Sunday, November 30, 2008

Are You Missing Something Like The Inside Of Your Bones Part 1 Of 4

Writen by Dr. Leslie Van Romer

In today's climate of too much information, too few facts, too many myths, too many money hungry businesses, and too many misinformed and unsuspecting Americans, you may be wondering what you need to do to prevent osteoporosis or the dissolving of your bones and how this bone wasting disease affects health and fitness.

Most Americans believe that osteoporosis is caused by the lack of calcium and our best sources of calcium are dairy products and/or calcium tablets.

Most doctors' remedy, aside from taking pills or drugs, for osteoporosis or the prevention of osteoporosis is drinking milk because milk has lots of calcium in it. After all, milk gives us strong bones and teeth, so we have always been told.

Actually, according to John McDougall, 70% of all studies say that the amount of calcium taken into the body has little or nothing to do with bone strength. In fact, those countries that consume the most calcium—the U.S., Great Britain, Finland, and Sweden—have the most hip fractures from osteoporosis.

Most of us equate osteoporosis, a bone wasting disease, with not enough calcium. In scientific journals, there is no such thing as a calcium deficiency disease.

Then what is osteoporosis? It is the loss of hard minerals from our bones. And what causes us to lose hard minerals from our bones?

There are many things we eat that leach calcium from our bones. One of the biggest calcium robbers of all is animal protein, any source of animal protein.

Animal protein causes the blood and the body to become more acidic than alkaline. An acid environment is not ideal for the body. In fact, some experts say that cancer thrives in an acid environment. The body must somehow neutralize the acidity.

That's where calcium comes in. Without getting too complicated here, the body pulls the calcium out of the bones to neutralize the acidity, and then we literally pee this calcium out.

When we eat animal protein and other food and non-food substances that leech the calcium out of our bones day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year the way most Americans do, the result is often osteoporosis.

So what else contributes to the dissolving of our bones besides animal protein?

Learn what you eat that dissolves your bones in Part 2 of: "Are You Missing Something? Like the Inside of Your Bones?"

Dr. Leslie Van Romer is a health motivational speaker, writer, and life style coach. Visit http://www.DrLeslieVanRomer.com for more inspiration.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Eczema Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Writen by Jason Montag

Eczema is a frustrating and uncomfortable ailment that affects more people that most know. It is thought that up to 20% of the children of the world have eczema and that about 8% of the adults of the world also suffer from eczema. The thing is that most of the affected individuals do not know that they have eczema since they have not had an outbreak. Even the majority of the persons that have had an eczema outbreak did not know that they had an eczema outbreak. The reason is that not all of the persons with eczema have severe cases. Eczema can come in any severity along the spectrum from really mild eczema to extreme eczema. To make matters worse there are a number of different types of eczema, about seven types. These seven types of eczema are caused by different things and knowing which you have and what causes it is half of the battle. We have covered other types of eczema in previous articles and in this article we will cover allergic contact dermatitis. Take this eczema information as a supplement to you other research. If you feel that you have eczema consult with a doctor to find out for sure. Do not use this as medical advice since it is not.

Allergic contact dermatitis is a type of eczema that occurs when your body reacts negatively to something that is in regular contact with your skin. This type of eczema develops over along period of time and happens after consistent and repeated contact with the bothersome items. The things that can cause this type of eczema are things like specific metallic things, certain fabrics in clothing or linens and other materials like latex. Latex is a very common material that causes the allergic contact dermatitis version of eczema. Costume jewelry can often be a culprit of the eczema type allergic contact dermatitis.

An easy way to stop this form of eczema is to discontinue contact with the affecting material. If you notice that a particular watch is causing your outbreak then switch watches to a different type made of a different material to see if it eliminates your allergic contact dermatitis. Allergic contact dermatitis seems to be an easy type of eczema to get rid of and seems not to needs any crazy medication or doctors assistance. If this is the type of eczema you have then we are happy for you as there are many worse types of eczema to have.

Learn more about eczema how to get rid of your eczema.

Generic Cure

Writen by Venus Ann

Why Brand the Generic?
When the branded drug becomes a generic drug, what takes shape is a cure that becomes readily available for the many deprived, since the price of the drug falls drastically with the transition. Cheap Generic drugs thus become a challenge to the branded versions and with the help of internet pharmacy reaches you within no time. Online generic drugs open the box of cure that till then had been only within the reach of the branded. The reason is due to the lesser cost that goes behind the research and development of the generic as well as the stiff competition that exists between the large number of generic drug manufacturers. You now needn't have to be rich to afford the cure to diseases where the drugs had been patented. Generic solves the hurdles with the same content and the same cure as the branded. To buy generic drugs is hence to buy the cure.

Pharmacy Online
Online generic drugs and internet pharmacy goes hand in hand; the need for the drug is felt by the click of the mouse. There even exist methods whereby the drugs could be prescribed online with the help of active medical units in the web world. You could try visiting online France pharmacy. You could at times be advised to change the branded with a generic drug by your pharmacists. What he means is good for you since it is not the coating of the drug or the color or shape which matters rather the dosage strength, manufacturing control and the labeling that define the generic drug. This under stringent requirements is tested and inspected by the authorities to remain the same and hence there needn't be a lack of confidence in buying the generic version.

For the Very Personal
Moreover, when the ailment becomes too personal, as in the case of erectile dysfunction or obesity, the best that you could go for shall be the cure offered by the generic. Generic versions of Cialis and Viagra find a large number of consumers than the branded drugs. When the case calls you to have the drug at a systematic and affordable rate, the answer thus always remains with the Generic drugs. So when each time you purchase a costly drug, the wise man in you could ponder over with your pharmacist to see if the same drug holds a generic variety. If yes, then it's high time you stop and throw off the branded at hand, and turn and fetch out the generic on demand.

The author is an amateur writer focusing primarily on health related topics or on the health related research findings. For more information on Viagra, visit http://www.eugenerics.com

Friday, November 28, 2008

Some Side Effects Of Acne Medications

Writen by Bill Urell

People with acne might will generally try anything to get rid of it. Who can blame them? With the wide variety of acne medication on the market, getting rid of acne is something that can be achieved by most people. However, for every acne medication, there are side effects. And before you try any acne medication, it is important that you understand the risks and the possibility of side effects.

Starting with the most powerful acne medication- Isotretinoin (Accutane)

Isotretinoin (Accutane) is an acne medication that is only prescribed by a doctor for cases of severe acne. It is seen as an acne medication of the last resort. One of the reasons for this is that the side effects of this acne medication can be severe. Do not take this lightly. The side effects of Isotretinoin are so many that blood work is needed before it can be administered.

Some side effects of Isotretinoin include:

* Birth defects. This is the most serious side effect. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may not take Isotretinoin. There are no studies about whether the risk of birth defects is the same for men, but men who take Isotretinoin are advised not to get women pregnant. * Chapped lips

* Depression, feeling 'off'

* Urinary problems

* Thinning of the hair (temporary)

* Joint and muscle pain

* Headaches

* Dry, chapped skin

* Decrease in night vision

Antibiotics:

Antibiotics are another acne medication with some potential side effects. Many studies have appeared showing the need for restraint in the use of antibiotics. This includes using antibiotics as an acne medication. The reason for this is simple. Frequent antibiotic use can lead to resistant strains of bacteria. This goes for acne as well. Over time, acne can become resistant to antibiotics if used as a long-term treatment. Other possible side effects include:

* Rashes

* Photosensitivity

* Gastrointestinal problems

Birth Control Pills

There are many well-known side-effects associated with birth control pills. If used as an acne medication, be aware of these side effects, which include:

* Vaginal bleeding

* Retaining water

* Melasma

* Increased risk of heart attack, strokes, blood clots and breast cancer

* Depression

The author, Bill Urell, reviews only the best diet and fitness plans, tips, and articles that promote healthier lifestyles. Visit us and claim your FREE ebook, 101 Romantic Ideas as a welcome gift ==>http://www.online-weight-loss-resources.com

Learning To Access Silence

Writen by Katheryn Hoban

To access deep wisdom you need to learn the art of silence. When you are quiet and listening within to your own heart song, your rhythm, and the centeredness of your being, that's when you have great access to wisdom, ability and the expanded consciousness. Silence is where you learn that you are an extraordinary being, with unlimited capacity, and that secrets are revealed to you. In moments when you become quiet a wonderful world opens to you. Or shall I say is revealed to you. It is in this space that you recognize the quiet center of your soul that rests in continual peace.

We connect with the divine part of ourselves in the silence. To allow yourself to simply be is the greatest act of respect. This is another lesson that we delve from the silence. From the simple to the extraordinary we encompass all of it. We are capable of the quiet interaction to the great displays of courage, grace, magic, and laughter, to the full blown wildest imagination. As you spend more time in periods of silence, you find that you are renewed, energized, have great ideas, connect with solutions, can propel yourself forward, or can shift from an inflexible position to one of fluidity as swiftly and easily as you need.

You easily recognize what feels peaceful and what or who does not. It becomes a simple thing when you can make an adjustment in your life so that you can retain your peace. The quietude of your mind, and heart is an extraordinary peaceful encounter. When your mind is running with fury and it pulls you in many directions, it is hard to find the balance without the quiet. We need to actively pursue the stillness. We need to quiet our minds, and unburden ourselves of all the mind junk. It does take much practice but everything worthwhile does take practice. The mind is fast and furious. The mind is vengeful and full of its desires and pressures. You must choose the quietude to know your peaceful nature. Silence is the pathway to your higher consciousness and understanding and ability.

Yoga Kat--aka Katheryn Hoban is a yoga teacher and Reiki Master Teacher with twelve years experience. She teaches children's yoga ages 3-6, and 7-12 and Adults privately in NJ. She is the author the book DAUGHTER BELOVED which will come out next year. She has created a children's affirmation CD (ages 3-6) and an affirmation CD for adults. Yoga Kat is available for speaking or writing and can be reached at katscoolcorner@yahoo.com or 201 970-9340

COMING SOON http://www.thecircleofpeace.com

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Reasons To Quit Smoking

Writen by Steve Hill

In this article, I write about the reasons why I decided to quit smoking. I feel that it is important that you have a number of good reasons as to why you want to stop smoking, as this will help you to get through the great number of cravings that you will no doubt have. I hope this article proves to be of inspiration and can help other people to cut cigarettes out of their lives once and for all.

When different governments around the world have attempted to convince people to stop smoking, they always seem to go down the health route. It could be by showing a man who is dying of cancer for example. I knew about all of the health risks that were involved with smoking but I still did it. This was because in my own mind these health problems were unlikely to really start affecting me for around thirty years. I used to say to myself that there is a good chance that I will not be alive in thirty years time and that I should live for today. I would also try to convince myself that if I do live for another thirty years that there is a good chance that they will have found a cure for cancer by that point. When I decided to stop smoking, health was one of the reasons why I wanted to quit, but it was by no means the main reason.

The main reason was without doubt financial. The price of a packet of twenty cigarettes in the UK has rocketed upwards over the last few years. It is not that I can not afford to continue buying them, it is that I would rather spend the money on other things such as clothes or a holiday. I have worked out that I save over a thousand pounds a year by no longer smoking. This for me is a lot of money and was what I always thought of when the demons in my head were trying to convince me to smoke just one last cigarette.

There were of course other reasons why I wanted to stop smoking. These include the amount they make your clothes smell, the amount they make your house smell, the affect they have on your teeth, the fact that most women find smoking a turn off and the sheer dependancy that one can get from cigarettes. For example I feel a bit stressed, I must therefore have a cigarette. I am drinking coffee, therefore I must smoke a cigarette.

It was very very hard to stop smoking cigarettes but all of the effort is more than worth it.

Stephen Hill helps to promote a number of websites including:

stuttering treatment

quit smoking

criminal records advice

A Treadmill Reader Rack What Is It And What Does It Do

Writen by Charlie Cory

A treadmill reader rack is a generic term for the basket which holds the varying amounts of instruments that the modern day treadmill offers the consumer as part of accessory pack that comes with your treadmill.

Bearing in mind the cost of a new treadmill, the quality of the machine itself should not surpass the quality needed, and expected, of the read out equipment that will come with it. In addition to the durability that one expects from a treadmill, the reader rack should be easy to use and give you the information that you require to complete your work out with the optimum effect. You really don't want to be worrying about the onboard computers when you are doing a 20k run on your treadmill!

The treadmill reader rack should offer good ergonomic designs, as well as an ease of use. They should supply the information that you require on a wide range of relevant statistics, such as calories used up, speed, miles (or kilometres) run and heart rate amongst other things.

In addition to statistics on your own personal well being during your work out, a treadmill should also offer lots of practical functionality. By that I mean the means to control the type of workout that you are experiencing, by altering the speed at which you can run, or the incline of the slope. In an ideal world, a good treadmill should also let you vary both of these factors during the course of a workout, to give you precisely the type of exercise that you are looking for.

Some treadmills are specially designed for the rehabilitation of either the athlete or the patient, but, in either case, the machine should give you all the information that you require. If you are a sports person or just someone in the recovery room, the right information must be delivered in order to fulfil the criteria of the treadmill that you are using to give you the maximum benefit.

Some machines actually go a stage further and go beyond the functional to what could only be described as luxury. What else could you call magazine racks and space for your MP3?

The onboard computers of some treadmills also allow you to program and save custom routines that you might have entered yourself.

Either way, a treadmill should give you what you need - you should not compromise on quality, nor functionality.

The article was written by Charlie Cory, who owns Home Fitness Online. Get fitter, feel better, live longer. Attain higher levels of fitness from the comfort of your own home.

Visit his website about a treadmill reader rack.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Juice Fasting

Writen by Kevin Pederson

Fasting is one of oldest and effective way of burning huge amounts of accumulated waste products in the body. Previously, people used to fast by drinking water only throughout the day. Experts say that fasting on juices, both vegetable and fruits is much gentler and beneficial in normalizing all body processes.

Juice fasting involves intake of juices diluted with water every hour or two from morning to night. Avoid taking solid foods or other kinds of liquids, especially canned juices if you are on juice fasting. The total juice intake in day should be about 7-9 glasses.

Vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, iron, calcium and enzymes contained in these juices supply much need nutrients for body's own healing activity and thereby speeding up the recovery process. While on juice fast, ensure that your bowels are flushed out regularly.

Juice fasting is known to have many advantages. It is the safest method to detox one's body by cleansing and eliminating those cells and tissues, which are dead or damaged. It reduces the cholesterol levels; treats symptoms of allergies, acne, and headaches by flushing out toxins making one feel good and healthy.

Juice fasting can be done with almost any fruits or vegetables that are eaten raw. Best veggies for juice fasting are tomatoes, cucumbers, celery and carrots. A combination of apple and carrot juice or apple and tomato juice i.e. a combination of fruit and vegetable is healthy and nutritious drink. Huge variety of fruits and vegetables can be used in combination or separately gives the body its daily calories and enhances health.

First, peel the off skin from vegetables and fruits. Rinse in filtered water. After extracting the juice, dilute it with water in equal parts. Make sure that your juicer does a good job of extracting the juice. Consume the juice immediately after extraction. Before you start your juice fasting, consult your GP incase you your body does not agree with juice fasting. Foul breath, a coated tongue, and a bad taste in the mouth are said to be the first symptoms to appear when one fasts. These symptoms can be felt till your body has cleared out all waste.

In short, exclusive diet of juices of vegetables and fruits is an effective way to restore health from diseases, cleanse and regenerate tissues and rejuvenate the body.

Kevin Pederson manages websites on nutrition, diet and health. Healthy food promotes good health and unhealthy food habits lead to a diseased body. Healthy Food contains vital nutrients that aid our body's metabolic function.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Having A Heart Getting Trained

Writen by Denny Knutson

As an Emergency Room Nurse trained in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), I am amazed at the number of Cardiac Emergencies that come thru our Emergency Department that could have had a better chance of survival if the person or persons discovering the victim would have had some training. More than 300,000 people die from cardiac arrest every year.

Hence, CPR or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. The use of CPR can double the chances that a person will survive. Classes for training are held almost weekly by the American Red Cross Chapters across the nation and The Amercian Heart Association. In addition to CPR training we now have devices that are readily available to the public to help people with Cardiac Problems. They are called AED's or Automated External Defibrillators. These devices which you can also take classes for with the Red Cross and American Heart Association, are now being placed for Public Access and are called PAD's or Public Access Defibrillators. Individuals would need to have CPR training before they can appreciate the importance and use of an AED. An individual who chooses to use an AED would need to know how to recognize the signs of a sudden cardiac arrest. This is where your CPR class comes into play. And yes, you can now take CPR classes in the privacy of your own home.

The CPR Anytime for Family and Friends Personal Learning Program allows families, friends and the general public – who most likely would not attend a traditional CPR course – to learn the core skills of CPR in 22 minutes using their own personal kit. This program is offered by the American Heart Association in order to increase CPR knowledge and awareness to the general public. You can check out the American Heart Association site by going to http://www.americanheart.org.

Some people would question if a traditional CPR class with a CPR instructor would be better than the CPR Anytime for family & friends program, but there is little difference in the materials and training between the two programs.

Knowing First Aid and CPR is seemingly inexpensive to learn and valuable if needed to apply. Consider that you could save money on trips to the Hospital or even the doctors office if not shorten the recovery time when you have medical training in First Aid and CPR.

Training in CPR, AED and First Aid do not cost ! It Pays!!

Denny Knutson, LPN,EMT, Maa
Emergeny Room Nurse
Bellin Health - Bond Health Center

Monday, November 24, 2008

Adult Acne Not Just For Teens

Writen by K. Nielsen

Acne is not just a problem that teens are facing. If you are an adult, and you are finding that your face is breaking out more often, you may have adult acne. Adult acne can occur just occasionally or it could be an ongoing problem that you are facing. Adult acne is a problem with the skin that will cause pimples, black heads and even white heads to form. As adult acne is becoming more of a problem, as the environment is taking a toll on our skin, and the foods we eat are changing all the time, our skin is left to pay the price.

Often time's adult acne is thought to be brought about by allergies, and by the use of cleansers that are not good for the skin. Adult acne, just like teen acne, is generally brought about by changing hormones, and the growing changes in our bodies. Adult acne is also going to be attributed to allergies, soaps, lotion, stress, and the changes in life, but it can be hard to pin point one major reason for the onset of adult acne.

Acne is a problem because you look different, it can be sore, and it can affect your over all confidence levels for some people. If you are faced with ongoing onsets of adult acne, finding the right type of solution is what you should be searching for. Many types of medications are available for those who are facing adult acne. Combinations of Azelaic acid creams, and peroxide, or alpha hydroxy acids, or topical antibiotics, topical steroids, and even accutane are answers to solving that adult acne problem putting your skin back on a balanced track for healing.

The major problem with acne, with adult acne or teen acne is that if you don't leave it alone, and if you continue to pick at your acne, it will take longer to heal. The areas can cause scarring and it can be difficult for any type of infection to be overcome. With the proper medications, you can over come the problem acne, and get that clear skin again. Proper care is also going to involve cleaning your skin with water and not with soap if you have a drying problem with your skin. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and remember to drink a good bit of water to avoid the onset of adult acne.

If you are not finding relief with the acne problems that you are dealing with, using the lotions and creams available through the local pharmacy you may need something a little stronger. Prescription antibiotics and prescription topical lotions are often a much better choice, and fast acting at the same time to help you get rid of and heal up those acne problems.

Read more about Adult Acne on http://www.adult-acne.biz.

Low Carb Diets Cause More Than Water Weight Loss

Writen by Benji Paras

Many critics in have attacked low carb diets for only providing an initial loss in water weight, rather than actually affecting sustained fat loss. Some critics have even suggested that dieters lose don't lose any fat at all.

This attack on low carb diets is based on a critique of the first phase of most low carb diets-- such as the induction phase of Dr. Atkins's' diet--in which the dieter consumes no carbs over a one to two week period.

Critics claim that this stage is deceptive because it leads low carb dieters to believe that they are losing fat weight, when in fact, they are shedding the majority of their weight in the form of water.

When dieters stop consuming sugar, they immediately begin burning carbohydrate reserves for energy. Reserves are stored in the form of glycogen, which covers the liver and muscles. Each gram of glycogen binds four grams of water, which means that each gram of glycogen converted into energy takes with it four grams of water.

The result is pretty straightforward. If you convert 300 grams of stored carbs into energy, you will lose an additional 1200 grams of water, too. This means four-fifths of the weight you lose during the first phase of a low carb diet is water weight.

However, while this critique does apply to the "no carb" phase of "low carb" diets, it falls in two places:

The first place is mistakenly thinking that people don't want to lose massive amounts of carbohydrate stores in addition to the fat stores they currently have.

The second is a complete failure to critique or even examine the following stages in low carb diets.

Many dieters have lost close to one hundred pounds in excess of of the initial carbohydrate reserves-- all of which was the direct result of following a low carb diet plan.

Low carb dieters continue to lose weight after the "no carb" phase because they maintain a net loss of carbohydrates, which forces their bodies to burn fat for energy.

So, if you plan to start a low carb diet in the future, do not be deterred by critics who claim you cannot be successful after the initial period of carbohydrate reserve loss. This is simply untrue.

Benji Paras runs http://www.list-of-low-carb-food.com, specializing in the benefits of the low-carb lifestyle. The site contains a treasure trove of information for losing weight, and includes a list of low carb foods along with informative articles and the latest low-carb headlines.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Contact Lenses Advances And Options

Writen by Jeff Lakie

People with poor vision once had very few options. They could deal with glasses that were heavy and usually unattractive. They could choose contacts that were much the same - heavy, uncomfortable and lots of trouble. Or they could simply choose to have uncorrected vision. But the past two decades have seen some incredible advances in vision correction, including contact lenses.

One of the most notable recent advances in the technology of contact lenses has to do with astigmatism. Until lately, those with astigmatism didn't have the option of contact lenses at all. Today, astigmatism is only one of the changes that made contact lenses appropriate for more people over the past few years.

Multi-focal lenses is another recent addition to the contact lens industry. No longer do those with the need for bi-focals and tri-focals have to give up their contacts in favor of glasses.

Convenience and safety are other areas that have been vastly improved over the past few years. When contact lenses were newly introduced, nightmare situations frightened some people away from using contact lenses. In those early days, contact lenses were made of heavy, rigid materials. Times and materials have changed and today's contacts are usually flexible and made to withstand impacts - eliminating the potential for broken contact lenses to damage the eyeball.

Another convenience is the disposable contact, but this is more than just a convenience. There have been hundreds of people who faced serious eye infections from mishandling contact lenses. Disposable contacts eliminate the need to clean contacts and lessen the potential for contaminating the lens and the eye.

In additional to disposables, extended wear contacts are offering their share of convenience and safety. Because there's no need to remove the contacts daily, there's no need to wash them and put them back in every day. That also lessens the potential to introduce contaminations into the eye.

With the incredible advances, it's no wonder that so many people are choosing contact lenses over other vision correction options. Considering the improvements in safety, the convenience of today's materials, and the fact that contact lenses can correct many vision problems, maybe it's time for you to consider contacts.

Jeff Lakie is the founder of Contact Lenses Information a website providing information on Contact Lenses

Fitness Matters

Writen by Jonathon Hardcastle

It certainly pays to be fit. People who are fat or maybe just a little on the flabby side are prone to be short of breath after climbing a flight of stairs. They ache all over after spending a day just window shopping at the mall or strolling in the park. And usually, those are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the problems that heavy-set people face.

Generally, a physically fit person enjoys a gets to be in good physical condition because of regular physical activity, proper nutrition and ample rest to allow the body to recover fully from the rigors of everyday living.

Being fit not only makes us more physically capable of meeting the challenges that come our way, it also helps us out mentally and emotionally. For one thing, it helps us deal with stress better which is quite a benefit if you really think about it. Not only does stress ruin our well-being and sap the enjoyment out of our days, it can kill us slowly by adversely affecting essential body functions.

Among the staples of the most popular and effective programs for physical fitness are regular exercise, physical therapy, massage and even taking a hot bath or other activities that can relax and sooth our nerves. Physical fitness means more than just taking care of the physical parts of our being, you know.

However, with regard to our overall fitness, an effective regimen should address our flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, body composition, agility, balance and speed.

There is no easy way to physical fitness. It always takes time and hard work, as well as discipline and consistency. But being physically fit is its own reward and more than well worth the sacrifice. We hate to admit it but overweight people really do envy those with impressive physiques.

Being fit and free from stress allows us to attain peace of mind as well as the confidence and capability to face any physical, emotional and mental challenges of everyday life.

Sometimes, the biggest challenge in getting fit is getting started. So why don't you seize on that momentum that you are probably feeling now and start on a physical fitness program? Try walking a few blocks and see the difference it can make. After that, you may not want to stop trying to get physically fit.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Fitness, Recreation, and Games

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Recognize Breast Cancer Symptoms

Writen by Dennis Hardy

The figures concerning breast cancer are alarming. One woman in every nine will get breast cancer at some point in her life. There are more than 212,000 cases of breast cancer diagnosed in the USA each year. In Canada the figure is about 20,500, Australia 13,000 and in UK the figure is over 41,000. It doesn't matter if you are a mature women or a young girl in your teens. It is important for all females to know the symptoms of this dreaded disease.

Who is at risk?

Breast cancer is overwhelmingly a female disease, but rarely a few men are also affected. It becomes more common in women as age increases. Over 80% of the cases occur in women over the age of 50. Other risk factors include:

-taking an oral contraceptive pill
-having hormone replacement therapy
-obesity and/or high fat diets
-one or more relatives who have had breast cancer
-alcohol use

Early detection is very important

Currently, six out of every seven patients diagnosed with breast cancer are cured at an early stage. However, if they are diagnosed when the cancer has become advanced, the cure rate falls to about one in seven. It is extremely important to catch breast cancer at an early stage. Knowing the symptoms is crucial.

Common symptoms of breast cancer

Usually, early breast cancer does not cause pain. As a matter of fact, when breast cancer first develops, there may be no symptoms at all. As the cancer grows and spreads, it can cause changes that women should watch for.

Here are few symptoms one should be aware of:

-Itching in the armpit or around the breast region.
-Pink, red, or dark colored area (called erythematic) with texture similar to the skin of an orange (called peau d'orange).
-Ridges and thickened areas of the skin of nipple or breast.
-Appearance of a bruise that does not go away.
-Nipple getting inverted.
-Breast is warm to the touch.
-Pain in the breast (from a constant ache to stabbing pains).
-Change in texture as well as color of the aureole.
-Change in the shape or size of a breast.
-Dimpling of the breast skin.
-Swelling or a lump in the armpit.
-A discharge from the nipple.

On noticing any of these changes, a woman should see her doctor. However, there is no need to panic. Most often, it is not cancer. Many conditions can cause symptoms listed above. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis.

Dennis Hardy is a senior writer for the Health-Articles-Online.com website. For more articles from this author, please visit http://www.Health-Articles-Online.com

Friday, November 21, 2008

Childhood Obesity On The Rise

Writen by Beverley Brooke

Along with the increase of obesity in adult, childhood obesity is on the rise. Around 15.5 percent of adolescents in the United States, aged 12 to 19 are obese. Even more alarming, about 15.3 percent of children ages 6 to 11 are obese. These children are developing Type II Diabetes and high blood pressure at an early age. They are placing themselves at increased risk for heart disease and other obesity-related diseases. Their weight also makes them the target of bullies and children who insult and taunt them about their weight. This can ruin their self-esteem and put them at risk for depression.

Today's children make up the digital generation. They've been surrounded by computers their entire life and are not as physically active as children of past generations were. Instead of going outside and playing, they tend to hang out indoors, watching TV and playing computer and video games. Along with lack of physical activity comes the convenience of fast food. There are fast food restaurants virtually around every corner, and they have easy access to snack foods full of saturated fats and sugars. In addition, obese parents are more likely to have obese children. The reason for this is two-fold. First, obese parents probably pass down their poor habits to their children. Second, genetics plays a role in obesity.

It's important for parents to be role models to their children and emphasize the importance of physical activity and healthy eating. Parents can create healthy environments for their children by doing regular physical activities, such as biking, swimming, or walking together. They should encourage their children to participate in sports, dance, martial arts, and etcetera. This allows children to develop an appreciation of physical activity and enjoy exercising.

When it comes to eating, parents need to implement diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole-grains. They can make eating enjoyable and healthy by preparing food together and eating together as a family. Fast-food should be limited and reserved for special occasions. Way too often, we reward ourselves for a job well done with food. Look for other ways to reward your children for doing a great job, such as a special shopping trip or a day with just mom or dad.

Article by Beverley Brooke, Editor of Health & Finesse Weekly. Visit http://www.healthandfinesse.com for more on childhood obesity

The Benefits Of Stethoscope Covers

Writen by Damian Sofsian

Many doctors like to personalize their stethoscope by putting a cover over the tube. Stethoscope covers come in many different colors and shapes. Many pediatricians use stethoscope covers shaped like animals. Other doctors like denim or cotton stethoscope covers. Stethoscope covers serve a number of purposes. For one thing, they can protect the fragile rubber tubes from wear and tear. Doctors can also identify their stethoscope by the cover if they happen to misplace it or let someone else borrow it. Many pediatricians find that kid friendly stethoscope designs can have a calming effect on nervous children.

Rubber tubes connect the earpieces and chestpiece of a stethoscope. These tubes are hollow to allow sound to pass through them. Over time, stethoscope tubes can break and tear, greatly impairing the sound quality and making it difficult for the doctor to accurately diagnose any problems the patient may have. Stethoscope covers can protect the tubes from the normal deterioration that occurs over time. The covers provide an extra layer of protection that extends the life of the stethoscope.

Stethoscopes are notoriously difficult to keep track of, especially in a busy hospital setting. Other doctors can borrow stethoscopes and forget to return them, nurses can misplace them, or patients can take them. It is a good idea for doctors to have some sort of distinguishing mark on their stethoscope to make it easier to find if it is lost or mixed up with other stethoscopes. A stethoscope cover provides the perfect identification. Doctors can easily identify their own stethoscope if it has a unique cover, perhaps even a cover with the doctor's name on it.

Many children's doctors have funny stethoscope covers that look like animals or cartoon characters. These covers can distract or calm anxious patients, allowing the doctor to work without much resistance from the child.

Stethoscope covers are useful for a number of reasons. They are inexpensive, usually less than $20, and can lengthen the life of the stethoscope, provide identification is the stethoscope goes missing, and make the doctor's job easier when treating young children.

Stethoscopes Info provides detailed information about Littman, electric, cardiology, and discount stethoscopes, as well as stethoscope covers and more. Stethoscopes Info is the sister site of EKG Web.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

How To Tell If You Have Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

Writen by Caterina Christakos

Mesothelioma - Symptoms and Solutions

Symptoms of Mesothelioma can be latent in the body for years. And even when the symptoms do become evident, the symptoms are so general that they can easily be misdiagnosed. The symptoms of this disease can even be confused with pneumonia during its early stages, making it difficult to diagnose. It is therefore important for patients to inform their doctor if they have been exposed to asbestos at any point

Types of Mesothelioma:

Pleural Mesothelioma and Peritoneal Mesothelioma are common forms of Mesothelioma. The rarest form of this disease is pericardial mesothelioma

What are some of the symptoms?

Shortness of breath and chest pains are common. This may be accompanied by a persistent cough. Those with Pleural Mesothelioma may also experience severe breathing difficulty, weight loss and fever as well as trouble swallowing and even swelling of the face and neck. Some patients may also develop a rasping voice and start coughing up blood. However, there are other patients that may not show any significant symptoms at all.

Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma can display abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, loss of appetite and vomiting. They can also suffer breathing problems, and chest pain.

Pericardial mesothelioma sufferers may experience chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent coughing and palpitations.

What causes this?

With Pleural Mesothelioma the build up of fluid between the lining of the lung and the chest cavity. This is known as pleural effusion. This type of the disease starts in the chest cavity and can then spread to other parts of the body.

In patients with peritoneal mesothelioma the disease starts in the abdomen and can spread from there. These symptoms result from tumours that lean against the abdominal wall. Bowel obstruction, anaemia, fever and problems with blood clotting may also affect peritoneal mesothelioma patients.

Pericardial Mesothelioma, starts in the cavity surrounding the heart. With pericardial mesothelioma, the tumours grow in the tissues that surround the heart and can spread from there.

For information on ways to treat Mesothelioma go to: http://www.topmesotheliomalawyer.com/Mesothelioma_Information.php

Caterina Christakos is a published author and internet publisher. Her background is in marriage and family counseling and law.

How To Cope With Stress And Increase Your Natural Energy

Writen by Jack Prime

About a quarter of all people who visit their doctor or medical health practitioner complain about feeling tired, run down or exhausted. Often an underlying health issue is the cause and their body is using all of its available energy to combat the disease process which is the cause of the health issue.

However, what if you are in general good health and still suffer from a lack of energy? What steps can you take to improve your energy safely and naturally?

The effects of stress, poor nutrition, lack of exercise and allergies can all contribute to fatigue and tiredness so it's important to look at your lifestyle as a whole instead of focusing on a single aspect.

Under normal conditions stress is good for our bodies and provides drive, attention and persistence for our goals and aspirations. However, today we are subjected to longer periods and higher levels of stress than our bodies can cope with.

If you are tired and feel stress is getting the better of you it is important you do something about it before you reach a stage of exhaustion.

Do all you can to reduce the stresses in your life that are having an adverse effect on your health and well-being.

Ensure you give yourself the space and time to eat well and drink plenty of clean, fresh water. An increase in the quality of your diet and nutrition will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to function at its best ability.

If your relationships are causing you anxiety then try to work on your attitude towards them. Start with yourself and try hard not to get "wound up" or drawn into confrontations.

Take a good look at your work-life balance and if you are spending too much time at your job try and make changes. If you have not taken a holiday for a long time then arrange a vacation or short break.

If you work in a polluted area or atmosphere take appropriate steps to protect yourself with a mask, protective clothing, move away from electronic equipment or computer screens etc.

Take every step possible to relax and allow your body to deal with your stress.

Once you have built up your stores of energy you will be prepared to face stress again but this time you will be in a much better position to deal with and recognise it.

For further advice on fatigue and exhaustion, visit Fatigue and Exhaustion

For help, advice and support on coping with Fatigue and Exhaustion visit the Fatigue Treatment website.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Smoking For All The Family

Writen by Lysette Offley

We know that every smoker will suffer some sort of illness or damage as a result of smoking and half will be killed by their habit: half of these in middle age. Most die from lung cancer, chronic obstructive lung disease (bronchitis and emphysema) and coronary heart disease, painful, long drawn out, messy deaths needing numerous operations, medication and hospital stays becoming more and more debilitated.

An estimate by a joint ASH Medical Association in June 1999 put the number of UK men in their 30s and 40s, impotent as a direct consequence of smoking, at 120 000. Approximately 90% are unaware of the link. Cigarette packets now often warn of that risk.

But it's not just our own health at risk. More than 17,000 children under the age of five are admitted to hospital every year because of the effects of passive smoking.

The baby has a much greater risk of suffering cleft palate, cerebral palsy, glue ear and infections, tonsillitis, asthma, coughs, croup, allergies, behavioural problems and reproductive problems later. Many cot deaths are attributable to parents smoking at home.

44% of house fires are caused by cigarettes and the casualties are very often the children, trapped upstairs, overcome by smoke and unable to escape and unable to be rescued by their desperate parents below.

Children learn by imitation and so are far more likely to smoke if their parents do. In the United Kingdom about 450 children start smoking every day and more than 80% of smokers began their habit as teenagers.

Meanwhile, successful quitters have taken on average of 6 times to succeed and 20% have managed to give up first time. And according to ASH, the stop smoking charity, 21% of all women and 27% of all men in the UK are ex-smokers.

So, if they can stop, so can you.

Ask the successful quitters . . . it doesn't have to be hard providing you find the right method and motivation for you. For many people, it's hypnotherapy that does the trick. You can expect to become a non-smoker, rapidly and permanently in just one relaxing session with a clinical hypnotherapist. Alternatively, you can use hypnotherapy products at home to re-programme your unconscious mind and support you in achieving your goal.

Lysette Offley is a clinical hypnotherapist running a thriving practice in Henley on Thames, England. She provides one-to-one therapy as well as downloadable home-use hypnotherapy products on her website.

For more information visit: http://www.SoundsPositive.com Lysette Offley BA (Hons), PGCE, Dip Hyp, GHR, GQHP

Managing Add Is Like Riding A Bike

Writen by Jennifer Koretsky

Remember when you learned to ride a bike?

You probably started out with a tricycle when you were very young. At some point, you got the coveted two-wheeler with training wheels. And most likely, one day, one of your parents told you that you were ready to take those training wheels off.

Excitement and joy arose when a sunny spring day appeared and you knew it was your time to shine...to be a "big kid." And you probably resented the adult who held on to the back of the bike as you started riding.

But when they did eventually let go, what happened?

You fell.

Splat! Right over on your side. You thought you could do it, but it turned out balance on two wheels is a lot different than balance on four. That adult was right.

Maybe you cried. Maybe you skinned a knee or an elbow. Perhaps you found your little self completely disappointed and frustrated about what you thought you could do without effort.

But no matter how you felt, you got up and got back on that bike.

Maybe right away, and maybe a week later. But you got back on the bike. You practiced. You fell many more times, but you kept getting back on.

And now, as an adult, you know how to ride a bike. You may not do it very often, and you may fall every now and then, but you know how to ride a bike.

So what makes you think that managing your ADD is any different than riding a bike?

What makes you think that the minute you set your mind to something, you can accomplish it instantly?

Organization, time management, better focus and concentration, emotional regulation...they all require practice. They all require the willingness to try again in the face of failure.

Managing ADD is like riding a bike. Expect a learning period. Expect quite a few falls. Expect a hard time finding your balance.

And no matter what, always get back on the bike.

Jennifer Koretsky is a Professional ADD Management Coach who helps adults manage their ADD and move forward in life. She encourages clients to increase self-awareness, focus on strengths and talents, and create realistic action plans. She offers a 90-day intensive skill-building program, workshops, and private coaching. Her work has been featured in numerous media, including The New York Times Magazine and The Times (UK). To subscribe to Jennifer's free email newsletter, The ADD Management Guide, please visit http://www.addmanagement.com/e-newsletter.htm

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The Best Abdominal Workouts

Writen by Kevin Urban

As we age, we are more susceptible to gaining excess fat in the midsection. The best way to tone the abdominal area is to decrease your caloric intake, practice good posture, and exercise. Regarding exercise, there are many of the best abdominal workouts that you can perform to get your abs in shape. You can use some of the traditional exercises for your abdomen. There is a variety of ab fitness equipment from which you can choose to minimize your midsection. Whichever method you choose, make sure your back is not strained because this can result in serious injury.

There are effective non-equipment workouts that you can perform. Crunches are the most common and best method of getting the ab in better shape. You can do crunches anywhere. The three most effective abdominal crunch exercises include the captain's chair, the vertical leg crunch, and the bicycle. The captain's chair (no fitness equipment needed for this workout) involves you lying on your back and placing your legs on a chair. You then simply crunch upwards. The vertical leg crunch is a bit tougher and you will feel its effects on your abdomen after only a few reps. You lie on your back with your legs crossed in a vertical position. Like the captain's chair workout, you just raise yourself up using your ab muscles. As its name implies, the bicycle crunch is performed like riding a bicycle. You can work your oblique muscles with this exercise by touching your elbows to the opposite knee.

If you want to use equipment, you have several choices. One of the best choices with consumers due to its ease of use and low cost is the exercise ball. Working out with an exercise ball not only can strengthen your abs, but can also improve your coordination. You can purchase a video such as "Exercise Ball Video - Awesome Abs" if you need a workout program. Some of the best ab machines such as the Ab Crunch Machine provides thorough workouts and is perfect for someone new to fitness training. This machine does most of the work so there is little chance of you injuring your back. If you watch any late night television you've likely viewed an infomercial of the Body by Jake Ab Scissor. This machine sculpts your abdominal muscles with a unique system that uses your own resistance.

About the Author:

Kevin Urban is the editor at Best Home Gyms.com, a consumer guide featuring home gym reviews and treadmill ratings and reviews For a great selection of the best home gyms, click here!

Dealing With Bad Breath

Writen by R. Drysdale

Many people have difficulty dealing with bad breath (halitosis). One reason for this is that they don't understand what causes bad breath; therefore, they can't make informed choices about treating it. This article divides the causes of halitosis into three categories and briefly describes solutions for each.

The first category includes temporary causes of halitosis. Dealing with bad breath due to these causes is relatively easy. Temporary causes of halitosis include foods such as onions, garlic, spices, strong cheeses and other strong smelling foods, smoking, coffee, alcohol and medications. The easiest cure is, of course to avoid these things. If you can't avoid them, brush your teeth frequently, floss, and use a breath freshener as needed. Mouthwashes and sprays, breath mints, gum, and natural preparations are available.

Dealing with bad breath due to the second category is more difficult and may entail significant medical intervention. This is halitosis due to some underlying medical condition. Not really halitosis at all, this includes peculiar odors on the breath due to organ disease (liver or kidney disease), malignancy (cancers of the upper respiratory tissues), diabetes (ketoacidosis), strept throat, or infections of the lungs or sinuses, to name a few. Some of these conditions are life-threatening and should be treated promptly - the halitosis is a secondary problem.

Finally, there is true halitosis, caused by bacteria living on the tongue. These bacteria are part of the normal community of microorganism that live in the mouth and it is virtually impossible to eradicate them, so dealing with bad breath of this type is a difficult and long term problem. Don't waste time on products that merely freshen the breath – they will not work for more than a few minutes if they work at all. Do some research and select a product that is designed to kill the odor-producing bacteria in your mouth. There are a number of such products available, both over the counter and from natural healers.

If you don't get good results with the first product you try, try another. These products are based on different approaches to the problem, and everyone is different, so one may work where another fails. Good luck with dealing with bad breath.

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to Dealing With Bad Breath, a blog dedicated to the treatment of bad breath.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Mediterranean Diet Cook Book

Writen by Kevin Stith

The Mediterranean diet has been identified as one of the best health diets for a longer life expectancy. Researchers have identified the menu of vegetables, fruit, nuts, legumes, beans, olive oil preparations and seafood and low consumption of poultry, eggs and red meat as the most suitable way to check diet and evade chronic diseases -- especially heart diseases. In fact, it is the availability and right combination of these food products that has made the Mediterranean diet healthy and balanced.

Many Americans and Europeans suffer from heart ailments, obesity, gallstones, diabetes and cancer caused by excessive intake of animal fat, faulty diet and low exercise regimes. The Mediterranean diet matches set diet guidelines, and was popularized through studies and research conducted on Mediterranean people.

With this came a series of cookbooks to lead a healthy diet. The Mediterranean diet cookbook is a compilation of information on the three continents of the Mediterranean region, their recipes and relished food. These books provide various methods of food preparation such as appetizers, salads, desserts and main course meals. These methods are practiced by the population in the Mediterranean region. Even though most of the cookbooks fail to explain the typical traditional Mediterranean diet, they contain modified or variations of the recipes.

The Mediterranean diet cookbook does not promote any kind of weight loss. Instead, it promotes a healthy diet through filling and tasty food that help reduce weight naturally. Most books come with an introduction to the island, relevant information on Mediterranean diet food and their nutritional value and lots of delicious recipes.

The recipes suggested in the cookbooks are a collection of food prepared in the different states that form the Mediterranean region. The common point in all promote olive oil as the best form of fat to lowers cholesterol and work as an anti-oxidant. The preparations include vegetables, fruit, nuts and cereals, preferably unprocessed food. It also makes use of low to moderate amounts of wine, yogurt, milk and cheese. The cookbook also recommends limited amounts of fish, chicken, eggs and meat. As such, the Mediterranean diet cookbook provides the necessary guidelines for a healthy diet low in fat, salt, sugar and starch.

Mediterranean Diets provides detailed information about Mediterranean diets, Mediterranean diet benefits, Mediterranean diet cook books and more. Mediterranean Diets is affiliated with Mangosteen Fruit.

Dieting Glycemic Load Is More Important Than Glycemic Index

Writen by Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

Many popular diet books give you a list of foods based on the Glycemic Index, and recommend avoiding all foods that have a high glycemic index.

When you eat a food, your blood sugar level rises. The food that raises blood sugar the highest is pure table sugar. So Glycemic Index is a ratio of how high that food raises blood sugar in comparison to how high table sugar raises blood sugar levels. Foods whose carbohydrates break down slowly release glucose into the bloodstream slowly, so blood sugar levels do not rise high and therefore these foods have low glycemic index scores. Those that break down quickly cause a high rise in blood sugar and have a high glycemic index.

Most beans, whole grains and non-starchy vegetables have low glycemic index; while sugars, refined grains made from flour, fruits and root vegetables have a high glycemic index.

If you look at glycemic index food lists, you will see things that should bother an intelligent person. A carrot has almost the same glycemic index as sugar does. That is ridiculous. You know that a carrot is far safer for diabetics than table sugar. So nutrition scientists developed a new measure to rank foods called Glycemic Load. It tells you how much sugar is in the food, rather than just how high it raises blood sugar levels. To calculate Glycemic Load, you multiply the grams of carbohydrate in a serving of food by that food's Glycemic Index.

Carrots and potatoes both have a high Glycemic Index (GI), but using the new Glycemic Load (GL), carrots dropped from high GI of 131 to a GL of 10. Potatoes fall from a GI of 121 to a GL of 45. Air-popped popcorn, with a glycemic index of 79, has a GL of 4.

Foods that are mostly water or air will not cause a steep rise in your blood sugar even if their glycemic index is high. That's why the new measure, Glycemic Load, is more useful. However, all of these tools are more important for research than for your daily selection of foods. Use your own common sense and eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and other seeds. Avoid the refined carbohydrates -- foods made with extracted sugars, flour, white rice or milled corn products.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

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Sunday, November 16, 2008

Quit Smoking For Your Healths Sake

Writen by John Mac

In the US it is estimated that 30% of the 570,000 cancer deaths in 2005 were caused by smoking.

In the UK smoking kills approx. 114,000 per year or 300 per day which equates to 20% of deaths.

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the US , UK & Australia.

Approx. 45.4 million Americans are addicted to tobacco, 1 in 4 adults & 1 in 5 teens are smokers.

In the UK smoking causes 80% of all lung cancers & 80% of all deaths from bronchitis & emphysema. 17% of deaths by heart disease are due to smoking. & 17% of cancer deaths are related to smoking.

In Australia 20% of all deaths & 80% of lung cancers are caused by smoking.

Smokers who smoke between 1 & 14 cigarettes a day are 8 times more likely to die from lung cancer. Smokers who smoke 25 or more a day are 25 times more likely to die from lung cancer.

1 in 2 lifetime smokers will die from their habit & half of these in middle age.

If you are not convinced to quit smoking by the statistics above then maybe if you knew how your smoking affected others, including your children, you might just change your mind.

Approx 4000 deaths per year from heart disease in the US are due to secondary or passive smoking.

Approx 3000 lung cancer deaths are caused by passive smoking.

Children of smokers are at increased risk from asthma attacks, sudden infant death syndrome & middle ear infections.

Pregnant women exposed to smoking are likely to have babies with lower weights.

Children exposed to smoking are more likely to suffer from respiratory infections and have slower developing lungs.

More than 17,000 children under the age of five are admitted to hospital in the UK every year due to the effects of passive smoking.

So even if you can't give up for yourself, how about for those around you AND especially your children.

Giving up smoking is on of the most beneficial things you can do. Unfortunately the insidious nature of nicotine addiction makes giving up smoking one of the most difficult things you can do. In fact in the UK the Royal College of Physicians concluded in a report that nicotine addiction is as addictive as drugs such as heroin & cocaine.

However there is some good news, 46 Million Americans are former smokers.

John Mac is author & owner of http://www.fitnessdiethealth.com a website aimed at providing help & information for people looking to improve their fitness, diet & health & to quit smoking.

Acne Scars And Chemical Peeling

Writen by CD Mohatta

Acne Scars can be easily removed with Chemical peeling. this method has been used since years for not only removing acne scars but also other skin blemishes and discolorations. With Chemical peeling doctors remove the layers of skin with chemicals. With the new skin forming the earlier blemishes disappear. Let us find out about how acne scars are treated with chemical peeling.

Acne scars- Keloids:

Keloids cannot be generally removed with peeling. Keloid type scars form in some individuals. Keloids are skin growths that are full of collagen and look very unsightly. Whenever a person who forms keloids gets any injury the scars form keloids. No doctor generally tries to remove keloids because the scar healing may form more of them.

Ice pick and saucer type acne scars-

Other acne scars are normally ice pick type and saucer type. These scars can be easily treated with chemical peeling. Your doctor will assess the depth of the scar and try to remove skin up to that level. As the new skin will form there will be little scarring left. For chemical peeling, the doctors apply a chemical on the site and the chemical peels away the skin in a controlled manner over sometime. Redness and swelling may result with deep peeling. The skin heals over about ten days and new skin forms. Learn more about Chemical Peeling and If you have acne scars, please find out with your doctor about the possibility of removing them with chemical peeling.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

The author C.D.Mohatta writes articles on skin problems, skin treatments and skin care. For more information about how to have good skin that looks young and blemish free , please visit- http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/ . You will also find solutions to wrinkles, scars, facial rejuvenation, latest laser treatments, skin blemishes and spots, hair care and hair loss and about keeping healthy nails. This site is dedicated to make you look good. For keeping yourself young at all the ages find out more about the skin procedures and treatments that will make you young forever.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

What Is A Tincture

Writen by Mary Welty

Throughout the world people are turning to herbal remedies, but many are intimidated by the complex jargon that masks the simplicity of homemade herbal cures. Using herbs to ease common ailments has been around since the beginning of time and the only thing that prevents individuals from utilizing these common home remedies is the medical jargon that disguises simple preparations as something far too complex for the layman to tackle.

Well, that's a lie. If our ancestors could mix up a tincture or infusion, so can you. So I've decided to put together a series of articles on simple herbal preparations that anyone, yes anyone, can make.

What is a Tincture?

A tincture is a solution of herbs in alcohol. Apple cider vinegar may be used in some special preparations. The alcohol dissolves all of the chemical principals of the plant and acts as a preservative for future use.

How is a tincture prepared?

Tinctures in alcohol are made by steeping herbs in rectified spirits or alcohol, by heating herbs and alcohol at various temperatures, or by filtering alcohol through herbs, (similar to the way you brew a pot of coffee, by suspending the herbs in a filter, and the alcohol drips down through the soluble plant material and the herb-saturated alcohol is then used.)

The alcohol used to make a tincture is not rubbing alcohol but a 90 proof spirit, such as vodka, gin or brandy.

Basic Tincture Technique

The easiest way to make a tincture is to steep herbs in vodka, gin, whiskey, or brandy. This way your herbs can be taken internally. Use (1) pint of ninety proof alcohol (as suggested above) with 4 ounces of cut herbs. Allow the herbs and alcohol to steep for 2 weeks. Strain out the herbs, then bottle and label your tincture.

How to use your tincture Drops of tincture may be added to hot or cold herbal teas for drinking, or may be added to water for external use on compresses. Tinctures can also be added to oils or fats for an instant healing ointment.

Sample Tincture

Comfrey is wonderful example of a healing tincture well worth keeping on hand. For a full list of this herbs properties, please see my article on Comfrey. Tincture of Comfrey can be added to any compress to treat injuries such as cuts and bruising. It will help to alleviate the pain and promote healing; in fact, its healing ability is nothing short of miraculous.

Reference: Buchman, Dian Dincin, "Dian Dincin Buchman's Herbal Medicine", Gramercy Pub. 1980

MK Welty hosts an informational website for herb enthusiasts at http://usingherbs.com

Healthy Habits Last A Lifetime

Writen by Mila Sidman

Starting a family fitness routine is a great way to set up your kids with a lifetime love of fitness and exercise, not to mention that it's good for your health and waistline as well. Although most of us know the importance of exercise and physical fitness, life often gets in the way and exercise is often the last thing on your mind.

However, it doesn't have to be difficult to get your family up and moving. Here are a few tips and ideas to help you start your family fitness routine.

If you have young children often visiting the local playground is enough to get them active and moving. Activities such as monkey bars and playing tag develop a child's strength, speed and agility; things like biking and rollerblading are great aerobic exercises. Parents may also want to consider a "Mommy and Me" class to get the two of you moving together – and provide some bonding time as well!

As your child ages and becomes a teenager, the tendency to be even more sedentary exists. Encourage your child to participate in team sports, but allow him or her to choose what activities to participate in. If your teen is self-conscious about participating in team sports, encourage them to work out with exercise videos. Parents may also want to make rules about how many hours per day their children can watch television, use the computer, or play video games.

Parents also need to be aware that your children will follow your lead. Try making small changes to your own routine like taking the stairs at work instead of the elevator, or getting outside on your lunch hour and taking a brisk walk. At home, plan activities that the entire family can do together instead of sitting in front of the television.

Family activities don't have to be limited to conventional team sports like basketball or football: expand your horizons! Try things like soccer, going for a hike, or rollerblading. Consider having a family "game night" and play a game of Twister! Games like "Capture the Flag" or "Duck, Duck, Goose!" are fun and easy to involve the kids in. Don't be afraid of acting silly Mom!

Get up, get moving, get outside and have fun with your kids! Not only will you be teaching them powerful lessons about the importance of physical activity, you'll reap health benefits yourself, and strengthen your bonds with your kids.

Need help with your child's fitness? Grab your kid fitness tips, nutrition articles and fun kid exercise ideas – Free Kid Fitness Tips

Friday, November 14, 2008

A Brief History Of Nutmeg

Writen by Chuck Mason

Nutmeg has a fascinating history. It seems to have come from Indonesia in the Molucca Islands, yet has been taken by Grenada as the national product. The trees are now grown in many different areas. It first came to Europe from the Banda Islands in 1512 by Portuguese sailors. At the time it was considered to be a cure- all, and was even thought to be able to cure the plague. Unfortunately, that was not true. Nutmeg does have medicinal properties, but it wasn't able to cure everything there was out there, as good as this would be.

The Chinese are mostly responsible for our current knowledge of nutmeg medicinal properties. Because of their uses and experimentation, we know of nutmeg's ability to act as an appetite stimulant, an anti inflammatory agent, an anti nausea agent, and anti spasmodic, a carminative, and a digestive stimulant.

During the 15th - 17th centuries the history of nutmeg tells us that nutmeg was extremely popular. If was unlike any other spice experienced so far, and it's aromatic scent coupled with it's delicious flavor was most intriguing to those discovering it. They would do almost anything to get some.

The history of nutmeg goes further. We know that nutmeg was familiar to Byzantine traders who purchased it from Arabs. This may be where Nutmeg got its name, as it may have been called "mesk' in Arabian, and translated into the French 'noix muguette' and then into 'nut meg' by the English.

It became even more popular to Europeans as they developed an interest in Middle Eastern cooking, where the spice was widely used. They couldn't get enough of this new taste and smell, and would go to great lengths to get some. There was even an expedition sent by Albuquerque, a commander in the Portuguese fleet from Malacca. Their mission was to locate the Spice Islands and harvest nutmeg for themselves. Their pursuit of the enchanting spice led the Island to be taken over by the Portuguese. Now, the history of nutmeg is evident in that Grenada has the monopoly on nutmeg production.

Large amounts of Nutmeg have been reported to cause hallucinations, and for that reason some have used it as a recreational drug. This is extremely dangerous, since large doses can also be fatal.

The history of nutmeg is a story that journeys around the world.

About The Author
Chuck Mason is a successful publisher and researcher of natural and organic methods to relieve pain. He provides more information on the many benefits of nutmeg oil that you can research on his website at http://www.gno-us.com.

Discount Treadmills The Best Deal For Your Buck

Writen by Dean Iggo

Treadmills are one of the most popular pieces of exercise equipment. For this reason, many people look to purchase discount treadmills for use in their homes.

Treadmills offer excellent cross training ability. You can train for any one of a number sports using a treadmill. You can also get all of the benefits of regular exercise using a treadmill. Home discount treadmills offer all of the benefits of going to the gym without the expensive price tag and the hassle.

Things To Consider When Shopping For Discount Treadmills.

There are a number of things to look for when purchasing a treadmill. First, consider treadmill speed. They are built for either walking or running, usually not both. Buy one that fits your activity needs.

Second, consider the horsepower. Weaker motors wear out easily. If this is a piece of equipment you intend to own for some time, you do not want something that will wear out. Do not confuse this with peak horsepower. You are looking for continuous duty horsepower.

Next, decide whether or not you want a treadmill with a program. This works for some people, and others really hate it. Go with whatever fits your needs, because if you do not want one, don't spend the extra money for it. You also want to think about belt size, the durability of the deck, the type of incline you desire, and the hand rail options you want.

Where To Shop For Treadmills

You can purchase a discount treadmills at any number of locations, including online. Many stores offer treadmills on sale at peak exercise equipment buying times of year, like during the New Year's resolution craze.

Where you purchase your treadmill will depend on your wants and needs. Purchasing one online can get you a great price, but do not forget to consider the shipping. Purchasing one in a local store can also get you a great price, but it does not always offer the selection the internet might. Shop carefully, and you can get an excellent deal on a discount treadmill.

For the best online retailers providing first class service and and excellent price check out my the reviews on my website home-gym-buyers-guide.com

Dean Iggo is a keen fitness enthusiast and home gym user. He is also the webmaster of home-gym-buyers-guide.com a website providing unbiased reviews of used treadmills and the 'best buy' treadmill ratings for every price range.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Fruits And Vegetables And Phytochemicals

Writen by Barbara Pfieffer

I'm willing to bet you probably haven't heard the word 'phytochemicals' before. But you've been eating them your whole life and they are vitally important to your life and well-being. They are one of the keys to real health.

So, what are they? Phytochemicals are biologically active substances in food. They have health enhancing abilities and possibly curative abilities. They number in the hundreds in most plant foods. They are found in fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains.

Phytochemicals work together with nutrients to promote health and prevent disease. When you eat some broccoli or a tomato, you get all of these phytochemicals. So, can't you just take a supplement? You could, but first of all, scientists have isolated only a few of the phytochemicals in foods. But these work best in combination, so taking just one, isolated phytochemical is not anywhere near as effective.

For example, let's look at lycopene. It is found in tomatoes and is an antioxidant. Antioxidants are a large and important subject, but for now, let's just simplify and say that antioxidants help to repair cellular damage.

Scientists did studies and found that tomatoes had a noticeable effect against prostate cancer. They analyzed the tomato and isolated lycopene. Then the scientists did more studies, using lycopene. The effect on prostate cancer was much less. Does this mean that lycopene doesn't work?

No, it means that it works best in combination with all the other phytochemicals in tomatoes, and the nutrients. You don't get that from a chemically identical, but lab-created, lycopene.

Eating a tomato is good for you, of course. But eating all the tomatoes you would need to get what you need from them would be quite a task. So, a whole foods powder that I use, Berry Greens, offers freeze dried tomatoes, in a form that retains the nutrients. And a whole lot of other vegetables and fruits as well. You get all the benefits of eating all those fruits and vegetables, without having to consume all that food.

Most foods have not been analyzed and even those that have been, scientists have only been able to isolate a few of the phytochemicals. Most vegetables have hundreds of phytochemicals, and it's not likely they will all be isolated, analyzed and understood any time soon. We do know now, though, that they do work together to provide real health for us.

Barbara Pfieffer writes about gaining real health on her blog, Real Health. She has resources on what supplements really work, the differences among carbohydrates and other information to bring you to real health.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Utah Drug Rehab Searching For A Therapist

Writen by Jeff Lakie

Finding the right treatment for any person suffering with a drug abuse problem can be a difficult task - where do you start, how do you know what to look for, how do I find a good therapist or treatment center in my area? Thankfully, there are many resources to help you find the help that you or a loved one need - here are some tips to help you locate Utah drug rehab help.

There are many online directories that compile records of qualified therapists and centers nationwide, and you can use these to find Utah drug rehab help by simply entering your particular location into their search engines. While it will be desirable to locate a therapist or treatment center in your immediate location, do remember that this might not be possible, and that, if possible, it is better to travel to a therapist with the appropriate skills then begin work with a therapist who does not specialise in your area of required treatment simply because of their proximity to you. Drug rehabilitation can be an arduous process, and you or your loved one deserve the best possible help available to help you navigate this difficult time with success.

So once you have located Utah drug rehab centers, how do you know which one might be best for you? Choosing a therapist can involve some trial and error, as some part of the treatment process necessitates finding a therapist that is right for you personally. While drug rehab patients can exhibit hostile behavior towards any therapist, it is necessary that patient and therapist feel that they will be able to work together - try sessions with a few therapists if necessary. When making a therapist selection, bear in mind any therapist gender preference the patient may have - some patients might feel more comfortable working with a therapist of their own gender, for example, and choose a therapist who has documented experience in drug rehabilitation.

Finding a Utah drug rehab center need not be a daunting task - there are many highly qualified therapists in the Utah area. Using the internet, or even your local yellow pages, make a list of all the therapists in your area and begin making calls. Don't be afraid to ask questions about qualifications and experience, and arrange an appointment to talk in person if necessary. Hopefully, the person you select will be the best match for you, but if not, simply try again. Help is available, so you should find the best help for you.

Jeff Lakie is the founder of Rehab Resources a website providing information on drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatments.

Tips For Getting A Good Nights Sleep

Writen by Gabriel J. Adams

You went to bed two hours ago, but you just can not seem to fall asleep. You have been tossing and turning, and thinking about everything you have to do tomorrow, so sleep seems very far away. You have tried counting sheep, but you still can not seem to go to sleep. Why is it that every night when you go to bed, you have trouble falling asleep? If you have trouble falling asleep at night, then these tips for getting a good night's sleep will be very helpful.

The main problem that gives people problems going to sleep is the lack of preparation to go to sleep. Make sure that you try to keep a regular schedule of waking up in the morning and going to sleep at night. Another tip for getting a good night's sleep is not to eat a large meal before bedtime, because it may give you indigestion, which will cause sleeplessness for anyone. One of the things that can consume an entire night is when your mind is racing, and you can not stop worrying about something. The best thing to do to combat this situation is to keep a journal where you can write down your worries or concerns, and then possible solutions to these problems before you go to bed. If you go to bed without as much unfinished business, then you will have a better chance of getting a good night's sleep.

Another set of tips for getting a good night's sleep is to create a better sleep environment for yourself while you are sleeping. The first step is to treat your bedroom the way it should be treated, as a place to sleep only. Do not watch television, pay bills, or anything else; just use your bedroom for sleeping. Another tip to get a good night's sleep is making sure that your bed is comfortable. Usually this means that you have a firm bed that is not too firm. However a comfortable bed is different for everyone, so get one that you like. To me, the most important thing to getting a good night's sleep is to have a comfortable pillow. Without a good pillow all of these other tips do not matter at all. Make sure that if you have allergies that you do not get a pillow made of feathers or down, because it will just make your allergies worse, and sleeping nearly impossible. There are many different types of pillows, soft, firm, large, small, so you should have not a problem finding one that is right for you.

If you suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea and have difficulty breathing during your sleep, check out CPAP Europe's website where you will find information about and solutions for OSA.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Humidifier Filters

Writen by Josh Riverside

Dry winter air can lead to a variety of problems, ranging from dry skin and nosebleeds to cracked paint and peeling wallpaper. In an effort to control the humidity and eliminate the health problems and household annoyances, many people turn to humidifiers. Humidifiers work by sending water into the air, increasing humidity to a more comfortable level. For optimum comfort and health, humidity levels should be maintained between 30 and 50 percent. Any less and mucous membranes will dry out; any higher and bacteria will grow.

There are two main types of technologies driving humidifiers: warm mist and cool mist. In a warm mist humidifier, water is heated and sent into the air. In cool mist, or evaporative, humidifiers, water is blown through a wick filter and into the air. The humidifier filter is designed to filter out bacteria and other impurities from the water.

Problems arise when people fail to follow the manufacturers' instructions regarding humidifier filters. These filters must be cleaned or changed regularly, depending on the model. Filters generally must be changed every four to six weeks, but check the instructions on your particular model. Failure to do so will result in the growth of harmful mold, mildew, bacteria, dust mites, and other impurities. Ingesting these harmful growths can be much more hazardous than the problems associated with low humidity.

For people who wish to use a cool mist humidifier, but don't want to be bothered with changing humidifier filters, the Hunter Care-Free humidifiers might be the best choice. They offer a Permawick filter that never needs to be changed and only has to be cleaned once a season.

When buying replacement filters, it is generally a good item to avoid generic brands. Though these generic, universal filters may be cheaper, they often sacrifice quality. Look for the letters "OEM," (original equipment manufacturer). This ensures that you are purchasing a filter from the actual product manufacturer. For example, if you have a Honeywell humidifier, you should buy a Honeywell filter. If you do opt to use a generic "knock-off" filter, check your manufacturer information carefully to be that its use will not void the humidifier warranty.

Humidifiers Info provides detailed information on house, furnace, cigar, and ultrasonic humidifiers, as well as humidifier filters and product reviews. Humidifiers Info is the sister site of Dehumidifiers Web.

How To Compare Treadmills Choosing The Right Machine For You

Writen by Dean Iggo

How to Compare Treadmills - Choosing the Right Machine For You

Many people enjoy treadmills, but they can be a confusing piece of equipment to buy. There are, literally, hundreds of brands of treadmills. Learning how to compare treadmills is the only way to purchase the right brand for you. If this is your first treadmill purchase, though, you might want to consider the benefits of owning a treadmill.

Treadmill Benefits

Because the two most popular forms of exercise are running and walking, treadmills are designed to accommodate both. The speed and incline controls on a treadmill were designed to let the user control the machine to fit his or her needs. Treadmills also offer you the same workout despite the excruciating heat of summer, bitter cold of winter, vicious wind of spring, or incessant rain of fall.

Treadmills also offer a low impact workout. Their deck surfaces are designed to reduce pressure on your joints and absorb the impact of your feet as they repeatedly hit the surface. Most treadmills offer some variety as well. Depending on the model you purchase, many treadmills offer different programs to vary your workout speed and level of difficulty.

You must compare treadmills to learn about the different benefits.

Things To Think About

Before you begin to compare treadmills and invest in one , though, there are many things to consider. First, consider the horsepower. You do not want something that will wear out. Second, consider treadmill speed. Buy one that fits your activity needs. Next, decide whether or not you want a treadmill with a program. You also want to think about belt size, the durability of the deck, the type of incline you desire, and the hand rail options you want.

Comparing The Brands

Now you are ready to compare treadmills. When you start the comparison process, it is best to read a variety of reviews for the treadmill you are considering. Almost every brand has its own review guide to help you make a decision. In addition to reading reviews, think about trying the brands you like. You want to like the feel of the machine before you drop an extensive amount of money on it.

Dean Iggo is a keen fitness enthusiast and home gym user. He is also the webmaster of home-gym-buyers-guide.com a website providing unbiased treadmill reviews and the 'best buy' treadmill ratings for every budget.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Stopping Smoking And Balancing Your Weight In Answer To A Question

Writen by George Lockett

Therefore if you truly desire to stop, you will do this naturally :>)

What I would suggest is that you decide what you would like to do instead of smoking? What new desires you would like to explore and dream about, to spend all the money on that you save from naturally wanting to improve your health?

You will also substitute an activity that is destructive to your body for a constructive one, by moving away from poisoning your body through the inhalation of poisonous gases.

This is a very personal thing and only you know what brings you greatest happiness and joy. My own advice if I were to offer some would be to look within your Self, find your own inner dream which you have always wanted to do, and go and do it.

Regarding avoiding weight gain: if you create a vision of your perfect weight in your mind's eye and set this up as a blueprint for your body to grow into, you will naturally have a balanced weight.

Some tips that may help:

· Only eat when you are hungry.

· Drinks lots of water.

· Have your main meal at lunchtime and only eat a small snack in the evening.

· Eat food with the life force in it: i.e. mainly fresh fruit and vegetables.

I wish you luck on choosing a new way forward for your life. I am happy that you will follow your dream and experience the freedom of choosing what you want in your life consciously.

You have made a big choice already by wanting to improve the way you live your life, by naturally allowing the negative tendencies to drop away, putting your attention fully on what you do want and allowing your energies to flow freely towards that goal.

Message channelled by George Lockett (C) Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved.

* New book * "A Journey into the Self -- the multi-dimensional nature of being human": HealerGeorge Web Site and New Book

Description: What is this book going to do for YOU? For those who are seeking a complete energetic makeover, as you read it you will feel a stirring and awakening in the depths of your heart. For those who have questions about Shifts in Consciousness, Energy Balancing and Healing within the body, you will find clear answers.

Read HealerGeorge's Blog: Curezone Blog or ask at question at: Ask HealerGeorge

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Vagus Nerve Stimulation And Depression Conference

Writen by Charles Donovan

I attended the Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression Conference at the headuarters of the manufacturer of the vagus nerve stimulator in Houston. The meeting was attended by the leading psychiatric thought leaders in the United States.

The scientists and researchers at the conference made the some comments that are important to you:

  • 20% of patients cannot tolerate antidepressants, 35% of patients will lose the efficacy of an antidepressant that previously worked for them

  • Patients who suffer from chronic depression have a high co-morbidity rate with respect to other illnesses, i.e. they suffer other illnesses such as chronic pain, cardiovascular disease, obesity and are at higher risk for Type II diabetes

  • Anatomic targeting of parts of the brain is very important

  • Patterns of stimulation can dramatically improve outcomes

  • There is a direct pathway via the vagus nerve that targets those areas of the brain responsible for mood and depression

  • Compared to ECT, which can be very effective, the sustained benefit and lack of memory loss with vagus nerve stimulation is very important

  • Vagus nerve stimulation projects to key brain stem regions

  • The advantage of stimulation compared to drugs is that stimulation leaves no residue on the brain

  • Formal research by scientists about vagus nerve stimulation and depression will continue for the next 5 years

Clearly the impulses sent to the brain via the vagus nerve are superior to antidepressants because they strategically target the critical areas of the brain in a much more efficient and effective way then pharmacuticals.

You can learn more about the first ever FDA approved long term treatment option for depression at http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com

Charles Donovan was a patient in the FDA investigational trial of vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. He was implanted with the vagus nerve stimulator in April of 2001. He chronicles his journey from the grips of depression thanks to vagus nerve stimulation therapy in his book:

Out of the Black Hole: The Patient's Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression

The book was exhibited at the American Psychiatric Association's Annual Meeting in May. It is available on his web site, 24 hours a day/7 days a week through the toll free number 1-888-VAGUS-88, Amazon.com and Barnes 7 Noble.com. He is founder of the http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com Web Site.