernails.
Eyebrow hair lasts between 3-5 months before it sheds.
The first hair dryer was a vacuum cleaner that was used for drying hair.
A Russian man who wore a beard during the time of Peter the Great had to pay a special tax.
Everyday approximately 35 meters of hair fiber is produced on the scalp of an adult.
Brylcreem, which was created in 1929, was the first man's hair product.
Ancient Egyptians used to think having facial hair was an indication of personal neglect.
A survey done by Clairol 10 years ago came up with 46% of men stating that it was okay to color their hair. Now 66% of men admit to coloring their hair.
A lifespan of an eyelash is approximately 150 days
BLOOD FACTS:
Two million red blood cells die every second.
There are approximately 100,000 miles of blood vessels in the human body.
Seven percent of a humans body weight is made up of blood.
In the early nineteenth century some advertisements claimed that riding the carousel was good for the circulation of blood.
Each day 400 gallons of recycled blood are pumped through the kidneys.
By donating just one pint of blood, four lives can be saved.
Blood is such a good stain that Native Americans used it for paint.
The kidneys filter over 400 gallons of blood each day.
The average life span of a single red blood cell is 120 days.
Blood accounts for about 8% of a human's body weight.
A woman has approximately 4.5 liters of blood in her body, while men have 5.6 liters.
Your blood takes a very long trip through your body. If you could stretch out all of a human's blood vessels, they would be about 60,000 miles long. That's enough to go around the world twice.
Half your body’s red blood cells are replaced every seven days.
If all the blood vessels in your body were laid end to end, they would reach about 60,000 miles.
HEART FACTS:
Women hearts beat faster than men.
Three years after a person quits smoking, there chance of having a heart attack is the same as someone who has never smoked before.
The human heart weighs less than a pound.
The human heart can create enough pressure that it could squirt blood at a distance of thirty feet.
The first open heart surgery was performed by Dr. Daniel Hall Williams in 1893.
Scientists have discovered that the longer the ring finger is in boys the less chance they have of having a heart attack.
The right lung of a human is larger than the left one. This is because of the space and placement of the heart.
The human heart beast roughly 35 million times a year.
Olive oil can help in lowering cholesterol levels and decreasing the risk of heart complications.
In a lifetime, the heart pumps about one million barrels of blood.
In 1967, the first successful heart transplant was performed in Cape Town, South Africa.
People that suffer from gum disease are twice as likely to have a stroke or heart attack.
Most heart attacks occur between the hours of 8 and 9 AM.
The human heart beast roughly 35 million times a year.
At one time it was thought that the heart controlled a person's emotions.
Every day 2,700 people die of heart disease.
During a typical human life span, the human heart will beat approximately 2.5 billion times.
In one day your heart beats 100,000 times.
For humans the normal pulse is 70 heartbeats per minute
OTHER FACTS:
When was the last time you took a moment and celebrated your body? Not because it's well built or attractive by society's standards-- but because it's an impressive piece of functional art. We've assembled some interesting facts that will help you appreciate your body and keep you motivated to take care of it.
Boost your burning power. Did you know that for every 1 lb of muscle you gain, your body burns an extra 50 calories a day? If you can turn at least 5 lbs of extra "fat" into muscle, you will automatically burn an additional 250 calories per day.
A mini-Charles Atlas. Muscles are comprised of muscle fibers. Each fiber is thinner than a human hair and can support up to 1,000 times its own weight.
Use it or lose it. By age 65, people who haven't engaged in regular exercise may incur a decrease in their muscular strength level by as much as 80%.
Make your move. A muscle moves by contracting and by its motion, you move. As a machine for moving, a muscle is pretty efficient, using about 35-50% of its potential energy.
More than a few. The human body has more than 650 muscles.
Unique in its own way. No two muscles in the body have exactly the same function. When one muscle is paralyzed, either stability of the body part is impaired or some specific movement is lost.
Watch your step. Forward locomotion such as walking or running is actually the process of losing and catching one's balance.
The cellulite myth. There is no such thing as cellulite. The skin sometimes appears lumpy in fatty areas of the body because strands of connective tissue attach the skin to underlying structures. These points of attachment may pull tight where the fat is thick, making lumps appear between them. The fat itself is not different from excess fat anywhere else in the body. So, if you reduce body fat, you will begin to lose the lumpy appearance.
Spot reducing de-bunked. Spot reducing will not reduce the fat itself in a specific area of the body. Strength training specific areas of the body will strengthen the underlying muscle, but fat reduction is only accomplished by burning more calories than you take in.
The cardiovascular chain. Your body has approximately 60,000 miles of blood vessels that not only oxygenate the tissues of the body and unburden them of wastes, but also act as stringent regulators of the body's environment.
Stressful miles. If you are 25 lbs overweight, you have nearly 5,000 extra miles of blood vessels through which your heart must pump blood.
Taking a break. Your heart rests between beats. Over a normal lifespan, your heart stands still for about 20 years.
Now that's pressure. Your blood rushes through your arteries with enough pressure to lift a column of blood five feet into the air.
Safety valves. When you stand up, if you didn't have valves in your veins, all the blood in your body would literally fall downward, filling up your feet and legs.
In the United States, approximately 25,000 eye injuries occur that result in the person becoming totally blind.
All babies are colour blind when they are born.
A human eyeball weighs an ounce.
If the lens in our eye doesn't work quite right, we can get glasses to help us see. Glasses have lenses in them that work with our eye's own lens to help us see better.
Babies' eyes do not produce tears until the baby is approximately six to eight weeks old.
The reason why your nose gets runny when you are crying is because the tears from the eyes drain into the nose.
The most common injury caused by cosmetics is to the eye by a mascara wand.
Some people start to sneeze if they are exposed to sunlight or have a light shined into their eye.
The highest recorded speed of a sneeze is 165 km per hour.
It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
The space between your eyebrows is called the Glabella.
Inside our eye, at the back, is a part called the "retina." On the retina are cells called "rods" and "cones." These rods and cones help us to see colors and light.
Just behind the pupil is a lens. It is round and flat. It is thicker toward the middle.
Over the front of our eye is a clear covering called the "conjunctiva."
The white part of our eye is called the "sclera." At the front, the sclera becomes clear and is called the "cornea
Around the pupil is a colored muscle called the "iris." Our eyes may be BLUE, BROWN, GREEN, GRAY OR BLACK, because that is the color of the iris.
Our eyes have many parts. The black part on the front of our eye is called the "pupil." It is really a little hole that opens into the back part of our eyes.
Your eyes blinks over 10,000,000 times a year!
2 ) LUNGS respire 23,045 times.
3 ) BLOOD flows 16,80,000 miles.
4 ) NAILS grow 0.00007 inches
5 ) HAIR grows 0.01715 inches
6 ) Take 2.9 pounds WATER (including all liquids)
7 ) Take of 3.25 pounds FOOD.
8 ) Breathe 438 cubic feet AIR.
9 ) Lose 85.60, BODY TEMPERATURE.
10 ) Produce 1.43 pints SWEAT.
11 ) Speak 4,800 WORDS.
12 ) During SLEEP move 25.4 times
FACTS ABOUT YOUR BRAIN:
Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression than men in the United States.
The human brain has about 100,000,000,000 (100 billion) neurons.
From all the oxygen that a human breathes, twenty percent goes to the brain.
People who ride on roller coasters have a higher chance of having a blood clot in the brain.
Once a human reaches the age of 35, he/she will start losing approximately 7,000 brain cells a day. The cells will never be replaced.
It is not possible to tickle yourself. The cerebellum, a part of the brain, warns the rest of the brain that you are about to tickle yourself. Since your brain knows this, it ignores the resulting sensation.
A women from Berlin Germany has had 3,110 gallstones taken out of her gall bladder.
In America, the most common mental illness is Anxiety Disorders.
Your brain is 80% water.
Your brain is move active and thinks more at night than during the day.
TONGUE FACTS :
Close to fifty percent of the bacteria in the mouth lives on the surface of our tongue.
There are approximately 9,000 taste buds on the tongue.
Your tongue has 3,000 taste buds.
85% of the population can curl their tongue into a tube.
EYES FACTS :
We should never put anything in or near our eyes, unless we have a reason to use eye drops. We would only do that if our doctor or parent told us to use them.
Blinking helps to wash tears over our eyeballs. That keeps them clean and moist. Also, if something is about to hit our eye, we will blink automatically.
Our body has some natural protection for our eyes. Our eyelashes help to keep dirt out of our eyes. Our eyebrows are made to keep sweat from running into our eyes.
Our eyes are very important to us, and we must protect them. We don't want dirt, sand, splinters or even fingers to get in our eyes. We don't want our eyes to get scratched or poked. That could damage our sight!
The study of the iris of the eye is called iridology.
The shark cornea has been used in eye surgery, since its cornea is similar to a human cornea.
The number one cause of blindness in adults in the United States is diabetes.
The eyeball of a human weighs approximately 28 grams.
The eye of a human can distinguish 500 shades of the gray.
The cornea is the only living tissue in the human body that does not contain any blood vessels.
The conjunctiva is a membrane that covers the human eye.
Sailors once thought that wearing a gold earring would improve their eyesight.
Research has indicated that a tie that is on too tight cam increase the risk of glaucoma in men.
People generally read 25% slower from a computer screen compared to paper.
Men are able to read fine print better than women can.
MOUTH FACTS:
In a month, a fingernail grows an eighth of an inch.
People whose mouth has a narrow roof are more likely to snore. This is because they have less oxygen going through their nose.
While sleeping, one man in eight snores, and one in ten grinds his teeth.
It takes food seven seconds to go from the mouth to the stomach via the esophagus.
BONES FACTS :
The smallest bone in the human body is the stapes bone which is located in the ear.
There are 54 bones in your hands including the wrists.
The only bone fully grown at birth is located in the ear.
The human face is made up of 14 bones.
The chances of getting a cavity is higher if candy is eaten slowly throughout the day compared to eating it all at once and then brushing your teeth.
If an identical twin grows up without having a certain tooth, the other twin will most likely also grow up with that tooth missing.
Humans are born with 300 bones in their body, however when a person reaches adulthood they only have 206 bones. This occurs because many of them join together to make a single bone.
Gardening is said to be one of the best exercises for maintaining healthy bones.
Enamel is hardest substance in the human body.
Although the outsides of a bone are hard, they are generally light and soft inside. They are about 75% water.
Adult human bones account for 14% of the body's total weight.
In 2000 babies are born with a tooth that is already visible.
Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails!
Your thigh bone is stronger than concrete.
The strongest bone in your body is the femur (thighbone), and it's hollow!
HAIR FACTS:
On average, a man spends about five months of his life shaving.
On average, a hair strand's life span is five and a half years.
On average redheads have 90,000 hairs. People with black hair have about 110,000 hairs.
Next to bone marrow, hair is the fastest growing tissue in the human body.
In a lifetime, an average man will shave 20,000 times.
Humans have about the same number of hair follicles as a chimpanzee has.
Hair will fall out faster on a person that is on a crash diet.
The average human head weighs about eight pounds.
The reason why some people get a cowlick is because the growth of their hair is in a spiral pattern, which causes the hair to either stand straight up, or goes to a certain angle.
The reason why hair turns gray as we age is because the pigment cells in the hair follicle start to die, which is responsible for producing "melanin" which gives the hair colour.
The big toe is the foot reflexology pressure point for the head.
The loss of eyelashes is referred to as madarosis.
The longest human beard on record is 17.5 feet, held by Hans N. Langseth who was born in Norway in 1846.
The fastest growing tissue in the human body is hair.
The average human scalp has 100,000 hairs.
Hair and fingernails are made from the same substance, keratin.
Hair is made from the same substance as fingernails.
Eyebrow hair lasts between 3-5 months before it sheds.
The first hair dryer was a vacuum cleaner that was used for drying hair.
A Russian man who wore a beard during the time of Peter the Great had to pay a special tax.
Everyday approximately 35 meters of hair fiber is produced on the scalp of an adult.
Brylcreem, which was created in 1929, was the first man's hair product.
Ancient Egyptians used to think having facial hair was an indication of personal neglect.
A survey done by Clairol 10 years ago came up with 46% of men stating that it was okay to color their hair. Now 66% of men admit to coloring their hair.
A lifespan of an eyelash is approximately 150 days
BLOOD FACTS:
Two million red blood cells die every second.
There are approximately 100,000 miles of blood vessels in the human body.
Seven percent of a humans body weight is made up of blood.
In the early nineteenth century some advertisements claimed that riding the carousel was good for the circulation of blood.
Each day 400 gallons of recycled blood are pumped through the kidneys.
By donating just one pint of blood, four lives can be saved.
Blood is such a good stain that Native Americans used it for paint.
The kidneys filter over 400 gallons of blood each day.
The average life span of a single red blood cell is 120 days.
Blood accounts for about 8% of a human's body weight.
A woman has approximately 4.5 liters of blood in her body, while men have 5.6 liters.
Your blood takes a very long trip through your body. If you could stretch out all of a human's blood vessels, they would be about 60,000 miles long. That's enough to go around the world twice.
Half your body’s red blood cells are replaced every seven days.
If all the blood vessels in your body were laid end to end, they would reach about 60,000 miles.
HEART FACTS:
Women hearts beat faster than men.
Three years after a person quits smoking, there chance of having a heart attack is the same as someone who has never smoked before.
The human heart weighs less than a pound.
The human heart can create enough pressure that it could squirt blood at a distance of thirty feet.
The first open heart surgery was performed by Dr. Daniel Hall Williams in 1893.
Scientists have discovered that the longer the ring finger is in boys the less chance they have of having a heart attack.
The right lung of a human is larger than the left one. This is because of the space and placement of the heart.
The human heart beast roughly 35 million times a year.
Olive oil can help in lowering cholesterol levels and decreasing the risk of heart complications.
In a lifetime, the heart pumps about one million barrels of blood.
In 1967, the first successful heart transplant was performed in Cape Town, South Africa.
People that suffer from gum disease are twice as likely to have a stroke or heart attack.
Most heart attacks occur between the hours of 8 and 9 AM.
The human heart beast roughly 35 million times a year.
At one time it was thought that the heart controlled a person's emotions.
Every day 2,700 people die of heart disease.
During a typical human life span, the human heart will beat approximately 2.5 billion times.
In one day your heart beats 100,000 times.
For humans the normal pulse is 70 heartbeats per minute
OTHER FACTS:
When was the last time you took a moment and celebrated your body? Not because it's well built or attractive by society's standards-- but because it's an impressive piece of functional art. We've assembled some interesting facts that will help you appreciate your body and keep you motivated to take care of it.
Boost your burning power. Did you know that for every 1 lb of muscle you gain, your body burns an extra 50 calories a day? If you can turn at least 5 lbs of extra "fat" into muscle, you will automatically burn an additional 250 calories per day.
A mini-Charles Atlas. Muscles are comprised of muscle fibers. Each fiber is thinner than a human hair and can support up to 1,000 times its own weight.
Use it or lose it. By age 65, people who haven't engaged in regular exercise may incur a decrease in their muscular strength level by as much as 80%.
Make your move. A muscle moves by contracting and by its motion, you move. As a machine for moving, a muscle is pretty efficient, using about 35-50% of its potential energy.
More than a few. The human body has more than 650 muscles.
Unique in its own way. No two muscles in the body have exactly the same function. When one muscle is paralyzed, either stability of the body part is impaired or some specific movement is lost.
Watch your step. Forward locomotion such as walking or running is actually the process of losing and catching one's balance.
The cellulite myth. There is no such thing as cellulite. The skin sometimes appears lumpy in fatty areas of the body because strands of connective tissue attach the skin to underlying structures. These points of attachment may pull tight where the fat is thick, making lumps appear between them. The fat itself is not different from excess fat anywhere else in the body. So, if you reduce body fat, you will begin to lose the lumpy appearance.
Spot reducing de-bunked. Spot reducing will not reduce the fat itself in a specific area of the body. Strength training specific areas of the body will strengthen the underlying muscle, but fat reduction is only accomplished by burning more calories than you take in.
The cardiovascular chain. Your body has approximately 60,000 miles of blood vessels that not only oxygenate the tissues of the body and unburden them of wastes, but also act as stringent regulators of the body's environment.
Stressful miles. If you are 25 lbs overweight, you have nearly 5,000 extra miles of blood vessels through which your heart must pump blood.
Taking a break. Your heart rests between beats. Over a normal lifespan, your heart stands still for about 20 years.
Now that's pressure. Your blood rushes through your arteries with enough pressure to lift a column of blood five feet into the air.
Safety valves. When you stand up, if you didn't have valves in your veins, all the blood in your body would literally fall downward, filling up your feet and legs.
In the United States, approximately 25,000 eye injuries occur that result in the person becoming totally blind.
All babies are colour blind when they are born.
A human eyeball weighs an ounce.
If the lens in our eye doesn't work quite right, we can get glasses to help us see. Glasses have lenses in them that work with our eye's own lens to help us see better.
Babies' eyes do not produce tears until the baby is approximately six to eight weeks old.
The reason why your nose gets runny when you are crying is because the tears from the eyes drain into the nose.
The most common injury caused by cosmetics is to the eye by a mascara wand.
Some people start to sneeze if they are exposed to sunlight or have a light shined into their eye.
The highest recorded speed of a sneeze is 165 km per hour.
It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
The space between your eyebrows is called the Glabella.
Inside our eye, at the back, is a part called the "retina." On the retina are cells called "rods" and "cones." These rods and cones help us to see colors and light.
Just behind the pupil is a lens. It is round and flat. It is thicker toward the middle.
Over the front of our eye is a clear covering called the "conjunctiva."
The white part of our eye is called the "sclera." At the front, the sclera becomes clear and is called the "cornea
Around the pupil is a colored muscle called the "iris." Our eyes may be BLUE, BROWN, GREEN, GRAY OR BLACK, because that is the color of the iris.
Our eyes have many parts. The black part on the front of our eye is called the "pupil." It is really a little hole that opens into the back part of our eyes.
Your eyes blinks over 10,000,000 times a year!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
What Your Baby Embryo Looks Like ..Pics
What your baby looks like this week
One Month
Your baby is an embryo consisting of two layers of cells from which all her organs and body parts will develop.
4 weeks
5 weeks
6 weeks
7 weeks
4 WeeksNext week
5 Weeks
6 Weeks
7 Weeks
Two Months
Your baby is now about the size of a kidney bean and is constantly moving. He has distinct, slightly webbed fingers.
8 weeks
9 weeks
10 weeks
11 weeks
12 weeks
8 Weeks
9 Weeks
10 Weeks
11 Weeks
12 Weeks
Three Months
By now your baby is about 3 inches long and weighs nearly an ounce. Her tiny, unique fingerprints are now in place.
13 weeks
14 weeks
15 weeks
16 weeks
13 Weeks
14 Weeks
15 Weeks
16 Weeks
Four Months
Your baby is now about 5 inches long and weighs 5 ounces. His skeleton is starting to harden from rubbery cartilage to bone.
17 weeks
18 weeks
19 weeks
20 weeks
17 Weeks
20 Weeks
Five Months
Eyebrows and eyelids are now in place. Your baby would now be more than 10 inches long if you stretched out her legs.
21 weeks
22 weeks
23 weeks
24 weeks
22 Weeks
23 Weeks
24 Weeks
Six Months
Your baby weighs about a pound and a half. His wrinkled skin is starting to smooth out as he puts on baby fat.
25 weeks
26 weeks
27 weeks
28 weeks
29 weeks
25 Weeks
26 Weeks
27 Weeks
28 Weeks
29 Weeks
Seven Months
By now, your baby weighs about 3 pounds and is more than 15 inches long. She can open and close her eyes and follow a light.
30 weeks
31 weeks
32 weeks
33 weeks
30 Weeks
33 Weeks
Eight Months
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds. His layers of fat are filling him out, making him rounder, and his lungs are well developed.
34 weeks
35 weeks
36 weeks
37 weeks
35 weeks
36 Weeks & 37 Weeks
Nine Months
The average baby is more than 19 inches long and weighs nearly 7 pounds now, but babies vary widely in size at this stage
38 weeks
39 weeks
40 weeks
41 weeks
38 Weeks
39 Weeks
40 Weeks
41 Weeks
One Month
Your baby is an embryo consisting of two layers of cells from which all her organs and body parts will develop.
4 weeks
5 weeks
6 weeks
7 weeks
4 WeeksNext week
5 Weeks
6 Weeks
7 Weeks
Two Months
Your baby is now about the size of a kidney bean and is constantly moving. He has distinct, slightly webbed fingers.
8 weeks
9 weeks
10 weeks
11 weeks
12 weeks
8 Weeks
9 Weeks
10 Weeks
11 Weeks
12 Weeks
Three Months
By now your baby is about 3 inches long and weighs nearly an ounce. Her tiny, unique fingerprints are now in place.
13 weeks
14 weeks
15 weeks
16 weeks
13 Weeks
14 Weeks
15 Weeks
16 Weeks
Four Months
Your baby is now about 5 inches long and weighs 5 ounces. His skeleton is starting to harden from rubbery cartilage to bone.
17 weeks
18 weeks
19 weeks
20 weeks
17 Weeks
20 Weeks
Five Months
Eyebrows and eyelids are now in place. Your baby would now be more than 10 inches long if you stretched out her legs.
21 weeks
22 weeks
23 weeks
24 weeks
22 Weeks
23 Weeks
24 Weeks
Six Months
Your baby weighs about a pound and a half. His wrinkled skin is starting to smooth out as he puts on baby fat.
25 weeks
26 weeks
27 weeks
28 weeks
29 weeks
25 Weeks
26 Weeks
27 Weeks
28 Weeks
29 Weeks
Seven Months
By now, your baby weighs about 3 pounds and is more than 15 inches long. She can open and close her eyes and follow a light.
30 weeks
31 weeks
32 weeks
33 weeks
30 Weeks
33 Weeks
Eight Months
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds. His layers of fat are filling him out, making him rounder, and his lungs are well developed.
34 weeks
35 weeks
36 weeks
37 weeks
35 weeks
36 Weeks & 37 Weeks
Nine Months
The average baby is more than 19 inches long and weighs nearly 7 pounds now, but babies vary widely in size at this stage
38 weeks
39 weeks
40 weeks
41 weeks
38 Weeks
39 Weeks
40 Weeks
41 Weeks
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Soothing Herbal Potions
Making a body splash or facial mist couldn't be easier when using scented water and lavender essential oil.
Fragrant Waters
What You Need:
* 2 cups mineral water
* 1/4 cup vodka
* 8 drops lavender essential oil
* Glass bottles with stoppers
Instructions:
1. Mix the ingredients in a glass measuring cup.
2. Pour the blend into clean bottles. Refrigerate and use within a week. If desired, substitute rose essential oil for the lavender.
Bath/Splash Herbal Infusion
Pour 4 cups of boiling water over 4 tablespoons of fresh herbs; cover and steep for 10 minutes. Strain and use.
Fragrant Waters
What You Need:
* 2 cups mineral water
* 1/4 cup vodka
* 8 drops lavender essential oil
* Glass bottles with stoppers
Instructions:
1. Mix the ingredients in a glass measuring cup.
2. Pour the blend into clean bottles. Refrigerate and use within a week. If desired, substitute rose essential oil for the lavender.
Bath/Splash Herbal Infusion
Pour 4 cups of boiling water over 4 tablespoons of fresh herbs; cover and steep for 10 minutes. Strain and use.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
How To Lose Face Fat
Here is a fact that you should take note of. What do you look at first when you meet somebody? You look at their face first right? For example you meet up with old friends, colleagues, your neighbor or new friends, most of the time you will focus your attention on their faces first.
The point is that the face is very important and that is also why so many people are looking for ways to lose face fat. Any weight loss will show on the face first and when people look at your face, they will straight away notice changes. Plus, influences from the media and the entertaining world also create an impact on how a pretty or sexy face should look like. If you just would flip through the magazines, the faces of the models are all very slim and well defined with high cheekbones, sharp nose and a lean face.
Well, since so many people is looking for the answer to lose fat in their faces, here is a couple of tips on how to lose face fat. Before we move on to that, lets understand that there is no such thing a spot reduction. This means that if you are looking at a miracle pill or gadget that can get your cheeks down, you will be disappointed.
If you want to lose face fat, you have to begin with losing weight. This means losing excess water retention and also losing body fat. Usually, when a person loses weight, it is very noticeable that his face also gets sharper and leaner. Usually the face will slim down first because excess water is gone. Follow these simple steps to lose weight and you will get a lean, healthy and toned face.
Lose Face Fat Step 1: Drink lots of water.
You have to drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Drink at least nine 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Drink more than that if you are an active person and always exposed to the sun. The thing is our body has a natural protective system. When you do not drink enough water, the body will naturally think that you are stranded in a dessert and have not enough water. As a result, it will store as much water as it can to keep you living and there is when you will get bloated. Vice versa, if you drink enough water, the body will flush out all the unnecessary water because it knows that the system has enough water. Stick to plain water. Sodas and sugared drink would not help because they contain sugar and will lead to bloating too.
Lose Face Fat Step 2: Do not forget your fruits and vegetables!
Stay natural and eat at least three servings of fruits and three servings of vegetables every day. This will not only fill you up with less calories and help you stay way from junk food, fruits and vegetables also contains water that can help you stay hydrated. Plus, they are filled with fiber that gives many health benefits. Make your self a healthy fruit salad for snack instead of a chocolate bar. Choose your fruits carefully though; control the amount of bananas, grapes and pineapples because they are high in fructose. Go for apples, oranges, all sorts of berries and grapefruit because they are low GI carbs and they packed full with anti oxidants.
Lose Face Fat Step 3: Reduce the alcohol
It does not matter what alcohol you drink. Wine, brandy or beer, alcohol is still alcohol. Alcohol can cause a good amount of bloating in the body because it really dehydrates the body. It can also add inches in you belly and under your chin because one gram of alcohol contains seven calories! That is almost like drinking fat! A five ounce glass of wine has 100 calories, that means a little drinking a little bit can add inches in your waist.
Lose Face Fat Step 4: Bump up the calcium
A lot of studies have proven that taking at least 1200 milligrams of calcium from dairy if possible daily can help in fat loss. There is also a study that showed that half of the females in that study experienced reduced symptoms of PMS including water retention after consuming 1200 milligrams of calcium. So, do not eliminate dairy in your diet, have some in moderation.
Lose Face Fat Step 5: Calories out more than calories in.
This is the golden rule of fat loss. In order to lose weight, you have burn more calories than you consume. So, the easy and healthy way to do this is to burn 250 calories and reduce 250 calories from your food intake. The reason to reduce 500 calories a day is because we need to hit a reduction of 3500 calories a week and that will result to healthy recommended weight loss of one pound of body fat per week.
To burn 250 calories, just go for a simple walk or jog for 30 to 40 minutes. To reduce 250 calories, just eliminate all the junk food and excess fatty foods from your diet right now and I am sure you can reduce 250 calories. Eat healthy and eat with a mind to feed your muscles and body with good fuel!
Lose Face Fat Step 6: Control Your Salt Intake
Salt is another culprit of water retention. That is why when you snack with junk food that is high in sodium, you will feel every thirsty and your face will bloat up the next day. Avoid foods like pizza, burgers, junk food, chips and other similar foods because they are loaded with salt! When eating out, be careful of the gravy, some gravy use a lot of salt. Eat home and prepare your own food when ever possible! Sprinkle your salt, do not use your spoon, that way you can really control the amount of salt that goes into your food!
Lose Face Fat Step 7: Go For Weight Training
You have to weight train to maintain and increase lean muscle tissue. With more muscles packed in your body, your metabolism will increase and you can burn more calories and fat! Plus, with more muscles in your body, you can burn more calories while you do your cardio and even while rest because muscles are living tissues and require calories to function and survive! For optimum fat loss results and to lose fat on your face, you have to diet, do your cardio and also weight train.
So, if you want to lose fat on your face, the main objective is to lose weight. By losing body fat, you will look much leaner and have a much more cut features because fat and water under the skin is reduced.
So follow these simple steps and get on a fat loss program now. Mark my words; if you manage to lose body fat until your desired body fat, your face will look much leaner and thinner. Even your nose will look sharper!
The point is that the face is very important and that is also why so many people are looking for ways to lose face fat. Any weight loss will show on the face first and when people look at your face, they will straight away notice changes. Plus, influences from the media and the entertaining world also create an impact on how a pretty or sexy face should look like. If you just would flip through the magazines, the faces of the models are all very slim and well defined with high cheekbones, sharp nose and a lean face.
Well, since so many people is looking for the answer to lose fat in their faces, here is a couple of tips on how to lose face fat. Before we move on to that, lets understand that there is no such thing a spot reduction. This means that if you are looking at a miracle pill or gadget that can get your cheeks down, you will be disappointed.
If you want to lose face fat, you have to begin with losing weight. This means losing excess water retention and also losing body fat. Usually, when a person loses weight, it is very noticeable that his face also gets sharper and leaner. Usually the face will slim down first because excess water is gone. Follow these simple steps to lose weight and you will get a lean, healthy and toned face.
Lose Face Fat Step 1: Drink lots of water.
You have to drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Drink at least nine 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Drink more than that if you are an active person and always exposed to the sun. The thing is our body has a natural protective system. When you do not drink enough water, the body will naturally think that you are stranded in a dessert and have not enough water. As a result, it will store as much water as it can to keep you living and there is when you will get bloated. Vice versa, if you drink enough water, the body will flush out all the unnecessary water because it knows that the system has enough water. Stick to plain water. Sodas and sugared drink would not help because they contain sugar and will lead to bloating too.
Lose Face Fat Step 2: Do not forget your fruits and vegetables!
Stay natural and eat at least three servings of fruits and three servings of vegetables every day. This will not only fill you up with less calories and help you stay way from junk food, fruits and vegetables also contains water that can help you stay hydrated. Plus, they are filled with fiber that gives many health benefits. Make your self a healthy fruit salad for snack instead of a chocolate bar. Choose your fruits carefully though; control the amount of bananas, grapes and pineapples because they are high in fructose. Go for apples, oranges, all sorts of berries and grapefruit because they are low GI carbs and they packed full with anti oxidants.
Lose Face Fat Step 3: Reduce the alcohol
It does not matter what alcohol you drink. Wine, brandy or beer, alcohol is still alcohol. Alcohol can cause a good amount of bloating in the body because it really dehydrates the body. It can also add inches in you belly and under your chin because one gram of alcohol contains seven calories! That is almost like drinking fat! A five ounce glass of wine has 100 calories, that means a little drinking a little bit can add inches in your waist.
Lose Face Fat Step 4: Bump up the calcium
A lot of studies have proven that taking at least 1200 milligrams of calcium from dairy if possible daily can help in fat loss. There is also a study that showed that half of the females in that study experienced reduced symptoms of PMS including water retention after consuming 1200 milligrams of calcium. So, do not eliminate dairy in your diet, have some in moderation.
Lose Face Fat Step 5: Calories out more than calories in.
This is the golden rule of fat loss. In order to lose weight, you have burn more calories than you consume. So, the easy and healthy way to do this is to burn 250 calories and reduce 250 calories from your food intake. The reason to reduce 500 calories a day is because we need to hit a reduction of 3500 calories a week and that will result to healthy recommended weight loss of one pound of body fat per week.
To burn 250 calories, just go for a simple walk or jog for 30 to 40 minutes. To reduce 250 calories, just eliminate all the junk food and excess fatty foods from your diet right now and I am sure you can reduce 250 calories. Eat healthy and eat with a mind to feed your muscles and body with good fuel!
Lose Face Fat Step 6: Control Your Salt Intake
Salt is another culprit of water retention. That is why when you snack with junk food that is high in sodium, you will feel every thirsty and your face will bloat up the next day. Avoid foods like pizza, burgers, junk food, chips and other similar foods because they are loaded with salt! When eating out, be careful of the gravy, some gravy use a lot of salt. Eat home and prepare your own food when ever possible! Sprinkle your salt, do not use your spoon, that way you can really control the amount of salt that goes into your food!
Lose Face Fat Step 7: Go For Weight Training
You have to weight train to maintain and increase lean muscle tissue. With more muscles packed in your body, your metabolism will increase and you can burn more calories and fat! Plus, with more muscles in your body, you can burn more calories while you do your cardio and even while rest because muscles are living tissues and require calories to function and survive! For optimum fat loss results and to lose fat on your face, you have to diet, do your cardio and also weight train.
So, if you want to lose fat on your face, the main objective is to lose weight. By losing body fat, you will look much leaner and have a much more cut features because fat and water under the skin is reduced.
So follow these simple steps and get on a fat loss program now. Mark my words; if you manage to lose body fat until your desired body fat, your face will look much leaner and thinner. Even your nose will look sharper!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
11 Easy Ways to Lose Weight in 2 Weeks
Looking for easy ways to lose weight and in 2 weeks? Below are 11 surefire ways you can do now to lose your weight now-
Easy Ways to Lose Weight in 2 Weeks
1. Beware scale obsession - weight should come off slowly - a half pound to one pound a week - as a result of cutting junk calories while fueling your body properly for the next workout and recovery. Think of your body as a high performance engine - raise the octane of the fuel you use and stop filling when the tank is full.
2. To lose weight in 2 weeks, you have to cut down on the junk foods (not completely), stop eating out and drink less sugary drinks, including the diet kinds.
3. Eat more fresh wholesome foods and whole grain products. It's simply the best and loaded with the essential fiber to keep you satisfied longer. The simple rule is, try to get in 2 serves of fruits and 5 serves of veggies a day.
4. Make it a point each day to include a good habit like drinking one less can of coke or eating one more serve of fruit.
5. Eat 6 healthy mini meals a day to keep your stomach satisfied. The key here is eat in controlled portions and never go for that second serve or a super size meal. Stick to the 1 plate rule to keep your calorie intake at bay.
6. Even 'bad foods' can be good, in 'moderation'. The keys are portion size and cooking method. Juicy, tender cuts of steak are fatty, but are fine to eat if you trim the lard before cooking, or grill it so excess fat can drip away. As for easy guideline on portions, always eat less steak than you would chicken.
7. No matter what you've eaten, take note of how your body feels after a meal, rather than how you think you should feel. If you're still hungry later in the day, treat yourself to a piece of sweet in season fruit rather than a sugar filled snack or dessert. Then go ahead and pat yourself on the back.
8. Food is not the enemy. Food powers your brain and your muscles; without it, you'll lose your energy soon. If you missed a midday meal, eat a piece of fresh fruit or a handful of whole wheat crackers before you head for the gym.
9. How many of us slip chips and chocolate into our trolley for emergencies? It's vital to stop buying junk if you want to stop eating junk! Be strong and avoid purchasing extra snacks. You'll notice that both your grocery bill and snacking habits will start decreasing. If the foods aren't there, you can't eat them!
10. Your favorite exercise - only better - daily walker? Seasoned swimmer? You get kudos for your commitment, but you maybe short changing yourself. As you become more accustomed to your favorite activity, you burn fewer calories. This doesn't mean you have to ditch your go to exercise - just mix it up. As your fitness improves, increase the intensity levels to challenge your body (but train with in your limits). Look at jogging 100 yards followed by another hundred yards of walking, rinse and repeat. It's a great way to jolt the body's metabolism.
Alternatively, look at a combination of interval training and strength training like Turbulence Training to get the maximum output from your body - And when combined with good nutrition, it is one of the easy ways to lose weight with.
Ladies, strength training is good for you too - you will not bulk up and with muscles, you will burn more calories.
11. Use your lunch break wisely - spend half your lunch break walking. Taking a midday walk or a run can boost your energy, and reduce stress. Best yet, it gives you more time after work with family or friends.
Easy Ways to Lose Weight in 2 Weeks
1. Beware scale obsession - weight should come off slowly - a half pound to one pound a week - as a result of cutting junk calories while fueling your body properly for the next workout and recovery. Think of your body as a high performance engine - raise the octane of the fuel you use and stop filling when the tank is full.
2. To lose weight in 2 weeks, you have to cut down on the junk foods (not completely), stop eating out and drink less sugary drinks, including the diet kinds.
3. Eat more fresh wholesome foods and whole grain products. It's simply the best and loaded with the essential fiber to keep you satisfied longer. The simple rule is, try to get in 2 serves of fruits and 5 serves of veggies a day.
4. Make it a point each day to include a good habit like drinking one less can of coke or eating one more serve of fruit.
5. Eat 6 healthy mini meals a day to keep your stomach satisfied. The key here is eat in controlled portions and never go for that second serve or a super size meal. Stick to the 1 plate rule to keep your calorie intake at bay.
6. Even 'bad foods' can be good, in 'moderation'. The keys are portion size and cooking method. Juicy, tender cuts of steak are fatty, but are fine to eat if you trim the lard before cooking, or grill it so excess fat can drip away. As for easy guideline on portions, always eat less steak than you would chicken.
7. No matter what you've eaten, take note of how your body feels after a meal, rather than how you think you should feel. If you're still hungry later in the day, treat yourself to a piece of sweet in season fruit rather than a sugar filled snack or dessert. Then go ahead and pat yourself on the back.
8. Food is not the enemy. Food powers your brain and your muscles; without it, you'll lose your energy soon. If you missed a midday meal, eat a piece of fresh fruit or a handful of whole wheat crackers before you head for the gym.
9. How many of us slip chips and chocolate into our trolley for emergencies? It's vital to stop buying junk if you want to stop eating junk! Be strong and avoid purchasing extra snacks. You'll notice that both your grocery bill and snacking habits will start decreasing. If the foods aren't there, you can't eat them!
10. Your favorite exercise - only better - daily walker? Seasoned swimmer? You get kudos for your commitment, but you maybe short changing yourself. As you become more accustomed to your favorite activity, you burn fewer calories. This doesn't mean you have to ditch your go to exercise - just mix it up. As your fitness improves, increase the intensity levels to challenge your body (but train with in your limits). Look at jogging 100 yards followed by another hundred yards of walking, rinse and repeat. It's a great way to jolt the body's metabolism.
Alternatively, look at a combination of interval training and strength training like Turbulence Training to get the maximum output from your body - And when combined with good nutrition, it is one of the easy ways to lose weight with.
Ladies, strength training is good for you too - you will not bulk up and with muscles, you will burn more calories.
11. Use your lunch break wisely - spend half your lunch break walking. Taking a midday walk or a run can boost your energy, and reduce stress. Best yet, it gives you more time after work with family or friends.
Friday, March 26, 2010
How to Cure White Spots on Skin
The medical term for white spots on skin is vitiligo or leucoderma. It’s a skin disease in which the skin loses its color due to some genetic or environmental causes. The white spots appear as patches of white skin without pigment.
White spots on skin are common in people who suffer from autoimmune diseases. One of these diseases is adrenocortical insufficiency. The adrenal gland is responsible for producing a hormone called corticosteroid. This disease occurs when there is a deficiency of this hormone in our body. Because of this reason the most common treatment as suggested by doctors for vitiligo is corticosteroid cream.
Another treatment for the cure of white spots on skin is exposure to sunlight for long durations of time or artificial phototherapy. Cells that are responsible for pigmentation become active when the skin if exposed to light.
Melanocytes are cells located in the skin that cause pigmentation. A recent advancement in the medical science has made it possible to transplant these cells from some other part of the body to the affected skin area. As a result of this transplantation vitiligo or white spots on skin can be completely cured.
Cosmetics can also be used to cover up the white spots. However, a medical treatment should be employed to control the disease as it may become widespread and uncontrollable. It should also be known that since this disease is inherited, it cannot be prevented. Because of this reason, a good and effective treatment is required in order to avoid psychological effects, frustration and embarrassment.
There are some other skin conditions or disorders in which the skin loses its color and becomes either of lighter or darker shade. Before using any of the treatments for vitiligo it is better to consult a dermatologist and confirm the symptoms.
Most of the time only topical treatments are suggested by doctors for skin disorders including vitiligo, acne and eczema. However, some oral pills may also be prescribed if the condition is severe.
White spots on skin are common in people who suffer from autoimmune diseases. One of these diseases is adrenocortical insufficiency. The adrenal gland is responsible for producing a hormone called corticosteroid. This disease occurs when there is a deficiency of this hormone in our body. Because of this reason the most common treatment as suggested by doctors for vitiligo is corticosteroid cream.
Another treatment for the cure of white spots on skin is exposure to sunlight for long durations of time or artificial phototherapy. Cells that are responsible for pigmentation become active when the skin if exposed to light.
Melanocytes are cells located in the skin that cause pigmentation. A recent advancement in the medical science has made it possible to transplant these cells from some other part of the body to the affected skin area. As a result of this transplantation vitiligo or white spots on skin can be completely cured.
Cosmetics can also be used to cover up the white spots. However, a medical treatment should be employed to control the disease as it may become widespread and uncontrollable. It should also be known that since this disease is inherited, it cannot be prevented. Because of this reason, a good and effective treatment is required in order to avoid psychological effects, frustration and embarrassment.
There are some other skin conditions or disorders in which the skin loses its color and becomes either of lighter or darker shade. Before using any of the treatments for vitiligo it is better to consult a dermatologist and confirm the symptoms.
Most of the time only topical treatments are suggested by doctors for skin disorders including vitiligo, acne and eczema. However, some oral pills may also be prescribed if the condition is severe.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Early Hiv Symptoms
What are the early symptoms of HIV infection?
Despite increased awareness about HIV, AIDS and the risks of unprotected sex, many people don't know what the early symptoms of HIV are. While the chances of contracting the virus are still relatively low, it's important to be aware of possible symptoms, particularly if you've recently had sex without a condom.
However, part of the problem is that around a third of people who contract the virus will not display any early symptoms at all. In fact, many live with HIV for years without realising that they are infected. Of course, the earlier the infection is diagnosed with an HIV test, the better the chances of treatment.
What does HIV do to the body?
HIV is a virus which, in its advanced form, can lead to the terminal condition AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Virus). It attacks cells in the body which fight infection – leaving you more vulnerable to disease. A person infected with HIV will not necessarily develop AIDS. By the late stages of HIV, symptoms are pronounced and can have a debilitating effect on the sufferer.
However, in its early stages, HIV is known as primary HIV infection. Symptoms usually appear a couple of weeks after exposure and may only last for a short time.
Early signs to look out for:
Early stage HIV can share many of the same symptoms as common conditions (such as the flu or glandular fever). The key is to work out whether you're experiencing any of the following symptoms following recent unprotected sex:
- Sore and dry throat
- Headache and high fever
- Feeling fatigued and lacking in energy
- Pain in the joints, muscles and lower back
- Feeling nauseous and having a low appetite
- Swollen glands (particularly in the neck and armpits)
- Rash on the chest and occasionally arms
- Diarrhoea
As mentioned above, although around 60% of people infected with HIV will show symptoms, many others will not.
Getting diagnosed:
If you suspect that you may have contracted HIV, don't panic. Your chances of infection are low – almost zero if you have been using condoms during sex.
However, if you're concerned, or if you show symptoms a few weeks after unprotected sex, then it's important to test for HIV (not the same as an AIDS test). If symptoms disappear after a few days this doesn't mean that you're all clear. Often people will experience the initial signs and then show no other outward symptoms until years later. By that time the infection may have developed in your body and become harder to treat.
Despite increased awareness about HIV, AIDS and the risks of unprotected sex, many people don't know what the early symptoms of HIV are. While the chances of contracting the virus are still relatively low, it's important to be aware of possible symptoms, particularly if you've recently had sex without a condom.
However, part of the problem is that around a third of people who contract the virus will not display any early symptoms at all. In fact, many live with HIV for years without realising that they are infected. Of course, the earlier the infection is diagnosed with an HIV test, the better the chances of treatment.
What does HIV do to the body?
HIV is a virus which, in its advanced form, can lead to the terminal condition AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Virus). It attacks cells in the body which fight infection – leaving you more vulnerable to disease. A person infected with HIV will not necessarily develop AIDS. By the late stages of HIV, symptoms are pronounced and can have a debilitating effect on the sufferer.
However, in its early stages, HIV is known as primary HIV infection. Symptoms usually appear a couple of weeks after exposure and may only last for a short time.
Early signs to look out for:
Early stage HIV can share many of the same symptoms as common conditions (such as the flu or glandular fever). The key is to work out whether you're experiencing any of the following symptoms following recent unprotected sex:
- Sore and dry throat
- Headache and high fever
- Feeling fatigued and lacking in energy
- Pain in the joints, muscles and lower back
- Feeling nauseous and having a low appetite
- Swollen glands (particularly in the neck and armpits)
- Rash on the chest and occasionally arms
- Diarrhoea
As mentioned above, although around 60% of people infected with HIV will show symptoms, many others will not.
Getting diagnosed:
If you suspect that you may have contracted HIV, don't panic. Your chances of infection are low – almost zero if you have been using condoms during sex.
However, if you're concerned, or if you show symptoms a few weeks after unprotected sex, then it's important to test for HIV (not the same as an AIDS test). If symptoms disappear after a few days this doesn't mean that you're all clear. Often people will experience the initial signs and then show no other outward symptoms until years later. By that time the infection may have developed in your body and become harder to treat.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
How To Get Nice Muscle Tone And Build An Attractive Muscular Body
Most people know that they need to lift weight build muscles. However many just want to have nice muscle tone and an attractive but not too muscular body as they do not want big muscles. So they just lift light weights with high repetitions. Well, it is not going to work. To have nice muscle tone, you will have to build some muscles right? So you will have to lift heavy to force your muscles to grow. Once you are satisfied with the size of your muscles, you will then need to cut your body fats for your muscles to show up well and that means nice muscle tone.
You need to have a solid commitment and knowledge to get nice muscle tone and build an attractive muscular body. Here are some muscle building tips. Before you commence weight training, remember to warm up and as well as doing some stretching exercises.
•Train Muscle With Free Weights
Machines will have its uses, but for a start, concentrate on free weights. That means work almost exclusively with barbells and dumb bells. Free weights recruit many stabilizing muscles for balance and control. That means you will work a lot more muscle parts other than the intended ones. That will give rise to little bumps, striations and definitions all over your body instead of one huge lump of muscle on your intended muscle. Because of the extra stimulant created, your muscles grow faster too. Why else do you think all professional body builders almost exclusively use free weights?
•Train With Compound Exercises
Incorporate as many compound exercises as possible to your routines. Compound exercises are exercises that involve 2 or more joint movements. Because they utilize more joints, which means greater muscle mass
are involved. Greater muscle mass means heavier weights. Heavier weights mean encouragement of greater muscle growth. More muscle growth means more tone to your muscles.
Some excellent compound exercises are the Squat, Deadlift, Chin ups, Dips, Bench press, Barbell Press, Lunges, Bent-Over Barbell Row...etc.
•Train Intensively But Do Not Over train
You must train intensively for your muscle to grow. Try to do more reps or add more weight than the previous session or else your muscles will think (actually muscles don't think, they adapt), "Ah... we've done that. Nothing new, so no need to grow bigger and stronger." That being the case, you will wreck your chances of attaining an attractive muscular body.
Because of this, it is important that every time you train hard, you give your body time to recover as it has suffered strains and actually sustained many small scarring. Contrary to popular belief, your muscles grow when you rest, especially when you sleep and not in the gym. So sleep at least 8 hours a day. Also, do not train everyday or work the same muscle group more than once or twice a week. If your training was vigorous enough, do no more than an hour per session.
Try not to do cardio work on the same day as your weight lifting work. In fact, during the muscle building phase, you should do less cardio work as aerobic exercises burn muscles. You can increase your cardio work at cutting body fat phase, so as to lose body fat in order for your muscle tone to show up nicely.
•Technique And Form
This is the most neglected fundamental of bodybuilding. Everywhere, everyday, you will see people using wrong forms and techniques. This not only compromises your growth, it will also make you susceptible to injuries... sometimes even permanently putting you out of the gym.
Wrong form occurs usually when people try to lift weights that are too heavy, whether out of vanity or ignorance. As a guide, always lift with strict focus on the muscle you intend to build for that exercise
. Feel it contract and extend. Lift the weights deliberately and slowly. Never ever swing your weights up especially when doing bicep curls or the military press.
•To Build Muscles Fast You Must Perform Lower Body Exercises!
This is what most people don't realize. Your lower body makes up 60-70% of your musculature. If you don't train them, not only will you look spider-legged, your entire body will not grow as quickly and as large. Don't think that you can hide those skinny limbs in pants! Most people do not train their legs because squats, dead lifts and lunges can be very grueling exercises. But it is precisely because of such intensity that you will produce more growth hormones when you sleep and overall muscular development is stimulated. Your body shape will also be more balanced and therefore more attractive.
Do read up more to understand how your muscles work and then work on it so that in no time you will be a proud owner of a well tone attractive muscular body.
You need to have a solid commitment and knowledge to get nice muscle tone and build an attractive muscular body. Here are some muscle building tips. Before you commence weight training, remember to warm up and as well as doing some stretching exercises.
•Train Muscle With Free Weights
Machines will have its uses, but for a start, concentrate on free weights. That means work almost exclusively with barbells and dumb bells. Free weights recruit many stabilizing muscles for balance and control. That means you will work a lot more muscle parts other than the intended ones. That will give rise to little bumps, striations and definitions all over your body instead of one huge lump of muscle on your intended muscle. Because of the extra stimulant created, your muscles grow faster too. Why else do you think all professional body builders almost exclusively use free weights?
•Train With Compound Exercises
Incorporate as many compound exercises as possible to your routines. Compound exercises are exercises that involve 2 or more joint movements. Because they utilize more joints, which means greater muscle mass
are involved. Greater muscle mass means heavier weights. Heavier weights mean encouragement of greater muscle growth. More muscle growth means more tone to your muscles.
Some excellent compound exercises are the Squat, Deadlift, Chin ups, Dips, Bench press, Barbell Press, Lunges, Bent-Over Barbell Row...etc.
•Train Intensively But Do Not Over train
You must train intensively for your muscle to grow. Try to do more reps or add more weight than the previous session or else your muscles will think (actually muscles don't think, they adapt), "Ah... we've done that. Nothing new, so no need to grow bigger and stronger." That being the case, you will wreck your chances of attaining an attractive muscular body.
Because of this, it is important that every time you train hard, you give your body time to recover as it has suffered strains and actually sustained many small scarring. Contrary to popular belief, your muscles grow when you rest, especially when you sleep and not in the gym. So sleep at least 8 hours a day. Also, do not train everyday or work the same muscle group more than once or twice a week. If your training was vigorous enough, do no more than an hour per session.
Try not to do cardio work on the same day as your weight lifting work. In fact, during the muscle building phase, you should do less cardio work as aerobic exercises burn muscles. You can increase your cardio work at cutting body fat phase, so as to lose body fat in order for your muscle tone to show up nicely.
•Technique And Form
This is the most neglected fundamental of bodybuilding. Everywhere, everyday, you will see people using wrong forms and techniques. This not only compromises your growth, it will also make you susceptible to injuries... sometimes even permanently putting you out of the gym.
Wrong form occurs usually when people try to lift weights that are too heavy, whether out of vanity or ignorance. As a guide, always lift with strict focus on the muscle you intend to build for that exercise
. Feel it contract and extend. Lift the weights deliberately and slowly. Never ever swing your weights up especially when doing bicep curls or the military press.
•To Build Muscles Fast You Must Perform Lower Body Exercises!
This is what most people don't realize. Your lower body makes up 60-70% of your musculature. If you don't train them, not only will you look spider-legged, your entire body will not grow as quickly and as large. Don't think that you can hide those skinny limbs in pants! Most people do not train their legs because squats, dead lifts and lunges can be very grueling exercises. But it is precisely because of such intensity that you will produce more growth hormones when you sleep and overall muscular development is stimulated. Your body shape will also be more balanced and therefore more attractive.
Do read up more to understand how your muscles work and then work on it so that in no time you will be a proud owner of a well tone attractive muscular body.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
7 Superfoods for the Blues
What you eat can make a difference if you're depressed or just suffering from a temporary bout of the blues.
Feeling down once in a while is a natural part of life's ups and downs. But there are ways to adjust your diet to help stabilize your mood. Susan Moores, registered dietitian, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, and nutrition consultant in St. Paul, Minnesota, says eating regular meals is vital to keeping your moods balanced. "It's important to keep your energy level up by not skipping meals, otherwise your serotonin level, a chemical in the brain that produces calmness, could change."
Choosing a healthy variety of food and not just focusing on one nutrient is crucial, says Moores. "When people eat better they feel better, and there is a definite role for a healthful diet when someone is suffering from depression. Good nutrition won't pull you out of depression, but it is a piece of the puzzle for managing depression." Moore also cautions that popular low-carbohydrate diets may have a negative impact on people's brains.
"Carbohydrates are linked to serotonin production and lack of carbohydrates may cause changes in mood," she says. Here, a list of foods that contain nutrients that might help stabilize your mood.
Note: If you're dealing with prolonged depression, you may benefit from therapy and/or medication. Talk to your doctor about your treatment options.
Salmon and Mackerel
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, salmon and mackerel are great dinner options no matter what your health concern. There is some research that shows a link between lack of omega-3 fatty acids and depression, says Moores. Omega-3 fatty acids also help prevent heart disease and stroke and may help prevent some cancers. Plus, salmon contains selenium, an important antioxidant mineral. Be sure to choose wild salmon at the grocery store or local fish market, since it contains more omegas than farmed (often called Atlantic) salmon.
Recommended Serving Size: Fresh 3.5-ounce salmon fillet, 180 calories Fresh 3.5-ounce mackerel fillet, 220 calories
Canola Oil
Some studies have shown that people who suffer from depression also have lower levels of the antioxidant vitamin E, according to Moores. So, though oil is high in fat and should be consumed in strict moderation, canola oil is rich in vitamin E. (The USDA recommends consuming no more than 6 teaspoons, or 24 grams, of oils each day.) Try substituting canola oil for vegetable oil when you're sauteing that salmon for a healthy dinner.
Recommended Serving Size: Six teaspoons (2 tablespoons), 225 calories
Spinach and Fresh Peas
Dark green vegetables like spinach and peas are high in folate, which may help stabilize your mood because it's needed to help make serotonin. Plus, peas are a good source of vitamin C and fiber. Keep in mind that canned peas have diminished nutrients, so try to use fresh or frozen peas whenever you can. For a nutrition boost, add peas to your tuna salad, or build your dinner salad with spinach instead of lettuce.
Recommended Serving Size: Raw, shelled scant 2/3 cup of fresh peas, 83 calories Raw, chopped scant 2 cups of spinach, 25 calories
Chickpeas
Also high in folate these low fat, high-protein legumes are a nutritious alternative for people who don't eat meat, and a delicious addition to any diet. Chickpeas are rich in fiber, iron, and vitamin E. For a simple snack, combine a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas with some minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, and olive or canola oil in your blender or food processor. Add salt, pepper and other spices as you wish. The resulting hummus makes a healthy and hearty vegetable dip.
Recommended Serving Size: 1/4 cup fresh, 160 calories
Chicken and Turkey
Chicken and turkey are both rich in vitamin B6, which plays a role in serotonin production in the body. They are both a good source of selenium and other vitamins and minerals, too. Remember, eating chicken with the skin increases the fat content considerably.
Recommended Serving Size: Boneless, skinless half chicken breast, 106 calories 3.5 ounces light meat, roasted turkey, 153 calories.
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