What are the sugar alternates to keep us healthy?

Refind or processed sugars are harmful for us but we need to keep nutrition balance while taking natural sweets. We can easily check our food habits to convert it to a healthy choice.There are many sugar alternates which we can adopt to keep us healthy.

These few tips would definately help you in this regard:

* Consume a protein and a whole unprocessed carbohydrate with every meal to your diet.

* Eat 4- 5 servings of fruit or vegetables each day. It these meals contain natural honey or cane juice , don't use extra sugar.

* Avoid soft drinks. To know how much sugar we are consuming with each drink, read the facts here:

- Sugars in drinks

Read this very useful posts:

-It is about the histroy of sugar, the difference between refined and natural sugars and sugar alternatives:

"The sugar coated Truth"

Use of sugar may worsen our acne problems

Use of refind sugar is not recommended for diabetes patients but normally the sugar we are habitual to use in our daily diet is not quite healthy.  We can keep ourselves safe from skin diseases like as acne by reducing the use of sugar. Let's discover the scientific study based proof for this theory:

According to 'Archives of Dermatology':

Low–glycemic load diets are associated with a reduced risk for type 2 diabetes, and dietary interventions using low–glycemic load carbohydrates improve insulin sensitivity.

Furthermore, a large-scale intervention has demonstrated that diets rich in low–glycemic load foods reduced serum testosterone and fasting glucose levels while improving insulin metabolism and increasing concentrations of SHBG. These endocrine changes are consistent with those known to promote normal follicular cell proliferation and to reduce sebum production.

It is possible that low–glycemic load diets may have therapeutic potential in reducing symptoms of acne, a disease virtually unknown to the Aché and Kitavans.

A report published at "NYTimes" says:

Foods that have a high glycemic index — and as a result raise glucose levels rapidly — cause the body to release a flood of insulin and other hormones, which some scientists suspect can stimulate oil production and inflame the skin.

To test the theory, scientists recruited 50 men and boys ages 15 to 25, all of them with acne, and followed their progress for 12 weeks. Some subjects stuck to a typical diet that included high-glycemic foods like white bread, sweetened cereals and pasta, and the others were given foods higher in protein and lower on the glycemic scale, like fish, whole-grain breads and fruit.

At the end of the study, published in 2007, the subjects on the low-glycemic diet had far greater reductions in skin lesions and other symptoms of acne than the control group. They also showed reductions in their levels of free, circulating androgens, the male hormones known to cause acne, suggesting that hormones played a role.

Other studies have found similar connections between high-glycemic foods and acne, though scientists say more research is needed.

There is some evidence that foods high in sugar can worsen acne.
Link to the original article: NY Times

More about drinking water

Benjamin Franklin said: “There can’t be good living where there is not good drinking.”

Loma Linda University researchers found that drinking five or more 8-ounce glasses of water a day could help lower your risk of heart disease by up to 60 percent - exactly the same drop you get from stopping smoking, lowering your LDL (bad) cholesterol numbers, exercising, or losing a little weight.

A glass of water can boost your creativity as well. If you’re properly hydrated you’ll have more energy, you’ll feel healthier, you will become more alert and aware of your surroundings. If your brain is functioning on a full reservoir it will function at full capacity and you’ll think better and faster. A glass of water is a great boost to your creativity. You’ll find ideas are easier to come up with and they’re likely to be more unique. Your mind will work easier and it won’t seem like such a strain. All that and it’s one of the simplest changes you can make in your life.

Bring Instant Increase in Brain Power:

1. First thing in the morning have a glass of water. Go ahead and have your coffee or whatever afterward, as I said we’re not making this hard core.
2. Around lunch, have another glass of water along with whatever you planned for lunch.
3. Then grab a glass around 3:00 or somewhere in there, especially if you’re starting to feel like you’re slowing down.
4. One glass of water with supper.

More posts:

* 10 Reasons to Drink More Water

Link: http://ririanproject.com/2006/09/07/10-reasons-to-drink-more-water/

* Need to Increase Your Brain Power?

Link: http://www.rousingyourmuse.com/increase-brain-power.html

Are you drinking enough water to keep you healthy?

There are many among us who know that dehydration may cause many health hazards, are unaware that unintentionally we don't take enough water and our bodies become dehydrated. I am also one of those who don't drink enough water and I feel that many of my health problems are due to dehydration. I hope that this post would remind me importance of water intake as well as helping you stay healthy by drinking enough water.

More or less we all know that water is an essential part of our life. We can live for weeks withour food but without water we can live only few days. Water is essential for our whole body. When our cells lose water they lose their shape.

Water plays an important role in digestion and absorption as well as circulation and is essential in the regulation of your body temperature, lubrication of joints and the texture of our skin. Water is the carrier of nutrients through the body and essential in the removal of metabolised waste material.

Dehydration increases muscle glycogen use, which leads to premature fatigue. A slight 3 - 5% decrease of water in the body can lead to light-headedness, headaches, dizziness and nausea. In fact, when you're dehydrated by just 4.3 percent, your performance drops by 22%. A 7% decrease can lead to hallucinations or worse, major organ stress.

Dehydration also raises the body's core temperature, which can lead to delerium, heat stroke or in extreme cases, death. The solution, of course, is to keep hydrated and drink plenty of water.

 If you're active and exercise regularly, you should be drinking at least the minimum of 8 glasses of water a day. (2 litres) If you plan to engage in prolonged and strenuous exercise you should drink 500mls of water two hours before exercise to allow time for adequate hydration and excretion of excess water. While exercising vigorously, you should be drinking 150 mls to 350 mls of water every 15 minutes to match sweat loss. After all, sweat is 90-99 percent water

let's know how much of our water we retain in our bodies?

Between 55 and 65 percent of the human body is made up of water.

* Our blood is 83% water.

* Our brain is 75% water.

* Our muscles are 76% water.

* Our liver is 70% water.

* Our kidneys are 82% water.

* Our skin is 70% water.

* Our bones are 22% water.

* Even our fat is 20% water.

Why we need to drink enough water?

Because water regulates body temperature.

• serves as a solvent for minerals, vitamins, amino acids, glucose and other small molecules, aiding their assimilation into the body
• carries oxygen to all parts of the body
• lubricates the areas around our joints (especially important for athletes, people with arthritis and those with chronic musculoskeletal problems)
• is necessary for chemical reactions in the body
• acts as a shock absorber inside the eyes and spinal cord
• removes the waste products of our metabolic processes

Stress management and weight gain

Everyone is aware of the health risks, stress and depression can cause but it seems strange that stress and depression can be a reason for your weight gain. And in this condition, may be other weight loss techniques wouldn't do much. Rather you should try to go for diagnose to check the main cause for your weight gain.

Today I am quoting few lines from an article which can help you learn about this topic. This article is from Vicki R. Pierson who is  a cancer survivor from 2 years and a certified personal trainer.

"Through regular practice of stress reduction techniques, symptoms of stress decrease and become more manageable.
For the most part, stress is largely under your control. You may not be able to control the situation, however, your reaction in any given situation is entirely under your control. One way to monitor and understand stress in your life is to record your feelings in a diary. Once you gain better awareness of the things that cause you stress, you can then build an action plan to positively manage it by creating some positive goals to help reduce the amount of stress in your daily life."

Article link for stress management techniques:

Stress Management

Her one of the article provides you tips and techniques to keep your eating habits influeced free from your moods. It is also observed that our eating patterns are influenced by our emotional states. And in many cases many people confuse hunger for food with their hunger for emotional fulfillment. It results in weight gain. To read more:
Link to the article: Separating Food From Feelings

For more health and fitness related articles: The fitness jump site

Why we should prefer detox diet ?

This post would help you learn why we need detoxification, and who need to do it? and in simple words why we should prefer detox diet, when there are many diet systems available around us.

Let's learn more about 'detox diet':

According to Wikipedia

"A detox diet is a dietary regimen involving a change in consumption habits in an attempt to "detoxify" the body by removal of "toxins" or other contaminants. Proponents claim it improves health, energy, resistance to disease, mental state, digestion, as well as aiding in weight loss."

Dr Sarah Brewer, author of 'The Total Detox Plan' says:

"One of the main benefits is that a detox gets you looking at your diet and lifestyle and making appropriate changes. Eating organic and cutting down on additives gets you caring for your body in a way you don't always do.
"The more extreme varieties of detox diets are to be avoided though, according to Dr Brewer, who advocates gentler regimes.
"I would very much caution against more rigorous detoxes, such as those involving fasts or colonic irrigation - they're not necessary," she says.

She also advises detoxers to be alert to adverse reactions. "A furry tongue, headache or spots shows you are having a toxic detox reaction and you need to take things much more slowly."

Detox diets are not for everyone. For instance, they are not recommended for anyone with diabetes, liver problems, gut ulcers or who is on warfarin therapy. In fact anyone who is receiving medical treatment for any condition should consult their doctor before embarking on a special diet.

If you have a well balanced diet and include all food groups as recommended in the Food Pyramid there is no need for detox diets. In reality people often use them as a kick start to a new healthy lifestyle, maybe as a New Year’s resolution. If you want to use a detox diet as a means to healthier you, then short term use is fine, any longer may lead to nutritional deficiencies.
Link articles:
*  Saga.co.uk

* A PDF report about detox diet from National organisation for nutrition and dietetic professionals (Right click and choose save at) :

Download here

How detox system works for our bodies

Naturally we humans are gifted with natural immune system which keeps us safe from toxins or harmful stuff. We need to know the importance of detoxification and how it works.

There are two major detoxification systems operating within the body--the antioxidation system, and the liver's detoxification processes.  They both work in conjunction with the body's circulatory and elimination systems.  Even superficial understanding of how these systems work can give you a whole new basis of health, because with this understanding, you can improve your body's ability to detoxify, based on a scientific framework. You will understand how and why these measures help to protect your health.

The first process to understand is how the body prevents oxidation.  You've probably heard the word "antioxidant" many times in reference to vitamins, supplements, foods or teas.  In case you do not understand it, please read the following slowly and carefully and try to follow the thought progression:

Thought 1.  We need oxygen to live.   That's obvious.

Thought 2.  Why do we need oxygen?  Because oxygen plays an important role in metabolism, in the breakdown of food into energy and the raw materials to supply every other function that goes on inside the body.  Every cell of the body--trillions of them--needs oxygen to carry on its individual function.  Brain cells, for example, begin to die after only three minutes without a fresh supply of oxygen.

Thought 3.  Oxygen is, however, a reactive substance, i.e. it reacts with other substances.    That's the reason why you have to be very careful in the presence of pure oxygen or you could have an explosion, i.e. a powerful reaction. (The air we breathe is only 20 percent oxygen.)

Thought 4.  When oxygen reacts with other substances, it causes oxidation.  Fire, for example, is rapid oxidation.  We also see it when iron rusts; the rust is oxidation.  An apple cut in half and exposed to air turns brown; the browning is oxidation.

This process of oxidation also occurs within the body, where it's called biological rancidification.  Researchers have determined that biological rancidification is one of the primary causes of aging.

Dr. Bland states, "The way biological rancidification occurs in the body is similar to how oxygen combines with fat in a cube of butter and causes it to become "rancid" activated forms of oxygen--oxygen radical or reactive oxygen species (ROS)--are manufactured in the body following exposure to radiation, pollution, viruses or other infectious agents, drugs and medication (including alcohol and cigarettes) and even as a consequence of the activation of the body's immune system."
Thought 5:  The biochemical forms of oxygen that are most likely to cause this biological rancidification are commonly known as "free radicals." Free radicals are molecules that are missing an electron, so they steal a replacement electron from another molecule, causing oxidative damage to the "victimized" molecule and the tissue of which it is a part.

Thought 6.  Unfortunately, there's a domino effect caused by free radicals in the body.  They don't just cause one reaction and stop.  The "victimized" molecule now steals a replacement electron from yet a third molecule...and on and on it goes.

Here's how Dr. Bland describes the effect of free radicals on the body:  "...imagine a Ping-Pong table covered with mousetraps.  All the traps are set, 'baited' with a carefully placed Ping-Pong ball.  Then imagine tossing another ball onto the table.  That ball springs one trap, bounces off and begins a reaction that in a short time triggers all the mousetraps on the table, with Ping-Pong balls bouncing everywhere.  This is very similar to the explosive chemical reactions which are initiated by free radicals..." 
Dr. Baker clarifies how this pertains to the body:  "If a fatty acid molecule [back to that pat of butter] gets its electron ripped off by oxygen in the air, it is damaged...If the fatty acid molecule is nested among millions of others in ... our cell membranes, we call the damage 'oxidative damage'..."
Understanding Oxidative Stress
Dr. Baker helps us understand electron exchanges from the larger perspective of chemistry in general:  "...oxygen and all related oxidative stresses...put our molecules at risk of losing an electron.  Such a loss is a necessary part of all chemistry in which molecules participate voluntarily...chemistry has to do with the sharing, gaining or losing of electrons from one atom or molecule."
Thought 7.  Fortunately, the body has a system that prevents damage from free radicals, if it has an adequate supply of essential nutrients.

The essential nutrients are vitamin C, E, B2, bioflavinoids, beta-carotene, glutathione, selenium and zinc.

First a vitamin C molecule gives the "victimized" molecule a replacement electron and then the vitamin C molecule itself receives a replacement electron from a molecule of the bioflavinoids.  The bioflavinoid molecule in turn receives a replacement electron from a beta-carotene molecule.  The beta-carotene molecule in turn receives a replacement electron from a vitamin E molecule.  The vitamin E molecule in turn receives a replacement electron from glutathione.  As you can see, and as Dr. Baker informs us..."Antioxidants do not work alone."  (Pgs. 69-71)

The nutrients all work together and if the diet lacks any one, there will be oxidative stress.  For example, a beta-carotene molecule with a missing electron becomes unstable and toxic when its missing electron is not replaced by one from vitamin E and vitamin E cannot replace beta-carotene's missing electron if it is not able to borrow one from vitamin B2.

Dr. Baker uses a bucket-brigade analogy to describe the chain of electron exchanges among the different antioxidants that prevent oxidative damage.  If one of the antioxidants in the chain is missing, that's the point where the process stops and damage begins.

Dr. Bland emphasizes the same point:  "In order for oxidant free radicals to be properly quenched and detoxified, all of the antioxidants must be in balance one to another.  Taking high levels of a supplement of one antioxidant without increasing the others could significantly impair the effectiveness of the single protective nutrient."
A state of  "oxidative stress" can result when the body does not have the adequate nutrients.  Most of the chronic illnesses that affect our society are related, in one way or another, to oxidative stress. This explains why some people age more quickly than others.  It is because, over the years, they have not supplied their bodies with adequate supplies of these nutrients.

Both physical and psychological stress (see psychoneuroimmunology) increase the body's need for nutritional supplementation, as do exposure to toxins, lifestyle choices and internal toxins such as those generated by candidiasis, i.e. intestinal yeast infections.

The antioxidant defense system takes place throughout the body, on a cellular level.

Another critical detoxification process takes place in the liver.  This is a two-phase process involving a series of enzymes.

"Think of this detoxification process as a two-phase wash cycle.  Enzymes are like the soap that liberates grease into little droplets, removing impurities that the water can't remove on its own.  In the first part of the wash cycle, enzymes break toxins down into intermediate forms...Some toxins are ready for elimination at this stage, but others require a second wash cycle.  In Phase Two, these intermediate compounds are routed along one of six chemically driven detoxification pathways, where they are further broken down, and then bound to specific types of protein molecules which act as 'escorts' to guide them out of the body, allowing them to exit through the kidneys (in the form of urine) or the bile (in the form of feces).  This process is called conjugation."
Many toxins are fat-soluable.  The liver's job is to transform them into water-soluable substances so they can be excreted via the bowel or the kidneys.  (The bowel and the kidneys cannot process them out until they're water-soluable.)  When hormones, drugs, chemicals or other toxins enter the liver in the blood, the first group of enzymes, the Phase One detoxification system, go to work to transform them. When the Phase One enzymes have "biotransformed" the toxins into intermediate forms, Phase Two enzymes combine with the "biotransformed intermediates" to create nontoxic water-soluable compounds that can then be excreted.  If there aren't enough nutrients to generate these Phase Two enzymes, a dangerous bottle-neck in the detoxification process is created. The necessary enzymes are derived from various vitamins and minerals,  plus amino acids (glycine, glutamine, taurine, methionine, cysteine and glutathione) found in high quality proteins.

These biotransformed intermediates have another name we're now more familiar with, oxygen free radicals, and if they can't be immediately processed out due to lack of nutrients, they begin to cause oxidative stress within the liver and to other tissues where they're carried in the bloodstream.  The free radicals, can be MORE DANGEROUS than they were in their original form as toxins entering the liver.

Dr. Bland reports "These intermediary materials have adverse effects upon the hormone-secreting endocrine system (the thyroid, adrenal and pancreatic glands), the immune system, which provides the body's defenses, and the nervous system.  These three organ systems seem to be most sensitive to endo- and exotoxicity [that is, toxins of internal and external origin], and the symptoms patients experience are often related to thyroid difficulties, adrenal stress problems, immune hypersensitivity or immune suppression problems associated with increased inflammation or "catching every bug that comes along," and chronic nervous system problems that may, in some individuals, progress to become such serious disorders as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease."

If the body does not have the nutrients to process out the toxins when they enter the liver, they are stored, either in the liver or in fat tissue.  Persons who are overweight have a higher level of stored toxins.  During dieting, as the body uses the nutrients stored in the fat cells, these toxins come back into circulation, causing many of the unpleasant effects of dieting, such as jittery nerves, light-headedness and sometimes mild nausea. 

The biochemistry lesson is taken from: Sidney MacDonald Baker, M.D., author of "Detoxification & Healing: The Key to Optimal Health", and Jeffrey S. Bland, Ph.D., author of "The 20-Day Rejuvenation Diet Program"

Source: http://www.detox.org/

Why "Detox Diet" is popular?

There are literally hundreds of diets you can choose from but one that is becoming more and more popular throughout the world is the detox diet. Many famous people have been on the diet and have reported a great deal of success by using it. The difference that the detox diet has over other diets, is that it is not just about losing weight. There are other benefits including having softer skin and generally feeling more healthy.

The whole purpose of "detox" is basically a process of getting
rid of unwanted toxins from your body. This is done by only consuming natural and healthy products including only eating vegetables and herbs and removing any other forms of saturated fats or carbohydrates from your diet. The detox can be complete in as little as 3 days. In fact one of the most popular forms is the 3 day detox diet. This is long enough to remove many toxins from the body whilst also giving a weight loss.

Removing toxins is vital due to them causing many problems within the human body. They surround the major organs and really prevent them from working as they should. This decrease in production really affects the metabolism and means your body isn't working the way it should. So, the detox diet really does more than help you lose weight.

What is Body Detox?

Many of us who want to stay healthy and loose weight are now well aware about the 'body detox' or 'detox diet' but may be many don't have good knowledge of this term. This article would help you learn about meaning of 'detox' and further articles would help you learn more about detox diets and other stuff.

Being exposed to toxins and chemicals on an everyday basis is nothing you can do much about. The earth is getting more and more polluted everyday. Short of hiding yourself away in an oxygen tent everyday, you cannot do much about it.

But one thing you can do is to try and remove these unwanted
nasties from your body in a natural and healthy way. "Detox" is a word that you will probably hear a lot more of in the coming years. This is because people are going through a full body detox regularly to make sure they have no toxins in their bodies that shouldn't be there.

It is basically a process which involves encouraging the removal of toxins by only consuming healthy products and keeping hydrated. These are naturally and safely flushed out of the system and a short space of time. There are many different types of body detox programmes you can follow. A popular type at present is the 3 day detox diet. This means you only follow the diet for 3 days and should see effects after that time.

More people however recommend that a full body detox should last between 2-3 weeks. This gives the body more time to flush out the toxins and also gives you more opportunity to lose some more weight. The detox diet is not as strict as far as what you can and cannot eat. As long as what you eat is healthy and you stay away from fatty and high sugar products, then that is enough. Unlike other diets, you don't really have to worry about counting daily calorie intake.

So eating healthily, regular exercise and drinking plenty of water is enough to really help your body become more efficient and you'll also be able to remove some of those excess fatty areas at the same time!

Get informed about your orthopaedic conditions

As an educator and blogger I have to sit at writing table in front of desktop and work for hours. I feel discomfort for some time which lasts for few minutes but the real problem I have to face is back ache and shoulder strain. I was suggested from our family doctor to consult an 'orthopaedic' practitioner. Before getting my appointment to the orthopedic I searched the net for the problem I was facing and the information which I collected were really helpful while discussing my condition with the consultant. I am going to suggest a site link for readers as I believe that proper patient education is very important.

First learn what the medical term 'orthopedic' means:

'Orthopedics or orthopaedics, is the medical specialty that deals in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders, conditions, and injuries of the skeletal system and the muscles, joints, and ligaments associated with it.'

The site 'e-orthopod' offers patient guides, news, videos and reliable information about orthopeadic condition as the stuff is provided by the professional of this field. I was happy to see a catagory which is about 'children orthopedics' because I didn't get such informative stuff at any other site.

Site link: http://www.eorthopod.com/public/

Food allergy management tips

Food allergy is a common disease we can notice around us. I have seen a worse case of food allergy a few months ago. My cousin who is a young 24 year old healthy boy, once was taking dinner at a house warming party when he felt bad and started itching. After few minutes we noticed that his face was becoming red and he also started itching his face. He also realized that he has eaten something which he was allergic before. I was scared to see his swollen face.

One of my uncles who is doctor and he was also there, took him home and suggested an anti-allergic injection for him. After pushing injection my cousin was given medicines for relaxation and was adviced to take rest.

Later I asked my uncle how much worse this condition can go? My uncle told me that in severe condition we need emergency treatment and it could kill you as well.

This post provides you tips to manage food allergy:

1. Plan ahead. If you can, write a list of foods that you can tolerate and try to get some recipes that incorporate these. You may also consult your dietician and discuss or ask for any advice/help about special dietary alternatives or recipes that won’t trigger your allergy. Also, try your local libraries for recipes or contact allergy specialists for more information on sensitivities or recipes.

2. If you are eating out, telephone the host or chef in advance and explain your needs. See if they will allow you to supply your own food. If not, perhaps they can adapt the menu for you. Always make it a point to discuss everything beforehand so you won’t get tempted to eat anything you shouldn’t.

3. Take extra supplies whenever you go out. You might take longer than you originally planned so carrying a spare packed lunch or goodies with you can be a big help not only to stave off your hunger but also to keep you away from restaurants selling foods that may trigger your food allergy.

4. It helps if you keep a food and symptom diary so when you have a reaction, you can pinpoint what triggered your symptoms. This also helps when you make your list of tolerable foods.

5. Make everyone aware if you have a life-threatening allergy. That way, you don’t have to rely on yourself whenever you find yourself in a situation where you extremely tempted to eat foods you’re allergic to. Also, in case you unknowingly ingest foods that trigger your allergy, there would be someone there to help you.

6. Freeze and bake so you have stocks of allowed foods and don’t have to bake every few days. This will make a wider selection of choice, too.

7. If you’re going abroad, obtain some Allergy translation cards so you are able to show them in different countries. Also, one of the first things you ought to do in a foreign place is to find out where the nearest hospital or doctor is in case of an emergency.

Tips for cutting down fats from food to stay healthy

We all now have good knowledge of healthy and nutritious food. And know how to keep us healthy by avoiding the foods which may cause health risks for us. Some fat in our diet helps the body absorb some vitamins, and it is a good source of energy and essential fatty acids that the body can’t make it, but if you want to eat healthily and keep a healthy weight, you should look out for lower fat alternatives and eat fatty foods occasionally.

We should be cutting down on food that is high in saturated fat or Trans fats or replacing these foods with ones that are high in unsaturated fat instead. We should also be having more omega 3 fatty acids, which are found in oily fish.

If you want to cut down on fat, you can compare the labels of different food products and choose those with less fat and less saturated fat.  You will see figures for the fat content on many food labels and some foods will also give figures for saturated fat, or 'saturates'.

Tips for cutting down fats from your food

* * Choose lean cuts of meat and trim off any visible fat.

* * Grill, bake, poach or steam rather than frying and roasting so you don't need to add any extra fat.

IIf  you do choose something high in fat such as a meat pie, pick something low fat to go with it to make the meal lower in fat – for example you could have a baked potato instead of chips.

* * When you're choosing a ready meal or buying another food product, compare the labels so you can pick those with less total fat or less saturated fat.

* * Put some extra vegetables, beans or lentils in your casseroles and stews and a bit less meat.

* * Measure oil for cooking with tablespoons rather than pouring it straight from a container.

* * Have pies with only one crust rather than two – either a lid or a base – because pastry is very high in fat.

* * When you're making sandwiches, if you're using a moist filling you might not need to use any butter or spread. When you do use fat spread, go for a reduced-fat variety and choose one that is soft straight from the fridge so it's easier to spread thinly.

* * Choose lower fat versions of dairy foods whenever you can, such as semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, reduced-fat yoghurt, lower fat cheeses or very strong tasting cheese so you don't need to use as much.

* * Instead of cream or soured cream try using yoghurt or fro mage fraise in recipes.

Tips provided by “Food Standard Agency” 

Let's talk about blog addiction

Before learning and then starting blogging, I never realized that this hobby or habit can take the form of 'addiction' but it is true that I can point most of the blogging addiction symptoms in myself. Blogging addiction can be a good weapon for us if we are making our life stress free or giving something useful to the net, but if it affects our personal or social life and makes us a real addict like person then it is a real serious matter.

I am happy that despite of a moderate blogging addict, I am doing my teaching job very affectionately and my family is also getting proper attention from me. Yes this addiction is sometimes to its peak when I deny to attend some social gatherings or don't want to watch even my favourite tv shows etc.

Now it's your turn to check the symptoms of blog addiction!

These funny but serious symptoms can tell you the 'blog addiction' signs.

You Know You're a Blog Addict When...

• you have more blog friends than 'real life' friends.
• you're blogging in your head before you fall asleep.
• your out of town husband and you converse in your blog's comments.
• you tell your friends and family things like, "I'll ping you and you ping me back," or "Okay, I want to trackback on your last comment..."
• you blog in your head an event that's happening at that very moment!

A Knight Ridder newspaper article on the FSUnews.com website reports that blogging can be addicting. Some bloggers become obsessed with updating their blogs. The article mentions Cooking With Amy blogger Amy Sherman who would worry about her blog's traffic late at night. The article also discusses several bloggers who worry about their blogging obsession.

What starts out as a hobby for some can end up permeating their lives and minds? Some of the diarists post repeatedly throughout the day juggle several blogs and feel anxious if they don't write. Most dedicated bloggers say the endeavor has enriched their lives, but some worry about finding balance and keeping their obsession in check.

Among bloggers, addiction is a running joke. One even offered a checklist: "You are addicted to blogging if you answer 'yes' to at least three of the following questions," Joi Ito, a Japanese venture capitalist with Silicon Valley ties, wrote on his blog (joi.ito.com). "Do you think about everything in terms of whether it will make a good blog entry? Do you keep your computer in standby mode beside your bed and wake up at 2 a.m. to blog? Do you skip lunch and blog instead?"

Thinking of blog ideas during the day -- that's probably ok. But skipping meals is not healthy.

Source: Blogger's Blog

Related articles:

* Blog addiction

* Blog addiction and what happened after quitting blogging

* Blog addiction(BAD) at "Digiatl Digressions"

Men and Women- Attitude towards life

Our attitude towards life is different as we human being are all different by nature. And there is a big difference in attitude towards life when there is a matter of genders. Scientifically it is proved that men have specific qualities whereas women carry other skills, so their approach towards life should be different as well.

I love to read quotes and that day I read a very interesting post about a topic 'Is a computer male or female?' which in fact is a mirror to our attitude towards social life as a women or men:

A language instructor was explaining to her class that in French, nouns, unlike their English counterparts, are grammatically designated as masculine or feminine.

"House," in French, is feminine = "la maison."

"Pencil," in French, is masculine = "le crayon."

One puzzled student asked, "What gender is 'computer'?"

The teacher did not know, and the word wasn't in her French dictionary. So for fun she split the class into two groups, appropriately enough by gender, and asked them to decide whether "computer" should be a masculine or feminine noun.

Both groups were required to give four reasons for their recommendation.

The men's group decided that computers should definitely be of the feminine gender ("la computer"), because:

1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;
2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;
3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long-term memory for possible later retrieval; and
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine ("le computer"), because:

1. In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on;
2. They have a lot of data but they are still clueless;
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you'd waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.

Cosmetics buying and safety tips

Use of cosmetics is to enhance the beauty but we need to be a wise customer when we buy beauty products. And after buying there are beauty or cosmetic usage tips which can help us get the positive results from the products. Nobody wants to get adverse reaction due to misuse of cosmetics. As sometimes we tend to buy cheap cosmetics which can harm our health. Usage of beauty products in the proper way is another serious matter. This post would help you learn cosmetic buying and using tips.

Be a wise customer (by checking)

The law says a label must include:

- What the product is.
A list of what is in the product and how to used it safely.
How much of the product the package contains by weight.
The name of the company that makes or sells the product.
Does FDA test cosmetics before they are sold?
FDA does not test cosmetics before they are sold in stores. Companies must make sure their products and ingredients are safe before they sell them. FDA can take action against companies who break the law.

Will my cosmetics expire?

There is no law that cosmetics must have an expiration date.
Expiration dates are just guidelines. A product may go bad sooner if you store it the wrong way.

Are “testers” at makeup counters safe?

Testers can have lots of germs because so many people use them.
When you test a product at the counter, use a new sponge or cotton swab.

Could I be allergic to something in a cosmetic?

Some people may react to something in a product. For example, they may have itching, redness, rash, sneezing, or wheezing.
Allergies may happen the first time you use a product or after you have used it more than once.

- What should I do if I have a bad reaction to a cosmetic?

Stop using the product
Call your doctor to find out how to take care of the problem.
Call FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) at (301) 436-2405 or
Send an email to CAERS@cfsan.fda.gov
Call the company that makes the product

Safety tips for beauty

* Follow all directions on the label, including “Cautions” and “Warnings.”
* Keep makeup containers clean and closed tight when not in use.
* Wash your hands before you put on makeup.
* Do not share makeup.
* Do not add saliva or water to makeup.
* Throw away makeup if the color or smell changes.
* Don’t store your make-up above 85 degrees Fahrenheit / 29 degrees Celsius
* Stop using a product if you get a rash or have a problem.
* Do not use spray cans while you are smoking or near an open flame. It could start a fire.
* Do not put on makeup while you are driving.

Special Tips for Your Eyes

Do not keep mascara too long. Some companies say three months is long enough.
Do not use eye makeup if you have an eye infection. Throw away eye makeup you were using.
Do not use cosmetics near your eyes unless they are meant for your eyes. For example, don’t use a lip liner as an eyeliner. You may spread germs from your mouth to you eyes.

Tips provided by "U.S Food and Drug Administration"
Download 'pdf version'

Importance of good nutritional habits in oral health

Nutritious food is essential for a healthy body and mind, but to adopt good nutritional habits means a happy and healthy life. Even our oral health is the result of our nutritional food intakes.

There are good nutritional habits your family can practice to decrease the risk for cavities, also known as dental caries.

* Eating a balanced diet will provide the nutrients necessary to keep teeth strong and healthy. For example, milk is not only a great source of calcium but decreases the risk for dental caries when consumed with foods.

* Limit the frequency of snacks and sweetened beverages between meals to decrease the number of times the bacteria in the oral cavity can produce acids that cause dental caries. If snacks are consumed, brush the teeth, rinse with water or chew sugar-free gum to neutralize the acids formed by the bacteria.

* Stay away from slowly dissolving, sugar-containing candies that remain in the mouth for a long period of time. Even healthy foods like dried fruits can promote dental decay because sticky foods remain on the teeth longer, so make sure your children brush after a sticky snack.

Incorporating these simple habits into the diet in addition to keeping good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing and using a fluoridated toothpaste will help decrease the number of cavities and can potentially save your family pain and money. This can bring a smile to anyone’s face.

Source: University of Florida/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences.

Towards your innerself Part 3

This post would help you learn some basic techniques for meditation and in coming articles you would find links and resources where you can read more about meditation.

For a beginner it is better to start with concentration. Otherwise, the moment you try to make your mind calm and vacant, millions of uncomely thoughts will enter into you and you will not be able to meditate even for one second. If you concentrate, at that time you challenge the wrong thoughts that are trying to enter you. So in the beginning just practise concentration for a few minutes. Then, after a few weeks or a few months, you can try meditation.

When you start meditating, always try to feel that you are a child. When one is a child, one's mind is not developed. At the age of twelve or thirteen, the mind starts functioning on an intellectual level. But before that, a child is all heart. A child feels that he does not know anything. He does not have any preconceived ideas about meditation and the spiritual life. He wants to learn everything fresh.

First feel that you are a child, and then try to feel that you are standing in a flower garden. This flower garden is your heart. A child can play in a garden for hours. He goes from this flower to that flower, but he does not leave the garden, because he gets joy from the beauty and fragrance of each flower. Feel that inside you is a garden, and you can stay in it for as long as you want. In this way you can learn to meditate in the heart.

If you can remain in the heart, you will begin to feel an inner cry. This inner cry, which is aspiration, is the secret of meditation. When an adult person cries, his cry is usually not sincere. But when a child cries, even if he is crying only for candy, he is very sincere. At that time, candy is the whole world for him. If you give him a hundred-dollar bill, he will not be satisfied; he cares only for candy. When a child cries, immediately his father or mother comes to him. If you can cry from deep within for peace, light and truth, and if this is the only thing that will satisfy you, then God your eternal Father and eternal Mother is bound to come and help you.

You should always try to feel that you are as helpless as a child. As soon as you feel that you are helpless, somebody will come to help you. If a child is lost in the street and he begins to cry, some kind-hearted person will show him where his home is. Feel that you are lost in the street and that there is a storm raging. Doubt, fear, anxiety, worry, insecurity and other undivine forces are pouring down on you. But if you cry sincerely, somebody will come to rescue you and show you how to get to your home, which is your heart. And who is that somebody? It is God, your Inner Pilot.

Source: SriChinmory.org

Download FREE self help e-books

I love to read a lot., and during search for my health blog, I could find many sites where you can get free self help e-books. I feel like that self help and self development books put posite affect on your personality. If you read these books with the intention to make you better human, I can assure you that it is possible. God has given you the power to change yourself and make you a better person for yourself and for the welfare of humanity.

Free books which I read myself and found very useful are given at the bottom of the post.

These links would take you to my blog, but don't worry there is no affiliate link or other selling intention behind this offer. I want to simply share my knowledge with all.

1- Download Free E-Book "Wellness From Within"

2- Amazing story of a sick woman who cured herself!

3- How to be happy?

4- Resources to download hundreds of free self help e-books!

If you know any site or links where we can find free e-books, then share it with us.

Are you an internet addict?

I consider myself a blogging addict, because I enjoy reading or writing for my blogs and feel that browsing the internet is itself an addiction. When internet connection is off or I am away from my computer I feel like missing something. But I am happy with my addiction because it is giving me pleasure, keeping me stress free and I learn a lot from browsing the net or writing for my blogs.

Are you one of the internet addict?

Is internet making you addictive? You should think about it seriously because it is been considered an addiction. Many among us would say that ‘there is no such thing as Internet Addiction Disorder-- getting pleasure out of a computer is not the same as getting pleasure from cocaine or any other drug’

But is there any measure to judge if you are being addicted to internet?

Yes----Internet can be addicting, to the point that it disturbs one's life and the lives of those around him.

The reality is that Internet is disrupting many people's lives. This is symptom list which can tell you if you are internet  addictive or not?

Symptoms of Internet Addiction:

1)      Using the online services everyday without any skipping.
2) Loosing track of time after making a connection.
3) Goes out less and less.
4) Spending less and less time on meals at home or at work, and eats in front of the monitor.
5) Denying spending too much time on the Net.
6) Others complaining of your too much time in front of the monitor.
7) Checking on your mailbox too many times a day.
8) You think you have got the greatest web site in the world and dying to give people your URL.
9) Logging onto the Net while already busy at work.
10) Sneaking online when spouse or family members not at home, with a sense of relief.

To read in detail go to the report: Internet Addiction Disorder: Causes, Symptoms,and Consequences

Start the journey towards your innerself -part 1

It's been more than 3 years ago, when I was suffering from very serious depression. One of my cousins suggested me to participate in a meditation course, a 40 hours training to learn it. Iwas hesitating as I was doing job and taking leave for 3 days was difficult. But after watching some very good changes in my cousins behaviour, I decided that I should do it.

In short I should say that the 3 days course of meditation was a life changing experience for me. Because it was the journey towards my inner-self. I experienced a lot of positive changes during and after those regular practices of meditation sessions. I am a regualar meditator from that time and feel the best of myself always. Few days ago, I found a link where there were some very useful information about meditation, and I want my readers to go through these information.

My suggestion is to look for your local meditation centers if you are interested in it, or you can search at the net for more information. But without participating an active meditation group or community it would be difficult for you to continue it. And you cannot expect good or positive changes until you regularly meditate.

Second part of this article would help you learn 'How to begin meditation' and either you have decided to learn meditation or not, jut go throught the content and do it for introduction to innerself or for a peaceful mind.

Continued topart-2

Online Dietary Supplements Buying Tips

Consumers who prefer to search or buy online products, should be very careful while deciding to buy any health related stuff at the net. It is our responsibilty to have the knowledge to deal with spams and protect our health and wallet. 

Many legitimate Web sites bring customers health products with the benefits of convenience, privacy, and, sometimes, cheaper prices. "But consumers need to be aware that the Internet has also created a marketplace for unapproved medical products, illegal prescribing, and products marketed with fraudulent health claims," says William Hubbard, associate commissioner for policy and planning at the Food and Drug Administration.

"And the unique qualities of the Internet, including its broad reach, relative anonymity, and the ease of creating and removing Web sites, pose challenges for enforcing federal and state laws," Hubbard says. "Many sites are connected to other sites and have multiple links, which makes investigations more complex. And there are jurisdictional challenges because the regulatory and enforcement issues cross state, federal, and international lines."

These tips would guide you while buying dietary supplements. As these tips are offered from a reliable agency 'US food and Drug Administration', we should carefully read these guidelines.

What are Dietary Supplements?

 Dietary supplements are products taken as a supplement to the diet. Examples are vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, and amino acids, the individual building blocks of proteins needed for all life. Dietary supplements are classified as foods and not drugs.

Problem sites: Web sites cannot claim that dietary supplements will prevent, treat, or cure any disease. This would make the product an unapproved and illegal drug. Also, Web sites can't make claims that a dietary supplement will have an effect on any structure or function of the body when the claims are not substantiated.

"Web sites selling dietary supplements with false or unsubstantiated claims sometimes use testimonials and advertisements touting a quick, miracle cure," says the FTC's Cleland. "And some sites claim a product will cure it all--heart disease, cancer, arthritis, you name it."

Cleland says he sees a lot of miracle claims for major diseases and weight loss. "Criminals also prey on people's fears about terrorism," he adds. After the anthrax attacks in 2001, some sites falsely claimed that dietary supplements such as colloidal silver and oregano oil could protect against biological and chemical contamination.

Risks: "In promoting some products, companies are telling patients not to undergo surgery, chemotherapy, or other needed treatment," says Cleland. "So we are concerned about people forgoing legitimate medical treatment."

Consumers also have to worry about ingesting harmful substances. Companies may call a product "natural," but that doesn't mean it's safe. And dietary supplements are intended to supplement diets, not replace them. Too much of some nutrients can cause problems. There is also a danger of dietary supplements interacting with other drugs you may be taking. The prescription medicine warfarin, the herbal supplement gingko biloba, aspirin, and vitamin E all can thin the blood, so taking any of them together can increase the potential for internal bleeding.

Regulation: Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), dietary supplements are products that are intended to supplement the diet and that contain one or more of the following dietary ingredients: a vitamin, a mineral, an herb or other botanical, an amino acid, a dietary substance that supplements the diet by increasing the total daily intake, or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of these ingredients.

Consumers should be wary of claims related to diseases or conditions that are prominent in the news. For example, when Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was in the news in 2003, the FDA found several dietary supplement products promoted on the Internet for treating or preventing SARS. The FDA took action against 10 of these firms, as there was no evidence of safety or effectiveness of the products for use against SARS.

Tips: Consumers who choose to buy dietary supplements on the Internet should consider who operates the Web site and what evidence is provided to substantiate claims.

Dietary supplement makers are responsible for making sure that their products are safe before they go on the market and that claims on labels are accurate, truthful, and substantiated with adequate scientific evidence. By law, supplement manufacturers are allowed to use these types of claims, when appropriate:

• Nutrient-content claims such as "high in calcium" or "excellent source of vitamin C."
• Health claims that show a link between the supplement and reduced risk of a disease or health condition, when the use of the claim has been approved by the FDA. For example, women who get adequate amounts of the B vitamin folic acid during pregnancy have a decreased risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect.
• Qualified health claims, which are for dietary supplements only and came about as a result of a 1999 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in the case of Pearson v. Shalala. The court's ruling requires the FDA to allow appropriately qualified health claims that would be misleading without such qualification. These qualified claims are based on the weight of the scientific evidence. An example of this type of claim is "supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease."
• Claims regarding a benefit related to a classical nutrient deficiency disease, such as vitamin C and scurvy.
• Claims that a dietary supplement has an effect on the structure or function of the body, when such claims are supported by scientific evidence. An example of such a claim is "calcium builds strong bones" for a supplement that contains calcium.
• Claims that describe general well-being from consumption of the product.

The FDA recommends that consumers contact their health care providers before using dietary supplements. This is especially important for people who are pregnant or breast-feeding, chronically ill, elderly, under 18, or taking prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Online health product buying tips

Internet has offered a lot of comfort to consumers while saving their time also with online shopping. Many people are now searching for health product purchases at the net, but there are some health hazards invloved due to scam sites and their products. This post would help you learn the health product buying tips, facts and figures, and useful resource to report if you are scammed.

Many legitimate Web sites bring customers health products with the benefits of convenience, privacy, and, sometimes, cheaper prices. "But consumers need to be aware that the Internet has also created a marketplace for unapproved medical products, illegal prescribing, and products marketed with fraudulent health claims," says William Hubbard, associate commissioner for policy and planning at the Food and Drug Administration.

"And the unique qualities of the Internet, including its broad reach, relative anonymity, and the ease of creating and removing Web sites, pose challenges for enforcing federal and state laws," Hubbard says. "Many sites are connected to other sites and have multiple links, which makes investigations more complex. And there are jurisdictional challenges because the regulatory and enforcement issues cross state, federal, and international lines."

Facts and figures:

One way that illegitimate Web sites violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) is by dispensing prescription drugs without a valid prescription, says Steven Silverman, director of the Division of New Drugs and Labeling Compliance in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "FDA leaves it to individual states to decide what is a valid prescription. Web sites cannot dispense drugs in violation of those laws or with no prescription at all."

Risks: "When you buy drugs from a questionable Web site, you just don't know what you're actually getting," says Carmen Catizone, executive director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).

The main concerns are that the drugs could be outdated, contaminated, too potent or not potent enough, improperly manufactured and handled, or counterfeit. "We have seen some reports of cases where people thought they ordered prescription drugs, but they received some kind of dietary supplement," Catizone says.

In general, to be valid, a prescription must address a legitimate medical purpose, be written by a physician or other health care provider authorized to prescribe medicine, and be based on a legitimate doctor–patient relationship. But some Web sites dispense drugs after customers simply fill out an online questionnaire or engage in some other similar cyber "consultation."

Tips: For consumers who want to buy prescription drugs online, the FDA recommends purchasing only from state-licensed online pharmacies that are located in the United States. This helps to assure that the consumer will receive drugs that are manufactured, packaged, distributed, and labeled properly. Some legitimate Internet pharmacies are extensions of traditional brick-and-mortar chain drug stores such as Walgreens, Eckerd, and CVS.

"There are also smaller, and still legitimate, Web sites that consumers can use with confidence," says Linda Silvers, who leads the Internet and health fraud team at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Legitimate sites require valid prescriptions."

"A Web site can look very sophisticated and legitimate, but actually be an illegal operation," Silvers says. "If there is no way to contact the Web site pharmacy by phone, if prices are dramatically lower than the competition, or if no prescription from your doctor is required, consumers should be especially wary."

People should check with their state board of pharmacy or NABP to see if an online pharmacy has a valid pharmacy license, meets state quality standards, and is located in the United States . NABP's Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites program, also known as VIPPS, is a voluntary program that verifies the legitimacy of Internet sites dispensing prescription drugs and gives a seal of approval to sites that apply and meet state licensure requirements and other VIPPS criteria.

To find out if an online pharmacy is licensed, is in good standing, and is located in the United States, contact NABP at http://www.nabp.net/. Legitimate pharmacies that carry the VIPPS seal are listed at http://www.vipps.info/. For a list of state boards of pharmacy, visit http://www.nabp.info/.

Reporting Problems

To report a problem with a Web site selling human drugs, animal drugs, medical devices, biological products, foods, dietary supplements, or cosmetics:

If the problem involves a serious or life-threatening situation, call your health care professional immediately for medical advice. To report the situation to the FDA, call (301) 443-1240.
If the problem involves a serious reaction or problem, contact your health care professional for advice. To fill out the FDA's MedWatch reporting form, go to http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/.

For problems that do not involve a serious or life-threatening reaction, fill out the form at www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/buyonlineform.htm.
To report e-mails or Web sites promoting medical products that might be illegal, forward the material to webcomplaints@ora.fda.gov.
To report false claims to the Federal Trade Commission, call (877) 382-4357.
If you lose your money, contact the credit card company, your state attorney general's office, or the Better Business Bureau.

Online Resources

FDA buying online page www.fda.gov/buyonline/

FDA online guide: "Buying Prescription Medicines Online: A Consumer Safety Guide" http://www.fda.gov/buyonlineguide/

FDA report on combating counterfeit drugs www.fda.gov/counterfeit/

List of dietary supplement ingredients for which the FDA has issued warningswww.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-warn.html

List of enforcement actions taken against the promoters of products www.fda.gov/oc/enforcement.html

Huge use of wi-fi gadgets and health risks

Today I saw a question on the same network 'do you use you cell phone during driving?'

The question points out to a very importan issue which is about huge use of wi-fi gadgets and health risks involved in it. May be for some it would be a news only, but as new generation is addicted to use of mobile/ cell phones, they should be aware of the dangers of these gadgets.

When first time I read about it and write about it in my article about one year ago "Use of electronic and digital products causing health problems" I got a comment from a reader, she wrote:

"My husband lost his best friend to a brain tumor. He used to talk for hours on his cell phone.

My husband has always said he felt his friend got the tumor from using his cell phone so much, and many people think he's crazy for believing that. Interesting to read something that supports his claims."

I became very careful with the use of my cell phone after that post. I use my cell phone for limited time. I am a regular meditator and for this purpose I have to play 'meditation confirmation' on daily basis and I play it on my cell phone as these devices are offering multi-purpose use. But after finishing my job I keep it away from my bed as I know that electro-megnetic wave can harm our brain.

I am quoting here few post links, where you can read more about health hazards relevant to huge use of cell and mobile phones:

* http://www.selfgrowthurway.com/2007/08/how-moblile-phones-and-other-electronic.html

* Microwave protection

* BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE DANGERS OF EMF’S AND MOBILE PHONE MASTS AND HOW THEY CAN AFFECT OUR HEALTH

* Are EMFs Hazardous to Our Health?

I hope that this article would create awareness about cell phone use among all especially young generation.

The Facts about ‘mineral beauty products

I am also a mineral and herbal beauty product lover, because it is assumed that these products have fewer side effects and are environment friendly.  But are the claim from the marketing companies is based on truth that these products are free from any harmful effects?

While searching for the reality behind ‘mineral beauty products’ I could find a very useful post which is from “WebMD” and I hope that it would be interesting to read:

"What are mineral beauty products?”

These are the products made of all natural, finely ground minerals from the earth, without any of the chemicals, dyes, and preservatives found in traditional makeup.

"This is an extremely popular style of makeup – and it's something that a lot of my patients use and love, and I use it myself. It's also the product most patients ask about," says Kathryn Frew, MD, a dermatologist at Juva Skin and Laser Center and MediSpa in New York City.

Like most cosmetic products, mineral makeup has its fans and its critics.

Some say: Mineral makeup is just a genius marketing plan

-       Mineral makeup can cause problems the same as any other preparations can cause problems. It's not purer; there's no scientific proof of that

-       Many dermatologists report that because mineral makeup frequently eliminates classic "irritants" – like fragrances, binders, synthetic dyes, and preservatives -- it is considered "purer" and can be kinder to the skin. 

Mineral Makeup and Sun Protection

With an average SPF rating of 15, at least one company, Bare Minerals, has the Skin Cancer Foundation seal of approval as a sunscreen.  Jane Iredale, AfterGlow, and other mineral make ups claim similar protective effects, due mostly to the high content of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide -- two ingredients commonly found in traditional sunscreen.

But does mineral makeup give you all the sun protection you need?  

Experts say no.

"It's better than using nothing, but I always tell my patients to use a regular cream sunscreen under their makeup and then use the mineral foundations as an extra boost," says Frew.

Mineral Makeup: Not All Alike

Extra ingredients aside, it may seem as if all mineral makeup should be pretty much the same. But WebMD discovered that's far from the truth.  

Since there is no set regulation for what constitutes a "mineral” makeup, any product containing minerals as a primary ingredient can be marketed as such -- even if it contains a whole lot of other "less natural" ingredients.

Kristen Adams, president of AfterGlow Cosmetics, says the battle lines between brands are drawn this way: "Mineral makeup formulas generally fall into two large camps - those that take care not to use synthetics (like paraben preservatives and other fillers) and stay true to the original intent of pure mineral makeup, and those that do add the fillers, colors, binders, preservatives, and other chemicals to their formulas," says Adams.

Although you can weed out at least some of these brands by reading the ingredient label, Adams cautions not to let the term "all natural" or "all mineral formula" fool you.

That's because within the brands that claim "pure mineral" formulations, there is still another category breakdown -- those that contain an arguably "natural" mineral known as bismuth oxycholoride, and those that do not.

A pearlizing agent that gives mineral makeup that "candlelight glow," bismuth oxychloride is a mineral, but it's not found in the earth. Bismuth is a byproduct of lead and copper processing. Bismuth oxychloride is also frequently used to fill or "bulk up" or bind products, says Adams, and some say it comes with a heavy price.

"Bismuth oxychloride is considered a skin irritant and can cause itching and rashes and in large amounts it can cause cystic acne as well – it's one of the ingredients you should try to avoid if you have acne or rosacea or sensitive skin," says Frew, who also reminds us that some products in a line have this ingredient, while others do not. "Some products also contain very little, so it doesn't act like an irritant, but you won't know until you try it."  

Mineral Makeup: Buyer Beware

One of the factors that makes mineral makeup so popular is the smooth, natural, long-lasting coverage -- a feat that's some companies accomplish by pulverizing or "micronizing" their minerals into microscopic or even nanoparticle size.  

But some researchers say this activity may come with a price.

"Research shows that when some molecules are dramatically reduced in size to the level of a nanoparticle, they can have very different and very toxic properties than that same molecule would have in its conventional size," says Jane Houlihan, research director of consumer watchdog agency The Environmental Working Group in Washington.

"Minerals like zinc and titanium are safe when applied to healthy skin but in a micronized nanoparticle form, there remains a concern, particularly when applied to damaged skin, or when inhaled," says Houlihan.

The bottom line: Even when beauty comes from the earth, it's still a case of beauty buyer beware.

For details:

The Lowdown on Mineral Makeup

Check these symptoms to save your life

These are 10 symptoms which may not seem very serious but taking keeping in mind these health signs can save your life. Precaution and timely medical consultation is a safe way to be at safe side.

In some cases, immediate medical consultation is necessary and better to contact your nearest health service as soon as possible.

Don't ignore the following 10 signs and symptoms — some of which are not obviously alarming. But, trust that your body informs you of its needs. While some messages are more urgent than others, milder but persistent symptoms may also signal trouble.

1. Unexplained weight loss
If you find you're losing excessive weight without intending to do so, see your doctor. Unintentional excessive weight loss is considered to be a loss of more than:

5 percent of your weight within one month
10 percent of your weight within six to 12 months
An unexplained drop in weight could be caused by a number of conditions, such as an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), depression, liver disease, cancer or other noncancerous disorders, or disorders that interfere with how well your body absorbs nutrients (malabsorption disorders).

2. Persistent fever
If you have a normal immune system and you're not undergoing treatment, such as chemotherapy for cancer, a persistent low-grade fever — over 100.4 F — should be checked if it lasts for a week or more. If you have a fever with shaking chills, or a high fever — greater than 103 F — or if you're otherwise severely ill, see your doctor as soon as possible.

If you have an immune system problem or take immune-suppressing drugs, fever may not be a reliable warning sign and your primary doctor or oncologist can tell you what would signal a need for an evaluation.

Persistent fever can signal hidden infections, which could be anything from a urinary tract infection to tuberculosis. At other times, malignant conditions — such as lymphomas — cause prolonged or persistent fevers, as can some medications and conditions, and reactions to certain drugs.

Fever is common with treatable infections, such as urinary tract infections. But if a low-grade fever persists for more than two weeks, check with your doctor. Some underlying cancers can cause prolonged, persistent fever, as can tuberculosis and other disorders.

3. Shortness of breath
Feeling short of breath — beyond the typical stuffy nose or shortness of breath from exercise — could signal an underlying health problem. If you ever find that you're unable to get your breath or that you're gasping for air or wheezing, seek emergency medical care. Feeling breathless with or without exertion or when reclining also is a symptom that needs to be medically evaluated without delay.

Causes for breathlessness may include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma, heart problems, anxiety, panic attacks, pneumonia, a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism), pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension.

4. Unexplained changes in bowel habits
See your doctor if you have any of the following:

Severe diarrhea lasting more than two days
Mild diarrhea lasting a week
Constipation that lasts for more than two weeks
Unexplained urges to have a bowel movement
Bloody diarrhea
Black or tarry-colored stools
Changes in bowel habits may signal a bacterial infection — such as campylobacter or salmonella — or a viral or parasitic infection. Among other possible causes are inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.

5. Mental status changes
Immediate medical evaluation is warranted if any of the following occur:

Sudden or gradual confused thinking
Disorientation
Sudden aggressive behavior
Hallucinations in someone who has never had them
Changes in behavior or thinking may be due to infection, head injury, stroke, low blood sugar or even medications, especially ones you've recently started taking.

6. New or more severe headaches (especially if you're over age 50)
Seek prompt medical attention if you experience:

A sudden and severe headache, often called a thunderclap headache, because it comes on suddenly like a clap of thunder.
A headache accompanied by a fever, stiff neck, rash, mental confusion, seizures, vision changes, weakness, numbness, speaking difficulties, scalp tenderness or pain with chewing.
A headache that begins or worsens after a head injury.
These headache symptoms may be caused by stroke, blood vessel inflammation (arteritis), meningitis, brain tumor, aneurysm or bleeding on the brain after head trauma.

7. Short-term loss of vision, speaking or movement control
If you have these signs and symptoms, minutes count. These are signs and symptoms of a possible stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Seek immediate emergency medical care if you have any of the following:

Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg on one side of your body
Sudden dimness, blurring or loss of vision
Loss of speech, or trouble talking or understanding speech
A thunderclap headache
Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness or a fall
8. Flashes of light
The sudden sensation of flashing lights may signal the beginning of retinal detachment. Immediate medical care may be needed to save vision in the affected eye.

9. Feeling full after eating very little
Feeling full sooner than normal after eating and having persistent nausea and vomiting that last more than a week are warning signs that should be checked by your doctor. There are many possible causes, including pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer and ovarian cancer.

10. Hot, red or swollen joint
These warning signs may occur with a joint infection, which requires emergency care to save the joint and keep bacteria from spreading elsewhere. Other causes may include gout or certain types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis.

This article is research based work from "Mayo Clinic" a medical education and research foundation.
Original Article link:Symptoms

towards your innerself -part 2

Starting or deciding to start meditation would be a happy experience for you because as this article would help you learn to begin it. If you are experiencing any kind of stress or depression for any reason, meditation can help you to fight with the situation. There are lots of many benefits which you would notice after regualar meditation sessions.

How to Begin Meditation

If you are an absolute beginner, then you can start by reading a few spiritual books or scriptures. These will give you inspiration. You should read books by spiritual Masters in whom you have implicit faith. There are Masters who have attained the highest consciousness, and if you read their books, you are bound to get inspiration. It is better not to read books written by professors or scholars or aspirants who are still on the path and have not yet attained illumination. Only those who have realised the Truth will have the capacity to offer the Truth. Otherwise, it is like the blind leading the blind.

It is also a good idea to associate with people who have been meditating for some time. These people may not be in a position to teach you, but they will be able to inspire you. Even if you just sit beside them while they are meditating, unconsciously your inner being will derive some meditative power from them. You are not stealing anything; only your inner being is taking help from them without your outer knowledge.

In the beginning you should not even think about meditation. Just try to set aside a certain time of day when you will try to be calm and quiet, and feel that these five minutes belong to your inner being and to nobody else. Regularity is of paramount importance. What you need is regular practice at a regular time.

source: 'Sri Chinmoy.org

Online meditation resources and links

As I have told in my previous article series "Journey towards innerself", that the best way to learn meditation is to join local meditation center around you. Because this is the practice which you need to be regular to get good and positive results. Still there are many online resource and links where you can find FREE information. Few sites many be offering cd's or books or lessons for sale, but if you want only FREE stuff, just go and browse through the sites.

I have collected those links to share with you, and hope that it works for you:

1- Meditation Center offers many useful links to alternative and spiritual sites. This site is itself informative as you can search 'home' page from the given page.

2- Download 'Meditation e-book' by David Smith (PDF, 948 kb)

3- ABC-of-Meditation is a meditation information and news portal with articles on meditation basics, background, postures and techniques.

4- How to meditate has instructions in mantra meditation.

5- The Metta Foundation "It is the mission of the Metta Foundation to foster the convergence of wisdom born of traditional meditative stillness and compassion born of human encounter."

6- Mindfulness.org.au A site is designed to assist people who are interested in the integration of psychotherapy and medical therapies, for their own well being , for the purpose of enhancing the therapeutic relationship or to improve the quality of clinical interventions.

7- Relaxation reviews is an independent guide to relaxation tapes, CDs, MP3s & online relaxation audio.

8- Terminal Thoughts Pieces written by Jos Kingston, a former Wildmind student who wrote about living with a terminal illness before passing away in February 2007. Check out her article on "Enjoyment of breathing, handling pain, and pragmatic meditation."

9- World Wide Online Meditation Center A user-friendly site, created to provide clear, straight-forward meditation instruction to people anywhere on the planet.

10- Learning meditation

Meat addiction and health risks

Like many meat lovers, I was shocked to read the word "Meat Addiction" and I was fearing because I knew that I am one of the meat lovers who can't imagine meal without meat. I love to eat vegetables, but in our society it is very difficult to become vegan, as our love for meat makes our choices limited.

But are there real health risks associated with it?---

It's true that meat-linked diseases cause sixty percent of American deaths, it's also true that millions of moderate meat eaters live long and healthy lives. Few Americans, however, seem to realize that every year meat-related diseases kill twice as many people as tobacco.

More Facts and figures:

Each year, the death toll continues to mount for consumers of beef and other red meats. According to a report by the U.S. Surgeon General, more than 70 percent of deaths in this country -- more than 1.5 million annually -- are related to diet, particularly the over- consumption of beef and other foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat.

Study after study confirms that consumption of red meat is a primary factor in the development of heart disease, strokes, and colon and breast cancer. The American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend that people reduce their consumption of red meat and other animal-derived foods, and eat more grain, fresh vegetables, and fruits instead.

Recently, the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) found that beef contains the highest concentration of herbicides of any food sold in America. The NAS also found that beef ranks second only to tomatoes as the food posing the greatest cancer risk due to pesticide contamination, and ranks third of all foods in insecticide contamination. Aside from smoking, there is probably no greater personal health risk than eating too much beef and other meat.

If you are convinced about health risk associated with meat consumption then these site would help you decide the healthy life without meat.

GoVeg.com

Veganhealth.org

Meatjunkie.com