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There's a special time of year when otherwise healthy people morph into stressed-out shoppers who overeat, overimbibe and forget to exercise. The result? A spike in heart attacks that's anything but merry.

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A dental implant is a metal tool , usually made out of titanium, which is surgically placed into the jawbone to change damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth that seemand function like the accurate tooth. A dental implant does asthe tooth rootand can fasten an imitation tooth or teeth.

The original recognized model of a dental implants writes back over 1,3500 years. While unearthing a Mayan burial site, archaeologists found a mandiblefrom about 600 AD. It showed to be that of a woman in her twenties and had three tooth-shaped pieces of shell implant into the crack of three missing lower incisor teeth!

For years dentists have use fixed bridges or dentures for their patients with missing teeth but both of these options have drawbacks; fixed bridgework can damage healthy teeth, and dentures can slip. Dental implants avoid these problems.

rather than resting on your gumline or relying on remaining teeth for backing , as do dentures and bridges, dental implants areattached to the underlying jawbone. As the metal in the implants fuses with your jawbone, the implants won’t lose , make noise or make bone damage .

Even though most dental implants are successful, sometimes the bone will fail to fuse accurately to the metal implant. If that happens , the implant is removed , the bone is cleaned up, and the process can be tried again in a month or two. Generally , the success percentage for all implants runs from 90% to 95%.

Though the majority adults are canditates for the procedure , dental implant surgery is expensive and regularly not included by insurance.

About author: DentalImplant-s.com. Want to learn about dental implants ? Here’s free dental implants resources. Includes sites related to dental implants you can access from here!

Is the weather outside frightful? Are you stuck indoors for long periods of time in the mid-season hump of winter? Well, say good bye to the winter blahs with these inexpensive ways to beat the blues.

- Take a mini-vacation. I'm not talking about a $10,000 cruise or a ski trip to Aspen. Find something fun to do in your hometown. You'll be able to get away without all the expense of travel. Winter is a great time for motel bargains like buy one get one free or deep discounts on weekdays.

- Take a hike. Head to a large shopping center or mall, but leave your wallet behind. Go with friends and just people watch. The exercise will do you good as well.

- Take a multi-vitamin. Since most of us don't get enough of the B-vitamins that produce the natural antidepressant serotonin, this is a two-second fix.

- Flip for fish. Fall in love with tuna fish sandwiches all over again. The omega-3 fatty acids in tuna and other fish give a splash of blues-busting energy and boosts brain power.

- Let there be light. Soak in the sun by a window or outdoors without sunscreen for short periods of time. The free vitamin D helps release chemicals in the brain to boost your mood.

- Walk on the wild side. Cash in on those feel good endorphins by taking a daily walk of 15-20 minutes. Just a change of scenery will give you a lift.

- Indulge in your favorite kind of chocolate. Your yummy treat has heart-strengthening and mood-elevating plant antioxidants. Darker chocolate contains a higher percentage of the feel-good compounds.

- Volunteer. When you help others more unfortunate than yourself, your mood improves. Some ideas are church volunteering, helping at your child's school or a local nursing home, volunteering at the hospital or clinic, working with reading programs at Head-start programs, teaching English as a second language, helping at colleges or a dozen other ways to lend a helping hand. Contact your local Social Services agency or Chamber of Commerce for more options or details on how to get started.

- Give thanks. Thanksgiving is not the only time to take stock. List everything that is good in your life, no negativity allowed. When you are grateful for what you have, you realize how lucky you are. Try to be a "glass half-full" type of person.

- Get a cup of joe to go. Coffee is a great mood lifter. One or two cups a day helps boost brain function, increases heart rate slightly and energizes even the sleepiest night owl. Be careful not to overdo it, as this may disrupt your slee patterns.

- Combat the mid-morning slump with a high-energy snack like fruit and protein or dairy and carbohydrates. Mixing the food groups gives you more lasting energy than a single food.

- Look ahead. Write down a list of summer activities you are looking forward to doing. Plan your garden or outdoor projects. When you are thinking of the future, the present doesn't seem so dreary.

- Escape. No, I'm not talking about tunneling out at midnight. Visit exotic locals through movies, television or good old- fashioned books. An afternoon spent with a favorite author can be just the ticket to an exciting adventure.

- Smile. Even if you are faking it, a smile projects happiness. Someone smiles back at you and soon your feelings will match

Don't give in to the winter blues. Try some or all of these tricks to improve your mood, without busting your budget. Say goodbye to cabin fever forever!

Shaunna Privratsky is a full-time author and caretaker for her disabled husband. Please check out Money Matters, her latest 152-page ebook at The Discount Diva at http://shaunna67.tripod.com/id21.html and sign up for her free newsletter

- Do the winter blues have you down? Try some or all of these tricks and say goodbye to cabin fever

Fight and Prevent Osteoporosis Naturally

(NaturalNews) Women have a higher risk of dying from Osteoporosis than from breast cancer. As our population ages, we will see the prevalence of osteoporosis going up also. Currently, one in four women and one in eight men suffer from this condition. There is good news, though. The best way to prevent Osteoporosis is to eat a diet high in vegetables. Vegetables preserve bones and help fight off Osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder that is characterized by decreased bone strength that makes a person more likely to suffer fractures. These fractures are what make osteoporosis so deadly. Women have a one in six lifetime risk of fracturing a hip and this is higher than the risk of developing breast cancer (one in nine). Of the women who fracture hips, 50% become dependent on others for daily help and 20% need long-term care.

Diagnosis of Osteoporosis is based on a history of fragility fracture or on bone density levels.

A diet rich in vegetables and herbs will improve bone metabolism. There is evidence that fruits and vegetables increase bone density much more effectively than dairy products. Juicing is a very effective way of getting fresh fruits and vegetables into the diet. Minerals within bones help to protect against acids in foods consumed. After years of this buffering, people will suffer a gradual loss of minerals in bones and this corresponds with bone loss.

The best course of action against Osteoporosis is prevention. A diet high in fruits, vegetables, and protein will accomplish this. Magnesium and potassium are also recommended to enhance the buffering effect of the bones. Magnesium and potassium both are easily found in many whole, unrefined foods and are rich in many fruits and vegetables.

Calcium and Protein Can Also Help Prevent Osteoporosis

If one's diet is deficient in protein then bone rebuilding will not be a high priority for the body. If one's diet is deficient in calcium and protein then new bone formation will be decreased. Studies have shown that bone density will be improved by increasing one's protein consumption as long as the intake of calcium and vitamin D are at recommended levels.

The more protein is eaten, the more calcium is urinated away. It would seem logical, then, that excess protein would be detrimental for bones. It seems that this is not the case, however. Both protein and calcium are necessary for strong bones. As long as one's diet is rich in both, then bone density should be high. If one's diet is deficient in either one or both of these nutrients then bone density will suffer.

What's Wrong with Osteoporosis Medications

There are risks and complications associated with Osteoporosis drugs. For instance, Fosamax has been shown to increase the risk of ulcers. This is especially true if taken simultaneously with anti-inflammatory drugs. Anti-inflammatory drugs are often prescribed for those suffering Arthritis.
It is common for elderly women to suffer from both Osteoporosis and Arthritis so it would be quite common for people to be taking both of these types of medications at the same time.

Two 1998 studies stated that Fosamax prevents bone loss. It is not too surprising to learn that Merck (the manufacturer of Fosamax) funded both of these studies.

Fosamax is in the same chemical class as the chemicals that are contained in soap scum cleaners. It is a proven metabolic toxin that kills the cells that remove bone and thus enable the rebuilding of bone. Obviously, if these cells are destroyed the bones will become denser. What is not shared about this occurrence is that within a few years the bone will actually end up weaker even though it appears to be denser. This is because bones are dynamic and need this removal and replacement process to stay strong. If Fosamax prevents the building of any new bone then the bone will not be stronger.

To truly strength one's bones, the best course of action is to eat a healthy, whole diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Also consider a natural progesterone supplement if desired.

Source: http://www.healingdaily.com/conditi...

You expected the glowy skin and gorgeous bump -- probably not the itchy boobs or extra gas. Here, we've got the lowdown on everything you've been dying to ask about your most blush-worthy pregnancy issues.

Find out what induction is, the medical and nonmedical reasons for inducing labor, and the potential risks inducing labor carries for pregnant women and their babies.

In a pregnancy that is progressing normally, your body and your baby's secrete the hormone oxytocin, triggering labor. This starts contractions and preps your cervix by thinning and softening it. Induction is an attempt to jump-start this process.

The medical reasons for inducing are relatively clear-cut -- including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, an overdue baby, and health risks to your baby. If your health or that of your baby will be at risk if the pregnancy continues, inducing labor or having a c-section may be the best course of action.

If you're at 41-and-a-half weeks of pregnancy, induction is a clear choice, says Leslie Ludka, a nurse-midwife in Silver Springs, Maryland. Past 42 weeks, odds are your baby will be larger, and that can lead to prolonged labor or complications with your newborn.

Thinking about inducing because your doctor's vacation coincides with your due date or you're just plain tired of being pregnant? According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost 25 percent of all inductions are elective, or not medically necessary. Choosing to induce labor for nonmedical reasons is a hot topic among experts and moms alike.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists doesn't recommend induction for nonmedical reasons before 39 weeks. Any earlier, and you risk bringing your baby into the world before she's developmentally ready. "Induction is a medical procedure that carries risks, so it should be reserved for medical reasons only," says Sabine Droste, MD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

But she concedes there are nonmedical situations when induction is a viable option. "We get patients from outlying rural communities," she says. "They barely made it to the hospital the first time they had a child, and now they're approaching the due date for their second child. Unless I want them to deliver on the highway, that's someone I want to have come in."

It's tempting to induce to accommodate a busy schedule or to ensure family members are present for the birth. And sometimes you get misleading information that can complicate matters. For example, you may be told that your baby is "too big" and encouraged to induce -- or risk a c-section. However, you should still weigh your options carefully, cautions Mildred Ramirez, MD, associate professor at the University of Texas Health Sciences Medical School at Houston. Most of the time, ultrasound isn't accurate in predicting fetal weight. Your chance of having a c-section because you're inducing before your body is ready is about the same as having a c-section because your baby truly is too big, she explains.

It's best to make the decision to induce after weighing your options and discussing them with your doctor.

"If a patient's cervix isn't dilated sufficiently, we have to prepare the cervix by softening it ourselves, usually using the hormone prostaglandin," explains Dr. Ramirez. To start contractions, an artificial form of oxytocin (the hormone that triggers labor), usually Pitocin, is administered intravenously. If you're already showing some signs of early labor, induction is most effective because your body is more primed and ready to go.

Rupturing the amniotic sac, or "breaking the water," is another way to induce labor. The doctor uses a sterile plastic hook to puncture the sac. The amniotic fluid it releases is rich in prostaglandins, which increase the strength and frequency of contractions. But if labor doesn't begin within several hours of this procedure, there's an increased risk of infection to your baby, who is no longer surrounded by the protective fluid.

Breaking the amniotic sac differs from membrane sweeping, where the membranes connected to your uterus are broken. The goal is to make your cervix start effacing and dilating on its own, thereby starting contractions.

There are no guarantees with any of these methods. "No one knows how the mother's body will respond until the induction begins," Ludka says. "It's also difficult to anticipate how the baby will respond to labor, whether artificial or natural, until labor begins." You could have a fast, smooth induction -- or you could have a prolonged experience.

Walking may help bring the baby into position, with the help of gravity and the swaying motion of your hips.

Nipple stimulation triggers oxytocin, which might start contractions. (However, many doctors caution against this trying this method unless it's under their guidance. Sometimes this can cause prolonged contractions that can cause your baby distress if they're too strong.)

Fresh pineapple contains bromelain, which can help soften the connective tissues of the cervix.

Eating spicy foods is purported to get your innards rumbling, kick-starting your uterus. But you may just end up with bad gas.

All content on this Web site, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

As if fixing tiny hearts or saving the lives of babies who fit in the palm of your hand weren't amazing enough, these pediatric centers have another goal: making sure healthy kids stay that way.

With advice from child-health experts, we sent children's hospitals (full members of the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions) a comprehensive survey developed by Parents magazine. The 250-question survey asked the hospitals about their survival rates, number of complex procedures performed, research studies, staff qualifications, safeguards to prevent medical errors, and more. The hospitals returned the survey a few months later -- and Parents crunched the numbers and evaluated responses from more than 75 hospitals.

Out of a possible 1,500 points, the scores ranged from 563 to 1344. The range of scores among the top 10 hospitals was 1106 to 1344. In fact, the scores of the hospitals ranked 3 to 10 were very close, within about 50 points. These 10 hospitals emerged as the most outstanding for treating every condition you can think of -- and hundreds you've probably never heard of before. We've compiled a ton of information about their breakthrough procedures and new suggestions for keeping kids healthy. The result? This invaluable guide that you'll no doubt want to clip and save.

In unit after unit, there are out-of-town children with kidney failure or heart problems -- kids whose hometown doctors said they couldn't do any more. The families came to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) looking for a near miracle. Many have found one: Survival rates are very high. About 90 percent of kids who underwent one of the riskiest heart surgeries and 80 percent of preemies who weighed just a pound to a pound and a half at birth go home with their parents.

Still, CHOP's doctors keep pushing the envelope. There are 29 experimental studies for cancer patients who have exhausted standard treatments. Doctors recently removed a large tumor from a fetus's tailbone -- the first procedure of its kind. And endocrinologists have found a cure for children with severe congenital hyperinsulinism, a condition that can cause brain damage. While traditional treatment calls for removing nearly all of the pancreas, a new test available only at CHOP isolates the problem areas, allowing surgeons to take just a sliver of the organ. All the while, 10 art and music therapists plus 41 "Child Life" specialists arrange games, story hours, even a regular variety skit to help the hospitalized kids overcome their fears.

Children's Hospital Boston has published more than 800 studies in the last two years -- and many of the results improved kids' care right away. Last year, after researchers ID'd a chromosomal abnormality linked to some cases of autism, they started offering to test kids for the irregularity so they could catch the condition early, when intervention is most effective. When another doctor discovered that switching the kind of formula given to babies with a failing liver would prevent the need for a transplant, he quickly spread the word and 70 other hospitals made the change. Soon, researchers hope to be able to repair the birth defect spina bifida in the womb (by injecting stem cells into the spinal cord) and to use tissue-engineering techniques to grow heart valves.

Scoring better than any other facility in the staffing sections of the Parents survey, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin requires every intensive-care nurse to pass a special test in advanced life support; newly hired doctors must get their board certification in pediatrics or a pediatric specialty, which requires additional training. Only nurses who have worked in the emergency department for two years are allowed to do triage, while many other hospitals require only six months' experience. The top-notch professionals provide excellent care and are known for their pediatric-diabetes expertise.

Knowing that parents of sick kids can feel isolated, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center sparked a "family-centered" care movement that is spreading to other facilities. Staff meet with parents daily to discuss their child's treatment. And families can call a medical response team anytime if they have an urgent concern about their kid's condition. Plus, the hospital received a national award for a program that reduced surgical infection rates by more than half, a measure of the facility's quality. It's also a leader in leukemia research.

Having performed the most pediatric lung transplants in the U.S., St. Louis Children's Hospital is now giving extra attention to kids with another lung problem -- asthma. "Some families receive a 'coach' they can call 24/7 for help," says chief medical officer F. Sessions Cole, MD. One study showed that the program cut trips to the ER in half. In fact, St. Louis has 2,000 studies on conditions like SIDS (it hands out its patented swaddling sacks to prevent newborns from rolling over during sleep) and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (a disorder that causes blood vessels to develop abnormally).

Most local parents appreciate Nationwide Children's Hospital because the wait to see a doctor in the emergency department is only a half hour on average, one of the lowest in Parents' survey. But families from around the world flock there for its twist on a three-part surgery to repair children's hearts that are underdeveloped. "Initial survival rates for the series of operations -- called the Norwood procedures -- are quite good, but the children may suffer brain, kidney, or liver damage as a result," says Mark Galantowicz, MD, codirector of the hospital's Heart Center.

To avoid this, his "hybrid" approach puts off a lot of the fixes until the second surgery, when the child is older. This reduces the procedures' risks and preliminary results look promising. "We're getting kids through the surgery with less-devastating effects on their quality of life," says Dr. Galantowicz.

Last fall, Texas Children's Hospital weathered Hurricane Ike. "We didn't need to evacuate one child," says Joan Shook, MD, coacting physician in chief. "We were lucky, because we have treatments here that no one else has." Among them: engineering T lymphocytes in the laboratory to combat Hodgkin's disease and other childhood cancers. "In one study, more than 80 percent of kids with Hodgkin's disease responded to this treatment," reports Dr. Shook. Coming soon: a 13-story research center for studying childhood neurology problems, like autism and cerebral palsy.

In the bone-marrow transplant (BMT) unit at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, kids with cancer or sickle cell disease can walk to the playroom to check out the toys or hang out in the family lounge. While these patients would be confined to their rooms for months in some facilities because their immune system is too weak to risk an infection, this hospital's state-of-the-art air-filtration system gives them the freedom to roam. "It's one of the reasons our BMT success rates are about 50 percent higher than the national average," says Donald Durden, MD, scientific director at the hospital's Aflac Cancer Center. The hospital's other standout features include the scoliosis screening and surgery program and the newly expanded sleep-disorders center.

There's not much privacy in most neonatal intensive care units (NICU), as families have little more than a curtain to separate their child from the next sick preemie. Next month, Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital -- already a leader in survival rates and research for the tiniest babies -- will open a new NICU featuring private rooms with sleeping space for parents and the latest monitoring technology. "We're linking a baby's monitor to a hands-free communication device nurses carry so if there's a problem, the whole unit won't be disrupted by beeping," says NICU director Michele Walsh, MD. "Research shows that preemies do best in an environment with soft sounds." The department has its own music therapist to provide that. The hospital also supplies pasteurized donor breast milk (for babies whose moms are having difficulty pumping) and counseling sessions for every family -- both at no charge. And its accomplishments extend beyond the NICU: Rainbow is the first U.S. hospital to begin using gene therapy to try to cure patients with cystic fibrosis and has opened a center that specializes in treating brain tumors.

The hospital is one of the few in Parents' survey to have three major safeguards against medical errors: All patient charts are completely electronic, medications are starting to be bar-coded to prevent them from being given to the wrong person, and doctors input their own orders in a computerized system so there's no need to decipher handwritten orders and signatures. "When we moved into our new facility last year, we outfitted it with the newest technology," says Jerrod Milton, vice president of operations. The Children's Hospital also has impressive programs to promote healthy eating and child safety, giving away about 6,500 bike helmets in 2007.

The morning is probably no one's favorite part of the day, particularly if you stayed up the night before to watch Leno or Jaws for the seventeenth time. Remember: Stress and anxiety wreak havoc on your immunity. Enter your day happy and relaxed, and you greatly increase your chances of a healthy, productive day.

1. Go to sleep with your blinds or curtains halfway open. That way, the natural light of the rising sun will send a signal to your brain to slow its production of melatonin and bump up its production of adrenaline, a signal that it's time to wake up. When the alarm goes off, you'll already be half awake. Even better: Go to bed early enough so that waking up when the sun shines through your window still gives you the recommended seven hours of shut-eye. If you maintain this routine, it's likely that you can start relying on your biological clock rather than an alarm clock.

Have a small amount of sugar in the morning for better memory recall that day and on into the following day.

2. Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier. This way, you don't have to jump out of bed and rush through your morning. You can begin your morning by lying in bed, slowly waking up. Stretching. Listening to the news headlines. Mentally clicking off what you're going to wear, what you're going to do, what you're going to have for breakfast. It's just as important to prepare yourself mentally as physically for your day. These few minutes in bed, before anyone else is up, are all yours.

3. Stretch every extremity for 15 seconds. Try this even before you open your eyes. Lift your arm and begin by stretching each finger, then your hand, then your wrist, then your arm. Then move on to the other arm. Then your toes, feet, ankles, and legs. Finally, end with a neck and back stretch that propels you out of the bed. You've just limbered up your muscles and joints and enhanced the flow of blood through your body, providing an extra shot of oxygen to all your tissues.

4. Stick a chair in the shower and sit in it. Use one of those plastic chairs you can buy at any hardware store. Let it warm up under the spray for a minute, then sit in it and let the spray beat on your back. It's simultaneously relaxing and energizing, like getting a water massage. After a couple of minutes, you can swing the chair out of the way and commence with washing.

5. Read a motivational quote every morning. This can provide a frame for the day, a sort of self-talk that keeps you motivated in the right direction as opposed to the negative thinking of the morning news. Another option: Use a motivational mantra that provides a meditation-like burst, or read or recite a poem that helps you focus. A good one to use: Rudyard Kipling's "If."

6. Take a vitamin. Keep a multivitamin out on the kitchen counter right by the coffeepot so you remember to take one every morning. More than 20 years of research led to a major recommendation in one of the country's premier medical journals suggesting that every American take a multivitamin as part of a healthy lifestyle.

7. Eschew any decisions. For truly relaxing mornings, reduce the number of choices and decisions you make to zero. Go about this two ways: First, make your morning decisions the night before: what clothes to wear, what breakfast to eat, what route to take to work, and so on. Second, routinize as much of your morning as possible. Really, there's no need to vary your breakfast, timetable, or bathroom ritual from one morning to the next.

8. Cuddle with your kids. Few things are more stressful in the morning than waking up an overtired fifth grader or a snoring high schooler. Yet this is one of the few times you can catch your child still vulnerable. Sit on his bed and gently smooth his hair as you softly waken him. Or, if you're dealing with a very young child, lie beside him and gently hug him awake. Such a moment will send a quiet surge of joy through your entire day and will become all too rare in all too short a time.

9. Spend 5 to 10 minutes each morning listening to music or sitting on the deck or porch just thinking. This allows the creative thinking that takes place during the night to gel and form into a plan of action, grounding you for the day.

10. Wake to the smell of coffee. Really great coffee. Buy the absolute best coffee you can afford -- fresh beans are preferred -- and put twice the amount you've been using into your coffee maker, the one you bought specifically because it has an alarm that can be set to start brewing times. The strong scent of strong coffee will pull you out of bed like a fishhook in the back of your pajamas. Plus, if you're going the caffeine route, morning is the best time for it. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that acts in many ways like other stimulant drugs such as amphetamines, waking you up and increasing your muscular activity. Even better: A study of 18 men found that caffeine improved clear-headedness, happiness, and calmness, as well as the men's ability to perform on attention tests and to process information and solve problems.

11. Brush your tongue for one minute. There's no better way to rid yourself of morning breath and begin your day minty fresh and clean. After all, more than 300 types of bacteria take up residence in your mouth every night. You think a quick brush over the teeth is going to vanquish them all?

12. Take a baby aspirin. There. You've just significantly reduced your risk of a heart attack. In one study of 220,000 doctors, those who took an aspirin every day for five years slashed their heart attack risk nearly in half. Of course, check with your doctor first to make sure this is okay for you.

13. Use real sugar in your coffee, or drink a cup of orange juice. When researchers at the University of Virginia tested the memories of healthy 60- to 80-year-olds, they found those who had a small amount of sugar in the morning (the experimenters compared sweetened to unsweetened lemonade) even before breakfast had better memory recall that day on into the following day. We're talking small amounts, however, about a teaspoon or less; so put down that doughnut.

14. Check your morning calendar. This is the large calendar or white board you've hung in a prominent position in your kitchen. On it, you write everything you need to know for that particular day, from kids' activities to whether the guy is coming to service the furnace to whether it's time to pay bills. Check it out carefully while you sip that first cup of coffee or morning tea; it will help you structure your day in your mind and avoid the stressful effects of forgetting something important.

15. Swallow 500 mg of calcium citrate. Your body is better at absorbing this form of calcium than the other commonly used form, calcium carbonate, found in antacids like Tums and Rolaids. You'll need at least another 500 mg before you go to bed.

16. Drink eight ounces of water. You've been fasting all night and you wake each morning dehydrated.

17. Create a checklist for your kids. If you don't have kids, skip this one. But if you do, this is a biggie. To cut down on morning chaos, hang a white board in the hallway or kitchen and list all the things that must be done before the kids can leave: brush teeth, eat breakfast, get backpack together, make bed, and so on. Have them check off or erase each item once it's completed. You can do the same thing with lists printed out from your computer. Set a consequence: If all items aren't checked off 5 minutes before you need to leave, there's no TV, PlayStation, dessert, or computer time that night.

18. Keep a wicker basket for yourself and each child by the front or back door. Into it go your keys, wallet, purse, and the child's backpack, papers, gloves, hats, etc. This will prevent that frantic last-minute scouring of the house as you look for lost items.

19. Split up in the morning. That means you use one bathroom and your partner uses another. Even if you are still madly in love, bathroom time should be private time. It makes for a calmer, less stressful start to your day.

20. Wash more efficiently. We spend an average of about 12 minutes in the shower. That's fine when you're preparing for date night. But in the morning, you need to get in and out quickly. If you're not into showering the night before (we do understand about bed head) try using two-in-one products like a cleanser that both cleans and moisturizes or a combination shampoo and conditioner. When you wash your body, just hit the hot spots, i.e., your groin and underarms. Everything else can just be rinsed off. The health benefit: reducing stress by saving time.

21. Prepare an emergency outfit in your closet. Include socks, jewelry, hose, etc., so on those mornings when you sleep through the alarm or simply need an extra 10 minutes, you can just pluck it off the hanger and go.

22. Dry more efficiently. Start with an oversized, 100 percent cotton bath sheet for maximum blotting. Towel-dry your hair and let it air-dry while you do your makeup or put on your underwear. Then, if you use a blow-dryer, make it a high-energy one, at least 1,600 watts. Anything else is just wasting precious time.

23. Hop on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Studies find that people who work out in the morning are more likely to stick with their exercise regimen because they get it out of the way and don't have all day to come up with diversions and excuses. Plus, you will produce endorphins that will last most of the day.

24. Kiss all the people you love in your house (including the dog and cat) before you leave. Connecting with the ones you love soothes stress and provides you with a positive start to your day, as well as keeping you focused on what's really important says therapist Barbara Bartlein, L.C.S.W., author of Why Did I Marry You Anyway? 125 Strategies for a Happy Marriage.

Stroke! Heart Attack! Huh? This is what I caught while only kind of paying attention to an commercial the other night. I hit rewind to see what they were talking about. You guessed it. Potential side effects of hypertension drugs.

I can’t even tell you how many people I hear from due to this very concern. They have turned to my natural High Blood Pressure Program to avoid these side effects and more.

Many people have provided specific names of the medications they have been prescribed which led to additional research on side effects. While this is not new information, I was rather surprised again to review just how serious the side effects can be.

Remember, that high blood pressure is elevated blood pressure usually above 140 over 90 or so.

Heart attack and stroke can occur due to high blood pressure. Other vital organs can also be jeopardized such as teh eyes, kidneys and brain.

High blood pressure can also lead to insomnia, erectile dysfunction and sight loss. Since the symptoms can be very subtle or even non existent, it has earned the name “silent killer.”

Many people do experience some symptoms. Blurry vision, headaches and nausea are common. Measuring blood pressure is the only way to truly deduce that is is exists though.

One elevated reading does not necessarily indicate chronic high blood pressure. Regular checks are necessary.

If you are prescribed high blood pressure medication, you should be aware of possible effects. Four key types of hypertension drugs are: Diuretics, Calcium Channel Blockers, Beta Blockers and ACE Inhibitors.

Let’s look at ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) Inhibitors first. These drugs help relax blood vessels relax by blocking angiotensin II production. This hormone causes blood vessels to narrow. ACE inhibitors that are often prescribed are: benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) ,quinapril (Accupril, Mavik) and ramipril (Altace).

Accompanying the drugs are possible side effects such as chronic coughing, headaches, chest pain and even kidney disease.

Beta Blockers reduce blood pressure by affecting the nerve signals to the blood vessels and heart. They reduce the nerve signals, which slow the heart beat down and create less force. This reduces blood pressure. Some beta blockers are: acebutolol, atenolol, propranolol, metoprolol and many others.

Calcium Channel Blockers block calcium from entering heart and blood vessel muscle cells which prevents the blood vessels from constricting and lowers blood pressure. Some of the beta blockers are amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR) felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan).

Side effects include: nausea, heartburn, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, dizziness, sexual dysfunction, and in some cases, stroke and heart attack. Hey! I thought they were supposed to help prevent stroke and heart attacks!

Diuretics flush the body of fluid and sodium. Some diuretics are chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), and indapamide (Lozol).

Electrolyte imbalances, impotence, breast enlargement in men (gynecomastia), gout, menstrual irregularities, increased blood sugar, blurred vision, and fever.

If reducing or eliminating high blood pressure medication is your goal, I recommend taking this slowly. Do not just discontinue your medication.

Don’t worry that your doctor will be harder to convince. Doing it gradually and continuing to monitor your blood pressure with your doctor will make the transition easier to swallow.

Introduct the program but continue to take your medication. Continue to monitor your blood pressure. As it begins to lower, see your doctor and discuss lowering your medicine. Eventually you can do this until the drugs are no longer needed.

Christian Goodman is recognized throughout the world for his break through solutions to many complicated and even incurable conditions. His revolutionary High Blood Pressure treatment program has helped thousands of people to lower high blood pressure naturally. Learn more about Christian and his solutions on his alternative health blog.

Stretch marks are an unsightly appearance which are caused most often by quick weight loss or pregnancy. Stretch marks can be experienced by both sexes. They are thin lines that occur on the surface of the skin in various forms and colors. They are not harmful but are irritating and unattractive. Therefore most people are looking for how to get rid of stretch marks as quickly and easily as possible.

One form of stretch marks treatment is cosmetic surgery, or laser treatment. It can assist in bringing back the elasticity of the skin and can also change the discoloration of the skin. But though these types of treatments are effective and often show permanent results, they are very costly and cannot be affordable by all classes of people. An alternative option to this can be different types of stretch mark products recommended by most doctors and skin specialists.

Stretch marks can be reduced or eradicated in some cases with the help of various creams and lotions. These creams and lotions are manufactured using natural ingredients: cocoa butter, lanolin, and wheat gram oil containing Vitamin E. The ingredients present in these products go through the layers of the skin and heal the torn collagen which initially caused the stretch marks. Regular application provides effective results. However, the sooner the usage the better the outcome will be. You can also use oil rich in Vitamin E and massage it on the affected part before your showers to get the best results. Gentle scrubbing with a loofah while in the shower can also be beneficial.

There are a few natural methods that can also help you eradicate the stretch marks from your skin. If you want to naturally reduce the stretch marks the best thing that you can follow is a good diet that contains meals rich in vitamin A, C, E, and D. These foods should not only contain vitamins but also the required amount of zinc, proteins and fatty acids. Your diet should include food stuff like fresh fruit, brown rice, vegetables, soybean, whole grains, etc. Drinking a lot of water is also advisable. Following a proper diet makes your skin soft, elastic and smooth. While you are on your mission to reduce stretch marks, you should not be consuming some products like alcohol, coffee and soda. These only make the problem harder to correct.

Prevention is better, and easier than curing. Therefore the best option is to avoid the factors that can cause stretch marks. Vigorous exercise and excessive work can add extra pressure on the skin and create stretch marks on the body. Weight gain and weight loss are also considered to be factors causing stretch marks and therefore you should eat healthy food and perform moderate exercise so that your body remains fit and fine.

Before purchasing any stretchmark treatment, it’s important to know if they work. Check out my lens How To Get Rid Of stretchmarks to see the top stretchmark treatments reviewed and rated by hundreds of men and women. Learning from their mistakes can save you a lot of wasted time and money!

Many illnesses abound the world today. Before, people lived longer and with only a handful of illnesses. But today’s times are very much different because of the many changes that take place.

New technology has brought new things into this world. Many inventions, new foods, and all the new stuff that people now enjoy seem to contribute to the many illnesses suffered by millions of people; not to mention the different day to day experiences that people encounter as they go through life.

Persons suffering from Bipolar Disorder have to deal with such condition everyday of their life. Talking about it can be very embarrassing for some people but this should not be so since Bipolar Disorder can be managed especially if you know how to do it. I personally vouch for it.

The episodes are divided into four types: Depression, Mania, Hypomania, and Mixed Mood. When a person feels depressed, he or she feels sad and don’t want to do the usual things. Those that exhibit mania usually start having a high feeling, and become angry and irritable. They are the ones who tend to do risky things. The milder form is known as hypomania which can lead to either depression or mania; this episode also starts with feeling good and the person may think that more things are done. Others who have episodes with feelings of depression and mania mixed together is called mixed mood.

Depression symptoms include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and guilt. These individuals sleep too much or too little and experience changes in appetite or weight. They always feel tired, restless, and can’t make a sound decision. The worst case is when the person thinks about suicide and death.

Symptoms are divided into depression and mania. Depression symptoms include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and guilt. These individuals sleep too much or too little and experience changes in appetite or weight. They always feel tired, restless, and can’t make a sound decision. The worst case is when the person thinks about suicide and death. Mania symptoms include an increase in the level of energy, racing thoughts, sleeps less, easily distracted, more self-confident, more talkative, focused but accomplishes little, and often do extreme or unusual activities.

1. Bipolar I - this type involves manic and mixed episodes, as well as major episodes of depression. The bipolar patient may experience more than one episode for several days, weeks, or even months. Seasonal changes also seem to affect the symptoms exhibited by the person.

2. Bipolar II - this involves major episodes of depression and a hypomania episode. Normal functioning can also take place in between the said episodes.

3. Cyclothymic Disorder - this is a fluctuating disturbance in mood with hypomania and depression episodes. This is considered the milder form since episodes do not occur regularly and happens for shorter and less severe times.

4. Not Specified - this is a treatable disorder and the symptoms exhibited by the individual does not fall into any of the three types mentioned; the disorder varies from one person to another.

The cause of Bipolar Disorder is still unknown. Some say that it has something to do with genetics. But that alone is not enough to cause such disorder.

If you think you’re experiencing Bipolar symptoms, then you’d better check with your doctor as soon as possible.

If you think you’re experiencing bipolar symptoms, then you’d better check with your doctor as soon as possible.

Dr. Arturo Ovies is a Health Researcher who has dealt with Bipolar Disorder and Severe Clinical Depression since childhood. Over the past 5 years he has devoted his entire personal and professional life to research and teach about this debilitating mental illnesses. He has also written an easy and comprehensive guide to understand Bipolar Disorder

We’re a stressed-out nation: We work too much, sleep too little, skimp on exercise, eat the wrong foods. And if the nail biting and teeth grinding aren’t bad enough, just look at what stress does to you on the inside: Blood pressure revs up and immune system function slows down, leading to any number of health problems, not to mention the six top causes of death like heart disease and cancer. Relax! Here are 79 quick tips and tricks to use anytime you need to chill out—before the big meeting, after that argument with your spouse, as you’re racing through your daily to-do list. Try these, and you’ll feel just fine.

1. Roll up your area rugs and walk around the house barefoot, like you’re on a beach house vacation.

2. Crawl between soothing sheets, freshly washed with scented detergent or linen rinse, such as Tide Simple Pleasures lavender and vanilla.

3. Pop some bubble wrap. Can’t find the real thing? Go to virtual-bubblewrap.com.

4. Quickie yoga: Standing, bend and place palms on your thighs. With chin parallel to the floor, breathe in and arch your chest forward; breathe out and arch it up like a cat.

5. Blow up a balloon in slow, three-second puffs.

6. Stare at the blue sky (a calming color) and watch the clouds float by.

7. Watch a two-minute replay of The Office at nbc.com/theoffice.

8. Mini-massage: Lie on your back and position a tennis ball under the tense points—your lower back, between your shoulder blades, etc. Roll gently up and down and side to side.

9. Soak a hand towel and microwave for two minutes until steamy. Place on back of neck, on face or computer-achy hands.

Quick Stat: Be aware of the top 10 stressors: sick family member, money, your own health, children, work, personal safety, state of the world, terrorism or natural disasters, intimate relationships, discrimination based on race or ethnicity.

10. Power off your computer so the screen goes blank and that ever-present buzz stops. Think of a fantasy place—the beach, the mountains, playing at home with your kids—for five minutes before rebooting.

11. Visit rd.com for the cartoon of the day.

12. Pick up a bouquet of purple lisianthus and light blue or green hydrangea, which have a calming effect. Place in a glass bowl so you can see the water, and keep it on your desk.

13. Take a punch at the Desktop Speed Bag from Everlast (amazon.com) and pummel away stress as needed.

14. Stare at a picture of Monet’s Water Lilies.

15. Dab lavender body oil on your wrist and sniff a few times.

16. Squirt StressLess mouth spray, packed with passionflower and cinchona, under your tongue three times a day (sprayology.com).

17. Drink green tea—packed with theanine, which increases the brain’s output of relaxation-inducing alpha waves and reduces the output of tension-making beta waves.

18. DIY reflexology: Tap the tips of your fingers together to clear your head. Or, hold one finger at a time between your other thumb and finger and roll the finger like a pencil. Believe it or not, this is thought to relax neck muscles and improve circulation.

19. Play a free version of Bejeweled 2 or Bookwork on popcap.com. Designed by a stress doctor, these games require concentration and focus without violence or adrenaline.

20. Touch a talisman or object that has meaning to you—your grandmother’s crucifix, a shell you found on the beach as a child, a cherished stuffed animal—and let pleasant memories seep in.

21. Quickie yoga: Sitting down, as you inhale, touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth. Exhale, relaxing your tongue. Repeat.

22. Drink a glass of cold water, then go for a walk outside. The water gets your blood moving and the air invigorates by stimulating the endorphins that distress you.

23. Break your focus—stir your coffee backward, close your eyes and hum a song, drink your soda in exactly 24 sips.

24. Log on to theonion.com for hilarious fake newspaper stories.

25. Take a steamy shower with a luxurious gel such as Aveeno Stress Relief Body Wash with lavender, chamomile and ylang-ylang.

26. Mini massage: Starting on the bone directly behind your earlobe, apply gentle pressure with your thumb and forefinger and follow to the top of your ear, two or three times. Then rub briskly.

27. Order black tea instead of coffee. A study by University College London shows that drinking black tea four times a day for six weeks lowered the stress hormone cortisol after a stressful event.

28. Place a heating pad or pack such as ThermaCare HeatWrap underneath clothing on your tight shoulders or lower back.

29. Squeeze a stress ball for two seconds, then release. Once your muscles begin to relax, the tension will slowly go away.

30. Hold your loved one’s hand. Brain scans show the contact provides immediate relief from stress.

31. Quickie yoga: Sit up straight, and let your arms drop limp at your sides. Inhale, and on the exhale lean forward and rest your chest on your thighs. Slowly come up and inhale.

32. Light a lavender candle and inhale the fragrance in three long, slow breaths through your nose. Let the air out slowly through your lips, only strong enough to make the flame flicker.

Quick Stat: Consider this -- Nearly half of all Americans are concerned about the level of stress in their lives. Source: American Psychological Association 2006 Stress Survey.

33. Hold a sleeping baby.

34. Moisten a lavender and chamomile eye tea bag and place over strained eyes.

35. Race your dog around the backyard.

36. Keep a desk toy, such as the executive Slinky, handy for a few seconds of that hypnotic hand-to-hand “schling, schling” sound effect.

37. Quickie yoga: While reading e-mail, breathe slowly and focus your attention on your breath. Make the out-breath two times longer than the in-breath.

38. Slather on Johnson’s Melt Away Stress body lotion, which in studies reduced tension and anxiety by 50 percent.

39. Quickie yoga: When seated or standing, pull your shoulders back and down—good posture and alignment brings oxygen directly to your brain to help you think more clearly.

40. Rub the palms of your hands together vigorously to create heat. Quickly place hands over each closed eye and relax for a full minute.

41. Play a song by Norah Jones. A recent study found that people who listened to slow-paced tunes had lower heart rate and blood pressure than those who listened to faster songs.

42. Take a walk in a natural setting—a park, field, the woods.

43. Forgive someone.

44. Cross your bare foot over your opposite leg, and place one thumb at the base of the pinkie where the soft sole meets the ball. Bend toes forward and back with the other hand as your thumb massages up toward the big toe, in this diaphragm-relaxing move.

45. Repeat three times: “I’m doing the best I can,” and accept that you can’t control the current situation.

46. When the phone rings, wait to answer until the third or fourth ring. Breathe deeply a few times and tell yourself to relax.

47. Rub warm sesame oil (found in health food stores, not the cooking aisle) on your forehead. Sesame, a calming salve, is the only oil that penetrates all seven layers of the skin.

48. Write down every possible solution to the problem you are facing. Then let it go. Then write down everything you are thankful for.

49. Keep a running list of compliments and kudos on your computer or in your journal. Read the list when you’re frazzled and down.

50. Quickie yoga: Standing up straight, put the ball of one foot on top of the other. As you breathe in, bring arms up over your head and touch palm to palm. Bring hands down on the exhale and repeat on the other side.

51. Do a free relaxation exercise at stressremedy.com.

52. Pat a kitten.

53. Say a prayer.

54. DIY reflexology: Tug your earlobe with your thumb and forefinger. Gently pull and let your fingers slide off the ear.

55. Plug in a jasmine-scented air freshener (such as Glade Plug-In). Research subjects who slept in a jasmine-scented room snoozed better and were more alert the next day than those who didn’t.

56. Take a walk and think about five things you are thankful for. Research shows it’s physiologically impossible to be stressed and thankful at the same time.

57. Visit topfive.com for a funny top five list every day.

58. Think of someone you love and read your favorite romantic poem aloud.

59. When you encounter a discourteous driver, try to shift focus to all the good drivers around you. Just five minutes of positive focus raises immune system function for six hours, while focusing on those you resent has the opposite effect.

60. Spray peppermint Motor Mist Spritz in your car. Peppermint, studies show, decreases anxiety and fatigue while driving, easing frustration behind the wheel.

61. Quickie yoga in the car: Before you start the ignition, lay arms palms up in your lap, take a deep breath through your nose. As you exhale, stick your tongue out and try to touch the tip of your chin. Then, your eyes looking up between your brows, bring your hands up as if you were going to pounce and roar as loudly as you can.

62. Remember being soothed to sleep by a bedtime story? Pop in an audiobook narrated by Barbara Caruso, one of AudioFile magazine’s Golden Voices. Her newest: The Teahouse Fire by Ellis Avery.

63. Chew cinnamon gum, which gave study subjects more energy and alertness, cutting down on stress.

64. Go to Lime.com. Enter the “room” of your choice—winter room, floral room, forest room, water room or Zen room—launch it and watch a calming nature image slowly appear on your screen, mesmerizing you as it disintegrates and reforms into a new scene every 10 seconds.

65. Melaniegriffith.com’s meditation room lets you pick a mantra for one of six different topics, including health, relationships and spirituality, which you repeat while watching a video of nature close-ups.

66. Gracecathedral.org has an online “finger” version of the Labyrinth, an ancient maze on which you can walk as you reflect and meditate.

67. Onegoddessway.com gives you a choice of several soothing nature scenes with audio, including a tranquil waterfall and fire in a hearth.

68. Drink a glass of milk. It contains tryptophane, which as it is metabolized is converted to mood-boosting serotonin. Plus, its calcium, magnesium and potassium content may help keep blood pressure down.

69. Eat broccoli and low-fat ranch dip. Broccoli has folic acid, which aids stress reduction.

70. Enjoy sorbet with a vanilla sugar wafer. Sugary foods decrease levels of anxiety-producing hormones, specifically through the production of glucocorticoid, a stress hormone linked to storing more fat in the belly. Just a little sugar on the tongue is enough to produce a feel-good effect, so don’t overdo it!

71. Have a whole grain English muffin with jam or honey. Complex carbohydrate-rich foods raise serotonin levels, boosting your mood and helping you relax.

Quick Stat: You’re not alone: 30% of workers claim they are working longer hours compared with this time last year, with 32% saying that they are experiencing more on-the-job stress (Source: Adeco North America).

72. Snack on a handful of nuts. They’re packed with magnesium, which seems to help keep cortisol levels low. Nuts are high in calories, so if you’re watching your weight, make sure not to eat more than a dozen a day.

73. Savor some salmon. Omega-3 fatty acids help brain cells to function more collaboratively, helping you to deal with stress more effectively.

74. Indulge in some dark chocolate. By far the most potent endorphin-producing food on earth, chocolate contains more than 300 different compounds, including anandamide, a chemical that mimics marijuana’s effects on the brain, and theobromine, a mild stimulant. Look for imported dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 70% or more.

75. Drink hot cocoa. Warm drinks raise your body temperature—a feeling we associate with comfort, so it triggers a similar response in our brains.

76. IN-Fused Chocolate. Handcrafted from imported dark organic Dutch chocolate, this bar has 150 mg of L-theanine, as well as aromatic oils such as lavender and chamomile (Intelligent Nutrients).

77. Top stress-relieving aromatherapy scents to keep around the house: orange, grapefruit, lemon rosemary, peppermint, rose, sweet marjoram, lavender, chamomile, ylang-ylang.

78. Stress-reduction tip from ER doctor John Rogers, MD, Bolingbroke, Georgia: “For a while I wore a little gold halo-shaped pin on my sleeve. It would remind me to ‘be an angel,’ to stay focused on keeping peace inside me and be compassionate toward others regardless of all the stresses that surrounded me.”

79. A tip from air traffic controller Mike Clark, Newark, New Jersey: “I call my girlfriend, parents or friends. Just hearing their voice is a great escape and helps me to decompress.”

Killer Bug: Staph Outbreaks Prompt More Precautions

Soap and Water Can Stop Germs in Their Tracks

A number of deadly cases from MRSA (commonly known as staph) infections is changing the ways schools, athletic organizations and fitness centers, day care operators, and health settings clean and share items. But apparently not enough. As incidents occur across the nation in public settings, personal action is needed to help halt the spread of the deadly germs. Many school districts, fitness centers, pediatric offices, child care providers, businesses and even places of worship are stepping up cleaning procedures and distributing literature about the so-called "super bug." The scary news is that the germs are increasingly resistant to antibiotics. However, the simple solution seems to lie in the art of regular and thorough handwashing.

Medical experts say that staph infections are common and relatively harmless when in the nose or on the skin. The infection may appear to be a boil or spider bite. But if it travels more than skin deep, it can be difficult to stop with medications available currently. What is perhaps most disturbing is that the threat from staph is the greatest, and often begins, in health care settings.

There are several groups with the greatest risk factors, including those who have had recent surgeries, are in nursing homes, those who participate in contact sports, and who take drugs by injection. But of special note is the group of adults and children who spend significant time in public settings with a number of other people, such as daycare centers, schools and colleges, various workplace settings, and camps. While the information is not meant to alarm, it should be considered as an awareness platform with everyone doing their part to protect themselves from the risk of getting a staph infection (or any other germ).

Ways to reduce the risk of infection:

· Don't share personal items. This includes a towel, soap, razors, nail clippers, makeup, lotion, or any product.

· Wash clothes in warm-to-hot water. If possible, don't use the gym-provided towels; bring your own.

· Keep your skin injury-free; if the skin is broken, wash it immediately with soap and water and disinfectant and then cover the area with a bandage.

· Clean high-touch items such as doorknobs, light switches, appliance handles regularly with a disinfectant.

· Bring a first-aid kit wherever your child is so that any boo-boos, including simple cuts and scrapes, can be treated and covered immediately. If possible, keep sanitary wipes or gel in a purse, bag or car at all times and use it with all family members before and after going to high-traffic public places (beyond just the restroom, where vigorous hand washing should already be taking place).

· Make sure kids understand the importance of hand washing at all times to keep germ free.

Interested in learning more? About Guide to Pediatrics Vince Iannelli, M.D., features detailed medical information about staph skin infections and MRSA

Cure Bad Breath

Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article:

"6 Refreshing Tips To Cure Bad Breath." 08 September 2005. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/10011-refreshing-tips-to-cure-bad-breath.htm> 23 January 2009.

Fixing bad breath depends on what's causing it. In 80 to 90 percent of cases, it's due to something in the mouth. Most often, it's nothing more serious than a dirty mouth. Plaque, the nearly invisible film of bacteria that's constantly forming in your mouth, is often responsible for bad breath. Other dental culprits include cavities and gum disease.

Occasionally, bad breath is due to something in the lungs or gastrointestinal tract or to a systemic (bodywide) infection. However, eating a garlicky meal is one of the most common causes. The strong odors of foods such as garlic, onions, and alcohol are carried through the bloodstream and exhaled by the lungs. Another big loser when it comes to bad breath is tobacco.

In addition, some health problems, such as sinus infections or diabetes (which may give the breath a chemical smell) can cause bad breath.

Here's what you can do to keep your breath as fresh as possible:

1. Keep your mouth clean. That means a thorough brushing twice a day and flossing regularly. Food and bacteria trapped between teeth and at the gum line can only be removed with floss. If they're left to linger, bad breath is imminent.

2. Clean your tongue, too. Bacteria left on your tongue can contribute to less-than-fresh breath. Be sure to brush your tongue after you brush your teeth.

3. Wet your whistle. A dry mouth can quickly cause bad breath. Saliva helps clean your mouth; it has a natural antibacterial action, and it washes away food particles. That awful morning breath is the result of reduced saliva flow at night.

4. Rinse. If nothing else, at least rinse your mouth with plain water after eating. Swishing the water around may help to remove some of the food particles left in the mouth after a meal and prevent bad breath from setting in.

5. Munch on parsley. Munching on parsley or spearmint won't cure bad breath, but the scent of the herb itself can help to temporarily cover up offending oral odor.

6. Eat to smell sweet. Foods that help fight plaque may also help fight bad breath. Opt for celery, carrots, peanuts, or a bit of low-fat cheese if you want something to snack on.

All of the tips above will help your breath smell better, but figuring out the cause of bad breath is the best way to lick it for the long term.

Over the past few weeks, I have spoken to many friends and acquaintances who have been having bouts of classic sadness. I won’t call it depression, although I am sure some of them might be inclined to use that label. I’ve always been wary in using that word with my clients since it can easily be misunderstood. Most of the time what they’re suffering from is sub-clinical depression, commonly known as extreme sadness.

To be diagnosed with clinical depression, a person must experience a specific number of symptoms every day for at least a two-week period. Some of these symptoms may be: loss of usual interest or pleasure in activities; reduced appetite and weight loss ( other than from healthy dieting ); increased appetite and weight gain; changes in sleeping pattern; feelings of inappropriate guilt, hopelessness, worthlessness, or pessimism; inability to concentrate, remember things, or make decisions; constant fatigue or loss of energy; restlessness or decreased activity noticed by others; thoughts of death or suicide or attempts at suicide; and persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain.

Most people do not fit into this pattern, and are in fact suffering only from a serious case of the blues. It may last anywhere from days to weeks. I don’t want to minimize how difficult this is. Once people get into a funk, they often cannot notice anything positive going on around them. They are experiencing the world through defective filters. The Law of Attraction states that you will get more of whatever you put your energy, focus, and attention on. So people in this state will be drawn into a negative vortex that is difficult to escape from without some form of intervention or interruption of pattern.

Whether alone, or with the assistance of a friend, any combination of the following approaches will contribute to breaking that pattern. They work.

Lee Iacocca once said, “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities - brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.” When I trained in customer service skills, I used to tell front line staff that customer complaints were not to be feared, but rather to be welcomed with open arms. They were being handed a wonderful gift. Here was their opportunity to shine. Here was their opportunity to show the customer just how much we did care for their needs. Most customers are neutral, but a disgruntled one, once turned around, is usually an activist for the company.

A research study measured subjects’ cognitive deficits and psychological states after walking in a city environment compared to a group who walked in an arboretum. Those who had walked in the city scored considerably less on a test of working memory and attention, and were also in a worse mood than the other group.

I love Jim Carey movies. I recently watched, “Yes Man.” Here was a man living an uneventful life until he began responding positively to every request. Of course this got him into some unexpected and very funny situations; however there is a great lesson here. For every event, look for and embrace its positive features.

Maintain and foster your network of friends and family, even if it is a bit of a chore. Isolating yourself just deepens the hole you’re in.

This is probably one of the simplest methods available. Walk, dance, swim, or do some gardening. Trick your brain into thinking that everything is just fine.

Eat well, drink well. At some time or other we all turn to comfort food - self-medicating to make us feel better with too much of things like pasta, pop, alcohol - but, though it feels fine in the short term, it’s destructive over time. Keep in mind that dehydration is a prime cause of fuzzy thinking and convoluted decision making. For good hydration, choose water over pop and alcohol, and, for abrupt and dynamic change, switch much of your diet to fresh fruit and vegetables, their fiber helping regulate your system’s pace of absorption.

During the short days of winter, either get outside for twenty minutes a day, or buy a full-spectrum light bulb. Exposure to this light on a daily basis will encourage your body to promote the generation of the mood-raising vitamin D.

Lots of research has shown that what we read, listen to, or watch will affect our consciousness. Our conscious thoughts influence our emotions, behaviors, and even our health. None of us can afford the luxury of a negative thought. Saturate your mind with positive thoughts. Avoid the news and listen to relaxing music. Spend as much time out of doors as you can. Develop a habit of laughing and smiling often. If you want to take it to another level, consider taking a personal development course or hiring a life coach.

Dwelling on the past or worrying about the future generates and sustains anxiety. Focusing on the present creates a sense of grounding and wellbeing.

Instead of comparing yourself to others, or grieving over what you once had, be grateful for what you do have, whether it’s health, family, skills, abilities, friends, or a place to live. Many people keep a daily gratitude journal. This keeps their good fortune at top of mind.

The last thing I want you to be aware of is that life is full of cycles. Sometimes we may find ourselves in a natural low, and it takes only a few negative events to make our life appear very gloomy indeed. Be assertive. Give some of these approaches a trial run. I am sure you will notice a difference within days.

Do you find yourself constantly at the opposite end of being calm, relaxed and centered? If so you are probably familiar with the feeling of being stressed out, angry, or even out of whack with your whole body. Don't worry if you do, we all feel like that at times.

Experiencing inner peace is synonymous with being happy about each moment and enjoying everything life throws at you. Unfortunately we are not monks who spend their days meditating for their eternal ohm. Instead, most of us lead busy lives: playing hard and working harder. But sometimes we need to calm down to recharge our batteries and take stock of our directions.

If we can't do this, we run the risk of possibly becoming ill, having a nervous breakdown or simply becoming a grump that no one can stand being around. Today's society is geared so much toward production and performance that we have forgotten how to smell the flowers occasionally. We hardly have time to breathe and before we realize it, another day has rushed by.

Today is Saturday; most people are off work. If you can find it in your schedule, take 5 minutes to read this, and 5 minutes to work on finding a little peace. Here are some simple suggestions to get you on your way!

Each of these suggestions can help you to unwind and relax. Maybe you have your very own favorites to share with us. It would be great to hear what helps YOU to relax so please feel free to comment.

If you care about protecting our children from psychiatric medications, you've got to hear this song.

I've just released the second track on my hip-hop album "Beyond All Reason." The song, entitled "SSRIs - S.S.R.Lies," is my hip-hop answer to the child-destroying industry of modern psychiatry.

At that page, you can also download the entire song, read the lyrics, watch the YouTube video, post your own comments and much more.

What's important to note here is that the hip-hop music genre has the potential to reach teens and kids far better than articles or books. This song can get directly onto the iPods and computers of teens who need to hear this message, and they may begin to learn more about psychiatric drugs and resist being chemically abused by psychiatrists.

Help us get the word out. We're not asking for your money; just your help in publicizing this important non-commercial message. The more kids (and parents) that hear this song, the more lives we'll be able to protect from Big Pharma.

Taking Off the Kid Gloves - Two Dieticians "Tell it Like It Is"

Two dieticians were asked by a functional food site to do more than just offer - eat less, exercise more; steer clear of fast food and french fries. Though Americans have heard these mantras time and again, obesity rates indicate that many of us are failing miserably in maintaining our health. Suzanne Dixon and Dave Ellis, two registered dieticians, presented the following tips as their collective "do it right in 2009 and beyond:"

1- America has a toxic food environment - so unless you are fully committed to healthy eating, you will not pull it off. There are many, many temptations.

2- Get real - it takes hard and daily work to attain and then maintain a healthy weight. And as we get older, it gets harder for most people. You are typically not unique.

3- Reading food labels is not the key - though being nutritionally informed is a good habit - we all know that an apple, fat free milk and carrots are superior choices to most processed foods. We know what's good for us.

4- Don't drink calories - with the exception of a serving of 100% fruit juice and occasional wine - water, unsweetened tea and a serving or two of fat free milk daily should be our primary beverages.

5- Understand balance - the expert dieticians offer that even a vigorous walk around the block a couple of times, will not burn off a fried chicken dinner. We consistently overestimate our exercise and underestimate our calories.

6- Get tuned in - Eating for reasons other than hunger (which most people do - or they identify hunger when it's emotional hunger) contributes to weight problems. Consider getting help if you struggle with this one.

7- If you eat when bored/frustrated/anxious/depressed - then you need help from a dietician. And if those emotions provoke binge eating, then you especially need help from professionals.

8- Choose the right goals - people who decide to lose weight with the goals of better health or increased energy/productivity actually tend to do better than people who just "diet to look better."

9- Eat with regularity - most people do better if they eat 3 balanced meals and 2 small snacks daily. Going more than 3-4 hours without eating can set you up for difficulties.

10- Know that the fit work at it - though some people are blessed, most people who maintain their body wieght and physical abilities really work at it. Stop the pity and start the effort to work towards those goals, realizing that it can take longer than you anticipate.

11- Everyone can get healthier - by engaging in some physical acitivity daily and in choosing wisely when they eat. Even if weight loss is challenging, you can still get healthier.

12- Get to sleep - studies show that less than 7 hours of sleep nightly can increase cortisol production and that can spur hunger.

13- Fast food is addicitive - your brain's pleasure centers are stimulated to crave fast food and highly processed food if you have eaten it with some regularity. It can take a huge effort to reverse those cravings and desires - even years. If you find you are struggling with occasional "treats" you may be the kind of person who has to "avoid entirely."

14- Starvation diets don't work (except among the morbidly obese and even then it can be problematic) because your body adapts rapidly. Some people may require very low calorie diets to spur weight loss and in that case, daily vigorous exercise can help to stimulate additional weight loss.

15- Being sedentary even if you diet is a surefire way to defy weight loss - you still have to move even when you control your food. Weight loss requires both prongs of effort.

These 15 recommendations can take upwards of a year to implement. If weight loss is very slow as you embrace these habits, remember, that it may have taken years to get to the state you are in today. Quick weight loss is usually

Feeling SAD As the Days Grow Shorter?

It Could Be Seasonal Affective Disorder

By Nancy Schimelpfening, About.com

Updated: July 30, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Have you ever noticed how a gray, rainy day makes you feel gloomy and tired, but a sunny day can leave you feeling cheerful and energized? Well, there's a scientific reason for this. Insufficient exposure to sunlight has been associated with low levels of melatonin and serotonin, carbohydrate craving, weight gain, and sleep disturbance.

Some of you may have also noticed that you find a seasonal fluctuation in your moods, feeling depressed only in the winter months. Take a look at your calendar and you'll soon see why. Each year on June 21 we experience the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. With our longest hours of sunlight in the middle of summer it's no wonder we're happier this time of year. After this date, however, the days progressively get shorter until the winter solstice on December 21, the shortest day. Is it any accident then that so many of us run for the hills when the holidays roll around? With our serotonin in such short supply, the added stresses of living up to our images of the picture-perfect holiday are just too much. The medical term for the season-long malaise that we fall into is seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.

The symptoms of SAD occur cyclically with a return of symptoms each year during the winter months. These symptoms tend to be the atypical symptoms of depression, including:

SAD is believed to be caused by a disturbance in the normal circadian rhythm of the body. Light entering through the eyes influences this rhythm. When it is dark, the pineal gland produces a substance called melatonin which is responsible for the drowsiness we feel each day after dusk. Light entering the eyes at dawn shuts off the production of melatonin. During the shorter days of winter, when people may rise before dawn or not leave their offices until after sunset, these normal rhythms may become disrupted, producing the symptoms of SAD.

There is also evidence linking SAD to a reduced amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is the feel-good substance that is increased by antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This decrease in serotonin production may be responsible for many of the symptoms of SAD, such as depression and carbohydrate cravings.

There is no laboratory test for SAD. It is diagnosed based upon a person's symptom history using criteria set forth by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The DSM-IV does not consider SAD to be a separate disorder. Instead it is a “specifier” of Major Depressive Episode. In order to be diagnosed with SAD a person must first of all meet the criteria for a Major Depressive Episode:

A. At least five of the following symptoms have been present during the same two-week period, nearly every day, and represent a change from previous functioning. At least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.

NOTE: Do not include symptoms that are clearly due to a general medical condition, or mood-incongruent delusions or hallucinations.

1. Depressed mood (or alternatively can be irritable mood in children and adolescents).

3. Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain or decrease or increase in appetite.

9. Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.

B. The symptoms are not better accounted for by a mood disorder due to a general medical condition, a substance-induced mood disorder, or bereavement (normal reaction to the death of a loved one).

C. The symptoms are not better accounted for by a psychotic disorder like schizoaffective disorder.

If these criteria fit, the follow criteria would also need to be met to obtain a seasonal pattern specifier:

A. Regular temporal relationship between the onset of major depressive episodes and a particular time of the year (unrelated to obvious season-related psychosocial stressors)

B. Full remissions (or a change from depression to mania or hypomania) also occur at a characteristic time of the year

C. Two major depressive episodes meeting criteria A and B in last two years and no nonseasonal episodes in the same period

D. Seasonal major depressive episodes substantially outnumber the nonseasonal episodes over the individual's lifetime

Light therapy using a device that give off bright, white light is considered the best form of treatment for SAD at this time.

In fall 1998, a group of 13 Canadian specialists issued a set of professional consensus guidelines for the treatment of SAD. Among their conclusions:

· The starting "dose" for light therapy using a fluorescent light box is 10,000 lux for 30 minutes per day.

· Alternatively, light boxes emitting 2,500 lux require two hours of exposure per day.

· Light therapy should be started in the early morning, upon awakening, to maximize treatment response.

· Response to light therapy often occurs within one week, but some patients may require up to four weeks to show a response.

· Common side effects of light therapy include headache, eyestrain, nausea and agitation, but these effects are generally mild and transient, or disappear with reducing the dose of light.

According to Dr. Michael Terman, head of the Winter Depression Program at Columbia-Presbyterian University, the consensus in the U.S. is that post-awakening bright light therapy, using a broad-spectrum white light source at 10,000 lux, is the first-line intervention. Drugs should be brought in as adjuvants only if the light therapy is insufficient. Optimum dosing of light is crucial, since if done wrong it can produce no improvement, partial improvement or even worsening of symptoms.

On June 12, 2006 Wellbutrin XL (bupropion hydrochloride) became the first drug approved specifically for SAD in the U.S. The effectiveness of Wellbutrin XL for the prevention of SAD episodes was established in three double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in adults with a history of major depressive disorder in fall and winter. Treatment began in the September through November timeframe, prior to the onset of symptoms. Treatment ended the first week of spring. In these trials, the percentage of patients who were depression-free at the end of treatment was significantly higher for those on Wellbutrin XL than for those on placebo. For all three studies combined, the overall rate of patients depression-free at the end of treatment was 84 percent for those on Wellbutrin XL, compared to 72 percent for those on placebo.

There is no conclusive evidence from randomized trials to support the use of SSRIs in the treatment of SAD.

The Center for Environmental Therapeutics (CET), a non-profit organization which provides educational materials about SAD, offers free self-assessment questionnaires that you can download from their site, as well as interpretation guides, to help you determine if you should seek professional advice. Among the quizzes available are the AutoPIDS and AutoMEQ (presented as a pair; AutoPIDS helps you determine you have the symptoms of SAD and what your natural bedtime is, and the AutoSIGH tracks your current state of depression).

You can read Light on Winter Darkness to learn the latest news about SAD from Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center researchers Michael Terman and Jamie Rifkin.

American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 1994.

“FDA News.” FDA Approves the First Drug for Seasonal Depression. June 12, 2006. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. October 16 2006 <http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01388.html>.

Feldman, Mitchell D. "Seasonal Affective Disorder." Ferri's Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment (2006). MDConsult. <http://www.mdconsult.com/>.

Lam, R.W., and A.J. Levitt. "Canadian consensus guidelines for the treatment of seasonal affective disorder: a summary of the report of the Canadian Consensus Group on SAD." Canadian Journal of Diagnosis 15 Suppl. (1998): S1-S15.

Miller, A.L. “Epidemiology, etiology, and natural treatment of seasonal affective disorder.” Alternative Medicine Review 10.1 (2006): 5-13. MDConsult. <http://www.mdconsult.com/>

Postolache, Teodor T. and Dan A. Oren. “Circadian Phase Shifting, Alerting and Antidepressant Effects of Bright Light Treatment.” Clinic in Sports Medicine 24.2 (2005). MD Consult. <http://www.mdconsult.com/>.

Saeed, M.D., S. Atezaz and Timothy J. Bruce, Ph.D.. "Seasonal Affective Disorders." American Family Physician March 15, 1998 October 15, 2006. <http://www.aafp.org/afp/980315ap/saeed.html>

Exercise and Depression

Get up and get moving!

By Paige Waehner, About.com

Updated: January 15, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Depression can be one of the most debilitating experiences in life. It makes you tired, so tired you want to go to bed and never get up. It can be a challenge to pull yourself out of that dark hole. Seeing your doctor should always be your first step in dealing with depression, but there are some ways you can deal with depression on a daily basis. Though it may seem impossible, exercise is one of the best ways to deal with depression.

Depression is one of the most common problems people experience today, but it's also very treatable with medication, therapy and other self-help options. But, have you ever considered exercise as part of your treatment? Study after study has shown that exercise is a helpful way to treat depression because it:

· Increases your sense of mastery which can help for people who don't feel in control of their lives and moods

It may seem impossible to get moving when you feel depressed but that's exactly what you have to do. No matter how tired you feel, getting up and moving around can bring some immediate relief to your symptoms and getting in a little exercise is an excellent way to work off some of that added stress you're carrying around.

The problem with depression is that it makes you feel like you have no energy. Even getting out of bed can take a monumental effort, so it may be hard to imagine exercising at all when you're depressed. No matter what your thoughts are telling you, it really is possible to exercise when you're depressed. If you take some simple steps, you can add a little activity to your day to help lift your mood and work through your depression.

· Set simple goals. You don't have to train for a marathon. Set a goal to get dressed and walk around the block. Promise yourself you'll walk around the block at least 3 times that day. The next day, do more. Try to improve just a little bit each day.

· Go easy on yourself. You might not be able to handle a lot of exercise, so try to feel good about what you CAN do. Now is not the time to kick yourself.

· Do what you enjoy. If yoga feels good to you, spend a few minutes going through your favorite poses. If you usually enjoy the gym, get your bag packed and hit the treadmill. Even if you're not enjoying it right now, eventually you will.

· Make it social. Try to find a friend to walk with. Talking to people can help raise your energy and remind you that you're not alone.

· Go outside. Even a little bit of sunshine can help raise your mood a little. Try to get outside and get some fresh air, remind yourself there's a world out there and you can participate in it as much as you can handle.

· Work with your doctor. Be sure to talk to your doctor about your treatment options and your plans to exercise. He or she may be able to refer you to someone who can help you set up an exercise program.

Whatever you do, don't give up. You're not alone and you aren't doomed to feel this way forever. Try to participate in life as much as you can, even if it doesn't feel good. Sometimes you have to do what's right for yourself and wait for the good feelings to come later. Exercise can be a big help with your moods and the sense of accomplishment can add a new dimension to your day--something you can be proud of and feel good about. For more help with depression, visit our Depression Guide's informative site.

Magic and Science Are Collaborating

Science is now learning how the mind works, by investigating how magic works. A good magician does more than tricks that require sleight of hands, he or she uses psychology and understanding of how to manipulate the human mind. Here is an eye opening article on this subject that appeared in the NewScientist:

Magicology: Casting a spell on the mind

Professional pickpocket Apollo Robbins has an uncanny ability to control minds. He can manipulate people to an extraordinary degree, drawing their attention away from his thieving hands as he purloins watches and wallets in plain sight. These days, Robbins gives his ill-gotten gains back - he has given up a life of crime to become an entertainer - but most of his victims still have no idea they’ve been robbed until it’s too late.

Watching Robbins at work is like watching somebody with supernatural powers. Yet, like his fellow conjurors, Robbins deceives his targets using nothing more than a finely honed understanding of human psychology. “I think of myself as a folk psychologist,” he says. “It’s all about developing an instinct for how the human mind works.”

After years of ignoring magic, researchers are starting to realise that the methods magicians use to manipulate the human mind might hold important insights into how it works. “We’re all thinking about the same questions,” says Christof Koch, a neuroscientist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. “We just come at the problems from different angles.”

Magic is all about appearing to break the laws of nature - making solid objects appear or disappear, sawing human beings in half, reading people’s minds, and so on. The laws of nature, of course, are inviolable, which is why magicians target the human brain instead, packed as it is with glitches and weaknesses that can be exploited to create the illusion of doing the impossible. And they’re brilliant at it: magic tricks only work if you fool all of the people all of the time.

Cognitive neuroscientists also have a long-standing interest in tricks of the mind, as these are a useful source of insight into how the brain works. Visual illusions, for example, have taught them a huge amount about how the brain processes visual information. Now they’re dipping into the treasure chest of cognitive illusions provided by magic.

Over the past couple of years, neuroscientists and magicians have been getting together to create a science that might be called “magicology”. If successful, both sides stand to benefit. By plundering the magicians’ book of tricks, researchers hope to develop powerful new tools for probing perception and cognition. And if they find any tricks they can’t explain, that could lead to new knowledge about how the brain works. Similarly, magicians hope that the collaboration will lead to new magic tricks by alerting them to perceptual or cognitive weaknesses that they didn’t already know about. “The real proof that a science of magic has come of age will be when we can use science to build a better magic trick,” says Richard Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield, UK.

My latest book, Natural Health Solutions, reveals the truth about the FDA and Big Pharma, documenting the censorship, oppression of natural health, and the "planned diseasification" of the American public.

The book also reveals natural treatments and cures for over 100 common health conditions (and diseases) using foods, herbs and natural therapies.

"Mike Adams is leading the charge to protect your rights to have control over your body. Natural Health Solutions is a must read for anyone that wants to maintain their health and their health freedom." - Gregory Kunin, Co-Founder, Ola Loa

Resolutions for Better Diabetes Control in 2009

Welcome back Friend,

Happy New Year! Why not start 2009 by adopting some healthy habits? Not only will they make you feel better, they'll also help you manage your diabetes:

Seven Good Reasons to Avoid Cow's Milk

(NaturalNews) Drink all of your milk is a phrase many people grew up hearing. Yet evidence increasingly suggests that milk is not as healthy as it has been believed to be. Health concious people are giving up milk and turning to alternatives. Here are 7 reasons why all of us can consider avoiding cow's milk:

1) Milk doesn't keep our bones healthy, preventing fractures and osteoporosis. In fact, according the Nurse's Health Study, dairy may actually increase the risk of fractures rather than protecting our bones. Countries such as those in Africa and Asia who don't consume large amounts of dairy actually have the lowest rates of osteoporosis.

2) Milk is not the great source of calcium that most people believe it is. First of all, pasteurizing milk kills all of the nutrients, including calcium. Second, spinach, tahini, kale and other green leafy vegetables are the best sources of calcium on the planet.

3) Milk is has been linked with acne by at least three large-scale studies reported in the American Journal of Dermatology. Research shows that there is up to 44% more chance of developing acne in those who drink milk.

4) Dairy may raise cancer risk. Research has revealed that a higher intake of dairy products may increase a man's risk of prostate cancer by 30 to 50 percent. In addition, the body's insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which is a known cancer promoter is increased by drinking milk.

5) Approximately 75 percent of the world's population is lactose intolerant, which means that they are unable to fully digest dairy. Lactase is the enzyme needed to digest lactose, and most people stop producing it around the age of 5.

6) Dairy is full of saturated fat and is linked to heart disease. Like cancer, countries such as Japan have a very low level of heart disease, and research commissioned by the New Zealand company A2 shows that there could be a link between a protein in milk.

7) People with many different healthy complaints notice a significant improvement when they avoid dairy. Health complaints associated with dairy intolerance include irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, sinus problems, and ear infections.

So what is the first step in giving up milk?
*Get loads of sunshine to ensure plenty of vitamin D.
*Start eating masses of green leafy vegetables so you can ensure you are getting your calcium.
*Try substituting milk with nut milk.
*Many studies show that raw milk (unpasteurized) is far better because the nutrients have not been destroyed. Raw goat's milk and raw sheep's milk are both increasingly popular.
*Avocado is a wonderful butter substitute. It offers a creaminess that is people who have given up milk miss. Many vegans and raw foodists find that avocado is one of the most essential transition foods.
*Coconut butter is another buttery, creamy substitute for those that want to give up milk. Coconut butter is the healthiest oil in cooking. It can also replace butter as a spread and cream in healthy cakes and desserts.

http://www.womenrepublic.co.uk
www.mercola.com

How to Stay Healthy in the Computer Era (Part 1)

(NaturalNews) Let’s begin your quest to stay healthy and fit in the computer era by addressing your foundation. Unless you have a health condition that makes it difficult to sit for a long period of time, your foundation while working on the computer is likely your pelvis.

Your pelvis serves as a base for your spinal column, which in turn serves as protective housing for your nervous system, which in turn serves as the primary highway of information traffic that allows you to do and feel everything that you do while you are alive.

If your pelvis consistently experiences asymmetrical or heavy downward pressure, it can begin to experience inflammation in one or more of the joint surfaces, ligaments and muscles that surround it. Put another way, if you sit in an awkward position for long enough, you will inevitably experience an injury to your pelvis.

The most obvious cause of pelvic inflammation is sitting on an uneven surface. And this happens most frequently when a person sits with a wallet or some other object in one back pocket. As some health practitioners know, a chief cause of chronic pelvic or lower back pain in truck drivers is sitting for hours at a time with a thick wallet in one back pocket.

Your pelvis is designed to evenly distribute its workload to both of your bum cheeks. The sitting bone that you can feel at the bottom of each bum cheek while you are seated is called your ischial tuberosity. And if one ischial tuberosity has to consistently take on its own workload plus part of the workload that its partner is responsible for, it is only a matter of time before inflammation occurs and the natural biomechanical design and function of your pelvis goes awry.

Next Up: Your Lower Back

Just above your pelvis sits your lower back, also called your lumbar spinal region. This is where most painful disc protrusions and other chronic lower back problems tend to occur.

The spinal bones that house and protect your spinal cord are separated at each level by round discs of cartilage that are designed to act as shock absorbers. If these discs experience too much stress -- over time or even as a one-time major injury -- they can begin to “slip” backward into your spinal canal, where they can put pressure on your spinal cord or spinal nerves. Once in contact with your spinal cord or spinal nerves, a slipped disc almost always translates to serious discomfort.

As you have probably guessed, sitting for long periods of time can, over the long term, put enough pressure on your lumbar discs to cause chronic lower back pain. Actually, sitting for a living can put damaging pressure on a number of structures in your lower back; a slipped disc is the most common and easily visualized lower back problem that can occur -- this is why we are using it as our prime example in this section.

Clearly, it may not be practical for you to find an alternative to sitting while you are working in front of your computer or doing other desk work. Over the years, some of the people that I have treated for severe, chronic lower back conditions have had to alter their work stations to enable them to stand while they work, but you and most others without an existing lower back problem may not have to resort to this scenario.

Here are some tips that you can follow to minimize any negative impact that sitting for long periods of time may have on your lower back:

1. At least once every 20-30 minutes, stand up and stretch your entire body lengthwise, pushing your feet into the ground and reaching up toward the sky with your arms. Your spinal discs and bones face three times less pressure when you are standing compared to when you are seated. Stretching while standing further relieves your lower back of downward pressure. If your working environment permits, go ahead and do this stretch while lying on the ground. And don't be afraid to groan with pleasure as you do this.

2. If possible, work with the back of your chair slightly reclined. Reclining back so that your trunk and thighs form about a 135 degree angle puts less stress on your spine than sitting upright at 90 degrees or leaning forward.

3. Spend a few minutes each evening doing basic sit-ups or a similar exercise that strengthens your abdominal muscles. Strong abdominal muscles can help to support the weight of your trunk, thereby taking pressure off of your lower back.

4. Spend another few minutes each evening stretching your hamstrings, the muscles that line the back of your thighs. When tight, your hamstrings can pull on your pelvis, which can create an unstable lower back region that is prone to suffering sprains and strains.

Protect Your Upper Back and Shoulders

Two of the most common problems that you may encounter over a long career that involves sitting at a desk and using a computer are upper back tightness and shoulder pain. In the absence of an overt injury or a degenerative process like arthritis, both are often related to allowing your shoulders and chest to slouch forward while you go about your daily activities.

When you slouch forward, your “shawl” muscles -- those that line the top of your upper back -- pull on the spinal bones that you can feel at the back of your neck where it meets your upper back. If you have ever spent several hours doing desk work without taking a break, you have probably experienced a sharp, achy sensation in this region. If you continue to put unnecessary stress on your upper back in this fashion, over time, the natural curve of the spinal bones in this region can change in a way that can increase your risk of suffering from degenerative spinal arthritis.

Slouching forward decreases a critical space that is located at the front of each of your shoulders, just under your collar bones. This space is called your subacromial space, and needs to be maintained in order to allow thick bundles of nerves and blood vessels to travel from your neck down to your arms and hands. When chronic slouching decreases your subacromial space, your nerves and/or your blood vessels can become encroached. Depending on which structures are compressed, you may experience any number of uncomfortable symptoms, the most common of which are:

* Poor blood circulation in your arms and hands, predisposing you to chronically cold hands

* Tingling and pain in your wrists and elbows, often associated with carpal tunnel syndrome and elbow tendonitis, respectively

* Pain when you try to elevate and externally rotate your shoulders -- when severe, this may prevent you from raising your arms above the level of your shoulders

An important part of the plan to prevent chronic shoulder and upper back problems is just to be aware that slouching forward on a regular basis can be troublesome. Strive to make it a habit to remind yourself to keep your shoulders back, as though you are about to try to squeeze a pencil with your shoulder blades. If need be, post a highly visible sticky note somewhere on your desk that can prompt you to develop this habit.

Another measure that you can take to prevent shoulder and upper back problems is to spend a few minutes each day to strengthen the muscles that line your upper back and the rear portions of your shoulders. If you have elastic tubing or make regular visits to a gym, you can do rowing exercises that cause you to stick your chest out as you pull back with your arms and squeeze your shoulder blades together. You can accomplish the same thing by keeping your legs pressed against one another and almost fully straightening them on the ground while sitting straight up, wrapping a bed sheet or long towel around the soles of your feet, and pulling on them with your hands to simulate a backward row. Just holding this position for 10 seconds at a time while you squeeze your shoulder blades together is an effective way to train your shoulders and upper back to maintain good posture.

Another way to train your shoulders and upper back to stay back and prevent slouching is to do arm circles for a minute or two each day. Arm circles entail raising your arms straight out from your sides until they are parallel with the floor, then turning them in slow circles while keeping your shoulder blades squeezed toward one another. You can do ten circles going forward, then ten circles going backward. The keys are to go slow, keep your circles small (less than 12 inches in diameter), and keep your shoulder blades contracted toward one another throughout the exercise.

Yet another step you can take to prevent shoulder and upper back problems is to spend a few minutes each day lying on your back, with one or a few pillows under your mid back, so that your head and your bum fall off the upper and lower edges of the pillow(s). In this position, allow your arms to fall back comfortably onto the surface that you are lying on, so that you feel a good stretch throughout your chest muscles. The pillows serve to push your spine forward, which helps to offset the tendency for your spine to push backward while sitting at a desk for most of the day. You can accomplish the same stretch by lying back on a flexible exercise ball for a couple of minutes each day.

Take Care of Your Hands and Wrists

Even if you minimize your chances of experiencing hand and wrist problems that stem from slouching forward and decreasing your subacromial spaces, you may still develop hand and wrist pain if you do not pay proper attention to how you use your keyboard.

Take a look at the keyboard that sits in front of you. Is it on an angle that is causing your wrists to be an inch or two lower than the rest of your hands? If your hands are extended like this on a regular basis, you are at risk of applying unnecessary pressure to a large nerve -- called your median nerve -- that travels through your wrists to supply your hands. Pressure on your median nerve and ensuing inflammation is often called carpal tunnel syndrome.

Here are two simple measures that you can take to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome:

1. Don't lower the two clips under your keyboard on the side that is closer to your monitor. Lowering these clips will further extend your wrists as you type.

2. If you aren't already doing so, use a keyboard wrist pad, one that can sit in front of your keyboard so that your wrists and hands are about level. With the way that your wrist and finger bones are naturally aligned, it's normal to have your hands be slightly higher than your wrists. The key is to ensure that you don't feel any strain on the undersides of your wrists. If you would rather not purchase a wrist pad, you can place a folded hand towel in front of your keyboard to elevate your wrists to an appropriate height. If you use a notebook computer, use however many towels you need to feel like your hands, wrists, and elbows are not under any strain.

Protect Your Neck

Unnecessary strain in your neck region may eventually cause you to experience tension headaches. If you use your thumbs to feel the base of the back of your head where it meets up with the top of your neck, you will find a relatively deep groove on each side. Out of these grooves emerge two large nerves, called your suboccipital nerves. Your suboccipital nerves travel up the back of your head, wrap around your ears, and supply the structures in and around your temples and eyes. Tense neck muscles can put pressure on your suboccipital muscles, which can create pain anywhere along the path of these nerves.

Tense neck muscles can also alter the way that your jaw joints move. Your jaw joints -- also called your temporomandibular joints are two of the most delicate joints in your entire body, and once damaged, may cause jaw pain and chewing problems for the rest of your life.

Taking good care of your neck is quite simple to do. First, you should arrange your desk, computer, and phone so that your neck does not have to maintain a stressful position for more than a few seconds at a time. Here are four key suggestions to help you do this:

1. Invest in a headset that allows you to talk without bending your neck. If you use your phone or a voice system through your computer on a regular basis, use of a headset is absolutely essential to the well being of your neck.

2. If you have to type on your keyboard while looking at a sheet of paper, invest in a document holder that can be positioned right next to your monitor to ensure that your neck does not have to rotate more than a few degrees while your head moves back and forth between the paper and your monitor.

3. Position your computer monitor so that you do not have to strain your neck forward while you work.

4. If you have to spend extended periods of time reading printed work, invest in a book holder that you can use to prop the printed work up on your desk. This is especially important for students who spend several hours reading textbooks at their desks each day or week.

The second way to keep your neck region healthy is to spend a minute or two each day stretching it for 5-10 seconds in each of the following directions:

1. Forward, where you bring your chin down toward your chest until you feel a good stretch in the muscles that line the back of your neck.

2. Backward, where you look up to the sky until you cannot extend your head any further, or until you feel a comfortable stretch in the muscles that line the front of your neck.

3. To the left, where you bring your left ear down toward your left shoulder until you feel a good stretch in the muscles that line the right side of your neck. Your ear should go down; your shoulder should not come up.

4. The same stretch as number 3, except to the right.

5. To the left, where you rotate your head until you are looking to your left with both eyes while your shoulders remain facing forward.

6. The same stretch as number 5, except to the right.

Keep in mind that with each of these stretches, you should maintain steady, even breathing throughout each stretch. Never stretch to a point where you feel pain. If you feel pain, decrease the intensity or hold time of your stretch.

The third way to protect your neck from injury is to maintain healthy tone and strength in all of the muscle groups that surround your neck. You can easily accomplish this by using one or both of your hands to resist each of the six stretches that are outlined above for 5-10 seconds.

For example, to strengthen the muscles that line the front of your neck, place the palms of your hands against your forehead and attempt to bring your chin down to your chest. Resist forward flexion of your neck in this fashion for 5-10 seconds, then move on to resist your head from looking up toward the sky to strengthen the muscles that line the back of your neck.

If you feel pain during any of these strengthening exercises, decrease the intensity and/or duration with which you contract your neck muscles.

Protect Your Eyesight

Hundreds of millions of people from all over the globe spend many hours each day working in front of a computer. And it is estimated that over 50 percent of these people experience some form of eye discomfort that is directly related to their computer work. Some of the most common forms of computer-related eye strain are:

* Headaches

* Blurred vision

* Eye fatigue

* Dry eyes

* Burning eyes

* Hypersensitivity to light

To optimally protect your eyesight for the near and long term, consider heeding the following recommendations:

1. Take a break from looking at your monitor every 20-30 minutes. If you have easy access to the outdoors or a window, spend a minute or two looking far away into the distance. The goal is to look at distant objects without staring. Doing this helps the six muscles that control each of your eyes to relax and receive a rich flow of blood. If you cannot see the outdoors from your workplace or cannot easily move away from your work station, a good alternative is to look at things that are far away from your desk -- say, the water cooler at the other end of the room.

2. Place your monitor and adjust window coverings in ways that minimize glare from outdoor and indoor light. Glare from sunlight or indoor lighting is a significant source of eye strain.

3. As your circumstances permit, choose a flat screen monitor with the largest screen possible. A flat screen monitor helps to reduce glare from outdoor and indoor light, while a large screen gives your eyes more room to move, which decreases the amount of time that your eyes stare at a small region on your monitor.

4. Position your monitor so that your neck is comfortable and your eyes can comfortably see the entire screen. For most people, optimal monitor placement is approximately 24 inches away from the eyes with the top of the screen at eye level.

5. Use the largest font size that is manageable with the work that you do. The bigger the font, the less your eyes need to strain to see them.

6. If you wear eyeglasses, try to use lenses that have an anti-glare coating on them.

7. If you find yourself staring at your monitor for any reason, take a moment to blink once or a few times. Blinking coats the surface of your eyes with tears, keeping them moist and protected against dust.

8. If your work involves duties that don’t involve looking at your computer, strive to schedule your day in a way that allows you to alternate between computer and non-computer work.

That concludes part one of this series on how to protect your health in the computer era. In part two, we'll look at several nutritional considerations that can help to protect your eyes, muscles, nervous system, and all other tissues mentioned in this article as you go from internet browser to spreadsheet, from spreadsheet to Microsoft Word, and from Microsoft Word to locating family member's and friend's homes on Google Earth.

NaturalNews) Part one of this series on how to take care of your health in the computer era described the essentials of taking care of your physical health with specific exercises and by being mindful of how you use your body throughout the day.

This article takes a close look at how you can best support all of the regions of your body with your diet as you go about your activities of daily living in the computer era.

Why is your diet so important to the health of your feet, knees, hips, lower back, upper back, shoulders, neck, jaws, and eyes? Because the foods that you regularly eat are the primary determinants of how healthy your blood circulation is. And having a healthy blood circulatory system is essential to having healthy body parts that are resistant to injury and able to heal efficiently when injured. This is especially true if your daily responsibilities prevent you from moving around for long stretches at a time.

In order for all of your body parts to be optimally healthy, they need two basic things:

1. A constant supply of nutrients and oxygen.

2. A steady flow of blood that can clear away waste products.

Both of these needs are fulfilled by a healthy blood circulatory system.

Because this point is so critical to understand, let’s spend a little time reviewing what happens to a typical meal in your body after it enters your mouth.

Let’s pretend that the next meal you eat will be a plate of rice, beans, and avocado. We can mark rice as our major source of carbohydrates, the beans as our major source of protein, and the avocado as our major source of healthy fat.

When you begin chewing a mouthful of rice, beans, and avocado, six salivary glands in your mouth release saliva. Within this saliva is an enzyme called amylase, which will begin breaking down the carbohydrates in the rice into glucose.

After you swallow your mouthful of food (hopefully, after it is thoroughly chewed), it will travel down your food pipe, also known as your esophagus, until it reaches your stomach.

Once in your stomach, the protein in the beans will be broken down into amino acids, while the rest of the foods will be further liquefied to prepare the nutrients in these foods to be absorbed into your blood.

From your stomach, the mass of partially digested food will continue on to your small intestine. There, your small intestine will receive digestive juices and enzymes from your pancreas, gall bladder, and liver. Your pancreas will release amylase and lipase; amylase here is the same amylase found in the saliva in your mouth, while lipase serves to break down some of the fat in the avocado into triglycerides.

Your gall bladder and liver will work together to release bile, which will also be used to break down fat in the avocado into triglycerides.

So now, if all of your digestive organs and juices have done their jobs, the following changes will have occurred to the rice, beans, and avocado:

Rice: Carbohydrates => Glucose

Beans: Protein => Amino Acids

Avocado: Fat => Triglycerides

These changes are absolutely essential to your health because your blood and cells can only make use of glucose, amino acids, and triglycerides, which we will refer to collectively as "nutrients" from this point on.

From the top third of your small intestine, nutrients will slip through the walls of your small intestine and enter your blood circulation. To enter your blood circulation through your small intestine is quite easy to do, as your small intestine is coated with a thick layer of blood vessels -- from the outside, it looks almost as though there are hundreds of long worms surrounding the small intestine, the long worms being your blood vessels.

Once nutrients enter your blood, they will travel directly to your liver. There, your liver will work to package these nutrients up into bundles that can be transported by your blood to all regions of your body.

Once properly packaged up by your liver, your blood will carry these nutrients to your heart, and then on to your lungs. At your lungs, a fresh supply of oxygen will join the nutrients in your blood, and together, they will be carried back to your heart by your blood. At this point, your heart will begin pumping blood that is full of nutrients and oxygen to all regions of your body through the many branches of blood vessels that make up your blood circulatory system.

As your blood vessels carry nutrients and oxygen to different parts of your body, your blood vessels will continuously branch out and become thinner with each branch. Ultimately, your blood vessels will become as thin as the hairs on your head -- at this level, we call your blood vessels capillaries.

Why do your blood vessels get so thin? They need to get super thin so that the nutrients and oxygen in your blood will be able to get through their walls to enter your cells. After all, the nutrients and oxygen are intended to nourish your cells.

Your blood vessels also need to be thin enough to accept waste products from your cells; this will also occur at the capillary level. Once nutrients and oxygen are "dropped off" and waste products are "picked up", your capillaries will begin joining one another to form larger blood vessels, and those larger blood vessels will join together to form even larger blood vessels, until at last, two main vessels (called your superior vena cava and inferior vena cava) will return blood to your heart, and at that point, the entire cycle is repeated.

One key point that you don’t want to miss: during each cycle that your blood takes through your circulatory system, your blood will travel through your kidneys, where it will be filtered to remove some of the waste products that were picked up from your cells at the capillary level. Your kidneys will combine these waste products with water to form urine, allowing for elimination of these waste products from your body.

If any part of your blood circulatory system isn’t working properly, you will begin to develop health problems. For example, if your blood vessels begin to get damaged by unhealthy fats, they will thicken, which will leave less room for blood to travel. This will translate to less nutrients and oxygen being delivered to your cells, and an accumulation of waste products in your cells. Both conditions will increase your chance of developing disease in the affected cells, as well as your chance of injuring those cells if they happen to make up muscles, ligaments, or bone.

If your heart begins to lose strength or conditioning, even if your blood vessels are fine, it will not have enough pumping power to deliver nutrients and oxygen to your cells at an optimal rate. Also, your body will not have enough pumping power to carry waste products away from your cells at a rate that will keep your cells optimally clean.

If your lungs are damaged from exposure to smoke, drugs, or other damaging toxins, your heart and blood flow may be fine, but you won’t have enough oxygen in your blood to keep your cells well supplied with fresh oxygen.

And if your kidneys are not working properly, your blood and eventually your cells will begin accumulating waste products.

Your Body is a Whole Being; It Cannot Be Compartmentalized

By now, it should be clear that keeping your body parts healthy by making healthy food choices goes far beyond eating specific foods to battle specific health conditions. Because of your holistic design, every food and lifestyle choice that you make has an effect on every part of your body.

A good way to visualize this is to think of your body as being one big spider web. Touch one strand anywhere on that spider web, and the whole web will waver. Your body is infinitely interconnected, and your approach to keeping your body healthy should take this interconnectedness into account.

What follows are key dietary principles that you can apply to keep all of your body parts as healthy as possible from the inside-out:

Regularly Eat Foods that are Naturally Rich in Antioxidants

In order to understand why eating foods that are naturally abundant in antioxidants is helpful to your health, you must first understand what free radicals are.

Contrary to popular belief, free radicals are not entirely bad for you health. By definition, a free radical is a reactive element that is looking to steal an electron from any part of your body that it comes into contact with. You actually have free radicals in your body at all times. Where do these free radicals come from? The most common sources of free radicals found in your body are:

* Physical stressors like unhealthy fats, food preservatives, and a wide variety of chemicals that are found in most processed and highly refined foods

* Environmental toxins like cigarette smoke, household chemicals, and industrial pollution

* Emotional stress

* Everyday metabolic processes that occur in your body to produce energy

Free radicals can damage your cells by stealing electrons from them, which can initiate inflammation that can lead to scar tissue formation. For example, if enough free radicals steal electrons from the inner wall of one of your blood vessels, the resulting inflammation can lead to hardening of the vessel wall, which can decrease the amount of space that is available in that vessel for blood flow.

But just as free radicals can damage your tissues, they can also damage viruses, bacteria, and harmful substances that make their way into your blood. In these cases, free radicals are an important part of your immune system, as they serve to protect the health of your tissues.

Free radicals that are formed inside of your cells as a result of regular metabolism are an important part of your natural defense mechanisms. They help to neutralize toxins, destroy waste products, and protect your tissues against harmful microorganisms.

Free radicals can become a significant cause of disease when you produce them in excessive quantities and/or are exposed to large quantities from the environment. When your body is bombarded by excessive free radicals, you have a higher risk of developing a variety of degenerative diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Antioxidants found in fresh, minimally processed foods are helpful to your health because they are able to provide the electrons that free radicals are looking for. In other words, antioxidants are able to neutralize free radicals. Once free radicals are neutralized by antioxidants, they become harmless and are eventually eliminated from your body.

An important point to take note of is that large scale studies have found that antioxidants that are taken in synthetic nutritional supplement form will not offer you protection against disease. In fact, they may actually increase your risk of developing health problems.

The antioxidants that can preserve your health are natural vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are most often found in fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, and seeds. In other words, taking bottles of synthetic vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium is not the best way to protect your health; you want to strive to regularly eat real foods and food-based supplements that are naturally rich in antioxidants.

So which foods contain the most antioxidants? A study published in the June, 2004 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry ranked the following common foods to be extremely rich in naturally occurring antioxidants:

1. Small red beans, dried

2. Wild blueberries

3. Red kidney beans, dried

4. Pinto beans

5. Blueberries, cultivated

6. Cranberries

7. Artichoke hearts, cooked

8. Blackberries

9. Dried prunes

10. Raspberries

11. Strawberries

12. Red delicious apples

13. Granny Smith (green) apples

14. Pecans, raw

15. Sweet cherries

16. Black plums

17. Russet potato, cooked

18. Black beans

19. Red plums

20. Gala apples

According to the same study, the most antioxidant-rich foods in four major food categories are as follows:

* Fruits: blueberries, cranberries, and blackberries.

* Vegetables: beans, artichoke hearts, and russet potatoes.

* Nuts: pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts.

* Spices: cinnamon, oregano, and ground cloves

Clearly, there are many foods that are not mentioned here that are also excellent sources of health-promoting antioxidants. The general rule of thumb to follow when looking to identify antioxidant-rich foods is this: plant foods that are rich in color are good sources of antioxidants.

Dark green lettuces, kale, spinach, Asian greens, cabbage, Swiss chard, collard greens, organic green food powders, beet greens, herbs like basil, parsley, mint, and cilantro, red beets, carrots, bell peppers, olives, avocados, acerola cherries, watermelon, cantaloupe, mangos, papayas, goji berries, and turmeric are good examples of bright and colorful plant foods that can infuse your tissues with a wide variety of antioxidants.

Organic egg yolks and organic butter made from milk that is obtained from grass-fed animals are also rich in health-promoting antioxidants.

Strive to Avoid Foods and Chemicals that are Harmful to Your Body

The main purpose of eating foods that are naturally abundant in antioxidants is to give your body extra protection against free radicals and other harmful compounds. It is only logical then, to do your best to avoid the following foods that can put large amounts of free radicals and other harmful compounds into your body:

1. All hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils -- these are found in many processed snack foods, so look for them on ingredient lists.

2. Deep-fried foods, such as French fries, onion rings, potato chips, and doughnuts.

3. Baked goods that contain large amounts of cheap vegetable oils, such as those made out of soybeans, rapeseeds (canola oil), cottonseeds, safflower, and sunflower.

4. Margarine and most other commercial butter-substitutes, even if they are labeled as having “zero trans fats.” Even if they claim to have no trans fats, almost all of these products are made out of cheap vegetable oils, which can typically introduce large amounts of free radicals into your tissues.

5. Charcoal-grilled meats and animal products that have been cooked at high temperatures. These foods are typically high in heterocyclic amines, which are compounds that are strongly associated with an increased risk of developing cancer.

You should know that in addition to avoiding these food groups, it is important to avoid overeating on a regular basis. Since free radicals are produced by regular metabolic activities in your cells, overeating can result in excessive free radical formation in your body.

Other foods that you should strive to limit or avoid in order to protect your health are:

1. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) and foods that contain it - MSG can act as a toxin to your nervous system.

2. Aspartame - like MSG, aspartame can also act as a neurotoxin.

3. Sugar - plain and simple, all forms of sugar and sugar-substitutes like honey and molasses put some stress on your endocrine and cardiovascular systems.

4. White-flour products - cookies, cakes, and other baked goods that are made out of white flour can put the same amount of stress on your system as sugar.

5. Pasteurized dairy products - the protein in pasteurized milk, ice cream, cheese, and other dairy products is typically not suitable for human consumption. Unpasteurized milk from cows, goats, and sheep that are raised in clean environments can work for some people, but many people -- especially non-Caucasians -- are usually best served by avoiding all types of dairy.

6. Non-fish seafood - crab, lobster, shrimp, mussels, clams, oysters, and all other creatures that live in water that are not fish tend to accumulate high concentrations of toxins.

Specific Nutrients that are Needed to Protect Your Eyes & Nervous System

Now that you know which major food groups you should consistently choose from, and which food groups you should try to limit or avoid, let’s take a look at which nutrients your eyes and your nervous system require high concentrations of to stay optimally healthy.

This section is provided to enable you to ensure adequate intake of specific nutrients that are especially important in protecting your eyes, nervous system, and the rest of your physical structure if you spend many hours in front of a computer or just at a desk doing non-computer work on a daily basis. But please do not forget the concept that your body cannot be compartmentalized; every food that you eat eventually has some effect on every part of your body.

Nutrients Needed for Healthy Eyes

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)

DHA is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that is needed by specialized tissue that is located at the back of each of your eyes, called your retina. Your retina is especially important to your ability to see when there is little light.

Foods that are naturally rich in DHA, and are healthy choices for most people include:

* Cold-water fish, the healthiest choices being wild salmon and sardines

* Cod liver oil and fish oil that are made by a reputable source and processed in a way that ensures optimal protection against rancidity

* Eggs from birds that are raised in a free range environment and allowed to eat foods that are natural to them

* Seaweed

Dark green vegetables, ground flax seeds, ground chia seeds, and fresh walnuts are not direct sources of DHA, but are rich in another fatty acid called ALA, which can be converted to DHA if you are reasonably healthy. I generally recommend that most people include at least one animal source of DHA in their diets to ensure adequate intake.

Vitamin A

Like DHA, vitamin A is needed by the retinal tissue at the back of your eyes, and is therefore important to your night vision. Many doctors and nutritionists consider beta-carotene to be just as good as vitamin A, since beta-carotene can convert to vitamin A within your body. For most healthy people, beta-carotene does convert to vitamin A. But for people who have health problems, particularly those related to digestive tract weakness and low intake of healthy dietary fats, the conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A is not guaranteed. These people should strongly consider including foods that contain straight vitamin A in their diets.

Foods that are naturally rich in straight vitamin A, and are healthy choices for most people include:

* Organic beef liver

* Organic lamb liver

* Eggs from free-range birds

* Organic butter (mainly for Caucasians who can tolerate dairy)

* A high quality cod liver oil

Foods that are naturally rich in beta-carotene, and are healthy choices for most people include:

* Sweet potatoes or yams

* Butternut squash

* Cantaloupe

* Carrots

* Spinach

Lutein

Lutein is an antioxidant that can help to prevent free radical damage, especially in the following areas of your visual system: lenses, retinal tissue, optic nerves, optic tracts, and an area in the back of your brain that registers everything that you see.

Foods that are naturally rich in lutein, and are healthy choices for most people include:

* Kale

* Collard greens

* Spinach

* Broccoli

* Brussels sprouts

* Corn

* Avocado

* Organic egg yolks

Lutein is a fat-soluble nutrient, so is best absorbed into your blood stream in the presence of healthy dietary fats like those found in olives, olive oil, avocado, eggs, coconut oil, and fish.

Bioflavonoids and Polyphenols

Bioflavonoids and polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that studies have shown can help to prevent a condition called macular degeneration, which is one of the most common causes of blindness in the elderly.

Foods that are naturally rich in bioflavonoids and polyphenols, and are healthy choices for most people include:

* Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries (bioflavonoids)

* Cherries (bioflavonoids)

* Pomegranates (polyphenols)

Nutrients Needed for a Healthy Nervous System

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in keeping your nervous system healthy. And the health status of your nervous system is the primary determinant of the health status of all of your joints, muscles, and other soft tissues.

Your body can manufacture adequate amounts of vitamin D when your skin is exposed to UV-B rays in natural sunlight. Here are some essential details that you should know about meeting your daily needs for vitamin D by exposing your skin to sunlight:

1. The higher you live above sea level, the greater exposure you have to UV-B rays.

2. The higher you live above the equator, the less exposure you have to UV-B rays. For example, if you live in Canada, Europe, or the lower 48 states of America, you receive little to no UV-B rays from early autumn to late spring -- during this time, you need to rely upon dietary sources of vitamin D and existing stores of vitamin D in your tissues to meet your needs.

3. The darker your skin color is, the longer exposure time you need to UV-B rays in sunlight to produce vitamin D. Lighter skin color allows deeper penetration by UV-B rays, which decreases the amount of sunlight exposure that is needed to produce adequate amounts of vitamin D.

4. Pollution and clouds decrease the amount of UV-B rays that can reach your skin.

5. The older you are, the harder it is for UV-B rays to produce vitamin D in your body due to natural degenerative changes that occur in skin over time. In general, elderly people need to rely more on food sources than sunlight for their vitamin D.

Because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, it can be stored in your fat tissues. And if enough of it accumulates in your system, it can become toxic. This is why you must be careful if you choose to take vitamin D in supplement form. The only way to ensure that you do not develop toxic levels of vitamin D is to do a blood test with your doctor.

If you live in a region that has a warm climate year-round, and you get plenty of sunlight exposure on your skin, you do not need to purposefully eat foods that are rich in vitamin D. When UV-B rays in natural sunlight produce vitamin D in your body, the production of vitamin D stops when your needs are met. In other words, it is virtually impossible to develop toxic levels of vitamin D from sunlight exposure alone.

Foods that are naturally rich in vitamin D, and are healthy for most people include:

* Wild salmon

* Sardines

* Other fatty fish like mackerel and herring

* Organic eggs

* Cod liver oil

Vitamin B12

All B vitamins play a role in keeping your nervous system healthy, but vitamin B12 is arguably the most important B vitamin to your brain and nervous system. This is because B12 is needed to produce myelin, which is a fatty sheath that insulates and protects all of your peripheral nerves, your spinal cord, and your brain.

Foods that are naturally rich in vitamin B12, and are healthy choices for most people include:

* Beef liver

* Wild salmon

* Organic eggs

* Free range birds like chicken or turkey

That concludes this two-part series on how to best support your health in the computer era. Please consider sharing this information with family and friends who spend significant hours in front of a computer throughout the week.

Classifying Headaches

What Do All These Symptoms Mean?

By Mark Foley, D.O., About.com

Updated: January 6, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Classifying headaches according to the distribution of pain can help determine the type of headache you are having. Photo © A.D.A.M.

Headaches come with symptoms as unique as the headache sufferer. There are a number of common symptoms which can help you determine which type of headache you are experiencing.

If you experience an aura before having your migraine, you may have one or more of the following issues:

Problems with language or speech, or weakness can be confused with stroke symptoms so it is important to report these to your physician. Children can also have “abdominal migraines,” which can be difficult to diagnose. In these cases a child may have nausea, vomiting, and other typical migraine symptoms, but without head pain.

While many people use the term migraine to mean any headache, symptoms of a tension headache are clear. During a tension headache, you may experience:

· Squeezing pain on both sides of the head, although one-sided pain is possible

Tension headaches do not usually have symptoms like light or sound sensitivity or nausea and vomiting. While the pain appears gradually, there is not usually an aura or any warning signs that a tension headache is about to appear.

Cluster headaches are quite uncommon, affecting less than 1% of adults. Symptoms of cluster headaches are fairly unique, however so it is good to understand the common symptoms.

Some headaches are due to more urgent medical conditions. If any of the following occur, call your physician:

· Any headache lasting for more than 24 hours in someone without a history of heaches

As with any medical condition, discuss the symptoms you are having with your healthcare provider in order to make a proper diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatments.

Relieving Tension Headaches Without Medication

By Mark Foley, D.O., About.com

Updated: January 4, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Headaches come in a number of varieties -- migraines, tension headaches, sinus headaches -- but regardless of the type, it can be a debilitating and downright annoying condition. A majority of headache sufferers have headaches that can be labeled as tension headaches. Through the years, many theories have surrounded the cause of these headaches. The name comes from the fact that tension in the muscles of the neck can cause significant pain in the head, but tension in the form of stress can certainly contribute to this common cause of headache. Besides using traditional anti-inflammatory (such as ibuprofen or naproxen) and pain-relieving medications, there are also other ways to reduce tension in your life so these headaches become a thing of the past.

The first thing to do is relax. It may be easier said than done, but it is a skill that our society has lost over time. We are bombarded with activities and responsibilities, but we are rarely presented with opportunities to calm ourselves and learn to manage stress. Relaxation begins with identifying those things that make us feel good. It may be watching a television program, listening to our favorite musical album, or going for a nice walk in the evening. Other things you can do to relax include making healthy food choices, finding a quiet spot into which you can retreat if things get overwhelming, exercising, avoiding doing activities that make you feel guilty, and spending time with your favorite pet. Whatever it is, taking time for yourself will reduce the effects of the stresses in your life.

Breathing goes hand in hand with relaxation. Sure, breathing is automatic, that’s the beauty of it, right? Well, it is automatic, but it is also an activity over which you have an immense amount of control. Ayurvedic practitioners and yogis will tell you that since it is the only activity that you can perform both voluntarily and automatically breathing is a perfect way to access the subconscious, and to gain control over processes commonly thought of as “out of reach.” Whether or not you are looking for a window to the subconscious, proper breathing promotes relaxation and is a powerful tool for dealing with pain.

Pranayama, or yogic breathing, is a good way to learn to breathe. Begin by sitting quietly without any distractions. Take a nice, slow, continuous breath in through your nose. Hold it for a few seconds without making any other movements. Then slowly exhale through your mouth. Again, like during inhalation, your exhalation should be smooth and continuous. Once you’ve exhaled, take a short, deliberate pause before starting the cycle again. It sounds simple, but even simple tactics can help you deal with tension headaches.

During this whole process, you want to focus on how the air is entering your lungs and then exiting. That is all you need to think about -- breathing in and breathing out. Once you’ve really begun to visualize the path the air is taking you want to “direct” the breath to areas of pain. Imagine the breath going into your lungs and then heading to your temples or forehead, wherever you’re hurting. Then picture the breath drawing the pain away and out through your exhaled air. This routine requires a lot of practice, but one that can be immensely helpful.

Finally, learn to stop stress before it starts. Plan ahead for situations you can anticipate; take a short walk before a meeting at work you think may be a tough one; take a few deep breaths before entering into a heated discussion (or better yet, try to avoid the heated discussions whenever you are able). Prioritize your to-do list into categories like “must be done” and “can wait a day or two.”Others have suggested using the “choose three things” approach. Select three things you will do on a particular day and do them. If you get to other things, that’s great, but at least make an effort on the three you’ve chosen. Recognize what are true necessities and what are only essential because you’ve placed undue pressure on yourself.

Stress happens and we can do little to eliminate it completely from our lives. But we can certainly learn to cope with the pressures of life, and in time, implement effective relaxation strategies that will reduce the amount of tension we experience and hopefully deal with headaches.

_{Brown, R.P and
P.L. Gerbarg. "Sudarshan Kriya Yogic breathing in the treatment of stress,
anxiety, and depression. Part II--clinical applications and guidelines." J
Altern Complement Med. 2005 Aug;11(4):711-7.}

_{Galego, J.C., et al.
"Chronic daily headache: stress and impact on
the quality of life." Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2007 Dec;65(4B):1126-9.}

Detoxify the Colon and Kidneys

(NaturalNews) We are living in an age of increased toxicity in our society. Poor digestion; reduced liver function; poor elimination practices through the kidneys, respiratory tract, and skin; and colon sluggishness all contribute to people experiencing increased toxicity in their bodies. Many of the toxins that are invading the human body come from diet, drug use, and environmental exposure. The process of detoxification is the act of either removing or neutralizing these toxins from the body. In this process, often excess mucous and congestion will also be cleared from the body as well.

One key component of detoxification involves lifestyle changes that will effectively reduce the daily intake of toxins. Eliminating chemicals (from both food and other sources), highly refined foods, refined sugars, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs will begin to minimize the toxin load that is typically placed on the body.

To begin to detoxify the colon, it is also important to incorporate probiotics into the diet to replenish healthy levels of intestinal flora.

Bowel movements are a good indicator of one's overall health. If one does not have at least one bowel movement each day, the likelihood for future disease is increased. Colon cancer is currently the second leading cause of deaths from cancer in the US. This is why a thorough body cleansing should start with a cleansing of the bowel.

When embarking on a complete cleansing program, always begin by removing the waste from the colon first. If cleansing the liver or the lymph system is attempted without first cleansing the colon, any toxins will just be reabsorbed back into the body.

A standard bowel cleanse will include:

•Fasting with water, juice, and raw fruits/vegetables
•Probiotics
•Flax seeds
•Bentonite Clay
•Salt Water Enema

If there is a constipated system, then this directly correlates to the transition time of toxic wastes to be slowed down. The longer it takes for food to be moved through the intestines, the longer toxins sit in the intestines – possibly fermenting and being reabsorbed into the body. When the body is exposed to this fermenting food in the intestines there is an elevated risk for disease.

The typical place for disease to begin is in the bowel so it makes sense that if one does not have at least one bowel movement per day over an extended period of time, one's health may be seriously compromised.

A healthy colon should weight approximately four pounds. Most Americans have several hardened layers of mucoid plaque built up in the intestines resulting in bowels that weigh far more than this optimal weight of four pounds. The body was intended to slough off excess mucoid plaque. A colon cleanse will aid the body by helping to remove the built-up layers of mucoid plaque.

A typical American who eats a typical diet of refined foods holds approximately eight undigested meals of food and waste in their intestine. A person who eats a high fiber diet typically holds approximately three undigested meals.

The colon's ability to function will be severely affected by the amount of putrefied waste that has accumulated. This malfunction will then affect other digestive organs and glands and will affect how food is absorbed. If the colon is not properly cared for, it will accumulate toxins that will eventually be absorbed into the bloodstream and will be carried throughout the entire body.

To help the body naturally slough off excess mucoid plaque, begin to eat a diet rich in raw vegetables and fruits and free of processed foods. When these changes are made to the diet, elimination will improve and toxins will not continue to build up in the body. Be advised, however, that it took years for mucoid plaque and toxins to accumulate and the process of detoxifying to the point of optimal health may take time. An effective colon cleanse may take up to several months to accomplish.

The typical colon cleanse includes following a cleansing diet and including colon cleansing supplements that:

•Contain probiotics
•Contain digestive enzymes
•Will kill parasites
•Contain herbs to stimulate the liver, gallbladder, and intestines

Kidney Cleansing

Over 300,000 Americans suffer renal failure every year and are forced to undergo dialysis or even kidney transplants.

The kidneys are small organs; however they process about 20% of the entire amount of blood pumped by the heart. The kidneys process approximately 200 quarts of blood every day in an effort to sift out waste products and extra water.

An adequate blood supply to the kidneys makes it possible for them to:

•Regulate the composition of blood
•Maintain the concentrations of ions and other substances
•Maintain the body's proper volume of water
•Remove wastes from the body
•Maintain the proper acid/base concentration of blood
•Regulate blood pressure
•Stimulate red blood cell production
•Maintain calcium levels

The kidneys receive blood and then process the blood by removing the wastes. Then the processed blood is returned to the body and the eliminated substances stay in the urine. Urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder, where it is stored until excretion from the body through the urethra.

A kidney cleanse involves drinking very large amounts of liquid while consuming a healing diet. Often improving one's diet by eliminating refined foods at the same time as increasing one's water consumption will be an effective kidney cleanse. Any fast that involves large amounts of liquid will cleanse the kidneys and a bowel cleanse will also improve kidney function.

Source: http://www.healingdaily.com/colon-kidne...

Acne is more than just a mild annoyance - it can be downright painful, affect self-esteem and social life, and cost hundreds of dollars in search for a viable cure.

I rarely had acne as a teenager. I don't know why I was spared this one humiliation, since everything else about me was awkward and unfortunate at that age. Anyway, I guess the ordeal didn't pass me by so much as take its sweet time getting there, because I started breaking out like crazy about 6 years ago. Around my chin and mouth, I had big, ugly red bumps that were unpoppable and hurt my face. My cheeks were covered with smaller bumps with no discernible head or core - just small white bumps that were only more obvious with makeup applied on top.

Because acne usually shoes up on your face, and your face is... well, what you face the world with, experiencing acne can affect your self-esteem and social life. I spent months refusing to go out (other than to work) because of my embarrassment surrounding my pimples. They were so big that I couldn't cover them with makeup, and they didn't respond to the obvious solutions. I've never been much of a socialite, but I had never been a complete shut-in for reasons of appearance before. I visited every department store, every high-end skin care boutique, hoping to find a serum or cleanser that could wash away those painful and ugly bumps.

The truth is, no one skin care regimen or treatment is going to fix everyone's acne problems. You'd never know this if you headed into a skin care section at a department store - plenty of well-meaning but ignorant Clinique saleswomen were intent on convincing me that a bar of soap and some "moisture gel" would fix my face up in a jiffy. Watching TV late one night, I was inspired to try Pro Activ, which caused me to break out in a dry, flaky rash that covered my face, neck, and scalp.

It cost me hundreds of dollars and many hours of wasted time to figure out how to eliminate my zits. Here's what I learned during my search for a solution to my acne issues. First, though, a note about what this article does NOT contain: lists of acne treatments (salicylic acid, sulfur, blah blah blah you can look that up elsewhere), an endorsement of a particular skincare line (you have to find that one for yourself), advice on how to pop a pustule (don't), or admonitions to avoid chocolate (do not avoid chocolate). This is not a complete list of ways to fix problem zits, but rather a few tips that I've picked up along my acne journey that surprised me.

There are many different kinds of acne.

There is no one solution for acne, because there are many kinds of acne. There are surface pimples that respond really well to treatments like benzol peroxide, and there are deep pimples that may require antibiotics or steroid injections. Acne rosacea appears more as a rash across cheeks and noses, and can lead to a build-up of thick skin. Nodule and cystic pimples begin far under the skin's surface, but appear as big red zits on the surface of the skin and don't generally respond to topical applications (mine did, however - read on).

When my breakouts started in my mid-twenties, I was actually suffering from three different kinds of acne: acne rosacea (which is genetic, and tends to strike people with fair skin) just below my eyes, cystic acne around my mouth and chin, and smaller, bumpy pimples on my cheeks next to my ears. It seems easy to think of all acne as simple variations of the same problem, but they really are very different, and thus require different treatments. So, if you aren't getting the results that you want from your acne treatments, you might want to consider the possibility that you are treating the wrong kind of acne.

Just because you have acne doesn't mean you have oily skin.

Surface pimples are primarily caused by clogged pores. Dirt or dead skin particles can block a pore or hair follicle, and normal skin secretions back up behind the pore, and the whole mess is then infected with bacteria. Voila! Pimples. However, a breakout of acne doesn't necessarily mean that you have insanely oily skin, even though everyone and their mother will probably start advising you to start treating your acne with harsh toners.

When I had my terrible break-outs a few years ago, I had incredibly dry skin, but because I had acne, everyone told me that I had "combination" skin. Using all the typical acne treatments only made things worse, because many pimple ointments are designed to parch your skin like the desert air. Irritated, dry skin didn't prevent pimples from forming - it made the skin around the pimples look that much worse and didn't stop my pores from clogging.

If you do have oily skin, using harsh astringents and soaps may dry your skin out (or it may make it worse as your body tries to compensate for your dry skin by increasing oil production), but it doesn't necessarily eliminate pimples. If you find that Pro Activ (very drying) works well for you, that's great, but if it doesn't, you need to consider another option.

'Natural' or holistic skin care isn't necessarily better or more effective.

Although it sounds like a great idea, a skin care line billing itself as 'natural' isn't necessarily going to give you better results than any other line of face products. Here's an example: I have thin, sensitive skin that flushes easily, so I frequently look feverish (or drunk) when I'm totally healthy (and sober). I was delighted to hear about Dr. Weil's Plantidote line of Mega-Mushroom skin care from Origins. From the Origins web site:

[Dr. Weil] believes that one of the most vexing issues facing skin’s healthy appearance is “the fire within” – a key cause of dryness, redness, hyperpigmentation, lines and wrinkles.

This is a really nice idea, but it's also a load of hooey. Logically, I understand the holistic idea behind this, but if some kind of internal imbalance with my liver or stomach is causing my skin to appear stressed, then slapping some mushroom serum on my face isn't really going to fix that. However, the idea of having radiant skin was so seductive; I spent a bundle of money on the entire package, and... well, nothing. My skin is still incredibly thin and sensitive, prone to flushing whenever I'm too hot, too cold, or enjoying a glass of red wine (this is actually a part of acne rosacea, and nothing Dr. Weil has created can even begin to address this problem).

After failing with the mushroom juice, I ventured into a holistic pharmacy, where a nice lady explained that the reason my face was breaking out was that I needed MORE oil on my face, and convinced me to try Dr. Hauschka's skin care line, which involved dousing my skin with oils in a misguided attempt to fool my skin into thinking that it didn't need to produce any more oil. There's nothing wrong with the Dr. Hauschka line, but it did absolutely nothing to solve my acne problems.

My skepticism regarding holistic and natural remedies doesn't only apply only to expensive treatments - I've had a number of friends and readers try to convince me that lavender, eucalyptus, and geranium oils are effective as spot treatment for acne, but I have yet to see any evidence of this on my face. I tried egg white masks and

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There are many different kinds of acne.

Just because you have acne doesn't mean you have oily skin.

'Natural' or holistic skin care isn't necessarily better or more effective.

You may now download unlimited FREE
summaries of the top health, nutrition and
green living books in the industry!

Soap and Water Can Stop Germs in Their Tracks

It Could Be Seasonal Affective Disorder

Get up and get moving!

What Do All These Symptoms Mean?