Healthy and Glowing Beauty

Simple Health Principles To Remember

2011-11-21T16:50:00.000-08:00

MINIMIZE FAT. Unsaturated fats like canola and olive oils are recommended over animal fats and hydrogenated fats. Trimmed meats and non or low food items all provide an ounce of prevention against heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

MINIMIZE SALT. Salt causes water retention. Instead, try to use more spices, flavorful herbs and aromatic vegetables like garlic, onions, lemon and chilies.

MINIMIZE SUGAR. Most forms of sugar adversely affect our total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL ("bad" cholesterol). Elevated levels of blood sugar boost uric acid production, depress immune system and increase risk of diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

MAXIMIZE FIBER. Fiber is indispensable in curbing over overeating, keeping blood sugar constant, reducing cholesterol, regulating bowel movement and lessening the risk of cancer.

MINIMIZE ALCOHOL. Alcohol is calorific. Too much alcohol can harm our immune system, alter our thinking and increase the risks for colorectal cancer and cirrhosis of the liver.

Serious Heart Problems that is Cause By Anger

2011-11-20T17:09:00.000-08:00

Sometimes when we are driving, then suddenly someone cuts you off, do you get mad? or just swallow your anger and dwell on it later?

Either way, you're not being to kind to your heart. If you respond to every anger inducing situation by blowing your stack or by holding it in, you could be setting yourself up for a serious heart problems.

Why? there's evidence that people who respond rigidly to anger provoking events are likely to wind up with significantly elevated levels of heart damaging cholesterol.

The best response to anger provoking situation is to be creative and flexible. It's important to turn of the anger as soon as possible to reduce its physiological effects.

Researchers found out that a person who always react to anger provoking situation in the same negative way, their "bad" or LDL cholesterol ranked higher, regardless of whether they expressed the anger or held it in. Researchers also found that those who were flexible, but who hid their anger slightly more often than showing it, had the lowest levels of "bad" and total cholesterol.

Why does intense anger trigger the release of lipids (fats) from the tissues into the bloodstream? The body releases the fatty substances for energy as part of its "fight or flight" survival response to perceived danger.

In some situations, the healthiest response is to insist quietly on your rights, which will soon defuse the anger. Still, remain under control and don't become aggressive.

Other survival threatening situations (such as being chewed out by the boss) must be endured in silence until you can slip away to burn off the negative energy, perhaps through a brisk walk or some vigorous kickboxing.

A Hearty Exercise For a Healthy Heart

2011-11-07T21:29:00.003-08:00

Your heart is like other muscles in that it needs exercise to work efficiently. And the American Heart Association says only 22 percent of adults get enough exercise of the type that contributes to a healthy heart.

What kind of exercise would that be? Running 10 miles a day or swimming 100 laps? Not really. All it takes is a brisk 30 minute walk most days of the week. In fact, any activity that is repetitive and involves some vigorous movement of large muscles - such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming or bicycling - is good for your heart.

When you exercise, you are conditioning your heart to perform better under pressure. Exercise forces your heart to supply your muscles with more oxygen and energy than is needed during rest, as well as flush out wastes that pile up in the muscles faster than when you are at rest. The result, A fit heart that can fill with blood and squeeze it out more efficiently.

Here is what a great heart exercise routine should include:

At least 5 minutes of warm-ups. Starting your exercise session gradually helps avoid injury and minimizes aches and pains later. Breathe deeply as you warm up.
Moderate exercise. Exercise moderately for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Don't exercise to the point of total breathlessness. You should be able to carry on a conversation while exercising.
A cooldown. Allow you body to cool down and gradually return to rest. Do some gentle stretches to keep your body limber and flexible.

When starting an exercise program, particularly if you've been sedentary, begin easily and slowly increase the intensity and duration of the activity. Choose activities that you will want to do at least three times a week. Remember, before starting a new exercise program, check with your doctor first. This is especially important if you have a chronic health problem or take medications daily.

You also reap some long term health benefits from lower intensity activities such as housework, gardening and walking for pleasure.

Car Exhaust Damages Sperm Quality

2011-11-07T21:10:00.003-08:00

Traffic pollution damages sperm quality in young and middle age men, says an Italian study of highway tollgate attendants. Their finding appear in a recent issue of Human Reproduction.

Researchers from the University of Naples say the results of their study should be an alert to health authorities on the insidious health effects of pollution. They add their findings should prompt research on workers in other jobs who are exposed to similar levels of pollution.

The study investigated the semen quality in 85 men working at motorway tollgates and 85 other men of the dame age level living in the same area.

Sperm counts and the levels of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone wear all normal in both groups. But all other sperm parameters in the tollgate workers were below World Health Organization levels.

The tollgate workers had significantly lower sperm movement, including forward progression, and much lower levels in other tests of sperm kinetics and function.

"Environmental levels of occupational pollutants, except carbon dioxide, at the tollgates exceeded the maximum legal levels and the workers were exposed to significantly higher levels of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide and lead than the controls," says study author Dr. Michele De Rosa

Cheap Eyeglasses at Zennioptical

2011-10-10T01:51:00.004-07:00

Many of us are very meticulous when it comes to our expenses especially in this time of tough economic condition. We need to get the worth of every cent of our hard-earned money. A lot of people are looking for ways to save money or cut the cost of whatever things they wanted to buy.

An eyeglass is one very important thing necessary for people with vision problems. The most economical and cheapest eyeglasses online I have seen are from Zenni Optical. Clark Howard, a money expert and author of the book entitled “Clark Howard’s Living Large in Tough Times” featured Zenni Optical on CNN.

There are a lot of companies selling eyeglasses out there but only at Zennioptical will you be able to get $6.95 prescription glasses. That’s an amazing price. For convenience, you can order from them online. All you have to do is have your eyes checked by an eye doctor and know your PD or pupilary distance and you can already order your prescription eyeglass online at Zennioptical. Aside from the fact that they offer very low prices for their glasses, they have a wide array of eyeglasses with various colors and designs. All you have to do is choose eyeglasses that fit according to your taste. There you have it friends. If you want to buy eyeglasses, look no further. Just go to zennioptical.com and you’ll able to get cheap yet quality and stylish eyeglasses.

Strategies To Reduce or Eliminate Stress Related Eating

2011-10-03T22:31:00.003-07:00

Stress deserves particular attention. More than two thirds of overweight adults report that they eat when they're stressed. When you're stressed out, you may eat too much or make unhealthy food choices, such as reaching for a bag of potato chips when you would otherwise eat fruit.

Strategies to reduce or eliminate stress:

Eliminate some sources of stress. If you feel constantly overwhelmed and stressed out by everyday hassles, you may not be able to control your eating routines. Set priorities. Save your energy for the most important people and activities. Simplify your life. Share and delegate responsibilities.
Improve your time management. Get organized by making a daily "to do list". Keep it realistic and don't try to cram in too many activities. Use a marker board at home to track tasks. Be assertive: Permit yourself to say "no" the next time someone asks you to volunteer for the latest community project.
Manage stress. Some sources of stress, like conflict on the job or in the family, can't be avoided. But you can use problem solving skills to soften their impact. First, identify the problem that's making you feel angry or anxious. Then start gathering information and looking for resources. Devise a plan, put it in place and watch what happens. If it doesn't work, ask why, revise your plan and try again.
Burn off stress. Exercise regularly to release tension and drain stress producing hormones circulating in your body. Choose exercise that you enjoy, or else the exercise itself can be stressful. Milder physical activity, such as after dinner walks and gardening, and relaxation activities (meditation, yoga or tai chi) are other soothing ways to dissolve stress. Informal breaks can also help. If you feel tempted by food, find a quiet place and do some stretches combined with deep, slow breathing.

The Right Fats That Help You Fight Alzheimer's

2011-10-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. This incurable, and terminal disease was first described by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and was named after him. Most often, it is diagnosed in people over 65 years of age, although the less prevalent early onset Alzheimer's can occur much earlier.

The Right Fats That Help You Fight Alzheimer's

A high intake of vegetable fats and unsaturated fats appears to protect against Alzheimer's disease, but supplemental vitamins appear to have no protective effect, two studies show.

The first study followed more than 800 elderly people without Alzheimer's for 4 years.

The study found that the people who ate the most vegetable fats were 80 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's than those who ate the least vegetable fat. The report appeared in the medical journal Archives of Neurology.

People with a high intake of omega 6 polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat, and who had a high ratio of polyunsaturated fat to saturated fat, were 70 percent to 80 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's than people with lower intakes of these fats.

But the patients who ate the most saturated fats and transunsaturated fats, which occur when vegetable oils are partially hydrogenated in the production of commercially baked products and margarine (to make it easy to spread) - were approximately twice as likely as people eating less saturated fat to develop Alzheimer's.

Intake of total fat, animal fat and dietary cholesterol was not associated with Alzheimer's, and adjusting for beta carotene, vitamin C or vitamin E intake, smoking, alcohol and use of statins (blood cholesterol lowering medications) did not affect the results.

The mechanism for the link between dietary fat composition and Alzheimer's was not known, the researchers said.

The second study followed 980 elderly without Alzheimer's for 4 years. This This study showed that supplemental, dietary or total intake of beta carotene, vitamin C or vitamin E was not linked to developing the condition. The study also appeared in Archives of Neurology.

Age, level of education, sex, race and smoking did not affect the results.

Tips To Lower Your Intake of Trans Fat

2011-10-02T22:45:00.002-07:00

Trimming your food of the wring kind of fat will add years to your life. Warnings about the health dangers of trans fat seem to be everywhere and with good reason. People of all ages, particularly older adults, should listen.

The unhealthiest of all fats, trans fat poses a double threat to your arteries. It raises the level of the bad cholesterol-low density lipoproteins (LDL)-and lowers the good cholesterol-high density lipoproteins (HDL). It is found in vegetable shortening, some margarines, crackers, candies, baked goods, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, salad dressings and many processed foods.

Here are some tips to help lower your intake of trans fat:

Read food labels. If a food product lists shortening or hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil as one of its first ingredients, that means it contains a lot of trans fat.
Do simple math to figure out trans fat content of foods. Add the polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats to the saturated fats. Subtract that sum from the "Total fat" listed on the label. The result equals the amount of trans fat in the product.
Pay attention to margarine. The softer margarine is at room temperature, the lower its trans fat content. The best choice are margarine's labeled "trans fat free".
Use canola oil or olive oil when frying food. Be careful when eating at restaurants. Foods that are fried in trans fat laden, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil are often labeled as being "cholesterol free" or "cooked in vegetable oil"
Make your own food when possible. Commercial breads, soups, cereals, dips, salad dressings and packaged entrees usually have hidden trans fats.

Depression and Fatigue Go Hand in Hand

2011-09-26T17:12:00.002-07:00

Depression and fatigue reinforce each other in a vicious cycle to European researchers. In a year long study of 3,200 patients, chances of experiencing fatigue for depressed patients went up four times, while the chances of depression more than doubled for fatigued patients.

Although doctors have long been aware of the link between the depression and unexplainable fatigue, no one is certain which comes first.

To find the, Skapinakis and two colleagues looked at a patient data from 14 countries as part of a World Health Organization study on psychological problems in general health care. "Fatigue and psychiatric disorder are not the same," Skapinakis says. "It is evident from the literature that fatigue and depression have different risk factors." He adds that these two conditions could overlap. Fatigue persons might feel psychologically distressed, while decreased energy is a symptom of depression.

Levels of physical activity could determine the correlation of fatigue and depression.

Tips to Loose Weight Quick

2011-09-20T22:53:00.002-07:00

Were not pulling a fast one. Losing weight quickly at the get go may help you lose more overall. In a University of Florida study of 262 women on a diet and fitness program, participants were encouraged to stick to 1,200 calories and to walk an extra 3,000 steps per day. Those who dropped the most pounds in the first month went on to lose the most weight by the end of the 18 month study (30 pounds, versus 11 for the others).

The fast starters also kept weight off most successfully. Seeing larger changes early on may give you the "I can do it" confidence you need to stick to your plan, says lead study author Lisa Nackers, who suggest aiming to drop a pound and a half to two pounds per week for the first month to get the lift.

Health Benefits of Peanuts

2011-08-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

Peanuts are a great source of nutrients. Nutrients that can be found in peanuts include, carbohydrate, vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc. Some of the health benefits of peanuts include:

Lowering the risk of heart disease. Peanuts are high in "good" or unsaturated fats that can lower "bad" cholesterol levels in the body. Roasted peanuts also have folic acid, which helps lower the risk of heart disease.
Reducing cancer risk. Resveratol, an antioxidant first found in red grapes, is present in peanuts, and can help reduce cancer risk.
Helping prevent Alzheimer's. Peanuts have niacin, which aids brain health and blood flow. Peanuts help with the brain's memory functions and help protect against Alzheimer's disease.
Aiding digestion. Fiber, which helps regulate the digestive system, is present in peanuts as well. Eating peanuts just a few times a week can prevent the formation of gallstones and lower the risk of colon cancer.

Fish Oil and Omega 3 DHA is Good For your Health

2011-08-25T16:54:00.002-07:00

Today's fast paced lifestyle exacts a heavy toll on the body. Stave off the effects of today's frenetic living with the help of fish oil. It helps improve blood flow to the heart (maintaning normal heart rhythm and slightly improving blood pressure), the joint (helping address the pain of arthritis), and the brain (maintaining memory function). Fish oil also aids in lowering blood cholesterol so the risk of heart attack or stroke can be lowered.

Fish oil has Omega-3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which helps maintain healthy brain function, brain development, and memory improvement, and EPA (eicosapentaeonic acid), which helps decrease inflammation and pain in patients with arthritis. As important components of cell membranes which absorb nutrients and expel waste products, these essential fatty acids need to be derived from one's diet because the body cannot produce this on its own. The combination of EPA and DHA helps keep blood flowing, lowers triglyceride levels, and slows down the progression of fatty deposits in the blood levels.

Fish oil is proven to be good for the skin, and offers anti cancer benefits. Many skin experts are now prescribing a dose for skin health each day. The benefits of fish oil are also pronounced in hormone dependent cancers such as breast and prostate cancer.

Eat More, Weigh Less

2011-08-18T02:59:00.002-07:00

Beat cravings by choosing foods that fill you up, not out. You can eat plenty of food and still cut calories if you reduce your diet energy density - the number of calories per gram of food.

1. Fresh fruit and veg such as apples, berries, oranges, broccoli, carrots, and tomatoes. These foods are high in water and contain fiber.

2. Low-fat dairy products such as skimmed or semi-skimmed milk and low fat yogurt.

3. Stock and vegetable based dishes with a high water content, such as vegetable soups or stock based meat soups, stews and casseroles.

4. Beans and peas such as red kidney beans, chick-peas, lentils and baked beans.

5. Potatoes and water rich cereal based foods such as pasta, rice, boiled and baked potatoes, low fat oven chips and couscous.

6. Lean meat, poultry and fish. These foods are high in protein and relatively low in fat.

Does Eye Vitamins do any Good?

2011-08-05T17:48:00.003-07:00

Yes it does, but only in some cases. Several years ago, a study reported that large does of beta carotene, vitamins C and E, and zinc slowed the progression of advanced age related macular degeneration by 25 percent. This led to an explosion of "eye vitamins" loaded with antioxidants and or carotenoids, such as lutein, anthicyanin, or zeaxanthin.

The truth is, the study never showed that taking vitamins either cures or prevents macular degeneration. Vitamins also had no effect on the development of cataracts and did zip for healthy people.

The only time to use vitamins is if you have middle or late stage macular degeneration. One reason to avoid eye vitamins: High doses of vitamins A and E can accumulate in the body and become toxic; high doses of vitamin A can also cause birth defects and , in smokers, increase the risk of lung cancer.

Be similarly cautious about claims that lutein supplements promote eye health and protect eyes against damage from long exposure to sunlight, a contributor to cataracts and macular degeneration. No study proves this.

Common Fashion Mistakes

2011-08-03T11:59:00.003-07:00

Fashion mistakes happen but they don't have to happen all the time. Careful attention to details is all it takes. Below are some of the most common fashion mistakes we can commit and what we can do to avoid them:

Unsuitable colors. There are some colors that suit only certain skin tones. This year's favorite color doesn't automatically suit you. Try out different colors first and choose the one that suits you best.

Unfitting clothes. Don't squeeze yourself into clothes that don't give you room to move. It may look good while you're standing up, but you might meet disaster when you sit down.

Inappropriate makeup. You should adjust your makeup to the type of activity you're going and the schedule of the event. Use light makeup during daytime and heavy makeup at night. Of course, wear colors that flatter your face and match your outfit.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Low/No Sugar Diet and Zone Diet

2011-08-03T10:05:00.001-07:00

Although these two types are different, they are similar because they both follow the 40-30-30 allocation concept of calorie intake. The Zone follows 40% carbohydrate, 30% protein and 30% fat while the composition for No Sugar is 40% fat 30% protein and 30% carbohydrate.

Advantages of Low/No Sugar Diet and Zone Diet: Reduction of carbohydrates. It also cuts down "un-healthy" food and encourages exercise with the habit.

Disadvantages of Low/No Sugar Diet and Zone Diet: Difficulty of fitting it into one's lifestyle. It also results to rapid weight loss, which is usually followed by immediate weight gain.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Points Diet

2011-07-31T13:56:00.003-07:00

Points Diet - No exclusion on any food type as long as you don't exceed the allowed intake (in terms of points) for each day. In this diet, each food type is given a point depending on the calorie equivalent.

Advantages of Points Diet: It promotes nutritional balance. It also fits the diet of a vegetarian and is easy to follow given that you just need to monitor the "points" of your food intake.

Disadvantages of Points Diet: Weight loss is slower than other diet types.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Atkins Diet

2011-07-31T11:47:00.002-07:00

Atkins Diet - is a low carbohydrate, high protein diet. Initial weeks result in immediate weight loss as the person does not take any carbohydrates and burns the stored fats of the body.

Advantages of Atkins Diet: Immediate weight loss and not as time consuming. It is also not as expensive compared to other types of diet.

Disadvantages of Atkins Diet: Experience of dizziness, nausea, headache and fainting during the initial stage. This happens because the body undergoes adjustments to the low or no card intake diet. This diet also allows the intake of cheese, butter and cream. Although considered as low carb, these food types have unsaturated fat which is not healthy when intake is high. The restrictive nature of the diet also cuts down some nutrients that our body needs.

Simple Step to Avoid Genital Itching

2011-07-31T10:35:00.003-07:00

Genital Itching can be a symptom of many conditions. These conditions may include vaginal infections in females or jock itch in males. In either sex, itching can be caused by skin irritations, sexually transmitted diseases, and allergies.

Females should take the following steps to help avoid genital itching:

After urination or bowel movements, wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from the anus entering the vagina.

Avoid chemical products as vaginal douches or feminine hygiene sprays( As my teacher in nursing once said,, nothing beats water when it comes to cleaning your private parts), which can upset the acidic balance of the vagina.

For the males:

Wash the penis well, including the area under the foreskin in uncircumcised men.

Both males and females:

Keep the genital area clean and dry. Use mild soap and rinse well.

Wear loose, natural fiber underwear and clothing. Change underwear at least every 24 hours.

Dry off thoroughly after bathing and swimming. Avoid staying in wet clothing for long periods of time.

Avoid unprotected sex, especially if you are worried that you or your partner might have an infection.

Tips on To Solve Hair Problems to bring back your Gorgeous Hair

2011-07-27T22:45:00.004-07:00

If your hair is chemically damage or has split ends because it hasn't been cut for two years, no amount of vitamins is going to help. Bearing these in mind, here's how to solve specific hair problems.

OILY HAIR. While naturally oily hair is genetically determined (and nothing you eat can beat your genes), if your hair has suddenly turned oily, check your spice intake. Foods that cause the skin to sweat, such as curries or chili, also cause scalp to sweat and this increases oil levels. Whatever the cause, using shampoos and conditioners made for oily hair, and avoiding greasy styling products, will help your hair look better.

DRY HAIR. Is often a sign that your diet is lacking in essential fatty acids (EFAs). Boost your EFAs by eating more nuts, peanut butter, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and oily fish such as salmon and mackerel.

HAIR THAT WON'T GROW. The B vitamins, which help your body to use energy, are vital for hair growth. Basically, hair is seen by your body as non essential tissue. So if your energy levels get low, hair growth is one of the things to slow down because your body is saving its energy for more important things, such as breathing properly and basic movements. So eat your Bs, which are found in foods such as oatmeal, whole wheat bread, seafood, poultry and meats, eggs, milk, leafy green vegetables, beans, peas, and citrus fruits such as oranges. Making sure you never miss meals will also help to keep energy levels up. Food experts recommend you eat meals or snacks every four hours and never miss breakfast, that's the most important energy meal of the day.

THINNING OR FINE HAIR. If your hair seems thinner or finer than usual, this may be linked to low iron levels. That's very common in vegetarians, because when you stop eating red meat, it can be hard to get enough iron in your diet. Experts say that everyone needs 14.8 mg of iron a day for good health, so be sure you're eating lots of iron rich foods. Besides red meat, food containing iron includes poultry, seafood, eggs, iron fortified breakfast cereals, baked beans, nuts and peanuts butter, and baked potato with the skin.

DULL HAIR. If your hair is looking seriously unshiny, increasing its moisture levels will help. You can do this from the outside in by conditioning daily, and using a deep conditioner treatment or masque about once a week. However, also look at how much protein you are taking in. Hair is actually made of protein, so if you don't eat enough, the hair forms incorrectly and ends up looking dull. Protein rich foods that will boost your hairs shine include eggs, dairy products, meats, fish, poultry and whole grains.

Simple Tips To Protect Youself From Common Colds

2011-07-20T02:54:00.002-07:00

Its raining again, and when its raining, upper respiratory infections otherwise know as the "common colds" comes with it. Many of my officemate have been absent due to this. Children and adults will probably have more colds than any other type of illness in their lifetime. Colds can occur year round, but they occur mostly during the rainy season. Here are some practical tips to keep common colds away.

1. Wash your hands. Clean you hands frequently and teach your children the importance of hand washing.

2. Scrub your stuff. Keep kitchen and bathroom counter tops clean, especially when someone in your family has a common cold. Wash your child's toy after play if your child has the sniffles.

3. Don't share drinking glasses or utensils with other family members. Use your own glass or disposable cups when you or others are sick.

4. Build up your body's resistance. Take your vitamins daily, especially vitamin C.

5. Pump up on fruit juice. Drink lot's of citrus fruit juices to supplement your vitamin intake.

6. Keep yourself dry. Use raincoat or umbrella when raining to avoid getting wet.

7. Be considerate. When coming down with a cold, take a leave from work or keep your sick child at home.

Simple Tips To Improve Your Metabolism

2011-07-20T02:48:00.002-07:00

Metabolism, involves a complex network of hormones and enzymes that not only convert food into fuel but also affect how efficiently you burn that fuel.

The process of metabolism establishes the rate at which we burn our calories and, ultimately, how quickly we gain weight or how easily we lose it. Of course, not everyone burns calories at the same rate.

So here are 5 easy ways to improve your metabolism:

1. Do not skip breakfast. The morning meal jump-starts you metabolism and helps to prevent binging later in the day. Breakfast should include complex carbohydrates like whole grain(granola or oatmeal) with protein and fat(low fat milk or yogurt).

2. Eat more often. Get into the habit of eating every three or four hours, or at least four times a day. Eating frequently stabilizes blood sugar. When you go many hours without eating, the body tends to slow the effect of energy and causes difficulty maintaining your weight loss.

3. Eat protein at every meal. Protein helps reduce your appetite. It takes mote time and energy to digest. Research shows that eating more protein can help you loose weight without cutting calories. Try these protein possibilities: chicken fillet on whole wheat pita, vegetarian pasta or pizza, fruits and nuts, or protein bar that contain 12 or more grams of protein.

4. Stay away from snacks. Many of us take a quick snack for energy when feeling tired. But do not confuse a certain fatigue with hunger. If you are tired, walk 15-20 minutes. This will increase your heart rate and give you an energy boost. Follow with a full glass of cold water. If you're really hungry, have a protein-rich complex carbohydrates as a snack-wheat crackers with peanut butter or cheese.

5. Consume enough for your body's needs. Eating too little slows you body's metabolism the same way if you rarely eat. If you want to lose weight, don't cut calories too drastically. Instead, cut some of the extras in food such as soft drinks, fruit juices, fresh or packaged products. Processed foods end to be high in fat and calories and low in vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Advantages and Disadvantages of South Beach Diet

2011-07-12T22:36:00.004-07:00

South Beach Diet was originally meant for patients with heart or cardiovascular concerns. This diet is neither "low card nor low fat" but it recommends consumption of unsaturated fat and "good" carbs.

Advantages of South Beach Diet: It is considered balanced and healthy by most nutritionist. It educated the person to eat the right food. It does not include high levels of saturated fat, no calorie counting and it encourages regular meals or snack time.

Disadvantages of South Beach Diet: It can turn out to be expensive and time consuming . It can also be demanding if you are used to taking in a lot of carbohydrates. Also, the more advance phases of the diet allow some food types that are not part of the initial phases. Thus, there have been reported cases of people gaining weight upon reaching the later stages.

Career Burnout may Cause Diabetes

2011-05-19T10:03:00.003-07:00

Jon burnout could give you diabetes. This came to light following a study on the effect of job stress on more than 600 mostly middle age male workers in Israel. Study findings published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine indicated that chronic job burnout (characterized by emotional, mental and physical fatigue) might be a risk factor for the government of type 2 diabetes in healthy individuals.

Researchers found that chronically burned out employees were 1.84 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those not stressed on the job. They advise learning stress management tactics such as getting sufficient shut eye and exercise, eating right and assertiveness training to minimize burnout and risk of physical health impairment.

A Simple Homemade Aromatheraphy Bath

2011-05-08T10:04:00.004-07:00

Aromatic bath with your stocking? Here's how:

Palce favorite aromatic herbs (try neem tree leaves, lemon grass, orange peels, rose petals, sage leaves or pine needles) inside an old stocking and tie a knot one inch above them.
Tie the stocking to the bathtub faucet or shower so water runs through, or soak in tub water to infuse with the herbs' aroma. Now, enjoy your very own aromatic bath.
Use the stocking as a gentle body scrub, too.

Self Care Tips for Heartburn

2011-04-27T18:31:00.002-07:00

Avoid foods and beverages that aggravate the problem. The most common irritants are caffeinated beverages, alcohol, whole milk dairy products, fried and high fat foods, chocolate, nuts, tomato products and citrus juices. Antacids often proved relief but should be used with caution by people with heart disease or high blood pressure, because many of these products have high salt content. Sodium bicarbonate may provide quick relief but isn't suitable for repeated use.

Here are more self care tips:

Avoid eating 4 hours before bedtime and drinking 2 hours before bedtime.

Don't wear tight fitting clothes

Don't smoke

Don't overheat. Try eating smaller, more frequent meals.

Make mealtimes relaxed. Eat slowly and chew thoroughly.

Lose weight if you're overweight to reduce the pressure on the esophagus.

Loosen or remove tight fitting clothing when you eat.

Don't lie down immediately after eating.

Sleep with the head of your bed elevated. (Put the legs at the head of the bed on 4 to 6 inch blocks, or slip a wedge support under the mattress.)

Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and other similar analgesic medications, except paracetamol. COX-2 inhibitors may offer fewer gastrointestinal side effects than these non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, but check with your doctor before continuing to take them.

Avoid antacids that contain aluminum if you are a dialysis patient.

Drink lukewarm - not cold - with with your meals.

Simple Steps in Warming Up and Cooling Down when Exercising

2011-04-13T10:09:00.002-07:00

You put your body in danger when you skip warming up or cooling down. Warm up and cool down right with the following guidelines.

WARMING UP

Warm up for 5 to 10 minutes with low intensity movement. If possible, mimic what you will do during the strenuous part of your workout. If you do not exercise regularly or are 40 and older, take 15 minutes or longer to warm up.

There are two types of warm ups. A general warm up consists of active movements of the major muscle groups. For example, simple calisthenics before lifting weights. A specific warm up consists of movements that rehearse the body. For example, before cardio kickboxing, do low intensity kicking and boxing moves to warm up.

The warm up should be hard enough to raise body temperature without without causing fatigue. After all, you want to warm up, not get worn out!

Fitness experts now suggest 10 seconds of gentle, full range of motion movements to actively and dynamically stretch the muscles during the warm up instead of the traditional static stretches (no motion). Pointing and flexing the foot repeatedly to warm up the calves and shin muscles is dynamic stretching. Research shows that dynamic movements are more effective in preparing the muscles for vigorous workouts - it is inappropriate to increase flexibility with deep stretches during warm ups because the muscles are not ready.

A warm up can be used to practice dance, sports or aerobics. Combination's should be done at half speed, or less, to avoid raising heart rate too rapidly.

COOLING DOWN

Two to five minutes of low intensity movement. Older and unfit individuals may need more time.

The average person should wait until heart rate has gone down to 120 beats a minute or lower before sitting or lying down. Try to find what is comfortable for you, or ask a fitness trainer to help you out.

Because body temperature stays elevated for some time after exercise, doing sustained static stretching to increase flexibility after cooling down is more appropriate and effective.

Excellent Substitute for Foods High in Fats

2011-04-12T10:18:00.003-07:00

Eat less of the following because they are high in fat and low in other essential nutrients:

Butter, margarine and other spreading fats
Fried foods
Fatty meats and processed meat products (e.g., sausages, burgers, meat pies)
Pastry dishes
Cakes,biscuits, puddings
Chocolate
Crisps and similar potato, corn or wheat snacks

Make the following substitutions to balance intake of some fat and other essentials nutrients:

Instead of...
Full-fat milk
Have this! ...
Semi skimmed or skimmed milk

Instead of...
Butter or margarine
Have this! ...
Semi skimmed or skimmed milk

Instead of...
Ordinary Cheese
Have this! ...
Low - or reduced fat cheese

Instead of...
Fatty meat, sausages and burgers
Have this! ...
Chicken, fish or other lean meat

Instead of...
Biscuits and cakes
Have this! ...
Crackers, rice cakes or fruits bars

Instead of...
Chocolate
Have this! ...
Fresh fruit

Instead of...
Chips
Have this! ...
Jacket or boiled potatoes

Five Nectar Bath from Thailand

2011-04-11T21:25:00.004-07:00

For a skin tingling boost, try the Five Nectar Bath offered by Spa Botanica at the Sukhothai Bangkok. Banana and coconut trees grow all over Thailand, and nourishing bath uses both. Milk and yogurt soften skin, leaving it silky smooth. Honey, used traditionally in Thailand to soften scar tissue on wounds and produced royal projects under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen, helps to refine pores and gently lighten the skin.

Pulp from one banana
2 tbsp milk
1 tbsp coconut milk
1 tbsp yogurt
1 tbsp honey

Mix the ingredients and massage onto the body. Soak for 10 to 20 minutes in a warm bath to nourish the skin.

Egg and Honey Moisturizer for that Dry and Dull Looking Skin

2011-04-10T19:10:00.002-07:00

If your skin is dry looking, you'll want to feed it with egg yolk (High in Vitamin A) and honey to soothe, cure and enrich the skin. The Banyan Tree Spas in Phuket and Bangkok share their recipe for an at home body moisturizer that helps hydrate and improve your skin's texture.

1 egg yolk
1 tbsp honey
2 drops pure olive oil

Mix all the ingredients together and beat well for 2 to 3 minutes. Spread the mixture all over your body and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off.

Mediterranean Diet Helps Control Asthma

2011-04-03T23:39:00.006-07:00

For people who have asthma, this helpful tip is for you. Mediterranean diet has been shown to help keep asthma under control. Eat more organically grown fruits and vegetables, cold water fish including cod, salmon, mackerel, herring and halibut. Use extra virgin olive oil, flax seeds and rosemary, ginger and turmeric. Also, eliminate milk and other dairy products which have been most commonly cited as increasing the severity of asthmatic symptoms.

Simple Healthy Hair Care Routine

2011-03-17T18:58:00.003-07:00

There is a simple approach to keeping your hair healthy, happy and shiny. Try the following:

Eat food rich in protein, essential fatty acids, carotene's, iron, silica, zinc, vitamins E,C, and vitamin B (especially biotin) to have a healthy head of hair. And don't forget lots of leafy green vegetables, fruits and sprouts.

Conditioner for dry hair: Beat and egg well and add 1/2 tbsp of olive oil and 1/2 tsp of vinegar to it. Mix well and apply it to your scalp and remain for half an hour. Then wash well with a good shampoo.

Vinegar is a great conditioner and can give shine to your hair. Mix 1 tbsp of vinegar in amug of water and add it to your last rinse. It also frizz in dry hair and is a good remedy to control dandruff.

The chemicals in shampoo can be harsh on your hair. Try herbal shampoos instead. Use a wide-toothed comb to remove tangles and do not comb wet hair. Avoid using hair dryer to dry your hair whenever possible. Whenever you have the time let it air-dry.

How to Manage Stress that Trigger Irritable Bowel Syndrome

2011-03-12T16:45:00.001-08:00

IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be very discomforting. Sometime it's so disabling that you're unable to work, go to social events, or even travel short distances.

IBS interferes with the normal functions of the large intestines (colon), symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms are crampy abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. Irritable bowel syndrome can be aggravated by large meals, bloating from gas in the colon, medications or eating and drinking certain products such as wheat, rye, barley, chocolate, milk, caffeinated drinks or alcohol.

Stress, which can be very difficult to manage, can also be a trigger. Here are some simple suggestions to manage stress.

Use relaxation therapies, such as meditation.

Seek private counseling or support groups.

Get regular exercise, such as walking or yoga.

Change a stressful situation in your life.

Get adequate sleep.

Simple Self Care Steps for Contact Lens Irritation

2011-03-11T18:23:00.006-08:00

Always wash your hands and dry them thoroughly before putting in or taking out your contact lenses.

Use eyedrops with a similar composition to real tears to keep your eyes moist.

Be careful not to sit directly under or in front of heating vents. Forced air heat can cause dry eyes. If you're in a car, push the vent away from your face.

Use humidifiers in your home to combat dry air.

Inspect your contact lenses routinely for splits and rough edges, which can irritate your eyes.

Don't wear disposable contacts longer than recommended.

Don't use saliva to clean or lubricate your contacts.

If you wear hand contacts, clean them as directed.

Rest and Sleep : Vital for Good Health and Appearance

2011-03-10T21:54:00.004-08:00

Rest and sleep that is adequate for one's personal needs are vital component of good health and good appearance. They also influence human relationships and mental alertness. Scientists believe that during sleep the body replaces tissue cells and eliminates waste products created by fatigue at a faster rate than when we are awake.

Sleep also enables the heart and blood system to rest because heart contractions and blood pressure are slower then. Excessive fatigue from lack of sleep increases vulnerability to a number of ailments, including the common cold. If an individual gets an adequate amount of sleep which is 7-8 hours for adult, he will feel ready to meet the day's activities. If not, his memory may not be sharp and he may be irritable because his nervous system has had inadequate rest.

Simple Tips on Using Mascara

2011-03-09T18:19:00.002-08:00

1. Mascara comes in a variety of shades and colors. Get a more natural look by wearing something closer to your natural hair color, of create a dramatic effect by wearing something that would enhance your eyes looks.

2. There are two main varieties of mascara - regular and waterproof. Regular mascara is easier to remove and it can be less irritating to the eyes. Waterproof mascara, of course, would be good when you go to the beach or the pool. It is resistant to smearing and streaking, even when you shed tears.

3. Never use someone Else's mascara. The eyes are very sensitive and the germs that others have and live with are different from the ones that your body is used to. These foreign organisms can easily infect your eyes.

4. Most mascara is only good for about three months. After that, it tends to be contaminated and dry. Avoid moistening the mascara with your saliva or with tap water. Again, this can cause infection.

5. Many doctors recommend using baby shampoo to remove mascara. Rub a little on your eyes and rinse with water.

Habits of the Naturally Lean People

2011-03-08T18:30:00.005-08:00

Naturally lean people have daily routines that keep them slim. So adopt the following weight loss trick and be on your way to a slimmer, leaner and healthier you.

Wake up work out. when you wake up, sit up slowly without using your hands. With legs straight out, lean forward until you feel a gentle stretch in your back and hamstrings. Hold, then using your abs, lower yourself flat. Rest and repeat two more times.

Balance booster. When you brush your teeth, alternate standing on one leg as you switch mouth quadrants. Balancing develops your core muscles and may even be good for your brain. Try it too when washing dishes.

Talk it up. When you use the phone, stand up and pace around. Heavy people sit for an average of two and a half hours more per day than thin people.

An apple (or more) a day. People who eat at least three apples or pears a day lose weight. They're packed with fiber and water, so your stomach will want less.

Start with soup. Order a clear soup first. This will make you feel fuller so you'll eat less when the entree comes.

A Quick and Healthy Recipe

2011-03-07T18:59:00.002-08:00

Mix together 4 oranges (peeled and cut into segments), 2 bananas (peeled and sliced), 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut, and 2 tablespoon sliced, toasted almonds, and you have 4 servings of Vitamin-C rich Orange and Coconut Salad.

Guidelines to an Age Defying Beauty

2011-02-27T09:00:00.004-08:00

1. Don't Smoke. The chemicals inhaled from cigarette smoking constrict tiny blood vessels in the skin, reducing the oxygen and nutrient supply to delicate facial tissues. Blood vessel constriction lasts at least an hour after a cigarette has been extinguished.

2. Nourish Your Skin from the Inside. Drink eight glasses of water a day and eat a balanced diet. Antioxidants and vitamins such as green tea, soy, vitamins A,B, C and E are excellent for creating healthy, younger skin.

3. Don't Over Exfoliate. While shedding off dead skin is one of the best renewal process for your skin, dermatologists warn that over exfoliating leaves the skin dry, red, irritated and more vulnerable to sun damage. You should not use exfoliating products such as micro-dermabrasion treatments or facial scrubs more than twice a week.

4. Use an Antioxidant and Vitamin Enriched Moisturizer before going to Bed. Bedtime is the best time to nourish your skin with antioxidants and vitamins. Research has shown that our skin best absorbs active ingredients from skin care products at night.

Health Benefits of Cantaloupe

2011-02-14T09:08:00.004-08:00

Cantaloupe is a melon belonging to the family of cucumber, squash, pumpkin and gourd. It is round or oval in shape with a netted skin. It's color ranges from orange yellow to salmon. It's soft and juicy texture and sweet aroma make for a refreshing snack or breakfast.

Cantaloupe is an excellent source of vitamin A owing to it's concentrated beta carotene content. It is also a good source of vitamin C and potassium.

The Best Colon Cancer Guard

2011-02-13T15:56:00.004-08:00

Drinking just one cup of green or white tea a day may cut your risk of colon cancer in half. Catechins, the antioxidants in the tea, inhibit the growth of cancer cells according to the researchers at Oregon State.

Simple Natural Skincare for that Oily Skin

2011-02-12T09:00:00.002-08:00

Beauty products to manage our oily skin can be a big blow in your budget and to top all that, some won't even work. For those that work?? it's also the one that's eating a bulk in your budget. So here are some natural remedies for that oily skin of yours that may just work wonders for you.

1. Thirty minutes before taking your bath, mix together half a teaspoon each of lime and cucumber juice then apply it on your face.

2. Does your makeup get patchy on certain areas of your face? This is due to excessive oiliness in those areas. Apply a little cucumber juice on the excessively oily parts of your face, dry thoroughly and then apply your makeup.

3. A clay or mud clears away excess oils on the face, too. Blend well one teaspoon of green clay powder and one teaspoon raw honey. Apply the mixture to your face, avoiding the eye area. Leave it on for 15 minutes, and then rinse well with lukewarm water. Do this at least three times a week or more.

4. Once or twice daily, mix equal parts of lemon juice and water together. Pat mixture on your face and allow it to dry, and then rinse with warm water. Follow with a cool water rinse.

Also remember to moisturize your face. Our skin produces more oil when it is dry. Moisturized skin will prevent your skin from producing excess oil.

Nice Tips for Dealing with Diabetes

2011-02-03T16:48:00.003-08:00

Approach your ailment with ambitious yet realistic expectations, whether it's an exercise program that's easy to follow or a diet plan that doesn't make you feel deprived.

Maintain a positive self- image. Appreciate your successes.

Don't knock yourself for indiscretions with food.

Make sure your doctor really knows diabetes. Remember, however, that this is your disease, and you are making most of the decisions.

Great Tips to Avoid Beauty Blunders

2011-01-16T09:08:00.004-08:00

Without knowing it, we commit mistakes while we try to make ourselves more beautiful. Here are some advice on common beauty blunders:

Using conditioner all over your hair. The hair closest to the roots is new growth it's healthy and your should leave it alone. Instead, starting at your ears, apply all the way to the ends.

Spraying perfume after you have dressed. Perfume is formulated to be applied to skin and to interact with the heat of the body. Before dressing, lightly dab or spray onto the skin at one or two of the "pulse points" -knees, wrists, base of the throat and behind the earlobes.

Neglecting your neck. The skin on your neck can be thinner and more sensitive than the skin on your face and just as prone to changes in pigment, elasticity and wrinkles. So when you apply sunscreen, moisturizer or treatment cream, include also your neck.

Bathing or showering until your body and hair feel "squeaky clean." The feeling may be good but when you feel that way, you've probably removed the natural oils and lipids that seal in moisture that protect your skin and hair. So limit shower and bath time to 10 minutes or less.

Simple Tips for a Healthy Teeth

2011-01-15T09:06:00.003-08:00

Do you know that your teeth are not just there to give you a good appearance? One study found out that men with periondontitis has a whooping 72 percent greater risk of developing coronary disease than those with healthy gums. So before your next teeth brushing session, check this out.

The color of your teeth is affected by what you eat. Yes, if the food or drink is dark before you eat, it will probably stain your teeth. So besides trying to avoid them, you can brush your teeth immediately after consuming colored food. Or, you can use a good bleaching agent(baking soda or salt can serve the purpose) once a week. Or, you can eat a "detergent" food as your final food. These are firm or crisp food that will help clean your teeth such as apples, carrot, celery and popcorn.

Don't rush when you brush. British researchers found that the ideal length if time to brush in order to get all the bacteria-packed plague out is at least two minutes. So time yourself and do it.

Grip your toothbrush like a pencil. According to Beverly Hills dentist Harol Katz, the best way to brush is by placing your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle against your gums and gently moving it in a circular motion, rather than a back-and-forth motion. Grip the toothbrush like a pencil so that you won't scrub too hard.

Flavonoids are good for your teeth. Flavonoids are water-soluble plant pigments that are beneficial to your health, including your teeth. Food that have flavonoids are citrus fruits, berries, onions, parsley, tea and others. They prevent harmful bacteria from sticking to teeth and block production of a type of sugar that contributes to cavities.

Change your toothbrush. You need to change your toothbrush every two or three months or you're just transferring bacteria to your mouth.

Protecting your foot when you have Diabetes

2011-01-13T18:43:00.004-08:00

When you have diabetes and your blood sugar control is spotty, you can damage your blood vessels and nerves. When this happens, some parts of your body, particularly the extremities, can suffer changes in sensation: burning pain, numbness, pins and needles, and even a total loss of feeling.

When you've lost sensation in your feet, it will be difficult to detect wounds right away. A small blister can become a deep sore that when infected can cause tissue and muscle to die. Amputation of your foot can be the only thing that saves your life.

Here are some tips for protecting your feet.

Check your feet everyday for small cuts or blister.

Wash your feet with lukewarm water and mild soap. Pat dry with a soft towel.

Use a non medicated foot powder to keep your feet dry.

don't treat calluses, corns or bunions by yourself. Ask your doctor to do it for you.

Soak your feet in warm water to soften nails before cutting. Cut your toenails straight across to prevent ingrown toe nails.

Men can also be affectd by Depression and Osteoporosis

2011-01-10T22:37:00.004-08:00

Men always project to be tough and the pressure has forced them to harden up, and soften their backbones, literally.

A study suggest that bone density among depressed men decline significantly 2 years after the start of study. It is believe that depression lowers bone metabolism in men, which leads to bone-loss. The groups were composed of 18 depressed and hospitalized men and women, and 21 depression free patient, all over age 40.

Although the group was not big enough to represent most men, It is believe that depression influences bone metabolism and helps cause difficulty in retaining bone mass, which leads to osteoporosis.

Nice Looking Scrubs Suit for Nurses

2011-01-05T16:58:00.005-08:00

My brother's wife is a nurse, and work in a government hospital here in our city. The pay for being a nurse in a government hospital is good, but the work is double or triple compared to that of a private hospital. The ratio for a nurse to patient in a private hospital at best would be 1:1 nurse to a patient or it could be 1 nurse to 3 patients. But in a government hospital you get 1 nurse to almost 20 patients. My brother's wife Therese would go home like a soldier coming of a world war hahahaha. She's just too burn out, looks weary and even her clothes would look dirty.

I even notice that her nursing scrub are all worn out. Those night shifts make her lazy of having to look for a new one. I told her that she has to buy a new one because that is her uniform. Although she is tired of taking care of all the patients assigned to her, it is best to look good even though she is that tired. Besides, patients also look at the way we look and dress. Who in the world would want a nurse that look like she is the one who's sick because of the way she look?

She ask me where to buy scrub clothing so that she can replace her worn out suit. I just suggest that if she has no time to go out and look for scrubs at mall, why not go online because there are plenty of scrubs online that you can buy. I guess she followed my advice because this year she has a new suit and looks refreshed.

Breast Augmentation its Pros and Cons

2011-01-04T17:35:00.006-08:00

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that increases the size and modifies the shape of breasts. An implant containing saline is placed behind breast tissue or under the pectoral muscles in the chest wall. As a result, breast tissue is pushed forward and the breast appears fuller. Breast augmentation though has its pros and cons. Its pros are:

To make the breasts more proportionate to the body

To correct a reduction in breast volume after pregnancy

To reshape or enlarge breasts that have lost form from breast-feeding or aging

To balance asymmetrical breasts

To reconstruct breast contour after mastectomy

The most common side effect of breast augmentation is contracture. The capsule or scar around the implant tightens and squeezes it, and the breast will feel hard. Some cons of breast augmentation are:

Formation of calcium deposits around the implant

Infection

Blood or liquid trapped in the wound

Delayed healing

Shifting of implant

Temporary or permanent changes in the nipple or breast sensation

Scars

Uneven appearance of breast

Very Special Gift for Very Special People in my Life

2010-12-20T16:58:00.010-08:00

Christmas eve is coming and when it's Christmas, the first thing that comes to my mind is gift and anniversary. My wedding anniversary is on the 28th of December to be precise. My head is about to explode on thinking what gift to give to my relatives, to my daughter, to my parents and of course to my lovely wife. Looking for a perfect gift is like finding a needle on a hay stack. Yes, that is how hard it is to find one, because you want it to be unique and you don't want to give the same item you gave to a person in the previous years.

So this year I'm torn between a perfume, a makeup kit or maybe a shampoo. I'm considering of giving a shampoo sea for my wife since she is very vain with her hair. She loves moisturizing it because she considers her hair dry. I also want to give my Mom M.A.C. black logo cosmetics because she is fond of wearing make-up. Yeah, I love looking at my Mom with make-up on because it enhances her beauty and it makes her look younger than her age.

I have found a mitsouko parfum extrait online which I'll give to my brother Troy because he loves wearing nice perfume scents. Being a bank-teller, he wants to be always well-groomed and of course, smells good as well. Lastly, I'll give my father T-shirt and a dress for my lovely little one.

Friends, what gifts do you want to give to your loved ones this Christmas season?

Simple Tips to Better your Eyesight

2010-12-18T17:25:00.004-08:00

Sometimes we take our eyes for granted, our eyes is one of our most precious possessions. Here are some tips to make our eyesight better.

1. Eat more fruits. A study revealed that those who ate the greatest amount of fruits were the least likely to develop age related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in older people.

2. Sneak in spinach. Eating spinach twice a week gives sufficient supply of lutein, a nutrient that prevents age related macular, degeneration and cataracts. For best absorption, get your lutein in combination with some form of fat (olive oil works great).

3. Take car precautions. Dry, air conditioned air sucks the moisture out of our eyes. Aim the vents away from your eyes or wear sunglasses as shield. Dryness can lead to corneal abrasions and even blindness if left untreated.

4. Monitor your monitor. Movie your computer screen just below your eye level will cause you eyes to slightly close. This minimizes fluid evaporation and dry eyes.

5. Feast on fish. A group of Harvard researchers evalueated the diets of 32,470 women and found that those who ate least amount of fish had the highest risk of dry eye syndrome. So eat fish twice a week or, if you can't stand fish, try fish oil supplements to get you omega 3s.

6. Be cool. Turn down the heat in your house. Heat dries out the air, which in turn, dries your eyes.

7. Hide behind shades. It protects your eyes from the harsh glare of the sun and its damaging ultraviolet rays. Wear sunglasses even when it's not sunny outside to protect your eyes from the drying effects of the wind.

8. Wear a hat or use an umbrella. Doing so will block roughly about 50% of the UV radiation that may enter your eyes from about or around sunglasses.

9. Binge on beets. Roasted fresh beets make for an eye saving dish. The deep red color beets is derived from phytochemicals called anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants that protects the smaller blood vessels in your body, particularly your eyes.

10. Give yourself a spa treatment. Dab an essential oil of jasmine, peppermint or vanilla on your arm and sniff. Jasmine increases the beat waves in the frontal lobes of the brain, promoting wakefulness and enabling you to focus better and see things more acutely. These scents stimulate the limbic system in your brain, which in turn, stimulates the rods in your eyes, helping you to see in dim light.

Simple Rules To Follow for a Charming You

2010-12-16T23:03:00.005-08:00

I have been scanning my computer to delete some of the older files and found this one which has been on my computer since 2002 hahaha. Its about five simple rules for a charming you. Believe it or not, there is an attractive, fascinating, and charming side of you that's waiting to be discovered and unleashed. Here are five simple rules to help you tap in the well spring of charm within you.

1. Smile always! Sometimes, we hesitate to smile for fear that the other person won't smile back at us. Smile anyway! A smile is certain to brighten your day and help you look your best.

2. Mind your posture. Be conscious about your posture - sit and stand up straight and walk your head held high. Maintaining the proper posture help boost your confidence.

3. Relax! if you are a worrier or tend to be anxious and tense, replace your corrosive, negative thoughts with encouraging and positive ones. No once wants to be around a poster child for doom and gloom.

4. Make eye contact. It's a must to make eye contact with the person you are conversing with. This conveys to the other your interest in what that person is saying. It also shows your respect and sincerity as well.

5. Call people by name. This is exactly what name plates or IDs are for - to remind us to call people by their given names. Addressing people by their name gives them a sense of importance and significance. It also helps break the ice and create an atmosphere of warmth and familiarity between two people who've just met.

Nice Choices for your Breakfast

2010-12-02T02:26:00.006-08:00

I always heard this from my mom whenever I will go to school early in the morning. She always say to me to never skip breakfast because it is the most important meal of the day. Studies show that those who eat breakfast lose more weight than those who skip the meal. It is important since it gives you energy to start your days, it jump start your metabolism so that you burn more calories.

So for a healthy breakfast choices, choose from these selections:

Fresh fruit or small glass of citrus juice

Whole grain bread, a bagel, or an English muffin with jam or honey

Whole grain cereal with low fat or fat free milk

Oatmeal with skim milk topped with fruit

An omelet made with egg whites or egg substitute

Multigrain pancakes

Fat free yogurt

Go to Confession to Fight Stress

2010-11-30T19:10:00.003-08:00

Stressed? Eating junk food regularly? Read on.

According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, four out of five or 80 percent of Filipinos, suffer from non communicable disease(NCDs) due to stress and unhealthy lifestyle. Six out of ten people worldwide suffer from NCDs, otherwise known as lifestyle disease.

Among those considered as NCDs are cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. Duque said that these three are now among the major health problems in the country.

"I suggest that they go to church to pray and confess their sins because its one way of managing stress, which eventually leads to non communicable disease," Duque said, adding that keeping sins can cause emotional burden and stress to an individual.

Simple Tips to Improve your Blood Pressure

2010-11-26T02:18:00.001-08:00

Are you having problems with high blood pressure? It will do you good if you cut down on sodium. Studies shows that while 2,400 mg is the recommended daily intake of sodium, those who eat less than 1,500 mg a day had improved blood pressure.

Here are some tips to improve your blood pressure:

Most of your sodium intake comes in the form of table salt(sodium chloride). Salt can come in other forms like sodium benzoate or sodium citrate. Read food labels and choose those that contain less salt.

Add little or no salt when cooking your food. Also, avoid adding salt to food served on your table.

Use herbs and spices to season your food. Onions, garlic, parsley, lemon and lime juice and rind, basil, tarragon, marjoram, thyme, curry powder, cumin, paprika, vinegar, celery, red pepper, yellow pepper, green pepper and wine are just some things you can add to enhance the flavor and aroma of foods.

Choose fresh foods over canned or packaged foods as much as possible.

Effects of taking Power Naps

2010-11-22T18:25:00.005-08:00

Sometimes when we feel that we are running low on energy, we get a sudden attack of drowsiness, or get bombarded by information overload, a power nap is a very good way to recharge your batteries. Here are some benefits you get from power napping.

1. Increase cognitive functions. NASA researchers found that 15-30 minutes power naps increased cognitive faculties by approximately 40 percent. The nap must me short in order to produce maximum effectiveness though. Sleeping beyond forty five minutes causes the beneficial effects of napping to disappear. 30 minutes is the max time to get both rested and recharged.

2. Better decision making and productivity. If you get the chance to power nap, particularly if you lack sleep, by all means, take one. You will feel more alert and energetic after wards. Once rested, your mood, efficiency, and alertness level will greatly improve.

3. Reduced risk of heart disease. Taking 40 winks in the middle of the day may reduce the risk of death from heart disease, say researchers, because they improve the levels of cortisone in the blood.

4. Mood improvement. Curling up in a sofa, laying your head down on your desk, or snoozing in the car results in relaxation galore. Research shows stress hormone levels lowered in those who take stress reducing naps. Napping does help to make you a more agreeable person.

5. Memory improvement. Tests show that those who sleep better remember more things and perform better in exams and problem solving situations. Napping is directly related to academic or task performance.

Simple Steps For A Healthy Body

2010-11-21T18:35:00.005-08:00

We all know health is one of the most important things in life because if we are healthy we can serve more, you can love your family more. Here are some steps to a healthy body.

1. Learn to relax. Release stress. A group of researchers made an experiment asking two groups of people to write on their diaries. The researchers asked one group to write superficial things that happened to them during the day. They asked the other group to write about their traumatic experiences, the deeply painful events in their lives. After a few months, the researchers found out that the second group strengthened their immune system. In the other group nothing happened.

You can release stress by writing on your journal, talking to someone or through prayer(for me it is one of the best form of relaxation).

2. Live with a clear conscience. When you keep sinning against God, your body knows it. And sometimes, what you didn't confess comes out through your body in forms of tumors and cancer and cysts. Live with a clear conscience if you want to stay healthy.

3. Invest in friendship. Medical studies have proven that people who spend time building friendship are healthier than people who don't.

Benefits of drinking Green Tea

2010-03-17T18:19:00.003-07:00

All true teas - as distinct from herbal and flower infusions - are made of a magnolia- related evergreen tree with the botanical name of Camellia sinensis.Green tea is the least processed. It provides the most antioxidant polyphenols, notably a catechin called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is believed to be responsible for most of the health benefits linked to green tea, such as its anti-cancer and antioxidant effects. Drinking green tea also lowers one's risk for a wide range of diseases, from simple bacterial or viral infections to chronic degenerative conditions includiing cardiovascular diseases , cancer, stroke, peridontal diseases and osteoporosis.

Risk of Drinking Alcohol

2010-03-08T16:38:00.002-08:00

A lot of my male friends love to hang out and have a drinking spree. I don't understand why but they would drink so much that they don't stop until they really get drunk. Let's look at how alcohol affects our body.

Our heart - Alcohol increases the risk of hypertension, stroke, and damage of heart muscle.

Our brain - Alcohol, even in small amounts, causes irreparable damage to brain cells; some die and others are altered.

Our lungs - Alcohol depresses respiratory functions.

Our reproductive system - In men, alcohol can damage cells in testes, causing impotence, sterility and possibly enlarged breasts. In women, alcohol can cause irregular menstrual cycles and malfunctioning of the ovaries. Alcohol has also been linked to birth defects in infants and to fetal alcohol syndrome.

Our liver - Becuase our liver must filter alcohol from the blood, alcohol affects it more than any other organ in our body:

Excess calories in alcohol are stored as fat in the liver.
Functioning liver cells die from alcoholic poisoning.
Scar tissue replaces dead cells, causing cirrhosis.

Our immune system - Alcohol weakens the body's defense against infection and breast cancer.

First Aid Myths

2010-03-02T17:06:00.001-08:00

Myth - Put butter on a burn

Reality - If you apply butter or another substance to a serious burn, you could make it dfficult for a doctor to treat the burn later and increase risk of infection.

Right Approach - It's usually OK to cool the burn with cold water. But burns with significant blistering need to be seen at a healthcare facility. Keep the burn clean and loosely covered. Don't pop up the blisters.

Myth - Give syrup of ipecac before calling the poison - control center.

Reality - If your child swallows something poisonous, hold off on the syrup of ipecac - the over the counter treatment for inducing vomiting. If someone ingests a hydrocarbon such as gasoline or kerosene for example, vomiting can cause aspiration in the lungs.

Right Approach - Immediately call the doctor

Myth - Apply a tourniquet to a bleedding extremity

Reality - When severe bleedign occurs, some people mistakenly tie a belt or shoestring around the limb above the wound to slow the flow of blood But doing so can cause permanent tissue damage.

Right Approach - Pad the wound with layers of sterile gauze or cloth, apply direct pressure and wrap the wound securely. Seek medical help if bleeding doesn't stop or if the wound is gaping dirty or caused by an animal bite.

Myth - Apply heat to a sprain, strain or fructure.

Reality - Heat gives the opposite of the desired effect, it promotes swelling and can keep the injury from healing as quickly as it could.

Right Approach - Apply ice, alternating 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off for the first 24-48 hours.

Myth - You should move someone injured in a car accident.

Reality - A person with a spinal cord injury won't necessarily appear badly injured, but pulling him/her out of the vehicle or even removing the helmet from an injured motorcyclist - could lead to paralysis or death.

Right Approach - If the vehicle isn't threatened by fire or another serious hazard, it's best to leave the person in place until paramedics arrive.

Myth - Rub your eyes when you get a foreign substance in it.

Reality - Doing so could cause a serious tear or abrasion

Right Approach - Rinse the eye with tap water.

Myth - Use hot waqter to thaw a cold extremity. Hands and feet go numb when they get too cold, in which case many people try to warm them up by puttiing them under hot water.

Reality - Hot water can cause further damage.

Right Approach - Use lukewarm water only or use dry heat.

Myth - Sponge or rubbing alcohol to reduce fever.

Reality - Alcohol can get absorbed by the skin which can casue alcohol poisoning, especially in young children.

Right Approach - If a fever is very high, have it checked by a physician.

Gem Energy for Physical and Mental Health

2010-02-24T00:20:00.002-08:00

According to gemtherapy, semiprecious stones, through their energy and vibrations are excellent treatments for improving physical and mental health. The following gems are the most widely used to treat female discomforts.

Pearls - Related to feminine energy, they are good to use during pregnancy. Also pearls have a calming effect that helps to sooth irritability and anger brought on by PMS.
Topaz - Improves circulation, allowing greater oxygen flow to the brain. It's recommended during menopause. Related to hope, optimism and faith in a good future.
Emerald - This gem is recommended for menopause for it's beneficial effects in the skeleton and bones.
Sapphire - Appropriate for treating bouts of depression, because it is said to absorb the negative energy that generates sadness. Sapphire's vibrations are also useful for treating nervous problems.
Cornelian - This stone represents happiness. It increases energy and transmits well- being to whoever wears it.
Garnet - This stone is recommended during menstruation, because it is said to regulate blood circulation and relieve aches and pains.

How to use Gems :

Find the stone/s recommended for your discomfort and place them around you, preferably on the skin (with adhesive tape) . Wash the stone with salted water everyday and expose it to sunlight in a glass of mineral water. Drinking this water may also be beneficial.

The Definition of Real Beauty

2010-02-17T16:31:00.002-08:00

Beauty is not always how you look, what you are wearing or how you smell. Despite society's current emphasis on what looks good, hip or cool, beauty that puts too much stock on the physical and superficial.

What definitely counts as true, real beauty is not judged by how the palette you used for your make-up matches your skin coloring or if the clothes you wear flatter your figure or if your hairdo is nicely done. These are only our feathers, they make us look beautiful but not entirely so.

Physical beauty fades. We can diet all we want, we can deter aging for as long as we can but that is a fact of life - like a flower past its bloom that is slowly wilting, physical beauty, too, passes from its full bloom and slowly fades away.

What counts for real beauty is what you are inside, the peace and serenity that you hold inside your heart. Having peace and serenity reduces the amount of stress you are experiencing and strengthens your mind and your person into taking more challenges and facing them more solidly as they come.

We all know the merits of living a stress-free life. If our bodies experience as little stress as possible, it makes us less susceptible to diseases like respiratory infections, digestive problems and even cancer. Stress after all , weakens our immune system that keeps the disease causing bacteria and microbes in check. Living a stress-free life drives the diseases away.

The more visible benefit of having inner peace and serenity in our hearts and mind is that quiet we have us inside radiates outward. It makes us warm, it makes our skin glow and it makes us smile. More importantly, it makes us look younger. Another thing about gaining inner peace and serenity is that you do not have to spend money to be able to get it - only time.

Unfrotunately, our daily lives do not afford us much time for the simple rituals necessary in attaining inner peace and serenity. All of us are always busy rushing from task to task, struggling to fill in our roles as wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, career women and whatever roles we need to fill in our lives.

But the rituals needed in gaining inner peace are so simple and do not take much time. It can be as simple as taking a walk by yourself at the same time everyday, and focusing on the sights, the sounds, and the smells you encounter as you do your walk.

Gaining inner beauty and serenity is not a quick fix, but it is not hard to do. And the benefits are so great, a lot more beneficial that constant facial or having botox on your skin. So, girl, be beautiful not just outside but also within.

Fighting the Big C - cancer

2010-02-11T18:52:00.000-08:00

One of my friends in the other department at work is fighting the Big C. According to her, she used to feel a lump on her left breast but she just ignore it. When recently, she feels it's becoming really painful, she had it checked by a doctor and found out that she's having a breast cancer. She refused to believe at first. How could she have it? She's young, in her early 30s. She is not yet married and she's enjoying her life as a yuppie (young urban professional). She consulted 2 more doctors for a second opinion but they have the same diagnosis.

The big C do really strike anyone regardless of age, sex and status. There are commonly used culinary herbs that possesses compounds that protect us against cancer according to the National Cancer Institute. These "defensive" herbs include those belonging to the onion, ginger, mint and parsley families as well as flax. Use them regularly to flavor soups, stews, sauces, dips, salad dressings, entrees, vegetables, and stir-fry dishes. They contain a variety of active phytochemicals such as flavanoids, terpenoids, phthalides, and sulfur compounds that can produce a serious punch in combating the proliferation of cancer cells.

As for my friend, I pray that God give her the grace of healing. I know that nothing is impossible with God. She'll be out from the hospital this afternoon after undergoing an operation 3 days ago.

Lighting up and COPD

2010-02-04T22:06:00.002-08:00

My father had been smoking since he was 14 years old. When he reached his late 50s, he was weakening and always felt out of breath. When he consulted a doctor, he learned that he had COPD, an emphysema. He was in medical oxygen for 2 years until such time that his body just gave up, 4 years ago.

COPD is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. When we breathe, air travels from our nose and mouth down through our airways to our lungs. When you have COPD, your airways are obstructed and your lung tissues are damaged. There are 2 condition of COPD, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Some of its symptoms are coughing, increased phlegm and breathlessness.

Smoking is the main cause of an incurable, irreversible and lifelong condition COPD. Smoking is implicated in 85 percent to 90 percent of COPD cases. This means the condition is largely preventable by not smoking.

So how to control the condition and improves the life of a person having COPD? First you must stop smoking. Exercise if you can. Daily gentle exercise is ideal; eat and drink well; involve your family and conserve energy.

Health Benefits of Brown rice

2010-01-28T21:15:00.003-08:00

Brown rice is an excellent source of manganese, selenium and magnesium. It lowers cholesterol levels and has a high significant cardiovascular benefits for post-menopausal women.

How to have a healthier feet

2010-01-23T18:43:00.001-08:00

Wear slippers in public showers and gyms to avoid getting athlete's foot.
Wash your feet twice daily. Dry them thoroughly with a clean towel, particularly between the toes.
Change your socks daily. Use cotton socks, not synthetic ones.
Wear well-fitting leather shoes that allow your feet to breathe.
Bleach your shower area regularly.
When applying corn or verruca (wart) medication, make sure it does not get on healthy, unaffected skin.

Kitchen Beauty Aid #10 - Mayonnaise facial

2010-01-11T16:51:00.001-08:00

Give yourself a facial with mayo. Yes, you read it right, with mayonnaise. Smooth two tablespoons of mayo on your face, leave on for ten minutes then rinse. The spread contains vitamin A, which exfoliates dead surface cells, while its fats and proteins hydrates the skin.

How do Antioxidants Work and Why it is Good For our Body

2010-01-06T21:01:00.003-08:00

Antioxidants are compounds in foods that can stop free radicals from doing harm in the body. Because they may also boost the immune system, they are a big help in lowering the risk of cancer and infection. Free radicals are the unstable oxygen molecules that have lost lost an electron through exposure to sunlight, pollution and daily wear and tear. They are free moving molecules that travel around the body trying to stabilize themselves by stealing electrons from healthy molecules. More free radicals are created after a successful steal, damaging healthy cells in the process.

These free radicals are the primary cause behind heart disease, cancer, aging, loss of vision, and other diseases. Unless something stops these free radicals from causing damage to the healthy cells, diseases continue to progress. This is where antioxidants come in. Antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables.

Here are some of the fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants - apple, avocado, banana, basil leaf, beans, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrot, cassava, cauliflower, celery, cereals, garlic, grapes, guava, mango. onion, orange, pineapple, raisins, tomato, sweet potato, spinach, squash, pineapple, watermelon.

Jewelry for sensitive skin

2010-01-05T20:01:00.000-08:00

I love wearing jewelries. But my problem is, my skin is sensitive to jewelries that are not "real". It's very itchy and I gets rashes afterward. I found out, from my readings that the nickel in jewelry makes the skin react. So, my solution is, I get rid of jewelries that contains nickel and I go for hypoallergenic jewelry for they contain few or no irritating substances.

Here are jewelries to wear and to avoid:

Wear:

Nickel- free stainless steel
Titanium
18K yellow gold
Nickel-free 14K yellow gold

Not to wear:

White gold
Cobalt
Surgical - grade stainless

Good news about chocolates

2010-01-04T07:33:00.001-08:00

Chocolate has earned its bad reputation because it tastes good, but chocolates aren't all that bad. In fact, chocolates have beneficial antioxidants called flavonoids that can help reduce the negative effects of bad cholesterol. Recent studies even claim that it can lower blood pressure and reduce the growth of cancer cells. While highly saturated, the fat in chocolate does little to affect blood cholesterol.

Like any other food, it is the amount of chocolates you eat that will determine if the "sinful" stuff will harm or benefit you. Eating them is no foolproof way to prevent heart disease and cancer. On the contrary, they can lead to weight gain which is bad for your heart.

Types of Make Up Brushes

2010-01-02T18:59:00.002-08:00

I'm not really a pro on make up and I get confused on the many array of brushes when I go to cosmetic stores. I've read some tips on what kind of brush should I use for concealer, foundation and others. Here they are...

Concealer - square - head brush with tapered corners.

Liquid or cream foundation - large, wide, tapered flat head.

Loose or pressed powder - full dome-shaped brush.

Blush - full large head with slight tapering but not as large as powder brush.

Eyeshadow - medium to large square head slightly tapered at the corners.

Lip liner - small, narrow, flat, tapered-edge brush

Steps on How To Properly Floss Your Teeth

2010-01-01T18:35:00.002-08:00

Aside from brushing your teeth, add flossing to your daily dental care routine to remove deposits of food that form harmful plaque in the spaces between your teeth. Dentists say flossing helps reduce tooth decay and prevent gum disease. Here is how to floss:

Use a lenth of about 45 centimeters of floss. Wind one end around a finger on your left hand. Wind the other end around a finger on your right hand.
Keep the floss taut between the two fingers and gently guide between the first pair of teeth. Be careful not to cut down into the gum.
Side the floss up and down one tooth and then up and down the side of the other tooth to dislodge all bits and pieces of food wedged between them.
Repeat this for every tooth, including the back surface of your last molar.
As you move from one tooth to the next, wind the used floss onto one finger and release clean floss from the other finger

Kitchen Beauty Aid #9 - Refresh your tresses with lemon juice

2009-12-31T17:28:00.002-08:00

Lemon juice can brighten and refresh your hair, removing product build-up. Mix 1 part of lemon juice with with 4 parts water, the nrinse hair with it. Finally, rinse with clean clear water. Lemon is available in supermarkets and cheaper than branded special shampoos.

Simple Steps on How to Pedicure Your Self

2009-12-30T18:14:00.003-08:00

Soak your feet for about ten minutes.
Pat feet dry.
Clip toenails straight across. Or if you would rather use an emery board, do so but wait under toenails are completely dry.
Using a pumice stone, remove any rough areas.
Massage cuticle area with little oil or moisturizer.
Gently push back cuticles.
Apply foot lotion and massage into each foot.
Remove excess lotion. If you wish to apply polish, put a small amount of polish on your brush; paint one stroke down the center of your nail. Your brush should hold just enough color to accomplish this. Stroke the sides of the nail too, and you are done.
Wait until polish is set or dry to the touch and then apply the top coat. Don't skip this step as it not only adds life to your pedicure, it will also protect your nails.

Health Benefits of Ginseng

2009-12-29T23:54:00.002-08:00

Herbal remedies are very common especially in the provinces. Ginseng, a known herb in Asia, has been known to reduce stress because if its strong effect on the adrenal glands which secrete that fight fatigue. This root is also known to enhance the immune system that could help in curing the common cold and other upper respiratory tract infections

Basic Principles to a Well-Balanced Wardrobe

2009-12-28T23:01:00.003-08:00

Do you get confused at times on what are you gonna wear?try to apply these principles to have a well-balanced ward robe - load up on your basics, go easy on patterns and indulge in a showstopper for special occasions. It will surely make getting dressed easy. Check out these 5 groups:

The basics - You need to build a strong foundation on strategic staples that will mix with almost everything in your closet. This includes a black tank, jeans, short and long sleeve white t-shirt, short and long sleeve black shirt, khakis, black turtleneck, white button down, cardigan, black pants and denim jacket.

The staples - These are wardrobe workhorses that will help you get through the workweek. Maximize versatility by choosing neutral shades and classic cuts. These include a black shirt dress, silk blouse, gray trousers, camisole, fitted jacket.

The statement pieces. You also need signature pieces that guarantee you compliments when you wear them such as a printed dress with subtle colors, patterned jacket, bold blouse and graphic sweater.

The evening standards - For evening out, after dark pieces such as ruffled shirt, cocktail skirt, and sparkly will do the trick.

The showstoppers - your wardrobe won't be complete without treating yourself to a dress that will guarantee a grand entrance every time. Choose simple style that is figure flattering and makes you feel beautiful.

Health Benefits of Carrot, the Richest Source of Carotenoids

2009-12-27T23:57:00.003-08:00

Carrot is one of the richest sources of carotenoids. High carotenoids intake has been linked with a 20% decrease in postmenopausal breast cancer and an up to 50% decrease in cancers of the bladder, cervix, prostate, colon, larynx and esophagus.

Health Benefits of Squash

2009-12-26T22:54:00.002-08:00

Squash has shown in studies to have the ability to prevent cancer-like changes in the lungs. Squash has also been found to help reduce symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy in men, where the prostate gland becomes enlarged.

Feeling fuller longer and eating less tips

2009-12-25T22:45:00.002-08:00

Do you want not to feel hungry so soon after eating? One of the best things you can do for your digestion and for your weight is to slow down the speed at which your digestive system works.

Eat often. By not allowing yourself to get hungry, you help turn off appetite inducing hormones. So much small amounts of healthy appetizers in between meals.
Have a healthy-fat appetizer. When you eat a little healthy fat before meal, you slow down the rate at which your stomach empties. Examples include olive oil, nuts, avocado, and fish. Eating them will make you feel fuller faster from the meal. Eating them will also keep your blood sugar levels spiking up after meal and makes it easier for your body to absorb fat-soluble nutrients.
Feast on fiber. Fiber takes a long time to digest, which means your stomach empties more slowly and the time until your next meal won't seem so far away.

Kitchen Beauty Aid #8 - Atis Seeds for Head Lice

2009-12-24T00:03:00.001-08:00

Head lice, locally called kuto is very common among children especially girls. These are head parasites that are fed on blood drawn from the scalp. How can these be eliminated? Patience, time, good hygiene and treatment can dislodge these parasites. Here is are simple and inexpensive treatment to eradicate this bothersome head lice:

At bedtime, soak scalp and hair in mixture of baby oil and powdered sweet sop (atis) seeds. Wrap head with clean cloth overnight.
Shampoo hair thoroughly with commercial shampoo of your choice the next morning. Rinse hair well with water.
While hair is still wet, comb hair with fine-toothed comb. Squash the lice that have been combed out.
In the evening, comb hair again. Then apply warm vinegar thoroughly on scalp and hair to kill nits. The mixture of baby oil and atis seeds is for the lice and warm vinegar for their egg.
The next morning, comb hair again and squash nits that have been combed out.
Repeat the treatment for one week or until the lice and eggs are removed.

Excellent Tips on how To Look Good

2009-12-23T22:57:00.003-08:00

Looking good will make us also feel good about ourselves. People, most especially us, women, always want to feel good, fashionable and stylish. For those who can afford, they would splurge on signature dresses, buy on branded cosmetics. But there are ways to look fashionable with out having to splurge our hard-earned money or even savings, just to look good or fashionable.

Wear comfortable clothes to look and feel good. Comfort should not be compromised with looking fashionable.
Use accessories like belts, bags, scarves, etc. when wearing basic or plain apparels.
Dress according to the occasion, season, and place.
Pair colorful or loud colored garments with basic colors or their complimentary colors but with a lighter hue.
Contrast colors of the clothing, bright and light, basic and colored.
Wear printed tops with plain bottoms and vice versa.
Explore and experiment pairing your tops and bottoms in several different ways.
Avoid buying on impulse. Get only items that can go with at least three of what you have.
Own more tops than bottoms. Wearing the same top with several bottoms will still make you look the same all day.
Buy clothes with different colors. Don't duplicate your basic colors like black, grey, navy or brown either.
Prefer simple items than detailed ones. Simple apparels with not much detail are versatile and very easy to mix and match.
Invest in quality. Avoid trendy items or stylish clothing that are at the moment but will run out of style in a year or two. Fashion is made to be unfashionable.

Dressing Tips for Big People

2009-12-22T22:26:00.002-08:00

Wear tunics and other blouses that cover your waist and extend up to the hips.
For those with big body structure, choose garments with vertical stripes to appear slender.
Avoid preggy look, super tight, or shrink to fit clothing.

Dressing tips for plump and fat people

2009-12-21T22:47:00.002-08:00

Wear tops that cover the entire body.
Choose blouses with shearing and empire-cut clothes to hide the fat in the middle portion of the body.
Avoid using loose shirts for they will make you look fatter.
Wear pants up to the waist and avoid low-rise jeans.

Kitchen beauty aid #7- Egg white and honey for glowing skin

2009-12-20T22:40:00.003-08:00

I do this during the weekend when I have no work. In the morning before taking a bath and while having a breakfast of egg. I separate a small portion of egg white then mix it with honey and apply it to my face. Then rinse it with cold water after.

Dressing tips for Skinny People

2009-12-19T19:12:00.002-08:00

Experiment wearing clothes in layers to add bulk to your body.

Avoid wearing short shorts and tight fitted clothes.

Kitchen Beauty Aid #6 - Pineapple for Warts

2009-12-18T18:46:00.002-08:00

Warts can be very unsightly and annoying. But do you have pineapple fruit for dessert? Get a portion of it! Pineapple's enzyme power seems good to a variety of ills, but it's oddest use may be may be to dissolve warts. Most warts eventually go away on their own but if you want to speed up the process, soak a cotton ball with fresh pineapple juice and apply it to the wart.

Health and beauty tips

2009-12-16T17:37:00.001-08:00

Here are tips in your daily life to stay beautiful on the inside and out:

1. Follow a healthy, balanced diet. A balanced diet is the first step toward a beautiful, healthy body. Follow a healthy balanced diet that complements your lifestyle. An ideal diet should be high in fiber, low on fat and must be supplemented with adequate amount of fresh fruits and vegetables.Aside from knowing what to eat, it is also important to know how much should you eat. Make food choices that have high nutritional value but low on calories.

2. Eat different types of food. Try to eat vegetables and fruits of different colors each day. Try eating a different food at least thrice a month. Begin your day with an apple as the apple's pectin cleanse the body's digestive system by removing toxins and therefore preventing degenerative health problems such as cancer.

3. Don't skip breakfast. Are you surprised to see how some people manage to stay fit, energetic, and active the whole time and are able to stabilize their weight while you continue to put on weight and feel exhausted all the time? Well, chances are, they eat a good breakfast and you don't!

4. Drink lots of water. Drinking a minimum of 7-8 glasses of water a day cleanses all the impurities and toxins from your body and helps to get healthy, flawless skin.

5. Exercise regularly. Besides making you look sexy, regular exercise is also the best natural anti-aging regimen because it helps you stay and feel young by raising your energy levels , stabilizing your body weight, and enhancing flexibility which reduces the wear and tear in your body.

6. Say no to stress. Easier said than done, but leading a relaxed, stress-free life will not only reduce the risks of health-related disorders, it will also calm you down and let you enjoy your life better.

7. Sleep well. A good 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep is a must for our body to reboot itself and feel energetic the nest day.

8. Keep your brain active. Keeping your mind in "good shape" is just as vital as taking care of your physical health, so be sure to indulge your brain on a daily basis. An idle mind is not only the devil's workshop. Often , the feeling of aimlessness or nothingness can cause boredom and can lead to depression and anxiety-related disorders.

What are the Health Benefits we get from Sweet Potatoes?

2009-12-14T20:00:00.003-08:00

Sweet potatoes contain , ounce for ounce, more iron, vitamin A, and vitamin E than white potatoes. They are also full of fiber and antioxidants like beta carotene. Sweet potatoes are great baked, with little orange juice and cinnamon flavoring, or peeled, or cut into sticks, lightly coated with olive oil, and roasted for about 20 minutes in a 400 Fahrenheit oven.

Why Drinking Water is so Important

2009-12-13T21:09:00.003-08:00

Water is a lubricant, a "solvent" and a thermostat. By drinking water, you keep things flowing and moving in your body , and protect its parts from damage through shock-absorbing fluid. The solvent quality of water helps your body conduct electricity. As a thermostat, water lets you shed heat through sweating, or helps you retain heat when you need to stay warm. So, drink water!

Health Benefits of Aloe Vera

2009-12-12T00:04:00.003-08:00

Aloe vera, which grown in home gardens can be used to heal burns, sunburn, wounds, psoriasis and radiation-induced skin reactions. When ingested, it is beneficial in treating constipation, diabetes, ulcers and even Crohn's disease.

Health Benefits of Lemon grass

2009-12-11T00:06:00.002-08:00

Lemon grass combats depression and treats fever, colds and flu. It's also a remedy for stomach aches and painful menstruation. It can also relieve colic in infants because of its anti-spasmodic properties. Recently, Israeli scientist found out that a drink with as little as one gram of lemon grass contains enough citral, the component that gives it the lemony smell and taste, to kill cancer cells.

Don't Want to be overweight? Eat your veggies!

2009-12-08T20:08:00.002-08:00

I am kinda skinny while hubby is kinda chubby. His weight is above his ideal weight for his height. I eat veggies while he prefers meat and rarely eat vegetables. I think this explains why....

A study shows that those who were vegetarians were only half as likely as a meat eater to be obese.

Dressing tips for petite people

2009-12-07T19:09:00.002-08:00

Everything you wear especially the accessories like bags, belts, headbands, pins, etc. should be small.

Avoid wearing vertically striped clothes for they will make you look smaller and thinner.

Shun dark colored clothing if you want to be visible.

Bananas for hypertension

2009-12-06T18:32:00.001-08:00

Hypertension is very common and many people died because of it. But by simply eating bananas, you can beat hypertension. This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium and very low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat high blood pressure.

Kitchen Beauty Aid #6 - Olive oil for chapped lips

2009-12-05T10:54:00.001-08:00

Suffering from chapped lips? You can remedy it with olive oil. You don't need to buy those pricey balms or creams! Olive oil can soothe chapped lips. All you have to do is make your own balm by mixing olive oil and melted beeswax in a 1:1 ratio. If you want it to have a scent, add an essential oil.

Ways to prevent problems when getting old

2009-11-26T09:47:00.001-08:00

Getting old is inevitable. All of us, regardless of sex, race, religion, social and financial status will really get old as time goes by. Aside from saving for the future or shall we say for our retirement so that we'll not become dependent with our loved ones, equally important is to take care also of our health. Here are ways to prevent problems when we get old.

Adopt a healthy lifestyle at any age. Eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, limit alcohol intake, and quit smoking.
Engage in mentally stimulating activities. Read, do, puzzles, play cards, take up a hobby.
Be socially active. Do volunteer work, join a club, travel in a group.
Visit your doctor regularly. Be in tip-top shape and get prompt treatment for any conditions as they crop up.
Adopt a positive outlook in life. Avoid stress and learn to relax.

Vitamins and minerals that make you beautiful

2009-11-23T18:00:00.001-08:00

We women have lots of beauty regimens. We use different beauty products. All for the purpose of achieving beauty and glow. But equally important to looking beautiful is being healthy also. Here are secrets of how to stay beautiful while staying healthy as well:

Vitamin A - Aside from its important role in vision and reproduction, vitamin A is essential for the maintenance and repair of the tissue which the skin and mucous membranes are made of. It is a powerful antioxidant that flushes out free radicals and toxins and strengthens the protective tissue of the skin to prevent acne.

Vitamin C - Aside from boosting the immune system and having antioxidant properties, it also helps in collagen production for healthier skin, tissues and bones. It helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles due to collagen loss. Vitamin C also helps reduce pore size thus improving the skin texture.

Vitamin D - this nutrient helps reduce the risk of breast cancer. It also improves body's ability to absorb, utilize calcium and phosphorous. Vitamin D is also crucial in the formation of healthy teeth, nails and bones.

Vitamin E - This is a major antioxidant nutrient for the body. It has a crucial role in skin care. It has anti-aging effects that help reduce fine lines and wrinkles in skin. It works from the inside out repair and strengthen skin thus keeping it appear beautiful. Vitamin E works efficiently with vitamin C.

Iron - It helps build the quality of blood for increased resistance to stress. It prevents fatigue so you can stay vibrant and lively.

Simple Tips on Preventing Varicose Veins

2009-11-20T09:36:00.002-08:00

Varicose veins are often inherited. If your mother has them, there's a possibility you have too. There are some things you can do to keep them in check.

*Avoid standing still for long periods. If you have no choice, keep the blood circulating by flexing your calf muscles, rising up and down on your toes, and squeezing your feet together in your toes.

*Avoid wearing knee-high nylons or socks daily. They can block the movement of the blood up the leg.

*Wear support hose. These stocking apply a gentle, graduated pressure to the leg from the foot upward, which helps decrease expansion of the vein wall.

* Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes everyday.

*Exercise with care. A well-toned led muscle will pump out more blood than a weak muscle as you walk or move. When you lift heavy weights, however, make sure you blow out. Increased abdominal pressure can block the flow of the blood back to the heart, forcing your veins to expand to get around the block.

Treating and preventing damaged and dry hair

2009-11-19T17:03:00.000-08:00

We love styling our hairs. Who doesn't? And so we go to the salon for a hair color. Or if we have curly hairs, we'll make it straigthened. And those with straight sleek hairs will have it curled. Unknowingly these makes our hair dry, become brittle and damaged. And adding to that are the damaging rays of the sun, blow- dryers, harsh combing and pulling. Here are tips to prevent damaged and dry hair and achieve that shiny, healthy hair that we long to have.

Wash hair with cool to warm water. (not hot)

Don't brush wet hair. Use a wide toothed comb instead.

Stay away from blow-dryers and straightening or curling irons. If you have to usea hair dryer, use the cool setting.

Avoid hair dyes and bleach.

Use a mils shampoo follwed by a conditioner to leassen appearance of dryness.

Cover hair when out in the sun. Wear a bathing cap when in swimming pool.

Massage scalp to stimulate oil production.

Give yourself a hot oil treatment once a week.

Eat a healthy diet.

How to create dramatic cheekbones

2009-11-17T17:40:00.001-08:00

Dust a little dark powder along the cheek hallows. This can be just a darker shade of your blush.
Apply blush to the "apple" of your cheeks. Don't go too close to the nose.
Apply a highlighter to the area above your cheekbones. Just a few dots will do and then blend well so that it isn't noticeable.
Once you have your blush in place, take a cotton ball and blend until you have just a hint of natural - looking color. Make it subtle , no strips of color.