Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Symptoms Causes and Treatments

Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic functional disorder of the intestines which causes abdominal pain, often accompanied by cramping, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. It is also referred to as spastic colon or mucous colitis. Irritable bowel syndrome is more commonly known by its abbreviated term - IBS.

There are three forms of IBS depending on the symptoms -- diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D), constipation-predominant (IBS-C) and IBS with alternating stool pattern (IBS-A). Clinical investigations are going on a new IBS subtype, post-infectious IBS (IBS-PI).

Symptoms of IBS

IBS symptoms include:

? Abdominal pain

? Discomfort associated with changes in bowel habits

? Fewer than three bowel movements a week

? More than three bowel movements a day

? Hard or lumpy stools

? Loose or watery stools

? Straining during a bowel movement

? Urgency (having to rush to have a bowel movement)

? Feeling of incomplete bowel movement

? Passing mucus (white material) during a bowel movement

? Abdominal fullness, bloating, or swelling

? Chronic pelvic pain

? Mental stress

? Fibromyalgia and various mental disorders

? Researchers believe that there are neurological and psychological disorders associated with IBS.

Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The exact causes of irritable bowel syndrome are unknown, but there are factors that may aggravate the trouble. Dietary factors and stress don?t exactly cause IBS, but they can aggravate it. Various studies and researches have noted an IBS connection to diet. Physicians feel that the correct diet can provide IBS relief.

Common IBS diet advice includes:

? Eat soluble fiber foods and supplements.

? Substitute dairy products for soy or rice products.

? Be careful with fresh fruits and vegetables that are high in insoluble fiber.

? Eat small amounts in regular intervals to lessen the symptoms of IBS.

? Avoid eating red meat, oily or fatty (and fried) products.

? Avoid taking dairy products (especially when lactose intolerance is suspected).

? Avoid solid chocolate, coffee (regular and decaffeinated), alcohol, carbonated beverages and artificial sweeteners.

IBS Treatment

IBS treatment includes dietary advice and medication. Developing good dietary habits may be the best treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.

Medications can provide instant IBS relief. These may include stool softeners and laxatives in constipation-predominant, and antidiarrheal (loperamide) in diarrhea-predominant IBS. The low dosage of tricyclic and SSRI antidepressants has shown to be the most widely prescribed medications for helping to relieve symptoms of visceral sensitivity (pain) and diarrhea or constipation respectively. Other medications include:

? Alosetron: Alosetron is a selective 5-HT3 antagonist for IBS-D. It is only available for women in the United States under a restricted access program, due to severe risks of side effects if taken mistakenly by IBS-A or IBS-C sufferers.

? Cilansetron: Cilansetron is also a selective 5-HT3 antagonist that is undergoing further clinical studies in Europe for IBS-D sufferers.

? Tegaserod: Tegaserod is a selective 5-HT4 antagonist for IBS-C. It has shown to have an excellent safety profile for relieving IBS constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation.

Paul MacIver writes about health conditions including IBS and Crohn's Disease. To read how hypnotherapy can be used to beat IBS visit Online IBS Help You may freely reprint this article as long as nothing is changed, bio is included, and all links are made active.

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Treating Adult Acne With Antiaging Moisturizers

Softening the skin and relieving wrinkles with anti-aging moisturizers is becoming a welcome and effective method of treating acne. To date there is a large and growing number of people, especially adult women, who have benefited from new techniques that not only reduce acne but also improve aging skin.

There is connection between anti-aging and acne. In the 1970?s two Dermatologists, Dr. Eugene Van Scott, and Dr. Albert Klingman begin investigating vitamin A as an alternative to benzoyl peroxide for the treatment of acne. Benzoyl peroxide is the active ingredient in most over-the-counter acne remedies. such as Proactiv, Clearasil and others. Dr Klingman eventually developed Retin A, a derivative of vitamin A, and Dr. Van Scott began working with the structurally similar Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs). Neither of these researchers attracted much attention until it was noted that women using these substances for acne were experiencing a reduction in skin wrinkling. Retin A and AHAs quickly became most widely used anti-aging skin care ingredients worldwide.

Acne and Wrinkling share the same problematic skin condition: excessive undetached dead skin tissue building up on the skin?s surface. This stiffens the skin. Wrinkles result because a less flexible outer layer of skin creases the underlying growing tissue. The skin thus increasingly grows into deeper and more pronounced lines. Acne results when this dead skin tissue clogs pores and inhibits the normal passage of oils and moisture, causing whiteheads or blackheads and eventually pimples. Both AHAs and Benzoyl peroxide, however, can relieve this condition by exfoliating this dry outermost layer of the skin.

The problem is that benzoyl peroxide, while it is effective in removing oil, dries out the skin thus increasing the amount of dead skin tissue on the surface of the skin. This in turn clogs pores. For most women however, using moisturizers to relieve this dryness is not an option. The oils and waxes used in moisturizers aggravate acne because they compound pore blockage.

Several companies have worked to solve this problem and have developed moisturizers for acne prone skin. Murad and Olay have developed a number of products. At Niora, we have worked to solve this problem by creating moisturizers formulated with specially emulsified jojoba oil. Jojoba oil, while intensely moisturizing, is a fine oil with a far smaller molecular weight than sebum, or skin oil. Jojoba penetrates these heavier skin oils, unclogging pores and dissolving nascent blackheads and whiteheads. Because of Niora?s emulsification process, dissolved sebum and excess oils rinse free leaving the skin soft and clean.

These lighter moisturizers can be blended with alpha hydroxy acids, which in turn exfoliate the skin and work to prevent excessive tissues from building, back up in the pores. Typically these types of exfoliating cleansers must be used daily to be effective, but they replace normal moisturizers and cleansers and fit easily into most skin care regimes.

These new skin care products thus offer the best of both worlds: an effective acne treatment that moisturizes the skin and reduces wrinkling. To date thousands of women have successfully used these new products demonstrating that the best acne treatment might well be anti-aging skin care.

For additional information about acne and contact Niora at pr@niora.com
www.niora.com

Niora is the manufacturer of the sensitive skin friendly anti-aging acne treatment, Alpha Clear. Niora has created fine anti-aging skin care since 1989.

CONTACT:
Paul Resnick
Niora
pr@niora.com
http://www.niora.com

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Lose Weight and Burn Fat with One Simple Eating Principle

Fifteen years ago the doctor?s suggested that we eat pasta as a good healthy food. They also thought we would possibly lose some weight by doing so. Now we are eighteen percent fatter. Why?

While pasta is not a bad food, we have altered our eating habits slightly. If you completed a food log for a week, you would see that your plate would consist of at least half being in one food group. Most of our diets are lopsided. This eventually slows down the digestive process. When people like me ask you to eat a balanced diet what does it mean? It could mean different things. I call balancing your foods, synergizing your food groups. Synergize means; the action of two or more forces.

When is a car easier to turn the wheel? When you are sitting still or when you are going down the road? Yes, moving down the road. When you eat different types of food they feed off the others. This means the digestive system works more efficiently, thus steering the car much easier.

Here are some eating suggestions to allow your body to synergize your food into fuel instead of fat:

1.Try not to eat breads with pastas.

2.Put carbohydrates, good fats, veggies, and proteins on your plate each time.

3.Wine and pastas are killers.

4.Never eat more than half your plate in complex carbohydrates or sugars.

5.Fish and veggies are good combinations.

6.One glass of wine at a time

The general rule is to mix it up on your plate. If the plate is lopsided the tires on your fat burning machine will go flat. Foods work well together, not by themselves.

START LOSING WEIGHT THE RIGHT WAY FOR GOOD TODAY! FREE MINI COURSE click here http://www.resolutions.bz. Discover the common sense way to lose weight with out dieting that the doctor?s DON?T want you to know. Greg Ryan is a best selling author, former employee of Kathy Smith, and high profile fitness expert.

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Knowing Your Skin Type

People can spend years searching for their perfect skin care solution. Finding the right products can be a constant struggle. Many offer quick fixes or cures for skin conditions. Most experts agree that a skin care solution regimen includes several basic steps. Cleaning your skin is an important first step to healthy skin. Finding a cleanser that fits your skin type is best. Toners are a more aggressive product while astringents are the strongest of all these types of products.

Moisturizing your skin is the third step in a skin care solution. Chilling your moisturizer in warm weather and warming the moisturizer in cool weather helps your skin to absorb the moisture more readily.

Another important part of a skin care solution is protecting your skin in extremely hot or cold climates. Extended sun exposure can lead to serious skin problems. A skin care solution can help ease the symptoms of various skin conditions. Dry skin, a common skin condition, can be caused by many factors. Dry skin can affect the entire body. Dry skin can be mild, moderate, or severe.

Finding the Right Products Will Help You Develop a Skin Care Solution Lotions, balms, sun protect ants, cleansers, moisturizers, and many other products exist to relieve and cure skin conditions. Readily available products can often relieve most mild cases of skin conditions. Living with dry skin or other skin conditions can be annoying and frustrating. Finding the right skin care solution may take some time and effort; however, the benefits of working on your skin's health far outweigh the difficulties in finding appropriate skin care products.

Dermaglow offers ranges of organic and natural skin care and beauty products. http://www.dermaglow.co.uk

David Stanton 2005

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eDrugs Just a Click Away

You must have shopped through internet. Isn?t it convenient to use this medium to order goods of your choice and get them delivered at your doorstep. What's more, you can order items from around the world using websites that specifically serve this purpose.

Ordering medicines through an online pharmacy is the latest in this trend. These online or e-pharmacies are drugstores that fulfill your medication order and deliver them to your home. You don?t have to spend time in visiting the doctor and then going to a drugstore to buy the prescribed medicines. It makes even more sense if you are on long term medication.

These pharmacies have a panel of registered medical practitioners who can provide online consultation and give you a prescription for medicines which can be promptly ordered at the same instant.

The medicines that you buy through the online pharmacies are cheaper than what you pay at the local drugstore. In some cases the difference is as much as 80% on the lower side. This is mainly due to the fact that these pharmacies source their goods directly from the manufacturer or wholesaler. They get cheaper prices and this is passed on to you for your benefit. Not only bulk orders but even unit prices of medicines are cheaper at the online pharmacies. If you are a regular user of this mode of purchase, you could end up saving thousands of dollars over the year.

Another valuable aspect of these e-pharmacies is their confidential nature. You can avoid embarrassment of going to a doctor?s clinic and waiting to discuss your personal health problems like those related to obesity or sexual health. Online consultation is provided within the confines and security of your home. Even the medication is discreetly delivered at your doorstep.

If you have been using the internet for making purchases then you must be familiar with modes of e-payment, i.e. payment for goods made through the internet using a variety of options including credit cards, debit cards, etc. The online pharmacies offer these secure modes of payment in partnership with the leading banks and well known world wide payment facilitators. The use of latest encryption methods makes your payment secure and prevents malicious use of your personal data.

When shopping at the online pharmacies you have the option of buying branded or generic products. Discounts are available on both types for bulk orders including refills.

Like with any internet shopping, you must first ensure that the online pharmacy is genuinely registered with the local health authority and is selling FDA approved drugs. This task is not difficult and will go a long way in building your trust for online shopping for medication.

In short these online pharmacies offer a unique experience in buying medication saving you time and money while you stay within the comforts of your home.

Daniels Charles, an associated editor to epharma.md, is a contributing author to the http://www.epharma.md/ for distinct article sites/journals. Please feel free to visit http://www.epharma.md/ for more information on General Health related issues like weight loss,online pharmacy,men?s health etc.Or write to him at epharm@gmail.com. Any comments and /or suggestions will be highly appreciated. Please note that this article is not a substitute for medical advice.

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I Lost Close to 60 Pounds in a Year!

How would you feel about yourself if you could lose 30 pounds by this time next year? Little-kid delighted, don?t you think?

Better yet?how would you FEEL if you could lose those pounds without measuring, counting, starving, sacrificing, sneaking, and guilting?

How would you feel if you could feel full and satisfied while the pounds just slipped away? And what if you could feel better too with fewer aches and pains and more energy?

My guess? Better than delighted?maybe close to ecstatic? Well, that?s how Linda Ramsey felt when she lost almost 60 pounds in a year.

Linda had been overweight since the birth of her daughter?thirty something years ago. She was tired of being tired, and she just wanted to feel better. She knew she was getting older, and she wanted a better life for herself.

After Linda and I put our heads together (mostly hers and a little bit mine), she lost close to 60 pounds in a year and the best part?she has kept it off now for over 21/2 years. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to gain weight back after you?ve worked so long and so hard to lose it?

To Linda?s thrill and relief, her husband also lost weight?close to 40 pounds?and kept it off and completely got off his high blood pressure medication.

Linda tells me that she has lots more energy, feels better, and the best part?she feels better about herself. Recently, she had a rather serious health problem, and she knows it would have been catastrophic if she had been carrying around 60 extra pounds.

Does Linda get bored eating this way? ?Not at all,? she says. ?There?s less fuss, less mess, and I?m full and satisfied; not deprived in the least.?

How could she feel deprived when she is slimmer and fitter than she has been in years, and so is her husband. Linda has made her dream come true?to create a better life for herself and her husband.

What?s your dream for your body and your weight? What dream-come-true will make you feel good about yourself?

Now, right now, is the time to discover your own personal dream for yourself and make your dream come true for your body, one simple, common sense bite at a time.

Dr. Leslie Van Romer is a motivational health speaker, writer and lifestyle coach. Visit Dr. Leslie at www.DrLeslieVanRomer.com for practical direction, hope and inspiration.

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Bodybuilding Protein

What helps make comedy also builds muscle?

This is key to getting the most out of your bodybuilding protein intake. There?s not much point in stuffing down that half chicken and protein shake?only to roll over and have a nap.

No, we need discipline here?and that means properly timed meals to give a little helping hand to the natural processes that are stimulated by intense exercise.

After a weight training session, your muscles will have been traumatised and at a microscopic level there will be tears and damage to the tiny fibres that make up each muscle. All this means that the real muscle building happens outside the gym!

The recovery stage begins immediately after exercise and is in full effect for around 24-48 hours afterward.

By timing your intake of nutrients to key ?windows? it is possible to radically increase the effectiveness of each exercise session on muscle growth.

Taking a combined bodybuilding protein and carbohydrate drink or meal straight after training has been shown to kick start several well known processes that result in anabolism (or muscle growth).

The ?window? of opportunity is open up to half an hour after exercise ?yes, its not a hard and fast rule?but the sooner the post work out meal is taken, the quicker the ?recovery? processes are assisted.

A typical post-workout meal would include 0.5 gram protein per kilo of bodyweight, taken together with perhaps a high carbohydrate drink with 1.5 gram carbohydrate per kilo bodyweight - containing maybe dextrose, maltodextrin or another high glycemic rated carbohydrate.

This might sound complicated, but its easily done?the protein is equivalent to that found in a small tin of tuna?for someone weighing 150Ib.

An easy way to meet these requirements is perhaps to use a meal replacement supplement as this will have both the bodybuilding protein and carbohydrates in the right proportions ? and can be taken easily with you to where you train.

Have you heard the saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day?...not for people who weight train?the results of a properly planned post workout meal are impressive?

You might already know that Growth Hormone release will be stimulated by this combination of nutrients taken after exercise?also, the higher insulin levels brought on by the carbs will stimulate the movement of glucose and amino acids into the cells to trigger the recovery process.

That's all for now.

Find out the truth behind the hype with http://www.top-bodybuilding-supplements.com With top articles on bodybuilding weightloss, bodybuilding protein, safe creatine use, unbiased bodybuilding supplement reviews and training tips.

This new resource, http://www.top-bodybuilding-supplements.com is also home to the top-bodybuilding-forums-blog. A unique way to keep up to date with developments in the world of bodybuilding and sports nutrition. Come and check it out today!

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What You Need to Know When Buying a Massage Table

Let me explain why these five things are the most important when shopping for a portable massage table. Price tends to be everyone's primary focus, and for good reason. In the world today, more and more people are becoming conscious of the growing issue of cost and its effect on our pocketbook.

Portable massage tables can be very expensive. In my research the lowest price I was able to find that had any type of quality to it was the Harmony 2 package designed by Earthlite. This package comes with an excellent 2-year warranty against any defects. The package itself contains a portable massage table, a one level adjustable headrest, and a protective case. The cost for this package is $299 with free shipping to anywhere within the continental United States.

For all professional massage therapists the client comfort is to be the number one consideration for any portable massage table. The added features are what can make the big difference in price between one model and another. The more foam within the table will give it a much a softer feel. However, the type of foam is just as important for determining long-term durability. For example, very soft foam will mean that it could contain a lot of air. Air will settle with continued use. Therefore, it is best to have foam that is more durable at the very top of the layers. When you add a fleece pad to your massage table, this is like adding one inch of foam and thus adds more comfort for your client.

When you are buying a portable massage table, you want to feel that it will last even under severe conditions. Most table manufacturers today use what is called the cable-lock system in their construction, this provides the needed strength to support the table even when a heavier person is using it, and when applying strong pressure or rocking techniques. Examine the warranty offered; the better models will carry a lifetime warranty against defects within the workmanship and materials. I suggest you look carefully at the various aspects of the construction of the table. Look at the type of wood used during construction, it should be a very sturdy type of wood, also consider the type of plywood used for the platform. I suggest looking at how the massage table is assembled as well, assuring full support no matter the circumstances.

Most of the tables are sold in the standard 30 width and wider. The width of the portable massage table you need will greatly depend on how you intend to use it. If you are primarily stationary and do not have the need to move very often, a 32 table will give more comfort to the client. However, this will also add more weight and bulk, making its portability less likely.

The final item to consider is weight. This is perhaps one of the most important factors when shopping for a portable massage table. This is another area in which the usage of the massage table comes in. If it is going to be used in one location with maybe an occasional house call, or if you intend on doing primarily house calls, where you need a lightweight table that you can carry around easily and will store in your car, the weight will vary.

Rory H. Hawkins writes about massage tables and other stimulating topics. For more information on buying a massage table visit us today.

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New Mesothelioma Treatment Research Shows Promise

New mesothelioma treatment research to determine if chemotherapy before surgery and radiation can prevent mesothelioma recurrence could provide a major step forward for the treatment of this rare cancer of the lining of the chest caused by exposure to asbestos.

This new mesothelioma treatment study is an attempt to build on previous clinical trials that have shown promise at M.D. Anderson which involved extra pleural pneumonectomy (EPP) surgery where the affected lung and lining of the chest are removed. This is followed by Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

What is really unique about this new mesothelioma treatment study is the fact that this is the first trial to investigate the use of chemotherapy before surgery and radiation.

Results Of Previous Trials Of This New Mesothelioma Treatment

Previous trials of this new mesothelioma treatment involving extrapleural pneumonectomy and IMRT was 90 per cent effective in preventing a local recurrence in patients. However about half the patients who underwent the trials got a recurrence in a different location. Quite often, this was the other lung or another part of the body.

Researchers into this new mesothelioma treatment add that chemotherapy before surgery and radiation usually reduce the possibility of the cancer spreading to another area away from the original site.

Visit the author's mesothelioma research blog for the latest mesothelioma research findings.

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Is Pasta Good For You?

Yes! IF it?s whole grain pasta cooked al dente (firm, not soft).

Whole grain al dente pasta causes a lower glycemic response than soft cooked refined white pasta. Lower glycemic foods are more slowly absorbed into the bloodstream and don?t create a quick blood sugar rise. This slower absorption helps protect against insulin resistance (a precursor of type 2 diabetes) and metabolic syndrome (a predictor of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease).

In one recent study, published in Diabetes Care, people who ate more whole grains had 37% less prevalence of metabolic syndrome than those who ate processed refined grains. They also had lower levels of protective HDL cholesterol, lower triglycerides, lower blood pressure and less risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Women who eat whole grains also weigh less. In a study, done at the Harvard Medical School and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, data collected on 74,000 nurses between the ages of 39 and 63 over a 12 year period showed that women who ate high-fiber, whole grain foods consistently weighed less than women who ate white bread and pasta.

When buying pasta and bread, read the label and make sure it says they?re 100% whole grain or sprouted grains. For example, wheat flour and enriched wheat flour is NOT whole wheat flour and, if it?s not whole grain, you?re simply not going to get the benefits.

So, when eating pasta, if you want to reach and maintain a healthy weight and protect yourself from adult onset type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, make sure you eat only whole grain pasta cooked al dente. And if you really want to be healthy, don?t add extra salt or oil to the water when cooking. It?s not necessary.

Moss Greene makes it easy for you to look and feel better. Visit her site at http://nutrition.bellaonline.com to learn the simple things you can do for yourself right now. Be sure to subscribe to her free newsletter - you don't want to miss a thing!

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Pediatric Advisor for Bad Breath in Infants

Is your child affected by bad breath? Distressed to find out that the breath of your child smells like hell? Want to ask for help? If your answer to these questions is affirmative, I bet you would be happy to know that you?ve got the right page. Yes, if your child is currently suffering from bad breath and you want a solution for it, I have mentioned below some of the most visited sites online where you can ask for help. These pediatric advisors actually present guides and information about bad breath in infants, so if you want to know more about infant bad breath, then I find no reason for you not to read on.

Children?s Physician Network

Also known as CPN, the Children?s Physician Network is actually an 11-country provider network that comprises over 200 primary care providers, over 500 speciality providers, and children?s hospital and clinics of Minnesota. They act as a online pediatric advisor for bad breath in infants with the aim to improve the health status of children and adolescents. Aside from that, they serve as a pediatric advisor for bad breath in infants as they wish to make people aware about bad breath and its underlying cause, including the possible treatments and cures for it. With their strong dedication to public service, it?s no wonder that the CPN has earned numerous awards in patient satisfaction and quality improvement.

My Pediatric Associates

My Pediatric Associates has been serving the public as a pediatric advisor for bad breath in infants since the year 1967. This pediatric advisor is actually a physician-owned pediatric practice that was built for one particular purpose ? to create and provide excellence in the field of medical care, particularly to infants, children and adolescents. And, as a pediatric advisor for bad breath in infants, My Pediatric Associates currently presents useful information and guides about bad breath, its causes, diagnosis, and treatments.

Hyde Park Pediatrics

Hyde Park Pediatrics is but another notable pediatric advisor for bad breath in infants that offers pediatric services online. This center is actually a part of the Affiliated Pediatric Practices and is run by caring professionals who arte committed and dedicated to providing the best pediatric care. According to some reviews, this pediatric advisor for bad breath in infants offers clinical expertise, a patient care that is highly personalized, and a pleasant environment for infants, children and adolescents. They even strive hard to meet such aims. Just like the other mentioned pediatric advisor for bad breath in infants, Hyde Park Pediatric offers highly informational guides for those who wish to know more about bad breath.

Several other groups are available out there on the web to give you some pediatric advises. If you want to find more of them, then be ready to invest extra effort and time in your search. That?s all that is needed.

Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of Bad Breath Blog. Visit now to find out all you wanted to know about Bad Breath, Gum Disease and other dental problems.

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High Blood Pressure: Beyond Diet and Exercise

We all know what blood pressure means and what high or low blood pressure portends. Well to set the records straight, the heart pumps blood that is circulated throughout the body by vessels called arteries and veins. The arteries take blood away from the heart to all parts of the body, while the veins return this circulated blood back to the heart. In these vessels, the force of flow of the blood generates what is regarded as blood pressure.

However, there are two types of blood pressures: systolic and diastolic. The pressure generated as the heart beats while pumping is known as the systolic, while the diastolic pressure is the pressure generated by blood returning to the heart through the veins. Thus, it is convenient to say that systolic pressure is the blood pressure in the arteries while diastolic is that in veins.

As with several similar conditions, a thousand factors are indicted in the onset and progression of high blood pressure. Inactivity and unhealthy diets have been the most highlighted risk factors. Most blood pressure medications and advice are always targeted at improving lifestyles such as increased activity and healthy dieting. Recently, however, physicians have discovered that beyond diet and exercise, your mood, emotions, anxieties, worries, fears and joy all contribute, largely, to the risk of high blood pressure. In short, a link seems to have been established between mental and cardiovascular health.

Mounting evidence points to the fact that chronic emotional states such as stress, anxiety, hostility, depression or childhood trauma and loneliness play very important roles in the cause of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. These factors are appearing to be as potent as or even stronger than the conventionally established cardiovascular risks, such as inactivity, smoking, diabetes etc. It is believed that emotional states affect behavior in several ways.

One of the explanations provided for the link observed between mental and cardiovascular health is that chronic emotional states, such as depression, fear or anxiety, stimulate the body's fight-or-flight mechanism. In response, the blood pressure and blood cholesterol shoots up. When this persists for a long time, chronic high blood pressure could result. Funnily enough, a Newsweek issue stated that the word 'angina' (name of one of the symptoms of high blood pressure) shares a common root with the word 'anger', that perhaps explains the correlation between emotions and high blood pressure more succinctly.

A clinical study carried out in the United States showed that emotions such as depression probably stimulate the production of certain inflammatory chemicals in the body which are known to cause damage to blood vessels. They explained that in hostile and depressed people, the body tends to produce and build up large volumes of stress hormones, stimulating the immune system to build up inflammation which in turn promotes heart disease at every stage - from high blood pressure to heart attack.

When you hear all the stories about diet and exercise being good for your heart, remember that what you can do to help your heart function healthily and effectively go beyond eating the right food, smoking cessation or regular exercise. A good outlook on life is almost as important. You won't have to go about with that sore face; a simple smile could help your heart. Doctors established a long time ago that happy and humorous people don't fall sick; they don't suffer high blood pressure and other debilitating ailments, just because they choose to be happy. You would agree that's not such a difficult decision to make. Decide to live a tension-free life today; your heart needs it.

------------------------------------------------------- Michael Russell Your Independent guide to High Blood Pressure -------------------------------------------------------

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Treadmills For Great Cardio

Treadmills machines are one of the best cardio vascular exercise machine and the most popular too. With the whole nation embracing the idea of fitness, treadmills machines are an essential part of the workout. They are easy, convenient to use, suit all budgets and can be used at home too. Therefore one doesn't necessarily have to visit he gym to stay fit. You can also operate the treadmills machine at any time of the day. Therefore it's an ideal way to lose the calories and stay in shape, especially for stay at home moms, busy executives, older people and even an athlete.

There are innumerable options that are available. There are manual treadmills machines as well as motorized or which need electricity to run. Of course the manual treadmills machine is convenient and can easily be folded away and kept. However these machines don't have many programs or resistance levels. Compared to that, motorized treadmills machines are more bulky, but these treadmills machines offer a variety of resistance levels, speeds and other functions. They are also more expensive. The options that are offered are a control panel, which shows the heart rate, the pulse rate, the speed as well as the number of the calories burnt on the treadmills machines.

There are also various inclines and speeds as well as programs that suit all age groups and types of workouts. Usually the more expensive treadmills machines will have more features. Treadmills machines start at $500 and can cost up to $3000. It's important that when you buy treadmills machines, you should have looked at many treadmill machines and their features as well as the cost factor. Therefore it's important to note the minimum and the maximum speeds of the treadmills machine, the incline levels as well as the type and the number of workouts that are provided. Check for the warranty period of the machine as well as the parts of the machine. This will ensure that the treadmills machines that you purchase gives you the optimum workout.

If you enjoyed this article check out this list of treadmills machines related articles and here you'll find our most recently added treadmills machines articles for your reading.

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8 Simple Steps for Treating Adult Acne

The number people over 30 needing acne treatments has climbed to the extent that a report published in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology recommends raising the age for insurance coverage of the acne drug tretinoin to at least 40. The authors of the report, Drs. Steven Feldman and Alan Fleischer, dermatologists at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, add that many insurance companies refuse to pay for tretinoin prescriptions for patients older than 25.

Even if your insurance company leaves you to fend for yourself, you still have options for freeing yourself from acne and wrinkles. At first, coping with acne and wrinkles may seem like a cosmetic catch 22. Do you dry your skin with acne cleansers containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, and worsen your wrinkles? Or, do you smear on the moisturizer to smooth the wrinkles, but cope with the zits brought on by the extra oil?

Before you get frantic, ask yourself a series of questions. Adult acne may be the result of hormonal flunctuations triggers by diet, stress or your environment.

1. Are you regular?

About 70% of your immune system is located in your intestines. If this area is blocked with waste, your immuno-defenses are down. So, instead of waste leaving your body via the rectum, it chooses to leave through the skin. Waste leaving the skin can cause an infection that presents itself as acne.

2. Are you tense?

Tension likewise reduces the vigor of the immune system. Take a few deep breaths throughout the day to calm your body. Take a long walk in the fresh air to wind down.

3. Are you eating all the nutrients you need?

Cases of acne have been improved with consuming foods containing zinc, essential fatty acids, vitamin A and a host of other nutrients. All of these vital nutrients are available in leafy green vegetables, fruits and olive oil.

4. Are you constantly thinking about a personal issue that you have not addressed?

Not resolving personal issues creates conflict and tension in the body. Again, these issues most be addressed to avoid undue stress within the body.

5. Are you exercising everyday?

Exercise reduces stress and gives you an opportunity to subconsciously contemplate challenges that you may be facing. Physical activity also keeps your muscles and intestines toned, which keeps encourages regularity.

6. Are you changing your pillowcase frequently?

Using a dirty pillowcase aggravates an acne condition. Your face naturally secretes oils during the night. These oils are sticky. So if you pillowcase if dirty, you are allowing your face to collect extra waste during the night, which could further clog your pores.

7. Have you moved recently or are you changing your job/career?

New demands or feelings of lose can sometimes accompany change. Transfer these emotions into something constructive by writing in a journal or envisioning how these changes are going to benefit you. Find comfort in these changes and opportunities for new beginnings.

8. (Women) Do you also experience excessive facial hair growth and erratic periods?

Conditions such as acne, excessive facial hair, and erratic periods could indicate an androgen disorder or other underlying hormonal imbalances. Your doctor can provide you with a series of endocrine tests to ascertain your hormone levels and what corrective actions you should take. Ricardo Azziz, M.D, who serves as Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Director of the Center for Androgen-Related Disorders at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, estimates that 80 percent of women with excessive androgen levels suffer from an endocrine disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Dr. Azziz adds that women with PCOS often have insulin resistance and are at increased risk for developing Type II diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

Health author and Stanford University graduate Naweko San-Joyz lovingly writes from her home in San Diego. Her works include ?Acne Messages: Crack the code of your zits and say goodbye to acne? (ISBN: 0974912204) and the upcoming work ?Skinny Fat Chicks, Why we?re still not getting this dieting thing? (ISBN: 0974912212) for release in June of 2005. For useful acne self-help articles visit http://www.Noixia.com

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AntiAging Skin Care

Age brings wisdom, but it also brings wrinkles. Therefore, beauty salons, spas, and plastic surgeons offer a variety of anti-aging skin treatments that claim to reduce if not eradicate wrinkles and rejuvenate skin.

With age, skin loses elasticity and essential moisture, resulting in fine lines and wrinkles, dryness, and roughness. Pigmentation and puffy eyes are other common problems. In addition, premature aging is a threat that many individuals encounter. Although most skin care products and treatments focus on the face, the neck, arms, and legs should not be ignored.

Skin ages prematurely due to both internal and external factors. Internal factors include poor nutrition, lack of sleep or inadequate sleep, and stress. The most significant external cause is overexposure to sunlight, which damages the skin, making it dry and coarse. Improper beauty regimens or no skin care at all can also result in premature aging of the skin. Certain prescription drugs also have a similar effect.

External damage to skin can be prevented to a large extent by applying a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher when one goes out during the day. A proper skin care regimen based on products that suit individual skin type should also be followed. All skin types benefit from regular cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. Periodic exfoliation helps to remove dead cells and dirt and refreshes skin. A mask made of raw egg yolk, olive oil, and a few drops of rosewater can rejuvenate aging skin. Cucumber and cabbage juice when applied on the skin are supposed to have anti-wrinkle effects. Masks and juices should be applied both on the face and the neck. Puffy eyes can usually be cured by getting adequate sleep and using a good outer eye cream. Arms and legs should be massaged regularly, with olive or almond oil or yogurt before bathing. After bathing, a moisturizing body lotion should be applied.

A wholesome diet that includes low-fat dairy products, fresh salads without trimmings, whole wheat bread, cereals, strawberries, peaches, carrots, fish, and a little olive oil can combat age-related skin problems. Proper diet can also reduce the need for taking medicines. Furthermore, regular exercise and massage help to tone body and facial muscles, while drinking at least eight glasses of water every day can keep the system hydrated. Meditation or yoga can help in dealing with stress.

To conclude, factors like proper beauty regimen and a healthy body and mind can prevent premature aging. However, aging itself is a natural process and these factors can help individuals to age gracefully.

Skin Care provides detailed information on Skin Care, Skin Care Products, Natural Skin Care, Anti Aging Skin Care and more. Skin Care is affiliated with Natural Skin Care Products.

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Acne and Water

Water can be considered the most essential element for life and functioning of the human body. The body is made up of roughly 70% - 75% water while the cells consist of 65-90% water by weight.

Most people simply do not get enough of this vital liquid. As a general rule, 6-8 glasses of water a day should be consumed and more if you are involved very physically during the day from work or exercise.

If you really want to feel the beneficial effects of water you should drink half your body weight in ounces daily as stated in one of many water cures. If for example you weight 150 Lbs, you would drink 75 ounces of water a day. An average glass is around 8 ounces, so you would need to drink roughly 9-10 glasses of water a day.

To avoid upsetting your bodies electrolyte balance by consuming large amounts of water, you can add 1/4 of a tsp. of sea salt to every quart of water you drink. Be sure to use unprocessed sea salt that contain most minerals and not regular table salt.

Some of the biggest water-depleters are coffee, alcohol, soft drinks. Some water is lost through breathing and water is lost from exercise, depending on the intensity of the workout.

Without water, the bodies cells begin to dehydrate and impairs their ability to function properly. They are unable to remove metabolic waste efficiently and begin to accumulate toxins which can cause pores in the skin to become clogged and cause acne.

Other than the cells, your kidneys and liver require adequate water for proper waste elimination. When you drink enough water, toxins can be flushed through these elimination channels and not through the pores of the skin.

Another function of the liver is to eliminate excess hormones from the body. When the kidneys are overloaded, they require the liver to deal with excess toxins. Excess hormones, especially androgens cause the sebaceous glands to produce too much sebum (skin oil) which is another cause of acne.

When the body doesn't have enough water for it's many functions, it tries to conserve water which is known as water retention. Water retention puts pressure on the skin cells also causing the pores to become blocked. This also is another major cause of acne.

Processed salt is another chemical that causes water retention. To eliminate salt from the body you need a good suply of clean water.

between them, toxins, water retention and excess hormones are considered the 3 biggest causes of acne and all can be reversed with adequate water consumption.

Apart from helping to clear your acne, when you give your body the water it needs you may find many other ailments start to dissapear like cellulite, excess weight, headaches, pains and so many others it would be impossible to list them all here.

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To effectively treat your acne, you need to fix the problems in your body that are causing your acne. Acuzine is a great product that attacks the main, internal causes of acne.

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Natural Skin Care Tips: 10 Skin Care Tips Women Must Know (Part 1)

Right eating habits and the right natural care can do wonders for your looks and health. Here are some precious natural skin care tips which will make your skin glow round the clock.

1) Glowing Facial Mask: Having a tough time keeping your skin glowing? Well, here is an easy way to keep the radiance on your face intact. All you need is: a tbsp fuller's earth. 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp mashed papaya. Mix all these ingredients and put on face for 20 minutes then rinse off.

2) Gentle facial cleanser: Take a 1/2 cup of oatmeal or cornmeal and plain yoghurt (add enough yoghurt to form a paste). For a gentle facial cleanser, mix the ingredients, smooth over the entire face avoiding eye area. Wash off with warm water. Oatmeal is highly absorptive, hypoallergenic, and helps to soften skin. Oats have the best amino acid balance of all the cereal grains (amino acids work as water-binding agents in skin care products). Oats have also been clinically shown to help heal dry, itchy skin.

3) Hair Spray: Chop one lemon(or an orange for dry hair). Place in a pot with two cups water. Boil until half of the initial amount remains. Cool, strain, and place in a spray bottle. Store in refrigerator. If it is too sticky, add more water. Add one ounce of alcohol as a preservative and thenthe spray can be stored for up to two weeks unrefrigerated.

4) Hair Cocktail:

. For instant shine: Lightly beat two eggs mixed with some milk and run throuigh your hair. Leave on for five minutes, rinse and you will see a shine instantly.

. For Dandruff: Dissolve two aspirins in your dandruff shampoo and watch how it clears up. Use a good moisturizing conditioner afterward.

. For greasy hair: Use face powder. Put a little at the root of your hair before straying. If it is a serious problem, put the powder on heavily for 15 minutes wash completely, condition lightly, and style.

. Sweet shine: Honey applied in a small amount while washing the hair will give you a great shine.

5) Blackheads removal: Combine one fourth cup boiling water with one teaspoon of Epsom salt and three drops of Iodine. Let mixture cool until it's comfortable to the touch. Saturate a cotton ball with this mixture and dab on blackheads. This will allow the black heads to loosen so they can be easily squeezed with a gauze pad. Remember to apply a moisturiser soon after.

Hungry for more? Look out for more such natural skin care tips which can do wonders to your skin at http://www.weightloss-health.com/skin%20care%20treatment%20tips.htm

Ashley Green: for http://weightloss-health.com/ your complete and most comprehensive family guide on Health.

Also get more informative skin care tips and anti-aging tips and treatment at Anti Aging Skin Care(Tips) Treatment and Products

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Ignite Your Body's Natural Healing Mechanism

The human body is exceptionally good and self repair and does a pretty good job of it, but this all depends on what you are feeding your body and if you are doing it correctly. We all know that a car run on dirty fuel and poor quality oil wont run as well as a car running on quality fuel and good oil.

So how is our body any different? It?s not?.

Just recently I dislocated my left shoulder for the 3rd time and as a result was left incapacitated in my gym workouts. My specialist told me it would be about 4 weeks to a full recovery.

Boy was he wrong, I made a full recovery in just a little over 2 weeks and I will let you in on my dirty little secret that has enabled my body to repair at maximum efficiency.

It is not rocket science and not even complicated, chances are you have probably already seen these vitamin supplements around.

So what are they?

Anti-oxidants
HMB (beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate)
And BCAA?s (branched chain amino acids)

These three supplements work fantastically together in the body to help your body?s natural ability to repair injuries.

When your body becomes injured it goes into hyper-drive and starts shuttling all available nutrients in the body to the area effected to start cell and tissue repair. By supplementing with the three supplements above you can dramatically increase your body?s natural ability by providing ample nutrients, preventing muscle breakdown and aiding in protein synthesis.

HMB alone has been shown to increase the body?s ability to repair tissue damage by a whopping 47% taking only 3grams per day. Combined with the powerful properties of an anti-oxidant and the tissue and ligament repairing aspects of BCAA?s and you have yourself a real winner.

So next time if you are due for surgery or injure yourself in some way then try taking a look at the supplements above and you could very well be on the road to much faster level of recovery

Copyright 2005 Marc Lindsay

Marc Lindsay runs and owns a website devoted to Natural Vitamin Supplements and the benfits that herbal, nutritional and vitamin supplements will provide for your long term health. For information on visit: http://www.vitamins-herbs-nutrition.com

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How to Recognize the Symptoms of Ringworm

Ringworm is a fungal infection of the body skin, scalp, or nails. The disease occurs due to infection with dermatophytes, a type of fungal organisms that commonly populate the soil and are very widespread in nature. Also referred to as tinea, ringworm is very contagious and it can be acquired by anyone. The disease mostly occurs in children and in people that constantly interact with animals. The fungal elements responsible for causing ringworm can be contracted directly, by skin contact with contaminated people or animals, or indirectly, by entering in contact with contaminated objects. Ringworm is commonly acquired from cats or dogs, as these animals are often carriers of dermatophytes. Good personal hygiene is crucial in the prevention of ringworm and it is also advised not to use other people?s personal items. If you have a cat or a dog, pay regular visits to the vet?s in order to make sure that your pet isn?t infected with dermatophytes.

The first symptoms of ringworm of the scalp usually appear in about 10-14 days from contamination, while the symptoms of ringworm on other body regions may appear a little earlier. The disease is mainly diagnosed upon the patients? reports of symptoms and upon close physical examination. Considering the fact that the symptoms of ringworm don?t always point to infection with dermatophytes, doctors usually take a sample of the patients? affected skin for laboratory analysis. In the initial stages of the infection, the symptoms of ringworm are not intense and they may not be suggestive for contamination with fungal organisms. Therefore, the best means of diagnosing the disease is to carefully analyze skin samples taken from the patients? affected regions of the body.

General symptoms of ringworm are: skin inflammation, rash, reddish aspect of the skin, small blisters on the skin, itching and soreness. The skin infection spreads in circular patches with prominent margins, giving the inflamed skin a ring-like aspect. The edges of the affected skin are usually more affected by the infection and they are sometimes covered with a crust. As the infection progresses towards other areas of the skin, the central regions of the inflamed patches begin to heal.

When the infection affects the scalp, the symptoms of ringworm are: small bumps, yellowish aspect of the affected areas on the scalp, exfoliation, temporary hair loss. If the fungal infection occurs in the regions of the feet, the symptoms of ringworm are: dry, cracked skin, scaling and thickening of the skin. When the disease affects the nails, the symptoms of ringworm are: nail deterioration, thickening, yellowish aspect of the nails. When the infection is localized on the face, the symptoms of ringworm are: red spots on the skin, swelling, inflammation and exfoliation.

It is best to timely discover the symptoms of ringworm, in order to prevent the spreading of the infection and the occurrence of complications. Also, if the disease is discovered and treated in time, the fungal infection will not be transmitted to other people. It is advised to see a dermatologist as soon as you have the first symptoms of ringworm.

So, if you want to find out more about ringworm symptoms or even about ringworm medication, please click this website www.ringworm-center.com

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Blood Clots: What You Need to Know

You are supposed to form clots only to protect you from bleeding, but any trauma or inflammation in your body can cause clots to form in blood vessels. If a clot breaks off from a blood vessel wall, it can block arteries to cause a heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism.

Clots can form wherever your body responds to injury or infection. When germs get into your body, they release chemicals that cause inflammation characterized by redness, itching, swelling, heat and clotting. Certain cells in your body, such as white blood cells and fat cells, also release chemicals that produce inflammation. Anything that damages tissue can cause inflammation, such as trauma, burns, frostbite, irritants such as corrosive chemicals, ultraviolet or other ionizing radiation, dying tissue from any cause such as lack of oxygen in a heart attack, obesity, periodontal disease, smoking, excessive alcohol, gastroesophageal reflux or allergic reactions.

Other factors that can lead to increased risk for clotting include genetic diseases such as Lp(a), dehydration, or physical blockage of arteries that can be caused by sitting in one position for a long time. Any clot has the potential to break off and cause damage, but you lessen your risk of blockage problems if your arteries are pliable and not already partially blocked with plaques.

You may remember when NBC reporter David Bloom died suddenly while he was covering the war in Iraq, from a pulmonary embolism. A clot that formed in his leg broke lose from the vein, and traveled in his bloodstream to his lungs where it blocked the flow of blood to his lungs. He had a pulmonary embolism, a deadly consequence of ?Economy Class Syndrome.? When a person sits in a small space for a long time without moving, the knees are bent, which slows the flow of blood through the veins in the back of the legs, so that a clot can form in the deep veins of the calf muscles. David Bloom had been traveling in a vehicle whose interior was designed for safety, not comfort. He had reportedly been complaining of pains in his legs, a classic warning for a blood clot, or thromboembolism. The desert heat also caused dehydration, which thickens the blood and increases risk for clots.

Embolisms of the kind that killed Bloom are responsible for an estimated 60,000 deaths in the United States each year. The underlying cause that makes people susceptible has been a mystery, but many experts believe that there is a genetic susceptibility to forming clots. Italian researcher Dr. Paolo Prandoni reports that clotting is linked to arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries that leads to heart attack and stroke. Prandoni and his colleagues performed ultrasound examinations to take pictures of the carotid artery, leading to the brain, in 299 patients with deep venous clots of the legs and 150 healthy people. He found twice as many plaques, the fatty deposits of atherosclerosis in the arteries of people who had suffered clots as people who were healthy.

Read my Good Food Book FREE, with 100 healthful recipes. Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com Free weekly newsletter on fitness, health, and nutrition.

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Relaxation Secrets

In our modern day and age, stress has reached an all-time high level. In order to combat stress, many people try to find solace in drinking, smoking or using drugs. However, all these measures only work counteractive. Because you feel slightly more relaxed than before, you think that it actually works. But the opposite is true. These substances change our brain chemistry and make us addicted. In fact, we become more stressed and need to have our fix in order to feel slightly more relaxed again. If you do not want to go into therapy, you can try the following exercises.

There are many ways to relax easily with a minimum of time and effort. A very well known method is the muscle-relaxation method. This is something you can do just about anywhere at any time, but the best way to learn is to sit in a comfortable chair and do the following:

1. Breath in deeply through your nose. Feel your tummy fill up. Hold it ... and breath out slowly. Hold it .... and breath in again. Try to count to 8 when you breath in and when you breath out. Do this for about 1 minute until you feel a bit more relaxed.

2. Keep on breathing in this fashion. Now tense all the muscles in your left leg when you breath in. Hold it ... and relax all these muscles when you breath out. Hold it .... and breath in again but this time only THINK about how it felt to tense all the muscles in your left leg. Hold it ... and breath out and relax all the muscles in your left leg completely. Feel your leg get very heavy.

3. Do the same with the right leg, the left arm, the right arm, your torso and your head.

4. Finally, you tense all the muscles in your entire body from top to toe when you breath in. Hold it again and let go when you breath out. Do this one more time in though and feel your whole body go very heavy and relaxed.

This exercise will help you to feel more relaxed and be better able to deal with stress and depression.

Another way of dealing with relaxation which takes a bit more work is meditation. It takes a little while to get the hang of it and get the benefits but it is well worth the effort. Most forms of meditation have to do with concentration. They teach you to concentrate on a candle or other object or a mantra. However, the form I would recommend teaches you to concentrate on the breath. Here are the steps:

1. Sit in a comfortable position. Most Western people cannot sit in lotus position so do not worry about this. A comfortable chair with a straight back is just fine.

2. Close your eyes and breath through your nose. This is not an exercise to regulate your breathing so just observe it when you breath naturally.

3. While breathing naturally, which can be hard, soft, fast, slow or anything else, try to feel the touch of your breath inside your nostrils. Feel the cold air inside your nostrils go in and the warmer air go out.

4. In the beginning you will find that your thoughts go all over the place. One minute you are observing your breath, the next you are thinking about your shopping, the argument you had, what you want to say to another person, etc. Do not get upset by this, it is normal. When you notice that your thoughts have wandered off, just bring it back to your breath. It will take a long time before you can keep your concentration on your breath for some time, but in the mean time you will slowly start to notice that you get more relaxed.

5. A next step could be to go on to a more difficult form of meditation called Vipassana meditation.

I personally found meditation a very rewarding practise and it has changed my life. I am very relaxed now and only get the occasional bouts of stress.

There are also many other methods, products and tapes on the market. Relaxation can also be very rewarding in other fields. Lucid dreaming for instance can only be done when you are very relaxed. Although courses and products are not sold with relaxation in mind, they certainly have this very pleasant ?side effect?. Also check out the sites for Remote Viewing and Light and Sound machines if you are interested in pursuing this path.

Just remember that you do not have to be stressed out. Relaxation, like anything else, is a choice. We can at any time in our lives choose to take another job, leave our spouse or anything else that gives us stress. You can either take more time for yourself and learn to relax or change your life. All that is keeping you from doing this is just fear ......

Smoking is one of the main causes of stress and I would like to urge everybody who smokes to try to stop. No matter what anybody says, it is never easy for yourself and for the people you live with. But it is a lot easier than the hell you will have to go through for the rest of your life if you don?t!

Margret owns blogs on anxiety depression.

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Need Happy Feet? Give Them a Pedicure!

It's been a hard day and your feet are tired. How about giving them a pedicure? We all want healthy happy feet and to get them we need to start by giving ourselves a professional pedicure but in the comforted of your home. Your feet will feel good and so will you.

Start off by filling a large basin with warm water for a long foot soak. Add some rosewater or essential oils for a true deep relaxation as well as soften calluses and corns. The more cracked & calloused your feet, the longer they need to stay in.

Remove the any old polish from your toe nails. Clean under the toenail and then clip. It's best to use high quality clippers made for clipping toenails. To avoid ingrown nails, cut nail straight across, leaving about 1/8 of length. Make sure your nail doesn't extend over the tip of your toe.

To get a soft square shape, file nail around the corners slightly using a emery board in one direction. Don't use metal files, they'll rip your nails if you're not really careful. Basic emery boards are best for smoothing away any tears or breaks.

Emory boards usually come with two sides, the fine-grade surface is for smoothing the nail edge, while the coarser surface is for shortening and shaping nails.

Rub cuticle remover to the base of each nail & rub it in. Leave on for a minute, then use an orangewood stick to gently push with a circular motion everywhere where skin meets the nail (including the sides). If you want to trim cuticles, do so carefully and sparingly with special cuticles trimmers. It is just safer for your toes.

Using a skin file or loofah, remove dead skin from soles of feet, zeroing in on heels and balls of feet. Pumice stone also can remove calluses and dry spots. You'll want to scrub the balls, bottoms & sides of your heels & around the toes.

Massage an exfoliating cream into the skin, rubbing it all the way up the calves. Rinse off, and dry feet thoroughly including between the toes and then apply a moisturizing lotion especially made for feet. Try a lotion with peppermint because there is something in peppermint that is wonderful for feet.
Re-hydrate cuticles by rubbing in a dab of cuticle oil. Wait two to three minutes.
If you are going to polish your toes then use acetone-free remover to get rid of any excess oils on the nails (including the cuticle oil you just applied). This is just to make sure that the polish will stay on.

Apply a base coat to fortify and protect the nails using three strokes, one down the middle, then one on each side. Try not to get paint on the cuticle. Wait a minute before adding two coats of your favorite polish, then finish with a clear protective top coat. Clean up any errors with an orangewood stick wrapped in cotton & dipped in acetone-free remover.

Let nails dry for at least forty minutes.
You have now just gave yourself a professional pedicure at home and think of all that money you just saved! If you get real good and comfortable with doing it then why not get your girlfriends together and have a girl party doing each other toes and nails? If you need supplies then check out your favorite website for all of your nail/toe needs.

Have fun and be more experimental with the colors you can painted on your toes.Try a little nail art in bright and unusual colors not brave enough to have on your fingernails, can be real fun to have on your toes!

Just remember one thing, if you don't time for a pedicure at least remove the old polish completely rather than walk around with chipped polish,it just looks better.

Copyright 2005 Kim Snyder Owner Overallbeauty.com where the ideal is that there is beauty in everything. In the use of and as well to help heal your mind with words. Visit Overallbeauty.com/beauty-blog For up to date news in the makeup.
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Acne Prevention Tips Maintaining the Skin You Deserve

Acne is an embarrassing and upsetting condition, and long-terms sufferers of the skin condition look forward to the day they find their own acne solution, perhaps courtesy of a few well placed acne prevention tips . There are a multitude of products available to help in clearing up the condition, but information on keeping it at bay can be more difficult to locate. Here are some acne prevention tips to help you keep the clear skin you have worked so hard to obtain.

For former acne sufferers whose skin has cleared, the urge can be to begin trying all kinds of new skin products that were previously unsuitable for your afflicted skin. But one of the most valuable acne prevention tips you will hear is this ? resist this urge at all costs. While medicated products might now be overly harsh on your healed skin, it is wise to continue using familiar products: after all, these products were your acne solution in the first place. Your skin will still be quite sensitive, so help keep it clear by using mild products ? you might try a non-medicated cleanser in the same line of products.

Another useful acne prevention tip is to treat your clear skin with the same sensitivity that you did your pimpled skin. Unfortunately, skin that is prone to acne can suffer problems later, and the best way to keep pimples at bay is to be as gentle and as nurturing as your skin as you were when trying to solve your acne problem. Be careful with the makeup products you use, select items that will not clog your pores, leaving you prone to spots.

Most former acne sufferers have a greater respect for their clear skin than those who have been naturally blessed with it, so use this respect to your advantage. Avoid toxins that might compromise the health of your skin, and continue to stay away from the products and foods that caused breakouts while you were hunting for your acne solution. The foods you ingest might not have a direct impact on your acne, but maintaining a healthy body is one of the best acne prevention tips around. A well-nourished body has the best tools to help keep your skin as clear as possible.

They say that prevention is better than cure, so eat well, avoid stress, and stick to a simple, gentle cleansing routine, and hopefully you won?t need that acne solution again.

A few well placed acne prevention tips can be worth their weight in gold.

Find out more about Acne Skin Care Products as well as Home Treatment for Acne and Adult Acne, the Best Acne Treatments and more at Peter?s website, Acne All Gone.

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Fight Aging

Developing an anti-aging program is the newest scientific approach to helping you live a longer, healthier and more active life. Some of the greatest benefits include improved mental and cognitive funtion, stronger cardiovascular system, increased lean body mass and decreased body fat, improve sexual function, fewer wrinkles, thicker skin and better skin tone. The main components of anti-aging to include in your program are:Optimal nutrition, proper skincare, regular excercise, hormone replacement therapy, and lifestyle behavioral changes such as smoke, stress management, and reduced alcohol asumption.

Excercise is the simplest and least expensive anti-aging tool. You can work with a personal trainer, and better yet, participation in a regular fitness program will provide you needed exercise benefits. Be sure to check with your physician before beginning any rigorous exercise program.

If your body is armed with the ammunition to defend itself, your body will have stronger immunity and reduced disease, and you'll find yourself seeking medical attention less frequently. Through the synergistic action of all these components, anti-aging scientists have observed a significant change and even reversal of some aging effects. Now it's your turn to observe these changes in your skin and body. Discuss additional options for addressing changes to your skin with your skincare professional professional.

Mina Dimakis-Lev
http://www.BeautyImagebyMina.com

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Martial Arts Wisdom for Alzheimer's Caregivers: Rolling with Life's Punches

Learn to Roll with Life's Punches and Bounce Back

What can the martial arts teach Alzheimer's family caregivers? Plenty. One powerful lesson comes from Aikido, a powerful, ethical,dynamic and beautiful martial art. Aikido means: The Way of Harmonizing Energy. Aikido practitioners learn to blend and steer an opponent's force to safely control a situation. In the process of training we learn a lot about ourselves as well.

One thing that we learn in Aikido is ukemi (pronounced ooh-keh-mee) training. Ukemi is the art of falling down safely. It is important to learn how to fall in this martial art, so that you don't get hurt when you are thrown. Basically, injury to yourself is not the result of being thrown hard, it's the effect of falling poorly. Knowing how to fall well is essential for those times when you are thrown. You can spend a lifetime perfecting this skill. And you might as well. Take it from me: Gravity Always Wins.

In everyday life, when we fall down, we automatically tighten up our bodies, and increase the risk of injury. In ukemi trraining, we learn to gradually relax and let go of tension, even as we fall. This training leads to much softer impact, and a much happier Aikido-ist. Falling begins to feel more like floating, and less like crashing.

Now, am I sugesting that you drop everything and go enroll in Aikido classes? Of course not! But you can adopt the philosophy of falling well. What is the lesson of ukemi training for life? Putting aside the martial arts reasons for training, IN LIFE WE CONSTANTLY FALL DOWN! And caregiving is a continual challenge filled with even more sudden throws, and many expected and unexpected falls.

So we need to learn to fall with grace.

Think about it. If a person is bound and determined to never ever waver, to never try a different approach, what will happen when she hits an obstacle? What will happen when her usual approach to caregiving isn't working right? Any Alzheimer's caregiver knows that mistakes, challenges, and frustrations are inevitable.

And you know what makes that simple setback worse? It's that good old human tendency to get upset because you made a mistake. We are expert at tormenting ourselves by getting distressed, angry anxious, nervous, worried, or whatever- just because we ran into a frustration. That's the way in which we tighten up emotionally as we fall. And we know what pain that can lead to. Sound familiar?

So, how can we roll with caregiving's punches?

1. Expect to fall, to be frustrated at times. It is inevitable in life, and even more unavoidable for a caregiver.

2. Perfect your own personal emotional ukemi training. Stubbornly refuse to torture yourself about your mistake. Learn to relax when you are frustrated.

3. Find ways to remind yourself that it's OK to make mistakes, and that the important thing is to relax, get your balance, and get back up. You could make a sign that says something like Relax, or Balance, and hang it where you can see it. make more than one.

4. Don't ignore your signs once they are up. When you pass your sign, stop a minute, and rehearse its message. That's the way advertising works.

5. Get in the habit of rewarding yourself not for being perfect, and not just when things are going along smoothly. Instead, celebrate that you got back up to try again.

6. If you are comfortable, try sharing this radical philosophy with others.

7. Remember: it's not the mistake that stops you. It's your decision to stop that stops you.

8. Finally, keep in mind a wise old Buddhist saying:

if you fall down seven times, get up eight times.

I trained for years with a very remarkable person who was also a caregiver. When I would see him and ask how he was doing, he'd smile and say, I'm still taking ukemi. And then we'd train. I wish you good ukemi!

Alzheimer?s Family Caregiver Support is a series of articles to help empower someone who cares for a person with Alzheimer?s disease. The material in this article is educational, and is not a substitute for professional advice.

Copyright 2006 Mark Matloff

With more than 28 years of professional experience, Mark Matloff, Ph.D. brings his skills and passion to helping people and agencies improve and thrive. Since his graduate research in gerontology, he has worked with Alzheimer's caregivers, the elderly, and a variety of caregiving agencies, in addition to his general adult outpatient private practice. He is a private practicing psychologist, author, speaker, consultant, and coach. When he is not at work, he studies Aikido at Aikido of Central New York, where he is a second-degree black belt and assistant instructor. His recent book, Strength in Caring: Giving Power Back to the Alzheimer's Caregiver, is a resource for family members caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease. You can subscribe to his free newsletter for Alzheimer's caregivers by sending a blank email to caregiverhelp@aweber.com You can learn more about his book at http://www.Strengthincaring.com

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Beauty Spectacle And Controversy

By the time you read this, the 2006 World Cup will be well underway, and whether you?re a fan of the beautiful game or not, it can?t have escaped your attention that footballing injuries have been very much on the agenda of late. However, as our lead story explains, the relationship between football and injury risk is far more complicated than the media would have you believe! Meanwhile, another great sporting spectacle, the Tour de France, is just about to begin. But in the latest Sports Performance Bulletin, research indicates that when it comes to strength training, what works for the cycling pros may not help aspiring amateurs and club cyclists, our What The Papers Say section has come up with some fascinating research findings for sportsmen and women.

Footballing injuries ? are they really on the rise?

Football is a highly athletic sport with rapid deceleration, acceleration, single stance twists, single stance ballistic movements and aerobatic manoeuvres. This may explain why the overall level of injury to a professional footballer is around 1000 times higher than in industrial occupations generally regarded as high risk! Just 10 days before the start of the tournament, the sporting headlines were full of footballing injury stories. But is the apparently growing incidence of footballing injury a reality or just media hype? Ex-Tottenham Hotspur FC physiotherapist TJ Salih puts the sport under the microscope in order to separate fact from fiction. Among the issues he discusses are: The actual evidence for an apparent rise in footballing injuries;The causes and effects of foot and spine injuries in football;A detailed description of metatarsal injury;The role of footwear, pitch surfaces and season length in footballing injuries. TJ also outlines some important injury prevention strategies, such as warm ups, muscle and joint mobilisation, and proper football, which are adopted by pro-footballers, which are equally applicable to those playing at amateur level.

Strength training for cyclists ? is it a help or hindrance?

Strength training is common practice in elite sport; most athletes and their coaches know that improved strength, power or muscular endurance is likely to lead to improved performance in competition. And the consensus is that if it helps those in the upper echelons of the sporting world, it must help the rest of us. However, according to James Marshall, recent evidence suggests that except for those at the very top of their sport, the same may not always be true for cyclists. In particular, James? article sets out to answer two questions; 1) Is strength training relevant for the beginner cyclist? 2) How does strength training affect performance in elite sprint cycling and road racing? The article starts by discussing the evidence for the benefits or otherwise of strength training for novice cyclists and then comparing this with the benefits for those training and competing at club level. There?s also a detailed description of five postural exercises that are known to be beneficial for those spending extended periods in the saddle. For more advanced level cyclists, James looks at the pros and cons of resistance training, and explains how certain types of resistance training regimes may help increase lactate tolerance via a phenomenon know as ?peripheral adaptation?. There?s also some fascinating research on ?explosive leg training? and a suggested protocol that has been shown to boost 1km and 4km cycling power outputs.

What the papers say -

Compression tights and exercise -

French researchers have compared the effects of compression tights, elastic tights and ordinary shorts on the energy costs of submaximal running. The results are extremely intriguing; not only were there significant differences in performance, but the researchers also put forward possible explanations such as supporting more of the active muscles, aiding muscle pumping action, and increasing muscle co-ordination.

Pre-cooling and sport performance -

Cooling the body before exercise is thought to help athletes by delaying the increase in core temperature that tends to limit performance. Conversely, exercising muscles are thought to work better if they are warmed up beforehand. If you combine these theories, it is reasonable to assume that the best preparation for exercise in warm, humid climates would be to warm the muscles that are going to be used and cool the rest of the body. But new research by Dutch scientists on racing cyclists, simulating the conditions expected in Beijing at the 2008 Olympic games, seems to throw this theory into confusion as although results ahowed heart rate, temperature and sweat rates were lower after pre cooling, heat balance and gross efficacy or exercise were not greatly effected.

Tennis and shoulder disease -

Tennis is demanding on the shoulder, especially when performing dynamic, repeated overhead shots. But do these extreme demands place the shoulder at long-term risk? Argentinean researchers have conducted research which supports this theory.

Sarah Taylor brings this article from Sports Performance Bulletin, the free weekly bulletin with the latest news and developments from the world of sports science delivered straight to your inbox. Sports Performance Bulletin covers all aspects of the sports science spectrum, from fitness, strength and speed training, to injury and nutrition advice, and the information is from some of the most prolific memebers of the industry. To find out more about Sports Performance Bulletin visit: http://www.pponline.co.uk/spbezine.html

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Do You Want Curls With That?: The History of Hair Perm Treatment and How It Works

Hair treatments have been used all through out history by women and men alike to enhance their appearances. Once of the most famous hair treatment that is still used up until today is the perm treatment.

When a perm treatment is done on a person?s hair, curls are created in the hair shaft. These curls appear as a result of the alteration of the hair?s chemical structure.

Due to the use of chemical treatments, the curls made from a perm treatment last longer than those curls made by heating or styling by curlers. The curls made from this treatment cannot be destroyed unless by another chemical treatment is done on the person?s hair.

The perm treatment has gone far back in history. Women of Ancient Egypt used to put on a concoction of soil and water to their hair. Afterwards, they set their hair using primitive curlers made out of wood and bask under the sun to supply heat to their hair.

After the hair dryer was invented, setting lotions were then used to replace the ?mud treatment? that the Egyptian women introduced. However, these setting lotions did not provide lasting results to women who desired to replace their straight hair with curls.

Permanent waves then became available in the market in 1920. This type of perm treatment used electrical devices (instead of the sun) to generate heat into the hair.

But since most heating devices do not have thermostats back then, the amount of heat that flows into the hair was not regulated. Thus, these harsh early perm treatments led the hair to dry. The end results were frizzy curls that were unmanageable and difficult to maintain.

The cold wave was then introduced in the 1940s. The cold wave is basically what the modern perm treatment is today. Since the heat used in a cold wave can easily be regulated, the hair can now be curled closer to the scalp using this treatment.

In a perm treatment, hair is washed and wound to curlers or curling rods to set. The perm lotion is then applied to the hair as it is still set in curlers.

The perm lotion is responsible for breaking the bonds of the hair that keeps it in shape. Since hair and the perm lotion have different pH levels, it makes the hair react to the perm lotion once it is applied.

The perm lotion opens up the cuticles of the hair as it enters its cortex. It is in the cortex where the disulphide bonds that are capable for shaping the hair can be found. Once the perm lotion reacts with these bonds, the bonds loosen and take the shape of hair while it is set in curlers.

After applying the perm lotion, the hair is then placed under regulated heat to help soften and loosen the bonds that keep it in shape.

After rinsing the perm lotion from the hair, a neutralizing lotion is applied. In this part of the treatment, the neutralizing lotion enables the links that were broken by the perm lotion to reform. The hair then hardens and retains its curly shape.

This stage of the perm treatment however can cause irritation and damage to the hair shaft if not executed properly. If the neutralizing is not done properly, the bonds of the hair may not harden enough for it to stand breakage and damaging. Also, the neutralizing lotion can irritate the scalp if not rinsed thoroughly.

After the perm treatment, it is advisable for the client to not shampoo his or her hair for a few days. The shampoo may interrupt the ?curing? process of the treatment. The curls may not appear as expected if the client eagerly shampoos his or her hair after the treatment.

On the other hand, it is advisable to often condition newly permed hair to prevent it from being damaged.

A perm treatment is a good way to give volume and body to a person?s hair. However, one must take into consideration that different people have different hair types. Thus, a perm treatment, or any hair treatment for that matter, can yield different results for different people.

If one is interested in getting any treatment for their hair, they should take in mind to find a hairstylist that they trust. They must also fully understand the type of treatment and what it does to their hair.

Besides, anyone would not want to do anything damaging to their hair. As the saying goes, ?The hair is your crowning glory?.

James Monahan is the owner and Senior Editor of TreatmentHq.com and writes expert articles about treatments.

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How To Build A $100 Home Gym That Delivers Results

So you want to save valuable time traveling to the gym by building your own home gym. Do to the long hours worked, and strenuous commutes, more and more people are opting to squeeze there workouts in by exercising in the comfort of their own homes.

There are many advantages to creating your very own home gym. It is shown that people who have home gym equipment in their homes tend to exercise more often. Let's also not forget about saving valuable time, and money on monthly health club dues. It seems like all the new estates being built in Los Angeles plan for a room to be used for their own, personal home gym.

The only drawbacks to owning a home gym are its overwhelming cost, and space limitations. But wait, maybe not! Sure you can purchase individual station machines, a treadmill, a bike, and dozens of free weights. However, is that really needed to get outstanding results? Do you have to spend $10,000 plus to get yourself a home gym that really delivers results? The answer is absolutely not!

Yes, you can treat yourself to state of the art equipment, but will you get better results than a gym which costs less than $100? The answer is no!

Being an Exercise Physiologist in Beverly Hills, California, and author of Home Gym Shopping Secrets, I have proved you can achieve outstanding results using a home gym which costs less than $100. I see that proof each and every day while consulting with motivated clients throughout Los Angeles, California.

What I see daily is people not having the space for many pieces of home gym equipment, or not willing to make a big investment.

Listed below is one of many home gym solutions I mention in Home Gym Shopping Secrets. http://www.HomeGymShoppingSecrets.com/

The $100 Home Gym Solution

Dave, an Oscar winning screenwriter whom I consult with, uses his $100 home gym twice per week, and gets amazing results. As a matter of fact, he pays me much more each week for my services than he did for his complete home gym. His strength and endurance has tripled over the past year, all while losing 6% body fat. This has all been accomplished using his $100, cost effective, space saving home gym. As a matter of fact, we exercise outside, year round, in his driveway! His home gym is comprised of the following equipment which I have listed below. If your goals and medical history are compatible with this type of program, you too can do something similar. Please refer to Home Gym Shopping Secrets and Wellness WORD Multimedia Newsletter for additional fitness programming information.

**LIST OF EQUIPMENT**

1 Large Swiss Ball
Stretching Mat
Pair of 15 pound dumbells
Pair of 20 pound dumbells
1 Heavy Black Ther-A-Band
1 Resistance Band With Handles
10 Pound Medicine Ball

That is it; simple as that! Now what you do with all this equipment is specific to your medical history, and personal, primary goals. For more information on individual fitness programming, please visit Wellness Word Newsletter, and Home Gym Shopping Secrets.

The program Dave uses is more of a core strengthening regimen using various functional movements. We even have him doing in the neighborhood of 250 pushups throughout his circuit training routine. Just remember, programs are created on an individual basis, and are not so called canned as one routine fits all. The two resources I have mentioned above will help you get started on creating the your proper program.

So the next time you think you can't afford a home gym, think again. YOU CAN!

To receive your complimentary subscription to Wellness Word Newsletter (multimedia), visit http://www.WellnessWord.com right now!

Discover all the tips, tricks, and truth in multimedia video, audio, and text.

*** Attention: Ezine Editors/ Website Owners *** Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your eZine, Blog, Autoresponder, or on your website as long as the links, text, and resource box are not altered in any way.

Jim O'Connor, Beverly Hills celebrity fitness consultant, has conducted thousands of personal fitness consultations with celebrities, business executives, and highly motivated professionals throughout Los Angeles. Jim is the chief Exercise Physiologist for Wellness WORD, LLC, and the author of Home Gym Shopping Secrets, and a worldwide multimedia health and fitness newsletter called Wellness WORD. Wellness WORD promotes the health and fitness truth, and is powered by science, not by fiction.

Healthiest Regards,

Jim O'Connor - Exercise Physiologist/The Fitness Promoter Wellness Word, LLC
9461 Charleville Blvd. #312
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
1-866-935-5967

(c) Jim O'Connor/Wellness Word, LLC - All Rights Reserved
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Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C prevents many a debilitating diseases and increases the body immunity.

This vitamin can be taken with or without food. Other than through medical supplements, some of the excellent sources of vitamin C include parsley, broccoli, bell pepper, strawberries, oranges, lemon juice, papaya, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, and brussels sprouts.

Scientific researches have shown that there are no known advantages in consuming excessive amounts of vitamin C. Some of the more common signs of mild vitamin C deficiency include weakness, lassitude, swollen gums, nosebleeds and scurvy. Possible reasons which can result in this deficiency include inadequate diet, alcoholism and homelessness. Even though the body would only use as much as it needs of the vitamin, overdose can hinder metabolic activities in the body.

Ligaments, tendons and collagen rely on vitamin C contents to stay strong and healthy. It also helps if recycling other antioxidants. As per your health conditions, it might be more useful to take vitamin C supplements along with other antioxidants such as vitamin E, flavonoids and carotendoids. Vitamin C is a well-known anti-oxidant which protects the skin from UV radiation related damages. It can actually reverse some of the damaging effects of the disease. Excessive exposure to Sun and UV radiation causes photoaging (?age spots? caused by the sun) which causes oxidative damage in skin cells.

When looking out for vitamin C supplements in the store, take special care to watch out for esterified C, time-released C. It has not been scientifically proven that these can be absorbed easily as compared to ascorbic acid.

Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C prevents many a debilitating diseases and increases the body immunity. It is more popular as a cell protector, immunity booster and powerful antioxidant. Ligaments, tendons and collagen rely on Vitamin C contents to stay strong and healthy. It also helps if recycling other antioxidants. As per your health conditions, it might be more useful to take vitamin C supplements along with other antioxidants such as vitamin E, flavonoids and carotendoids.

This particular vitamin also acts as an antidote for illnesses due to cold and flu. It lessens the severity and duration of such diseases. Wounds are healed much quicker due to inflammation inhibitory characteristics of the vitamin. Gum tissues are protected with a regular dosage of vitamin C. For these purposes, it is often taken with flavonoids. Body immunity against heart diseases is improved by improving cholesterol levels. Low levels of vitamin C are indicative of greater risk for angina and heart attacks. As an antioxidant, vitamin C also prevents certain types of cancer by protecting healthy cells from free-radical damage. It reduces the risks for cancers of the stomach and esophagus by blocking the conversion of nitrates and nitrites into cancer causing compounds. The vitamin is an excellent antidote against cataracts. It protects the eye against cigarette smoke and UV light which usually cause cataracts. Vitamin C when taken along with pantothenic acid also protects patients against migraines. When used in combination with other antioxidants such as vitamin E and flavonoids, vitamin C can act as an ant-wrinkle agent.

With its immune-boosting and antioxidant properties, vitamin C is an excellent antidote for many other health related problems.

Topical Vitamin C

Topical Vitamin C is one of the most recent developments in the world of medical sciences as an aide for skin protection. Vitamin C when manufactured into a topical formation, it becomes an excellent antidote for protection against photoaging of the skin. The currently available products contain very low levels of antioxidants which are not well absorbed by the skin.

Inventors are especially excited about the protective qualities and anti-inflammatory effects of this vitamin. Once applied, it is absorbed in the skin and cannot be washed or sweated off. Research studies have shown that topical vitamin C provides a wavelength-independent ultraviolet protection which is much more effective than any other skin care products. When exposed to sunlight, topical vitamin C products prevent sun burn damage without blocking vitamin D synthesis, unlike other sunscreen products in the market. It might also stimulate melanin production without causing harm to neighboring cells. Topical vitamin C has a tendency to degrade rapidly and hence it must be stored in airtight, light-resistant containers. Some of the side effects include stinging and skin irritation. Research studies have shown that regular application of topical vitamin C results in clinically visible anti-wrinkling. When used along with such vitamins as vitamin C and E, it provides utmost protection against the exogenous oxidative stressors encountered in daily life.

Adequate levels of topical vitamin C can be achieved from substantial intakes of fruit, vegetables and juices daily. A correctly formulated topical vitamin C is very difficult to manufacture. This is due to the instable nature of L-ascorbic acid, the key ingredient of vitamin C. Moreover, the cheaper variations of the products are not absorbed properly by the skin. Researchers are constantly trying to find a more stable version of the product. In order to get an authentic version of a topical vitamin C product, it is always advisable to consult a doctor or a pharmacist or a dermatologist.

Lopa Bhattacharya (Banerjee) is a content writer/developer, now based in Buffalo, New York, United States, working for various overseas corporate website projects, CD-Rom presentations, brochures, flyers and other communication materials. Has worked on numerous SEO copywriting projects on varied themes ranging from travel, hotel industry, photography, web design and software development to US-based clubs and network communities. Was previously an editorial associate for the news, culture and entertainment portal based on the life and times of Kolkata, India.

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