Got this from msn..You know i like to collect articles that is educational for your health.
Learn what self examinations you should be doing on your body each morning..
Your Tongue:
If you see a white, yellow, or orange coating
If your licker looks as if someone painted it with bright-colored gunk, you could be spilling your gut in your sleep, Fryhofer says. Normally, a one-way valve at the bottom of the esophagus makes sure that whatever goes down doesn't come back up. Acid reflux occurs when this valve opens spontaneously and the contents of your stomach make a break for your throat, leaving your tongue coated in digestive acids and you with a serious case of Godzilla breath. Most reflux can be treated with OTC antacids or simply by avoiding acidic and spicy foods; if those measures don't work, see your doctor. You may need prescription meds to reduce your body's production of stomach acid.
Your Nails:
If you see dark lines on the nail beds
Texas-sized moles aren't the only red flags for skin cancer—the disease can also develop under your nails. Yellowish, brown, or black stripes are a sign of cell damage, possibly from melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, says Ariel Ostad, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. With early detection and treatment, though, about 95 percent of cases are curable, so have your dermatologist take a second look.
If you see bright white stripes
Everyone gets white spots on their nails from time to time (usually it's a sign that you banged your finger in a drawer), but if you see long horizontal bands of discoloration on the nail's surface and you've been feeling fatigued lately, it could be bad news for your kidneys. "These bands can be a signal that the kidneys aren't able to filter out protein from your urine," Ostad says. That means your body is losing protein faster than you can shovel in filet mignon—and that can lead to kidney failure. Visit your doctor ASAP for a urine test.
Your Armpits:
If you see a patch of rough, dark skin
Unless you've been going overboard with the self-tanner, you could have diabetes, says Michael Smith, M.D., WebMD's chief medical editor. Excess insulin in your bloodstream can cause skin cells to multiply abnormally fast, leading to a buildup of tissue and melanin. This makes the skin look darker and feel thicker. "It most commonly occurs in the armpits, neck, or groin," Smith says. A simple blood test can determine whether you have the disease, which affects about 24 million Americans—nearly a quarter of whom are undiagnosed.
Your Eyelids, Knees, And Elbows:
If you see small, soft lumps that look white or waxy
The good news: It's not a zit. The bad news: These are small deposits of cholesterol, Smith says. Unfortunately, "by the time they appear, your cholesterol levels are probably sky high; this is a serious risk factor for heart disease." Yet reducing your numbers by just 10 percent slashes that risk by as much as a third. See your doctor for a cholesterol check, and ask her about lifestyle changes or prescription drugs that can get your levels down.
Your Scalp:
If you see thinning hair
Could you fashion one of Britney's weaves out of the hair clogging your drain? Excessive hair loss is a common indicator of a thyroid disorder, which affects about 10 percent of American women. When your thyroid (a gland in the middle of your neck) is out of whack, it can disrupt the balance of male and female sex hormones. The result: More strands in your brush and hair that feels coarse and brittle, says Sandra Fryhofer, M.D., a physician in private practice in Atlanta. Your doc can measure the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone in your blood—if you have too much or too little, you'll need medication to regulate it.
If you see your scalp shedding like a snake
If skin flakes have suddenly made your shoulders look like the Alps in February, it could be due to your to-do list. "An intense load of stress causes your body to produce excess amounts of the hormone cortisol," Ostad says. "In addition to wreaking havoc on your immune system (making you more vulnerable to colds) and your metabolism (making you pack on pounds), cortisol can also dry out your scalp." A drugstore dandruff shampoo will deflake your locks, but unless you want a permanent case of shoulder snow, try to get more sleep, breathe more deeply, and loosen up your overpacked schedule.
Your Belly:
If you see thick, dark hair (or stubble) in a diamond shape
Is that forest sprouting on your abs thick enough to hide a family of hobbits? Dense, coarse hair that extends up toward your belly button (rather than growing downward from the top of the pubic bone) could be a sign of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), says Pamela Berens, M.D., an ob-gyn at the University of Texas Medical School. Caused by overproduction of androgens, the condition can lead to irregular or heavy periods, weight gain, acne, and thick, dark hair on the belly, face, chest, and back. As many as one in 10 women have PCOS, which can be a risk factor for serious problems like infertility and heart disease. If you have symptoms, see your ob-gyn; she might prescribe birth control pills to get your hormones back in check.
Your Eyes:
If you see undereye circles that won't go away
Unless you've taken a second job at the midnight trucking radio network, a sudden onset of dark rings could be chalked up to allergies. The chain reaction, according to Ostad, goes like this: An allergen hits your body, which in response releases histamine; this chemical makes blood vessels swell with blood and other fluids, and voila: Dark patches show up where the skin is thinnest. A skin test can determine which allergen is causing your symptoms.
If you see a yellowish bump on your eyeball
No, you haven't developed a rare case of optic acne. Instead, a slightly raised nodule on the white of your eye is a symptom of a harmless condition called pinguecula. "It's nothing more than an overgrowth of collagen triggered by damage from sun, wind, or dust," says Traci Goldstein, an optometrist at Metropolitan Vision Correction Associates in New York City. Keep your eyes moist with lubricating drops and don shades anytime you're outdoors (make sure your specs offer 100 percent protection against UVA and UVB rays) to prevent the bump from growing larger.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Self-Checks To Do Before Breakfast
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Wacky Beauty Tips That Work
Check this out!!! I am more interested on the avocado as a moisturizer. I'm going to try this sometime. It is really important moisturizing the skin cause dryness can cause aging and you know how it is when you're getting old. So keep away from those stress it can cause wrinkles and not too much sunshine it can cause dryness and become wrinkles eventually.
1) Powder Your Roots
If your hairline starts to look greasy, dig up a big, fluffy makeup brush, and dip it into a pot of loose powder. Tap it once on the back of your hand to remove the excess, then dust it over your roots. It mops up oil and blends into your strands, so no one will know you didn't shower.
2) Scent Strands with Perfume
Spray a light shot of fragrance into your brush's bristles. Run it through strands from roots to ends and your hair will smell amazing throughout the day.
3) Cure Calluses with Vaseline
Slather on the petroleum jelly, and put on socks before bed to dissolve tough calluses overnight.
4) Spot-Treat Smudges
Dip a cotton swab in eye-makeup remover, and trace it along your lids to erase any slipups or goofs when there's no time to redo your whole look.
5) Fix a Flushed Face
If you turn red and stay that way after exercising (like seriously red for hours, even though you're healthy and hydrated), take an antihistamine like Benadryl when you leave the gym to reduce redness.
6) Soften Your Bod with Avocado
Take a ripe avocado, remove the pit and skin, and mash it up in a bowl. Slather it all over your body, let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse off. Your skin will be sooo soft — avocado is a natural moisturizer.
7) Super-Glue a Nail
Instead of tearing off your nail when it breaks, put a tiny dab of Super Glue over the split, and paint a generous layer of your favorite nail polish shade over it. Go for an opaque option (like red, purple, or coral) to camouflage and seal the crack.
8) Use Makeup Remover on Stubborn Lipstick
Don't try to rub off red lipstick (which makes it smear across your mouth — not so sexy). Instead, take a cotton ball or tissue, dip it in makeup remover, and just dab to erase the dark stain fast.
9) Tame Brows with Eye Cream
Pat any kind of rich eye cream over brows to help keep them hydrated and banish those icky white specks that look like dandruff.
10) Buff with Baking Soda
If you find yourself streaking (not glowing) after applying self-tanner, put some baking soda on a loofah, and scrub away the stripes.
11) Brush on Hair Spray
For the final step of your blow-dry, spray hair spray onto your brush, and run it through strands from roots to tips. This way, your 'do isn't plastered and stiff but still holds volume and shine.
12) Boost Body Lotion with Baby Oil
If you're craving shiny legs that aren't greasy, blend a drop of baby oil into your normal body lotion for extra luster.
13) Dab Essential Oil on a Hangnail
Put on apricot oil, the kind found in health-food stores, to protect cuticles from turning rough and raggedy.
14) Quell a Cold Sore with Cream
When a cold sore is coming on, dab a bit of thick moisturizer, like Aquaphor, over it to prevent it from getting worse.
15) Freeze Your Eyeliner
If the tip of your eyeliner pencil crumbles and smears on your lids, store the liner in the freezer for 15 minutes before use so the tip is firm and goes across your skin smoothly.
16) Use Toothpaste on a Zit
Use just a pea-size amount. Let sit for 15 minutes to absorb the oil so the pimple won't get more clogged, then wash off.
17) Heat Up Your Curler
If you have stick-straight lashes, try blasting your metal eyelash curler with a hair dryer for a couple of seconds to heat it up so your lashes bend more easily. And use a waterproof mascara. The formula dries faster than other mascaras, so it sets the curl more effectively.
18) Use Soap Without Water
You know those fancy bars that are actually too pretty to use? Toss them in your underwear or tee-shirt drawers to make your skin smell delicious.
19) Groom Brows with a Toothbrush
Mist an (unused!) toothbrush or eyebrow comb with hair spray to help flatten and tame unruly brows.
20) Put Diaper-Rash Cream on Dry Spots
Slather on a thick layer of diaper-rash cream to heal cracked elbows and feet.
21) Lubricate Your Lashes
An easy way to draw attention to your eyes without putting on a pile of makeup is to comb petroleum jelly lightly through the tips of eyelashes to get a sexy, subtle sparkle.
22) Steamroll Flyaways
Spray on hair spray, then roll the can over your strands. The round bottle fits the curved shape of your head, locks in the spray, and flattens out frizz.
23) Spike Lotion with Bronzer
If you don't have time to book a self-tanning session, mix a few pumps of body bronzer with regular hand lotion and pat it on your legs for a gradual dose of sexy, beachy color.
24) Air-Dry Your Curls
Let your hair dry indoors before going out in the cold. The curls will be really bouncy and piecey-perfect.
25) Press a Tea Bag on Splotches
If your skin is sensitive or just looking irritated and puffy for some reason, steep a bag of green tea for a minute or two, let it cool down, and dab it over your face. The antioxidants in the tea take down inflammation.
26) Shave with Conditioner
Ran out of shaving cream? Do double duty by coating your stems with a thick hair conditioner. It softens the hair so it's easier to shave off and makes legs feel amazingly silky.
27) Amp Shine with Vinegar
Mix one part vinegar with four parts carbonated water, and soak dry hair. Leave on for 15 minutes before you shampoo to lock in shine and combat dullness.
28) Exfoliate Your Pits
If your underarms start to look dry and flaky, an easy trick is to exfoliate them with a gentle face scrub to keep that skin pretty when going sleeveless.
29) Customize Your Body Lotion
Instead of shelling out for an expensive perfumed body product, you can make your own by pouring a few drops of fragrance into any scent-free lotion. Rub it on — the scent will last for hours.
30) "Brush" with Mouthwash
If you're too wiped out after a late night of partying to clean your teeth, rinse with water and mouthwash, then use a dry toothbrush on the area where your teeth hit your gums.
31) Make an Egg-White Mask
To revive tired, dull skin without hitting the spa table, try this: Crack open an egg in a bowl, separate the yolk, and use the egg whites to make a face mask. The proteins help to heal and restore skin's moisture. Leave it on for five minutes, then rinse off.
32) Dry Sensitive Skin with T.P.
Instead of drying your face with a scratchy towel, pat with toilet paper — it's ultrasoft on delicate skin (and bums
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
5 Tests That Could Save Your Life
Cardiac CT angiography
These colorful 3-D images allow radiologists to calculate one of your most important heart numbers: your coronary artery calcium score, a measure of how much plaque is piling up in your arteries. A 2007 study of over 10,000 people published in the journal Atherosclerosis reported that calcium scores alone can predict heart attacks, while a 2003 study found that a high calcium score is associated with a tenfold increase in heart-disease risk. This is compared with a less-than-twofold increase in risk from traditional risk factors such as diabetes and smoking. The test has one significant downside: The radiation exposure from your average cardiac CT is equal to 600 chest X-rays, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. This produces a 1-in-5,000 risk of cancer, another study reveals.
Who needs it: Men with some of the risk factors for heart disease whose physicians may be on the fence about starting treatment. "In these medium-risk cases, cardiac CT scans and calcium scoring can provide the extra level of information that we feel we need," says Gerald Fletcher, M.D., a professor of cardiology at the Mayo Clinic. The lower the calcium score, the lower the risk. If you reach 112, your physician might recommend aspirin or statins.
Cost: $350 to $900. Most insurance companies will reimburse you if you've previously had an abnormal stress test or chest pain.
Bone density scan
Think osteoporosis affects only old ladies? Fact is, men begin losing bone mass at age 30. That's why it's important to assess the state of your skeleton now with a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, which uses low-radiation X-rays to gauge bone mineral density (it can also measure body fat percentage). "DEXA scans allow us to identify people at high risk for fracture so they can start treatment to strengthen their bones before a fracture occurs," says Murray J. Favus, M.D., director of the bone program at the University of Chicago medical center. Your doctor might suggest adding strengthening workouts to your exercise program and supplementing your daily diet with up to 1,000 milligrams of calcium and up to 400 IU of vitamin D.
Who needs it: Anyone with any osteoporosis risk factors: inactivity, smoking, a family history of the disease.
Cost: $250 to $300. To increase the odds of your insurance covering the scan, make sure your doctor notes any risk factors.
VO2 max test
With the VO2 max test, you hop on a treadmill or stationary bike and give your maximum effort while wearing a mask that captures your every breath. By analyzing the amount of oxygen you consume, the test determines how efficiently your body extracts and uses oxygen from the air. This makes it the gold standard of fitness markers, as well as a strong indicator of your overall health. "Blood pressure, cholesterol—those are what we call 'remote markers.' The best predictor of your longevity is going to be your fitness," says Walter Bortz, M.D., a longevity researcher at Stanford University.
Who needs it: Anyone who wants their blood to pump. If your score is under 18 ml/kg/min, talk to your doctor about increasing the intensity of your workouts.
Cost: $110 to $160. The test is available at physical therapy, rehab, or cardiopulmonary centers. Insurance providers won't cover it.
Virtual colonoscopy
By definition, something "virtual" usually can't compare to the real thing. But with a virtual colonoscopy, you avoid the two downsides of a traditional colonoscopy—sedation and the risk of a perforated colon—while still benefiting from the one big upside: test results you can stake your life on. "Virtual colonoscopies have the same sensitivity for detecting large polyps, which are the precursor lesions of colon cancer," says Judy Yee, M.D., a professor of radiology at the University of California at San Francisco. Though the CT scanning technology of a virtual colonoscopy can miss some smaller polyps, a University of Wisconsin study found that these are usually benign anyway. And don't sweat the radiation; you'll receive about 5 to 8 millisieverts, an amount that isn't considered dangerous, says Dr. Yee.
Who needs it: People ages 50 and older, especially those on blood thinners, because an "oops" with a regular scope could cause dangerous internal bleeding. The exception: If your family has a history of colon cancer, you should be screened at least 10 years before the age your relative was when he or she was first diagnosed, Dr. Yee says. People who are overweight or inactive, drink or smoke heavily, or have an inflammatory bowel disease should also consider early screening.
Cost: $500 to $1,000. Many health-care plans now recognize the effectiveness of virtual colonoscopies and increasingly cover them.
Nutritional evaluation
While it's not a test per se, putting your diet under the microscope could result in a leaner body and a longer life. "The benefits of meeting with a dietitian are accountability, moral support, and troubleshooting if your progress stalls," says Alan Aragon, M.S., the Men's Health weight-loss coach. In a 2008 Kaiser Permanente study, diabetic patients who received nutritional counseling were nearly twice as likely to lose weight as those who had no guidance. To find a registered dietitian who can see beyond the food pyramid, Aragon recommends going to the American Dietetic Association's Web site (eatright.org) and clicking on "Find a Nutrition Professional." Then call the R.D. and ask how he or she stays up on the latest research, which should include reading journals such as the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition or the Journal of Applied Physiology.
Who needs it: Anyone who should lose weight or simply wants to know how they can eat to beat disease.
Cost: $40 to $75 a session. Your insurance company may reimburse you if you have a condition that can be improved with diet changes. Ask your doctor for a referral.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Natural Cleaning Solutions
Lemons
The acid in lemon juice removes dirt and rust stains. It's especially effective when mixed with salt, which makes "an excellent scouring paste," says Karyn Siegel-Maier, author of The Naturally Clean Home (Storey Publishing, $13, amazon.com).
Price: About 50 cents a lemon.
Use Them to Clean Your…
Countertops: Dip the cut side of a lemon half in baking soda to tackle countertops; wipe with a wet sponge and dry. Don't use on delicate stone, like marble, or stainless steel (it may discolor).
Cutting boards: To remove tough food stains from light wood and plastic cutting boards, slice a lemon in half, squeeze onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.
Dishes: To increase the grease-cutting power of your dishwashing detergent, add a teaspoon of lemon juice.
Faucets: Combat lime scale by rubbing lemon juice onto the taps and letting it sit overnight. Wipe with a damp cloth.
Garbage disposal: Cut a lemon in half, then run both pieces through the disposal. "The lemon cleans it and makes it smell great," says Linda Mason Hunter, a coauthor of Green Clean (Melcher Media, $17, amazon.com).
Grout: Spilled morning coffee on your tile countertop or backsplash? Here's how to tackle grout stains: Add lemon juice to 1 or 2 teaspoons cream of tartar (an acidic salt that acts as a natural bleaching agent) to make a paste. Apply with a toothbrush, then rinse.
Hands: When you touch raw fish, the smell can linger on your fingers. Rub your hands with lemon juice, which will neutralize the odor.
Laundry: To brighten whites, add 1/2 cup lemon juice to the rinse cycle for a normal-size load.
Plastic food-storage containers: To bleach stains from tomato soup and other acidic foods on dishwasher-safe items, rub lemon juice on the spots, let dry in a sunny place, then wash as usual.
Essential Oils
Extracted from plants, some essential oils can kill bacteria and mold. They're very strong, so don't go overboard: One drop of peppermint oil is as potent as 30 cups of peppermint tea.
Price: $14 for 5 milliliters at health-food stores.
Use Them to Clean Your…
Combs and brushes: Fill a container with 1 1/2 cups water, 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar, and 20 drops tea-tree, lavender, or eucalyptus oil. Soak combs and brushes for 20 minutes. Rinse and air-dry.
Scuffed floors: Apply two to four drops of tea-tree oil to the spots. Wipe excess oil with a cloth and rub in distilled white vinegar.
Gum-encrusted items: Orange oil is great at removing this sticky offender from various materials. (Don't worry: It shouldn't stain fabrics. But do launder immediately.) Apply with a cotton ball.
Shower doors: Wipe scum-covered glass doors with a few drops of lemon oil twice a month. It will protect them from grime buildup.
Toilets: Add 2 teaspoons tea-tree oil and 2 cups water to a spray bottle. Shake, then spritz along the toilet's inside rim. Let sit for 30 minutes; scrub. You can also place a few drops of your favorite oil on the inside of the toilet-paper tube. "Every time the paper is used, the scent will be released," says Siegel-Maier.
Windows: Mix 2 ounces water and 10 drops lavender or lemongrass oil to wipe grime off windows. Bonus: These oils may repel flies.
Liquid Castile Soap
Like other soaps, this plant-based version efficiently loosens grime and dirt from surfaces, says Siegel-Maier: "But it's gentler, so it won't dull them."
Price: About $8 for 8 ounces at supermarkets.
Use It to Clean Your…
Car: Mix 1/4 cup liquid Castile soap with hot water in a bucket (fill almost to the top). Rub a generous amount of the solution on your car's exterior, windshield, hubcaps, and tires with a large sponge, then thoroughly hose it off.
Floors: You can mop almost any type of floor with a solution of 1/4 cup liquid Castile soap and 2 gallons warm water. If the floors are greasy, add 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar to the bucket. leather upholstery: Add 2 drops liquid Castile soap to 1 quart warm water. Apply to the leather with a barely moist sponge.
Marble countertops: Stir 1 tablespoon liquid Castile soap into 1 quart warm water. Dampen a cloth with the solution and wipe surface. Rinse, then dry with a clean cloth.
Sinks, showers, tubs, and ceramic tile: Create a homemade soft scrubber by combining 1 tablespoon liquid Castile soap and 1/3 cup baking soda.
Stovetop and vent hood: Add a few squirts of liquid Castile soap to 2 cups hot water. Apply to the stovetop, the burners, and the vent hood to cut through accumulated grease.
Cooking Oils
Vegetable- and plant-based oils, such as olive and sunflower, dislodge dirt, diminish scratches and imperfections, and "hydrate wood that has aged or dried out from exposure to the sun," says Hunter.
Price: About $7 a pint at supermarkets.
Use Them to Clean Your…
Cast-iron pans: Make a scrubbing paste with vegetable oil and a teaspoon of coarse salt to combat cooked-on debris, then rinse with hot water.
Hands: To get paint off your skin, rub with vegetable oil, then wash thoroughly with soap.
Leather shoes: Wipe away dirt with a damp sponge, then apply a drop of vegetable oil to a soft cloth and rub the surface to remove scuff marks. Buff the shoes with a chamois to a shine.
Rattan and wicker furniture: To prevent rattan and wicker from drying or cracking, lightly brush them with vegetable or sunflower oil and gently rub in with a cloth. Warm the oil on the stove first to thin it and make it easier to apply.
Stainless-steel surfaces: For extra sparkle, pour olive oil onto a cloth and buff.
Wood furniture: Make your own polish by mixing 2 cups olive or vegetable oil with the juice of 1 lemon; work it in with a soft cloth. To smooth out scratches in light-colored wood, rub them with a solution of equal parts olive or vegetable oil and lemon juice.
Borax
When added to a laundry wash, borax makes detergents even more effective. It's also "quite alkaline, so it kills mold and fungus and softens water," says Robert Wolke, Ph.D., author of What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained (W. W. Norton & Company, $16, amazon.com).
Price: About $5 for 4 pounds at supermarkets.
Use It to Clean Your…
Baseboards, countertops, and walls: Dissolve 1/2 cup borax in 1 gallon hot water and pour the solution into a spray bottle (which you can store for later use). Spritz generously, wipe down with a damp cloth, and let air-dry.
China (including hand painted): Soak china in a dishpan filled with warm water and 1/2 cup borax; rinse well.
Dishwasher: If the machine is smelling like last night's chicken cacciatore, sprinkle borax in the bottom, let it sit overnight, then wipe down with a damp sponge. No need to rinse; just run the next load.
Pots and pans: Rub borax into cookware with a damp sponge; rinse well.
Toilet: Pour borax in the bowl and let it sit overnight, says Annie Bond, author of Better Basics for the Home (Three Rivers Press, $19, amazon.com). Swish the bowl a few times with a toilet brush and flush the next day. "Borax really gets rid of rust stains," she says.
Vinegar
This acidic wonder can wipe out tarnish, soap scum, mineral deposits, and more. Among natural cleaners, it's the clear champ. Distilled white vinegar creates an environment that inhibits the growth of mold, mildew, and some bacteria, such as E. coli and salmonella, says Jeffrey Hollender, author of Naturally Clean (New Society Publishers, $18, amazon.com).
Price: About $1.80 for a quart at supermarkets.
Use It to Clean Your…
Coffeemaker: Pour equal parts vinegar and water into the machine's water chamber, then switch on the brew cycle. Halfway through, turn off the coffeemaker and let the solution sit for about an hour. Turn it on again to complete the cycle, then run several cycles with clean water.
Dishwasher: To disinfect the interior of the machine, pour 1/2 cup vinegar into the reservoir and run an empty cycle, says Hunter. Or place a small bowl filled with vinegar on the bottom rack and run an empty cycle.
Drains: Clean drains―and the pipes they're attached to―by pouring vinegar down them. After 30 minutes, flush with cold water.
Floors: Add 1/4 cup vinegar to a bucket of warm water to clean almost any type of floor except marble (vinegar can scratch it) or wood (vinegar can strip it).
Glassware: For spotless hand-washed glasses, add 1 cup vinegar to the rinse water.
Moldy walls: Spray vinegar on the affected areas. After about 15 minutes, rinse and let dry thoroughly.
Showerheads: To combat mineral deposits, pour vinegar into a plastic grocery bag and knot the handles over the neck of the showerhead, securing with rubber bands. Let soak overnight. Rinse with water in the morning.
Steam iron: To get rid of mineral deposits, fill the iron with equal parts vinegar and water; press the steam button. Turn off, let cool, empty, and rinse.
Windows: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar, 2 cups water, and a squirt of liquid Castile soap in a spray bottle. Spritz windows and wipe with a sheet of newspaper.
Baking and Washing Soda
Baking soda (a.k.a. sodium bicarbonate) and its close cousin, washing soda (sodium carbonate), both absorb odors. But unlike baking soda, slightly stronger washing soda can't be ingested; wear rubber gloves when handling it.
Price: About $1.08 for a pound of baking soda; $7 for 4 pounds of washing soda; both available at supermarkets.
Use Them to Clean Your…
Can opener: Dip a toothbrush in a paste of 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1 teaspoon water and use it to dislodge gunk.
Garage floors (and other concrete surfaces): Pour washing soda generously on oil and grease spots and sprinkle with water until a paste forms. Let stand overnight. The next day, scrub with a damp brush, hose down, and wipe clean.
Garden tools: Dip a moist stiff-bristled brush in washing soda to scrub trimmers, clippers, and more. Rinse, then place in a sunny area to dry. (Don't use washing soda on aluminum tools.)
Grills and barbecue utensils: To combat tough grease stains, dip a moist stiff- bristled brush in washing soda and scrub away.
Stove burner grates: In a dishpan, soak them in 1 gallon warm water and 1/2 cup washing soda for 30 minutes. Rinse and dry.
Stained teacups and coffee mugs: Fill with 1 part baking soda and 2 parts water and soak overnight; rub with a sponge and rinse.
Upholstered furniture: To remove odors, sprinkle baking soda on the fabric, then vacuum.
Scuffed walls: Erase crayon marks by applying a baking-soda paste (equal parts baking soda and water) to white painted walls (baking soda may dull colored walls). Let dry before brushing it off with a clean cloth.
Toothpaste
The combination of a mild abrasive, a surfactant (detergent), and an antibacterial agent makes toothpaste a potent stain-fighter. "Stick with standard paste, not gel, and steer clear of formulas designed for tartar control and whitening," says Siegel-Maier. "These often contain chemicals and additional abrasives that can damage items such as fine silver."
Price: About $3.65 for a tube.
Use It to Clean Your…
Acrylic accessories (such as desktop organizers): Squeeze toothpaste onto a toothbrush and work it into scratches until they diminish. Wipe residue off with a cloth.
Chrome fixtures: To polish faucets and taps in the kitchen or bathroom, smear a dime-size amount of toothpaste onto them, then buff with a soft cloth until they shine.
Scuffed linoleum: Reduce marks by scrubbing them with toothpaste and a dry cloth until no toothpaste residue remains.
Piano keys: Rub each key carefully with a damp cotton swab and a dollop of toothpaste. Wipe dry and buff with a clean cloth.
Tarnished silverware: Put a dab of toothpaste on a soft cloth, rub it onto the tarnish, then rinse with water and dry with a clean cloth.
Steam iron: Mineral deposits can stain an iron's soleplate. Apply a dab of toothpaste and work it into the plate. Use a clean cloth to remove residue.
Table Salt
Salt's granular texture makes it perfectly suited for scouring. Table salt, sea salt, and kosher salt can all be used, but table salt is the cheapest choice.
Price: About 69 cents a pound.
Use It to Clean Your…
Artificial flowers: Place the fake blooms inside a paper bag and pour in salt. Close the bag and shake vigorously. The salt will dislodge accumulated dust and dirt.
Glassware: Salt won't scratch the way a scouring pad can. To get out stubborn stains, add some salt for extra abrasion and scrub.
Greasy pots and pans: Sprinkle salt on cookware to absorb excess grease. Dump out the salt before washing as usual. (Not recommended for nonstick cookware.)
Spills in the oven: If that casserole bubbles over as you take it out of the oven, pour salt on the spill to soak it up. When the oven is cool, wipe with a damp sponge.
Stained teacups and coffee mugs: Sprinkle salt on the outside of a lemon peel; rub the affected area till clean.
Wooden counters and tables: Cover grease splatters with salt to absorb as much as possible. Wait an hour, then brush away the salt.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Diet vs. Exercise
So why is exercise better?
1. Exercise changes your metabolism
Physical activity changes the energy equilibrium (your metabolism) of your body by increasing the amount of energy your body needs every day.
2. Cardio burns calories
One pound of fat is equal to 3500 calories. So to lose weight you need a calorie deficiency of 500 a day to lose a pound a week (500 x 7 days = 3500). It's better to eliminate calories with exercise because restricting food can actually lower your metabolism.
3. Activity breeds more activity
Studies show that individuals who exercise are generally more active throughout the day.
4. Working out builds muscle
You can increase muscle mass and the size of your muscle fiber by exercising (especially weight bearing activity). In order to nourish these fibers the body uses calories from fat that are stored in the body. As your energy requirements go up, you burn more fat during exercise and all day long. So the more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns, the faster you lose weight.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Beware Expired Make-ups
Check out the dates below and find out when you should toss your makeup stash.
Expiration dates — beginning from the time you first open these products
Powders and shadows: 2 years
Cream shadows: 12 to 18 months
Foundation: 1 year
Lipstick & lipliner: 1 year
Mascara & eyeliners: 3 months
Makeup brushes: Clean weekly using a mild detergent
Makeup sponges: Replace weekly, or when sponge becomes soiled
Tips for keeping your skin clean and your makeup fresh
— Smell your cosmetics; if they have an unusual odor, they may contain bacteria and should be discarded.
— Always make sure that products are closed tight and stored out of sunlight, as this can destroy the preservatives.
— Don't use any eye products if you currently have an eye infection.
— Never add any liquids to products unless directed by the manufacturer.
— If there are any changes in color and texture, dispose of the product immediately.
— Avoid sampling makeup at department stores when possible. If you do test, never apply directly from the makeup. Instead, use a clean, disposable applicator (i.e., cotton swab, sponge) to apply cosmetics.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Dermatologist's Skin-Care Tips
Face Basics
Arielle Kauvar, a dermatologist in New York City, switches to richer skin-care products before the cold weather really sets in. "This helps your skin transition and avoid the dryness and sensitivity that can come with winter," she says. Here, her personal goods.
A Creamy Cleanser
Kauvar swaps her warm-weather foaming face wash for Skinceuticals Cleansing Cream. She prefers its milky formula because it contains alpha hydroxy acids to slough off flaky dead cells and comfrey extract to soothe skin. If your face is very dry, she suggests Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging Nourishing Cream Cleanser. This extra-emollient wash won't strip skin of precious oils or leave it feeling parched.
A Moisturizing Sunscreen
Kauvar enjoys skiing, and when she hits the slopes, she coats her skin with Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 70 with Helioplex. "It blocks UVA and UVB rays," she says. "And it's absorbed quickly." For everyday moisturizing plus sun protection, she uses Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 30. It contains glycerin and panthenol, both great hydrators, and it's oil-free, so it won't trigger breakouts.
A Proven Line Smoother
At night, Kauvar uses Retin-A Micro or Tazorac (by prescription). "Retinoids stimulate collagen production and soften the look of wrinkles," she says. For an over-the-counter version, she suggests Roc Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream.
A Vitamin Serum
After cleansing, Kauvar breaks open and smooths on an Alyria Antioxidant Capsule. It offers light moisture and "is antioxidant-packed to prevent aging and damage," she says. For sensitive skin, try Skinceuticals Phloretin CF, a gentle formula with vitamin C.
Tip: Come winter, scan labels for the best moisturizers: Glycerin and hyaluronic acid are ideal for hydrating the face.
Body Essentials
Temperature changes, brisk winds, or just a lack of humidity will sap skin of moisture, so dermatologist Arielle Kauvar counters with these heavyweight creams. She also avoids washing with hot water and keeps bathing time to a minimum.
Photo: David Land
A Rich Lotion
After toweling off post-shower, Kauvar applies Aveeno Stress Relief Moisturizing Lotion. It contains petrolatum plus colloidal oatmeal to stave off itchiness. For extremely dry skin, try Moisturel Therapeutic Cream. It's brimming with petrolatum and glycerin for intense moisturizing, and dimethicone, which easily coats rough skin. "I like its silky feel," says Kauvar.
A Hydrating Cleanser
"Body wash needn't be expensive," says Kauvar. She likes Olay Age Defying Body Wash With Vitaniacin, a rich liquid that contains skin-saturating shea butter. For sensitive skin, she prefers Dove Sensitive Skin Unscented Beauty Bar. Hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, it won't irritate.
Luxe Creams
Kauvar washes her hands "at least 50 times a day," so she always follows with Cetaphil Therapeutic Hand Cream. Its glycerin and shea butter help prevent chapping. Before bed, she puts Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Foot Crème on her feet. "The alpha hydroxy acids soften calluses," she says.
Emollient Balms
When it's very cold out, Kauvar carries Aquaphor Healing Ointment in her purse. "It soothes cracked skin and cuticles. I even put it on my eyelids if they feel chapped from the wind," she says. To protect her lips, she uses Lipcotz SPF 45. With moisturizing vitamin E and titanium dioxide, a sunblock, it protects against dryness and sunburn, which happens even in the dead of winter.
More Picks
For Blemishes
When a pimple appears, Kauvar reaches for prescription-only Clenia Emollient Cream or Finacea to calm inflammation. "They usually diminish blemishes in 24 to 48 hours, which is probably the fastest (a product can work), although it might not feel fast enough," she says. For bigger, painful bumps under the skin that simply won't disappear or come to the surface, visit a dermatologist for a cortisone injection, she advises.
For Lines Around the Eyes
She gently dabs on obagi Elastiderm Night Eye Cream. This is made with copper zinc malonate, an ingredient that stimulates production of new elastic tissue and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
For Dark Circles
Kauvar soothes the skin around her eyes with Auriderm Illume Eye Creme. It contains 2 percent vitamin K oxide, which helps to decrease pigmentation, and light reflectors to brighten the undereye area. Also, it helps deflate puffiness.
For Dull Skin
Once a week, Kauvar uses Alyria Purifying Mask. "It's an important step in my maintenance routine," she says. "Any mask or gentle scrub used correctly will take away grime and help your skin better absorb the products that you put on." It has glycolic acid, to remove dead skin cells, and kaolin clay, to draw out oil and debris. If you don't have 10 minutes to loll about waiting for a mask to dry, use the Clarisonic Skin Care Brush. "You can take this in the shower with you, and it's probably the gentlest method of physical exfoliation there is," says Kauvar.
For Rough Patches on the Body
Kauvar rubs Alyria Resurfacing Body Care on her knees and elbows. It contains a high concentration of glycolic acid to slough off dead cells and make skin softer without irritation.
For Nighttime Moisture
Before bed, Kauvar applies a nickel-size amount of Alyria Intense Wrinkle Correction to her face and neck. "The skin here is fragile and more susceptible to damage," she says. The lightweight formula contains the skin-firming ingredient Matrixyl.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Salmonella Strikes Again
In Ohio a distributor says it has recalled two brands of its peanut butter after an open container tested positive for salmonella bacteria. King Nut Companies said in a statement issued Saturday that it has asked customers to stop distributing all peanut butter under its King Nut and Parnell's Pride brands with a lot code that begins with the numeral "8." The brands are distributed only through food service providers and are not sold directly to consumers.
Kids loved peanut butter and jelly sandwich and so as my daughter. So it is nice to know about things like this to make us aware before we go shopping. This is very important cause we eat this.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090111/ap_on_re_us/salmonella_outbreak_recall
Water and Your Skin
" It is been said that water is essential to all of our biological processes. When it comes to skin, H20 is necessary for the proper functioning of enzymes that enable skin to continually replace itself and slough off old, dead cells. And yes, if the body is severely dehydrated, you will see changes in your skin. But true dehydration is very different from the occasional need for a tall glass of water.
In the vast majority of cases, then, dehydrated skin is not indicative of a dehydrated body - and drinking more water will not have a significant impact on your skin's hydration. Make no mistake: As a doctor (and a human being!), I'm a big fan of water and advocate drinking plenty of it. But if you're experiencing dry skin - and more of us will be as the weather turns cooler and humidity drops in many parts of the world - the only way to get relief is to strengthen your skin barrier.
So, what's the skin barrier? That's the layer of skin - right in the middle of the epidermis - that's rich in lipids (a.k.a. fats) like fatty acids, cholesterol, and ceramides. When it's healthy, it is responsible for keeping moisture in your skin, and irritants out.
But when this barrier is compromised, your skin loses water to the environment, resulting in dry skin, and is also more susceptible to allergic reactions and irritation. That's also why you may feel plagued by dull skin during the winter: When the skin barrier is disrupted, its lipids aren't holding your skin cells together effectively. As a result, cells' edges begin to curl up, resulting in dry skin's rough, lifeless appearance.
The best way to tackle dry skin, then, is to help bolster the skin barrier so it can do its job and retain moisture. In fact, you can find the same lipids that are naturally present in your skin barrier in many moisturizers - fatty acids (like stearic acid), cholesterol, and ceramides are readily available in many creams and lotions. Glycerin, another rich moisturizer, is also easy to find. Best of all, these top-notch ingredients are affordable, and you'll find them in the aisles of your very own drugstore."
My daughter born with eczema and the doctors advice is to moisturized it cause the cause of eczema is a dryness of skin. She said that it will gone as she grows. She is now almost 3 and i haven't noticed it around on her skin. We used petroleum jelly cause it's good and natural and i am using Vaseline lotion for myself for my dry skin and that's what i uses for her too now. But yeah of course drinking plenty of water is very important not just for skin hydration but for a lot more functions for our body.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Pollution
Tonight at work i have this very nice customer chatting with me. She said that they just came from California for a visit and telling me that all 3 of them got colds, chest tight and their losing their voice and congested. She said that the city is polluted, so busy street and congested. I don't know which part but i thought Phoenix is already polluted. Like when we went to the mountain summit were you can see the intire Phoenix, the city is dusty and gray. Well, there's probably more worst than Phoenix but all i can say is still much better than Philippines hehe.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Skin Care
This one caught on my attention. Sometimes i liked to collect clippings from newspapers or everywhere on anything that interest me.I know that i'm gonna learn something on this so i'm sharing this to everybody and for me to remind myself too. Skin is so important so we have to take good care of it. Everybody aged but caring for our skin is also same as caring for our health.
The 6 Biggest Skin-Care Mistakes
1. Using a cleanser with harsh detergents: Many people assume that the suds of their vigorously foaming cleanser are a good sign -- surely they'll leave skin extra clean. Unfortunately, copious suds are generally a sign that your cleanser contains a harsh detergent, like lauryl sulfate, that strips skin of vital lipids. (And don't get me started on bar soap -- that is always a no-no.) Instead, look for cleansers that contain fatty acids and will actually fortify your skin, like Dove's ProAge products, or even simple cold cream. If you have particularly dry skin, I recommend cleansing oils, which remove dirt and makeup without disturbing your skin's natural protective barrier.
2. Not using a retinoid: Retinol, a form of vitamin A, is the only topical ingredient proven not only to prevent lines and wrinkles but to minimize the ones you already have. Past the age of 30, I recommend seeing a dermatologist for a higher-concentration prescription retinoid (like Retin-A, Differin, or Tazorac, for example), but there are also many great over-the-counter creams that contain lower concentrations of retinol. I like Roc Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream, Neutrogena Healthy Skin Night Cream, and SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0.
3. Spending too much on skin care: Splurging on the beautiful packaging and luxurious scents of pricey boutique skin care lines can feel wonderfully pampering -- provided you know that it's absolutely not necessary for great skin. In fact, many of my favorite products are made by drugstore brands, because those companies have the large budgets for top-notch research and development. If you have to choose, put your money toward that prescription retinoid, and buy the rest of your regimen at the drugstore.
4. Getting facials: Yes, that's right -- you can strike facials from your skin-care budget and actually be doing your skin a favor! Studies show that as many as 80% of people break out after a facial. Aestheticians often don't know which products are right for the skin of each client, and may use ingredients that can worsen acne, or essential oils that tend to irritate sensitive skin. Even if you don't break out, there are really no long-term benefits to facials.
5. Washing your face at the wrong time: Always wash your face after you rinse out your hair products and conditioner in the shower, never before. Many conditioners contain pore-clogging isopropyl myristate and other hair products often contain coconut oil -- both are common acne-causing ingredients that you don't want to leave on your skin.
6. Not using sunscreen every day: Not just for your trip to the beach. Not just during the long summer days. Every day. Yes, it's important to be even more vigilant if you plan to spend lots of time in direct sunlight. But incidental sun exposure typically accounts for more of our lifetime exposure to ultraviolet rays than those days at the beach. Walking to and from your car, dashing out of the office for a sandwich, or sitting outside for a few minutes adds up -- make sure you're covered with at least SPF 15, every day.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Colds and Flu
It's winter time once again and colds and flu are just around the corner. By the time we feel the change of the weather, the first one who got colds is my husband. Headache at first then sneezing and coughing for few days. Then me sneezing and until now is a little sore throat. Now is my daughter with runny nose, stuffy nose and probably a sore throat. She is less active last weel and her eyes looks tired all the time. She doesn't like to cover up in the night and i always wakes up in the middle of the night just to cover her but still end up in the morning without cover.I bought her a bigger size of her fleece coverall pajama, keeping her warm even if she's not in the cover. She is seems a little better now thank goodness with less crying in the night and i'm giving her medication and rubbing her with baby rub. Even my husbands uncle got some colds from us even though every year they always get a flu shots. I found this in the Internet it's the 9 tips to treat colds and flu in "the natural" way. As what my husband's always likes the natural way which is very good and i learned a lot from him. To all my friends just a simple and friendly reminder to cover up and keep warm all the time.
9 Tips to Treat Colds and Flu the 'Natural' Way
No. 1: Blow Your Nose Often -- and the Right Way
It's important to blow your nose regularly when you have a cold rather than sniffling mucus back into your head. But when you blow hard, pressure can cause an earache. The best way to blow your nose: Press a finger over one nostril while you blow gently to clear the other. Wash your hands after blowing your nose.
No. 2: Stay Rested
Resting when you first come down with a cold or the flu helps your body direct its energy toward the immune battle. This battle taxes the body. So give it a little help by lying down under a blanket.
No. 3: Gargle
Gargling can moisten a sore throat and bring temporary relief. Try a teaspoon of salt dissolved in warm water, four times daily. To reduce the tickle in your throat, try an astringent gargle -- such as tea that contains tannin -- to tighten the membranes. Or use a thick, viscous gargle made with honey, popular in folk medicine. Steep one tablespoon of raspberry leaves or lemon juice in two cups of hot water; mix with one teaspoon of honey. Let the mixture cool to room temperature before gargling. Honey should never be given to children less than 1 year old.
No. 4: Drink Hot Liquids
Hot liquids relieve nasal congestion, help prevent dehydration, and can soothe the uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat.
No. 5: Take a Steamy Shower
Steamy showers moisturize your nasal passages and relax you. If you're dizzy from the flu, run a steamy shower while you sit on a chair nearby and take a sponge bath.
No. 6: Use a Salve Under Your Nose
A small dab of mentholated salve under your nose can open breathing passages and help soothe the irritated skin at the base of the nose. Menthol, eucalyptus and camphor all have mild numbing ingredients that may help relieve the pain of a nose rubbed raw.
No. 7: Apply Hot or Cold Packs Around Your Congested Sinuses
Either temperature may help you feel more comfortable. You can buy reusable hot or cold packs at a drugstore. Or make your own. Take a damp washcloth and heat it for 55 seconds in a microwave (test the temperature first to make sure it's right for you.) Or take a small bag of frozen peas to use as a cold pack.
No. 8: Sleep With an Extra Pillow Under Your Head
This will help with the drainage of nasal passages. If the angle is too awkward, try placing the pillows between the mattress and the box springs to create a more gradual slope.
No. 9: Don't Fly Unless Necessary
There's no point adding stress to your already stressed-out upper respiratory system, and that's what the change in air pressure will do. Flying with cold or flu congestion can hurt your eardrums as a result of pressure changes during takeoff and landing. If you must fly, use a decongestant and carry a nasal spray with you to use just before takeoff and landing. Chewing gum and swallowing frequently can also help relieve pressure.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Symptoms of Anxiety/Panic Attack
PANIC ATTACKS OR GENERAL ANXIETY SYMPTOMS ARE
l) dizziness
2) feeling faint
3) rapid heartbeat
4) feelings of unreality
5) fear of losing control, or dying
6) shortness of breath
7) sweating
8) nauseous or upset stomach
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Melamine
This is forwarded by my cousin.
1.What really is poisoned milk?
It is the milk powder mixed with "MELAMINE"
What is Melamine use for?
*It is an industrial chemical use in the production of melawares.
*It is also used in home decoration." US resistant board"
Do you understand Melamine is use in industrial production,it cannot be eaten!
2.Why is Melamine added in milk powder?
The most important nutrient in milk is protein. And Melamine has the same protein that contains "NITROGEN"Adding Melamine in milk reduces milk content and it is cheaper then milk so it lowers capitalization. It can give the business man more profit!
3.When was it discovered?
Year 2007 US cats and dogs died suddenly, they found that pet food from China contains Melamine.
Starting 2008, In China , an abnormal increase in infant cases of kidney stones.August 2008 China Sanlu Milk Powder tested with Melamine.
Sept. 2008 New Zealand gov't ask China to check this problem.
Sept. 21, 2008 Lots of food products in Taiwan tested with Melamine
4.What happens when Melamine is digested?
Melamine remains inside the kidney. It forms into stonesblocking the tubes. Pain will be eminent and person cannot urinate. Kidney will then swell.Although surgery can remove the stones, but it will cause irreversible kidney damage. It can lead to loss of kidney function and will requirekidney dialysis or lead to death because of uremia.
*What is dialysis?
In fact, it should be called "blood washing"it is filtering all of the body's blood into the machine and then go back to the body.The whole process takes 4 hours and it is necessary to dialysis once for every 3 days for the rest of your life.
A small hole is required in the arm to insert thesub-dialysis catheter.
*Why is it more serious in babies?
Because the kidney is very small and they drink a lot of milk powder. China currenty has 13,000 infants hospitalized. It does not matter how much a human being took Melamine. The important point is "It cannot be EATEN!"
5.What are the foods to be avoided?
Foods, dairy products and milk that contains MELAMINE.
Remember: Foods with creamer or milk that contains "MELAMINE" should be avoided. Be sure to always check the label before buying.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Food to Stay Young
Stay young is beautiful. This is the natural and simple way to get healthy. Everyday foods that everybody loves and be sure to add this on your shopping list.
Protect Your Heart Like The Mediterraneans
Just three months of Mediterranean-style eating in one recent study improved blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol in people at high risk of heart disease. Olive Oil, leafy greens, nuts, tomatoes and red wine are just a few common ingredients in Mediterranean food that are rich in antioxidants, phytochemicals and vitamins that keep you looking good from the inside out
Citrus Magic
An apple keeps the doctor away, but an orange a day may keep fine lines and flaky skin at bay. Researchers discovered that women 40 and older who had great amounts of C were 11% less likely to develop wrinkles. The recommended dosage amount is 75 milligrams, which is the equivalent of a glass of grapefruit juice.
Eat More Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Don't just slap anything with fins onto your plate: You want fatty fish, such as salmon, sardines, and lake trout. They contain the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which many studies show help prevent sudden death from heart attack. Omega-3s may also help ward off depression, Alzheimer's disease, and age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness—and maybe some cancers. For better skin take 1,000 mg of omega-3 oils a day—this is also the recommended dosage to keep your heart in tip-top shape.
Milk Really Does A Body Good
Caffeine and alcohol have both been shown to limit calcium absorption and increase osteoporosis risk. Stick to one alcoholic beverage a day and curb your soda habit. If you can't live without your cup of morning Joe, then drink it with milk: 1 teaspoon per cup offsets the calcium loss.
Nature's Umbrella
Applying a smear of an extract found in broccoli sprouts to skin reduced inflammation and redness by nearly 40%, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Once stimulated, the mechanism works for days, long after the extract is washed away. Keep an eye out for topical broccoli-based sun-protective products, which are in development.
Health’s A Bowl of Cherries
A 90-calorie cup of Bing cherries has more antioxidants than a small piece of dark chocolate or 3 ounces of almonds. They may also help prevent the risk of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, as well as heart disease and cancer, and are a good source of immune-boosting vitamin C and cholesterol-lowering fiber. Pick mahogany-colored Bings with firm, smooth skin and attached stems for the longest fridge life.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
The Darker The Better
Recent study shows that eating chocolate is good for the heart. Chocolates contains antioxidants that helps keep high blood pressure down, your blood flowing and your heart healthy. The darker the better. Well here are some benefits of the chocolate in our health as well as some negative effect:
Is Chocolate A Health Food?
Chocolate contains more than 300 chemicals, and has been the subject of a number of studies by universities and other scientific organizations. Here's a quick rundown of the results. (Note, we have no way of proving or disproving these claims so we offer them here as a stimulus for further research. If you're really interested in the subject, this may provide you with a starting point.)
* Cacao, the source of chocolate, contains antibacterial agents that fight tooth decay. Of course, this is counteracted by the high sugar content of milk chocolate.* The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.* Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine, a mild mood elevator.
* The cocoa butter in chocolate contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat which may raise good cholesterol.
* Drinking a cup of hot chocolate before meals may actually diminish appetite.
* Men who eat chocolate live a year longer than those who don't.
* The flavanoids in chocolate may help keep blood vessels elastic.
* Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood.
* Mexican healers use chocolate to treat bronchitis and insect bites.
* The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.What Chocolate Won't DoThere are many myths and half-truths about the effects of chocolate on the human body. Here are the latest findings on several of them.
* Studies show that chocolate is not a causative factor in acne.
* Cacao contains the stimulants caffeine and bromine, but in such small quantities that they don't cause nervous excitability.
* Chocolate is not addictive.
* Chocolate contains stearic acid, a neutral fat which doesn't raise bad cholesterol.
* Chocolate doesn't make you 'high'. You'd need to eat a huge quantity (about 25 pounds at one sitting) to feel any noticeable effect.
But On The Negative Side...
1. Chocolate may trigger headaches in migraine sufferers.
2. Milk chocolate is high in calories, saturated fat and sugar.
What About Chocolate And Your Pets?
Chocolate is considered dangerous to animals because it contains a stimulant called theobromine, which they can't digest.
Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are even more dangerous because they contain higher concentrations of the substance. This applies whether chocolate is in candy bar form, or an ingredient in cake, cookies, puddings or ice cream.If a pet becomes ill after eating chocolate, take it to the vet immediately.
Dark Chocolate Versus Milk Chocolate
Dark chocolate contains more cacao and less sugar than milk chocolate. It follows that any health benefits would be more pronounced in dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate is allowed on the popular Montaignac diet while milk chocolate is not.You'll need to do a little research if you have any health concerns about eating chocolate. But with products like gluten-free and sugar-free brands finding their way onto supermarket shelves, you're sure to find some form of chocolate you can enjoy with a clear conscience.
Hmmm... nothing is better than to have a hot chocolate in the morning and hot pandisal for breakfast. This is what my mother used to offer for breakfast. When i was a kid we used to loved to eat the fruit of the cocoa and we dries the seeds after and grind it and it has better aroma than coffee and that's what we used for our hot cocoa. It's very natural no additives added.
Friday, June 27, 2008
My cellphone and my health
Frequent using of cellphones can possibly cause hazards to our health. There have been many allegations that by talking too much on cellphones can cause brain tumors. Recent studies shows the possibility and that the radiation from the phone that cause the tumor. Might as well be aware about this matter specially now that people hooked on this kind of device. It's also says that the used of headsets, earpiece and ear buds headset helped to eliminate the possibility.
Check on this sites for more info:
http://www.center4research.org/wmnshlth/2007/cell-braintumors.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/021634.html
Monday, April 21, 2008
Go GREEN!!!
Go green!!! is my theme for tomorrows celebration for Earth Day... Think of what we can do to maintain green of our planet starting in our house. Give at least 5 to 10 steps of what we can do today.
In our house:
1. Conserve energy at least turn-off some lights or appliances not in use. Now that summer is here we just used dryer for tiny clothes and underwear's the rest is hang it on the clothes line and let the heat of the sun takes care of it. 2. Conserve water like turn-off water if not in used like when brushing teeth or in the shower while soaping your body. Our washing machine doesn't used too much water, it's just used just right for the clothes to soak and not over flowing. 3. Recycle, yup i'm recycling our tin cans and sold it and the money is adds on our daughter's savings account. Sorting and separate trash from those that can still be recycle. 4. Not to used to much gas, yup were using our car with the good gas mileage and i know my husband is saving his gas too cause gas prices is too high. 5. Have some indoor plants inside the house this is a very helpful way to prevent indoor pollution and cleansing the air we breath. Plant trees and flowers around the yard. We have few trees around the yard and i'm taking care of my flowers cause i like flowers and adds assortment in our yard 6. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables more often. I always cooked foods for my family and how i loved vegetables and seafood's. My husband is a carnivore who loves meat and i'm just adding some decoration on his food and he likes it too. 7. Clean and organize your house to have a clean and healthy environment. 8. Used cleaning material that are not harmful to our body. My husband is so sensitive of smell and so do i, we are using odor free soap and used simple green all around cause it's non-toxic and made of natural ingredients. It's all purpose cleaner and it's cheap too.9. Recycle plastic bags from store, i sometimes used it as a trash bags for our tiny trash and storage bags before i put stuffs on our storage shed. 10. Recycle clothes and things and donate it. I sometimes donate things that are not in used and still in excellent condition, some clothes like my daughters clothes cause nobody could use it anymore and drop it to Goodwill and it can be useful for some people.
Think of what you can do to save our planet in your house, write at least 5-10 and let me know so that i can learn something from you. I know there are some more that i forgot or missed.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Tips for a Better Life
Forwarded Via Mail
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants (factories).
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water.. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or thing! s you cannot control. Instead investyour energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. GOD heals almost everything.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will.Stay in touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35. Do the right thing!
36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!)
37. ! Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
May your troubles be less, May your blessings be more, May nothing but happiness come through your door!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Indoor Pollution
