Archive for November, 2006
Sedu Beauty Tips For A Lovely Skin
You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to get beautiful and healthy skin. Just follow a few sedu guidelines to get a flawless skin easily and naturally:
1. Eat healthy. Avoid foods that cause breakouts and pimples, this will make your skin less oily and more resistant to blemishes. Avoid junk and fried foods like fries, chocolates, pizzas and soft drinks. You dont need to give up everything that is bad for your skin. You can eat these things in moderation.
2. Keep your skin hydrated at all times. Drink atleast eight glasses of water every day to flush out the toxins from your body.
3. Exercise regularly. You can do some aerobic exercises, walking, running, cycling or swimming. Play some outdoor games to keep your body fit and active. Exercise helps in proper blood circulation and gives a natural glow to your skin.
4. Limit exposure to sun. Use a good sunscreen or sunblock cream whenever you step out. Also wear a hat and sunglasses and avoid going out in the sun during the peak hours between 11 a.m and 3 p.m.
5. Follow a regular cleansing routine. Cleanse and moisturize your skin with a good cream every day. Also tone and exfoliate your skin once in 2 days. Do not use hot water to wash your face.
6. Remove all traces of makeup before going to bed every night.
7. Use a facial mask once or twice in a week to refresh your face.
Hair Care Tips For Naturally Shiny Hair
All of us desire to have beautiful and healthy hair, but the weather and improper handling can play havoc on the hair. Here are a few tips that may help you bring back the lusture and shine in your hair:
1. Use a proper hair brush. Everybody should possess one good hair brush. It helps you deal with tangles and messy hair. You can also style your hair using a hair brush.
2. Use a wide-toothed comb. A wide tooth comb lets you manage your hair properly, and ensures lesser hair fall when you comb. De-tangle your hair before bathing. But do not comb immediately after bathing on wet hair. Wet hair is weaker and brittle, so there will be more hair-loss. Let your hair dry for sometime, then comb gently using a wide-toothed comb.
3. Do not use a blow-dryer to dry your hair everytime you wash them. It makes your hair dull, dry and lifeless. Use it sparingly, only when you are short of time and have to attend an urgent meeting.
4. Do not use hair-straighteners and iron on your hair. All these techniques will damage your hair and make them lifeless after sometime. Use sparingly if you need it badly. Constant use may cause split ends and frizzy hair.
5. Do not use hair gels and hair colors on the hair very often. The chemicals will have a bad effect on your hair. Keep your hair as natural as possible.
6. Apply warm oil to your hair once in a week (or more if you wish to) and massage with gentle finger strokes.
7. Use a shampoo that is mild and suits your hair type. Check out what kind of hair you have - dry, greasy or normal.
8. If you have dandruff, use a good dandruff shampoo to keep dandruff at bay. Dandruff is also one of the leading cuses of hair fall.
9. If the weather is too harsh and you fear that your hair may be damaged by the sun, use a wide hat, cap, bandana or scarf to cover your hair.
10. Do not tie your hair too tight, as this may loosen the roots and make them brittle.
Smoking Leads To Alcoholism In Teens
A recent study shows that smoking may make adolescents more vulnerable to alcoholism and other addictions. It was noted that the younger they start smoking, the more their risk of other addictions.
It was observed that smoking, especially in adolescence, has a higher likelihood of alcohol problems and dependence later in life. Dr. Elissa Weitzman of the Harvard School of Public Health, says, “smoking and drinking present a troubling nexus of interacting risks. Use of one is a good indication that use and abuse of the other may be present, too”. She added that her own research has shown that youths who became regular smokers by the age of 15 were at a fivefold higher risk of developing an alcohol-related disorder by the age of 18-21, compared to their nonsmoking peers.
So stay away from smoking in your teens, to avoid other problems in the future. Live Healthy !!!
Keep Away Your Kids From Violent Video Games
According to a new study, when teenagers play violent video games, they become more emotionally revved up than if they play nonviolent video games.
The study was presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), Chicago. It was observed that when teens were exposed to violent video games, they bacame more charged up emotionally. This finding may receive severe criticism from psychologists bacause of the negative effects of violent games.
Violent video games and internet are already receiving much flak from child psychologists worldwide. The growing number of cases on internet abuse and child molestation only add more to their woes.
The study was conducted on several healthy adolescents who were randomly assigned to play violent or non-violent video games for half an hour. But some more studies need to be conducted to know whether these temporary effects of violent games on the brain are linked to violent behavior in teens or not.
How To Do Manicure In A Jiffy
Our hands are the most used but probably the most neglected parts of our body. We try to keep our face glowing and vibrant all the time, but turn up at parties with dirty hands and fingernails. And most of us don’t have the time to visit a saloon and get a manicure done.
Here are some simple and quick steps to do manicure in a few minutes:
1. Remove all old nail polish from your nails.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly. Then cut your fingernails. Wash your hands again after cutting.
3. Now shape your nails. Take a nail file and file the corners of your nails. Avoid using a sawing motion, as this makes the nails brittle. Take your nail file to a corner and using an upward motion, file to the center of your nail.
4. Now soak your fingers in a bowl of warm, soapy water to soften the cuticles and loosen the dirt.
5. Now remove all the dirt from under the nails. And push back the cuticles using the stick. Wash your hands again.
6. Now soak your hands in a bowl of warm water to which a little lime juice and johnson’s baby shampoo has been added. Do this for 15 minutes. Then rinse off your hands.
7. Use a good moisturise to massage the hands and cuticles. This will make your hands soft and silky smooth.
Voila ! Now your hands are ready to be shown off everywhere with pride.
Do You Know Where The World’s Healthiest Wines Are Grown ???
British scientists discovered that the traditional red wines from the vineyards of France and Italy are the best for your health. It was found that the red wines from these two regions have the highest concentrations of a chemical that boosts cardiovascular health.
The research suggested that the artery-clogging effects of a fatty Christmas dinner can best be counteracted by drinking a red wine from south west France or Sardinia.
You may have heard that drinking a little red wine is good for your health. But certain traditional wines are better than the newer varieties. Researchers say that if you want to live a long life, you should opt for a glass of Sardinian red wine over an Australian Shiraz.
These French and Sardinian wines are rich in antioxidant chemicals called polyphenols, which protect the blood vessels and heart. Reds from Nuoro, such as Cannonau, and from Gers, such as Madiran, were found to have between two and four times more procyanidins than other red wines.
The study concluded that people who want to protect their hearts and enjoy a long life, should forego popular New World wines from Australia, United States, and other places and instead buy a bottle of French Madiran or a red from the Nuoro region of Sardinia.
But remember, drink in moderation !!! Too much of anything is bad ….
Going To The Church Has Benefits You Never Knew
People who dislike having to go to the church, read this … Going to the church is actually good for your health. It’s not me who’s saying this, just to bring you back to the church, but a recent study has confirmed this.
The study shows that going to the church actually helps people breathe easier. Researchers studied the breathing of 1,189 people aged between 70 to 79. People who attended church regularly had better pulmonary flow rate.
Joanna Maselko, of Temple University says, “Pulmonary function is an important indicator of respiratory and overall health, yet little is known about the psychosocial factors that might predict pulmonary function, At the same time, religious activity is emerging as a potential health promoting factor, especially among the elderly. We wanted to determine whether there was a connection between the two”.
A previous study also showed that churchgoers live longer than those who rarely visit the church. Going to the church regularly has other benefits too - it promotes social contact, provides emotional support, reduces the feelings of isolation that many older people experience and boosts psychological and physical well-being. Wow…the many benefits of believing in God I guess …
Are You Making Any Of These Health Blunders???
Sometimes you may not realize that you are doing something wrong to your body. These things usually seem benign and harmless in the beginning but may end up harming you in the long run. Just check out whether you are committing any of these health mistakes:
1. Crossing your legs at the knee while sitting. Crossing your legs may restrict the blood flow and lead to varicose veins. Sit with your feet flat on the floor.
2. Skipping breakfast when you are in a hurry. Breakfast provides you with instant energy and regulates your metabolism. So never ever skip your breakfast, no matter how much hurry you are in. People who skip breakfast also tend to eat more during lunch, thus putting on those unwanted calories.
3. Men who do not get themselves screened for colon cancer and testicular cancer. Testicular cancer may strike men as early as 15, therefore men should get themselves screened from time to time. And colon cancer screenings should start from the age of 50.
4. Women who do not self-examine their breasts. Consult your doctor immediately if you feel a lump or any change in your breasts. Women should also get themselves screened for colon cancer by the age of 50.
5. Men and women sometimes do not understand the symptoms of a possible heart attack. Symptoms may include fatigue, sweats, numbness in the left arm, chest pains, heartburn, shortness of breath, nausea, or a feeling of extreme weight on the chest.
6. Not getting routine checkups for diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Visit your doctor from time to time in order to detect any diseases and illnesses early. Get your blood test done priodically.
7. Notice blood in the stool and do not consult a doctor. This is a common mistake that men and women make. If you notice any such problem, see your doctor immediately.
8. Being stressed all the time. Most people are so stressed these days that they do not get proper time to eat, work or play. Being stressed is more harmful to your health than you can ever imagine. So take a chill pill and relax.
World’s First Face Transplant Successful
It was a year ago when a Frenchwoman received the world’s first partial face transplant and doctors now feel that the operation was a success as she is gaining more and more sensitivity and facial mobility.
In the new picture, Isabelle Dinoire is giving a slight smile, and appears to have better control over her face. Dinoire, 39, was severely disfigured last year by her pet Labrador. She still has weekly medical consultations and expects to resume work soon.
Dinoire said she had trouble speaking initially, but now people understand her. She also said, “I can feel just about everything as I did before. It may be someone else’s face, but when I look in the mirror I see me”.
The doctors say that the progress, in terms of sensitivity and mobility, is being noted month after month and the tolerance of the transplant is also excellent.
This marks the first anatomical and functional success of the first ever partial face transplant. British and American doctors are now planning for the first full-face transplant.
Restaurants Cut Trans Fat From French Fries
After KFC, Taco Bell and Wendy’s, it is now the turn of Arby’s Group of Restaurants to cut trans fat from their food. Arby’s Restaurant Group announced that its eateries will no longer serve french fries with trans fat and cut the artery-clogging oil from its other foods too.
The Atlanta-based chain of Arby’s has more than 3,500 restaurants worldwide. It is expected that by May 1, 75 percent of Arby’s menu items will contain less than half a gram of trans fat.
Several other cities have also begun to consider banning the fats, which are linked to heart disease. Trans fat lowers the good cholesterol and raises the levels of bad cholesterol in your body. Just by eating 5 grams of trans fat a day, raises the risk of heart disease by 25 percent.
At last, we can now hope to get healthy food from our favorite restaurants …
Food Alert : Canadians Warned Not To Eat Certain Products
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has warned the general public not to eat certain Honey Baked Ham Products like cooked ham and turkey. It is feared that the products may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, that can cause high fever, neck stiffness, severe headache and nausea.
Here is a list of the products that should not be consumed:
1. Sliced and Glazed Cooked Boneless Turkey Breast 3 pound package with P-15875, Package code between 6248 and 6258 and Product code 30505 02099
2. Sliced & Glazed Fully Cooked Smoked Boneless Turkey Breast in 3 pound package with P-15875, Package code between 6248 and 6258 and Product code 30504 02099.
3. Sliced & Glazed Fully Cooked Half Hamin of 6 to 11 pound packages with EST. 15875 Package codes between 6261 and 6310
4. Sliced & Glazed Fully Cooked Whole Ham of 12 to 16 pound packages with EST. 15875 Package code between 6261 and 6310
Are You Facing Dry Skin Dilemma???
Your skin usually tends to become dry and flaky during the winter season. You need to take extra care of your skin and avoid any harsh products. Here are a few tips to heal your dry and dull skin:
1. Use scrubs regularly to remove dry and scaly skin.
2. Use an aloe vear based moisturiser daily. Apply it before bedtime and wash off in the morning.
3. Take half a tsp vitamin E oil and mix it with 2 drops of lime juice and half a tsp of glycerine. Apply this mixture on your skin daily.
4. Make a mixture of one tsp warm olive oil, a few drops of glycerine and 3 drops of lime juice. Apply this on your face once a day.
5. Take one tsp milk cream and mix it with 2 to 3 drops of lime juice. Apply this 10 minutes before taking a bath.
6. You can also apply plain whole milk for 10 minutes and wash off with cold water twice a day to keep dry skin at bay.
Smokers Must Quit, Not Just Cut Back
If you are one of those heavy smokers, and think that cutting down on smoking is gonna improve your condition, then think again. A new study shows that there’s no difference between heavy smoking and just a few cigarettes a day.
This research shows that it’s all or nothing when it comes to quitting smoking for health reasons. Smokers who are eager to cut the risk of dying early must quit smoking completely because cutting down, even by half, is not enough.
And not just this, it has also been observed that children born to smoking mothers are more likely to pick up the habit.
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. It increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Health experts warn that the estimated global deaths due to smoking could double to 10 million or more by 2020.
So it’s not just enough to cut back, quit smoking completely !!!
Overweight Kids Get Poor Sleep
Research shows that about one in four overweight American kids have trouble with their sleep. But, regular exercise can help these yawning youngsters.
The study was conducted on 100 kids, aged between 7 and 11, and found that overweight kids are inactive and suffer from sleep-disordered breathing, including snoring.
But this condition can be improved by vigorous after-school physical activity, such as basketball, soccer, tag, and jumping rope. Even children who do not have any sleep problems can have improved sleep after vigorous physical activity.
Sleep problems in children may affect children’s behavior and their ability to function in school. So if you have kids who have sleep problems, just get them to play some outdoor games and exercise. It will help a great deal.
Birth Control Pills For Men
After women, it is now the turn of males to have the birth control pills. According to reports, British scientists are developing a male contraceptive pill that can put a smile on the faces of women.
It is a single dose pill that needs to be taken a few hours before having sex. And it is believed it does not have any side effects. It affects contraction of the muscles that control ejaculation, but does not interfere with performance or orgasm sensation. The result is a dry ejaculation.
The hormone-free pill, that prevents ejaculation of sperm, is expected to hit the market in five years. It is believed that the pill is more user-friendly than other male contraceptive methods such as vasectomy and injections or implants. And within half a day, the sperm will be on the move again.
Let’s hope that the pill passes clinical trial, as it could benefit hundreds of people who are anxious about the use of hormones.
10 Ways To Feel Amazing This Winter
Winter is a time to relax and enjoy. But you often end up feeling too dull and sluggish during the winter days. Here is a list of things you can do in winter to lift your spirits and elevate your mood.
1. Revamp your look. Get a new hairstyle or change your wardrobe this season. Moisturise and exfoliate your skin. Treat your hair with a warm oil massage to get rid of dryness.
2. Pamper and treat yourself. Go to a health spa and get a massage done professionally. Buy one luxury item for yourself that you always wanted to buy. Gift something to your family and friends.
3. Join a gym and get into shape. Or else exercise at home. You will feel good if you are healthy and fit.
4. Take a winter break and go on a holiday. A break will revive your energy and refresh your souls. Go on a holiday to that exotic location with your family or friends and see the change in yourself.
5. Catch up on your sleep. Winter time is definitely the time to roll up in your blanket and sleep for longer hours, in the cozy comfort of your dark room. But do not overdo it.
6. Add some color to your home and life. Get a new color for your house, that is vibrant and bright. You can select pinks, oranges, greens and purples. Get some nature into your house by decorating with plants and aquariums to watch the fishes in all their beauty. Your kids would be very pleased too.
7. Take up a winter sport or hobby. Play a sport you always loved or take up a hobby, if you wish to remain indoors. Play with your family and friends, this can be a great way to bond with them and enjoy life together.
8. Eat healthy and boost your immune system. Eat a balanced diet that includes more of fruits and vegetables. You may be more prone to colds and flu in the winter season, make sure you don’t catch an infection.
9. Plan your future. Start thinking about your aims and ambitions in the New Year. Be positive and set realistic goals.
10. Kick any bad habits. If you are addicted to smoking, boozing or drugs, kick the habit. It is never too late to stop bad habits and start life afresh.
Pets May Pose Several Health Risks In The U.S
According to a recent survey, exotic animals, that are captured in the wild, are being imported into the U.S. by the millions with little or no screening for disease. This is making the Americans more vulnerable to a disease outbreak.
Parents in the U.S usually get the latest fancy pets to please their kids, but in the bargain forget that they are risking the health of their kids. There are more than 650 million exotic pets brought into the United States in the past three years. And wait these are just the number of pets imported legally. There are countless more pets that are smuggled across the borders illegaly as there is a huge demand for such wildlife.
And most wildlife arrives with no screening for disease, from places as far as Africa, Asia and South America. Scientists fear that bacteria and viruses are carried to the States and may infect humans. There are several zoonotic diseases that jump to humans from animals.
There are around 50 million people worldwide who have been infected with zoonotic diseases since 2000 and as many as 78,000 have died. So the next time you think of getting an exotic pet, get it properly checked for any diseases.
Swab Your Kid And Collect The DNA
What will you do in case your child is kidnapped or meets with an accident? Read this… many parents are now swabbing the inside of their children’s mouths to get a DNA sample just in case they need it the kid is kidnapped, runs away or suffers a terrible accident.
The growing number of news reports regarding child abductions and television shows such as CSI is driving the interest of people in keeping genetic records that may help them identify remains, hair or blood.
To make this easily accessible to parents, there are kits available that include a photo, a collection swab, fingerprints and a special envelope in which to put the DNA sample. These kits are being distributed by private companies, police stations, orthodontists and others. They are priced between $5 to $60, but some are available for free too.
Parents are becoming increasing careful and do not want to take any chances, bacause anything can happen anytime and you need to be prepared all the time.
Spot Breast Cancer Easily With The New Ultrasound
Women fearing the risk of breast cancer can now rejoice as there is a new type of ultrasound, that is highly effective in determining whether the lumps in the breasts are cancerous or not.
Dr Richard Barr, a radiologist at Ohio, who conducted the study says that the findings can reduce the number of unnecessary breast biopsies and reassure women that their tumors are harmless and they don’t have to worry.
The technique known as Elasticity Imaging, is a powerful version of a conventional ultrasound. We just hope this comes as a relief to millions of women who are suffering from the deadly disease.
5 Things You Should Never Do To Live Longer
There may be no sure shot tips to make you live till 100 years or longer but there are some things that you should avoid doing if you want to live longer. Have a look at them …
1. Smoke or drink excessively. Even moderate smoking and drinking can be harmful for you. So it’s best to avoid it. Avoid drugs completely. There’s nothing as bad as getting addicted to drugs, and letting them control your life.
2. Experience some pains and lumps in your body but take it easy. It is important that you visit a physician at regular intervals to check whether there is any abnormal growth or risk of any disease. Your doctor may be able to advice you on the proper course of action, on time.
3. Kill somebody or Yourself. Do not kill anybody, you may end up being caught and have a more terryfying time during the trials. You can’t live in peace after that. So the risk is not worth taking. And yes, don’t attempt suicide, ever in your life. Life is too precious to waste like that.
4. Be stressed and tensed all the time. If you are always stressed and tired all the time, your brain may not be able to work efficiently and it is bad for your heart too. So relax, take a break and be chilled out. Control your blood pressure and diabetes.
5. Have Sex With multiple partners. Never ever sleep with multiple partners as there is more risk of aquiring HIV related diseases like AIDS. Take proper precautions by using condoms and having sex with only one partner. Also make sure your partner is not infected and sleeps only with you. Never indulge in unsafe sex, as this is one of the major causes of death worldwide.