daily tips health

How to get Pregnant Faster

2011-09-17T01:19:00.000-07:00

1. To get pregnant faster have sex three times a week.
Having regular sex is the best way to get pregnant right away. Couples often try to time everything perfectly for ovulation but do not have sex when they think they are not ovulating. It is true that sex that is not within the time of ovulation will not result in pregnancy. However, because women do not always ovulate when they think they will, having sex three times a week will help a woman to cover her bases, so to speak, and not miss an opportunity to get pregnant.
2. To get pregnant faster use an ovulation prediction kit or fertility monitor.
Using an ovulation kit (or opk) to predict when you are ovulating will improve your chances of getting pregnant. For many women charting or other methods of ovulation prediction are too confusing. Ovulation prediction kits work by reading LH surges prior to ovulation. They are relatively easy to use and are generally accurate for predicting ovulation. Fertility monitors, such as the Clear Blue Easy monitor, are also a worthwhile investment if you would like to get pregnant faster. Fertility monitors are similar to ovulation prediction kits in that they read changes in LH but they also read changes in other hormones and don’t require any guesswork for couples. They are easy to use and will tell you when the best time to get pregnant is.
3. To get pregnant faster have sex before ovulation (not after).
Sometimes couples get confused about the best time to have sex in relationship to ovulation. You have a small window of time each month to get pregnant. After a woman ovulates the egg will survive approximately 24 hours. Sperm, on the other hand, will live for up to three to five days. This is why having sex two to three days before ovulation will increase your chances of getting pregnant. Don’t wait until the day you ovulate to have sex. Your partner’s sperm will last longer than your egg and you don’t want to miss an opportunity by waiting.
4. Don’t rely on the Calendar method for predicting ovulation.
A lot of couples have heard to have sex around day fourteen of your cycle. This is based on the calendar method and assumes that you have a regular 28-day cycle and ovulate mid-cycle. Although this is better than just picking an arbitrary day to have sex, it is not a very accurate way to predict when you ovulate. Many women do not ovulate on day fourteen and knowing precisely when you ovulate will help you time intercourse better. Ovulation prediction kits, looking at previous months bbt charts, or watching for signs of ovulation will help you to determine when you ovulate.
5. If you want to get pregnant faster, don't rely on fertility charting alone to predict ovulation.
Fertility Charting is great for tracking your cycle but it does have disadvantages. By the time you can see ovulation on a bbt chart, you have already ovulated. It is good to chart so you can track your cycles, see if you ovulate the same time each month, and also so you can look back on your cycle and see if you timed things right. But if this is your first cycle trying to get pregnant or if you are not ovulating at the same time each month, an ovulation prediction kit would be more helpful.
6. Before you start trying to get pregnant see your doctor.
Make sure you are in good health and have had a regular check up from your OBGYN or medical provider. Untreated infections, sexually transmitted diseases, or poor health can affect your chances of getting pregnant. Its good to see a doctor as well as start taking prenatal vitamins prior to trying to conceive.
7. When trying to get pregnant, don’t smoke, drink alcohol, or abuse drugs.
This may seem like common sense but many women do try to get pregnant while smoking, drinking or using drugs. Smoking, drugs, and alcohol can affect your fertility. It will also affect your unborn child. It is important to stop smoking or using drugs and alcohol before getting pregnant and not wait until you find out you are pregnant.
8. To get pregnant faster have enjoyable sex.
Sometimes when couples are trying to conceive, sex becomes a job or function of reproduction and is not as enjoyable. Plan a romantic evening or try something different to spice things up. How you are feeling sexually may factor into your chances of getting pregnant. Some researchers believe that having an orgasm during sex increases your chances of getting pregnant. For women, the spasmic movements of orgasm will help pull the sperm into the uterus and for men a better orgasm may increase the man’s sperm count.
9. Have sex in positions that keep sperm inside the vagina longer.
The missionary position is a good position to use when trying to get pregnant. Avoid positions where the woman is on top. Gravity will allow sperm to leak out with these positions. Also try placing a pillow under your hips to help tilt your pelvis and keep the sperm in longer. Don’t get up right after sex. Try to relax and allow the sperm to stay in the vagina as long as possible.
10. There is no such thing as trying too hard to get pregnant.
Most couples get pregnant within a year of trying. If you have not gotten pregnant within a year consult your doctor for advice.
Source: www.justmommies.com

How to Whiten Skin Naturally

2010-03-10T17:02:00.000-08:00

Sun exposure can cause hyperpigmentation in the skin. Hyperpigmentation is when the skin gets areas of increased melanin causing the skin to have dark spots. The dark spots cause the skin to look blotchy. Using natural skin whiteners made out of products normally found in homes, you can whiten your skin and reduce hyperpigmentation without the risks of chemical burns that are associated with some chemical based skin whiteners.

1. Wash your skin twice a day with a mild soap and a wash cloth. Use the wash cloth to rub the soap in the skin and to rinse the soap off the skin. The wash cloth mildly exfoliates the skin to encourage the shedding of dead skin cell.

2. Apply a skin brightening tomato and lime juice mask to the skin every morning before you wash your skin. To make the brightening mask, blend 1 tomato and the juice of 1 lime in a blender. Apply a thin layer of the brightening mask to the skin and leave on for 15 minutes. The extra amount of brightening mask can be stored in a closed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. After 15 minutes, rinse the skin with cold water. Wash skin with a mild soap and a wash cloth. The tomato and lime whiten the skin and give it a bright appearance. The lime juice may cause a stinging sensation on the skin; this is normal. With regular use, skin becomes accustomed to the lime juice and the stinging sensation lessons.

3. Apply a moisturizing honey and lemon juice mask before bed every night, before you wash your skin. To make the mask, mix one teaspoon of honey with one teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply the mask to the skin and leave it on for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, rinse the mask off with warm water. Wash skin with a mild soap and a wash cloth. The honey moisturizes the skin, and the lemon whitens the skin. The lemon may cause a stinging sensation on the skin while the mask is on; this is normal. With regular use, skin becomes accustomed to the lemon juice and the stinging sensation lessons.

4. Apply organic Aloe Vera gel to the skin twice a day (morning and night), after washing the skin. Aloe Vera gel is a moisturizer that heals skin irritation and lightens the skin.

5. Exfoliate your skin once a week with sugar and olive oil. Mix 1 tablespoon of olive oil with one tablespoon of white granulated table sugar to make a paste. To use this exfoliant, use your fingers to gently rub the paste into the skin using a circular motion. Be careful around the eye area to avoid getting the paste into the eyes. The exfoliant removes old dead skin cells off the surface layer of the skin, exposing new fresh skin and encouraging the growth of new skin.

(Source: ehow.com)

Simple Tips to Cure Your Acne Naturally

2010-03-01T15:41:00.000-08:00

Acne is a tremendously embarrassing and burdensome problem. It is easy to feel that you don't have control over your breakouts. But the fact is, you do. Now, your first response may be to assume that I'm going to recommend you see your dermatologist. Well, think again. Natural remedies can be just as effective and medications. Possibly more powerful. Sometimes, all your body needs is the right nutritional balance and proper skin care. Here are some easy things you can start doing today to help you heal your acne. You should notice a difference in about 4 weeks.

- Apply a honey mask to your face once or twice a week - Honey has antibacterial properties so it is great for disinfecting and healing minor blemishes. It is also gentle on sensitive skin.

- Wash twice a day with acne soap - You should wash your face twice a day with a sulfur based soap designed for acne. Once when you first wake up in the morning and then, right before you go to bed at night. Be extremely gentle to your skin when washing - do not scrub or use any sort of rough cloth. Overwashing your skin will actually stimulate your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, thus increasing your acne.

- Keep your hair off your face - If you have long hair or bangs, pull your hair off your face. Your hair contains oils as well, and will contribute to your breakouts. You'll also want to wash your hair everyday and after workouts.

- Take a potent multi-vitamin - Acne can be a sign that something is wrong on the inside. Your skin depends on nutrition. It is a vital organ that is usually neglected. If your body is not receiving the right nutrition, it will fight back. One common way it will rebel is to produce excessive sebum, clogging pores, and reducing the ability for your skin to heal and fight bacteria.

- Include chromium in your diet - Chromium is well known for weight loss diets. But it is also excellent for healing infections on the skin. Taking a chromium supplement once a day will help heal your pimples quickly and prevent future breakouts.

- Eat carrots for beta-carotene (Vitamin A) - Vitamin A strengthens the protective tissue of the skin and actually prevents acne. It helps reduce sebum production. This vitamin is essential for the maintenance and repair of the tissue which the skin and mucous membranes are made of. Vitamin A is also a powerful antioxidant needed to rid your body of toxins. Did you know that a deficiency in vitamin A can actually cause acne?

- Avoid wearing makeup - Leaving makeup products on your skin only contributes to clogging your pores, causing more pimples and blackheads. If you feel you must wear makeup, be sure it is water-based.

- Do not pick or squeeze your blackheads and pimples - As tempting as it may be, do not squeeze, scratch, rub or touch your pimples and blackheads. Do any of these actions, actually increases the sebum production. Plus, when you squeeze, you are actually rupturing the membranes below your skin, causing infection and sebum to spread underneath your skin. The result is more pimples.

- Wash your pillow case every other day - Your face lays on your pillow case every day. Your pillow case absorbs the oils from your skin and reapplies the dirt and oil. Thus causing breakouts. Keep your sheets and pillow cases clean.

- Eat foods rich in zinc - Zinc is an antibacterial agent and a necessary element in the oil-producing glands of the skin. A diet low in zinc can actually cause acne breakouts.

(Source: healing.about.com)

Yogurt for Treating Acne

2010-02-24T01:59:00.000-08:00

Acne is not caused by chocolate, neither is it caused by dirty hair or dirty skin, nor by too much or lesser sex. Acne, actually, runs in the family. Maybe itshereditary in nature, an inherited defect of the pores or it may be not. It is generally said that If your parents suffered from severe acne then the chances of getting acne among your siblings are quite high. Four out of five siblings are most likely to suffer from acne. Also be cautious about other factors that could most likely lead to the outbreak of acne. The worst thing about acne is that it can leave acne scars behind. There are a number of treatments such as medications and cosmetic products available which claim to cure acne. But the fact is that acne cannot be cured but it can be prevented by taking proper care.

For the treatment of acne, home remedies are the best option, as the medications and cosmetic products are usually associated with certain side effects. Yogurt is found to be effective in the treatment of acne. There are a number of ways of using yogurt for treating acne. You can either consume it or use it as topical. But the severity of using it topically is still controversial. Let’s take a look at the ways yogurt can be used for the treatment:

Yogurt Used as Face Mask

Ingredients: Yoghurt, Comfrey leaves, honey, cosmetic clay, etc.

Method: Take one tablespoon of yogurt, 1 tablespoon of comfrey leaves, one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of cosmetic clay. Now to make the paste, first of all grind the comfrey leaves into fine powder. Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl forming a paste. Set it aside and wash your face with a cleanser. Now apply the paste on to your face. Leave it on your face for about 15-20 minutes. In the meanwhile, lie down and relax as stress can also lead to the outbreak of acne. Relieving stress in itself is a great home remedy for treating acne. After about 15 minutes, take a washcloth, wet it in warm water and wipe it out. Apply a good amount of sunscreen moisturizer.

Yogurt for Acne Scars

The methods given here for applying yogurt are all natural and thus do not have any side effects. A word of caution is that before you start with the method of preparation and application makes sure that your hands and face are properly washed. Now take the yogurt and mix it properly. In most cases you must have often noticed that the fruit in the yogurt often sits at the bottom of the bowl. Once properly mixed, apply the paste on the face spreading evenly emphasizing on the older scars as well. Leave it on for about 5-10 minutes and then rinse it with clear water.

As such there is no definite cure for acne. What we can do at best is try to prevent it by taking extra care of our skin and the food that we eat. If your skin is dry then take extra care of it. Always stay out of sun whenever possible. And also use one treatment at a time otherwise your skin might react to it.

If the acne is mainly due to hormonal imbalance, then you may have to consult a physician. For such a condition, you may be prescribed withaldactone to treat acne. If you are on with this medication there are a couple of things you must be aware of as there are a number of side effects involved with its use.

Source: health.top54u.com

Health Benefits of Tomato

2010-02-24T01:54:00.000-08:00

Health Benefits of Tomato :

A large consumption of tomato can help improve skin texture and color.
Tomato is a good blood purifier.
Tomato helps in cases of congestion of the liver (protects the liver from cirrhosis) as well as for dissolving gallstones.
Tomato is a natural antiseptic therefore it can help protect against infectionNicotinic acid in tomatoes can help to reduce blood cholesterol, thus helps prevent heart diseases.
Vitamin K in tomatoes helps to prevent hemorrhages.
Tomato contain lycopene (the red pigment in tomato), this pigment is a powerful antioxidant that can also fight cancer cells.

Nutritive Values of Tomato : Per 100 gm.

Vitamin A : 1,000 I.U.
Vitamin B : Thiamine .06 mg.;
Vitamin C : 23 mg.
Vitamin K : amount uncertain
Calcium : 11 mg.
Iron : .6 mg.
Phosphorus : 27 mg.
Potassium : 360 mg.
Protein : 1.0 gm.
Calories : 20

Source: hubpages.com

Anti Aging Tips

2010-01-14T17:01:00.000-08:00

Watching the years go by? That's not a very big problem for you, is it? Read our six tricks guide for a bright and young look. Only by taking care of the things below you’ll manage to remain ahead of your age!

The aging process begins when you’re 20-30 years old, which is when you need to start to take into consideration the factors which can affect your body’s balance:

1. Use UV screening cosmetic products

If you protect your skin from the sun’s rays only in the summer, when you’re sunbathing, you must know that this singular habit isn’t an effective barrier against wrinkles. Sun exposure is the main factor of skin aging. Some experts actually estimate that about 80% of aging is due to sun effects. Even more, sun exposure can cause skin cancer after the age of 50. Protection must be adapted depending on each type of skin. People with very light skin color need to use UV screening creams all year round. If you’re using these kind of products daily there’s a chance that your skin will have less wrinkles or sun-caused spots.

2. Eat fruits, vegetables and fish every day

Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and you’ll do your skin a very big favor! Lacking vitamins is the next major cause of body deterioration. You must pay attention to your meals more often, by that meaning you have to supply it with antioxidants (vitamins A, E, C and selenium), zinc and copper. You need a daily quantity of 60 miligrams of C vitamin (about as much as an orange has). It is recommended to give up sweets, meat and fat-rich food. Don’t forget breakfast! It’s well known that even a piece of bread and butter or some cereals with milk will help your digestive system deal with the food more efficiently. Besides that, it also make you less hungry between the meals.

3. Drink more liquids!

Correct body hydration helps keep your skin young. Drink natural juices as much as possible, mineral water and tea. Avoid consuming too much black tea and coffee. In the summer your body will need up to 6 liters of fluids while in the cold season 1.5-2 liters will do the job.

4. Give up smoking

Both nicotine and alcohol “steal” the skin’s vitamins and minerals thus leaving it dehydrated and exposed to wrinkle conditions. Smoking should be definitely forbidden because it directly affects the skin, large part of the toxins being eliminated through it. These factors contribute to the whole body aging, also increasing the risks of cancer, arthritis and osteoporosis. Alcohol in moderate quantities isn’t as harmful as tobacco is, unless there’s strict recommendation against it from your doctor.

5. Take it easy!

It has been proven that chronic stress increases the aging process' speed. Don’t forget the 3 eights rule: have 8 hours of sleep, 8 hours of work and 8 hours of relaxation each day. It sounds impossible, right? Try yoga, meditation, massage or aromatherapy. You can use oils that create a peaceful sensation such as lavender. Can't get enough sleep? You should try harder, otherwise your efficiency at work will suffer, you’ll do a lot of mistakes and you'll get old quicker. Try harder to spend quality time with your friends, in a relaxing environment. Laughter has its benefits!

6. Use quality makeup

If the cosmetic products you’re using are carefully picked, they are specific to your skin type and you don'’t "forget" to remove your makeup every night, they won't harm your body. Instead, quality makeup protects the skin from harmful actions of the surrounding environment.

(Source: freshlonger.com)

13 Healthy Habits to Improve Your Life

2009-12-30T17:14:00.000-08:00

Healthy Habit No. 1: Eat Breakfast Every Morning

Breakfast eaters are champions of good health. Research shows people who have a morning meal tend to take in more vitamins and minerals, and less fat andcholesterol. The result is often a leaner body, lower cholesterol count, and less chance of overeating.

"That one act [of eating breakfast] seems to make a difference in people's overall weight," says Melinda Johnson, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association (ADA). She says breakfast can hold off hunger pangs until lunchtime and make high-calorie vending machine options less enticing.

Not only that, researchers at the 2003 American Heart Association conference reported that breakfast eaters are significantly less likely to be obese and get diabetes compared with nonbreakfast eaters.

Another study in the International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition showed that people who consumed breakfast cereal every day reported feeling better both physically and mentally than those who rarely ate cereal in the morning.

For kids, breakfast appears to enhance alertness, attention, and performance on standardized achievement tests, reports the ADA.

To get the full benefits of breakfast, the Mayo Clinic recommends a meal with carbohydrates, protein, and a small amount of fat. They say that because no single food gives you all of the nutrients you need, eating a variety of foods is essential to good health.

Yet, even with so much scientific support that breakfast does the body good; many people still make excuses not to eat in the morning. They include not having enough time and not feeling hungry. For these people, Johnson suggests tailoring breakfast to the day.

"When I'm getting ready in the morning, I don't really want to take the time to eat breakfast because that would mean sacrificing sleep," says Johnson. "So I bring my breakfast with me, and I know I have an hour when I'm reading emails in the office when I can eat it. By that time, I'm hungry because I've been up for almost a couple of hours."

Healthy Habit No. 2: Add Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids to Your Diet

The AHA recommends a serving of fish two times per week.

Besides being a good source of protein and a food relatively low in the bad type of dietary fat called saturated fat, fish has omega-3 fatty acids -- which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Fatty fish such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon, are rich in two kinds of omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Foods such as tofu, soybeans, canola, walnuts, flaxseed, and their oils contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which convert to omega-3 in the body. Even though the benefits of ALA are controversial, the AHA still recommends foods containing it as part of a healthy diet.

In addition to their heart-health benefits, there is some evidence that omega-3 fatty acids may also soothe an overactive immune system, says Johnson. Even though this benefit is still being studied, she says there appears to be a link between getting more omega-3s in your diet and reducing allergies, asthma, eczema, and autoimmune disorders.

Healthy Habit No. 3: Get Enough Sleep

"Your body has to have enough time to rest," says Michael Fleming, MD, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Otherwise, he says you may find yourself feeling cranky and tired.

This may sound like common sense, but according to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), more than two-thirds of older adults suffer from sleep problems and many American adults don't get the minimum amount of shuteye needed to stay alert.

Sleep is vital to good health and to mental and emotional well-being. The NSF reports that people who don't get enough slumber are more likely than others to develop psychiatric problems and to use health care services. Plus, sleep deprivation can negatively affect memory, learning, and logical reasoning.

Not enough ZZZs can also be hazardous. More than one-half of adult drivers -- some 100 million people -- say they have driven drowsy in the past year, according to NSF polls. About one out of five of these drivers -- 32 million people -- say they've fallen asleep while driving.

Each year drowsy driving causes more than 100,000 car crashes, 1,500 deaths, and tens of thousands of injuries, reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NSF recommends taking a 15 to 20 minute nap. Because it takes about 30 minutes for the caffeine to work, taking a nap while you wait for the caffeine to kick in can help restore alertness.

To avoid the pitfalls of insufficient sleep, make sure to get at least seven to 10 hours of slumber each night. Kids need more sleep, depending on their age.

Healthy Habit No. 4: Make Social Connections

Volunteer. Go to church. Join a club. Whatever you do, do it with people. Communal activities are good for your physical and mental health, according to a study published in the March/April 2004 issue of the American Journal of Health Behavior.

It makes sense, says C. David Jenkins, PhD, author of Building Better Health: A Handbook of Behavioral Change. He says social ties have many benefits, including:

Providing information. You may think for instance your frequent nosebleeds, coughing, and sneezing episodes are trivial, but when a close friend or relative hears of it, he or she may encourage you to go to a doctor. If the symptoms turn out to be a serious condition, the social tie could have saved your life.
Instrumental help. Friends and family can provide physical support in time of need. They may help with cooking, cleaning, running errands, doing grocery shopping, and driving to the doctor's office.
Emotional support. Sharing a problem with a trusted person can help alleviate an internal burden. "It's a load off your chest," says Jenkins.
Offering a sense of belonging. This feeling not only helps reinforce a person's identity, it also assists in preventing and overcoming depression and anxiety.

Community ties also help improve mental functioning, says Fleming. Group activities can help keep the mind active and maintain desirable levels of serotonin -- the brain chemical associated with mood. "Lack of social interaction will [decrease] serotonin levels," says Fleming.

Healthy Habit No. 5: Exercise for Better Health

We already know that physical activity has a bounty of benefits, which makes it so puzzling why so many people just don't do it. According to the CDC, more than 60% of Americans do not get regular exercise.

In case you needed an incentive, here is a review of the advantages of exercise, per the National Cancer Institute:

Helps control weight
Maintains healthy bones, muscles, and joints
Reduces risk of developing high blood pressure and diabetes
Promotes psychological well-being
Reduces risk of death from heart disease
Reduces risk of premature death

Studies have also shown a link between exercise and a reduced risk of certain cancers.

Besides its long-term effects, moving your body has immediate benefits, says Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise. The short-term results of exercise include helping people to think and move better, manage stress, improve mood, and get an energy boost.

The excuses that people often give to not exercise are the precise reasons toexercise, says Bryant. People who say they are too tired or don't have time to workout don't realize that exercise gives people more energy and allows them to be more productive with the rest of their time.

Healthy Habit No. 6: Practice Good Dental Hygiene

Flossing your teeth every day could add 6.4 years to your life, according to Michael Roizen, MD, author of RealAge. In his book, Roizen lists flossing as one of the most important daily activities -- along with exercise and quitting smoking -- that could extend life span.

Roizen's calculation may raise some eyebrows, but the idea that oral health is connected to overall health isn't far-fetched.

The mouth, after all, is an integral part of the body. "Teeth have a blood supply, and that blood supply comes from the heart," says Richard Price, DMD, consumer advisor for the American Dental Association (ADA).

Researchers suspect that the bacteria that produce dental plaque enter the bloodstream. They say these bacteria are somehow associated with the inflammation that occurs with plaque that blocks blood vessels and causes heart disease.

Other researchers have found links between oral bacteria and stroke, diabetes, and the birth of preterm babies and those that have low birth weight.

In addition to preventing disease, flossing and brushing can help keep your pearly whites intact for more than just cosmetic reasons. Teeth help you chew food, speak properly, and smile -- which, according to Price, can help you keep your dignity.

Healthy Habit No. 7: Take Up a Hobby

Look up the word "hobby" in the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, and you will find the definition as "a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation."

Since they are relaxing activities, hobbies are usually enjoyable. Some people find joy in craftwork, bird watching, sports, going to flea markets, walking in the park, or playing cards.

The joy may help people live healthier and recover better from illness. For one thing, taking part in hobbies can burn calories, more so than just sitting in front of the TV.

In a study of people who had undergone surgery, Jenkins found that people who were involved in hobbies before their operation had better recovery six months later, compared with people who did not have hobbies.

The participants with hobbies tended to have more drive and interest in things and other people, says Jenkins. "It was a more active orientation to life."

Healthy Habit No. 8: Protect Your Skin

Our skin starts to age as soon as we are born and, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the best way to protect it and look younger is to stay out of the sun.

The sun has harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that can cause wrinkles, dryness, and age spots. Overexposure can cause sunburn, skin texture changes, dilated blood vessels, and skin cancers.

Avoiding the sun, however, is not always ideal or practical. To reduce the risk of skin damage, the AAD offers the following tips:

Always wear sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.
Don a hat with a brim and wear other protective clothing.
Don't deliberately sunbathe.
Try to avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Healthy Habit No. 9: Snack the Healthy Way

The ADA recommends five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day as part of a healthy diet. These plant foods can do many things to boost good health, including:

Reduce the risk of some cancers
Beat the signs of aging
Improve memory
Promote heart health
Enhance the immune system

One way to incorporate fruits and veggies into your diet is to have them as snacks. "If you can do one thing [to improve your health], concentrate on getting fruits and veggies," says Johnson. "They are low in calories and high in nutrients."

She says baby carrots and cut-up produce make tasty, convenient munchies. Other healthful snacks include low-fat yogurt and nuts (in moderation).

The best time to snack is when you are hungry between meals, says Johnson. But beware: Cravings could easily be mistaken for hunger cues, especially for people who are dieting.

Healthy Habit No. 10: Drink Water and Eat Dairy

Water and milk are essential fluids for good health, but they can also help with shedding pounds.

The body needs water to keep properly hydrated and individuals vary widely in how much water they need. Joints need it to stay in motion, and vital organs such as the heart, brain, kidney, and liver need it to work properly.

If you don't get enough water, the body goes into emergency mode, and clings to every single water molecule it can find, reports the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center. The stored molecules appear as extra weight. The weight is only released once the body gets enough water.

The calcium in dairy, on the other hand, is known to be important for strong bones and teeth. Studies have also shown it can help prevent high blood pressure, kidney stones, heart disease, and colon cancer.

In the weight loss arena, three 8-ounce glasses of low-fat or fat-free milk appear to encourage body fat loss while maintaining muscle mass, according to the ADA. The dairy consumption must be part of a balanced reduced-calorie meal plan.

Healthy Habit No. 11: Drink Tea

"Decaffeinated tea is better," says Fleming, noting that the caffeinated variety can be dehydrating, and sugary drinks can lead to weight gain.

There is some evidence that tea may help in improving memory, and preventing cavities, cancer, and heart disease. Fleming says, though, that the overall research is still inconclusive.

"There may well be some beneficial effects of tea, particularly the potential antioxidant effect, but we don't have great data on that right now that is that specific."

However, there's no doubt that a cool iced tea can be a refreshing treat during hot days. Try flavoring your tea with juices, fruits, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and other condiments.

Healthy Habit No. 12: Take a Daily Walk

We already mentioned the merits of exercise in habit No. 5. Now, here's a tip on how to incorporate physical activity into your daily life: WALK.

We're not talking about taking the time out of your busy schedule to work out -- that's important, too -- but infusing life- and limb-saving movement into your waking hours.

"Just move. Pace during phone calls, while you're brushing your teeth, while watching your son's soccer game," says Bryant, noting that every 20 steps a person takes is 1 calorie burned.

An eight-year study of 13,000 people also showed that people who walked 30 minutes daily had a significantly reduced chance of premature death compared with those who rarely exercised, reports the American Council on Exercise.

And there are plenty of opportunities to move those legs:

Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Walk to the store.
Window shop at the mall.
Leave your desk and visit your co-worker instead of sending him an email.
Walk and talk with friends instead of meeting for a meal.

Healthy Habit No. 13: Plan

There is, perhaps, no better word in the English language to better illustrate how you can incorporate healthy habits into your everyday life.

"A little planning goes a long way," says Johnson. "Eating healthy never happens by accident."

For the most part, neither do good fitness, skin protection, healthy teeth, weight loss, and social ties. Many of these habits take effort that need to be scheduled into busy lives.

To eat healthy, for example, it would help to set aside time to draft a menu, make a grocery list, go to the store, prepare meals, and pack breakfast and lunch.

(Source: www.webmd.com)

101 Health Tips

2009-11-09T17:23:00.000-08:00

1. Drink plenty of water.

Your body needs a lot of water so give in to water. Water is not just a way to flush out toxins; if you have more water in your body you will generally feel healthier and fitter. This itself will discourage any tendency to gorge. The best thing about water is that is has no calories at all!

2. Start your day with a glass of water.

As soon as you wake up, gulp down a glass of cool water. It's a wonderful way to start you day and you only need a lesser quantity of your breakfast drink after that. A glass of water lets out all your digestive juices and sort of lubricates the insides of your body. You may have your morning cup of tea but have it after a glass of water.

3. Drink a glass of water before you start a meal.

Water naturally needs some space so that you feel fuller without actually having to stuff yourself.

4. Have another glass of water while you are having the meal.

Again this is another way of making yourself full so that you can actually rise from the table eating less but feeling full just the same. Instead of drinking it in one gulp, take sips after each morsel. It will help the food to settle faster so that you get that feeling that you are full faster.

5. Stay away from sweetened drinks, especially sodas.

Hey - all those colas and fizzy drinks are sweetened with sugar and sugar means calories. The more you can cut out on these sweetened bottle drinks, the better for you. Plus, soda contains phosphoric acid which can drain calcium from your bones and contribute to bone loss.

6. Include in your diet things that contain more water like tomatoes and watermelons.

These things contain 90 to 95 % water so that there is nothing that you have to lose by feasting on them. They fill you up without adding to the pounds.

7. Eat fresh fruit instead of drinking fruit juice.

Juice is often sweetened but fresh fruits have natural sugars. When you eat fruit, you are taking in a lot of fiber, which is needed by the body, and fruits of course are an excellent source of vitamins. (A glass of juice typically has 120 calories!)

8. Fresh fruit juice.
If you do have a craving for fruit juice then go for fresh fruit juice instead of those that contain artificial flavors and colors. Or even better, try making your own fruit juice taking care not to sweeten it with too many calories.

9. Choose fresh fruit over processed fruits.

Processed and canned fruits do not have as much fiber as fresh fruit and they are nearly always sweetened.

10. Increase your fiber intake.

Like I mentioned, the body needs a lot of fiber. So try to include in your diet as many fruits and vegetables as you can.

11. Go crazy on vegetables.

Vegetables are your best bet when it comes to losing pounds. Nature has a terrific spread when it comes to choosing vegetables. And the leafy green vegetables are your best bet. Try to include a daily salad in you diet always.

12. Eat intelligently.

The difference between man and beast is that we are driven by intelligence while beasts are driven by instinct. Don't just eat something because you feel like eating it. Ask yourself whether your body really needs it.

13. Watch what you eat.

Keep a watchful eye on every thing that goes in. Sometimes the garnishes can be richer than the food itself. Accompaniments too can be very rich. Remember that it is the easiest thing in the world to eat something without realizing that it was something that you should not have eaten. Selective memory you know...

14. Control that sweet tooth.

Remember that sweet things generally mean more calories. It is natural that we have cravings for sweet things especially chocolates and other confectionary. Go easy on these things and each time you consume something sweet understand that it is going to add on somewhere.

15. Fix times to have meals and stick to it.

Try to have food at fixed times of the day. You can stretch these times by half an hour, but anything more than that is going to affect your eating pattern, the result will either be a loss of appetite or that famished feeling which will make you stuff yourself with more than what is required the next time you eat.

16. Eat only when you are hungry.

Some of us have the tendency to eat whenever we see food. We use parties as an excuse to stuff ourselves. Understand that the effect of a whole week of dieting can be wasted by just one day's party food. Whenever you are offered something to eat do not decline it completely bit just break of a nibble so that you appear to mind your manners and at the same time can watch your diet.

17. Quit snacking between meals.

Do not fall for snacks in between meals. This is especially true for those who have to travel a lot. They feel that the only time they can get a bite to eat is snacks and junk food. The main problem with most snacks and junk food is that they are usually less filling and contain a lot of fat and calories. Just think about French Fries�tempting but terribly fattening.

18. Snack on vegetables if you must.

You might get the pangs of hunger in between meals, but it is something that you can very well control. Or even better, try munching on carrots. They are an excellent way to satisfy those cravings and are good for your eyes and teeth. True, you might end up being called Bugs Bunny, but its miles better to be called Bugs Bunny than fatso.

19. Go easy on tea and coffee.

Tea and coffee are harmless by themselves. It's when you add the cream and sugar that they become fattening. Did you know that having a cup of tea or coffee that has cream and at least two cubes of sugar is as bad as having a big piece of rich chocolate cake?

20. Try to stick to black tea/coffee.

Black tea or coffee (and green and white tea) can actually be good for you. But personally I would like to recommend tea rather than coffee. The caffeine in the coffee is not really good for you because it is an alkaloid and can affect other functions of your body like the metabolism.

21. Count the calories as you eat.

It's a good idea to have an idea of the calories that most food items have. If it is a packed thing then the label is sure to have the calories that the substance has.

22. Be sure to burn out those extra calories by the end of the week.

If you feel that you have consumed more calories than you should have during the week, (it happens you know) make sure that you work off those extra calories by the end of the week.

23. Stay away from fried food.

Fried foods are an absolute no-no. The more fried things that you avoid, the less weight you will gain. Fried things are called so because they are fried in oil or fat. And even if the external oil is drained away, there is still a lot of hidden oil in it so stay away from it.

24. Do not skip meals.

The worst thing you can do while watching you diet is skip a meal. It has just the opposite effect of what you want. You need to have at least four regular meals every day.

25. Fresh vegetables are better than cooked or canned vegetables.

Try to eat your vegetables raw. When you cook them, you are in fact taking away nearly half the vitamins in them. And canned vegetables too are processed and are not nearly half as good as fresh vegetables. When you buy your vegetables it would be a good thing to see if the label says that it is pesticide free.

26. Not more than an egg a day.

Eggs are not such a bright idea. It would be best to reduce your intake of eggs to maybe three in a week. But for those of you die hard egg fans, you may have up to one egg a day but nothing more than that. When you do eat eggs, just eat the white part. The yolk is full of cholesterol.

27. Make chocolates a luxury and not a routine.

Chocolates are not or at least they should not be a part of your diet. So do not indulge too much in them. Even the bitter chocolates are not good for you because there is still cream in them. (Dark chocolate has some antioxidants, though.)

28. Choose a variety of foods from all food groups every day.

This is a fine way of keeping deficiency diseases at bay. Change the items included in your diet every day. This is an excellent way of keeping deficiency diseases at bay and it helps you to experiment with a variety of dishes and there by you do not get bored of your diet.

29. Say no to alcoholic beverages.

Alcoholic beverages too are not good for you. Beer can be fattening and the rest of the alcoholic drinks (which are full of sugar) may not be too fattening by themselves, but after a couple of swigs, you will be in no position to watch your diet and your appetite will be something to battle with.

30. Try to have breakfast within one hour of waking.

It's always best to have breakfast within an hour of waking so that your body can charge itself with the energy it needs for the day. The idea is not to wait for your self to get really hungry. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

31. 50 to 60% of your diet should be carbohydrates.

It is a myth that you should try and avoid carbohydrates when you are on a diet. Rather the other way around I should say. Carbohydrates are a ready source of energy and so 50 to 60% of your diet should be carbohydrates. Just stay away from bad carbs like white bread and candy. (Have whole-grain bread instead.)

32. 15 to 20% of your diet should be proteins.

Various processes and activities are going on in our bodies. Things are broken down and being built up again. Resistance has to be built up, recovery from disease too is needed and for all this the body needs plenty of proteins so see to it that 15 to 20 % of your diet consists of proteins.

33. Fats should be about 20 to 25%.

You need only this much of fat in your diet so keep it at that. Stay away from trans-fats and saturated fats. Try to consume monounsaturated fats such as walnuts and olive oil, which can actually lower your cholesterol. (One switch I made is using natural peanut butter. I love it!)

34. Try to adopt a vegetarian diet.

A vegetarian diet is undoubtedly better for those of us watching our diet. There are a lot of advantages of keeping to a vegetarian diet but I don't want to sing an ode to vegetarianism now. What I would suggest is keep to a vegetarian diet as much as you can. Make a non-vegetarian diet a weekend event or something if you find it impossible to give up eating all those animals.

35. Choose white meat rather than red.

White meat, which includes fish and fowl, is better than red meat, which includes beef and pork, for those trying to lose weight.

36. High fiber, multigrain breads are much better than white breads.

Remember how I told you to increase the fiber content in your food? Well, this is the answer to that. It is not only better in terms of the fiber content but also in terms of the protein content as well.

37. Reduce your intake of pork.

Pork is not something that can help you to lose weight. So the less pork you eat the better chances you have of losing weight. And remember that pork includes the pork products as well, things like bacon, ham, and sausages.

38. Limit your sugar intake.

If you can't have things unsweetened go for sugar substitutes. These things are just as sweet but are not so fattening.

39. Graze 5 to 6 times a day.

Instead of sticking to just three meals a day, try grazing. Grazing means try having 5 or 6 smaller meals instead of three king sized meals. It is an excellent way of having smaller quantities of food.

40. Go ahead and eat cheat food, but only for flavor.

There are many things which you have to avoid from your diet but which you may have an undying craving for. Do not avoid them altogether. You could call them cheat foods and indulge in them once in a while. If you cut them from your diet completely, you are more likely to binge on them later. Take care just to tingle your taste buds, don't hog on them. Instead of that, share desserts with others.

41. Watch your fat intake.

Each fat gram contains 9 calories so by reading the total calories on a food and knowing the quantity of fat, you can estimate the % of fat, which should in no way exceed 30% of the food.

42. Go easy on salt.

Too much salt is one of the causes of obesity. Make it a point to really cut down on salt. (Orincrease your calcium intake.)

43. Change from table butter to cholesterol free butter.

If you have a choice why not go for it, any way it is healthier for you and tastes just the same. Bear in mind that these small changes can go a long way towards weight reduction.

44. Instead of frying things try baking them without fat.

Baking is by far a healthier method of preparing food than frying. Baking requires less oil or fat.

45. Use a non stick frying pan for your cooking.

This way you do not have to add oil. The golden rule is to try and avoid as much oil as possible and a non stick pan is the perfect solution to this problem.

46. Boil your vegetables instead of cooking them, or even better, eat them fresh.
However, if you do not like eating your vegetables as it is, try steaming them without adding anything at all. This is probably the healthiest way to eat cabbages, cauliflowers, and a host of other vegetables.

47. Carry parsley with you.

Parsley is an excellent thing to munch on in between meals. Not just is it good for you in terms of vitamins, but it is also a perfect way of making your breath fresher

48. Choose low fat substitutes or no fat substitutes.

There are plenty of low fat or even no fat substitutes available in the market so why not choose wisely. It is much better for you heart too. Many people just go shopping and pick up whatever they can. They do not bother to find out if there are any substitutes for the thing they are looking for.

In the markets of today, you will be astounded at the range of goods that manufacturers have to offer. In fact with all the hue and cry that is being made about weight loss, low fat substitutes and no fat substitutes are hitting the stands faster than mushrooms that sprout after the first rains. (The low carb stuff is getting going, too.)

So the next time you head for the stores instead of picking up what you have always picked up, see if there are better substitutes.

Remember that our bodies need nutrients and not just calories. Fats give us nutrients but with more calories than what proteins or carbohydrates do.

49. Avoid crash diets.

They are bad for health and you will gain what you have lost once you take a break. Crash diets are not a solution to weight loss. It might seem as if you have lost a few pounds but the moment you give up on the crash diet every thing will bounce back with a vengeance.

Take a look at it in this way. Do you think that it is possible for a person to survive on a crash diet for the rest of his or her life? Certainly not! So at some time or the other, you will have to give up the crash diet and then you will see for yourself that a crash diet does more harm than good on the long run.

Crash diets may have a lot to promise, but very rarely do these promises ring true. Crash diets are things people go on in order to wear an old dress or suit for a particular occasion. That's the only purpose that they serve as far as I can see.

50. God gave us teeth for a reason.

Therefore, we should develop a habit of chewing all food including liquid food and soft foods like sweets and ice creams at least 8 to 12 times. This is essential to add saliva to the food, as it is only in the saliva that sugar is digested.

Often we find that whatever goes into our mouth goes down like lightning. We hardly give the saliva any time to act on the food. So does digestion take place like it should? Do we just stuff our tummies with food that doesn't get digested or in other words that doesn't yield the benefits that it should?

51. Dry wine is better than sweet wine.

Sweet wines naturally contain a lot of sugar. But on the other hand, in dry wines most of this sugar has been fermented away so from the weight point of view dry wines are better than sweet wines.

52. Working Out.

When you decide it's time to start working out, start slowly and don't get discouraged if you don't achieve your fitness goals after the first week. Many people make this mistake. They feel that if they really push their bodies they can lose more weight in a couple of work outs. This is a very serious thing in fact.

If you try to push your body too much in the first few goes, you are likely to end up with sprained joints, a sore back and even torn ligaments. The rule to be followed here is slow and steady wins the race.

53. Watch your Weight.

Check your weight before you start the routine and keep checking for changes but do not expect a radical change immediately, it might be one or two weeks before you notice some change. However, it is crucial that you continue to monitor your weight. You may bear in mind the fact that even a few pounds lost is a big achievement.

54. When you do notice a change, reward yourself.

When I say reward I do not mean go for some goodies like chocolates or sweets. Maybe you could go for a movie or buy yourself something like a new dress, but in a smaller size.

This is something that can keep you going. It is a good idea to save the money that you wanted to spend on ice cream and chocolates and then treat yourself to something more substantial.

55. You can take a day off from exercise every week.

This is not just a very good idea but it is part of the exercise routine. Your body needs a day off from an exercise routine so do not hesitate to take a day off from what ever you have been doing. (Monday is usually a good day for this.)

56. Exercise outdoors as much as possible.

There are two advantages of doing whatever you are doing outside. One advantage is that it gives your body a chance to get a lot of the much needed fresh air and sunshine. (The sun is a great source of Vitamin D.)

The second advantage is that the surroundings keep you perked up and it is a break from remaining cooped up all day long.

57. Exercise at Home.

Try to collect some information about exercise; there are a lot of things that you can do at home. Extensive research has been done on exercise and plenty of this information is easily available.

You can try browsing the net or getting a book or two on how to exercise at home. Bodyweight workouts are great for anyone wanting to workout at home. This information will be useful to you to know how much you need to work out on each specific exercise in order to burn off the desired number of calories.

58. Try to get somebody to exercise along with you.

But it should be somebody committed or else your interest might dwindle. This is indeed an excellent idea. One of the advantages of getting a committed person to exercise with you is that it keeps you going.

There may be days when you feel just too lazy to crawl out of bed in the mornings. On such days, the knowledge that some body is waiting for you is enough to slide out of bed.

Another advantage is that you can discuss your progress and fears with another person and be a sympathetic listener to the other person as well. This is a fine way of getting motivated your self.

59. Stop when your body has had enough.

There is no sense in pushing it. When you have worked out for a considerable time, your body will start giving you signals.

Heed those signals. This is particularly true in the initial stages. Take one step at a time. Stop when you are out of breath or when a certain part of your body tells you that it has had enough.

60. Increase workouts gradually.

If you want to increase your time of exercise or your work out routine, do it gradually and not in sudden steps.

Easier said than done. Most of us have such hectic schedules that it is quite impossible to fit in tie for exercise right? Wrong. I want to say it once and for all, your body, or anybody's body for that matter needs proper exercise. If you make up your mind to do it, you just can.

61. Select an exercise pattern to suit your life style.

All of us have different life styles and professions so there is no sense in trying to follow the book strictly. Try and follow an exercise routine that is suitable for you. You have to understand that even more important than the exercise itself is sticking to it. So unless you choose something that can suit your life style, you are not going to stick with it.

62. Don't stand, walk.

If you can walk about then do so. Do not stand in a fixed position. Pacing about is a good thing to do. If you are thinking deeply about something, try pacing about, it will aid in your thinking.

63. Don't sit, stand.

If you can stand, then do not sit. The golden rule is to choose a position that is less comfortable.

64. Don't lie down, sit.

The rule that we mentioned above rings true here as well.

65. Do not be a couch potato.

It is the easiest thing in the world to become a couch potato. You know what we are talking about don't you? That shapeless thing that sits or reclines on a shapeless chair in front of the television and stupidly munches away at something fried!

If you are inclined to become a promising old couch potato, break the habit, cut at the very root of the vine. And you want to know what the best way is for that? Take away that favorite chair of yours. In fact, it would be a very good idea if you could keep a chair that isn't comfortable in front of the TV.

This will discourage any tendency to become a couch potato.

66. If you have a sitting job, stand up and stretch yourself every half an hour.

Most of the jobs today are indeed sitting jobs that are, in one word, sedentary. This is especially true for those who sit and punch away at the keyboard or toy with the mouse all day long.

So if you have such a job, make it a point to get up at least every half an hour and stretch your self.

67. While making telephone calls, try walking around.

I hope you will agree with me that this is an excellent suggestion.

68. Use the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can.

Elevators are one hell of a convenience particularly if you have to go up or down some twenty floors while carrying 50 pounds of luggage, but elevators also make us very lazy.

There may be no sense in trudging up some twenty flights of stairs because by the time you get there you will be totally pooped. But while coming down, if you have the time, you can easily come down the stairs instead of using the elevator. Coming down is not at all exhausting.

And talking about the time factor, I don't think that there is much of a difference. Sometimes waiting for an elevator door to open at your floor after you hit the button can take up all of eternity.

69. Smoking is bad for weight loss.

Smoking alone may not contribute to weight gain but smoking leads to other conditions like erratic eating habits and excessive dependence on things like coffee. Basically, there are lots of reasons to quit smoking.

70. Just a little running.

If you hate running, remember, you do not have to run a marathon to stay fit. 30 minutes of cardio 3 days a week is good enough for most.

71. If you can't run, try walking.

15 minutes of brisk walking a day is enough to keep most fit.

72. Walk everywhere.

Any distance is walkable if you have the time, so consider walking to places that you would normally drive (such as work or the market if they're not too far away). It may take you longer, but the health benefits will last you a lifetime.

73. Start with caffeine.

It sounds strange, but some people have reported that they lost more weight when they drank black coffee before a workout. While there's no hard data to support this, nutritionists speculate that the caffeine in coffee makes the body rely more on fat for fuel during the work out. It's worth trying! (You could drink tea, too.)

74. Not too much though.

Avoid drinking coffee in excess, as it tends to desensitize your body to the fat burning effects of caffeine.

75. Stop using remote controls.

Remote controls are the bane of a prospective weight loser. They may be remarkable gadgets by themselves but from the weight loss point of view, they just aren't very helpful.

They really encourage us to take a laid back kind of attitude towards life itself. In fact if remote controls were not there, the television would not have become so popular. It is because of remote controls that people can remain where they are and switch from one channel to the other. And they only have to twitch a finger muscle to achieve this.

Now, I have nothing against multi channel television sets but what I strongly advocate is that you get up from where you are and change the channel of the TV each time you want to do so.

The same thing holds true for other remote controls as well. As it is we have remote controlled TVs, DVD players, A/Cs, garage doors, gateways and what not. The next thing we know is that we will have remote controlled people as well.

76. Do things like fetching and turning things off and on by yourself.

Often when we come back tired from work, we tend to get others to do simple chores for us. These things are no big deal. They are things that we can very well do for our selves but we don't.

That is why we often ask our kids to fetch us this or take away that.

Training your pet is a wonderful thing indeed. It is quite remarkable how some people get their dogs to fetch them something. But the fact is that while you may be making sure that your dog is getting a lot of exercise, you are neglecting your bit of the story.

77. Escalators.

Here's a pop quiz. Escalators help us to:

Move up and down faster
Gain weight
Stand stupidly as we move up and down
Look down at other people when you are going down
Look up at others when we are going up

You have to pick the correct answer from the 5 alternatives given. You can see for your self that all the options are in a way correct. So the next time you travel on an escalator, don't just stand there... climb up or down along with it. (Or better yet, take the stairs.)

78. During commercial breaks walk about.

If you want to sit all evening with your eyes glued to the tube, then do so. But at least spare your eyes the agony of a commercial break.

When the next commercial flashes on screen, instead of surfing, get up and take a walk. Reach over and try to touch your toes or do any such simple exercise that will at least get the blood flowing in your veins.

79. Wriggle your toes and your fingers whenever you can.

This too is a stress buster and it gives you a chance to at least work your hand and leg joints. This will tell you how sore they are and if their condition is so bad, just think of the rest of your body.

80. Turn on music and dance like wild.

Let your hair down once in a while. Go back to the days of wild child hood. Close the door of your room, turn on your sound system to the highest volume possible (but a little lower than the level at which your neighbors start to complain) and then do the wackiest dance that you can think of. Jump on your bed and jump off it again.

Roll all over the floor. Pretend that you are Michael Jackson or Madonna (you will never see them keeping still) and do every boogie move that you know.

81. Carry a soft flying disc or Frisbee with you.

Toss it around and get up to fetch it. This is also an excellent way to beat stress. It makes a person feel good to throw something away forcefully when the person is all worked up. And if the thing that you throw is something soft and can't damage anything, what is stopping you?

It is not really the throwing part that we are interested in. It is the fetching part. Each time you get up to fetch it back; you are giving yourself a chance to stretch those muscles and joints.

82. Get off a block before your destination and walk the rest of the way.

You might not have time to fit long walks in your busy schedule so this is one way of ensuring that you at least get to walk for a little bit every day. If you take the bus or the subway, get off at an earlier station and see if you can walk the rest of the way.

If you drive to work, see if you can get space in a parking lot that is a little away from your office.

83. When nobody is watching, try doing pelvic gyrations.

If you take a moment to observe it you will see that it is the mid section of our body that gets the least bit of exercise and that is probably why the signs of weight gain are mostly seen there.

It is the same reason why we find it very difficult to lose weight in that section. So the best thing that you can do is consciously try to give that part a little bit of exercise.

Stomach crunches might be too strenuous an exercise to start off with but gyrations are relatively mild. Pelvic gyrations make you thrust your midsection towards all directions and this is the best way of tightening every muscle in that mid section and that is of course what weight loss is all about.

84. Tuck in your tummy whenever you walk.

Get that proper gait. And the best way for that is to tuck in your tummy and inflate your chest. Do not let your tummy hang above your belt line like some unruly layer of flesh. Bring it under the belt.

Each time you tuck in your tummy, you will feel the pressure on the muscles of your stomach. This tightening and loosening of these muscles is even better than stomach crunches.

85. Try breathing exercises.

You might be surprised to know that breathing exercises too can lead to weight loss. If you are doing the breathing exercises properly, you will find that you can exert a lot of pressure on the muscles around the mid section.

You can feel a tightening of these muscles each time you breathe in or breathe out. So go ahead and breathe properly, it is good for you.

86. Try yoga.
Yoga is one of the best ways of losing weight. Of course I can't go into a full lecture about yoga over here but I can tell you that I have never seen people with better-toned bodies than those who practice yoga.

One of the benefits of yoga is that you learn to control virtually every muscle and joint of your body so that the issue of weight gain will cease to exist.

87. Try massaging your partner.

This is a fun way to lose weight. It is something that can give your partner a lot of pleasure and at the same time can give you a lot of exertion by leading to weight loss.

The attitude over here should of course be you scratch my back I scratch yours. It should not be a one sided effort or else the interest will soon dwindle.

In fact it is a good idea if the couple takes up weight loss routines together. They can keep watch over each other, help control those urges to eat and motivate each other to stick to the routine.

There are a lot of things that couples can do together that can help them to keep physically active.

88. If you can't think of any thing else to do, try punching your pillow.

Now here's another one of those weird ideas but believe me it works. Not too many of us have punching bags at home and if you have a really fluffy pillow giving it a good punching routine is just as good as anything else.

This is also a nice way of letting off steam so go for it. After all something is better than nothing. But I would suggest that you do not hit it too violently or else the stuffing might come out. Do not bother too much about the force with which you hit the pillow. It is number of hits that are important. Try to get at least fifty punches in one bout.

I would like to give you a little tip over here. If there is somebody that you particularly dislike like your boss or your neighbor, or may be your ex boyfriend or girlfriend, try fixing a picture of the persons head on the top of your pillow and then try punching it. I promise you, it will give you a lot of satisfaction.

89. Instead of waddling up and down the staircase, try taking them two at a time.

Now this is something that you have to be careful about because we do not want you to trip. So when you do this make sure that your feet are well and truly planted on each step before you increase the beat and try two at a time.

90. If you have a dog, take it for a run and let the dog lead you on.

You will be surprised as to how much exercise a dog can give you.

Animals are sensible enough to know that they need a lot of exercise so let your animal lead you on. Take your pet dog out for as walk and before you know what hit you, it will turn out to be a run.

91. Join a dance class.

Dancing is a wonderful way to burn off those extra calories. It is true. When you dance you are in fact burning away a lot of calories. Of course we are not referring to the slow ballroom kind of dances in which one person actually leans on the other one for support. We are talking about fast dances.

The best way to do it is by joining a dance class because they will really work you out. But I would suggest that you wait for a couple more pounds to vanish before you think of becoming a ballerina.

92. Wall pushups.

Whenever you can, lean against a wall with your hands flattened against the wall and in such a way that your face is very close to the wall. Then use you hands to push your body away from the wall. Do this two or three times at a stretch.

93. Swimming.

If there is a pool nearby go for swims as often as you can, swimming is one of the best exercises, and it is very low impact. That's one of the many advantages of water. And if nothing else, a cool dip in a pool is a wonderful stress reliever.

94. Try playing something like table tennis or basketball.

Games are a fun way to lose weight. It is much more exciting to play a game than just work out by yourself. The best thing about games is that they are addictive. Once you start playing you will soon end up with a friends' circle and then the playing goes on without even you knowing it.

It is something that you can look forward to and there is no stress involved in this program. In fact the more you play the less you will consider this to be a part of your weight loss program. As you burn away those calories, you will also be able to expand your social circle.

95. Warm-up and Cool-down.

Any work out should start with a 5 to 10 minute warm up and should end with a 5 to 10 minute cool down session. Whatever physical exercise you are involved in, you must remember to warm up before the exercise really starts. Do not just plunge into the water and start thrashing about, to put it figuratively.

Your body needs to reach a certain level of readiness before it can actually start responding to exercise. And this readiness is achieved by the warming up process.

96. Cell phones.

Do not carry your mobile phone around, but leave it a place where you can hear it ringing. In this way you make sure that you at least get up and walk towards it. This might sound silly but I really mean it. You need a reason to keep yourself going.

Life today has become so easy that we have every thing at our fingertips. All we have to do is push a button here and push a button there. The only things that get any exercise at all are our fingers. Years ago Charles Darwin put forward a theory of use and disuse.

According to this theory, a certain part of the body that is put to constant use develops a lot and a certain part of the body that has no use at all becomes smaller and smaller and gradually ceases to exist.

Certain examples that he quoted were the long neck of the giraffe, which appeared to become longer and longer when the giraffe stretched higher and higher to reach the leaves at the treetops. He quoted the example of the absence of a tail in human beings to illustrate the example of the theory of disuse.

Now if Darwin's theory were to prove true, as the years go by man is likely to end up with just a huge head, a few fingers and maybe some other parts of the body that are also put to use.

That is why I made it a point to say that you have to drive your self to move about. A cell phone may be convenient, but the same thing can turn out to simplify life just a little too bit. There are other arguments against the use of cell phones but that is beside our topic.

What I would suggest is that at home or in your office, leave the cell phone lying about so that you can hear it ring, but can't just reach into your pocket and answer it. See to it that you have to actually stand up and walk a few steps before you can pick it up.

97. Heel raises.

While traveling in an elevator instead of just standing there and staring stupidly at the numbers going up or down, try raising your self onto your toes and then back on your feet again. Do this several times. Also try flexing your buttock muscles as well.

In fact there are many muscles in our body that we can twitch and flex without inviting the attention of others. Even if others do notice you, it's no big deal provided you are flexing a muscle in a decent part of the body. (Most of the other parts do not have muscles any way.) Others might brand you as a health freak but it is miles better to be known as a heath freak than as a sack of potatoes.

98. Undress and stare at yourself in front of your mirror.

If what you see displeases you, then you have all the more reason to work out. Try tucking in the extra fat in all those wide areas, this will give you an idea of which part you need to be working on.

Turn to you side and get a very good view of your side profile. This is an excellent way of checking whether you have a tummy that is starting to bulge or has bulged already.

Try pulling in air and then take a look at your tummy, if it has gone in even a little bit, there is hope for you. If you start now, you can control it where it is now and may be if you really set your mind to it, you can lose a couple of inches in a just a few weeks.

Weighing yourself on your bathroom scales is a good idea but personally I would recommend this mirror viewing. To be very frank, a few pounds gain may shock you but does not really disgust you. But a flabby figure and extra fat certainly will.

99. Banister cycling?

If you have a banister rail or a balustrade that will support you, sit on it and pump your legs as if you are riding a bicycle, taking care not to fall off of course.

This might sound like another crazy idea and I don't want to argue with you about that. I just want to tell you that by doing such crazy things, you are in fact not missing a single chance to lose those extra pounds. It is a way of keeping your mind alert all the time. Every thing must look like an opportunity to you.

100. Sit up straight.

Do not slouch in your chair but try to maintain an erect posture with your tummy tucked in. Slouching is a very bad habit. Not only is it bad for your back but it also gives you a very flabby figure. It is your way of saying yes to a comfortable, weight-gaining pose.

Make it a point to always sit as erect as you can. It is also a terrific way to ward off back problems.

101. The mid section.

Psst. I would like to let you in on a secret. As it is I understand that most of us tend to put on weight particularly in the mid section, right. It is the tummy that seems to have a mind of its own. Well I will tell you a sure shot method to reduce the flab around the waist line. Mind you this doesn't hold true for post pregnancy tummies. This is what you have to do.

Breathe in air as strongly as you can and as you do so, tuck in your tummy as much as you can. Hold it like this for a few seconds and then slowly release your breath taking care not to let out your tummy. Try to keep breathing like this at least fifty or sixty times in a day.

In fact breathe like this whenever you can remember to do so. After the first day, you should feel the muscles of your stomach tightening each time you do this. Then you know that you are on the right track. If you practice this without fail for 20 days, at the end of the twentieth day, you will have lost at least an inch.

Below I have included a table of the various exercises and the number of calories that can be burnt with each exercise. Choose what you can do best and choose something that you will enjoy doing on the long run as well.

The choice of the exercise is completely left to you but try to do whatever you wish to do for at least twenty minutes. It is only after you do the exercise for twenty minutes that the actual calorie burning sets in.

Aerobics: 200-250 calories

Bicycling, Stationary: 250-300 calories

Bicycling, Actual: 300-400 calories

Running, 5-6 mph: 300-350 calories

Stair climber: 200-250 calories

Swimming laps: 350 calories

Walking briskly: 150-180 calories

From this you can see for your self that walking is not at all something that has to be sidelined. If you really find your days to be too full to fit in any other form of exercise, then walking is your best bet. Walk as much as you can. Try getting to places and leaving places a little early. This will give you time to walk.

(Source: diet-health-fitness-tips.com)

Fruits and vegetables for Healthy skin

2009-10-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

Everyone wishes to live a healthy and happy life, but very few really take efforts. Only when one is ill, does he know the value of good health. Nature has provided us with a variety of food, which we can include in our diet in its natural form. A diet containing fruits juices and vegetables is not only good for the health but also gives a glow to your skin and rejuvenates the body. They help flush out unwanted toxins. Fruit and vegetable juices should not be taken together at the same time.

Oranges are rich source of Vitamin C. It prevents constipation. They work as cleansers and improve the skin and supports the immune system.
Carrots have vitamin A and are very good for the eyes. They are one of the richest source of beta carotene. Carrot juice if taken in the morning on an empty stomach is very beneficial. It develops immunity. Prevents premature aging. It has anti-cancer properties.
Beetroot is very good for anemic persons. It does wonders to your skin. It purifies the blood and is rejuvenating.
Grapes are effective for constipation and gives relief in piles. It prevents dryness of skin and it purifies the blood. Its juice can be applied on wrinkles under the eyes.
Pineapple juice is very rich in vitamin C. It also contains Vitamins A&B. Taken with honey it is effective for sore throat.
Tomatoes contain iron and is rich in vitamin A. Recommended for those who want to reduce their weight. It combats cancer.
Watermelon cools our body and are excellent cleansers.
Cucumber cools our body and is very good for those who want to lose weight. They work as astringents, cooling and brightening agents of the skin. It can be used in natural face packs also.
Lemons protect your heart, control your blood pressure and is excellent for the skin and hair. Works as a bleach for the skin. Lemon juice mixed with warm water and honey can be taken daily the first thing in the morning to have a clear complexion. It can be taken for weight reduction also.

Apples relieve constipation and reduces cholesterol and removes toxins. Apple pulp can be used as a face pack.
Bananas contain vitamins, minerals, fiber and carbohydrates. They are rich in potassium. They make an excellent face pack especially for dry skin. Add a few drops of olive oil or honey to banana pulp and use as a face pack.
Papaya is good for the skin. It gives relief in case of constipation and it combats cancer. Papaya cleanses the body completely. It delays aging of skin. Raw papaya juice if applied externally helps to cure pimples and also reduces wrinkles.
Gooseberry is rich in vitamin C. It increases the body's resistance against diseases. It has medicinal properties and is excellent for the skin and hair. It rejuvenates our body. One or two gooseberries (fruit preserved in honey) can be taken daily.
Garlic is a very powerful antiseptic. It helps to delay aging and restores tissue. It reduces high blood pressure and is good for the blood and heart. It has many other medicinal uses also. Include garlic (raw or steamed) in your diet as it has antibacterial properties and helps to improve the health of the skin.

Dry Fruits : Dates are rich in iron and is good for the blood.
Almonds are rich in vitamin E and is very good for the skin.
Dry grapes relieves constipation and is also good for the throat.
Figs are very nutritious. They are easily digestible and they eliminate
impurities from blood. They are useful in case of fatigue and weakness.
Dried Apricots are rich source of iron and beta carotene. You can take it everyday for radiant looking skin.
Wheat grass juice is rich in chlorophyll, contains many enzymes, minerals, fiber and is considered very effective in preventing and curing cancer and all health problems. It purifies the blood and raises the hemoglobin level in the blood. Hence excellent for radiant and glowing skin. Wheat grass is considered best among all the grasses. Dr. Ann Wigmore is a pioneer in this field.
(Source: healthbeautytips.net)

29 Tips To Stay Young and Healthy

2009-10-11T00:41:00.000-07:00

1.Eat Super Food

If you want to keep young and healthy, then the advice from researchers are: Eat Super Food! Super Food is food you make from fresh ingredients; berries, fruit and vegetables, salmon and other fat fish, bird and game, nuts, red wine and green tea.

2.Give your lungs a challenge

Frequent exercise increases lung capacity with up to 25 per cent.

3.Put the cigarette out

If you smoke: put it out now!

4.Become aware of your breath

Breathe with your stomach – ideally is 12-14 deep breaths per minute.

5.Keep your weight

It is a burden for your joints to carry too many kilos

6.Eat breakfast

A good and fibre healthy breakfast.

7.Build up musculature

A study of men between 60-72 years show that they have doubled the muscle strength by frequent exercise in 12 weeks.

8.Enjoy your sex life

Scottish researchers have proved that regular sex – three to four times a week – releases substances from your brain which slows down aging.

9.Check your posture

You can better our posture through exercise as yoga or Pilates.

10.Fill up the oil

The best oil for the body is fat fish, walnuts and linseeds.

11.Check for rust treatment

The best treatment for your body is green tea, nuts, berries, fruit and green vegetables, dark chocolate, red wine, red meat and Soya.

12.Stay away from bad diets

Milk, plus fat fish is important to maintain healthy and strong bones.

13.Enjoy the sun

The body needs sun to produce vitamin D, some researchers recommend you take a few minutes under a sun bed frequently in the winter.

14.Drink water

Drink at least eight glasses of clean water a day. Check your urine - It should be clear. If it is yellow, then that indicates that you do not drink enough.

15.Go for a walk

Frequent walk reduces the risk of developing osteoporoses.

16.Strengthen your heart

Eat food that is rich on vitamin B, magnesium and Zink, as meat, fish, egg and milk. Other protective food is carrots, cabbage, avocado, nuts, garlic and wholemeal.

17.Watch your blood pressure

Remember salt, overweight and stress increases the risk of high blood pressure, while exercise, a healthy diet and distension reduces it.

18.Check the heart

Go to your doctor for a yearly check up.

19.Don’t stress

People who stress have three times as much risk of developing heart illnesses at a young age, according to American study.

20.Use sun cream

It is important to use sun cream with a high UVA factor. And remember that sun cream is fresh, so invest in a new one for each new season.

21.Reduce sugar intake

If you have to have something sweet, then dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa beans is preferred.

22.Have your beauty sleep

You should sleep a minimum of seven hours a night.

23.Give the skin nutrition

Use a lotion that contains vitamin A, C and E. From the inside nourish your skin by eating fruit, berries and vegetables, salmon and tuna and drink green tea and red wine.

24.Prioritize your body’s need

Divide 24hours in three eight hours batches, one for work, one for recreation and one for rest.

25.Plan your day

Think and plan today for tomorrow. Shop food for several days ahead and plan food preparation, meals and exercise.

26.Look after your teeth

Brush your teeth twice a day and avoid too much coffee, tea and red wine. Use dental floss daily.

27.Keep in shape

Your body is not made to doze off on the sofa! Get up and out to be active.

28.Think positive

The expert’s advice is that you every day thinks of something you are grateful for. It creates positively which makes you happy and younger.

29.Mental maintenance

According to a Swedish study you increase the risk of dementia with 30% if you spend too much time in front of the television.

Enjoy a young and healthy life!

(Source: ezinearticles.com)

What Your Eyes Say About Your Health

2009-09-27T09:02:00.000-07:00

1. Bloody eye. The eye’s transparent outer layer, called the conjunctiva, is nourished by numerous tiny blood vessels. If these burst, blood may pool on the white of the eye (sclera). A subconjunctival hemorrhage, as it is known among doctors, can be caused by a blow to the eye but in most cases has no obvious cause. In rare instances, a subconjunctival hemorrhage can be a sign of severe high blood pressure or a platelet disorder, which can interfere with clotting, Williams tells WebMD.

2. Bulging eyes. Though prominent eyes may simply be a family trait, eyes that appear to bulge may be evidence of thyroid disease. Abnormal levels of thyroid hormone cause tissues surrounding the eye to swell, making it appear that the eye is bulging.

3. Droopy eyelid. This condition, known among doctors as ptosis, can be simply a sign of aging. But in rare cases it is evidence of a brain tumor or a neuromuscular disease known as myasthenia gravis (MG), Iwach says. MG is an autoimmune disorder that weakens muscles throughout the body.

4. Pupil abnormalities. The pupils of healthy people are usually (but not always) symmetrical. They’re usually of the same size, and they usually show the same reaction upon exposure to light. If one pupil is bigger than the other, or if one pupil shrinks less, or more slowly, on exposure to light, there could be an underlying medical problem. Possibilities include stroke, brain, or optic nerve tumor, brain aneurysm, syphilis, and multiple sclerosis (MS). Finally, many medications -- including illicit drugs -- can cause the pupils to appear unusually small or large, says Peter Kastl, MD, PhD, professor of ophthalmology, Tulane University School of Medicine.

5. Rings on the cornea. A rare hereditary disorder known as Wilson’s disease can cause copper to accumulate in various tissues, including those in the brain and liver. Copper deposits sometimes form on the inner surface of the cornea (though they appear to a casual observer to be on the iris, the colored disk that surrounds the pupil). These “Kayser-Fleischer rings” are themselves harmless. But without appropriate treatment, Wilson’s disease can be fatal.
Thickened eyelid. In very rare cases, a thickening or deformation of the eyelid is a sign of neurofibromatosis, a rare hereditary disorder marked by the growth of tumors along nerve fibers (the tumors themselves are called plexiform neurofibromas). Joseph Merrick, the 19th Century Englishman known as the Elephant Man, was long thought to have had neurofibromatosis. But experts now believe that he suffered from another rare condition known as Proteus Syndrome.

6. Yellow eyes. Diseases of the liver, including hepatitis and cirrhosis, can turn the scleras yellow. The color is caused by the buildup of bilirubin, a compound created by the breakdown of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule inside red blood cells. The medical term for yellow eyes is scleral icterus -- even though it’s not actually the scleras that turn yellow, but the conjunctiva.

(Source: www.webmd.com)

Top 10 Food For Healthy Hair

2009-09-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

1: Salmon
When it comes to foods that pack a beauty punch, it's hard to beat salmon. Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, this high-quality protein source is also filled with vitamin B-12 and iron.
"Essential omega-3 fatty acids are needed to support scalp health," says Andrea Giancoli, MPH, RD, a dietitian in Los Angeles and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "A deficiency can result in a dry scalp and thus hair, giving it a dull look. "Vegetarian? Include one or two tablespoons of ground flaxseed in your daily diet for some plant-based omega-3 fats

2: Dark Green Vegetables

Popeye the Sailor Man didn't eat all that spinach for healthy hair, but he could have. Spinach, like broccoli and Swiss chard, is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum. The oily substance, secreted by your hair follicles, is the body's natural hair conditioner. Dark green vegetables also provide iron and calcium.

3: Beans

Beans, beans, they're good for your ... hair?
Yes, it's true. Legumes like kidney beans and lentils should be an important part of your hair-care diet. Not only do they provide plentiful protein to promote hair growth, but ample iron, zinc, and biotin. While rare, biotin deficiencies can result in brittle hair.
Blatner, who is also a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, recommends three or more cups of lentils or beans each week.

4: Nuts

Do you go nuts for thick, shiny hair? You should. Brazil nuts are one of nature's best sources of selenium, an important mineral for the health of your scalp. Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that may help condition your hair. They are also a terrific source of zinc, as are cashews, pecans, and almonds. A zinc deficiency can lead to hair shedding, so make sure nuts are a regular on your healthy hair menu.

5: Poultry

Chickens and turkeys may have feathers, but the high-quality protein they provide will help give you the healthy hair you crave. "Without adequate protein or with low-quality protein, one can experience weak brittle hair, while a profound protein deficiency can result in loss of hair color," Giancoli tells WebMD. Poultry also provides iron with a high degree of bioavailability, meaning your body can easily reap its benefits.

6: Eggs

When it comes to healthy hair, it doesn't matter whether you like your eggs scrambled, fried, or over easy. However they're served up, eggs are one of the best protein sources you can find. They also contain biotin and vitamin B-12, which are important beauty nutrients.

7: Whole Grains

Sink your teeth into hearty whole grains, including whole-wheat bread and fortified whole-grain breakfast cereals, for a hair-healthy dose of zinc, iron, and B vitamins. A whole-grain snack can also be a great go-to food when your energy is zapped halfway through the afternoon, and you've still got hours to go before dinner.

8: Oysters

Oysters may be better known for their reputation as an aphrodisiac, but they can also lead to healthy hair -- and who doesn't love that?
The key to their love and hair-boosting abilities is zinc -- a powerful antioxidant.
If oysters don't make a regular appearance on your dinner plate, don't despair. In addition to getting it from whole grains and nuts, you can also get zinc from beef and lamb.

9: Low-Fat Dairy Products

Low-fat dairy products like skim milk and yogurt are great sources of calcium, an important mineral for hair growth. They also contain whey and casein, two high-quality protein sources.
For some healthy hair foods "to-go," try throwing a yogurt or cottage cheese cup in your bag when you head out in the morning to snack on later in the day. You can even boost their hair benefits by stirring in a couple of tablespoons of ground flaxseeds or walnuts for omega-3 fatty acids and zinc.

10: Carrots

Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, which promotes a healthy scalp along with good vision.
Since a healthy scalp is essential for a shiny, well-conditioned head of hair, you'd be wise to include carrots in your diet as snacks or toppings on your salad.

(Source: www.webmd.com)

10 Tips to Prevent motion Sickness

2009-09-18T17:34:00.000-07:00

Motion sickness , sometimes referred to as sea sickness or car sickness, is a very common disturbance of the inner ear that is caused by repeated motion. In addition to sea travel, motion sickness can develop from the movement of a car or from turbulence in an airplane. The symptoms of motion sickness are nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, and a sense of feeling unwell. These symptoms arise from the inner ear (labyrinth) due to changes in one's sense of balance and equilibrium.

While it may be impossible to prevent all cases of motion sickness, the following tips can help you prevent or lessen the severity of motion sickness:
1. Watch your consumption of foods, drinks, and alcohol before and during travel. Avoid excessive alcohol and foods or liquids that "do not agree with you" or make you feel unusually full. Heavy, spicy, or fat-rich foods may worsen motion sickness in some people.
2. Avoiding strong food odors may also help prevent nausea.
3. Try to choose a seat where you will experience the least motion. The middle of an airplane over the wing is the calmest area of an airplane. On a ship, those in lower level cabins near the center of a ship generally experience less motion than passengers in higher or outer cabins.
4. Do not sit facing backwards from your direction of travel.
5. Sit in the front seat of a car.
6. Do not read while traveling if you are prone to motion sickness.
7. When traveling by car or boat, it can sometimes help to keep your gaze fixed on the horizon or on a fixed point.
8. Open a vent or source of fresh air if possible.
9. Isolate yourself from others who may be suffering from motion sickness. Hearing others talk about motion sickness or seeing others becoming ill can sometimes make you feel ill yourself.
10. The over-the-counter medication meclizine (Bonine, Antivert, Dramamine) can be a very effective preventive measure for short trips or for mild cases of motion sickness. Your doctor also may choose to prescribe medications for longer trips or if you repeatedly develop severe motion sickness. One example of a prescription medication is a patch containing scopolamine (Transderm-Scop) that often is effective in preventing motion sickness. Remember that scopolamine can cause drowsiness and has other side effects, and its use should be discussed with your physician prior to your trip.

(Source: www.medicinenet.com)

Tips for Preventing Acne at Any Age

2009-08-25T18:14:00.000-07:00

From sweet 16 to fabulous 40 and beyond, acne is a condition that affects almost everyone at some time in their lives. According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 85 percent of adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 24 develop the condition, and some people continue to be affected into their forties and fifties.

“It’s important to remember that acne has both internal and external causes,” says Amy Baker, founder of Nature’s Cure, an innovative health and beauty products company. “However, there are some basic precautions you can take to help prevent breakouts.”

Here are some tips from Baker for people of any age who want to keep their skin clear:
Don’t pick, pop or squeeze, or otherwise mess with your skin. Squeezing blemishes or whiteheads can lead to infection or scarring. It almost always makes the acne you have worse.
Wash your pillowcase often and always use clean face towels. Dirty towels and pillowcases can harbor bacteria and germs that can make acne worse.
Be sure to pull your hair away from your skin when you sleep.
Try to shower as soon as possible after your workout since sweat combined with skin oils can trap dirt and bacteria in your pores.
Don’t go to bed with makeup on. It can clog your pores and lead to breakouts.
Make sure to clean cosmetic brushes regularly in soapy water and throw out old, contaminated makeup.
Use topical treatments, such as Nature's Cure Vanishing Cream, anywhere that you tend to get breakouts -- don't just spot-treat existing pimples. The pore-clogging process happens two to three weeks before any blemish becomes visible on the skin.

For a more complete treatment option, there is an innovative over-the-counter remedy called Nature’s Cure. “Because acne is caused by a combination of factors, including internal triggers that can cause imbalances inside the body, and an overproduction of oil and trapped bacteria on the outside, the most effective way to treat it is by addressing both areas,” explains Baker. “The treatment includes all natural tablets to rebalance the body, and a cream that works to clear up existing pimples at the same time,” she adds.
Exercising regularly can help reduce stress and it increases blood circulation and oxygen penetration to the skin, which may help to prevent acne.
Drink at least 64 ounces of water a day to help "detoxify" the body from the inside out.

By taking these simple precautions, most people can reduce the occurrence of acne. There are also a variety of products available to help in healing or preventing breakouts. However, consumers should be careful about what they choose to use.

“Most acne prevention products either don’t work very well or have a litany of side effects,” says Baker. “Unlike other options, Nature’s Cure is a homeopathic treatment that is made from minerals, herbs and other natural extracts that activate the body’s natural defenses. Because these ingredients are in minute concentrations, they trigger the body to heal itself without side effects.” The formula is available in a male and female version. “Male and female bodies and hormonal compositions are different, and you have to address those differences when you are treating acne,” says Baker.

Nature’s Cure also offers a two-part body acne treatment that includes tablets and a medicated body spray that can be sprayed from any angle to treat hard-to-reach places like the back and neck.

(Source: www.mamashealth.com)

Foods to Help You Sleep Better

2009-08-21T18:01:00.000-07:00

You can improve your sleep by eating more plant foods that provide carbohydrates—fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. These tend to produce a slow, steady rise in blood insulin that helps the amino acid tryptophan enter the brain. Tryptophan is used to make serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps induce sleepiness along with improving your mood (and who knows—it just might stimulate good dreams).

This chemistry explains why the time-honored glass of warm milk before bed may actually do the trick: Milk provides a dose of tryptophan while also inducing a release of insulin. By the way, the supposed sedative effect of the Thanksgiving turkey—which, like many kinds of meat, contains tryptophan—is more likely due to the size of the holiday meal. But while a big meal may make you sleepy, digesting it could make for a very restless night.

Certain foods and drinks can disturb your slumber. The stimulant caffeine—in soda, coffee, some teas, and chocolate—will interfere with sleep if you ingest it within four hours of bedtime. An alcoholic drink can make you drowsy, but metabolizing the sugar can disrupt your shut-eye (some people overheat). Sugary treats eaten just before bed can likewise raise your body temperature and leave you restless.

Your diet can also have an indirect effect on your sleep. Being overweight can lead to the heavy snoring and interrupted breathing of sleep apnea, for example. And eating a lot of simple carbohydrates (sweets) and refined starches (white flour, rice), which continually causes your blood sugar to spike and fall, may throw off the hormones that regulate metabolism. This can derail the body's natural rhythms and cause wakefulness at night.

(Source: www.oprah.com)

I Love Rice!

2009-08-21T06:22:00.000-07:00

Rice is the staple food for two-thirds of the world's population. Rice is a wholesome and nutritious cereal grain and it has qualities which make it ideally suited for special dietary needs.

RICE...
Contains only 103 calories per half-cup serving of white riceand 108 calories per half-cup serving of brown rice.
Is cholesterol-free.
Is fat-free.
Is sodium-free.
Is a complex carbohydrate.
Is gluten-free and non-allergenic.
Is easy to digest.
Rice is an ideal food to include in sodium-restricted diets.

Rice contains a very high percentage of carbohydrates (ranging from 23.3 to 25.5 grams per 100 grams of cooked rice). As a matter of fact, 90 percent of the caloriesin rice come from carbohydrates. Rice, a complex carbohydrate food, provides more vitamins, minerals, and fiber than simple carbohydrate foods.

Dietary Fiber
Experts recommend we consume at least 25 grams of fiber every day to decrease risk of chronic diseases. Fiber-rich foods help promote proper bowel function and reduce the risk of developing intestinal disorders. One-half cup cooked white rice provides 0.3 grams of dietary fiber. One-half cup cooked brown rice provides 1.8 grams of dietary fiber.

Protein
The protein content of rice, while limited (ranging from 2.0 to 2.5 mg. per 1/2 cup of cooked rice), is considered one of the highest quality proteins to that provided by other cereal grains.

Fat
Rice contains only a trace of fat (ranging from 0.2 grams for 1/2 cup cooked white rice to 0.9 grams per 100 grams for 1/2 cup cooked brown rice). The Dietary Guidelines of Americans include a reduction in current intake of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. Because rice is very low in fat (less than 1-percent of the calories come from fat), and contains no cholesterol, it is an excellent food to include in all types of diets.

(Source: www.bellybites.com)

Beverage Facts

2009-08-21T06:09:00.000-07:00

1. The average person consumes about 129 gallons of fluid per year. This includes water, milk, colas, beer, wine, etc.
2. More beer than milk is consumed in the United States. We average 34 gallons of beer per person opposed to 26 gallons of milk.
3. Americans spend an average of 297-dollars per person on alcoholic beverages annually.
4. If your nerves are on edge, try a glass of celery juice or tonic.
5. Food slows down the absorption rate of alcohol; you will not feel the effects as quickly as you would on an empty stomach.
6. Alcohol consumptionhas been linked to breast cancer in studies by Harvard University.
7. The liver must handle 90 percent of the alcohol ingested; the other 10 percent is excreted in the urine or expired in air.
8. The body uses 8 ounces of water to metabolize (break down) just 1 ounce of alcohol. Effects of dehydrationmay include dry mouth, hangovers, headaches and queasy stomachs.
9. Fatty foods will slow down the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the general circulation. 10. Any food will actually slow the rate down to some degree; fatty foods break down slower than the other foods.
11. Canned juices are usually an enriched product since the heat used in the processing destroys most of the vitamins.
12. If the fruit juice is labeled cold-pressed, it is a higher quality product with most of its vitamin content intact.
13. Scotch has been found to contain small amounts of nitrosamines (a carcinogen) as a result of the way malt barley is dried.
14. Studies show that three beers a day may control your cholesterol levels. It seems to cause an increase in the good cholesterol (HDL), however, so does moderate exercise in the same study. The two together do not work beneficially.
15. Those who drink one or two alcoholic beverages per day are less likely to die of coronary heart diseasethan those who abstain. Helps to reduce stress levels.
16. Some of the hangover problems are caused by cogeners (toxic substances caused by fermentation). Alcoholic beverageswith the lowest levels of cogeners are vodka and gin. Some of the worst are bourbon, blended scotch and brandy.
17. An ounce and a half of 80 proof whiskey, a 5 ounce glass of wine and a 12 ounces can of beer all have the same amount of alcohol.
18. Food sensitivities may increase if you consume alcohol at the same time.
19. Red wine has been associated with stomach cancer. It was not determined in the study, however, whether the problem is from the grapes and the chemical quercetin, or as a result of the processing.
20. To improve the taste of tomato juice, pour it into a glass bottle and add one green onion and one stalk of celery cut into small pieces.
21. Hot drinks do not raise body temperature.
22. Watered down juices go under a variety of names: Orange juice drink, orange drink, orange flavored drink and orange juice blend.
23. Canned beer tends to start deteriorating in approximately three months; however, it takes five months when bottled.
24. A juice drink may contain up to 50 percent juice. An "ade" drink may contain up to 25 percent juice and a drink can have as little as 10 percent juice.
25. When making lemonade, put the lemons through a meat grinder. You will get more juice and it will have a richer flavor.
26. As a rule of thumb for almost all sauces or soups containing wine, use 1 tablespoon of wine per cup of sauce or soup.
27. To keep juice cold without watering it down, place a tightly sealed plastic bag of ice into the juice.
28. A lite beer may not refer to the fact that the beer is lower in calories, but may pertain to the color of the beer.
29. When serving fruit juices, lemonade or punch, try making ice cubes from the drinks. These will keep the drinks from becoming watered down.
30. Alcohol causes excretion of zinc, possibly contributing to prostate problems as a man ages. 31. It also causes excretion of magnesium, which may lead to extreme nervousness.
32. Two glasses of white wine per day can supply you with half of your daily supply of chromium. Plain grape juice will work just as well.
33. Wine is composed of water, alcohol, various pigments, esters, some vitamins and minerals, acids and tannins. It does not remain in a constant state and is continually changing.
34. Fruit juices help to maintain a proper acid-base balance in the stomach.
35. Ulcers may be irritated by fruit juices.
36. Bourbon is too sweet to be used in most recipes.
37. Wines should not be used in tart or heavily seasoned foods.
38. Wine should be counted as part of the total liquid in any recipe.
39. To avoid curdling in recipes containing dairy products in which wine is added, try adding the wine before adding the dairy product, then keep the dish warm until served.
40. Brandy, sherry and whiskey will reduce the fishiness of a seafood recipe.
41. When heating wine, remember that wine will reduce from 1 cup to one-quarter cup in approximately ten minutes of cooking.
42. If you wish to taste the wine in your recipe, do not add the wine until you are near completion; the alcohol content will be lost to the cooking.
43. Keep smaller bottles to store leftover wine. The less space between the wine and the cork, the longer it will retain its freshness.
44. Wine should be used in cooking with the utmost discretion, since it should not dominate the taste. Just use it to improve the flavor of the ingredients.

(Source: www.bellybites.com)

Healthy Vegetable List

2009-08-21T05:58:00.000-07:00

01. Onions
The Power: Quercetin is one of the most powerful flavonoids (natural plant antioxidants). Studies show it helps protect against cancer. A cup (chopped) has 61 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Chop onions for the maximum phytonutrient boost, or if you hate to cry, roast them with a little olive oil and serve with rice or other vegetables.

02. Artichokes
The Power: These odd-looking vegetables contain silymarin, an antioxidant that helps prevent skin cancer, plus fiber to help control cholesterol. One medium artichoke has 60 calories, 0 fat and 7 grams of fiber. Steam over boiling water for 30 to 40 minutes. Squeeze lemon juice on top, then pluck the leaves off with your fingers and use your teeth to scrape off the rich-tasting skin. When you get to the heart, you have found the best part!

03. Ginger
The Power: Gingerols may help reduce queasiness; other compounds may help ward off migraines and arthritis pain by blocking inflammation-causing prostaglandins. A teaspoon of fresh gingerroot has only 1 calorie, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Peel the tough brown skin and slice or grate into a stir-fry.

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

05. Spinach
The Power: Lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that help fend off macular degeneration, a major cause of blindness in older people. Plus, studies show this green fountain of youth may help reverse some signs of aging. One cup has 7 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Add raw leaves to a salad or sauté with a little olive oil and garlic.

06. Bok Choy (Chinese cabbage)
The Power: Brassinin, which some research suggests may help prevent breast tumors, plus indoles and isothiocyanates, which lower levels of estrogen, make this vegetable a double-barreled weapon against breast cancer. A cup will also give you 158mg of calcium (16 percent of your daily recommended requirement) to help beat osteoporosis. A cup (cooked) has 20 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Find it in your grocer's produce section or an Asian market. Slice the greens and juicy white stalks, then saute like spinach or toss into a stir-fry just before serving.

07. Squash (Butternut, Pumpkin, Acorn)
The Power: Winter squash has huge amounts of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which may help protect against endometrial cancer. One cup (cooked) has 80 calories, 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of fiber. Cut on in half, scoop out the seeds and bake or microwave until soft, then dust with cinnamon.

08. Watercress and Arugula
The Power: Phenethyl isothiocyanate, which, along with beta-carotene and vitamins C and E, may help keep cancer cells at bay. One cup has around 4 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Do not cook these leafy greens; instead, use them to garnish a sandwich or add a pungent, peppery taste to salad.

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

(Source: www.bellybites.com)

Healthy Fruit List

2009-08-21T05:32:00.000-07:00

01. Apricots
The Power: Beta-carotene, which helps prevent free-radical damage and protect the eyes. The body also turns beta-carotene into vitamin A, which may help ward off some cancers, especially of the skin. One apricot has 17 calories, 0 fat, 1 gram of fiber. Snacks on them dried, or if you prefer fresh, buy when still firm; once they soften, they lose nutrients.

02. Avocados
The Power: Oleic acid, an unsaturated fat that helps lower overall cholesterol and raise levels of HDL, plus a good dose of fiber. One slice has 81 calories, 8 grams of fat and 3 grams of fiber. Try a few slices instead of mayonnaise to dress up your next burger.

03. Raspberries
The Power: Ellagic acid, which helps stall cancer-cell growth. These berries are also packed with vitamin C and are high in fiber, which helps prevent high cholesterol and heart disease. A cup has only 60 calories, 1 gram of fat and 8 grams of fiber. Top plain low-fat yogurt or oatmeal (another high fiber food) with fresh berries.

05. Cantaloupe
The Power: Vitamin C (117mg in half a melon, almost twice the recommended daily dose) and beta-carotene - both powerful antioxidants that help protect cells from free-radical damage. Plus, half a melon has 853mg of potassium - almost twice as much as a banana, which helps lower blood pressure. Half a melon has 97 calories, 1 gram of fat and 2 grams of fiber. Cut into cubes and freeze, then blend into an icy smoothie.

06. Cranberry Juice
The Power: Helps fight bladder infections by preventing harmful bacteria from growing. A cup has 144 calories, 0 grams of fat and 0 fiber. Buy 100 percent juice concentrate and use it to spice up your daily H20 without adding sugar.

07. Tomato
The Power: Lycopene, one of the strongest carotenoids, acts as an antioxidant. Research shows that tomatoes may cut the risk of bladder, stomach and colon cancers in half if eaten daily. A tomato has 26 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Drizzle fresh slices with olive oil, because lycopene is best absorbed when eaten with a little fat.

08. Raisins
The Power: These little gems are a great source of iron, which helps the blood transport oxygen and which many women are short on. A half-cup has 218 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Sprinkle raisins on your morning oatmeal or bran cereal - women, consider this especially during your period.

09. Figs
The Power: A good source of potassium and fiber, figs also contain vitamin B6, which is responsible for producing mood-boosting serotonin, lowering cholesterol and preventing water retention. The Pill depletes B6, so if you use this method of birth control, make sure to get extra B6 in your diet. One fig has 37 to 48 calories, 0 fat and 2 grams of fiber. (Cookie lovers - fig bars have around 56 calories, 1 gram of fat and 1 gram of fiber per cookie). Fresh figs are delicious simmered alongside a pork tenderloin and the dried variety make a great portable gym snack.

10. Lemons/Limes
The Power: Limonene, furocoumarins and vitamin C, all of which help prevent cancer. A wedge has 2 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Buy a few of each and squeeze over salads, fish, beans and vegetables for fat free flavor.

(Source: www.bellybites.com)

Healthy Eating at Fast Food Restaurants

2009-08-21T04:55:00.000-07:00

Make careful menu selections – pay attention to the descriptions on the menu. Dishes labeled deep-fried, pan-fried, basted, batter-dipped, breaded, creamy, crispy, scalloped, Alfredo, au gratin or in cream sauce are usually high in calories, unhealthy fats or sodium. Order items with more vegetables and choose leaner meats.

Drink water with your meal. Soda is a huge source of hidden calories. One 32-oz Big Gulp with regular cola packs about 425 calories, so one Big Gulp can quickly gulp up a big portion of your daily calorie intake. Try adding a little lemon to your water or ordering unsweetened iced tea.

“Undress” your food. When choosing items, be aware of calorie- and fat-packed salad dressings, spreads, cheese, sour cream, etc. For example, ask for a grilled chicken sandwich without the mayonnaise. You can ask for a packet of ketchup or mustard and add it yourself, controlling how much you put on your sandwich.

Don't be afraid to special order. Many menu items would be healthy if it weren't for the way they were prepared. Ask for your vegetables and main dishes to be served without the sauces. Ask for olive oil and vinegar for your salads or order the dressing "on the side" and spoon only a small amount on at a time. If your food is fried or cooked in oil or butter, ask to have it broiled or steamed.

Watch portion size - an average fast food meal can run as high as 1000 calories or more, so choose a smaller portion size, order a side salad instead of fries, and don't supersize anything. At a typical restaurant, a single serving provides enough for two meals. Take half home or divide the portion with a dining partner. Sharing might make dessert (or something else indulgent) more of an option.

Watch your salt. Fast food restaurant food tends to be very high in sodium, a major contributor to high blood pressure. Don’t add insult to injury by adding more salt.

Avoid buffets – even seemingly healthy ones like salad bars. You'll likely overeat to get your money's worth. If you do choose buffet dining, opt for fresh fruits, salads with olive oil & vinegar or low-fat dressings, broiled entrees and steamed vegetables. Resist the temptation to go for seconds, or wait at least 20 minutes after eating to make sure you're really still hungry before going back for more.

Eat mindfully. Pay attention to what you eat and savor each bite. Chew your food more thoroughly and avoid eating on the run. Being mindful also means stopping before you are full. It takes time for our bodies to register that we have eaten. Mindful eating relaxes you, so you digest better, and makes you feel more satisfied.

Remember the big picture – Think of eating out in the context of your whole diet. If it is a special occasion, or you know you want to order your favorite meal at a nice restaurant, make sure your earlier meals that day are extra healthy. Moderation is always key, but planning ahead can help you relax and enjoy your dining out experience while maintaining good nutrition and diet control.

(Source: www.helpguide.org)

Butter VS Margarine

2009-08-21T04:43:00.000-07:00

Margarine usually tops butter when it comes to heart health.

Margarine is made from vegetable oils, so it contains no cholesterol. Margarine is also higher in "good" fats — polyunsaturated and monounsaturated — than butter is. These types of fat help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad," cholesterol, when substituted for saturated fat. Butter, on the other hand, is made from animal fat, so it contains cholesterol and high levels of saturated fat.

But not all margarines are created equal — and some may even be worse than butter. Most margarines are processed using a method called hydrogenation, which results in unhealthy trans fats. In general, the more solid the margarine, the more trans fats it contains — so stick margarines usually have more trans fats than do tub margarines. Like saturated fats, trans fats increase blood cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. In addition, trans fats can lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol levels.

When selecting a margarine, choose one with the lowest trans fat content possible and less than 2 grams total of saturated plus trans fats. Manufacturers are required to list saturated and trans fats separately on food labels. Also, margarines fortified with plant sterols can help reduce LDL cholesterol levels by more than 10 percent. The amount of daily plant sterols needed for results is at least 2 grams. The American Heart Association recommends foods fortified with plant sterols for people with levels of LDL cholesterol over 160 milligrams per deciliter (4.1 mmol/L).

However, if you don't like the taste of margarine and don't want to give up butter completely, consider using whipped butter or light or reduced-calorie butter. There are also spreadable butters with vegetable oils added. Per serving, these products have less fat and calories than regular butter. The important thing is to use these products in small amounts — just enough to add flavor to the foods you're eating.

(Source: www.mayoclinic.com)

Coffee and Health

2009-08-21T04:36:00.000-07:00

Coffee has a long history of being blamed for many ills — from the humorous "It will stunt your growth" to the not-so-humorous claim that it causes heart disease and cancer. But recent research indicates that coffee may not be so bad after all. So which is it — good or bad? The best answer may be: It doesn't seem to hurt, and it may help.

Recent studies have generally found no connection between coffee and an increased risk of cancer or heart disease. Why the apparent reversal in the thinking about coffee? Earlier studies didn't always take into account that known high-risk behaviors, such as smoking and physical inactivity, tended to be more common among heavy coffee drinkers.

However, the research appears to bear out some risks. High consumption of unfiltered coffee is associated with mild elevations in cholesterol levels. And another study found that two or more cups of coffee a day can increase the risk of heart disease in people with a specific — and fairly common — genetic mutation that slows the breakdown of caffeine in the body. So, how quickly you metabolize coffee may affect your health risks.

Newer studies have also shown that coffee may have benefits, such as protecting against Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes and liver cancer. But this doesn't mean you should disregard the old maxim "Everything in moderation." Although coffee may not be harmful, other beverages such as milk and juice contain important nutrients that coffee does not. Also, keep in mind that coffee accompaniments such as cream and sugar add calories and fat to your diet. Finally, heavy caffeine use — such as four to seven cups of coffee a day — can cause problems such as restlessness, anxiety, irritability, sleeplessness and headaches.

(Source: www.mayoclinic.com)

Sore Throat

2009-07-15T17:43:00.000-07:00

The dry scratchiness and painful swallowing that are the hallmarks of a sore throat can make you miserable. A sore throat — known medically as pharyngitis — is most often caused by a viral infection such as a cold or the flu (influenza). In many cases, a sore throat is the first sign that you're getting sick.

Sore throats are so common they're one of the main reasons people see a doctor. But many of those office visits aren't needed. In most cases, a sore throat is caused by a virus that soon goes away on its own. A sore throat is rarely caused by a bacterial infection that requires medical care or treatment with antibiotics. Until you're feeling better, over-the-counter medications and home treatments can help ease your symptoms.

Sore throat symptoms include:

- A dry, scratchy or swollen throat

- Pain when swallowing, breathing or talking

Most sore throats are caused by viruses — the same germs that cause colds and flu (influenza). Less often, sore throats are due to bacterial infections. Viruses and bacteria both enter your body through your mouth or nose — either because you breathe in particles that are released into the air when someone coughs or sneezes, or because you have contact with an infected person or use shared objects such as utensils, towels, toys, doorknobs or a telephone. Because the germs that cause sore throats are contagious, they can spread easily wherever large numbers of people congregate, such as schools, child care centers and offices.

Most sore throats go away without treatment, often within a week or so. That's a good thing, because no medical therapy exists for sore throats caused by viral infections. But increasing your fluid intake and getting extra sleep can help speed your recovery.

When you're sick, choose fluids such as water, soups and broths — not sodas or drinks that contain caffeine, which can dehydrate you further. If you find it extremely painful to swallow, try sipping warm broth through a straw or sucking on ice chips. You may also find that gelatin (such as Jell-O) is easy to swallow.
Until your sore throat has run its course, try these tips:
1. Increase your fluid intake. Fluids such as water, juice, tea and warm soup help replace fluids lost during mucus production or fever. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can cause dehydration.
Gargle with warm salt water. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a full glass of warm water, gargle, and then spit the water out. This will soothe your throat and clear it of mucus.
2. Use honey and lemon. Stir honey and lemon to taste into a glass of very hot water, allowing it to cool to room temperature before you or your children sip it. The honey coats and soothes your throat, and the lemon helps cut mucus. This time-tested recipe may relieve most of your pain — if only temporarily.
3. Suck on a throat lozenge or hard candy. This isn't necessarily soothing in itself, but it does stimulate saliva production, which bathes and cleanses your throat.
4. Humidify the air. Adding moisture to the air prevents your mucous membranes from drying out. This can reduce irritation and make it easier to sleep. Be sure to change the water in a room humidifier daily and clean the unit at least once every three days to help prevent the growth of harmful molds and bacteria.
5. Avoid smoke and other air pollutants. Smoke irritates a sore throat. At least while you're sick, stop smoking and avoid all fumes from household cleaners and paint. And don't expose children to secondhand smoke.
6. Rest your voice. If your sore throat has affected your voice box (larynx), talking may lead to more irritation and temporary loss of your voice (laryngitis).
7. Avoid infecting others. If you're not well, take a few days off to avoid spreading your germs to others. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.

The best way to prevent illness is also one of the simplest: frequent, thorough hand washing. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are an excellent alternative to hand washing, particularly when soap and water aren't available. However, it's not necessary to use antibacterial soaps. With proper hand washing, standard soap will kill germs just as well.

(Source:www.mayoclinic.com)

Not-so-HAPPY MEALS for kids

2009-07-09T06:43:00.000-07:00

By now most of you have read or seen the gruesome details about kid's meals at fast food restaurants:

1. 93 percent of kid meal combos from major food chains exceed the 430 calorie per meal recommendations made by the Institute of Medicine for children ages 4 to 8. (This is approximately one-third of the daily calories that children in this age group need.)
2. 86 percent exceed recommendations for sodium.
3. Almost half are over the top in saturated and trans fat.

All of this was found by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which looked at only those chains that have dedicated children's menus. The report goes on to quote the following "health" statistics for children:
1. Obesity rates have tripled in children over the past 20 years.
2. One quarter of children ages 5 to 10 show elevations in blood cholesterol or blood pressure — early warning signs for heart disease.
3. Autopsies of teens (15 to 19 year olds) show signs of fatty deposits in more than one artery and 10 percent have more advanced fibrous plaques.

If we're not motivated to do something for children, then let's get real about ourselves. When we take children out to eat, consider what we order — big burger or several fried chicken pieces? French fries (small) — right? And then there's the diet beverage to offset things? AND, who finishes our kids meals? Us.

How do you deal with this? It starts with one adult person who's willing to accept responsibility for our children and for ourselves. Let's start a list of what we can do. I'll look forward to hearing from you.

Taurin in Energy Drink

2009-07-09T06:28:00.000-07:00

Caffeine and taurine are not similar substances. Caffeine is a stimulant, and taurine is an amino acid. Taurine supports neurological development and helps regulate the level of water and mineral salts in the blood. Taurine is also thought to have antioxidant properties.

Taurine is found naturally in meat, fish and breast milk, and it's commonly available as a dietary supplement. Some studies suggest that taurine supplementation may improve athletic performance, which may explain why taurine is used in many energy drinks. Other studies suggest that taurine and caffeine act together to improve athletic and perhaps even mental performance, although this finding remains controversial.

Up to 3,000 milligrams of supplemental taurine a day is considered safe. Any excess taurine is simply excreted by the kidneys. Moderation is important, however. Little is known about the effects of heavy or long-term taurine use. It's also important to remember that other ingredients in energy drinks, such as high amounts of caffeine or sugar, can be harmful. For example, too much caffeine can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, interrupt your sleep, and cause nervousness and irritability.

To ensure peak performance, don't depend on energy drinks and supplements. Instead, focus on a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthy foods, include physical activity in your daily routine and get enough sleep.

Is microwave popcorn linked to lung disease?

2009-07-08T02:59:00.000-07:00

The food additive diacetyl, sometimes used to give microwave popcorn a buttery taste, has been linked with a rare lung disease known as bronchiolitis obliterans. This life-threatening condition, characterized by coughing and shortness of breath, is sometimes referred to as "popcorn lung" because it's been documented among workers in factories that produce microwave popcorn. But now, there's concern that a consumer who ate several bags of butter-flavored microwave popcorn a day for years may have contracted the lung disease. Although the possible connection is worth noting, it's important to keep it in perspective. Diacetyl is a Food and Drug Administration-approved food additive. Occasional consumption of foods containing diacetyl isn't likely to cause problems. If you eat butter-flavored microwave popcorn often, you might choose brands that don't contain diacetyl. As another option, switch to healthier air-popped popcorn.

What is MSG?

2009-07-08T02:45:00.000-07:00

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer commonly added to Chinese food, canned vegetables, soups and processed meats. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified MSG as a food ingredient that is "generally recognized as safe," the use of MSG remains controversial.

A comprehensive review of all available scientific data on glutamate safety sponsored by the FDA in 1995 reaffirmed the safety of MSG when consumed at levels typically used in cooking and food manufacturing. The report found no evidence to suggest that MSG contributes to any long-term health problems, such as Alzheimer's disease. But it did acknowledge that some people may have short-term reactions to MSG. These reactions — known as MSG symptom complex — may include:
-Headache, sometimes called MSG headache
-Flushing
-Sweating
-Sense of facial pressure or tightness
-Numbness, tingling or burning in or around the mouth
-Rapid, fluttering heartbeats (heart palpitations)
-Chest pain
-Shortness of breath
-Nausea
-Weakness

Is vegetable juice just as good as whole vegetable?

2009-07-08T02:42:00.000-07:00

At least 2 to 3 cups (16 to 24 ounces) of vegetables a day are recommended for most adults, depending on age, sex and level of physical activity. Any type of vegetable counts, including raw, cooked, fresh, frozen, canned and dried vegetables. One-hundred percent vegetable juice counts, too. You're right about the missing fiber, though. Vegetable juice has plenty of vitamins and minerals, but it's lower in fiber than is a serving of most whole vegetables. Without enough fiber in your diet, you may risk constipation, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and weight gain. Some types of vegetable juice are high in sodium, too.

Is it possible to take too much vitamin C?

2009-07-08T02:39:00.000-07:00

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin that supports normal growth and development. Vitamin C also helps your body absorb iron. Because your body doesn't produce or store vitamin C, it's important to include vitamin C in your diet. For most people, a small glass of orange juice and a cup of strawberries, a medium orange, or a serving of broccoli provide enough vitamin C for the day. Any extra vitamin C will simply be flushed out of your body in your urine. Still, it's possible to have too much of a good thing. Although too much vitamin C from your diet is unlikely to harm you, megadoses of vitamin C supplements can cause nausea, diarrhea, kidney stones and inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis). Rarely, too much vitamin C can cause faintness, dizziness and fatigue.

Are high-protein diets generally considered safe?

2009-07-08T02:35:00.000-07:00

High-protein diets are generally well tolerated by healthy adults. But a dramatic increase in protein-rich foods may be dangerous for people with liver or kidney disease because they lack the ability to get rid of the waste products of protein metabolism.

Some protein is essential to human life. Protein is found in your bones, muscles, skin, organs, blood, hormones and enzymes.

Your body can't store excess protein. During digestion and metabolism, protein is broken down into amino acids — the building blocks of protein. Your body uses these amino acids to make enzymes and other proteins. But any "extra" amino acids are stripped of nitrogen. The non-nitrogen parts of amino acids are used for energy or converted into fat, and the remaining nitrogen is eventually excreted by your kidneys and liver. These waste products have been shown to cause kidney injury, and in the presence of liver disease, excess nitrogen can cause further problems. High-protein diets may also increase the risk of kidney stones and osteoporosis. If you have kidney or liver disease or any chronic health condition, talk to your doctor before starting a new diet.

How much caffeine I can take?

2009-07-08T02:30:00.000-07:00

If you rely on caffeine to wake you up and keep you going, you aren't alone. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, alleviating fatigue and increasing wakefulness.

For most people, moderate doses of caffeine — 200 to 300 milligrams (mg), or about two to four cups of brewed coffee a day — aren't harmful. But some circumstances may warrant limiting or even ending your caffeine routine.

To change your caffeine habit more gradually, try these tips:
1. Keep tabs. Start paying attention to how much caffeine you're getting from foods and beverages. It may be more than you think. Read labels carefully. Even then, your estimate may be a little low because not all foods list caffeine. Chocolate, which has a small amount, doesn't.
2. Cut back. But do it gradually. For example, drink one less can of soda or drink a smaller cup of coffee each day. This will help your body get used to the lower levels of caffeine and thereby lessen the withdrawal effects.
3. Go decaf. Most decaffeinated beverages look and taste the same as their caffeinated counterparts.
4. Make it quick or herbal. When making tea, brew it for less time. This cuts down on its caffeine content. Or choose herbal teas, which don't contain the stimulant.
5. Check the bottle. Some over-the-counter pain relievers contain caffeine — as much as 130 mg of caffeine in one dose. Look for caffeine-free pain relievers instead.

Quit Smoking

2009-07-08T02:22:00.000-07:00

Tobacco is a killer. If you smoke, you're more likely to develop disease and die earlier than if you don't smoke.

Take that first step: Decide to quit smoking and set a stop date. And then take advantage of the multitude of resources available to help you successfully quit smoking.

The second item on your quit-smoking action plan? Plan for challenges. For example, make a list of high-risk places — and do your best to avoid them. Instead, try places where smoking isn't allowed, such as a museum or movie theater.

But living smoke-free doesn't mean living stress-free. In fact, smokers often cite stress as a reason for relapsing. As a smoker you used nicotine to cope with stress. Now you must learn new ways to cope. Be proactive. Learn about stress management online or at the library. For more help, talk with your doctor or a mental health provider.

The most important thing to quit smoking is your desire.

10 Tips For Better Sleep

2009-07-08T02:18:00.000-07:00

1. Go to bed and get up at about the same time every day, even on the weekends. Sticking to a schedule helps reinforce your body's sleep-wake cycle and can help you fall asleep more easily at night.

2. Don't eat or drink large amounts before bedtime. Eat a light dinner at least two hours before sleeping. If you're prone to heartburn, avoid spicy or fatty foods, which can make your heartburn flare and prevent a restful sleep. Also, limit how much you drink before bed. Too much liquid can cause you to wake up repeatedly during the night for trips to the toilet.

3. Avoid nicotine, caffeine and alcohol in the evening. These are stimulants that can keep you awake. Smokers often experience withdrawal symptoms at night, and smoking in bed is dangerous. Avoid caffeine for eight hours before your planned bedtime. Your body doesn't store caffeine, but it takes many hours to eliminate the stimulant and its effects. And although often believed to be a sedative, alcohol actually disrupts sleep.

4. Exercise regularly. Regular physical activity, especially aerobic exercise, can help you fall asleep faster and make your sleep more restful. However, for some people, exercising right before bed may make getting to sleep more difficult.

5. Make your bedroom cool, dark, quiet and comfortable. Create a room that's ideal for sleeping. Adjust the lighting, temperature, humidity and noise level to your preferences. Use blackout curtains, eye covers, earplugs, extra blankets, a fan or white-noise generator, a humidifier or other devices to create an environment that suits your needs.

6. Sleep primarily at night. Daytime naps may steal hours from nighttime slumber. Limit daytime sleep to about a half-hour and make it during midafternoon. If you work nights, keep your window coverings closed so that sunlight, which adjusts the body's internal clock, doesn't interrupt your sleep. If you have a day job and sleep at night, but still have trouble waking up, leave the window coverings open and let the sunlight help awaken you.

7. Choose a comfortable mattress and pillow. Features of a good bed are subjective and differ for each person. But make sure you have a bed that's comfortable. If you share your bed, make sure there's enough room for two. Children and pets are often disruptive, so you may need to set limits on how often they sleep in bed with you.

8. Start a relaxing bedtime routine. Do the same things each night to tell your body it's time to wind down. This may include taking a warm bath or shower, reading a book, or listening to soothing music. Relaxing activities done with lowered lights can help ease the transition between wakefulness and sleepiness.

9. Go to bed when you're tired and turn out the lights. If you don't fall asleep within 15 to 20 minutes, get up and do something else. Go back to bed when you're tired. Don't agonize over falling asleep. The stress will only prevent sleep.

10. Use sleeping pills only as a last resort. Check with your doctor before taking any sleep medications. He or she can make sure the pills won't interact with your other medications or with an existing medical condition. Your doctor can also help you determine the best dosage. If you do take a sleep medication, reduce the dosage gradually when you want to quit, and never mix alcohol and sleeping pills. If you feel sleepy or dizzy during the day, talk to your doctor about changing the dosage or discontinuing the pills.

An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away

2009-04-17T00:57:00.000-07:00

The proverb "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," addressing the health effects of the fruit, dates from 19th century Wales. Research suggests that apples may reduce the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer. Compared to many other fruits and vegetables, apples contain relatively low amounts of Vitamin C as well as several other antioxidant compounds. The fiber content, while less than in most other fruits, helps regulate bowel movements and may thus reduce the risk of colon cancer. They may also help with heart disease, weight loss, and controlling cholesterol, as they do not have any cholesterol, have fiber, which reduces cholesterol by preventing reabsorption, and are bulky for their caloric content like most fruits and vegetables.

There is evidence that in vitro apples possess phenolic compounds which may be cancer-protective and demonstrate antioxidant activity. The predominant phenolic phytochemicals in apples are quercetin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B2.

Apple juice concentrate has been found to increase the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in mice, providing a potential mechanism for the "prevent[ion of] the decline in cognitive performance that accompanies dietary and genetic deficiencies and aging." Others studies have shown an "alleviat[ion of] oxidative damage and cognitive decline" in mice after the administration of apple juice.

The seeds are mildly poisonous, containing a small amount of amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside; usually not enough to be dangerous to humans, but it can deter birds.

from: en.wikipedia.org

Prevent Depression

2009-04-09T21:06:00.000-07:00

Depression. It can affect anyone of any age. Young, old, male or female, it doesn't play favorites. There is no single cause for depression. It tends to run in families and can be triggered by certain events. Stress is a big factor in the development of depression. But can you prevent depression from happening to you? This article will give you a few suggestions on how to prevent depression.

The best way to prevent depression is to learn to battle your stress. Everyone faces stressors in their lives and we all must learn to deal with them. So when you are faced with a stressful situation, slow down and take a deep breath. Inhale slowly through your nose and exhale out through your mouth. Fill your lungs with as much oxygen as possible, but remember to breathe slow. Deep breathing will help you to relax and can help to lower your blood pressure and pulse rate.

Eat a healthy diet and don't skip meals. Have a healthy snack in between meals. This will keep your body and brain functioning at their best. It is also important that you get plenty of sleep. Most people need at least eight hours a night. Getting enough sleep will help you feel rejuvenated and be ready to tackle almost anything.

Get organized and plan every thing. Have a list of goals and when you want to accomplish them.

Plan your week and break it down to what you are going to do each day. Get your finances in order. Take proactive steps to pay off credit card debts and other debts. Spend time with the ones you love by going to a movie or out to dinner. Learn to say no and don't let people take advantage of you. These things can go a long way in relieving stress in your daily life.

Develop a method of meditation. This can be in the form of yoga or prayer. Search for the spiritual side of yourself. Having a spiritual side can make you feel more grounded and relaxed. Meditation can lower your heart rate, blood pressure and stress hormone level.

Stop worrying. This is easier said than done, but do your best to control your worrying. Do not try to be perfect with everything and don't procrastinate. Take care of problems right away. It gets you no where to sit and worry about your problems, when you could be using that time looking for ways to solve your problems.

Finally, start an exercise program. Exercise will release endorphins and other chemicals in your brain that can enhance your mood. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.
If you follow the above tips you may be able to prevent depression. Everyone is different and some people may still need medication even if they try the above measures. There is no shame in needing to take a medication for your depression and the ones on the market these days are fairly safe. Talk to your doctor and follow his guidance.

from: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jean_Morgan

Anti Aging

2009-03-28T18:55:00.000-07:00

The aging process begins when you’re 20-30 years old, which is when you need to start to take into consideration the factors which can affect your body’s balance:

1. Use UV screening cosmetic products
If you protect your skin from the sun’s rays only in the summer, when you’re sunbathing, you must know that this singular habit isn’t an effective barrier against wrinkles. Sun exposure is the main factor of skin aging. Some experts actually estimate that about 80% of aging is due to sun effects. Even more, sun exposure can cause skin cancer after the age of 50. Protection must be adapted depending on each type of skin. People with very light skin color need to use UV screening creams all year round. If you’re using these kind of products daily there’s a chance that your skin will have less wrinkles or sun-caused spots.

2. Eat fruits, vegetables and fish every day
Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and you’ll do your skin a very big favor! Lacking vitamins is the next major cause of body deterioration. You must pay attention to your meals more often, by that meaning you have to supply it with antioxidants (vitamins A, E, C and selenium), zinc and copper. You need a daily quantity of 60 miligrams of C vitamin (about as much as an orange has). It is recommended to give up sweets, meat and fat-rich food. Don’t forget breakfast! It’s well known that even a piece of bread and butter or some cereals with milk will help your digestive system deal with the food more efficiently. Besides that, it also make you less hungry between the meals.

3. Drink more liquids!
Correct body hydration helps keep your skin young. Drink natural juices as much as possible, mineral water and tea. Avoid consuming too much black tea and coffee. In the summer your body will need up to 6 liters of fluids while in the cold season 1.5-2 liters will do the job.

4. Give up smoking
Both nicotine and alcohol “steal” the skin’s vitamins and minerals thus leaving it dehydrated and exposed to wrinkle conditions. Smoking should be definitely forbidden because it directly affects the skin, large part of the toxins being eliminated through it. These factors contribute to the whole body aging, also increasing the risks of cancer, arthritis and osteoporosis. Alcohol in moderate quantities isn’t as harmful as tobacco is, unless there’s strict recommendation against it from your doctor.

5. Take it easy!
It has been proven that chronic stress increases the aging process' speed. Don’t forget the 3 eights rule: have 8 hours of sleep, 8 hours of work and 8 hours of relaxation each day. It sounds impossible, right? Try yoga, meditation, massage or aromatherapy. You can use oils that create a peaceful sensation such as lavender. Can't get enough sleep? You should try harder, otherwise your efficiency at work will suffer, you’ll do a lot of mistakes and you'll get old quicker. Try harder to spend quality time with your friends, in a relaxing environment. Laughter has its benefits!

6. Use quality makeup
If the cosmetic products you’re using are carefully picked, they are specific to your skin type and you don'’t "forget" to remove your makeup every night, they won't harm your body. Instead, quality makeup protects the skin from harmful actions of the surrounding environment.

Healthy Teeth

2009-03-28T18:31:00.000-07:00

Simple tips for healthy teeth as recommended by American Dental Association are given below.
1.Brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. This takes just a few minutes a day. Use a correct toothbrush, and brush and floss correctly.
2.Eat a balanced diet for good overall health, selecting a variety of foods from the five main food groups (bread, cereals, and other grain products; fruits; vegetables; meat, poultry, fish and alternatives; milk, cheese, and yogurt), and limit snacks.
3.See your dentist regularly for a dental examination and professional cleaning - a key to helping prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
4.If you experience the following, then you have chances of a periodontal disease:Gums bleeding during brushing Red and/or swollen gums Gums that have pulled away from the teeth, Pus between the teeth and gums Bad breath Loose teeth
5.Ask your dentist about cosmetic options for improving the appearance of teeth that are stained or chipped.
6.Don't use tobacco products; they can increase your risk of gum disease and cancer of the mouth and throat.
7.Don't chew on hard objects that could crack a tooth.
8.Don't ignore gums that bleed when you brush or floss or changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite.
9.Wear a mouth guard when playing active sports.

from: http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/

Insomnia

2009-03-28T01:38:00.000-07:00

People suffering from insomnia are unable to sleep. Many of them complain of being unable to rest even for a few minutes. Curing insomnia becomes easier if you first find out the factors that cause it. According to U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 60 million people in the U. S. suffer from insomnia. Studies show that the tendency to suffer from insomnia increases with age. About 30 percent men and 40 percent women suffer from this sleeping disorder. Women suffer more from insomnia because more and more of them are now single-handedly managing a home, children, and career without the support of any partner or spouse.

Causes of Insomnia

Insomnia has several causes including bipolar disorder or anxiety. Sometimes, insomnia has absolutely no physical causes. Usually, people who lead active, exciting lives or those who suffer from intense physical pain suffer from insomnia.Studies have revealed that unhealthy food habits could also cause insomnia. Magnesium deficiency can lead to insomnia. The sleeping patterns of people suffering from insomnia have been found to regularize when they corrected their intake of magnesium.Stress can disrupt sleeping patterns, which is why those suffering from insomnia are advised to lead more relaxed lives.

Types of Insomnia

Insomnia is categorised into three: transient, acute, and chronic. Transient insomnia is short-term, lasing from one day to a few weeks. Acute insomnia lasts longer, and the patient is not able to sleep for three to six weeks. Chronic insomnia is the most serious of the three conditions, and it lasts for months.

Cures for Insomnia

You can choose among three treatment plans to cure insomnia. Usually, this sleep disorder is treated by taking prescription drugs such as Ambien Controlled Release (CR), Ambien, Lunesta, or Rozerem, to mention a few. People tend to become excessively dependant on Ambien and Lunesta unlike the older brand of sleeping medication.Sleeping disorders are characteristic of the modern times. The shelves of medical stores contain newer sleeping pills indicating the sharp rise in the occurrence of sleeping disorders. Some of these prescription drugs have been proved to be effective. However, not much study has been done on many of these sleeping pills. Recently, cognitive behavior therapy has gained importance in the treatment of insomnia. Therapy reduces the chances of getting addicted to the sleeping pill and is highly recommended for people with a tendency to overuse or misuse their medication.Many people suffering from insomnia have used herbs such as chamomile, which can be brewed like a tea. People have also taken refuge in aromatherapy and found that lavendar is great for inducing relaxation.

Pomegranates have been known to cure anything from immunity disorders to cardiovascular problems, and they are great in improving sleep patterns too. Chinese medicine is also effective in the treatment of sleeping disorders.

High-heels Versus Barefoot

2009-03-28T01:13:00.000-07:00

Knee osteoarthritis is twice as common in women as men. A decade ago, researchers investigated the force applied to the knee joint when a small group of healthy women wore high-heel shoes compared to barefoot.
The study confirmed that high-heel shoes increased the force across the patellofemoral component of the knee (behind the kneecap) and the compressive force on the medial compartment of the knee (the inside of the knee joint). Researchers concluded that the additional force from wearing high-heel shoes may result in degenerative changes to the knee.

Point you should remember: High-heel shoes may be stylish but they are not the shoe that is best for joint health. When you wear high heels, your foot is in an unnatural position. Over time that takes a toll. If you are a huge fan of high-heel shoes, the best advice is to limit the time you wear them.

from: osteoarthritis.about.com

Prevent Acne

2009-03-28T00:52:00.000-07:00

Healthy acne diet can aid your body in maintaining healthy skin, however, there appear to be no direct relationship between adult acne and diet. Certain diet considerations can help body immune system and indirectly affect acne treatment.

1. Start a diet high in fiber. Salads, whole wheat bread, bran or multi grain to keep your digestive system moving fast and not burdening it with handling wastes

2. Eat plenty of different fruits everyday, carrots, apples, berries, grapefruit, orange, and cantaloupes… High content of anti oxidants helps your body to rid acne

3. Drink 8 glasses of water every day. Water help your skin rid toxins and the transport of nutrients to your skin

4. Unlike what you may think, nuts are good for acne prone skin. Nuts are rich in gamma linolenic acid and certain linoleates which may involve in acne treatment. These essential fatty acids deficiency contributes to sebaceous gland hypertrophy and hyperkeratinization of the ducts

5. Avoid meats high in animal fat, salami, pepperoni, meatballs

6. Moderate use of sweets in your diet, chocolate bars, candies, different drinks high in sugars as a teenager and lower use of them as you grow up. Honey is an excellent replacement for sugars

7. Food allergies may contribute to adult blemishes and delay acne treatment. If you are experiencing aggravation of your acne with certain food, eliminate it from your diet

8. Overall a diet low in saturated fats (animal fats) and sugar can strengthen your immune system which, in turn, help your skin's defense mechanisms and aid your treatment of acne. It is worth remembering nuts including pistachio, almonds, peanut, cashews, walnut are not only great for your skin but they help stabilize your blood sugar level

9. Foods high in bioflavanoids and alpha lipoic acid could be helpful because of its contribution to rid free radicals. Liver and Brewer's yeast are sources of alpha lipoic acid. Drink plenty of Green tea as it is a good antioxidant high in polyphenols

from: http://www.acne-treatment.ca/

Constipation

2009-02-26T04:33:00.000-08:00

Bowel habit could be vary, some twice a day, but other twice a week. Most of us have routinely habit. But, some other people have problem in it, constipation. It because of low fiber diet, less drink, inactive life style, and neglect it. The symptoms are puffed up, nausea and cramps in stomach.

These tips maybe could help us:
1. Consuming laxative food, ex. prune. Don’t forget to eat your breakfast. Drink water more while breakfast could stimulate intestine.
2. Drink minimal 8 glass of water or juice per day. Stop tea, coffee, sugar and coke that make you dehydration.
3. Do some physical exercise, 20-30 minutes, like jogging, bike, swimming as activities to stimulate gastro intestinal tract.
4. If those couldn’t help, try to use fiber supplement.
5. In serious condition, use laxative stimulant.

Impotent

2009-02-26T04:31:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, men are difficult to keep the erection. It is usually because of stress, tired, alcohol, and some diseases. Temporal impotent is not a big problem if they still can erection on masturbation or wake up with erection. Impotent in long period could be happens in diabetes, blood circulation disturbance, and consuming diuretic and antidepressant drugs.

The things you can do are:
1. Don’t judge yourself. If you are stress or tired because of finance, work, or disease problem, manage them first.
2. Tell it with your partner. Talk about your anxiety and try another variety of sexual intercourse to reduce your anxiety.
3. Do some breathing exercise and muscle relaxation.
4. Reduce alcohol, better if we stop it.
5. Stop smoking. Men with smoking habit have erection risk twice than none.

Practical technique you can do to decrease your sexual anxiety is to be relax with your partner, some foreplay like flatter and touch (without touching sex organ) can help.

Help! I’m forgetful.

2009-02-25T05:07:00.000-08:00

Most of us, sometimes, are forgetful. This condition could happens because of depression, stress, thyroid disturbance, alcohol consume, drugs, or lack of sleep. In many cases, memories could better again after the causes healed.

These are some tips that could help us to solve that condition:
1. Sleep well at the night, physical exercises routinely, include eat fresh fruit (orange), cereal, vegetable, and beans.
2. Don’t confusing your memory problem. Anxiety and unconfident will make it worse. Organize yourself.
3. Exercising your brain with some quiz. Reading book or newspaper would be better than watching television.
4. Make your own notes in calendar, diary and bring those. Put your important things, ex. Keys and glasses in their place.
5. Don’t drink too much or use narcotics.
6. Examine your visual sight and hearing.

If there are some other symptoms, like confuse, intelligent decrease, or personality changes, it may be symptoms of dementia.

Common cold

2009-02-25T05:05:00.000-08:00

Common cold is the communicable disease that could be happens and epidemic in winter. It caused by viral and contaminate people when coughing, and direct contact with infectious people. In 24-48 hours after infection, we suddenly have fever, cough, headache, stiff, tired, eye and sore inflammation.
Things that we can do:
1. Take a rest for a few days. Avoid unnecessary activities.
2. Drink water and juice more. If we don’t want to eat, eat some nutritional food, like soup.
3. Use some drugs to decrease the stiffness and pain, like parasetamol or ibuprofen.
4. To make our respiration tract free from mucous, we could inhale steam.
5. Hot drink could help us to decrease sore inflammation. We can try to make drink from honey and lemonade.
6. Don’t smoking and don’t let other people smoking beside us.

Does tea absorb fat we eat?

2009-02-24T22:54:00.000-08:00

Tea doesn’t make us thin, in fact, it could make us anemia.

It happens because tannin in tea will absorb Fe and other mineral on food, not fat.

Tea could inhibit Fe absorption in our body until 80%. It should be better if we take some spare time (min. 2 hours) to drink tea. It means we give the chance to our intestine to absorb our food before.

Thin Hair and Hair Fall

2009-02-19T02:42:00.000-08:00

Hair fall could be happens in stress condition or after sickness. Hair fall happens because of hereditary factor, and usually in man that caused alopecia, but woman can be carrier and caused thin hair.

To prevent this, we should following these:
1. Bad diet could cause hair fall. Take more protein and iron on your diet.
2. Avoid coloring, straightening and the other things that use chemical substance on your hair.
3. Don’t use the hat continuously.
4. Let your hair dry without hair dryer. Be natural.
5. Short hair can make our hair looks thick.
6. Minoxidil could help your hair grow maturely.

Viagra Vs Vegetable

2009-01-30T21:17:00.000-08:00

Now, we know that Viagra is used to manage impotent. The causes of impotent are various, but the most is from our food.

Consume meat, instant food and fast food can increase cholesterol level. It makes our body fat, and also can cause prostatic cancer and diabetes. One of the side effects of those diseases is impotent.

To prevent that thing, vegetables can be a solution. By consuming vegetable (consuming fast or instant food less), we could prevent the increasing level of the cholesterol, so we could avoid impotent.

Say cheese

2009-01-30T21:08:00.000-08:00

Cheese is one of milk processing results which produce by casein in milk and skim milk. Cheese contains high fat (72%), protein (26%), calcium and phosphor. The advantage of cheese is protein, calcium and phosphor level. But the bad is the high fat containing.

Some researches tell us that various cheeses (mozzarella, cheddar) could help us to prevent dent caries. The mechanism is caused by the calcium and phosphor which protect teeth enamel. In addition, cheese could increase saliva, so it can clean teeth from acid and sugar. Cheese has anti bacterial effect to prevent dent caries.

Cheese can make us sleep well because it has tryptophan and amino acid that can decrease our stress level. But cheese contains opiate which can trigger aggressive characteristic and hyperactive for the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) child.

Some studies tell us that cheese can make side effects like allergy, headache, rash, and increasing blood pressure.

If we like to eat cheese, be careful about the high fat level and the side effects. Except of these, let’s say “chese”.

Let’s Drink

2009-01-26T02:39:00.001-08:00

If our body isn’t sweating, that doesn’t mean that we don’t need to drink. For example, if we working at the office that using AC (Air Conditioner).
Some facts that we should know are:
1. Lack of 2% water in body caused thirsty and dry lip.
2. Lack of 4% - 6% body fluid caused headache, dizzy, and weakness. 3. Lack of 12% body fluid makes us difficult to masticate.
4. More than 15% until 25% can cause die.
Body fluid isn’t only from the water. It also comes from fruits and vegetables. So, don’t be lazy to complete our body fluid. Let’s drink!

THIRSTY = DEHYDRATION?

2009-01-26T00:57:00.000-08:00

Some people say that thirsty is the sign of dehydration. But in the fact, thirsty is not the same as dehydration. Thirsty is the body sign to tell us that our body lack of fluid. If there is no action of this condition, it can cause dehydration of our body.

Fluid is not just water. Consuming tea, coffee, and the other drink can be source of fluid for our body. But water is better because there is no sugar on it.

Be careful: Roasted food can cause cancer

2009-01-24T01:53:00.000-08:00

Research has found that there are two compounds in roasted food that can cause cancer. There are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and heterocyclic amine (HCA). PAH is formed in the smoke and found at the surface of the meat. It is can be eliminated by shave off.

HCA is found in the meat. HCA is caused by high temperature process or in the fried food.

To minimize the cancer risk, we can follow this step:
1. Submerged the meat before.
2. Cook it before roast.
3. Roast the meat by placed it front and back.
4. Don’t roast it direct from the charcoal.
5. Decrease to roast it in the smoke, by not using the cover (to close the roasted meat).
6. Eliminate the surface of black roasted meat.

IS CUCUMBER GOOD FOR SWOLLEN EYES?

2009-01-24T01:23:00.000-08:00

Fresh slice cucumber may be could help your swollen eyes. But, there is no special ingredient which could decrease the swollen eyes.

Cucumber containing 90% water and the cooler effect may be take part on vasoconstriction under the eyes. That’s why our swollen eyes is getting better.

The other ways to manage the swollen eyes are cold tea water compressing. The tanat acid in the tea could decrease the swollen.

Does vitamin C make us lives long?

2009-01-23T09:37:00.000-08:00

Vitamin C and E, which often said as antioxidant vitamins, are believed could prevent cell damage on human. They can decrease the risk of some chronic diseases, ex. hypertension, stroke and asthma. Many studies have tried to proof these, but without satisfaction results.

The side effect of vitamin C is low (diarrhea, feel sick), so it is good if we take our vitamin C higher.

The wise thing to make our live long is change our lifestyle. Keep our body health by eat some healthy food (enough of fruits and vegetables), fitness routinely and stop our bad habits like smoking.

IS TAKING FOOD AT NIGHT MAKE US FAT?

2009-01-22T22:56:00.000-08:00

Dinner or eat at night not always identical with fat. Food that we ate at night, actually, heap on our body because they were not used with activity. That reason can caused our body fat. But we should notice about energy that we need at night.

To keep our body weight, we need to balance input calories and output energy. If we have some heavy work (need extra energy), it is fine to eat at night.

CORONARY HEART DISEASE

2009-01-22T01:08:00.001-08:00

The coronary heart disease was the illness where the coronary artery blood circulation could not satisfy the requirement of the heart muscle. This illness occupied the first place as the cause of the death in some countries. This illness was begun from the existence of the risk factor. Some of this risk factor are hyperlipidemic, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoked. Several risk factors that caused the occurrence atherosclerosis, that someday will cause the occurrence plaque to blood vessels and enabled the occurrence rupture from plaque this also caused the formation thrombus. If thrombus was unstable, it will cause the occurrence clog to the coronary artery and then the requirement of the heart muscle was not fulfilled.

The development of atherosclerosis became the heart disease in fact was the long process but progressive.

The risk factor of the coronary heart disease:

- Smoking

- Hypertension

- diabetes mellitus

- Hyperlipidemic

- Genetic

- Stress

- Obesity

- Inflammation

- Hiperurikemic

- Hiperhomocysteinemic

Some of the risk factors could be modified, that is by stopping the smoked habit, dealt hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hyperlipidemic, hyperhomocysteinemic, inflammation and hyperurikemic. The risk factor that could not be modified is the genetic characteristics of our family history.

The manifestation of this coronary heart disease are various. There were those who did not show the sign (asimptomatic), became the angina pectoris stable, the angina pectoris unstable, acute miocard infarct, or even also could result in the sudden death. In the coronary heart disease that did not show the sign, the sufferer did not feel the existence of the complaint. His illness was found by chance in the inspection of EKG. This condition was found in 4% the population. The manifestation of the coronary heart disease that most important was the occurrence of acute miocard infarct. The death because of this situation happened in time that was not too long after the sign emergence. Acute miocard infarct happened because there is not enough supply blood resulting from the clot in the coronary artery. Its sign are chest pain that crept into the neck, the jaw, the left upper shoulder, the left arms interior until the finger, that the length more than 20 minutes. The sufferer sweated cold, and this pain was not lost by resting. The feeling of this pain was often depicted like the feeling burnt, or as being stabbed.

Of course if beginning to the sign happen like above, needed the adequate handling from the person who was competent in this field. Some medicine that used are antiplatelet, the nitrate, beta blocker, ACE inhibitor, statin and thrombolitic. The complication that could happen was aritmhyc of the heart beat, left ventricle dysfunction, hypotension and pericarditis.

Because of the danger that was caused by this illness, definitely we must prevent it early. These are the things we can do to prevent this disease:

1. Stop smoking. Indeed was the matter that was difficult for it user, but remembered, like that was known by us together, “smoking could cause cancer, the HEART ATTACK, impotence, and the disturbance of pregnancy and fetal”.

2. Arrange the healthy pattern of eating. Food that often contained fat could increase the risk factor of the coronary heart disease that is hyperlipidemic.

3. Prevent the risk factor that could cause the heart disease. The example, hypertension, was prevented by us with sport and limiting input of sodium/salt each day.

4. Avoid stress that was abundant or was protracted because, that could also become the risk factor of the disease.

IS THERE ANY CORELATION BETWEEN CHOCOLATE AND ACNES?

2009-01-20T23:09:00.001-08:00

“We may free of worry, because chocolate and sweet food have no correlation with acne”? That is wrong statement!

A research from Australia said that chocolate, sugar, ice cream are some food that can stimulate appearance of acnes. This solution is easy. We need to change that snacks with snack that rich with fiber, and carbohydrate like pasta or fruits.

Do you want your face free from acnes absolutely? Don’t forget to clean your face routine. If the hormones take part, we can’t avoid it 100%.

IS DEODORANT DANGEROUS?

2009-01-20T23:07:00.001-08:00

We have heard that deodorant we use could be the cause of breast cancer. People tell that it is happen because the antiperspirant in deodorant inhibits the outflow of our sweat, and someday it will become toxic.

In the fact, there is no experimental that proof this thing. Researcher from Australian National Breast Cancer tells us, that there is no evidence to support this pronouncement.

FAST FOOD = JUNK FOOD?

2009-01-20T23:05:00.001-08:00

We are no need to avoid fast food every time. We can consume it if we know the manner.If we eat fast food, we need to eat the vegetables include, because they are not only decorate our food.

For example, if we eat some burger, eat the tomato and lettuce with it. Lycopene in tomato is useful for our body as an antioxidant that can against the cancer, heart attack, and diabetes. For our healthy, we can drink juice better than coke. Also order salad without dressing to complete our nutrition with fiber and mineral.

What is hypertension?

2009-01-20T22:57:00.001-08:00

A research said approximately 50 million American inhabitants contracted hypertension. Around 70% from this population knew his diagnosis, and from 70% of 50% that carried out medical treatment, and from 50% this population of 25% that was controlled good. Must be learnt that hypertension will increase in accordance with the age increase, so as this must be guarded against.

Hypertension was divided into 2 classifications:

1. Essential hypertension. This cause was not known. Onset was begun in the age 25-55 years. This hypertension was the most cause of whole hypertension, approximately 95%.

2. Secondary hypertension happened especially in the young age without the history of the hypertension family. This hypertension could be also encountered suddenly in the age more than 50 years. Secondary hypertension could also happen because of hypertension with control that originally good but afterwards became immune to medical treatment. Secondary hypertension could be caused because of the use of estrogen (contraceptive pills), the kidney illness, also could happen in pregnancy.

Several matters that could influence blood pressure are sodium intake (salt), genetic factor, hormonal and obesity.

According to JNC VII, classification of hypertension was as follows:- Normal: <120>

- Stage Hypertension 1: 140-159/ 90-99

- Stage Hypertension 2: > =160/ > =100

Several matters that must be known about hypertension, that based on JNC VII was:

1. A person who was more than 50 years old, with systole blood pressure more than 140 mmHg had the risk of the illness kardiovaskuler that was more important than blood pressure diastol him.

2. The risk of the illness kardiovaskuler was begun from blood pressure of 110/75 mmHg, and will increase by each rise in 20/10 mmHg. A person with normal blood pressure in the age 55 years had the risk of the hypertension expansion totalling 90%.

3. A person with systole blood pressure 120 as far as 139 mmHg or diastole 80-89 mmHg was the prehypertension situation and needed the modification of the lifestyle to prevent the occurrence of the illness kardiovaskuler.

4. The type diuretic thiazide better be used in medical treatment to the hypertension patient without the complication.

5. Most patients needed 2 medicines antihipertensi or more to achieve blood pressure that was wanted in medical treatment (140/90, or 130/80 mmHg for the patient with diabetes and the chronic kidney illness).

6. If blood pressure more than 20/10 mmHg on the blood pressure target, better be given by therapy with 2 medicine sorts, one of them was diuretic the type thiazide.

7. Most effective therapy was if the patient was motivated in controlling his hypertension. Connected hypertension was tight to the illness kardiovaskuler, because of hypertension was factor the risk of the major in the development of the illness kardiovaskuler.

Several factor the other major in the illness kardiovaskuler was smoked, obesity/obesity, the physical activity that not all that, dislipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. The illness kardiovaskuler this could cause damage of the organ target, among them could cause failed the heart, stroke, the illness of the peripheral artery and retinopati! Therefore, hypertension was the situation that immediately must be improved, in order to prevents this damage of the organ target.

Several simple actions that could be carried out by us to prevent or handle hypertension were as follows:

1. Consumption of food that was rich in the fruit, vegetables and the low milk product fat.

2. Restrict the use of kitchen salt. The requirement for our body would salt around 3 gram per the day, or approximately totalling ½ the spoon the.

3. Carry out the physical activity in a competing manner. At least walked for 30 minutes each day.

4. Restrict consumption alcohol. If this action has been carried out by us but the hypertension situation did not improve, then consultations and medical treatment to the doctor were the exact action.

MSG - HEADACHE?

2009-01-20T22:52:00.001-08:00

MSG (mono sodium glutamate) is salt from natrium and glutamate acid. Glutamate is natural amino acid that is found in many foods which have high protein.

MSG is used to make our food tastier in many China restaurants.MSG allergy could cause these following sign:

1. Burnt feeling in back of the neck, upper extremity and chest.

2. Chest pain

3. Headache

4. Dyspnoe

Except of that condition, researchers tell us that MSG safe for almost people.

TOMATO

2009-01-20T22:47:00.000-08:00

Tomato is the vegetable that known have many vital nutrient. There are many variety of tomato, some of them are cherry tomato, yellow tomato, etc.
Tomatoes are the vegetables that have low calories, low fat, and the source of vitamin A, C, and K. They also contain potassium that could control blood pressure and nerve function.

This vegetable contains lycopene, the pigment that give color for them. Lycopene is an strong antioxidant, it often connected with decrease of some cancer risk, ant the other disease. Cooked tomato contains more lycopene than fresh tomato. Lycopene is dissolved in fat, that is the reason why we should add olive oil in spaghetti sauce (it is for helping the absorption the carotene).

Tomato is good for your body, especially:
1. Prevent some cancer, like colon cancer, prostate cancer, pancreas cancer, etc.
2. Tomato is the source of vitamin K which can activate osteocalcin to mineralize our bone.
3. They decrease the risk factor of heart disease by their function to decrease total cholesterol and LDL (low density lipoprotein).

So, consume tomato! It is good for your health.

STOP SMOKING

2009-01-19T23:17:00.001-08:00

The news that comes from WHO told us that in the 2030, there will be 27 million cases of lung cancer. The countries that have this disease almost are China, India and Russian.

The first cause of this disease is tobacco. Now, there are 1.3 million smokers and, there were 100 millions people killed by smoked this century.

What are the other carcinogenic substances? They are high fat foods and the less of physical activity. We, that know this fact, let’s make a change.

FOOD ALLERGY

2009-01-19T23:10:00.000-08:00

Food was one of the causes of the allergy that was received in the community. The allergic situation personally more often was found in children's period, but a small part could be found to the mature population.
Not all the reactions of food that was not wanted by us were food allergy, but sometimes the reaction of food may happen. The reaction of this food could take the form of the toxic reaction, for example food poisoning in meat that was contaminated, or the toxic reaction. The food allergy was the abnormal response to food because of the immune reaction. This food allergy could manifest to one or several target organs, such as:- Skin, they could appear as very itchy skin, angioedema, and dermatitis atopic- Respiratory tract, take the form of rhinitis (the reaction of the respiratory tract of the inflammation) and asthma- Gastro intestine tract, the example the stomachache, vomited, diarrhea- Cardiovascular system took the form of the anafilactic shock- it also could cause the contraction of the uterus in the woman.
How the process of this food allergy happened?This process generally caused by IgE (some immunoglobulin in the body). Protein antigen (from food) entered the circulation of blood and was spread all through the body. To prevent the immune response to all food that was digested, then was needed by the response that was pressed selectively that was acknowledged also as tolerance. If the process of tolerance (in IgE happened in the cavity in the mouth) this failed, ate antibodies IgE this will be produced excessively, and in a manner the shortness will cause the manifestation to the organ target like that was mentioned above earlier. Almost each food kind had the capacity to provoke the reaction of the allergy. The substance in food that could cause this allergy is called allergen. Allergen could in food take the form of protein that was contained in cattle milk, the egg and peanuts. The cause of the allergy to the adult was the legume, the fish and the shellfish. Whereas the most cause the children allergy was milk, the egg, the legume, the fish and wheat.
Most food allergies will disappear after the sufferer avoided this food and afterwards carried out the reduction (eliminated) food, except the allergy against the legume, the fish and the shellfish that tended to stabilize.
There were some foods that often cause the allergy reaction:1. The egg. It was white that the egg more allergic than the egg yolk. Main allergen in white egg was ovalbumin.2. Milk cattle of the Faction of milk protein especially were casein and whey (beta lactoglobulin, alpha lactalbumin), could provoke the reaction of the allergy.3. MeatThe most are chicken, the turkey and the pig.4. Peanuts possibly were most dangerous food allergen, his reaction could take the form of anafilactic. However peanut oil that was purified was safe for the person that the peanuts allergy.5. FishFish that could cause the allergy is Codfish that had allergen Gad c1, but several species of the other fish also had similar allergen. Antigens were susceptible to the manipulation and the storage, but not to in tin. Antigens also were easy to be spread to air, the example through the fish smell that was cooked, and could provoke the reaction of the respiratory tract allergy. The fish allergy could be also caused by direct contact with skin take the form of dermatitis contact.6. VegetableIt happened to the adult. Several vegetables that could cause the allergy are celery and carrots.7. FruitsApple is the cause of the reaction of the allergy to the fruit that most often. The other that also could become the cause of the allergy was peach, melon, the watermelon, bananas, the kiwi and the avocado.
Therapy or the handling from the food allergy was by avoiding cause food. The drug could with giving of the antihistamine and if necessary corticosteroid. Whereas, they could be given epinephrine/adrenalin in anafilactic reaction.

SOFT DRINK

2009-01-16T19:57:00.000-08:00

Soft drink is the drink that containing water, sweetener, acid (citrate/ phosphor), etc. This drink is so popular and consumed by every part of people. But, do you know that soft drink have many effects for our health?

Some effects that can be appeared in our body are:

1. Dent caries. Soft drink can damage the surface of our teeth. It may be because of the ingredients of sugar or acidity (pH). It usually happen in children.

2. Obesity. The experimental tell us that soft drink can make us overweight and it have correlation with metabolic syndrome. More soft drink we take, higher the stage of obesity. Obesity is the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Drink a glass soft drink can increase the risk of diabetes about 85%.

3. Osteoporosis. Soft drinks have low calcium that can influence the onset of osteoporosis, especially on woman. If we take the soft drink often, it can decrease the possibility to drink milk everyday.

4. Kidney stone

5. Heart disease. The causes of heart disease are high fat diet, smoking, sedentary life style, high sugar diet.

6. The effect of addicting agent that added to this drink.

FRUIT for YOUR HEALTH

2009-01-16T19:44:00.000-08:00

APPLE

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away. ” Although apples had low vitamin C, apples contain antioxidant and flavonoid that could increase the activity of vitamin C so as it can be reduce the risk of the colon cancer, the heart attack and the stroke. Moreover apples also had the anti-cancer material and anti-inflammation so as to be useful for preventing arthritis.

KIWI

Tiny but mighty. Kiwi was the source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and very good fibre. Kiwi also had the content of vitamin C twice more than the citrus fruit. The kiwi contained the chlorophyll pigment that gave the green colour. Its content was useful in overcoming cancer. Consumming one kiwi has been enough to satisfy the requirement for the adult's vitamin C.

STRAWBERRY

Protective Fruit. This fruit had antioxidant total highest than other. Strawberry also protected the body from the cause of cancer, the obstruction of blood vessels that cause by free radical. As traditional medicine, strawberries were believed as the anti-bacterial agenti and was used as the cleaner of the digestion system.

WATERMELON

Coolest Thirst Quencher. It contains 92% water. Often contained glutation that could increase the activity of the immune system. The watermelon also was the source of licopene that could prevent cancer. It also contains vitamin C and potassium.

PINEAPLE

Pineaple could untangle protein and contained the level of high sugar. Pineapples were often used as the material of the meat softener. Pineapples were the source of vitamin C and fibre. This also was reported could handle stomachache if processed exactly.

BANANA

Banana was the source of vitamins B6 that was needed to make serotonin in the brain. Serotonin was the hormone that was produced on the brain that had a function of giving the calm feeling, reduced the feeling of being sick, reduced the tension.

ORANGE

Sweetest medicine. Consumed 2 to 4 oranges per day could guard the body from the flu attack, unloaded cholesterol, prevented the occurrence of the kidney stone (because of the its citrate content, and prevented the risk of the occurrence of colon cancer. The orange fruit could be an anti-oxidant and reduced blood pressure.

MANGO

As same as the orange fruit, mangoes also contained antioxidant and had a function of protecting the body towards several cancer like intestines cancer. Mangoes also including rich fibre and vitamin C.

GUAVA and PAPAYA

Top awards for vitamin C. Guavas were rich in fibre so that it could prevent the constipation. Whereas papayas contain carotene that was good for your eyes.

HEALTHY LIFE THIS YEAR

2009-01-16T04:41:00.000-08:00

These are 10 tips that we could do for our better healthy life.

1. Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. Beside they keep our metabolism, it also make our kidney clean.

2. Defecation routinely.

3. Keep our body clean.

4. Sleep well. Bad sleep quality and quantity make our mind couldn’t think well. It also make us have a migraine. Sleep at least 6 hours per day.

5. Take some physical exercises minimal twice a week.

6. Keep our food healthy. Increase our vegetables and fruits meals and decrease fat. They make our body healthy, prevent cholesterol and heart disease.

7. Check up! Visit your dentist or doctor to make sure that your body is healthy.

8. Love your eyes. Taking a lot of time facing the computer, reading to much in low quality lightening make your eyes tired.

9. Don’t smoking. If we are passive smoker, avoid smoke with a mask.

10. Avoid stress, think positively and patient in every situation.

daily tips health

How to get Pregnant Faster

1. To get pregnant faster have sex three times a week.

2. To get pregnant faster use an ovulation prediction kit or fertility monitor.

3. To get pregnant faster have sex before ovulation (not after).

4. Don’t rely on the Calendar method for predicting ovulation.

5. If you want to get pregnant faster, don't rely on fertility charting alone to predict ovulation.

6. Before you start trying to get pregnant see your doctor.

7. When trying to get pregnant, don’t smoke, drink alcohol, or abuse drugs.

8. To get pregnant faster have enjoyable sex.

9. Have sex in positions that keep sperm inside the vagina longer.

10. There is no such thing as trying too hard to get pregnant.

Most couples get pregnant within a year of trying. If you have not gotten pregnant within a year consult your doctor for advice.

Source: www.justmommies.com

How to Whiten Skin Naturally

Simple Tips to Cure Your Acne Naturally

Yogurt for Treating Acne

Health Benefits of Tomato

Anti Aging Tips

1. Use UV screening cosmetic products

2. Eat fruits, vegetables and fish every day

3. Drink more liquids!

4. Give up smoking

5. Take it easy!

6. Use quality makeup

13 Healthy Habits to Improve Your Life

Healthy Habit No. 1: Eat Breakfast Every Morning

Healthy Habit No. 2: Add Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids to Your Diet

Healthy Habit No. 3: Get Enough Sleep

Healthy Habit No. 4: Make Social Connections

Healthy Habit No. 5: Exercise for Better Health

Healthy Habit No. 6: Practice Good Dental Hygiene

Healthy Habit No. 7: Take Up a Hobby

Healthy Habit No. 8: Protect Your Skin

Healthy Habit No. 9: Snack the Healthy Way

Healthy Habit No. 10: Drink Water and Eat Dairy

Healthy Habit No. 11: Drink Tea

Healthy Habit No. 12: Take a Daily Walk

Healthy Habit No. 13: Plan

101 Health Tips

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Start your day with a glass of water.

3. Drink a glass of water before you start a meal.

4. Have another glass of water while you are having the meal.

5. Stay away from sweetened drinks, especially sodas.

6. Include in your diet things that contain more water like tomatoes and watermelons.

7. Eat fresh fruit instead of drinking fruit juice.

8. Fresh fruit juice.If you do have a craving for fruit juice then go for fresh fruit juice instead of those that contain artificial flavors and colors. Or even better, try making your own fruit juice taking care not to sweeten it with too many calories.

8. Fresh fruit juice.

9. Choose fresh fruit over processed fruits.

10. Increase your fiber intake.

11. Go crazy on vegetables.

12. Eat intelligently.

13. Watch what you eat.

14. Control that sweet tooth.

15. Fix times to have meals and stick to it.

16. Eat only when you are hungry.

17. Quit snacking between meals.

18. Snack on vegetables if you must.

19. Go easy on tea and coffee.

20. Try to stick to black tea/coffee.

21. Count the calories as you eat.

22. Be sure to burn out those extra calories by the end of the week.

23. Stay away from fried food.

24. Do not skip meals.

25. Fresh vegetables are better than cooked or canned vegetables.

26. Not more than an egg a day.

27. Make chocolates a luxury and not a routine.

28. Choose a variety of foods from all food groups every day.

29. Say no to alcoholic beverages.

30. Try to have breakfast within one hour of waking.

31. 50 to 60% of your diet should be carbohydrates.

32. 15 to 20% of your diet should be proteins.

33. Fats should be about 20 to 25%.

34. Try to adopt a vegetarian diet.

35. Choose white meat rather than red.

36. High fiber, multigrain breads are much better than white breads.

37. Reduce your intake of pork.

38. Limit your sugar intake.

39. Graze 5 to 6 times a day.

8. Fresh fruit juice.
If you do have a craving for fruit juice then go for fresh fruit juice instead of those that contain artificial flavors and colors. Or even better, try making your own fruit juice taking care not to sweeten it with too many calories.

46. Boil your vegetables instead of cooking them, or even better, eat them fresh.
However, if you do not like eating your vegetables as it is, try steaming them without adding anything at all. This is probably the healthiest way to eat cabbages, cauliflowers, and a host of other vegetables.

86. Try yoga.
Yoga is one of the best ways of losing weight. Of course I can't go into a full lecture about yoga over here but I can tell you that I have never seen people with better-toned bodies than those who practice yoga.