Health Care in Summer

Summer is not a pleasant season. It is too hot that many people would not have a good appetite. And the hot temperature makes people undesired to do anything. As a result, health care in summer is more difficult than that in other three seasons. Experts tell us that we should at least do six things to keep ourselves healthy in summer.

First of all, we should sleep late and get up early in the morning. The daytime comes early in summer so that people tend to wake up much earlier than usual. Therefore, we do not need to go to bed early in the night. But sometimes, there will be a problem. We may feel sleepy in the daytime. So doctors suggest us to take a nap at noon. They point out that the length of nap varies from people to people. In general, half an hour to one hour is appropriate. For people who do not have the habit of taking naps, listening music for thirty to fifty minutes can also help.

Secondly, we should keep a relaxed mood. Traditional Chinese medical researchers hold the view that the activities of heart correspond with summer. People tend to be anxious and bad-tempered. So people ought to pay more attention to heart care in summer. They are suggested to drink more milk and eat more bean products and chicken. Vegetables and fruit are also beneficial to keep a wonderful mood.

Thirdly, porridge is more suitable for summer. People can add some lotus leaves or mung beans to the porridge so that it is useful in detoxification.

Fourthly, fruit is not suitable for everyone. For people who has a poor stomach, gentle fruit is more appropriate. For them, fruit should be neither too sweet, nor too sour. As for people who have gastric ulcer, they have to keep away from watermelon and cantaloupe.

Fifthly, do not forget to complement nutrition. The balance of sodium and potassium is very crucial in health care. Since it is hot in summer, the release of potassium is quicker than usual. Therefore, people have to complement nutrition through food. For example, tomato, pepper and plum are good choices. Bean products and mushrooms supply adequate potassium, while fish, eggs and meat provide a large amount of protein, such as casein. Besides, watermelon, strawberry and cucumber are good to maintain moisture.

Sixthly, do not eat food as soon as they are taken out of refrigerators. Cold food would stimulate the intestines and the stomach. In consequence, the physical functions of organs would be in disorder. The best temperature for human beings is 36 degrees centigrade. So put cold food aside for a while before eating. More importantly, people should not eat cold at one time. Children, the elderly and stomachache patients should not eat cold food at all.

Min Yuan is the freelance writer for e-commerce website in the chemistry. LookChem.com is just a place for you to Look for Chemicals! Our LookChem provide the most convenient conditions for the international buyers and let these leads benefit all the business person.

Simple and Easy Acne Treatments

Simple and easy acne treatments have been used to good effect by many young people to combat the condition. Just the thought of "acne" fills many young folk with fear. They see themselves being shunned by their peers and having to spend a lot of time looking after their skin by washing it and having to apply expensive treatments and potions.

The good news is that there is no need to panic because many advances have been made in the treatment of acne and associated conditions. Skin experts are finding better ways to prevent and treat this feared skin complaint. There are new ways and better information about how to get healthy, clear skin is being uncovered on a daily basis.

Here are five simple and easy acne treatments that have worked for many acne sufferers

1) Washing with non-detergent preparations will help your skin.

Once it was thought that washing with soap and water was necessary to get clean, acne-free skin. It is now known that detergent can dry, irritate and injure the skin. Because young skin is delicate, it can easily become damaged, leaving it open and unprotected to the harmful bacteria that causes acne. So try to avoid washing with soap and water by using specially prepared facial wash products..

2) A short exposure to the sun will benefit your complexion.

If you expose your skin to the sun for about fifteen minutes a day this will help your skin fight any lurking bad bacteria. Do not over expose your skin because to mush sun will harm your skin by drying it out and clogging your pores, which is the very thing you want to avoid.

3) Protect your skin from cold air.

Skin experts say that the optimum temperature for healthy and clear skin is between twenty and twenty-six degrees centigrade. Very cold temperatures can damage your skin just as much the same way as too much sunlight does.

4) Exercise is good for you.

Any exercise will help you fight any infection you may have in your skin. Swimming is one option that is very good for acne. Swimming in clean treated indoor swimming pool, with water that is approximately twenty to twenty-six degrees centigrade, will cool down your infected skin and provide great exercise that will benefit your whole body.

5) Keep things around you clean.

By keeping things around you clean you will minimise any possibility of acne break-outs. The bad bacteria that causes the acne lives in linens, towels, bed-sheets, pillow-cases and wash-cloths so it makes sense to change them each time you use them. Also keep you hair very clean as this is always brushing your face.

Following these five simple acne treatments will help you guard against and fight acne. Some natural products that have been proven over time to cut down on bacteria are items such as vinegar, essential oils, and tea tree oil, all of which can be used in various ways to help you resist any acne infection.

Malcolm Ivinson offers advice on natural health home remedies on his website http://www.naturalhealthhomeremedies.com and many acne treatments are investigated, it is a perfect place to find out solutions to many of today's health problems.

Tips About Living With An Alcoholic Spouse

Life with an alcoholic is like life in a love triangle: there are you, there are your alcoholic spouse and there is his addiction. Living with him you'll feel it. His unhealthy addiction will suck the money out of the family as well as time and attention leaving you with bits and pieces

Tip 1: You have to understand, that providing too much care and attention will not help anyone. You should keep yourself from abuse. And if you try to help your spouse, getting him out of different problems he gets himself in due to his addiction - you should to stop this right now and leave him to the consequences of his addiction.

Tip 2: Get some support for yourself and other family members, who need it. It will be much harder to get through this without support from those, who already lived through such situation. Professional psycotherapists or al-anon support groups know exactly what problems you have, and can tell you what to do with your anger, despair and feeling of guilt.

Tip 3: Tell your partner that you will not live with him in same house, unless he gets some help immediately. You have to be ready to fulfill your threat. If your spouse does not want to get some help - you should not have intimate relationship with him. Do not use empty threats if you can not fulfill them. An alcoholic has already heard many of them and will easily recognize one more. Resume the relationship only after you get sure he has passed treatment course in rehab clinic and his behavior radically changed.

Tip 4: Be ready to help your partner. Before you break your relationship, you should prepare several options of treatment and try to discuss them with your spouse. If he agrees to visit a doctor, you could offer him to accompany him. However you should let him know very clearly that he, while getting your help and support in this case, is the only one who is responsible.

Tip 5: So remember that alcoholic made his choice himself. You are not guilty and could not change anything.

Tip 6: You should understand your relationship with alcoholic spouse. Maybe something in your personality makes you building unhealthy relationship? Maybe you want to sacrifice yourself for another person? Maybe you feel superiority when you are trying to save your partner?

Tip 7: Do not become angry or quarrel with him. Do not engage in discussions about his life and addiction, and generally avoid to reproach him. This is too common behavior. You will lose his trust and achieve nothing. He is sick and you will not cure it with angry words.

Tip 8:Have no fear he will leave you. When an alcoholic threats to leave, do not try to keep him from this. Even if he leaves he will return in a few days when he sees you were not joking. He can not live away from his family since he is dependent on you in many vital needs.

All this is certainly not easy. But if you get responsibility for your life and detach from your partner, you will make a step to have a rather normal life.

Chelation Therapy

The use of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body is known as chelation therapy. It is considered as a safe and inexpensive method to restore normal blood circulation in the body. The most commonly found heavy metals in the body are lead, arsenic, and mercury and the others are uranium, plutonium and iron etc. The agents used in this therapy are also used in alternative medicine like heart disease and autism. DMSA is the most commonly used agent in recent times having replaced EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) and BAL, organic dithiol compound dimercaprol or British anti-lewisite.

In recent days, new agents are being discovered, but their main function is to make the metal ions in the body less active. In the process, they become water-soluble. This allows them to be absorbed into the blood stream and can be disposed off easily. The intake, amount and agent should be decided by a professional physician or doctor and may be taken either intravenously, intramuscular or it can also be oral. Dimercaprol or BAL is used for arsenic, mercury and lead poisoning while Penicillamine is used for gold toxicity.

Although there are many who dispute about the beneficial effects of chelation therapy, there are some doctors who suggest it for the treatment of circulatory system. When calcium is deposited in the cell walls, the reaction of the enzymes cannot be carried out thus leading to depression, premature aging, nutrition deficiency etc. Chelation therapy first works on the metal ions like lead, mercury, cadmium, copper, aluminium and help in the production of free radicals.

The persons undergoing this therapy seldom suffer from bouts of depression. The cause might be due to overall cellular function and a result of good circulation of blood in the body. Removal of harmful toxins may cause the brain to function more effectively. It also helps in boosting high levels of energy and can be used in diseases concerned with blood circulation like cramps in the leg etc. Others say that it can also be useful in treating other diseases like muscular dystrophy, psoriasis and Alzheimer's.

Like all therapies, this therapy also has its own share of detractors who list several side effects like irregular heart beat, joint pain and painful urination. All the chelating agents have to be taken with the guidance of a professional physician or doctor. Pregnant women and persons having kidney problems, brain tumor and disease pertaining to the liver should not undergo chelation therapy.

Sathyanarayana has done Post-graduation in Applied Geology and is interested in writing articles on health.

Tips on Purchasing CPAP and BIPAP Supplies for Home Use

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea or other breathing conditions that require oxygen therapy, then you know that at some point you will have to face the daunting task of purchasing CPAP and BIPAP supplies to use at home. The sheer array of BIPAP or CPAP machines can be confusing, as well as a little scary, and we will endeavor to make it easier for you to understand exactly what it is you are getting, and how to make the most of what you buy.

The Equipment Explained

Most patients who have been diagnosed with breathing problems will be assigned CPAP and BIPAP supplies to use at home to help them breathe during the most critical time of the day: while they are sleeping. To do so effectively, they will need a machine that is reliable, suited for the purposes they need, and have attached to it a mask that fits their face well, and is comfortable to use for long periods of time.

CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, and is the most common treatment in use today for conditions like sleep apnea. As sleep apnea machines go, it is designed to deliver a constant stream of oxygen through the airway, especially when their condition causes the airway to become blocked during the night. Some people are not comfortable with constant pressure, so they will often be assigned a BIPAP machine, instead. BIPAP stands for Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure, and uses two different air pressures, one during inhalation, and another during exhalation. Not everyone breathes in and out at the same pressure, and the machine will match your individual rhythm and air pressure.

The Importance of the Mask

One of the most important parts of any sleep apnea machines you can use for treatment at home is the mask. Any BIPAP or CPAP mask that you use should fit your face comfortably, and snugly, so that no oxygen is wasted. Any tubes fit to it should fit snugly, without bending or creasing the tubing to get it to fit. Never use tubing that is too large or too small, because trying to "make it fit" by using reducing couplings or linking it together with connectors will just defeat the purpose of the therapy itself, and you will not be able to draw the oxygen you need successfully.

All nasal masks for CPAP or BIPAP use should have nasal pillows attached to reduce any possible discomfort. These pillows should be smooth, without creases or wrinkles that could possibly leave marks on the skin. When purchasing them, you may want to also purchase wipes to clean them with, and spare tubing for clean connections to the machines. Maintenance and cleanliness is important, because you are dealing with pure oxygen and the chance for bacteria to grow inside or outside the equipment gets better with each bit of dust and dirt that accumulates.

Maintenance is Key

The technology available today in CPAP and BIPAP supplies is extensive, and none of it is cheap. Why waste money on equipment you need, and then cheap out or blow off the proper maintenance of it all? The item most often ignored when it comes to sleep apnea machines of all types is the filter. Find where yours is located on your machine, and keep it as clean and unblocked as possible. Same goes for the masks, tubing, and every bit of equipment that comes into contact with your body on one end, and the machine on the other. Keeping everything clean keeps the oxygen flowing, and the healing continuing to happen inside your body, simple as that.

Want to know more about the guidelines for choosing the right CPAP and BIPAP supplies for oxygen treatments? The caring experts at Mobility Specialists stand ready to assist you in any way that you need, and can answer any question you have, call them today. Also, check out our new page on CPAP and BIPAP Supplies.

Beauty Tips - Dying Your Hair at Home

There's a global recession at the moment and all over the world consumers are feeling the poor economic climate and trying to save money where ever they can. When saving money you have to add up the amount of money you save by the amount of risk involved. If your hot water heater in your home broke down you would be more likely to pay for a replacement or repair than cutting back on other household necessities. The same goes for food and other household essentials.

Coloring Your Hair at Home

With the advent of recession's hair coloring manufacturers are marketing once again more aggressively, home hair coloring kits. These where available first time around when in the late 1980's recession hit the country hard. Hair coloring your own hair is no easy task and there are certain products which have even been made into a mousse. This is to keep the color easier to manage because if you get it on your skin it's difficult to remove. This can also cause a definitive "line" around the hair-line by hair coloring.

I describe home coloring like this; could you cut the back or your hair easily with scissors? In movies yes when the heroine is on the run she visit's the local public toilets after purchasing some nail scissors and a hair dye kit form the store next door. Then through the magic of the small screen she cuts her hair, dyes it and exits the toilet looking like an interesting Christian Dior model. In reality it just does not work like this, you cannot see the back of your head and if you use two or three mirrors they can give you an unrealistic feeling of depth.

I am not knocking home colors if you are going for a simple all over head with the right preparation it can be achieved. Very rarely have I seen it successful first time and I have seen over the years plenty of attempts by people and their friends to self color their hair.

If we come back to the issue of risk, the cost to rectify such mistakes can be quite expensive. This expense is not just a monetary expense but also there are two other factors upset and damage to your hair health. A visit to the hair dressers with a problem color will involve stripping out the color, this takes a lot of washing and rinsing causing hair damage. The stylist will probably recommend you use a treatment to get your hair back in shape before starting on a re-color depending on how severe the color correction is.

If you want to save money at the hairdressers ask about special offers. There are always special nights or model days when your hair salon will offer discount or introductory rates. The stylist will generally be in their second year and just qualified but at least you will have some comeback to the salon if anything goes wrong.

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Pure Aloe Vera

Pure Aloe Vera Gel is a precious gift to us from a very special plant. Although there are well over 200 species of Aloe, probably just four or five of these have medicinal properties, the most potent being Aloe Barbadensis Miller - or the true Aloe.

Why is its Gel precious? Because it lies in a sense at the heart of the plant that over many centuries has been aptly called the Natural Healer, the Miracle Plant, Wand of Heaven, Plant of Immortality and other names that bear testimony to its distinctive powers.

Close examination of an Aloe Vera leaf will reveal three protective layers before its inner Gel is reached. First comes its rind, a hard layer fifteen cells thick, and then its sap, which is high in anthraquinones - powerful laxatives. Mucilage comes next, acting as a barrier that keeps the inner Gel (where the leaf stores all its seventy-five nutrients) very sterile.

The ancient Egyptians recognised Aloe Vera's potency, as evidenced by a papyrus dated 3500 BC including its Gel in a collection of herbal remedies. Aloe was used too by both the ancient Indian and Chinese cultures, as well as by such respected Roman and Greek physicians as Pliny the Elder and Dioscorides.

Alexander the Great is said to have been persuaded by Aristotle to capture the island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean to get its rich supplies of Aloe to heal his soldiers' wounds, while the legendary Cleopatra and Nefertiti used it in their beauty regime.

More recently, Gandhi wrote in a letter to his biographer Romain Rolland: 'You ask me what were the secret forces which sustained me during my long fasts. Well, it was my unshakable faith in God, my simple and frugal life style, and the Aloe whose benefits I discovered upon my arrival in South Africa at the end of the nineteenth century.'

So I wasn't exaggerating when I began by describing pure Aloe Vera Gel as a precious gift, was I? Whether you drink it or apply it topically to your skin its benefits to both human and animal health are well documented. As it is a natural anti-inflammatory it can help with conditions as seemingly different as Asthma, Arthritis and IBS.

It is also a great source of vitamins (vitamin A, B-group including trace elements of vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E and folic acid) and minerals (calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, chromium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc).

How best, then, to harvest the essence of this 'medicine' plant, which takes four years to reach maturity?

One way, of course, is to grow it yourself and break off a leaf whenever you need it - knowing that its inner Gel will then be fresh. Yes, you're guaranteed freshness but - even if you can provide the right conditions for its optimum growth - this is not necessarily a practical or desirable long-term method.

Especially not if you're planning on drinking Aloe Vera as Gandhi did and as millions now do for their daily health.

Better, I felt, to find a source of products where the Aloe Vera Gel content was essentially identical to that harvested from a freshly picked leaf. An impossible task in today's market? Difficult, yes, but not impossible I finally found.

For the largest grower, manufacturer and distributor of Aloe Vera products globally avoids the use of herbicides and pesticides and has a unique patented stabilization process. This ensures that their Aloe Vera is essentially identical to the inner leaf Gel.

And Forever have a big commitment to quality and purity. Using only inner leaf Aloe, they start with 100% pure Aloe Vera Gel, adding just enough other ingredients to produce outstanding products. And they guarantee the quality of their Aloe, which is always their main ingredient.
Case closed: my search was over!

Pamela Glynn is the owner of MY ALOE VERA, a website giving you a wealth of info about Aloe. To stay updated with the latest Aloe news you can subscribe to her Aloe Vera Blog. FREE online Product & Opportunity videos!

Tips to Finding a Job as a Home Health Aide

The demand for home health aides to care for people, such as the elderly, chronically ill, or infirm in their home means there are many jobs available. But, how do you compete for the very best among those available positions?

Here are five tips to help you get the best results from your job search.

1. First, take the time to write out an error-free resume. Use spell check in your word processor. Also, use formatting to make your resume easy to read.

2. In addition to having a well-written and organized resume, you must be prepared to demonstrate why you are the best candidate in a face-to-face interview. Practice may not make perfect, but it is the best way to prepare yourself for the interview. Try practicing with a friend or even in front of a mirror. Answering sample interview questions will give you confidence and help you to be poised and calm during the actual job interview.

3. Now, where to look for home health aide jobs? There are a number of resources available, such as:

Newspapers - Jobs are still advertised in the classified section of print newspapers. If you don't subscribe to a newspaper, you can stop by your local library to read a variety of newspaper classifieds. Don't forget to also check out the online version of the newspaper, as those will frequently include jobs from other resources.

Online job sites - In addition to online versions of newspapers, also check sites such as Monster.com, SimplyHired.com, and Indeed.com

Word of mouth - Put the word out to your friends, neighbors, and family members and let them know you're looking for a job. You never know who knows someone who's looking for a caregiver. If you recently completed a training program, let your instructors and classmates know the type of position you'd like.

Cold calling - This is where you simply pick up the phone and begin dialing home health agencies and other potential employers to see whether you can apply for a position with them. Many agencies will accept an application even if they don't have positions advertised.

4. Next, when you do apply for a job, be sure to follow the employer's instructions. Slow down and take the time to actually read through the instructions. It's amazing how many people gloss over this important step and, as a result, their application is not even considered. When you read through the job posting, take a separate piece of paper and write down the instructions to create a check list. Before you submit your application, check off each item on the list.

5. Finally, after you have a job interview, immediately send a follow-up thank you note. Not many people do this simple step, so you'll make yourself stand out in a sea of applicants.

To learn more about making your job search a success, read the article How to Find Home Health Aide Jobs.

Maureen Flaherty writes about home health aides and home health agencies for the Home Health Aide Guide, A Resource for Caregivers and Families.

For further information visit: http://www.HomeHealthAideGuide.com.

Five Ways to Stay Healthy After 40

Once you cross the 40-mark, it gets harder to lose weight and stay in shape. Although hormonal changes are inevitable after that age, you can fight the flab and also help change your attitudes towards a healthier lifestyle through various means.

Eat Right for a Healthier Life

It is easy to develop eating habits over the years and equally hard to break them when it's time. For instance if you have been skipping breakfast all your life due to a busy schedule, its time you realize that it is the most important meal of the day and is extremely important to maintain your body's metabolism. Even if you are in a hurry, ensure that you grab a fruit in the morning. Apart from that, avoid sodas and sugary drinks because it does not contain any fiber or nutrients required most by your body after 40. Healthy, fat busting snacks including nuts, dried fruits will drive those hunger pangs away and also help you stay in shape after 40. Staying in shape older women is definitely harder but with the help of the right diet and by drinking sufficient water, you can keep the weight off your body and look great after 40 as well.

Regular Medical Tests

Once you cross the 40 mark, it is important to keep track of the necessary medical tests you need. These tests including heart disease screening, cancer screening or even hormone imbalance checks can provide clues to the existence of health problems. Early detection would also ensure that you are able to treat the condition early and live a healthier life.

Exercise Right

Turning 40 is a milestone and most women approaching the age are worried about the symptoms and effects of menopause. Most feel that they are not prepared to face the challenges of aging. And when the symptoms such as mood swings, irregular menstrual cycles, hot flashes and insomnia etc set in, it gets increasingly difficult. However, an exercise routine can help you tackle most of these symptoms if you have started exercising earlier, even before you reach the 40-mark. You can design your own fitness program or even use the services of a fitness expert for a routine you can follow.

Manage Stress

Stress is not good at any age and as you age it only puts you at a greater risk of deadly heart and other diseases. Hence it is important to manage your stress effectively when you cross the 40 mark. Fitness programs, counseling, meditation are a few means you can use to manage stress and overcome symptoms such as anxiety. Give up smoking and drinking and lead a healthy life.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

This revolutionary therapy which helps restore your essential hormones has helped millions of women across the world live and feel fantastic after 40. Most have noticed favorable changes as soon as they took to the therapy including muscle tone, texture of hair and skin, libido among others. You can consult your physician to find the best therapy option for you based on your age and hormone deficiency in your body.

The Atlanta Medical Institute provides only the best HCG and medical weight loss treatments. AMI's staff is comprised of highly trained physicians and clinical team members.

Chair Yoga for Diabetes

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes is quickly reaching epidemic levels. Some schools of thought estimate, 1 out of 3 Americans will have the disease at some time in their lives; and it will shorten their life spans by 10 to 15 years. Treatment for diabetes consists of three major components: diet, exercise, and medication. Proper diet and exercise are crucial for prevention and management, but chronic complications can inhibit physical activity.

Studies have confirmed the effectiveness of Yoga in the fight against diabetes, but not everyone can participate in traditional classes. Chair Yoga, a gentle practice using chairs for sitting or support, is gaining popularity with disabled and elderly participants - even those in wheel chairs. Offered in studios, senior centers, gated communities, and other recreation centers, this alternative provides the benefits of Yoga without the risky physical challenges.

In Chair Yoga for diabetes classes, emphasis is placed on poses, breathing techniques, and meditation. Due to the fact that diabetics often have numbness or fatigue that affects balance or makes standing exercises risky, Chair Yoga is a very safe way to maintain health and prevent injuries.

Participants not only experience a state of well-being and improved mood, but they also target specific problems caused by the illness. While these mechanisms are still not completely understood, researchers have speculated that Yoga helps diabetics in the following ways.

Yoga for Diabetes Benefits

• Excess weight complicates diabetes, and Yoga helps to keep the pounds in check.

• By lowering stress, Yoga reduces the levels of cortisol, adrenaline, and glucagons in the body, which stabilizes insulin production.

• Muscle relaxation improves circulation - a problem for many diabetics - and enables the muscles to increase their uptake of insulin, reducing blood sugar levels.

• Poor circulation is common in diabetes; and Yoga pumps fresh oxygen into the blood stream, oxygenating the blood flow and cleansing the lymph system.

• Yoga postures that stretch or massage the pancreas may enable it to do its job more effectively.

• Yoga lowers blood pressure and cholesterol - two factors that make the treatment of diabetes more difficult.

Although diabetes varies in severity, many sufferers have ailments that limit their social and physical activities. Others are looking for ways to maintain good health and lessen the effects of the disease. Chair Yoga classes can become a place to share friendship and support, as well as to learn new ways of coping with a chronic illness. At the same time, Chair Yoga students are likely to practice posturing, exercises, breathing techniques and what they learn about a healthy Yogic lifestyle at home.

© Copyright 2011 - Paul Jerard / Aura Wellness Center - Publications Division

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

Acne

Statistics indicate that eight out of ten people suffer from acne in their teenage years. No research has to be done to prove that but everyone does get to experience acne breakouts once in their lifetime. For some people it quickly passes on as they age and their body, lifestyle, environment and skin regimen changes. For others, acne problems become a lot worse and may unfortunately leave not just physical scars, but emotional trauma.

Sebaceous glands found in the follicles of our skin contain fatty tissues that help lubricate our hair and epidermis. These fatty oils keep our skin in a healthy condition. Acne forms as a result of the fatty oils, also known as sebum, being blocked by our skin's dead cells. They form into pimples, whiteheads or acne and worsen as it gets infected.

Most commonly affected by acne breakouts are teenagers who are still developing into puberty. However, adult acne is also very common among those people between twenty and forty years old. Some of the factors that cause acne breakouts among the adult population include lifestyle, stress and toxins from the environment, make-up, use of medicine and other anti-biotic, emotional problems and hormonal changes in the body.

Adult women are very prone to acne because some tend to use the wrong kind of beauty products for their skin. They also undergo serious hormonal changes as they reach the age of menopause. However, adult acne is not just limited to women, as men do get the same problem. Part of this has to do with hygiene and taking care of one's body. Smoking or drinking too much; not eating the right kind of food; or working too hard and not getting enough sleep are some of the things that might not only cause one's health to deteriorate, and it can also contribute to acne.

In treating acne conditions, a big lifestyle change may be in order for some people. The right kind of food to eat; the right amount of sleep; the way one handles stress; the environment one moves around in have to be altered or modified. Acne is also treatable with vitamins and capsules containing Vitamin A, B1 or E. This should help boost the body's immune system from infection. In really extreme cases, acne may also be treated with prescription drugs which should be recommended by a very good dermatologist.

Jason Rickard is the owner of Your Favourite Shop - Offering Self Help CDs [http://www.yourfavouriteshop.com] - Visit Health Resources for more articles.

Stretch Mark Creams

You have probably heard the news by now but if you haven't I will repeat it. There are methods of lessening the appearance of your stretch marks. The most common of them at the moment is stretch mark cream.

The rich first realised that surgical procedures could be undergone to enojoy the removal of unsightly stretch marks from your life but quite obviously this option didn't fit the price bracket or the comfort bracket of millions of women suffering from the condition of stretch marks, scientifically known as Striea.

So as they do, scientists band together in their labs to invent the now popular stretch mark creams that can be seen from a simple websearch for stretch mark cream. Stretch mark creams have been around for the last few years but have so far gained popularity on the internet more so than in the offline world.

So what do stretch mark creams do? After all it is the belief of most people that there is in fact no reliable cure for stretch marks.

Basically a stretch mark is a tear or damaging of the underlying tissue of the skin cells. The job of a good stretch mark cream is to penetrate deep enough into the skin that it can actually affect and by certain means heal and repair this damaged tissue causing a visible difference to the physical appearance of the skin.

For the most part stretch mark creams are compounds of natural ingredients and hence although they can be powerful do not require prescription. Keeping this in mind though, if you are looking at actually purchasing a stretch mark cream a few things should be considered.

Firstly you need to look on which level the stretch mark cream really works. Some stretch mark creams work on the outward appearance of the skin and work to tighten and firm the layers of skin nearest the surface and in doing so alter the skins appearance. While these stretch mark creams can produce results in changing the appearance of your stretch marks they won't actually penetrate to the cause of the stretch mark and work to fully heal it so that the mark that you see can eventually disappear.

The other type of stretch mark creams, the more effective and powerful type that is works on what is called a trans cellular level meaning that the active ingredients of the cream actually penetrates to the tissues below the surface of the skin to cause internal and hence more effective and longer lasting healing. It is when these tissues are healed, along with the combination of a healthy diet, will result in permanent removal of stretch marks.

Stretch mark creams retail on the market anywhere from $20 to $80 per bottle/jar/tube etc. Generally you will find that the second type of stretch mark cream mentioned will be at the higher end of the price scale due to the more advanced actions it performs and the more advanced technology they require, while the first type while being less effective will often be sold at the lower price.

Gary Stephens is a skin care product reviewer and runs an informational website dedicated to demystifying the new stretch mark cream Trilastin.

For more information please see http://www.trilastinreview.com

3 Simple Ways To Clear Acne From Your Body

Studies show that an individual has an eighty percent likelihood of having body acne at some point in his/her life. Though many claim that body acne is caused by hormonal imbalance, there is no single definite cause to this common skin problem.

Besides hormones, there are several other factors that can lead to body acne such as heredity causes, environmental factors and personal hygiene habits. Considering all acne causes at hand, there are several things you can try to banish or clear acne from your body.

Simple Ways to Clear Acne from Any Part of Your Body

The first and simplest way to clear acne from any part of your body is to detoxify. Detoxifying your skin is a way of getting rid of toxins out of your body. The natural way to detoxify is to have a good diet and ensure your body gets enough rest. Stress is a key factor in aggravating body acne. If an individual eats a healthy diet and sleeps at least eight hours a day, the existing acne is free from irritation and enables the skin to rejuvenate.

Use topical treatment. There are several types of topical treatments that can help the skin detoxify and kill the bacteria from building up in your skin. It is usually better to use natural topical treatments instead of over-the-counter topical treatments which contain harsh chemicals that can irritate body acne.

A gentle but effective one is Topical 4% Niacinamide or Nicotinamide, derived from Vitamin B3. There are many household items that you can use as a topical treatment as well like baking soda as a scrub, facial masks out of egg whites or oatmeal, tea tree oil as antiseptic, and aloe vera to help lessen scars.

Lastly, switch to a healthier lifestyle! Exercise daily to detoxify your skin naturally. Make sure to take a bath regularly to prevent bacteria from building up.

Eat healthily by adding vegetables and fruits to your daily diet. Although body acne appears on the outside, what causes it comes from within!

Avoid taking in too much fatty food, dairy products, and beverages such as caffeine and alcohol. Bad habits, such as smoking, also contribute to skin dehydration that can contribute to body acne. Avoid using too much make-up and beauty products too that contain harsh chemicals. Instead, use skin care products that are mild and organic.

Richard Hargreaves is a former MR AUSTRALIA and publisher of Acne-Free-Info.com. On his website he provides a FREE 70 page Acne Blemish Treatment eBook and information on the best acne skincare treatment products and how to clear acne.

3 Simple Ways To Clear Acne From Your Body

Studies show that an individual has an eighty percent likelihood of having body acne at some point in his/her life. Though many claim that body acne is caused by hormonal imbalance, there is no single definite cause to this common skin problem.

Besides hormones, there are several other factors that can lead to body acne such as heredity causes, environmental factors and personal hygiene habits. Considering all acne causes at hand, there are several things you can try to banish or clear acne from your body.

Simple Ways to Clear Acne from Any Part of Your Body

The first and simplest way to clear acne from any part of your body is to detoxify. Detoxifying your skin is a way of getting rid of toxins out of your body. The natural way to detoxify is to have a good diet and ensure your body gets enough rest. Stress is a key factor in aggravating body acne. If an individual eats a healthy diet and sleeps at least eight hours a day, the existing acne is free from irritation and enables the skin to rejuvenate.

Use topical treatment. There are several types of topical treatments that can help the skin detoxify and kill the bacteria from building up in your skin. It is usually better to use natural topical treatments instead of over-the-counter topical treatments which contain harsh chemicals that can irritate body acne.

A gentle but effective one is Topical 4% Niacinamide or Nicotinamide, derived from Vitamin B3. There are many household items that you can use as a topical treatment as well like baking soda as a scrub, facial masks out of egg whites or oatmeal, tea tree oil as antiseptic, and aloe vera to help lessen scars.

Lastly, switch to a healthier lifestyle! Exercise daily to detoxify your skin naturally. Make sure to take a bath regularly to prevent bacteria from building up.

Eat healthily by adding vegetables and fruits to your daily diet. Although body acne appears on the outside, what causes it comes from within!

Avoid taking in too much fatty food, dairy products, and beverages such as caffeine and alcohol. Bad habits, such as smoking, also contribute to skin dehydration that can contribute to body acne. Avoid using too much make-up and beauty products too that contain harsh chemicals. Instead, use skin care products that are mild and organic.

Richard Hargreaves is a former MR AUSTRALIA and publisher of Acne-Free-Info.com. On his website he provides a FREE 70 page Acne Blemish Treatment eBook and information on the best acne skincare treatment products and how to clear acne.

Ten Skin Problems of Pregnancy

Pregnancy brings with it many changes, emotionally, physically, and mentally. From a mental and emotional standpoint, you're preparing to adopt a new role of parent, with all its accompanying responsibilities. Physically, of course, you're dealing with changes in the shape, function, and movement of your body. While we have a society-wide belief that pregnant women are always glowing, that, unfortunately, is not always the case. No where is this more evident than in the skin problems of pregnancy.

You've probably heard the phrase, "the eyes are the window to the soul". If this is true, your skin is the window to your current state of health and the changes taking place on the inside. During pregnancy, aside from all the other issues, you may also have to deal with a variety of skin changes, including rashes, acne, stretch marks, breaking nails, hair growth or loss, and dark blotches on the skin.

Most of these changes are directly linked to the enormous amount of hormonal fluctuations women experience during pregnancy. During pregnancy, there are all kinds of changes which can have impact on your skin, leading to new skin problems or worsening of existing ones. In some cases, pregnancy may actually help improve existing skin conditions. Let's look at various skin conditions in more detail, defining the main ten skin problems of pregnancy.

1) Rashes. Rashes appear due to irritation of the skin. One common pregnancy rash is called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP). This is the most frequently seen condition specific to pregnancy. Women with PUPPP demonstrate a rash which starts on the abdomen and can spread to the breasts, arms, thighs, and buttocks.

2) Acne. Acne is another skin condition that may get better or worse during pregnancy. Acne is, at least in part, driven by hormones, so the hormones of pregnancy can lead to more breakouts for some women, and clearer skin for others.

3) Oily skin. Oily skin is third skin condition which may arise during pregnancy. This is related to increased levels of androgen, the male sex hormone, which causes an increase in sebum production. The more sebum produced, the oilier the skin. Many women report that their skin and hair becomes oilier during pregnancy. Most of the time, these issues can be addressed with over the counter oil controlling cleansers and products.

4) Stretch marks. The fourth skin problem of pregnancy, stretch marks arise when the under layers of the skin is stretched, resulting in visible striations on the surface of the skin. Stretch marks can be treated after the fact, but the best treatment is always prevention. Keeping your skin well moisturized, especially on your tummy, breasts, thighs, can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

5) Spider angiomas. These are another possible skin problem of pregnancy. Spider angiomas are groups of very tiny blood vessels which gather around a central point and radiate out like the legs of a spider. Pregnant women are likely to develop these on their chest, faces, arms, and sometimes on other places on the body. Most of these spider angiomas clear up after pregnancy.

6) Chloasma. Chloasma, also called melasma, or the "mask of pregnancy" is another skin condition which is diagnosed when certain areas of the skin turn darker because of excess pigmentation. Most often, this condition affects places of the skin which are most often exposed to sun, like the upper lip, forehead, cheeks. This condition is likely to clear up after pregnancy. Again, you can lessen your chances of chloasma by using a good (baby safe) doctor recommended sunscreen throughout the course of your pregnancy.

7) Too much hair. Changes in the hair are also common during pregnancy. Some women lose a lot of hair within a few months after delivery, while many are troubled with excess hair growth during pregnancy. Excess hair growth is most often seen on the lip and chin, and is triggered by an increase in androgen and other male hormones during pregnancy.

8) Brittle nails. Many women experience breaking, splitting, or brittleness to their nails during pregnancy. Physicians aren't quite sure why this occurs, but it may be managed with an over the counter nail hardening polish. Check with your doctor.

9) Skin tags. Skin tags are little pieces of skin which over-grow and hang from the neck. These can increase in number during pregnancy. If you have skin tags before pregnancy, it may be that pregnancy will cause these to increase.

10) Atopic dermatitis. Also known as eczema, this skin condition may appear or worsen during pregnancy. Marked by extreme skin itchiness, too much scratching can lead to the skin become red, swollen, or cracked.

If you are pregnant, be sure to watch for these ten skin problems of pregnancy. If you begin to develop any of these conditions, seek appropriate medical advice; you don't have to suffer through these conditions for the whole nine months. Chances are that your doctor will have recommendations which can address your skin problems so you can have healthy, beautiful skin, even while you're pregnant.

Ally McNeal loves learning and teaching about skin care. Learn more about taking care of pregnant skin

Reducing Your Acne Problems

You look in the mirror and you are frustrated to see that your worst problem refuses to go away. Acne! If you are battling with the dreaded acne, you are not alone. Chances are you are among the 80% of people of all races that suffer from this condition.

Acne is the term used to refer to skin disorders characterized by persistent and recurring reddish blemishes on the face and other parts of the body including the neck, shoulders, chest, upper back and/or buttocks.

Acne is commonly manifested in these areas due to the predominance of sebaceous (or oil producing) glands in these areas. These glands are responsible for producing sebum, the natural lubricant of the skin and hair. Sebum is normally drawn off onto the skin surface through the pores. When the pores are blocked by excess oil or hair, sebum accumulates under the skin causing a "plug". This allows pimple-causing bacteria to thrive in the plugged pores resulting in inflammation and acne.

The term "acne" may also be used to refer to whiteheads, blackheads and pimples. Whiteheads develop when a pore becomes clogged, stays just beneath the skin and bulges out forming a white bump. A blackhead, on the other hand, results when a clogged pore remains open and forms a dark center due to the exposure of sebum in the air. Pimples are formed when infected whiteheads rupture. This infection makes the skin look red.

Although acne may not be a serious health condition, its existence may cause significant emotional concern to acne sufferers.

For a very long period of time, acne had been blamed to a variety of things, from eating chocolates and greasy foods to dirty skin to stress. However, there is still insufficient evidence on the relationship between acne and these factors.

Although the exact cause of acne is still unknown, its incidence can be attributed to many factors. Among these are:

Hormonal changes. Acne is most prevalent during puberty. This can be attributed to the increase in the male sex hormones called androgen in both boys and girls. This hormonal imbalance causes the sebaceous glands to enlarge and produce more sebum. Some adolescent girls and women may also experience acne outbreaks before their menstrual periods. Pregnancy also causes hormonal changes, which may explain why pregnant women are susceptible to acne outbreaks. Starting or stopping birth control pills may likewise cause acne.

Heredity or genetics. Research proves that heredity plays an important role in determining the tendency to develop acne. If one parent suffers from acne, it is possible that he or she may pass the condition to his children.

Bacteria. Certain bacteria have the tendency to infect oil glands and skin pores.

Drugs. Certain drugs, including lithium and androgen are also known to cause acne.

There are many ways to treat an acne problem. There are over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs used to counter the problem. Medications are available in various preparations. There are topical (applied to the skin) and oral (taken by mouth) preparations for treating mild to severe cases of acne.

To reduce acne problem, several precautionary measures should be observed.

Do not squeeze, pick, scratch or rub your skin. Putting undue pressure forces oil and bacteria deeper in the skin making matters worse. It may even cause scarring.

Wash your face twice a day using a mild soap and rinse well with water. Stay clear from granular facial scrubs. Exfoliating irritates the skin and produces more dead cells which clogs the pores and may further aggravate the condition.

Change your wash cloth every day. Damp cloth is a haven for acne-causing bacteria.

Avoid touching your face unnecessarily.

Shampoo hair regularly and try to keep your hair away from your face.

Exercise regularly and minimize stress levels. Stress aggravates acne conditions.

Oil from certain skin products may clog the pores so it is advisable to wear make up on special occasions only and remove it completely afterwards. It is best to use hypoallergenic and/or fragrance-free products.

.Avoid being sunburned. Certain acne medications make the skin prone to sunburn. Avoid this at all costs even if tones the skin and makes the blemishes less visible. Excessive exposure to the sun may hasten skin aging and may even cause skin cancer.

Remember, however, that for proper treatment of persistent and uncontrollable acne, it is best to be safe. Consult a dermatologist!

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Acne

Self Medication and Acne Treatment

Since acne is so common among teenagers, it is normal for most of us to believe that a visit to the a doctor is unnecessary. What frequently occurs is the acne is treated using some type of self medication. The majority of us will take medicine on the recommendations of our friends and family. We also turn to television and radio ads for medication that will help treat the acne.

What ought to be understood, however, is that self medication should be averted in the majority of the situations. It is accurate that acne is not some type of a terminal condition, yet a dermatologist would be in a superior position to counsel you on your circumstance. When you consume medicines for acne you would take generic medicines, but a dermatologist would be capable to supply you acne treatment on the basis of your specific case.

But if you really want to try some self-medication, we would like to tell you that there are so many products in the market that you are sure to get vexed. And if you are thinking of taking some medicine which proved extremely effective for your friend, always remember that what works for one condition might not work for your condition. And if you still wish to try self remedy it is advisable to have some understanding of the different ingredients that go into making different acne medications. That would allow you to prepare an insightful decision when it comes to acne treatment.

Benzoyl Peroxide is one of the most popular ingredients in acne treatment. It comes in the mould of gels and ointments and it helps in acne treatment by fighting against bacteria. In addition to that it helps in acne treatment by taking away dead skin cells that get amassed on the surface of the skin. Maybe you understand that in reality these lifeless cells band with sebum to form whiteheads and blackheads.

There are numerous reasons behind the reputation of benzoyl peroxide. The primary explanation is its effectiveness in acne treatment. There are many who use this even after acne has been treated to keep the skin free from bacteria but care should be taken here. You would find that excess use of benzoyl peroxide might result in dry skin. And it might also bleach hair and even your clothes. So, be careful while applying it.

Another popular ingredient being used for acne treatment is salicylic acid. What it does is that it clears the epidermis of dead skin cells. The exact skin cells that obstruct the pores. There are two primary problems alongside this product for acne treatment. First is that you would have to go on using it even after your acne has been cleared. And the second is that it makes your skin dry and irritating.

Sulphur and resorcinol could also be used for acne treatment. Resorcinol helps in peeling out the top coating of the skin with the dead cells clogging the pores. The majority of the times, it is cast-off with sulphur. Although while sulphur is not used by itself (as a result of its repulsive odor) it is used with most of the material used for acne treatment.

Because acne is so commonplace, we have literally just scratched the surface of the types of acne treatment that are available. We have looked at a few of the self medication products and some of the pros and cons of using them. Although there are many over-the-counter products available, it is always best to speak with your doctor if the condition worsens.

J. Purdy runs websites that offer resources and information to people suffering from acne: Acne Skin Care [http://www.best-acne-skin-care-treatment.com], Laser Acne Treatment [http://www.laser-acne-treatment.net] and Acne Cream [http://www.acne-cream.net]. Visit each of his sites today for all your acne needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Purdy

Skin Care and Your Health

Proper Skin Care is crucial since your epidermis or skin is actually considered the largest organ in your body. Your skin protects you from contaminants outside our soft shells and can prevent your body from contracting diseases, viruses or pathogens.

It also protects us from the Sun and is every part as important as our livers for keeping the bad out and allowing the good to flow. One of the best things to help you keep you skin healthy and looking well is to moisturize it and in doing so you will feel happier and healthier and of course you will look great too.

It is truly amazing how many people eat right, exercise and then fail to take care of their skin? What a shame that is. Skin, which is not taken care of opens us up for so many risks of contracting bad things or even skin cancer. If you will moisturize your skin and use the proper conditioning you will see a big difference, if not you run the risk of a not so good situation.

Some may think this is a lot of work, but really it is not. You see there are so many inexpensive ways to take care of your skin and it takes less than a few minutes a day. Simply rubbing in a little bit of skin crème while watching Television or hanging out on the porch is enough to solve all the problems. Such a simple preventative maintenance strategy will work wonders for your skins longevity. Consider all this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

9 Tips To Cleaner and Healthier Skin

For cleaner, healthier and easier to manage skin just follow this list of nine items:

1) Lower your stress level through prayer and meditation. Stress creates hormones that actually age us as they destroy cells and create toxic byproducts and free radicals. Studies have shown that prayer and meditation can reduce our stress levels. Prayer and meditation have been proven to even alleviate some of the symptoms of cancer and other life threatening diseases.

2) Drink plenty of water. It is a fact that 90% of us do not drink enough water. For your skin cells to function properly and heal properly from cuts, etc... we need to drink 8-12 glasses of water every day. Our skin is one of our most important organs as it protects us from disease, cushions our falls, etc... It needs plenty of water.

3) Get proper sleep. Not getting the proper 8-10 hours of sleep per day will first show in your skin. Broken capillaries, puffiness, circles under the eyes.

4) Eat well. Get proper nutrition. Too many junk foods can cause or worsen skin problems like pimples and acne. A well balanced meal 3 times per day has been proven to help alleviate spikes in skin problems and help to average out the outbreaks in acne vulgaris.

5) Take vitamins to supplement your skin and body. We can't always make sure we get 100% of each vitamin and mineral with the foods we eat, but we can take a multivitamin once a day. They are cheap at Walmart and there is no excuse. People that take multivitamins once a day live longer. Its a proven fact just like persons that smoke take years off their lives.

6) Properly clean your skin. Harsh soaps can dry out your skin and even stimulate further sebum (oil) production which can worsen acne. Use a mild cleanser with 2% salicylic acid. This has been proven very effective in ridding excess oils while maintaining proper hydration and pH. The slight acidity will keep bacteria at bay.

7) Don't smoke. Smoking puts years on you. Literally, smoking can add 10 years to the aged look of your skin. Why would you want to do that? If you must have nicotine then get nicotine gum or the patch - they will cure your cravings and there is no evidence or statistics of anyone developing cancer, lung disease, etc... from these.

8) Wear sunscreen. The skin does have keratonin to protect against the suns rays, but it is no match for UV rays, etc... that we expose ourselves to. Melanoma has several forms and all are deadly. If you don't think you will get skin cancer or think you are invulnerable, just go to your local dermatologist and ask to see pictures of clients with skin cancer, better yet go to the oncology center at your local hospital. You won't think that way ever again. Wear sunscreen.

9) Treat yourself to a spa treatment at least once a year. Skin peels, TCA peels, deep tissue massage, complete relaxation, aromatherapy, etc... will all energize and heal your skin. TCA peels will actual improve your skins ability to regenerate itself and improve collagen levels.

Instant Energy From Yoga

The dreaded mid-day slump has set in, and you need a burst of energy to get going again. Instead of turning to a cup of coffee or a sugar-filled fruit bar, try a few asanas or an energizing pranayama session for an instant pick-me-up.

The Yogic Solution for the Mid-Day Slump

Sitting in your chair, close your eyes and take a moment to still your breath and movement. Bring your mind into focus and set your intention. Nurturing your body, feeling your emotions fully, and bringing productivity back to your mind and spirit, are all good intentions for this kind of situation. Begin breathing deeply and twist your upper body first to the right, then to the left, for an upper body stretch.

Now, close your office door, and drop to your hands and knees for some Cat and Cow stretches. Curl and press to full spinal extension, moving with the breath. Push back into Child's pose for a moment, perhaps cupping your hands to give the arms a better stretch.

Pulling up to a standing position, fold forward into a forward bend, nodding "yes," and gently shaking your head "no" to relax the neck. Roll slowly upwards, one vertebrae at a time. Step forward into Mountain Pose, feeling strong and powerful. This entire sequence need take no longer than five minutes; yet the energy should last you through the afternoon.

How Yoga Cultivates Energy

Why is Yoga so energizing? Firstly, sitting in a desk chair exacerbates poor posture and keeps the chest from fully opening. Full, deep breaths are rarely taken while the mind is engaged in office work. Muscles, that sit in the same position for a long period of time, do not rid themselves of lactic acid, while they can become tense, sore, and stiff. Moving into Forward Bend briefly stretches the spinal structure, while the entire movement causes the heart to pump slightly faster.

Beyond the physical aspects of raising one's energy level, taking the time to focus on stilling the mind provides mental relief from the office and job duties. The "monkey mind," or thoughts that aimlessly wander around our heads, cannot be stilled easily, and cause a fatigued mindset.

Within the workplace is an increasing emphasis on multitasking, using personal devices to increase productivity, and networking. The mind is called upon to move in thousands of ways every hour on the job. Spending even five minutes away from this flow of incessant demands is a very real rest. Practicing and gaining energy from Yoga, to revitalize the mind and body, may be the best thing you do for yourself all day.

© Copyright 2011 - Paul Jerard / Aura Wellness Center - Publications Division

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

Yoga Moves for Tough Guys

When it comes to working out, tough guys have long adhered to the "no pain, no gain" philosophy. According to experts, however, this belief is not only faulty, but it can result in serious injury. While physical training can be rigorous, pain is not a prerequisite for success. It may actually be a warning from within one's body to slow down or change routines.

Men have traditionally preferred competitive contact sports, but the need to win can be hard on the physical body and emotional health, as well. Professional athletes, along with other sports enthusiasts, are discovering that the practice of Yoga can help them function more effectively in contact sports, and increase their overall health and wellbeing, at the same time.

20 Ways Yoga Moves Help Tough Guys

• Teaches breathing techniques that make it easier to work through strenuous or painful routines

• Helps to release and balance uneven muscle patterns entrenched by years of rigorous training

• Improves flexibility and relaxes tight muscles

• Gives a different perspective and appreciation for "gentler" methods of exercise

• Increases awareness of sensations within the body

• Cultivates patience and helps to let go of perfectionism

• Makes other training programs more effective

• Helps to prevent injuries or to recover more quickly

• Tones muscles and improves posture

• Aids in weight control

• Slows down the aging process

• Enhances immune system and improves general health

• Encourages healthy sleep patterns

• Boosts concentration and mental acuity

• Improves organ function and circulation

• Releases endorphins that improve mood

• Enhances endurance and performance

• Breaks down lactic acid, resulting from sustained physical activity

• Works entire body

• Removes toxins from the body

If these reasons are not enough to convince tough guys of the benefits of yoga, these recent news stories might do the trick:

• Swami Bua - a Yogi, not listed in record books, because there is no written record of his birth - died in 2010, at an estimated age of 120. He could stop his circulation; and, in his later years, was still able to blow a conch shell for up to five minutes, during one breath, each year at an annual gathering, honoring the United Nations in New York City.

• Wim Hof broke his own world record in 2008 by spending for 1 hour, 13 minutes, and 48 seconds immersed in ice. He used Tummo breathing - a practice used by Yogi Monks in Tibet - to control his body temperature.

Chances are - not many men want to spend days blowing conch shells or using breathing techniques to stay alive on a freezing mountain, but these examples do illustrate the amazing power of Yoga and its potential to enable seemingly insurmountable feats. They leave little doubt of Yoga's usefulness in the field of competitive sports and other arduous physical endeavors.

Although there are many Yoga moves (asanas) to challenge one's strength and fortitude, the following is a short list for competitive athletes of both genders.

Yoga Moves for Tough Guys

The Sun Salutations Sequence

Dolphin Pose

Head Stand

Hand Stand

Crow Pose

Wheel Pose

Lord of the Dance Pose

As always, please consult with your primary physician or medical specialist, before starting a new exercise program. Proper instruction with a certified and competent Yoga teacher is recommended. Any pre-existing medical conditions or injuries must be respected by modifying techniques.

© Copyright 2011 - Aura Wellness Center - Publications Division

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

Yoga Classes For Children

How many reasons can you think of for enhancing the education of our children and grandchildren? Children are growing up in a world where they will soon be expected to be problem solvers. Yoga prepares children to think rationally during times of severe stress. Yoga for children is a break from chronic stress, and it helps them build life skills at the same time.

With budget cuts, state-mandated tests, and a one-size-fits-all public education system, there is little wonder that kids today are as stressed as their parents. Imagine what a difference it would make if all children were taught the art of Yoga at an early age. Not only would it come in handy before the big math test, or when dealing with the school bully, but Yoga is a gift that can be carried throughout life. As B.K.S. Iyengar once said, "Yoga is a light, which once lit, will never dim."

Approximately 1 out of 5 youths, who participate in sports, is hurt each year; and 25% of these are serious injuries. While few people would argue with the value of athletic programs, not every child blossoms in competitive sports. Like academics, the sports arena often becomes an area where under achievement can leave lasting scars. Too often, much emphasis is placed on winning and not enough on awareness and community.

As Yoga classes for children become increasingly more popular, a variety of programs are being offered in studios, schools, and community centers around the world. These classes provide the same benefits as traditional Yoga, but their impact can be far-reaching. Healthy bodies and healthy minds create well-balanced kids, and Yoga helps to do both.

Benefits of Yoga Classes for Children

• Builds social skills and encourages team-building

• Increases awareness and emotional stability

• Improves coordination and flexibility

• Helps to develop self-control

• Teaches breathing techniques that enhance performance and lessen stress

• Decreases likelihood of injuries during other activities

• Builds strong bones and strengthens the immune system

• Makes it easier to accomplish in other areas - both academic and physical

• Sets groundwork for a healthy lifestyle

• Improves posture and balance

• Improves focus and attention

Yoga classes for children, have also shown effectiveness in the management of ADHD, autism, and other conditions that require special accommodations. However, practicing Yoga poses can give any child a greater feeling of control when facing everyday challenges. Favorite Yoga postures for children are: Child's Pose, Tree Pose, Downward Facing Dog, and Warrior Pose; but the options are as limitless as the benefits.

© Copyright 2011 - Aura Wellness Center - Publications Division

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Jerard

Yoga for Back Pain

Pain in the back is a normal experience. The severity of back pain varies though. Some are curable while others are manageable. Any person will know what he feels best to ease this discomfort. A variety of ways is available to ease that discomfort.

Several people prefer medicinal intakes to reduce the pain. Anti-inflammatory and pain medications are example of these. However, this method is effective when combined with bed rest.

The common and safest treatment is exercise. Such methods causes the blood to flow to the affected areas. The circulation of blood clears toxins and blockages from that area. The oxygenated blood hastens the healing and recovery of injured areas in the body. That is why many experts have studied the effectiveness of a yoga exercise in managing and curing pains in the body as well as the back.

Recent studies prove that a yoga exercise can actually eliminate this pain and lessen the possibility of having one. One major study found that almost 60% of people who consulted a medical doctor for this condition had tried some sort of alternative therapy.

Yoga is a combination of breathing techniques, poses and meditation. The combination technique reduces lower this pain because poses align the bones. Maintaining an aligned bone will eliminate a yoga practitioner's tendency to have a back pain.

Yoga also reduces back pain for pregnant women because the poses help lessen the degree of pelvic tilt associated with pregnancy. A variety of specific yoga poses stretch the muscles and tissues associated with lower back, hips, and hamstrings.

Yoga does not only reduce pain but also increase strength, improve balance, and cultivate mental focus. Many physicians recommend yoga for people experiencing normal back issues. Patients with severe back pain may not be able to tolerate a normal yoga practice. A good yoga instructor during these situations is required.

Yoga can be practiced for many other ailments not just for back pain. If one has issues for the knee, leg, arms or other parts of the anatomy yoga has a place for it.

A common issue for knee trouble is that the thigh muscles are not supporting the tissues and ligaments around the knee so the knee becomes comes stressed and causes concern. Most bodies have an imbalance in the body, have you noticed how YOU walk? Do you walk at ten to two? Or are your feet more parallel? Is one foot pointing out more than the other? How is your alignment?

Glen Wood - The Yoga Teacher. Glen is a yoga expert whom loves to teach you how to lose your neck, shoulder and back pain with yoga.

Dedicated to unlocking the Real Secrets of Back Pain.

Free Video Reveals No 1 Secret to Losing Your Back Pain with Yoga. Go here for more information:- http://www.goodbyetobackpain.com/secrets it has the tips and guides you need to be successful in losing your Back Pain, today tomorrow and whenever you have the need. Our guides are methods that work and are in use by many former Back Pain Sufferers. If you want to learn more, join us at http://www.yogateachingwithglen.com

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Children and Cooking

You only have to go as far as your local grocery store check-out line to know that Americans, especially women, are obsessed with weight. Countless magazines promise to help you lose 20 pounds in two weeks or give you the secrets as to how the latest celebrity took off their baby weight. If you are on a diet, you have to be careful that your efforts to lose weight do not turn into an unhealthy "obsession." This is particularly important when you are dieting with children in the house because children often mimic the behavior of their parents, both good and bad. Studies have shown that when a parent is obsessed with diet and weight loss, the children are also more likely to be focused on the same issues.

According to a report from the National Eating Disorders Coalition, 40% of 9-year-old girls have dieted. However, experts say that it is not a good idea to let your child mimic your "diet" unless a physician has specifically instructed them to do so. Per the Office of the Surgeon General, children should not be put on a diet unless under the supervision of a physician. Unlike adults, kids are still growing and developing. During this time, they need a variety of healthy foods to keep their bodies growing properly and diets can compromise their growth.

So how do you get around the dreaded "D" word in your house? - Simply by promoting healthy eating, exercise, and a positive body image. Here are some tips to help you accomplish that objective, which will hopefully in turn help you achieve your weight loss goals.

    * Reduce the amount of time you and your family spend in sedentary activities, such as playing video games or watching television.
    * Make exercise a part of fun family activities, not a chore.
    * Teach your children healthy eating habits. Teaching healthy eating practices early will help children approach eating with the right attitude- that food should be enjoyed and is necessary for growth, development, and for energy to keep the body running. If you are in doubt about healthy eating choices, consult your child's pediatrician or a dietitian.
    * Don't make negative comments about other people's weight in front of a child.
    * Emphasize the complex beauty and natural diversity of body shapes, types, and sizes. Parents can learn to accept, affirm, and love their own bodies. Showing appreciation for your body's strength, dependability, and health will encourage your children to do the same.

If you are dieting, rather than focus on diet and weight loss with your children, shift the focus to healthy eating and healthy habits. In the long run you will be glad you did.

Kelly J. DiLauro, CEO of Dedicated Woman, Inc., a company dedicated to the nutritonal needs of women. Products created, formulated, manufactured and tested by women for women. For more information on how Dedicated Woman can help you loose weight, gain weight, implement supplementation into your lifestyle or teach you how to love your body, visit us at http://www.dedicatedwoman.com

Healthy Diet For Children

Health becomes an issue as people get older. Experts have said the healthy diet for children helps prevent diseases and can keep your kids from being obese. Obesity is constantly increasing because of the increasing popularity of fast foods.

Before even starting the diet, never force your children to eat healthy. This might affect your relationship and children don't like it when they're told what to do. The first step is food shopping. Involve your children in grocery shopping and let him choose the foods he wants. From there, devise your own recipe and think of ways on how to make a healthy diet for children.

If your child loves to eat fried chicken, consider boiling the chicken and removing the skin so that the oil and fats are eliminated. Serve the chicken with gravy and mashed potatoes so that the chicken isn't bland. In fact, the tastier it is, the more your kid will enjoy it.

Reduce intake of salty foods. If you can come up with dishes that contain no salt at all, the better. Salty foods are not healthy, and this is why junk foods are bad for the health. The fries and burger that your child loves in the local fast food joint contains an amount of salt more than you can imagine.

Instead of that chocolate ice cream or vanilla smoothie, why not let your child try yogurt and a fruit shake? Yogurt tastes good and is a healthier alternative because it has the same texture as ice cream, minus the calories. The vanilla smoothie can be replaced by a mango shake and can work wonders for the body. You can even combine different fruit shakes like strawberries and bananas, mangoes and melon, and a lot more. Be creative and serve them nicely in cool glasses so that they are more attractive to your kids.

Explain the good effects of the healthy diet. Discuss the effects of it on the immune system stressing the decreased chances of getting sick, the positive effect on the skin and muscles, and the like. This might motivate your kids and they might even help you come up with great recipes.

For sandwiches, use less butter and more of the healthy stuff. Adding lettuce and replacing the beef burger with chicken is healthier and tastier even without ketchup and mayo. Your kids don't really have to sacrifice the taste to get the best health benefits. When bringing snacks to school, opt for cereal bars and eliminate junk food.

If your child has a huge appetite, eating frequently might work. A healthy diet for children means eating small snacks rather than three big, heavy meals. While doing their favorite activity, you might also want to encourage them to munch on carrot sticks or fruits like pears and grapes rather than the junk foods and crackers. When it comes to the diet, it is up to the parents to come up with creative ideas and make sure to have fun preparing it. Your kids will surely love being healthy too.

5 Tips to Teach Children to Be Healthy and Active

For young kids, it has been a struggle. It's because they tend to do things they want, without knowing if its really good for them or not. Parents often worry about their kids health but it should not be only them who have to work for this. There is a more responsible person that can help them achieve the optimum health status - themselves. Young as they are, they should already be taught on how to take care of themselves and what are the important things they must do to keep themselves fit.

Here are some reminders for parents and their kids:

1. Eat in Variety
Kids seem to have favourites and it's the only thing that they would ever want to eat. Being healthy doesn't need to be that stressful or complicated. Encourage your child to eat in variety. For parents, serve a variety of foods. Make sure the meal appears very pleasant. Add fun during meal time such as making fun shapes or allow them to help in cooking. Add fruits and nutritious food and refrain from sending them junk foods on their lunch boxes at school.

2. Drink Healthy
It is important to watch what they drink. Encourage them lots of water. Include it in their routine such as when getting up or before bedtime. Teach them to avoid sodas, instead encourage them to drink water. Of course they can consume chocolate drinks or juices, just make sure they don't drink them very often.

3. Be Active
Just like adults need exercise, kids need to be active. But this is not a problem because kids love to have fun. Limit time on watching television or play online games. Although these should not be totally banned in their activities, try to promote outdoor or play physical activities.

4. Get Enough Rest
Sleep and rest are necessary for growth and development. It is a way of relaxing your body and mind. Make sure they get enough sleep. Don't let them stay out late at night.

5. Understand your body
Listen to your body. If you are hungry then go ahead and eat. When you are tired get some rest. Parents should make sure they do not abuse their bodies. As your parents take part in taking care of you, take good care of yourself.

Healthy Eating Aimed at Children

Healthy eating aimed at children can often miss the target.

What parent hasn't tried at least once to bribe, cajole, threaten or manipulate their child into eating healthy food? Wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have to stoop to such heavy-handed tactics?

Here are seven sharp tips to help you hit home with healthy eating.

1. Start as early as possible. The longer you wait the harder it gets. Once your child is already ruined by sweet treats, it's much more difficult to get them to eat Brussels sprouts and broccoli. If you've already waited too long, you'll have to go for tip # 4 - be strong - and realize your kids might not like you for a few days.

2. Keep a variety of healthy foods available. This helps stop them from latching on to one food or food group. Sure they'll still have their favorites, but a variety will help them get used to varied tastes. And please, don't keep unhealthy food in the house. That's right, no junk food allowed. It will only sabotage your plans.

3. Combine foods they like with foods they don't like. For example, stir-frying onions with zucchini, broccoli, carrots, and snow peas might not seem as bad as sitting down to a whole plate of steamed broccoli. It also helps to make sure the pieces are small enough so your child gets some carrots with his or her zucchini.

4. Be strong! If you can't give tough-love, your project will fail. Tell your children that this is what's for dinner and that's it. There's nothing else for them to eat. Having only healthy food in the house helps to make this work. If there are no other options available, when they get hungry enough, they'll eat whatever's served.

5. Keep your kids away from saboteurs. Some people are just hell-bent on winning-over your children by offering them sweet treats. It constantly amazes me how so many otherwise well-meaning individuals, including some doctors and dentists, will offer my children candy. Teach your kids to politely say, "No thank you." If it's a relative, you can even threaten not to visit unless they stop.

6. Don't let your children watch commercial TV. Yes, you read that correctly. Television commercials are the nutritional education for about 95% of our population. And the majority of ads on kid's shows are about getting them to eat unhealthy junk food. You'll see a huge decrease in your child's food cravings when you turn off the tube.

7. Set a great example. This is the most important tip of all. How can you expect your children to give up candy and ice cream, if you won't? How can you get them to eat fish, vegetables and whole grains, when you don't? While your kids are still young, you're their main role model. Choose to be a great one.

If you're not a good example, you have no right to complain about your child's poor eating habits, obesity, ADHD and all the time you have to take off from work when they're sick.

So, use tough-love on yourself. Aim at healthy eating for you too!

Children's Healthy Living Depends on You

A healthy balanced lifestyle is developed in your child a lot sooner than you might expect. When you conceive a child you have to consider what you do every day and how it might impact on the gift inside you. Healthy development starts as soon as the new baby can sense its surroundings.

For example if a mother is in a stressful situation the baby is exposed to the hormones circulating around the mothers body and feels stress themselves. This is not good for an unborn infant and can lead to a distressed baby when born who is often inconsolable.

The mental development of your baby is just as important as the food they consume as they grow up. The majority of us often focus purely on the food we give to children without considering their environment and how it affects their psychosocial development. In order to promote healthy development it is important to spend time with your family to promote your babies healthy living by creating a suitable environment for them to feel safe in.

Consider your own childhood, were you incessantly instructed to eat your vegetables since they are good for you? Parents are insistent that vegetables are an essential part of a child's healthy development but there is more to being healthy than food. It is common now for both parents to go to work and arrange child care for their children. Parents often insist it's because they want their offspring to have everything they never had unfortunately all the physical possessions cannot make up for a parents care and attention being absent.

When I was growing up I attended church regularly and it has certainly given me a balanced spiritual grounding, but unfortunately for many now the pressure of life does not lend itself well to regular attendance in church. There is a gap which needs to be filled, but by whom if both parents are away working, is it sufficient to rely on paid help to promote the healthy development of your child? Everyone with children especially when both parents work should consider how they can have good quality time with their children.

Quality time gives your child someone to learn from, to look up to, you must find a way to fit this into your lifestyle for your children to develop a healthy balanced outlook on life. Are you really too busy to take half an hour out of your day to sit and cuddle your child while reading a story? Is that last report so essential that you have to finish it tonight or could you take it with you for when they are asleep. There is always another way to do what you are doing. Find the win win option where both your company and your family get what they need from you.

Ask yourself this simple question, and be honest with yourself about your true motivation.

Do you work to live or live to work? I myself have always and will always work to live, after all you can't wait until you retire to start living the life you dreamed of, it could be too late.

It was my 3 year old son who taught me to change my attitude to life when he saw one of his friends Dad's playing with a friend of his. He said my Daddy doesn't do that. I realized when my wife told me that I had been so focused on work that I had neglected him. I haven't ever done so since nor will I ever again.

Teeth Healthy Snacks For Kids - Advice From a Children's Dentist

As most parents know, children don't always want healthy snacks -- especially when they have the option to eat sugar-loaded snacks instead. What parents may not realize or think about too often is just how bad those sugary snacks are for their children. Not only will they affect a child's weight, but they also can ruin a child's teeth. No parents like to have to go back to the children's dentist because they are dealing with rotted teeth and cavities. Here is some advice from a children's dentist on some teeth healthy snacks for kids.

A Healthy Diet For Healthy Teeth

A balanced diet is essential for maintaining good oral health in children. When too many foods that contain starches and sugars are eaten, plaque is able to thrive on the teeth. The plaque mixes with the sugars and starches that are found in foods to produce an acid that attacks the enamel on the teeth, causing tooth decay. When a child has a nutritious diet, the chance of plaque forming and causing tooth decay dramatically decreases. A balanced diet for children is not just about meals, but also includes healthy snacks. In fact, snacks are usually the worst foods in a child's diet, as often they are quick, unhealthy, 'on the go' treats.

Healthy Snacks To Consider

There are plenty of nutritious snacks that a children's dentist would recommend. Teeth healthy snacks don't have to be complicated but can be just as easy as grabbing a chocolate bar. Some quick nutritious foods for healthy teeth include: sliced fruit, raw vegetables with dip, string cheese, and yogurt. Your children's dentist will be able to recommend plenty more teeth healthy snacks as well.

Snacks To Limit Or Avoid

Snack foods such as chocolate bars, candy, cake, cookies, and potato chips should be avoided or at the very least limited to special occasions. These foods contain too many sugars and starches that lead to tooth decay in children. Another recommended tip from a children's dentist is to limit the amount of fruit juice that is given to a child. Most fruit juices contain a large amount of sugar. Instead, give your child milk or water and have them eat a piece of fruit. It is a good idea to avoid even buying these non-nutritious foods or beverages so that they are not readily available to your children.

The other types of snacks that should be limited in children are the ones that tend to stick to children's teeth. A children's dentist may recommend avoiding these types of foods since the longer that a food sit on the teeth, the more likely the acids in the sugars will start attacking the tooth, causing tooth decay to start. Examples of these types of snacks are: raisins, fruit snacks, white breads, peanut butter and dried fruit.

No matter how hard you try, though, it is usually inevitable that both children and adults will occasionally eat sweets. It's sometimes simply too hard to pass up a piece of celebratory birthday cake or special holiday cookies. However, it is especially important to brush after consuming sweet snacks. If brushing is not possible, even rinsing your mouth out with water will help.

If you are having any trouble picking out a balanced diet for your little ones, your children's dentist will be able to help you select the best foods to keep your children's teeth healthy for years to come.