Top 15 Health Tips of 2011

Almost all of us have come across this adage sometimes or the other ''Health is Wealth.'' This is so true statement but we realize the worth of it only when we fade and break down.However if you want to prevent your health from reaching that state of break down, you need to follow some of the most important health tips for 2011. Various tips have been suggested by experts and consultants in the medical fields to help you achieve a sound health. Below presented are the top 15 health tips for your healthy living:

1. The faster you eat, the more weight you may gain

A Japanese study that followed more than 500 men over 8 years reported that faster eaters gained an average of 4.2 pounds during the study, while slow eaters gained only 1.5 pounds. It takes 20 minutes for your body to register how full you are. To slow yourself down, try sipping water between each bite of a meal.

2. Playing music keeps your mind sharp as you age

If you don’t want to constantly be searching for your lost keys through the years, it might be time to pick up a guitar and the sooner you do it, the better for your noggin. A University of Kansas Medical Center study showed that people who had played music for more than a decade had the best memory and cognition. Because playing music has been shown to arouse so many different sections of the brain, practicing can have broad benefits to keep you sharp.

3. Cure those nagging pains with better posture

For men: Here’s a simple trick for your brain the next time you go to the doctor for a routine but painful shot. Stand up straight and try to have a dominant pose, says a Journal of Experimental Social Psychology study. When taking dominant yoga poses over submissive ones, people could stand pain longer. By acting dominant, you’re likely releasing more testosterone to combat the pain you otherwise would feel.

4. Stay in touch with family to know if you should bump up a cancer screening

The American Cancer Society found that having a family member even extended family with cancer increased a person’s cancer risk substantially between the ages of 30 of 50, meaning that the colorectal cancer screening you thought you’d need at 50 might have to move up if your Uncle recently was diagnosed.

5. Avoid health problems other than sore thumbs with video games

Those marathon gaming nights of Madden on PS3 aren’t bad for you just because you aren’t acquiring enough sleep. Prolonged sitting can cause deep-vein thrombosis a blood clot in the lower limbs that can work its way up to the heart or lungs, triggering a heart attack. If you have to stay on the controller for several hours to crack a level or are simply stuck to your desk at work, make sure you take breaks each hour to keep your blood flowing.

6. Easy ways to avoid exercise-induced asthma

Not much is worse for an athlete than a good run or game of basketball taking a nosedive because your chest tightens up. Asthma is a disease caused by inflammation, and sadly many of us eat foods that help contribute to that inflammation. An Indiana University review found that certain foods, though, can increase or decrease your risk for an attack.

7. A simple way to cure your blues

If you’re bummed because of a recent layoff or you were dumped recently, hitting the gym for 30 to 45 minutes three to four times a week could really help your mental outlook. A University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center study found that 28 percent of depressed people eliminated their symptoms of depression when they worked out that much. The results were even better for men, and it was even more effective when they worked out longer.

8. Add some light to your (morning) life

If you’re always moving like a zombie after the alarm goes off in the morning, maybe you should be a reverse vampire and seek extra light before you awake. In a study, when sleepers were exposed to gradually intensifying light a half hour before the woke up, they felt more alert than sleepers who woke up to a sudden burst of light.

9. Kick diabetes with this drink that’s available everywhere

It’s more available than coffee or tea, and we don’t mean soda. Staying hydrated with 34 ounces of water a day made people in a 9-year French study 36 percent less likely to develop high blood sugar or diabetes. Why? If you’re dehydrated, your brain tells your liver to make more glucose for the body.

10. Eliminate these common health-sabotaging toxins

*Artificial Sweeteners of all varieties :these include sucralose (Splenda), Acesulfame Potassium, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, alitame, neotame. All have more in common chemically to pesticides than to food products.

*High fructose corn syrup and its new, more dangerous relative, crystalline fructose :Fructose, despite what the corn growers tell you in their commercials, IS different than regular sugar. It must be metabolized by the liver first and significantly increases the risk of liver problems, as well as contributing to obesity. Check out the label on Vitamin Water and Gatorade - better to take your vitamins with pure water!

*Vegetable oils of all varieties : corn, canola, sunflower, safflower, soybean, etc. All are high in omega-6 fats which promote chronic inflammation and cause heart disease, cancer, diabetes and many other diseases. By reducing omega-6 fats and increasing omega-3 fats you reduce your risk for these diseases.

11. Daily prayer/meditation

Finding time to clear your mind and make your requests and praise to God can be a tremendous emotional cleansing process.

12. Sleep 6-8 hours per night

Some tips for improving the quality of your sleep: keep the room as dark as possible (especially important if you work nights), keep your bedroom a bedroom – get the TV, computer and all other electrical devices out, white noise machines can reduce environmental noises like traffic, barking dogs and UFOs landing in the yard, and please don’t drink coffee after 6pm.

13. Get outside!

Fresh air and, yes, even sunshine are good for you! That warm, glowing ball in the daytime sky is what has sustained life on this ball of rock for quite a few years it’s nothing to be feared. You’ll get some vitamin D along with getting in shape.

14. Start a well-rounded fitness plan

Your fitness plan should include at least these elements:

*Cardiovascular conditioning

*Strength Training

*Core stability

*Stretching and balance (yoga/Pilates)

15. Avoid Alcohol and Cigarette

This is true that alcohol and cigarette act like a silent killer for your life. Too much consumption of cigarette and alcohol disturbs the functioning of your heart, liver and kidneys and cause severe health issues in your life. Research has shown that cigarette and alcoholic drinks can reduce the life expectancy of an average individual drastically.

Happy new year & Stay Healthy! :)

Paraffin Oil Skin Care and Other Uses!

It is impossible to sustain a good health in this time of contaminated environment. Particularly the metro life has been vulnerable in all respect. Almost all the news papers in the morning are flooded with the news and information of skin care and medicines, but how many people are aware of the fact that almost all the medicines and oils for curative purposes are the base of paraffin oil? This is a liquid that helps to retain and revive our skin till our last breath. If we had known as to the usefulness of this healthful oil, we could have had some home remedies. Paraffin oil has definitely a pivotal role in realm of medicinal world.

 Everybody knows medicine that makes our life lively. But nobody knows the grandma's home remedy of paraffin oil. It significantly helps to heal many sorts of diseases. The medicines for eyes like eye ointment and moisturizers as well as emollients are made using the purified paraffin oil. The use of white oil in the skin not only makes the skin beautiful but also make you younger looking. The leading brands of Garnier, Ponds and Ayur in India are being made with the use of liquid paraffin.

The paraffin oil is distilled from crude oil. It has at least three processes to come out with a purified form. The pharmaceutical companies are especially extreme careful to collect this liquid for the preparation of medicines. The people of laboratory are more careful as to cleanness of the surroundings and a dustless environment.

Liquid paraffin is a boon for those people who have been experiencing dry skin. It helps to exfoliate the human skin and make it younger looking. It has a great moisturizing property. The composition of this medicine contains paraffin oil, myristate, isopropyl and benzalkonium chloride which have a great capacity of antiseptic properties. These emollients make the skin supple because the antiseptic properties of benzalkonium chloride help to destroy the bacteria of the surface of the skin.

 Moisturizing bathing oil is also made of paraffin oil and extremely useful for the revival of the smooth skin. This sort of bathing oil keeps dermatitis and eczemas at bay. The moisturizing cream and bath oil are used in case of dry skin.

Care to be taken while using the medicines:

The liquid medications should not be taken internally. One should be very careful while taking bath since it makes the foot and floor very slippery. The people those who are allergic to these medicines made of paraffin oil should not use this. The expectant women should use this medicine with the prescription of a gynecologist. The medicines made of paraffin oil that is having side effects in the case of different people in a different ways. So far very rare numbers of complaints of the medicine of liquid paraffin have been reported. But eventually the role of

Other Uses:

 It is used in the food industry, the cosmetic industry, the pharmaceutical industry and the chemical industry. It comes in a variety of grades of purity, with "pharmaceutical grade" indicating the most pure form. Its purity and chemical stability are what make it useful for many applications. Liquid paraffin is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It cannot be dissolved in water or alcohol, but it can be dissolved in organic solvents. It is also known as mineral oil.

• Cosmetic Uses

Liquid paraffin is used to make cleansing creams, cold creams, hair oils and beauty lotions. It is used in hydrating products and hygienic oils for children. It is also used in the preparation of many common forms of makeup. It is used to extract natural essences that are used to make perfumes.

• Medical Uses

Liquid paraffin's most well-known medicinal use is as a laxative. It also reduces the pain of hemorrhoids. (It should not be taken by children under 3, and those suffering from nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain.) Liquid paraffin is also used in the manufacture of penicillin and as a means for storing and transporting medical sprays. As with its uses in the cosmetic industry, it is an ingredient of many medical creams and oils.

• Fuel

Liquid paraffin is used as a fuel. It can be burned in lamps like kerosene can. However, unlike kerosene, it produces neither soot nor odor.

• Industrial Uses

1. It is also used as an industrial lubricant. It lubricates the moving parts of sewing machines in the textile industry. It lubricates blades for cutting paper in the paper industry. It lubricates textiles during weaving and canned food cans. It is a component of some air filters, especially those meant for underwater work. It is used in the manufacture and containment of certain highly reactive chemicals like chlorine, sulfur dioxide, metallic hydrides and catalysts. It is an ingredient of some agricultural insecticides. It is also used to make dust-repelling products. It is widely used in plastic manufacturing.
2. Liquid paraffin is used to coat eggs and fruit to make them shinier. It is used in the food industry to lubricate baking equipment so that food doesn't stick to it. Artists use it as a cleaning agent. It is also used in nylon printing processes.

How to Shop Smart?

Shopping can be a favorite way to pass your time. There's always something to buy. Here's how to be a smart shopper:

• Decide upon your needs. Learn to live with less. Layer your summer clothes during the winter for a different look. Learn to use a small purse. Limit makeup and accessories. Going without can be a real adventure.
• Make your own style. Start an inexpensive, unconventional trend. Ignore advertising. Why follow the crowd?
• Have style. Choose your outfits carefully. Look for the most accentuating outfits worn by others with the same figure, skin tone or hair color. Wearing different shades of the same color is slimming and easy to put together.
• Extend your wardrobe. Take the time to coordinate your clothes into a month's worth of outfits. Make a list of all possible combinations and refer to it frequently.
• Make a plan. Determine what you need to complete an outfit. Something that doesn't match or fit well may never be worn.
• Be sure it's exceptional. Be patient. Check for quality, color, fit and a long-lasting style. You'll want to wear a garment for a few seasons, and then recycle the fabric into another garment or accessory.
• Compare clearance prices online. Have a rough idea of what you're willing to pay. Review the current styles. Keep a list of reasonable prices in your purse.
• Try the flea market. You'll find a variety of unique imported and second-hand items. You can bargain for a better price.
• Try the dollar store. Their selection may be limited, but they have cute clothes and accessories. This is a great place to buy pajamas and slippers.
• Try thrift stores. Vintage is always in fashion. Brand names can be found. Worn clothing is very comfortable. Look for fabrics to make something new.
• Try Wal-Mart. Search both the men's and women's departments. If you're petite, search the children's department as well. This is a great place for the basics.
• Try Target. They have a stylish clothing line of good quality and reasonable prices.
• Watch for sales. Use coupons during the holiday sales either online or in stores. Try things on prior to a sale. Take time to think things over to avoid impulse shopping.
• Bring a limited amount of cash. Stay within your budget. Leave credit cards at home.
• Do not remove the tags. Wait a week to think it over. Remove the tags once you're sure you'll enjoy your new item.
• Check a lot of shops before buying anything. Usually a lot of shops have same things so you should check before buying. You'll probably find clothes that look alike cheaper than in other stores.

More Tips:

• Allow yourself to splurge on one small item.
• Clothes should glide over your body whether sitting or standing. A larger size may be more appropriate.
• Make a list before you shop. Write down what you need, and how much it cost for each part. Then you wont use too many money

How to Avoid Being Sleepy All the Time?!

The body needs energy to stay fit and healthy. Sleep is one of the most important factors to keep the body in its healthy state. There are times that you may feel sleepy because your body lacks the energy to stay up for a long time. If you have some sleepy habits that you are not supposed to be doing, learn some practical ways to control or avoid being sleepy at all times.

• If you can, try to have an 8 hour long sleep. If not, try to have at least 6 hours of good sleep; meaning you should be well rested and your body has recharged for the next activity.

• Try taking a short nap especially in the afternoon as this can refresh you to continue your work for the rest of the day.

• Wash your face with some cold water to reduce your sleepiness.

• Get more lights into your room, so you won’t feel sleepy and you would feel active again.

• Do some physical exercise; this will help you get rid of your sleepiness. Do some stretching or walking around to keep you moving and get rid of your sleepy blues.

• Try deep breathing, inhaling and exhaling to offset your feeling of sleepiness.

• Avoid drinking coffee too much and don’t drink alcohol especially at night, because this takes at least 8 hours for its effect to wear out and will only affect your sleep.

• Avoid taking large meals at night and drinking too much as this can cause you to wake up at night lessening your sleeping hours.

• Take a hot bath to make your sleep more comfortable at night.

• Make sure your room is quiet and your environment is propped up to make you sleep soundly at night and to avoid feeling sleepy the next day.

• Avoid taking medicines that may disrupt your sleep. Check with the doctor if you have to take medicine for your medical condition and it should not interfere with your sleep.

• Maintain a healthy diet. Remember to stay away from too many sweets. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.

• You can take a vitamin supplement rich in iron and B12 – check with your doctor first.

• Try to relax. Stress and anxiety causes you to lack of sleep at nights and this will only make you feel sleepy the following day.

• Feel positive. Work on your feeling of enthusiasm, so you can release positive energy in you and lessen your sleepiness. Just focus on your work and think of the good result of doing a good job out of it.

If you still feel sleepy most of the time that it hampers your productivity as a person, you might as well have yourself checked by your doctor. You may have a more complicated problem about sleep, so it is best to do this at once.

Top 5 Things That Damage Your Hair!

You cannot really restore you damaged hair. Despite what products say, you can only help its appearance but this should just be done while you are in the process of growing the damaged hair out.

Before you can grow your hair out into a healthy state, you need to understand what causes damage in the first place. If you do not, you will just damage the new hair before you can get rid of the already damaged hair.

• The number one ways that hair is seriously damaged is through chemical processing. I am not saying that you cannot have highlights, colors, straighteners, or perms applied to your hair. If you do choose to alter you hair chemically, it is best to stick with only one process. Of these processes, the best to choose are the ones that can have future chemicals applied to new hair growth only. Colors and highlights are best for this. If you are currently perming your hair to help with control, you will probably find that highlights give you quite a bit of control over your hair. With color and highlights, you will be able to have your stylist apply future chemical treatments to the new growth only. This is also true of straightening processes, but the chemicals involved in straightening are generally harsher overall. This determination is argued by some because highlighting is essentially a bleaching process, which can be very damaging. However, highlights do not affect every hair on your head, leaving a vast amount of healthy, unprocessed hair. Straightening affects every hair with the chemicals used. What you must understand about chemical processes and damage is that repeatedly putting chemicals on the same part of your hair creates a vicious cycle of chronic damage. This is compounded by the various heated tools that you use to style your hair, harsh shampoos and styling products, and a multitude of environmental factors.

Damage can also come from many different things, including:

• Excessive brushing and tearing of the hair (this can also come from constantly pulling it back in rubber bands).
• Too much heat. You've heard the drill before. Keep your use of the blow dryer and the curling iron to a minimum.
• Sun damage. Skin isn't the only part of your body that needs protection from UV rays. Summer sun worshipers are especially at risk for hair damage, but UV rays damage your hair every time you step outside into daylight-even in the winter. No, you don't need to wear a hat everywhere you go, but definitely be conscious of the sun's rays and cover up if you're going to be out in the sun for a while.
• Over-washing. Yes, washing your hair too much can dry out your scalp, cause flakes, and lessen the natural oils on your head that protect your hair's roots.

Now that you understand the importance very discriminating about chemical processes, you need to know some of the ways you can protect your hair on a regular basis. Following is a variety of ways that you can help prevent further damage to your hair, not all of them will apply to you, so use as many as you can.

• Do not blow dry your hairth any more an absolutely necessary. If you can let it air dry completely, do it. If you do have to blow dry, use a thermal protector prior to blow drying. Use the coolest setting possible to achieve your style.
• Use pH balanced shampoos and conditioners that are very moisturizing; for conditioners, also look for one with UV protection.
• Eat foods that are rich in protein and omega 3 fatty acids (the good fat), choose organically grown and raised products, and eat less processed food.
• Using a natural boar hair brush, brush your hair thoroughly every evening, brushing the scalp well while you do this. Brushing like this distributes the natural oils along the hair and massages the scalp.
• If your hair is wet (or damp), only use a wide toothed comb on it. Brushes and combs with thin, narrow teeth cause serious breakage, especially in damaged hair.

Tips:
Now that you know the things you have to do in order to truly have healthier hair once you have the damaged hair grown out, you can use the following tips to attempt to camouflage the current damaged hair. I sat attempt because extremely damaged hair cannot be camouflaged; it will look damaged no matter what you try.

1. Take a tiny amount of your pH balanced moisturizing conditioner in the palm of your hand, run water into your cupped hand and vigorously rub the conditioner, mixing it with the water. Keeping this thoroughly wet, scrunch it onto the ends of very wet hair. Then scrunch a spray styling product designed to smooth curls into the hair. Allow to air dry.
2. Less effective, but still useful are the glossers which are actually a very light oil sprayed through an extremely fine mist. These should be applied to dry hair as a general rule.
3. Do not believe marketing ploys that claim that these products restore or repair your hair. All they do is camouflage the damage.

 Enjoy Your Day! ^_^

Quick Tips: Foods To Help With Bloating!

I'm not going to lie: transforming your body from head to toe isn't always the fastest process, because it takes time to burn fat and build muscle. However, there is an exception: With the right diet and workout, you can see a difference in your belly (and maybe even reveal an ab or two!) in just a couple of days. The secret? Beat bloat.

Generally, the best way to avoid bloat is to stay away from soda, alcohol and greasy, salty, fatty meals, which slow the stomach and the intestines from emptying.

Here are 5 of bloat-busting foods:

• Papaya: There's some research that says the enzyme in papaya may aid digestion. Try mixing diced papaya into plain organic yogurt for breakfast.
• Oatmeal: According to recent meta-analysis of a number of studies related to digestion, researchers found that oat bran can be particularly beneficial. It's recommended to have oatmeal for breakfast. Warning: Avoid McDonald's new oatmeal, which has more sugar than a Snickers bar, according to this recent New York Times article. Yikes!

More foods to decrease the bloat, so keep reading.

• Yogurt: The key is to make sure you're choosing a yogurt that has "active cultures," which will increase the number of "good" bacteria in your gut, helping you digest more efficiently and preventing that belly from blowing up.Look for organic plain yogurt (which is very likely to contain the active cultures), and steer clear of anything with "fruit on the bottom." If you need a touch of sweet, stir in some strawberry jam.
• Asparagus: "There's some really interesting new data about asparagus that indicates that it has some probiotic benefits,". So it may ease gas build-up and, because of its diuretic properties, also flush waste and excess water from your body.
• Quinoa: This South American grain is a great source of the minerals magnesium, phosphorous and especially manganese. As a bonus, the potassium in quinoa has been shown to beat bloat (your jeans will thank you).
• Cardio and Yoga: On top of cardio (the fastest way to burn the fat that's covering those dying-to-make-their-debut abs), take a few yoga classes during the week. Certain postures such as "Seated Spinal Twist" and "Triangle" are known for aiding in digestion by wringing out your system and massaging your organs. Whether you're a yoga rookie or a regular, before class, mention to your instructor that you would like to focus on twisting postures.

Have a nice day! :)

10 Foods to Wake Up Your Workday

Lunch was hours ago, and your blood sugar is plummeting. Before you grab a sugar-loaded snack from the trusty office vending machine, consider the top 10 energy-rich foods below...they'll revive you (and stabilize your blood sugar) so you can stay alert until dinner:

• Dried Fruit: Fantastic option for fending off hunger, dried fruits work great by themselves or mixed with nuts.

• Seeds: Pumpkin and sunflower seeds are a satisfying snack, but they won't weigh you down.
• Hardboiled Eggs: Disclaimer: don't eat these at your desk unless you want to make enemies out of your fellow cubicle dwellers. Hardboiled eggs are a great energy food because they're packed with lean protein. Try them with hot sauce.
• Granola: You don't need to eat a lot of granola to get a second wind, but be sure to avoid the kind that's coated with a thick sheen of sugar.
• Veggies: Raw vegetables make great snacks because they can be paired with an infinite number of tasty spreads. Try spicy salsa or a creamy yogurt-based dip.
• Peanut Butter: Peanut butter (or almond butter) offers the same benefits as raw nuts, just with a silkier texture. Throw some on top of an English muffin, or even better a few apple slices.
• Fresh Fruit: Fruit equals fiber, and fiber equals energy. Take an apple to work or whip up a salad the night before work.
• Popcorn: Popcorn (the kind you DON'T get at the movies) provides a satisfying, crunchy alternative to empty-calorie snacks like potato chips
• Nuts: Yes, nuts are the most obvious choice on this list, but for good reason. Brimming with plant-based protein and healthy monounsaturated fats, few foods pack such power. Eat them straight out of the container or make your own variety.
• Bran Muffins: Carbs can be tricky: stuff yourself with the wrong kind and you might wake up face down on your keyboard. Bran muffins, on the other hand, will keep you full without making you drowsy. You can freeze a batch and take one at a time with you to work for an ideal afternoon snack.

Have a nice day! :)

 

20 Things to Make You Smile in 5 minutes!

It’s no surprise that researchers have found that other people will think you’re more attractive if you smile. But did you know that ou feegrinning can also boost your mood, ease pain, and help yl less stressed even if you fake the smile? Plus, it can make other people around you smile, but ask yourself a simpe question:  Can you make someone smile if you forgot how to smile?!

And smile may even earn you a promotion. (People who smile seem more confident and positive, making them more likely to be successful at work.) Here are some easy and inexpensive ways to summon your beautiful smile.

 1- A Smile Makeover
Researchers found that people with more tooth and gum problems showed less of their smile when watching a comedy show. Even if you’re a very busy mom, taking time to care for your teeth brushing and flossing daily, getting twice-yearly checkups, and trying whitening treatments and toothpastes can help you feel more confident about flashing a smile.

2-A Girl’s Night of Pampering
Call a few friends, and break out the nail polish, cucumber masks, and a bottle of wine. We all need time for catching up and treating ourselves like royalty once in a while. For the perfect manicure, treat your hands to a slathering of shea butter, hand balm, or thick face cream. Then file your nails in one direction (not back and forth) with a soft emery board. The best shape to keep them strong: square with slightly rounded edges.

3-A Bouquet of Flowers
Buy yourself a bouquet and set them by your bedside. In one study, women who did this got a mood boost that lasted all day long. In general, the long-lasting cut flowers are alstroemerias, carnations, chrysanthemums, and lilies.

4-A Funny Greeting Card
Visit your favorite supermarket or discount chain store. Go to the coffee bar and get yourself a steaming mug of something, then steer your cart toward the cards. Stick to the humorous section, stocking up on birthday cards, thank-yous, and other funny messages.

5-An Old Photo Album
Toddlers with birthday cake in their hair. Old wedding photos with “dated” bridesmaids’ dresses that were so perfect back then. Grandpa’s old childhood photos with him in a bow tie. It’s all good for lots of smiles, whether you view them alone or with your whole family.

6-A Silly Sitcom or Cartoon
There’s a reason that Friends lasted over a decade. It made us smile. If today’s TV lineup doesn’t have you laughing like the good old shows, buy or rent something from the “TV on DVD” aisle at your local video rental store or discount chain. Or surf for reruns. They’re bound to be on somewhere.

7-A New Shade of Lipstick
Makeup expert Bobbi Brown says that dark, dramatic shades are fine for women in their 20s, but if your lips have started thinning out (which naturally happens as we age), a soft, vibrant tone such as rose, apricot, or berry will help your pout look fuller and more youthful. A bit of clear gloss in the center of your lower lip will also reflect light, adding to the age-erasing effect.

More smiles:

8- Receiving and giving gifts
9-Watching the first snow fall of the season
10. Finding old clothes that actually still fit you
11. Watching a sunrise and a sunset. Maybe not alone
12. Shopping
13. Kids’ laugh
14. Puppies and kittens
15. Breakfast in bed (we can make exceptions, can’t we?)
16. Having someone play with your hair
17. Giving a hug to someone special or Receiving a hug from a friend when you need it
18. A phone call from an old friend
19. Chocolate
20. Pillow fights

Are you smiling now?

Then do one thing - make someone smile today.

Make someone feel cared for, respected, tolerated. Make someone feel loved.

How to Use Almond Oil for Aging and Dry Skin?

As your age increases, your blood fails to manage the circulation speed it had shown before. This results in dehydration of your skin. In the body, the creation of collagen decelerates and this looses the elasticity of the skin. The years of continuous exposure to sunrays, harsh elements make wrinkles, lines and dark spots on your skin prominent. Aging also breaks blood vessels and decreases the production of hormones. Your skin grows to be thin and dull, with enlarged pores.

The anti-aging dry-oily skin care products moisturize, vitaminize the skin and act as anti-oxidants. They help the skin in restoring its natural moisture. It works to smooth the fine lines and wrinkles. If you regularly apply the antiaging dry-oily skin care products, it will make your skin soft and elastic and will also further prevent the new wrinkles. There will be no need for surgical or chemical procedures and your skin will be young and bright.

Benefits of Almond Oil for Aging Skin

1. Helps in healing and moisturizing dry chapped skin. Good For premature aging, dry or sensitive skin. Nutrient-rich with Vitamins A&E, Suitable for all skill types.
2. For best results in aromatherapy skin care, use quality skin softener. Also take up a lubricant of sweet almond oil. Do a good massage or just keep it applied on the skin.
3. It is capable of reducing friction by making your skin smooth.
4. Almond oil is good for skin as it contains vitamins B1, A, B6 and B2 with extra dose of vitamins.
5. Almond oil is one of the least greasy oils. It will soak into your skin quickly and leave only a slight residue.
6. Wash hands in warm, soapy water to remove oily residue from fingers.
7. Purchase oil in a dark colored, glass jar if possible. This ensures that the oil has had less chance of being damaged by light.
8. Keep the oil in a cool, dark place and use it quickly once opened to prevent loss of its quality.
9. Discard unused contents after one year.

Care tips for using Alond Oil for Aging Skin

• Eliminates impurities and removes dead cells
• Refines the structure of the skin and stimulates cell renewal
• Purifies, soothes and decongests the skin
• Leaves the skin soft, renewed and radiant
• Gives a healthy boost to the complexion
• Helps fight against the effects of aging
• Increases the efficiency of treatments applied afterward
• Help eliminate blackheads
• Always test sensitivity to an oil before use. Test a small dab on your wrist, or lower arm and watch for any reactions over a 24 hour period.
• Do not use nut oils if you have a nut allergy. There is no point giving yourself unnecessary complications.

Warning towards aging

Almond oil is one of the good health oils which can be consumed as well. According to the experts, the oil can reduce the chance of a heart attack and bad cholesterol. However, if you have a peanut allergy you should not consume almond oil or use it on their skin.

Have a beautiful Saturday!

Finding Time to Workout

One of the biggest complaints that I hear from people getting started, or trying to get stated, in working out is:
“Where will I find the time to workout?”
We all lead busy days and often the time between the morning when we get up and the evening when we go to sleep goes by in a blur of work, family, preparing meals, finding and foraging for food and getting a little bit of downtime.
So where do we find that few minutes a day to workout? I think that I have a bit of an answer.

Get you priorities straight
First things first. Look at your day from the time that you awake until the time that you go to sleep. What are you doing in every 15 minute block? You may think of this as micromanagement but really it is more important to look at your day and see little gaps and times when you are not batching your work.
Batching? Batching is where you get a bunch of things that are related and do them at once. An easy example is that when you are cooking food, if you are cleaning dishes as you are waiting for the cooking to finish as well as emptying and then refilling the dishwasher then you can see how these related items done in the same place at the same time will save you a lot of time.
Besides batching, you may also find that you are spending time surfing on the internet looking at the same new stories over and over again during the day. Get out of this habit and instead pick a time for news and surfing and do not go back to it unless it is part of the batching process.

How much time do you need

Everyone that does not workout a few times a week thinks that they have to find a couple of hours to workout. Everyone that works out efficiently knows that you can get a great workout in with only 30 minutes. If you are looking for 2 hours to train then you will never find it but if you only need 30 minutes then it is easy to find the time.
30 minutes to workout is not enough for some people but as you care more about this part of your life you will use that time better and maybe let it creep up to an hour. There is nearly no reason that any normal person not training for athletic events would need more than an hour to workout. In fact science says that even an hour may be too long.

Pick a downtime to workout

Either first thing in the morning or an hour after dinner are the best times to workout. Look at how early you are getting up. If you have a shower anyway in the morning why not have a workout as soon as you get up. This is the best time to workout as you are not going to get distracted by life at 5:30, no one even knows that you are awake.

Decide why you are working out

This may be the first thing on the list or else the thing that gets you working out harder. I always have another big fitness goal. These goals are not things like winning the Mr Olympia or anything but smaller ones that may be vane. For example,weightlifting hard in the Spring so that you would look better on the beach in Hawaii.
The thing is as the time of year changes and as your prioirites change you can get in great shape all the time by shifiting the reasons and types of workouts.
So there you have simple ideas for how to get time, prioirtize and get yourself on the road, into the gym or into the basement to get a heart pumping workout that will improve your health for today and into the future.

25 Ways to Stop Smoking

For all the intense efforts to reduce smoking in the world over the past two decades, the progress has not been stellar. Today; one in four men and one in five women still smoke.

For those who never smoked, this is a befuddling fact. Don't smokers understand that cigarettes are the number one killer in America, that they dramatically increase risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, high blood pressure, and almost every other health concern, small or large? How could any habit be worth this?

The truth is, most smokers do understand. They also understand the huge financial toll of smoking, with a pack of 20 cigarettes costing $10 in some areas (imagine: $3,650 spent a year on cigarettes by pack-a-day smokers —often people of only modest resources).

Then why do millions still smoke? Maybe because the nicotine in cigarettes is highly addictive. Or because the smoking provides psychological comfort to some people. Perhaps most of all, because quitting smoking is so hard.

Researchers and businesses have responded strongly to the last point. Never have there been so many tools, systems, and programs available for quitting smoking. And with every month that passes, there is more research showing the benefits of quitting, and the drawbacks of not quitting.

So if you smoke, consider again whether it is time, finally, to quit. If yes, you’ll need to think through the best approach, perhaps working with your doctor or an expert. But the following tips will help you succeed.

1. Make an honest list of all the things you like about smoking.

Draw a line down the center of a piece of paper and write them on one side; on the other side make a list of all the things you dislike, such as how it can interfere with your health, work, family, etc. Think about the list over time, and make changes. If you are brave enough, get feedback from family and friends about things they don’t like about your use of cigarettes. When the negative side outweighs the positive side, you are ready to quit.

2. Then make another list of why quitting won’t be easy.

Be thorough, even if the list gets long and discouraging. Here’s the important part: Next to each entry, list one or more options for overcoming that challenge. For instance, one item might be: “Nicotine is an addictive drug.” Your option might be: “Try a nicotine replacement alternative.” Another reason might be: “Smoking helps me deal with stress.” Your option might be: “Take five-minute walks instead.” The more you anticipate the challenges to quitting, and their solutions, the better your chance of success.

3. Set a quit date

and write a “quit date contract” that includes your signature and that of a supportive witness.

4. Write all your reasons for quitting on an index card

and keep it near you at all times. Here are some to get you started: “My daughter, my granddaughter, my husband, my wife…”You get the idea.

5. As you’re getting ready to quit, stop buying cartons of cigarettes.

Instead, only buy a pack at a time, and only carry two or three with you at a time. Eventually you’ll find that when you want a smoke, you won’t have any immediately available. That will slowly wean you down to fewer cigarettes.

6. Keep a list of when you smoke, what you’re doing at the time, and how bad the craving is

for a week before quitting to see if specific times of the day or activities increase your cravings. Then arrange fun, unique things to do during those times.

7. Prepare a list of things to do when a craving hits.

Suggestions include: take a walk, drink a glass of water, kiss your partner or child, throw the ball for the dog, wash the car, clean out a cupboard or closet, have sex, chew a piece of gum, wash your face, brush your teeth, take a nap, get a cup of coffee or tea, practice your deep breathing, light a candle. Make copies of the list and keep one with you at all times so when the craving hits, you can whip out the list and quickly do something from it.

8. When your quit date arrives, throw out anything that reminds you of smoking.

That includes all smoking paraphernalia, leftover cigarettes, matches, lighters, ashtrays, cigarette holders, even the lighter in your car.

9. Instead of a cigarette break at work, play a game of solitaire on your computer.

It takes about the same time and is much more fun (although, like cigarettes, it can get addictive). If your company prohibits games like that, find another five-minute diversion: a phone call, a stroll, or eating a piece of fruit outdoors (but not where smokers congregate).

10. Switch to a cup of herbal tea whenever you usually have a cigarette.

That might be at breakfast, midmorning, or after meals. The act of brewing the tea and slowly sipping it as it cools will provide the same stress relief as a hit of nicotine.

11. Switch your cigarette habit for a nut habit.

four nuts in their shell for every cigarette you want to smoke. This way, you’re using your hands and your mouth, getting the same physical and oral sensations you get from smoking.

12. Carry some cinnamon-flavored toothpicks with you.

Suck on one whenever a cig craving hits.

13. Make an appointment with an acupuncturist.

There’s some evidence that auricular acupuncture (i.e., needles in the ears) curbs cigarette cravings quite successfully. You can even do it yourself by taping “seeds” (small beads) onto the acupuncture points and squeezing them whenever cravings arise.

14. Swing by the health food store for some Avena sativa (oat) extract.

One study found that, taken at 1 milliliters four times daily, it helped habitual tobacco smokers significantly decrease the number of cigarettes they smoked.

15. Think of difficult things you have done in the past.

Ask people who know you well to remind you of challenges you have successfully overcome. Be confidence to stick with your pledge not to smoke.

16. to minimize cravings, change your routine.

Sit in a different chair at breakfast or take a different route to work.

17. Tell your friends, coworkers, boss, partner, kids, etc.

, how you feel about situations instead of bottling up your emotions. If something makes you angry, express it instead of smothering it with cigarette smoke. If you’re bored, admit to yourself that you’re bored and find something energetic to do instead of lighting up.

18. if you relapse, just start again.

You haven’t failed. Some people have to quit as many as eight times before they are successful.

19. Put all the money you’re saving on cigarettes in a large glass jar.

You want to physically see how much you’ve been spending. Earmark that money for something you’ve always dreamed of doing, but never thought you could afford.

20. Switch to decaf until you’ve been cigarette-free for two months.

Too much caffeine while quitting can cause the jitters.

21. Create a smoke-free zone.

Don’t allow anyone to use tobacco in your home, car, or even while sitting next to you in a restaurant. Make actual “No Smoking” signs and hang them around your house and in your car.

22. Find a healthy snack food you

can keep with you and use in place of cigarettes to quench that urge for oral gratification. For instance, try pistachio nuts, sunflower seeds, sugarless lollipops or gum, carrot or celery sticks. The last ones are best if you are concerned about weight gain.

23. Picture yourself playing tennis.

Or go play tennis. British researchers found volunteers trying to quit smoking were better able to ignore their urges to smoke when they were told to visualize a tennis match.

24. Quit when you’re in a good mood.

Studies find that you’re less likely to be a successful quitter if you quit when you’re depressed or under a great deal of stress.

25. Post this list in a visible location in your house.

Whenever you’re tempted to light up, take a look at all the ways smoking can damage your health:

· Increases risk of lung, bladder, pancreatic, mouth, esophageal, and other cancers, including leukemia

· Reduces fertility

· Contributes to thin bones

· Affects mental capacity and memory

· Reduces levels of folate, low levels of which can increase the risk of heart disease, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease

· Increases likelihood of impotence

· Affects ability to smell and taste

· Results in low-birth-weight, premature babies

· Increases risk of depression in adolescents

· Increases risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure

· Increases risk of diabetes

· Increases your child’s risk of obesity and diabetes later in life if you smoked while pregnant

Have a nice Sunday! :)

How Much Protein Do You Really Need Per Day to Build Muscle?

Protein could be one of the most popular and controversial topics in all of nutrition. It’s become the golden child of muscle building and fat loss. Wanna build big muscles? Eat your protein. Wanna lose fat and look like a fitness model? Eat your protein. After all, everyone knows you need to eat a minimum of 30 grams of protein every two to three hours.

But how much protein do you REALLY need per day to build muscle? Chances are that you may be actually overeating. But how much is enough to help maintain and build muscle? Is there a limit per meal that the body can use?

According to the recent researches, muscle protein synthesis maxes out after a meal at 20-30 grams and anything in over will actually not help stimulate more muscle protein synthesis, but rather just increase excess oxidation (burn for energy).

More Protein Does Not Mean More Muscle?!

If you thought it's scientifically PROVEN that more protein equaled more muscle. Don't be so sure!

While protein is of course essential to build up muscles, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that just eating more and more guarantees bigger muscles. So how much do we really need in the first place? Well here’s some numbers for you:

·The RDA (recommended dietary allowance) for protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight of adults (or roughly 0.36 grams per lb of body weight). Or I have also seen advised that women need at least 46 grams of protein per day, and men need at least 56 grams of protein per day (to avoid deficiency).

· NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association) recommends that for active people, endurance and strength training, a higher intake is advised at around 0.4-0.6 per lb of bodyweight (and up to 0.8g/lb for full time athletes).

*Note that most of these “body weights” for calculating protein are more based on “ideal” (or even “fat free”) weight.

These are interesting numbers and much lower than what you may hear out there. You can see that with more activity, and then the recommended amount of protein will increase. What is also important to remember is the overall calorie intake is also increasing with activity level. So in essence, while the amount of protein may increase the % of protein per daily calories may actually be the same (or less). Just something to keep in mind, as calories also matter.

Let’s take a look at one of the research studies that the super-high protein advocates always use to ‘prove’ that eating protein after a workout makes you build muscle.

If you were in this study, this is how your day would have gone:

You would show up at a research lab around 10 PM, and you would go to sleep (no eating). The researchers would wake you up around 6 AM and start poking and probing you (again no eating). After a bunch of weighing and measurements, you would start working out around 9 AM…you still haven’t eaten yet.

This would be one of the toughest workouts you have ever done. Most likely you would do 10 sets of 8 reps on the leg press machine, followed by 8 sets of 8 reps on the leg extension machine. All of your reps would be done at 80% of your one rep max. Like I said, it's one brutal workout. It’s about 10am now, still haven’t eaten.

After your workout you would be given a drink that contains 3 to 6 grams of essential amino acids (the same amount of amino acids found in a glass of milk).

After that, the researchers would take measurements for the next 4 hours and measure your rate of "protein syntheses". This is pretty much the standard protocol for these types of studies.

And guess what they found?

An increase in protein synthesis over these four hours. So what does this prove? It proves that if you haven’t eaten since 10 PM the night before, do a brutal workout at 9 AM the next morning, and drink a glass of milk, you will increase your protein synthesis for four hours!

So much for needing 30 grams of protein, and so much for needing protein every couple hours.

You know what else? The only reason for protein synthesis increasing for 4 hours is because after 4 hours the researchers stopped measuring. Who knows how long you would have stayed in a muscle building state. Some researchers have estimated that a single workout can put you into ‘muscle building mode’ for as long as 48 hours after your workout!

Even more interesting is that researchers have found similar results when they made people drink the amino acids before their workout, and even when they made them wait and drink the amino acids a couple hours after their workout!

First, the TYPE of protein you are consuming does matter
You can get it from a variety of sources, with the difference being the rate at which the body absorbs and uses it. For practical purposes know this, the average person has the ability to process and use:

Egg protein 1.3 grams/hour
Casein isolate - 6.1 grams/hour
Whey isolate - 8-10 grams/hour
At BEST if all your protein comes from Whey the most you can process in 24 hours is 240 grams. Bear in mind for even that to be the case; you have to ingest it through out the day fairly evenly. So, clearly any recommendation that puts the average person over this amount is false.

Secondly, not all of your body weight needs protein. Fat doesn’t

So don’t feed it. Calculating the body weight used without removing your fat stores results in too much protein, which in and of itself isn’t unhealthy. But it does mean that you are likely taking in too many CALORIES in total, which results in additional FAT GAIN, which is unhealthy. 

Thirdly, the FDA’s RDA is for sedentary adults

For babies and young children they double it to .75 gram per day per pound. Why? They are growing of course. Obviously then if your goal is to add lean muscle mass you too will grow. So at least .75 is needed. In fact it has been determined that 1.1 to 1.5 gram is good for active, strength training adults.

Lastly and most importantly, no amount of protein matters if you are not hitting the weights.

If anybody tells you that more protein will make up for any shortcomings in your training they are wrong. Erratic, high rep, low weight training will not add muscle mass even if you take Whey protein 24/7 intravenously.

In conclusion the amount of protein needed to add lean muscle mass is determined this way:

Your weight - (Your body weight X %body fat)] X 1.3* = Grams per day of protein
Example 1: you weigh 200 lbs and your body fat is 15%
[200 – (200 x .15)] = 170 x 1.3* = 221 grams Example 2: you weigh 200 lbs and your body fat is 25% [200 – (200 x .25)] = 150 x 1.3* = 195 grams 

* Younger people can use the 1.5 multiplier and be fairly safe in avoiding fat gain.

Have a nice night! :)

Does The Iced Green Tea Provide The Same Health Benefits as Hot One?

Many people all over the world enjoy the benefits of green tea these days. Loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that aid in preventing the onset of a wide range of ailments, the options for loose tea, green tea bags, and various sorts of green tea powders and supplements have never been more plentiful. In the midst of all this consumption of green tea products, there is the question of whether or not iced green tea is as healthy as hot green tea. The answer to that question has a lot to do with the type of product used, and the method of brewing.
With commercially brewed green tea beverages, the issue is not so much whether the iced green tea is healthier than a commercial beverage that is warmed before consumption. Rather, the focus is on what ingredients other than green tea is found in the beverage. In some cases, the product has very little tea, but is heavy on carbonated water and artificial flavors that provide no nutritional value whatsoever. In this scenario, it makes little difference whether the beverage is served hot or cold, since the nutritional content of the beverage itself is quite low.

When the hot or iced green tea is prepared using loose tea or even pre-packaged teabags, there is often a concern about the role of oxidation in the preparation of the tea. One school of thought holds that subjecting the tea to excessively hot temperatures decreases the presence of antioxidants in the brewed tea. According to this concept, tea that is brewed using water near body temperature is a better option, and has the added benefit of preventing the tea from becoming bitter. After the steeping is complete, the tea should be consumed either by drinking at room temperature or allowing it to chill in a refrigerator for a short time. In either case, drinking the tea soon after brewing is considered the best way to get the most nutrition from the drink.

Others believe that iced green tea does not lose its nutritional value, and has just as many benefits as hot green tea. Here again, the method of brewing is considered important. One approach calls for pouring cold water into a clear glass container, and adding either green tea bags of loose green tea contained in a tea ball to the water. The container is placed in the sun for a couple of hours, allowing the tea to steep as the sun’s rays gradually increase the temperature of the water. From there, the tea can be poured over ice and enjoyed as a refreshing beverage on a hot summer day, with no fears of losing any of the health benefits.

There is some support for the idea that while iced green tea and hot green tea both contain a substantial amount of nutrients and antioxidants, those nutrients are more readily absorbed when the tea is hot. Cold beverages must be warmed within the body to a certain temperature before they begin to break down and allow absorption into the bloodstream. By drinking hot tea instead, the nutrients spread throughout the body faster, providing nourishment at a more efficient pace.

Since both iced green tea and hot green tea are consumed in both Eastern and Western cultures, supporters for both approaches are readily found in just about any setting. The difference of opinion tends to settle on the use of fresh tea leaves, versus commercial products such as lattes made with green tea powder, or various forms of diet supplements. Research that indicates that hot wins out over iced green tea, or vice versa, is not universally accepted, with critics usually pointing out flaws in the testing methods or the selection of the tea used for the research. At present, green tea lovers should choose iced or hot tea based on personal preference, making sure to use tea products that are not loaded with a lot of extra ingredients.

Have a nice weekend! :)

Does Walking Really Help You Lose Weight?

In this post I want to talk about walking as a form of exercise and whether it will really help you to lose weight.

Does walking really burn fat?

I understand that this issue is going to be close to many readers’ hearts. For a lot of us, walking has formed the basis of our weight loss program and as such we have become quite attached. However, I feel it is important to write honestly as there are a lot of women out there placing all their hope in a morning walk.
The truth is that walking does work. It will help you burn enough calories to lose weight.
However. There are things you need to do in order to make sure your walks are effective. These factors are so crucial to your progress it is vital that you know them.

How to ensure your walks are burning fat?!

1. Walking needs to be done before breakfast
Walking is a very low intensity exercise. It gets your heart rate up but not enough that you will burn many calories after the session is finished. For this reason you need to make sure it is done before breakfast. Why? Because as soon as you give your body some fuel (food) it will use that instead of your fat stores for energy.

2. Walking needs to be done for at least 45 minutes
Science has shown that you don’t start tapping into your fat stores until around the 30 minute mark. That means that for the first half an hour your body is relying on mostly calories for its energy. Sure, some fat is getting burned but not very much. Try and make sure your walks are at least 45 minutes long if you want to tap into the annoying fat stores on your butt, thighs, legs, abs and love handles.

3. Walking needs to be fast
A walk is not a walk. All walks are not created equal. If you are doing walking as a form of exercise you need to be going at it a lot harder than if you were going for a leisurely walk in the park. A slow plodded walk will not do anything. However, a fast paced, arm pumping, lung burning race walk will burn a lot of calories.

4. Your walks need to progress
If you walk the same distance and the same pace for the same amount of time everyday for a year you are going to stop making progress. This is one of the biggest mistakes that women make when using walking as a form of weight loss. As walking is quite low in intensity you need to make sure you are making it harder all the time. If you don’t, it will soon start to plateau and you won’t make any new progress.

5. A post-dinner walk is a giant advantage
Going for a walk after dinner is one of the best things you can do for your weight. Why? Because you will use up some of your dinner calories that would otherwise get stored as fat while you sleep. Many women have lost a tonne of weight by going for a walk before bedtime. I highly recommend it.

Conclusion

Walking does burn fat and it will help you lose weight. However, it is important to take on board the tips I have given as these make the process a lot faster and more effective. And remember, not all walks are created equal. Make sure yours count.

Have a peaceful night! ^_^

Do Tanning Beds Cause Skin Cancer and Other Harmful Effects?

Before one can discuss harmful effects of tanning equipment and increased sun exposure, one must be familiar with the components of ultraviolet light and how affects the skin.

What is UV radiation?
Sunlight contains two types of ultraviolet (UV) light: UVA and UVB. UVA rays consist of longer wavelengths that penetrate deep into the dermal layer of skin. Limited exposure to UVA rays causes skin to tan; however, most experts agree that overexposure to UVA can lead to other long-term skin damage. UVB rays wavelengths are much shorter, affecting the outermost layers of skin. UVB rays are known as the "burning rays" and are considered more dangerous. Tanning beds and sun lamps generally emit 93% to 99% UVA radiation increasing the benefits of a tan This is three times the UVA radiation given off by the sun

What is the difference between a tan and sunburn?

It is also important to know what happens to the skin as it is tanned or burned and what the long-term, harmful effects may be. UVB rays are most responsible for a skin's burning. The rays actually pop the capillaries just beneath the surface of the skin .Long-wavelength; UVA rays have totally different results on the skin. As UVA rays penetrate into the skin, melanin granules are oxidized and tan, or, turn golden brown. However, UVB rays are required to stimulate these melanin granules to rise to the skin's surface, especially in skin that possesses small amounts of the pigment, melanin.

What makes tanning beds safer?

Most tanning bed industries agree that indoor tanning is much safer than receiving outdoor exposure to the sun. Light emitted from tanning equipment contains approximately 40% less UVB rays, the most harmful type of radiation, than does light from the sun. Tanning beds, therefore, have the power to control exposure time and the ratio of UVA to UVB rays for a "perfect balance" .Since tanning beds filter out most of the burning UVB rays, chances of getting burned decrease dramatically. Therefore, the companies can claim that the tanning beds cannot be any more harmful than the sun.

Tanning salons also state that some UV radiation is needed for the manufacturing of vitamin D. Vitamin D certifies that a constant level of calcium remains in the blood and controls its absorption. In an advertisement for tanning equipment, one tanning bed company, The Beach House Tanning, claims that the sun is the only source of Vitamin D. However, vitamin D is also found in foods such as dairy products, cereal

In addition, tanning industries claim that UVA radiation has no harmful effects on the skin. They say that only UVB radiation can harm the outermost layer of the skin. Since UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin, then they say that tanning beds cannot cause any type of premature aging, burn the skin, or thicken the skin, revealing a leathery type appearance.

In fact, The Beach House Tanning states that it isn't safe not to tan. They report that avoiding the sun highly increases the risks for many cancers including skin cancer and that most studies prove that people who are not exposed to the sun on a regular basis have a greater chance of acquiring some forms of cancer. One study that was conducted showed that malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is actually more common in people who do not receive regular sun exposure and develops on areas that are not usually exposed to the sun.

Also, some sun exposure abates or retards the development of breast, colon, prostate, and ovarian cancers. Actually, many studies have shown that heredity and repeated sunburn, which are not caused by tanning beds, are the most prominent factors for skin cancer. Since tanning is, "your body's natural defense against sunburn," as stated by Beach House, and since, "tanning beds are a responsible way to get a base tan," as claimed by them, then it is safe to say that tanning beds are a reliable source of UV exposure.

Nearly every single article that was researched concluded that indoor tanning is directly linked to skin cancer, specifically malignant melanoma, and other numerous health problems. Although tanning industries claim that UVA radiation is safe, medical research disproves this theory.

Researchers say that because UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin, they destroy skin fibers and damage elasticity. Long-term effects of UVA rays include premature aging and wrinkles. Scientists agree that UVA rays are less likely to cause burns, but that they are still linked to malignant melanoma, damage to the immune system, weakening of the skin's inner tissue, and other types of skin cancers. In fact, studies show that large doses of UVA lead to an increased risk of developing skin cancer.

From his research, Dr. David Sidransky concluded that UVA radiation causes the same damage as UVB radiation to skin cells which leading to cancer. In cases where exposure to light was increased, it was more likely that the damage would exceed the constructive, cellular-repair mechanisms, and a tumor would be more likely to develop.

A study conducted in Sweden helps to prove that tanning beds are a major factor in the development of malignant melanoma. Different people, all under the age of 30, were included in the study. The data concluded that the people who used tanning beds more than 10 times a year were seven times more likely to develop malignant melanoma than those who did not use tanning beds as often. Researchers estimated that by the year 2000, the risk of developing skin cancer for those who did not use tanning beds would be one out of every 97 persons, and that the chances for those who did use tanning beds would be one out of every 13 persons. The study also concluded that melanoma risks are increased by 300% for those using tanning beds occasionally, and that the risks increase by 800% for those who use tanning beds more than 10 times a year.

Dr. Douglas Reintgen believed that as long as tanning devices were not used in excess and the customer avoided burns, then the equipment could be considered safe.

However, it has been proven that tanning beds do cause sunburns, and are, therefore, dangerous. Actually,one sunburn doubles the risk of developing skin cancer.

Tanning is also skin damage. Although skin cancer has been associated with UVB radiation and sunburns, scientists say that even tanning in moderation produces the same harmful effects, as would a burn. Tanning causes premature aging, causing the skin to appear leathery and wrinkled, and also damages the immune system. Other sources reveal that tanning always damages the skin. Plastic surgeon Dr. Dean Johnson who treats skin cancer patients in 25% of his surgeries, declares, "There is no safe tan"

A number of various authorities warn the public of the dangers of tanning devices:

Dermatologists believe that tanning beds are a leading factor in skin cancer cases. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists tanning beds as possible health hazards and the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) encourage people to avoid using tanning and sun lamps Even the American Medical Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) are fighting to ban the use of tanning equipment for non-medical purposes.

Both types of UV radiation can cause damage to blood vessels, photosensitivity (allergic) reactions, or even eye damage). According to the CDC, tanning beds create problems in the eyes such as conjunctivitis and corneal infections. Ultraviolet rays can cause serious damage to the cornea and retina.

What are people's motives for tanning?

Why do people desire a tan? In general, most people are concerned about their appearance. It can be assumed that people desire to be considered beautiful by others and to have more pleasant features. The stereotypical good-looking person is usually a thin female or muscularly built male with nice, clean hair and bronze or tan skin.

In recent years there has been a tremendous amount of pressure placed upon females, especially teenagers, to become what the media considers to be a beautiful person. All this explains why more white female teens are using tanning equipment with disregard to medical warnings.

Why won't people listen?

Because of exposure to sun, tanning beds, and sun lamps, the number of skin cancer cases has increased dramatically. It has been predicted that this year, more than one million new skin cancer cases will be diagnosed. Also, malignant melanoma can be fatal if it is not detected early. This year in the United States, 38,000 cases and 7,300 deaths are being anticipated So, why are people not complying with the warnings? Why are people not changing poor skin care treatment?
Perhaps the public is not fully aware of the harmful effects of UV radiation. Most of skin cancer patients are over 50, but lately more teenagers have become victims, and this was probably due to the fact that now more than 2.5 million people are using tanning bed equipment daily (mostly teens).

Which group is right?

Although benefits do exist from choosing to use tanning beds over bathing outdoors in the sun, tanning bed industries have failed to mention many important and harmful risk factors of tanning equipment. The long-term effects of UVA radiation far exceed the short-term, ephemeral benefits, and trust should be placed into the hands of scientists, researchers, and doctors.

Have a beautiful Friday! ^_^