The Perfect Halloween Mask.

If messy makeup isn't your thing or you simply do not have the time or the artistic hand to apply it, a Halloween mask can be the next best option for you to complete your costume. And there are always plenty of options to choose from when you are shopping around.

Why a mask?

There are several reasons why you can consider a Halloween mask. For starters, they are a lot easier to take on and off than a face full of specialty paint. This means that you can easily go about your normal day and quickly don a mask for that after-work or after-school party. Masks can also be an inexpensive way to create a spectacular costume look. Depending on the mask you choose, you may need limited other accessories to complete your Halloween costume.

Creating your own look

Thanks to Halloween costume manufacturers you can find nearly any type of Halloween mask that you can think of. You can go with your traditional monster masks or something from the latest and greatest movies and TV shows that are out.

For instance, you could get a Napoleon Dynamite mask, complete with hair and glasses. Or, you can become your favorite Xman, Fantastic Four member, or other super hero. Movie characters can be a great way to coordinate a group of friends that are going trick-or-treating together or attending the same party.

If you want to stick to the creepy Halloween, you can look for Halloween masks in some of the traditional Halloween spooks. For instance, you could go as Freddy Krueger or Chucky or even the Wolfman. Some masks will even have realistic hair to help complete the look.

If you like the lighter side of Halloween, consider a comedy horror character like a member of the Addam's Family or Herman Munster. Kids might enjoy going as their favorite "monster" from Sesame Street or a character from one of their favorite kid's shows.

Consider a "Masktume"

Another option for costume seekers is to go with a "masktume." Basically, this is half mask and half costume. A hand sculpted and painted mask is attached directly to the costume, allowing for the creation of a wide variety of monsters, ghouls, and other Halloween characters. They are definitely something different for the party goer that wants to stand out among more traditional costumes.

Getting the perfect fit

Keep in mind that for your own safety, you want to make sure that your Halloween mask fits properly. Make sure that you have full vision while the mask is on and that it doesn't slip down when you move about. You also should be able to breathe comfortably while you are wearing it.

If you want a costume idea that is easy, or even one that is different than everyone else's, going with a Halloween mask can help you complete the look that you want. Remember to shop early in order to find your perfect mask before they run out!

Is A Cattle Prod The Answer To A Life Overweight?

If you're not sure what a cattle prod is, here's the goss: it's an electricity-charged rod that Australian cattlemen use to persuade cattle to run up ramps and into road-train trailers. Quickly. It's the sort of thing that can change their lives. Instantly. And it's the sort of metaphor many of us caught up in this overweight world would like to apply to our own lives. And improve them overnight.

The reality in the world today is that there are many people hoping to transform their lives. Wishing. Most people in the Western world are overweight, and the zap required to change it seems to be missing. Every year we just get fatter, and more indolent. Oh, some get obsessed with dieting and losing weight, but others don't seem to care. And neither will achieve what they want.

If that seems a little harsh, consider this one fact: we were born to live a life of joy and vitality. If you are obsessed by pain or a void, how can you possibly enjoy life? It's just not possible. Yet, if you bring pleasure to yourself, you stand a good chance of bringing joy to those around you as well. The aim is to feel good ... inside, and outside.

Just shedding a few pounds can be enough to add years to your life and make those years much more enjoyable. Just acknowledging that excess weight reduces stamina, stresses joints, and causes illnesses - including heart disease and diabetes - is a great first step. If you decide to start each day with the intention of eating better and getting just a little exercise - one day at a time - you will find life becoming much easier than you ever expected.

These five steps are simple changes, but they can add up to a virtual cattle prod with the power to change your life:

1. Turn on your biological engines in the morning with a big glass of cold water. Whenever you feel like it during the day, have another. Water really is a wonder-fluid. It can also help to reduce hunger pangs!

2. This one is remarkably powerful for those who tend to potter about first thing - eat your breakfast within an hour of getting out of bed. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but a lot of overweight people wait until they get really hungry before eating breakfast - which means that they probably then eat too much. So eat early, and eat small

3. Eat at least two pieces of fresh fruit each day - that's two pieces about the size of an apple, not two grapes! Fruit is a great source of nutrition and fiber. Try for at least two different fruits so you get a variety of benefits.

4. Try to eat a salad every day, and try for at least five servings of vegetables. When you feel the urge to snack, switch to celery or carrot, or some other appealing veggie.

5. Fried foods and sweet things should also be put out of reach whenever possible. Even if the oil is drained away from fried food, there is still a lot of hidden oil to add fat and calories. And sweet means sugar, which means calories... and many other nasties as well.

So it's really just a matter of changing a few habits. Yes, I know, easier said than done! But try this: start keeping a food diary. Write down what you eat when you eat it - and check the result at the end of the day. You may be shocked! It's often just the incentive to get back on track!

A full program to turn your life around also has to include how you spend your day. By definition, couch potatoes are fat - so get up and go for a walk. The latest dietary and exercise advice is that you should enjoy at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week. That can include the physical version of activities you normally do in a day anyway - bike riding instead of bus riding, stair-climbing instead of climbing into an elevator etc. Just think about your own day, and you'll soon find lots of ways you can replace 'easy' with 'healthy' ways of doing your normal tasks.

Perhaps the most important part of the entire deal of putting a cattle prod to your life and regaining the vitality you deserve, is simply to make the decision to do so. Start with small goals, stick to them, and delight in how much easier it gets every day.

The Bottom Line.

The following article includes pertinent information that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.

What Really Matters

We are here on this earth to learn acceptance. Acceptance of everything that life can throw at us, the good and the bad. One still needs to work at right livelihood and fight for truth and justice, but there will always remain many things we simply have no control over, and we must learn to accept this. We have no other choice but acceptance if we want to progress. Acceptance leads to forgiveness which leads to progression, but it is never easy. How does one accept the continued support and popularity of war criminals masquerading as leaders or child molesters.

To embrace acceptance is to become objective...about everything in this life and on this planet. By becoming objective we are able to disconnect from many of the attachments that bind us to servitude. In the ultimate scheme of things our lifelong tribulations are insignificant. We are here such a short time, and for most of us, our influence and ability to change anything for the better is limited or remote.

The path of least resistance for most unwary souls is to be caught up in the obligations pertaining to cycles of birth, family, children, and the roles we are taught or forced to assume. In this mode the freedom of disconnection alludes us. But it is through the gradual disconnection to our worldly attachments that allows us to realize how trivial jealousy, deceit, anger and acquisition are in relation to the big picture of existence which extends well beyond our occluded perceptions. True freedom comes when one is free of these distracting imperfections and can find forgiveness towards those who have wittingly or not caused us harm or pain.

The most difficult part is to forgive yourself, but this becomes available once you realize that most of the wrong decisions made, and hurts caused to others, were made from the immature vantage point you were in at the time. You didn't have the tools or perspective you now have to realize that bad things happen to good people, that what you may have thought was important and worth the shortcuts, was in fact just a blind alley of glitter or delusion. If you can reach this level of awareness, to see that past decisions and actions were made by a less complete and understanding self, you will then be able to find compassion and eventually forgiveness of yourself for the harm you caused to yourself and to others as a result of your shortcomings.

Nobody said it was easy. That is why, in my view, most people continue to go round and round in their mental prisons, some eventually spiraling downwards, most doomed to instant replay, and only a few who find the doorway leading to salvation. Is deliverance available to everyone? I don't know, in fact, I doubt it. So many with besmirched and sullied egos will inevitably follow their ill conceived prejudices to the grave. Or perhaps we all have epiphanies at one time or another and it is up to us whether this brief unanticipated opening into other domains should be acknowledged and pursued, or simply dismissed as a momentary slip of the gears as in a dream.<

What Is Royal Jelly?

What's all the buzz about royal jelly and is this popular supplement right for you?

Royal jelly, also known as gelee, is a thick gelatinous milky white substance secreted from glands near the head of nurse worker bees and fed to the hive's queen from her larval stages and up into adulthood. Its sole purpose it to stimulate her growth and development. It seems that the royal jelly acts on the juvenile hormones in the developing queen's body and this allows her to mature while the drones, which aren't given royal jelly, remain in a state of physical immaturity. A hive queen can live up to seven years, but without her special diet of royal jelly the queen would have had the same short life cycle of any other worker bee – seven to eight weeks.

The Ancient Egyptians kept bees as far back as 5,500 B.C. and royal jelly has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries and still is today.

People have used royal jelly as a general health tonic for ages but it is also used for specific aliments too. It has be touted to relieve heart, liver, kidney, digestive and skin disorders, to treat high cholesterol, slow the signs of aging, relieve the pain of arthritis, slow the progress of multiple sclerosis, enhance immunity, improve sexual performance, enhance hair growth and even to heal bone fractures. Many people swear that royal jelly helps improve their stamina, energy and overall sense of well being too. Melbrosia, a mixture of royal jelly and bee pollen and is commonly used by menopausal women to manage their hot flashes and other associated physical symptoms.

It is popularly held belief that royal jelly has rejuvenating and anti-aging properties in humans, scientifically it hasn't lived up to this expectation, but it isn't without potential medical benefits.

Royal jelly is comprised of mostly water, but it also contains proteins, fats, sugars and other trace substances too. One of the types of protein found in royal jelly, and one of the sugars, has been found to have antibacterial or antimicrobial properties. The gelee also contains vitamins, minerals and other phytosterols like Neopterin - also found in humans this chemical is believed to play a role in our immune system. According to PDR Health, "Royal jelly may have hypolipidemic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities. There is very preliminary evidence that it may also have some antibiotic, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and anti-cancer effects."

As a supplement can be taken in a tablet or capsule form, or it can be ingested in a wide variety of food items such as chocolates, fruit bars and antioxidant drink mixes. Royal jelly can also be found in an amazing array of personal care items like lip balm and skin cream too.

While royal jelly supplements and products are widely available and frequently used pregnant and nursing mothers, those with allergies or hypersensitivities to any of its components shouldn't use this supplement. Side effects include rashes and itching, asthma attacks and bronchospasms, and rarely, anaphylaxis and even death has occurred.

As with any health supplement unsubstantiated claims are common place when it comes to extolling the virtues of royal jelly, and though there are no current studies that point definitively to the benefits of its use there is emerging information that looks hopeful.

How To Shampoo Hair??

Your hair are your style statement, and you need to take care of these. Though you are taking care of your hair. You wash / shampoo your hair regularly to make them bacteria free. You dry your hair and you comb them too. Some time you also use conditioner to make them looking healthy. But still you are not happy with your hair. Why? It is the method of shampooing which plays a key role in keeping your hair healthy and in shape.
So it is very important to know about hair care in general and shampooing hair in particular. Knowing about hair care and the method of shampooing will make your hair stay in shape and at the same time it will prevent you from hair loss. Hairs are equally important for all the people.

How to shampoo??

Take warm or cool water and saturate your hair and scalp. Take small amount of shampoo about quarter to palm and rub you palms together to distribute it evenly. Do massage of your scalp with finger balls gently in all the areas of your head. If your scalp is oily then repeat the process 2 to 3 times. The purpose of shampooing your hair is to remove the scalp, so don't wrestle with your hair.

How to do conditioning
After rinsing shampoo, take some conditioner in one palm and rub both the palm together to dispense it evenly. Do conditioning from the middle of the hair shaft down to ends. If you have oily scalp then do massage of the conditioner onto scalp. Comb you hairs gently so that the conditioner get distributed uniformly. Leave conditioner for a minute or so. Rinse properly shampoo and conditioner from your scalp. While rinsing run your fingers from scalp to tip, so that rinsing will be proper and no shampoo and conditioner left behind.

To wash or not to wash?

How frequently you shampoo your hair depends on your hair, curly or straight, long or short, and what type of your scalp is? Depending on the individual choice; you can shampoo your hair on every other day.
Should you occasionally change you shampoo??
The chemical combination of all the hair care shampoos is the same and after all the purpose is same, applying shampoo means removing scalp. So you do not need to switch your brand. Only you need to do shampooing properly to keep your hair healthy, and shaped to give you a cool look.

How to know if you are Overtraining

As everyone knows, exercise is good for you. It helps to keep your weight down, helps to keep you toned up, and helps to make you feel good. So then, if getting a little exercise is good for you, then it must be better to get even more and if getting more indeed is better, then it stands to reason that getting a lot would be even better. Sounds logical, doesn't it? However, this is not always the case.

When you exercise with fairly high intensity, and you exercise that way often, there will come a time at some point when your body will begin to slowly start to shut down. People will get to this point at different times, depending on their fitness levels and exercise intensity and frequency. If after exercise you tend to feel more wore out than worked out, you may already be a victim of overtraining.

There are some signs that your body will give you both physically and mentally that will let you know that you are overtraining. It is wise to recognize these signs and act accordingly, before the problem gets to the point of causing you possible serious injury. Some of the major signs to be aware of are:

• Decreased performance
• Lack of motivation
• Poor coordination
• Loss of appetite
• Chronic muscle soreness
• Chronic stiffness at the joints
• Chronic headaches
• Longer recovery times
• Loss of concentration
• Reduced self esteem
• Depression

You need to understand that whatever your exercise goals are, your body needs ample time to recover and adjust to the demanding loads you placed on it. Sometimes people who are newcomers to the world of exercise will try to do too much too soon, and may ignore their body when it's trying to tell them to take a break.

In the case of some who have been into exercise for a while, they will often view these signs as an obstacle and feel the best way to deal with it is to "work through it" or "tough it out". For some others, the problems causing them to overtrain may be more psychological. Excessive exercise is now recognized as a legitimate problem, much like anorexia nervosa or bulimia.

For most, the solution to the problem is simply to exercise in moderation or cut back on the intensity from time to time. Use periodization in your routines. When you feel the signs of overtraining coming on, reduce the intensity of your workouts for a while. When you are ready to increase the intensity again (your body will let you know), then gradually start to pick it up again.

Know your limitations, and never try to compare yourself to anyone else as this is asking for problems. There are some times when you should even just take a whole week completely off and do no exercise at all. This is like taking a vacation from work, it gives you body and your mind a chance to relax and rejuvenate so you can start again a week later nice and fresh.

Remember, if you exercise to the point of overtraining it is almost as bad as not exercising at all. Overtraining will only impede your progress, not help it and in the long run, if you let yourself overtrain, you may be headed for some very unwanted side effects.

Exercise At Home Or Gym.

Making the decision of where you will go to exercise is a very important step in reaching your goals of fitness. A lot of factors will go into this decision, and each one should be evaluated well before you start exercising. Once you have made a decision on where you will go to exercise, you can move on to deciding how you plan to work out.

As you probably know, exercising at home has many advantages. The finance department is one of the best advantages. With the gas prices being what they are today, it is quite obvious that you'll save money on fuel as well as wear and tear on your vehicle by choosing to exercise at home.

Memberships to a gym can often be quite expensive and may include other things that you don't need such as child care or swimming pools. You also won't need to be concerned about the latest trends of exercise gear as you most likely will be exercising by yourself at home.

Keep in mind that working out at home does require a bit of financial obligation. Even though you may plan to run, it is very important that you have high quality running shoes. This statment applies to any type of equipment that you may purchase to use at home. If you go out and buy cheap equipment, you'll probably end up getting hurt or getting frustrated because you aren't making any progress.

Along with the financial gains, exercising at home may also help those who don't like to work out in public. If you are worried about how you look in gym clothes, it is very comforting to know that the only person who has to be with you when you exercise at home is you. Also, when you exercise at home, you don't need to worry about time at all.

Those of you who are motivated by being with people you know or come to know while working out away from home, a gym may be a better idea than working out at home. At the gym, you'll also more of a selection of equipment as well, far more than you'll have at home.

If you need other services than just weights and equipment, the gym may have just what you need. If you plan to swim a triathlon, you'll find the swimming pool at the gym to be just what you need to prepare yourself. Swimming is also a great exercise for your body and cardio, as it will work muscles in your body that you probably didn't even know you had.

Gyms will also offer you classes that you may find very motivating. If you attend class on a regular basis, you may be motivated enough to continue so you don't have to defend yourself when asked where you've been or what you have been doing. You can also meet new people in class, or just help others along if you choose.

All in all, making the choice of exercising at home or at the gym is a choice you should make based on your goals and personal preference. The most important decision you'll need to make is to determine what type of environment you want to be in and how you want to accomplish the fitness goals in your life.

Once you have given it some thought and weighed out the pros and cons, you'll have no problem making the choice. Always keep in mind that once you've made your choice, you can always switch if you aren't happy with the choice you made.

The Great Debate

If you are anything like me, the smallest decisions can quickly become material for the greatest debates of your life. You can turn the tiniest molehill of an issue into a huge mountain of a decision just by sitting down and analyzing too much.

Sound familiar? Have you ever gotten weighed down in trying to make small decisions of little consequence and had trouble keeping perspective? I definitely have. It is so easy to take a minor decision like 'what should I eat for breakfast?' and turn it into a two-sided debate that can last long beyond normal breakfast hours. You begin to debate whether you should have a healthy, balanced breakfast of wholegrain toast and fruit or if you can indulge (just this once) in a less-healthy meal of packaged pastries and a latte. Did you eat healthy enough the day before to reward yourself witha sugar-filled breakfast? Are you planning to eat better food for the rest of the day? These questions and more can add unnecessary stress and debate to your choice.

Those of us who are analytical by nature have an even tougher time not turning everything into a debate in our head. Take shopping for example. You find a great sweater on sale for ten dollars, but there is an even cuter sweater that you are sure you'd wear more. The cuter sweater, however, is forty dollars. What do you do? People like me start making mental lists of the pros and cons on each side of what has become a great debate during your day. Do you save the money but forfeit the better looking sweater? Or do you splurge and take some dollars away from another item you really needed to buy? What a task it can be to make choices like these when we let ourselves make big issues out of small ones.<

Is there anything we can do to stop making ourselves debate each decision we make each day? I for one am tired of living this way. It is one thing to be intentional about the choices you make, but it is another thing entirely to overwork your brain with debates over breakfasts or new sweaters.

I guess I only have one piece of tested and tried advice to give people whose biggest opponent in any debate is themself: stop it. When you feel a silly debate about to be had in your head, just stop it. Take a moment to settle down your thoughts and to really consider how important this decision is. The chances are that it is not anywhere worth near the time and energy you will spend analyzing the choice. You will find, as I am beginning to, that ninety percent of the things I let become a great debate in my head are really not worth having a debate about at all. Have the unhealthy breakfast, buy the expensive sweater. Do what you want. Just stop being so indecisive about what that means.

Legal Steroids - Another Alternative - Natural Body Building

For competitive body builders to build bigger muscles faster is a constant temptation but for the average non competitive body builder there is another natural option - natural body building. True it is a much slower process but the long term gains far outweigh the adverse affects that even legal steroids may have on your body over an extended period of time.

Steroids are usually used for a short duration of say 6-8 weeks with a substantial period of time elapsing before starting on the next course of steroids. It is not recommended that anyone take steroids on a continuous basis. This on and off program tends to produce short term spikes in muscle mass and muscle strength.

The advantage of natural body building is a slower but steadier increase in muscle mass rather than the peaks and lows of those on steroids. I am sure many of you have seen or heard of the affects on a body builder who stops using steroids - Rapid loss of muscle bulk and strength. The affects of steroids are fairly short lived and can result in some dramatic changes to both physique and health of a body builder.

Natural body building results in a steadier and more constant performance rather than the often times spectacular ups and downs of steroid induced muscle bulk and strength performance. When you achieve top results as a natural body builder you will be able to maintain your muscle bulk and strength for as long as you continue intense training without adverse affects on your general health

You will not experience any dramatic muscle wasting that is many times seen in body builders when they stop using steroids. Loss of muscle bulk and strength are two of the most dreaded words for body builders. Natural body building will help most to avoid these pitfalls.

So why do people use steroids? Most of us are impatient creatures and want instant results so the steroid alternative is very attractive. Probably one of the most important factors that affect a person's decision to use steroids or go the natural way is what is their reason for body building - is it just to look and feel better or are they in it for the competition.

So it is your call - you decide whether using legal steroids will benefit you and your objectives.

Or play it safe and go for the healthier, steadier natural body building program that will have longer term benefits for a healthier lifestyle - Its your choice.*

All About Peppers.

Where did peppers come from?

One of the most common genuses of peppers, known as the capsicum, is thought to have been in existence millions of years ago in present-day Bolivia, according to the Chicago Botanic Garden's Information and Resources. But, the first known cultivation of peppers happened in Mexico and Central, as well as South America 10,000 years ago. The probable spread of these crops from Bolivia to these areas is attributed to birds. The capsicums existed mainly in the Americas until about 1600. Christopher Columbus' voyages were helpful in spreading capsicum peppers throughout the world.

The original peppers were tiny and round, unlike most of today's peppers which are long and larger.

What can I do with peppers?

Most commonly, peppers have been used to spice up generally boring foods like rice or corn. Through the years though, people have come up with a whole slew of uses for peppers from making pepper jelly, to using ornamental peppers for garlands. Here's a list of the most interesting as well as some of the more common uses for peppers:

Pickled Peppers
Pepper Jelly - Dried Apricot Jalapeno Jelly
Roasted Peppers
Adding Peppers to pasta dishes
Hot Sauce
Pepper Garlands/Decorations
Using peppers in stirfry
Pepper vinegar
Pepper spray (animal deterrent for plants)

What different types of peppers are there?

There all sorts of classifications for peppers. There is the scientific classification method that uses the genus and species name: The most commonly known and cultivated genus of peppers is the capsicum, whereas the five most common species of peppers (all within the capsicum category) include: chinense, frutescens, pubescens, annum, and baccatum. All of these types of peppers are also labelled chillies.

There is the usage method which categories various peppers into hot, sweet, or ornamental. And then, there is the location-classified method that is what gives some peppers its actual name.

Here's a basic list of some of the varieties of the mentioned species of peppers you might see in your local grocery stores:

Bell pepper
Anaheim pepper
Fresno
Poblano
Habanero
Cubanelle
Chipotle
Jalapeno
Serrano
Mariachi

Aside from the different colored bell peppers used in stirfry, many of these other peppers are considered hot peppers.

How can you tell how hot a pepper is?

The range of spiciness for peppers is measured in scoville units. Wilbur Scoville developed a scale to help determine this very issue and measure pepper pungency in 1912. The higher the number of scoville units, the hotter the pepper. Here's a basic Scoville Scale. that shows habaneros trumping chipotles and jalapenos as the most commonly known hottest pepper.

Health Effects

Regular pepper consumption is thought to have both good and bad effects on one's health. One of the most clear effects of eating peppers is what it does for congestion. Eating peppers, especially those hot ones, will help clear up your nasal passages in no times (as will most spicy foods!)

According to a University study, consuming peppers regularly can help the body control its amount of insulin, which would be very beneficial for diabetics. Other studies show though that pepper digestion can increase the risks of stomach cancer, but the definite answer remains unclear. Research has also been linking peppers to helping stop the spread of prostrate cancer in some men.

Pepper Recipes (see Recipe4Living.com for the following:)
Pepper Sauce
Basic Salsa
Salsa Cruda
Crowd Pleasing Chili
Roast Beef and Red Pepper Sandwiches
Impossibly Easy Roasted Red Peppers and Feta Cheese Pie
Tangy Lemon Pepper Shrimp
Stuffed Peppers
Pepper Herb Grilling Rub

Sources:
Chicago Botanic Gardens
The Scoville Scale
TheChilliKing.com

Why Fruits And Vegetables Are Important!!!!!!!!!!!!

No single food can provide all the essential nutrients that the body needs. Therefore, it is important to consume a wide variety of foods to provide adequate intakes of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre, which are important for health.

8 guidelines for a healthy diet

• Enjoy your food
• Eat a variety of different foods
• Eat the right amount to be a healthy weight
• Eat plenty of foods rich in starch and fibre
• Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
• Don't eat too many foods that contain a lot of fat
• Don't have sugary foods and drinks too often
• If you drink alcohol, drink sensibly

Fruit and vegetables

Fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruit and vegetables all count. Also, 100% fruit or vegetable juice and pure fruit juice smoothies count. Beans and pulses, such as baked beans and lentils also contribute to this group.

Choose a wide variety and aim to eat at least 5 different portions a day. A portion is approximately 80g (e.g. 1 medium apple, a cereal bowl of salad or 3 heaped tablespoons of peas). Servings of fruit juice, vegetable juice or smoothies can only count as one portion per day no matter how much you drink. Beans and pulses (i.e. haricot, kidney, baked, soya and butter beans, chickpeas and lentils) only count once per day no matter how many different types you eat.

We do not and can not digest cellulose. This is a carbohydrate used by plants to make their cell walls. It is also called roughage. If you do not eat foods materials which contain fibre you might end up with problems of the colon and rectum. The muscles of you digestive system mix food with the digestive juices and push food along the intestines by peristalsis; if there is no fibre in your diet these movements cannot work properly.

What Is Organic Breads?

Not everyone who likes to eat organic foods has the chance to do so on a daily basis. Most people will have to settle for the more mediocre fare of the same foods they have been eating for most of their lives. Other more fortunate people however, are able to enjoy organic foods on a more regular basis, and some of these people have also been blessed with the ability to bake, which gives rise (excuse the pun!) to organic breads.

Now you're wondering what on earth organic breads are, and whether they really do taste as if they were fresh sprung from the ground along with the carrots and the potatoes, there's only one thing that I have to say, Ha! Organic breads don't taste any different from your normal average everyday breads. In fact more than tasting different, people who eat organic breads and organic foods in general believe that they taste better to those of the normal non-organic, pesticide filled food varieties!

This is of course a hotly debated topic, because how can any one person truly accept what the taste buds of someone else are saying? They have to taste it for themselves and if they're trying to compare the tastes of organically grown produce with that of conventionally grown produce there's always bound to be some differences.

That aside however, organic breads taste the same as normal breads and they are made in the same manner as normal breads. The main difference lies in the ingredients used to make the organic breads. Only organic flour, butter etc would be used when making organic breads. Essentially the recipe stays the same, it's only the ingredients, or rather the manner in which the ingredients were produced, that is changed.

"Organic" for those of you who are unaware of it, is a term, or a definition of a farming process which shuns conventional methods of farming. Things such as chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers are put away in favor of natural pesticides and fertilization methods. More over, genetically plant organisms are also rejected in the organic farming method. And in organic animal farming you will find that use of steroids and antibiotics is banned, and the animals receive only organic foods for themselves.

Therefore when someone tells you that they regularly bake organic breads, don't stare at them as if they had just grown two heads. All they have done is to continue on with their normal baking routines substituting organic products where necessary to make the organic breads.

On the other hand, if the person has never lifted a single finger in the kitchen before this, and they calmly announce that they have baked a batch of organic breads, you might do well to stare and be suspicious. Oh, and reach for the roll of antacids as well!

Cabbage Soup Recipe

 6 large green onions
- 2 green peppers
- 1 or 2 cans of tomatoes (diced or whole)
- 3 Carrots
- 1 Container (10 oz. or so) Mushrooms
- 1 bunch of celery
- Half a head of cabbage
- 1 package Lipton soup mix
- 1 or 2 cubes of bouillon (optional)
- 1 48oz can V8 juice (optional)
- Season to taste with salt, pepper, parsley, curry, garlic powder, etc.

Slice green onions, put in a pot and start cooking. Cut green pepper stem end off and cut in half, take the seeds and membrane out. Cut the green-pepper into bite size pieces and add to pot. Take the outer leafs layers off the cabbage, cut into bite size pieces, add to pot. Clean carrots, cut into bite size pieces, and add to pot. Slice mushrooms into thick slices, add to pot .If you would like a spicy soup, and add a small amount of curry or cayenne pepper now. You can use beef or chicken bouillon cubes for seasonings. These have all the salt and flavors you will need. Use about 12 cups of water, cover and put heat on low. Let soup cook for a long time - two hours works well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

This is the recipe I found, and from speaking to several people this is my conclusion: if you stick to the plan, it can work for you, yet this whole cabbage soup business is for those who can actually appreciate it. As for me, I truly believe that one should consume not only what would make his loose weight, but also something that would taste good! What would be the point of suffering if your final goal is to feel good? I think that one should enjoy not only the result but also the process!

Try this cabbage soup recipe. You will not regret it. There aren't a lot of tatsy and healthy foods as the cabbage soup.

A Short Tutorial About Various Diabetic Supplies

Diabetes is a chronic disease with no cure but the good news is that proper care and treatment a person can live a log and healthy life. Nearly 2,000 people are diagnosed with diabetes everyday.

It is estimated that there are 17 million people with diabetes in the U.S and another 16 million have pre-diabetes or higher blood-sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

Buying diabetes supplies online can save time and money. In this article you will find the most used supplies and tools to achieve a good diabetes control and aid in everyday self-care.

For those who have been diagnosed with a diabetic condition, diabetes supplies are a fact of life. In order to maintain good health, diabetics must rely on various tools to help them monitor their conditions. Still, diabetes patients need to exercise caution when buying diabetes supplies.

The company that you buy your diabetes supplies from should have a phone number in case you need to contact the business because of a problem with the order. In fact, it's best if the company has a toll-free hotline number that you can reach 24 hours a day. It is much better to register a complaint by phone than by e-mail.

Also, the company should have a pharmacist available to answer your questions. Having a pharmacist on staff indicates that the company is legitimate and is determined to provide excellent service to its customers. When ordering diabetes supplies, you'll want to pay close attention to shipping charges so that you don't experience sticker shock when you receive your final bill.

Typically, a diabetic pays a substantial sum each month for diabetes supplies, including pills, insulin, syringes, alcohol pads, lancets, ointments, salves, and special foods. Because competition for business is so great, the prices of items such as testing strips and glucose monitors are often competitive.

This competition can help to keep the diabetes patient's expenses in check. However, there is no question that a diabetic must devote a portion of his or her income or insurance costs to diabetes supplies. In order to control glucose, blood sugar levels must be monitored closely-at least once a day.

Insulin Cases: Environmental factors such as excessive heat and freezing will have major affect on type of insulin. So, there is a need to keep insulin safe by using special cases while traveling and going out.

Blood Glucose Monitors: It is used to examine blood glucose level. Blood glucose levels below 120 mg/dL before meals, and below 180 mg/dL after meals, is the goal to stay healthy and prevent or delay the development of diabetes complications.

Blood Pressure Monitors: It helps to check blood pressure level of a person. High blood pressure affects 20-60% of people with diabetes and results in causing eye disease, kidney disease and heart disease.

Diabetes Software: This software can be used in your computer to help you to share the information with your Health Care Team to make the best choices in your treatment. Diabetes software includes OneTouch diabetes management software, OneTouch diabetes management software kit.

Glucose Tablets: Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels can occur very quickly and is a sharp complication of diabetes, especially if you use insulin. People with diabetes must always carry glucose tablets.

Glucose Gels: Glucose gel is absorbed more rapidly than tablets. In case of severe hypoglycemia 15 g of glucose in the form of glucose gel must be administered immediately orally.

Experts recommend that you deal only with those Internet companies that offer a return address rather than a post office box. If you want to make sure that you are buying diabetes supplies from reputable businesses that have their own offices, rather than an individual who is simply buying diabetes supplies from an Internet auction site and re-selling them to new customers.

Shoulder Exercises For Beginning Bodybuilders

The main shoulder muscles that concern bodybuilders are the deltoids and although they work closely with the arms and chest muscles, it is possible to isolate the delts in a training session. Unlike other body parts though, the shoulder is not designed for heavy lifting in all directions so beginners need to take care and use lighter weights than usual for shoulder-isolating exercises.

The deltoid covers the shoulder and consists of three distinct segments:

1. The anterior or front deltoid allows you to raise your arm to the front.

2. The medial or middle deltoid allows you to raise your arm to the side.

3. The posterior or rear deltoid allows you to draw your arm backwards when it is perpendicular to the torso.

The front delt usually receives plenty of work with chest exercises such as the bench press and pushup, so you'll need to use common sense and listen to your body when performing exercises that specifically target this muscle. The recommended shoulder exercises for beginners are as follows:

1. Seated dumbbell press - 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This exercise places the emphasis on the medial head.

2. Front lateral raise - 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This exercise emphasises the front delt.

3. Rear lateral flyes - 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This exercise targets the rear delt.

As with all exercises you need to take care in scheduling specific body parts. To begin with you should incorporate your shoulder exercises into a program similar to the one suggested below:

Day 1: Biceps, Back, Abs

Day 2: Hamstrings, Shoulders, Abs

Day 3: Quads, Forearms, Calves

Day 4: Triceps, Chest, Abs

For the first couple of weeks complete one set but then add one set each week to a maximum of three. At the end of three months you will be ready to move on to more intensive intermediate level exercises.

Understanding Acne and Getting Rid of Them

Everyone goes through it. Mornings of anguish in the discovery of a red throbbing acne on the face is something every person has experienced in their lives. While this may seem a disaster to some, others can take it just for what it is and calmly treat the acne to get rid of it.

Acne is different from the common pimple because it could leave a permanent scar in your face, neck or back. This is how acne grows: when your skin pore starts to clog due to greasy oil and toxins, it starts to get inflamed. If left untreated, It could develop into an infection which could damage further the affected parts.

It is evident on teenagers and young adults because they are reaching the puberty stage of life, where the levels of hormones causes some changes in the skin gland size, which causes larger amount of oil secretion produced by these glands, resulting to acne.

Now, if your face does have mild acne, a minor treatment is enough to take care of it. Washing your face with mild soap and water is enough to free your skin pores from these oils, but other effective alternatives such as lukewarm water with dissolved salt is also recommended. Whenever you will use acne medications, be sure it is water-based; oil-based products tend to stimulate oil glands to produce more oil rather than controlling it.

If you have a severe condition of acne attacks, get medical assistance from a physician or a skin specialist. They can issue prescriptions of antibiotics to control spreading of acne and prevent the scarring on your face and other affected parts.

Acne is regarded as a teenager's problem, but adult acne does happen as well. Many individuals above their twenties have had recurring problems with acne. This could be blamed on stress, overactive glands and eating oily foods. A dermatologist would be able to help you out if the acne persists, but keeping a clean, oil-free face, neck and back can certainly help a lot.

Diabetes and The Menopause

You might be thinking "What's the connection between diabetes and the menopause?"

Well, for ladies reaching that certain age, it can be very traumatic - especially when some of the effects experienced can easily be mistaken for those we have to be aware of when managing our diabetes...

For a diabetic taking medication, keeping blood sugars at the right level is a balancing act. If sugar levels drop too low, because of not eating enough or at the right times, you suffer a hypoglycemia episode (sometimes called 'hypo' for short). For me, this usually manifests itself as shaking; irritability; sweating and a faint-headed feeling.

If you are diabetic and have ever had low-blood sugar you may recognize some of these symptoms, amongst others. A quick 'glucose fix' usually settles it within 5-10 minutes.

Now, compare that to some of the symptoms of starting the menopause; hot flushes [I call them 'power-surges' ;)] - similar to the sweats of a hypo; mood swings - akin to the irritability you might experience during a hypo. It's very easy to confuse the symptoms you are feeling.

When I first started the menopause, I frequently confused waking at 2 a.m. in the morning in a cold sweat as a hypo and took a quick sugar boost to settle myself. That pushed my blood sugar levels up when I didn't need it. Not a good idea!

It was only after visiting my Doctor to talk about these frequent, unexpected hypos I discovered I was starting the menopause (I was in my late 40s, so it was rather unexpected, normally it doesn't occur until early-to-mid 50s).

If you are a lady, with diabetes controlled by medication, and you are in your early 50s and you start having frequent, unexplained hypos - check your sugar levels before 'treating the condition'. And get your Doctor to check your symptoms. You may be confusing symptoms of diabetes and the menopause.

And guys; if your lady normally has great control of her diabetes and suddenly seems to be showing the same symptoms when she was getting her diabetes into balance (if you knew her then) please be supportive and understanding, she's going through one hell of an experience, but I promise, she will come through and be her normal, loving and charming self once again.

Gas Grills - 9 How Tos for Safety and Maintenance

How do I prepare my grill for spring?
Be sure to clean spider webs out of the venturi tubes as described below.

You may open your grill in the spring and find remnants of the meal you cooked on it last season. Don't worry. According to Howtocleananything.com, cleaning the grill is actually easier than most people realize, and you can usually forego the brushes, dirty sink and elbow grease if you start the day before you need the grill. However, use the following method only after checking with your owner's manual. Some manufacturers warn against using oven cleaner on any part of their grill.
Lay a plastic bag on the ground, followed by a newspaper, then lay your grill on top of the newspaper. Spray liberally with an oven cleaner, and cover with another layer of moist newspaper. Follow this with another plastic bag and weigh down the edges so the whole mess doesn't end up in your neighbors yard. Now instead of scrubbing and scouring, just let the oven cleaner do the work for you overnight. The next day, remove the grill and place all the saturated newspaper into one of the garbage bags. Wear gloves and follow all of the manufacturers safety precautions whenever working with caustic cleaners, such as oven cleaner. Rinse the grill thoroughly, and then wash off any remaining oven cleaner residue with some soapy water. Rinse again, coat with a light brushing of vegetable oil, and you're ready to go!
It is a good plan to fire up your barbeque for 30 to 45 minutes on High temperature to sanitize everything before the first use of the season.

How do I season the cooking grids for the first time?

For a new grill, you need to burn off the protective oils that are applied by the manufacturer by running the grill on high for about 30 minutes. After the grill cools, coat the grids with a vegetable oil spray and run for 30-45 minutes on high. This will draw the oil into the grids and prevent foods from sticking.

How do I clean the cooking grids?

As soon as the food is removed from the grill, brush the grills with a grill brush for about 10 seconds. If you have porcelain-coated grills make sure you only use a brass bristle brush, never scraping the grill with the scraper that is usually attached to most brushes.

Then turn off the grill immediately. After the grill has cooled down spray vegetable oil, such as Pam, liberally on the grill (this should also be done before you light the grill each time as well). What this does is loosen whatever food is stuck to the grill, knocking it into the bottom of the grill where it will be incinerated the next time the grill is pre-heated.

Turning the grill on high for ten minutes will emulate a self-cleaning oven, but that is like using your grill twice. Of course you may forget you are burning off your grill, and it can easily be left on for 30 minutes or more. This puts your grill through the same stress as using it 3 or 4 times, meaning you will need to purchase new parts, or even a new grill, much sooner than you should have to.

If you feel you just must burn off your grill, once a month won't really hurt anything, but religiously brushing for 10 seconds as soon as you're done cooking and keeping the grills well oiled is all anyone should have to do.

To help make the grill easier to keep clean, don't apply tomato based sauces until the last few minutes before the food is removed from the grill. Marinade and baste the food with vinegar, citrus or soy-based mixtures to help make clean up easier.

How do I clean the burner?

You will from time to time have to clean the burner to keep the burner holes clean. The flame coming from the burner should be blue, if the flame is orange or red you may need to replace or clean the burner. At this time you should also check the gas supply (venturi) tubes to be sure that there are no obstructions. If you use your barbeque heavily you may want to spray a food safe organic cleaner or degreaser and let it sit for a while and hose the entire barbeque off. And for safety sake on your BBQ, you should only open the propane tank valve half a turn. It will work just as well and if there is ever an emergency, you can shut off the gas in an instant!

How do I clean the inside of my grill?

Remove the cooking grids. Using a soft brass wire brush, clean loose debris from casting sides and insides of the lid. Scrape sear plates with a putty knife or scraper, and use a wire brush to remove ash. Remove sear plates and brush debris off of burners with a brass wire brush. Brush all debris from inside the grill into the drip pan. Accumulated grease can cause a fire hazard. Do not line the drip pan with aluminum foil, as it can prevent the grease from flowing properly. The pan should be scraped out with a putty knife or scraper, and all the debris should be scraped into the disposable grease tray. This tray should be replaced every two to four weeks, depending on gas grill usage. For supplies, see your dealer
 How do I clean the outside of my grill?
Do not use abrasive cleaners to clean any painted, porcelain or stainless steel parts. Porcelain enamel components must be handled with additional care. The baked on enamel finish is glass like, and will chip if struck. Touch-up enamel is available from your dealer. Exterior grill surfaces should be cleaned while warm to the touch, with warm soapy water.

How do I clean the stainless steel parts of my grill?

According to the Specialty Steel Industry of North America, stainless steel needs to be cleaned for aesthetic considerations and to preserve corrosion resistance. Stainless steel is protected from corrosion by a thin layer of chromium oxide. Oxygen from the atmosphere combines with the chromium in the stainless steel to form this passive chromium oxide film that protects from further corrosion. Any contamination of the surface by dirt, or other material, hinders this passivation process and traps corrosive agents, reducing corrosion protection. Thus, some form of routine cleaning is necessary to preserve the appearance and integrity of the surface.

Like any surface that is exposed to the environment, stainless steel can get dirty. Dirt and soil can consist of accumulated dust and a variety of contaminates that come from many sources, ranging from the wind to everyday use. These contaminates will vary greatly in their effect on appearance and corrosivity and ease of removal. Frequently, warm water with or without gentle detergent is sufficient. Next in order are mild non-scratching abrasive powders such as typical household cleaners. These can be used with warm water, bristle brushes, sponges, or clean cloths.

Ordinary carbon steel brushes or steel wool should be avoided as they may leave particles embedded on the surface which can lead to RUSTING. For more aggressive cleaning, a small amount of vinegar can be added to the scouring powder. Cleaning should always be followed by rinsing in clean hot water. When water contains mineral soldis, which leave water spots, it is advisable to wipe the surface completely with dry towels.

Fingerprints and Stains - Fingerprints and mild stains resulting from normal use are the most common surface contaminates. Fortunately, these usually affect only appearance and seldom have an effect on corrosion resistance. They are easy to remove by a variety of simple cleaning methods. Fingerprints are probably the most troublesome marks to remove from the surface of smooth polished or bright finished stainless steel. Fortunately, they can be removed with a glass cleaner or by gentle rubbing with a paste of soda ash (sodium carbonate) and water applied with a soft rag. Once again, this should be followed by a thorough warm water rinse.
For more stubborn stains see the Specialty Steel Industry of North America's web site.

How do I clean the aluminum parts of my grill?

This is the beauty of cast aluminum...all you have to do is hose it down. About once a year, take some detergent soap that you would use to wash your automobile, and wash your aluminum grill. With die cast grills, you can leave it outdoors all year round, regardless of the climate. (taken from outdoor-patio-furniture.info)

How do I clean spider webs out of my venturi tubes?

If you notice that your grill is getting hard to light or that the flame isn't as strong as it should be, take the time to check and clean the venturis. See our pictures at www.gasgrillsnow.com/GasGrillHowTo.htm.

In some areas of the country, spiders or small insects have been known to create "flashback" problems. The spiders spin webs, build nests, and lay eggs in the grill's venturi tube(s), obstructing the flow of gas to the burner. The backed-up gas can ignite in the venturi behind the control panel. This is known as a flashback, and it can damage your grill and even cause personal injury.

Shut off, then disconnect the gas supply to your grill. Disconnect then tilt the burner down below your control panel. Run a long handled pipe cleaning brush back and forth in the venturi tubes as pictured below. Reconnect the venturi tubes and gas supply.

Essential Oil Diffusing With an Electric Nebulizer: 3 Health Benefits

What Is an Electric Nebulizer and How Does It Work?
An electric nebulizing diffuser is a small device that has a motor housing and a glass nebulizer. The motor housing and glass nebulizer piece are often connected by a small length of rubber tubing. One or more essential oils are dispensed into an opening near the base of the glass piece. When the diffuser is turned on, the essential oils are aspirated toward the top of the glass nebulizer, where a small stream of air micronizes the essential oils into extremely fine droplets. This fine mist is expelled out the top of the glass nebulizer into the room.

Why Is Nebulizer Diffusion More Effective Than Other Types of Diffusion?

Other methods of essential oil diffusion include using lamp rings, a candle to heat the oil, or passive diffusion with an aromatherapy stone or a cotton ball. Heat diffusion is less desirable because alters the molecular constituents of the essential oil. Passive diffusion is typically very slow, particularly with less volatile essential oils, providing inferior therapeutic benefit.

With a nebulizing diffuser, no heat is used, so the molecular make up of the essential oils remains in tact. In most cases, all molecular components of the essential oil are expelled into the air, as opposed to passive diffusion where the smallest molecules evaporate first, with heavier molecules evaporating more slowly or not at all

3 Health Benefits of Essential Oil Diffusing With a Nebulizer
1. Therapeutic Effects of Essential Oil Inhalation
Because the nebulizer produces such a fine essential oil mist, oils are easily absorbed via the lungs through inhalation. Nebulizing essential oils that affect the breathing passages – nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs – can have dramatic therapeutic benefits, and may help alleviate conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and sinusitis.

2. Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiviral Effects
Essential oils are known to be effective against bacteria, molds, and viruses, and diffusion of essential oils has been shown to reduce surface and air microbes. This may be especially helpful for those with mold allergies. Electric nebulizers disperse essential oils into the room in such a way that can not be achieved by other diffusion methods.

3. Enhanced Emotional and Mood Effects of Aromatherapy
Specific essential oils are recognized for mood lifting, calming, relaxing, or mind focusing effects. With a more concentrated and complete dispersion of essential oils into the room, electric diffusion with a nebulizer enhances these effects.

Don't forget to rotate the essential oils you use, to help avoid sensitization, and only diffuse for a few minutes at a time, with at least a half hour break in between.

Why You Need to Meditate

The side effects of meditation are positive and countless. Studies have demonstrated that those who meditate on a regular basis have reduced illness, stress, and need for rest.

But one of the most compelling reasons to meditate is that the process of meditation itself is sublime. Meditation is not dependent upon the result, but the act of meditation itself is a blissful one, transporting one to a state of contentment and tranquil awareness during the training of meditation itself, not just at the end of training. Actually, because the means equals the end, the training has no beginning and never ends.

All of us in modern times experience a constant onslaught of stress. We are bombarded by uninvited energies in the form of such things as television, noise pollution, arguments, and angry or envious people. In order to counteract this enormously overwhelming force of negativity and distress, we need a superior power, gathered within ourselves; and meditation connects us to this internal reservoir of cleansing, enlightening energy.

In former times, nature surrounded people in their daily routines and rituals of existence. There were no artificial sound vibrations from telephones or machinery; there were no stresses and diseases resulting from urban industrial complexities. There was the sound of water, the hum of the wind, the beauty of the stars in the sky, and the scent of the earth. There were natural tempos in every aspect of life, as people planted seeds, nurtured them into foodstuffs, and as they observed the cycles of nature they felt a connection to them. Nowadays we can live our entire lifespan without ever contacting nature in a direct way. We live in artificially controlled climates, we gather food from fast food restaurants or from stores where it is packaged in a factory; we invite a total divorce of ourselves from our natural origins and our organic, original pace of life.

Meditation allows us an easy, convenient, portable method to enter into those lost natural rhythms and aesthetics, by closing out the world around us, letting go of our bodies, and clearing the mind of all the artificial stress it gathers knowingly or unknowingly during the course of lives.

Meditation costs nothing, it has no harmful side affects, and it won't add calories or cholesterol to your body. Nor is it addictive in the sense of drugs and alcohol. But it does provide practitioners with an elevated sense of well-being, often compared to a natural "high" more powerful than those induced by drugs, and this component of meditation is one that can be fully embraced for positive, healthy benefits.

The human body is a complex creation, and in the brain the body naturally produces drugs that are hundreds of times more powerful than pharmaceutical narcotics. As one meditates, the body secretes mysterious hormones and chemicals that actually provide an incredible rush of energy and happiness, and this is only one of the amazing side effects of meditation practice.

Meditation is different things to different people. Some use it in place of, or in addition to, psychotherapy. Others find it most valuable as a tool to enhance sports or work performance, and to increase the memory and other mental functions. Some people rely upon it to help them deal with grief or the aftermath of trauma or tragedy, and to regain a contentment and appreciation for life's beauties. And there are those who use meditation as a creative tool to inspire them in the arts. Meditation gives us stronger and more sustainable vigor, sexual energy, and calm, as it provides a restfulness that is comparable to deep, exceptionally restful sleep.

There are countless reasons to meditate, and one way to make the world a better and more peaceful and harmonious place, is for all of us to dedicate some time out of our stressful lives to pause and drink from the mental oasis of meditation practice.

Hair Loss of the Bariatric or Gastric Bypass Patient

DON'T STRESS YOUR SCALP…. Avoid SOME Hair Loss!

You are most-likely aware that having Bariatric or Gastric Bypass surgery DOES cause you to experience "some" type of hair loss as you lose the weight so rapidly. You've heard the rumors, and they are TRUE to the point that you WILL LOSE some hair… but you will not be bald in the least! In all of my years attending a support group, NEVER have I seen one bald person yet! So rest assured that although you DO lose "some" hair, it won't be all.

Let's simplify this topic by putting it in a question/answer format:

Q: Why do we lose some hair?
A: As a pre-op person, you used to consume between 3,000 to 5,000 calories a day. But once you have the surgery, your caloric intake is drastically reduced to a mere 300-600 calories a day. This puts the body in an "emergency" mode as it thinks something is terribly wrong, and it begins to focus ONLY on supporting the vital organs that will sustain life. Hair has never been under the category of a "life-sustaining" organ; therefore, the body puts the hair on the back-burner until it is sure that the body is going to be okay enough to again send nutrients to the hair.

Q: When does hair loss begin?
A: It normally will begin anywhere from one month after surgery and last until about 6 months after surgery. Of course, this can begin during the third month or even extend beyond the sixth month. It varies from person to person.

Q: How much hair is lost?
A: Some will jokingly tell you that they could build a cat out of all the hair they lost, but that is not true. While you will notice some handfuls come out as you wash your hair in the shower, see more than normal in your comb or hairbrush, and perhaps even see some on your pillow when you wake up in the morning -- this is nothing to be alarmed over. IT WILL STOP FALLING OUT once the body begins to feel that life is "normal" and it will trust that it's okay to send nutrients to the hair again. Be patient and know that it DOES STOP in time.

There ARE some TIPS that will help you NOT experience so much hair loss, however…..

DO NOT wear a hat, scarf, head bands, tight barrettes, ponytail holders or anything similar that will pull or tug on the follicles of your hair. Pulling and pushing on the hair weakens it when it is already eager to fall out. Avoid these items for at least the first six months after surgery.

DO NOT stress the hair with hot treatments such as hairdryers, curling irons, or hot rollers. Stand in front of a fan to dry your hair in a hurry and use good hair jells to create some curl if you want. Sprays are okay too. Even hair color is okay IF you do it sparingly rather than the standard automatic every 6 weeks. Try to go 8 weeks in between hair coloring. Perms are a bit more stressful, though some have had success doing them. You'll have to judge this for yourself as you evaluate this for yourself. You can always be confident in asking your hairdresser about it if you are not sure

DO TRY a new hair style. As heavy people, we often relied on our hair's BEST looks to draw attention away from our extra pounds. But as you are losing, people aren't noticing your hair anymore… they are noticing the pounds falling off, which is a perfect time for you to consider totally changing your hair style IF it will help you manage it better and also keep more of it on your head. Long hair is a heaviness on the head, which does stress and pull at the hair follicles. So perhaps a shorter style would help your delicate hair stay ON the head. Just as your body is experiencing a "makeover", why not consider your hairstyle as well…. Especially if it will help you KEEP more hair?

DO TRY a product called NIOXIN that you can purchase from your beauty salon. It's a three-step process of a product that helps cancer patients keep more of their hair as it falls out. It strengthens the follicles. I personally used this product, and I fully believe it helped more of my hair stay attached than what might have happened had I not used it. I noticed a remarkable difference when I used this product. And I can tell you that others also have similar testimonials on this product.

DO TRY to remember that your hair is only falling out temporarily and it will soon STOP and STAY ON again! Some people have experienced that their hair soon becomes healthier than they've ever had before! Sometimes the texture even changes…. Sounds FUN, huh? It can be!

BOTTOM LINE: Have a GOOD ATTITUDE about your hair… take care of it, baby it, and you'll find that you'll be out of that FALLING OUT Zone shortly! Today's hairstyles ARE more relaxed, and with the right cut, you'll look just as glamorous as a celebrity! Don't despair…. Just know that we're NOT a group of baldies!!!

For additional information or support, visit my website at http://www.rnyachievegoals.com.

I offer a FREE "Weekly Tip Newsletter" that can help keep you motivated as you forge ahead along your weight-loss journey.

Jokes, The World's Best Medicine

What were the last jokes that made you roll around on the floor because you were laughing so hard? Did it involve a doctor, a priest, and a lawyer? Was it on a TV show, or part of a stand-up comedy routine, or part of a recent lecture? In any event, do you remember how it made you feel?

More likely than not you can remember the last time, and if you took a minute you could probably tell me the jokes, and it probably made your day. It either gave you relief from the stress of taking your self or what you were doing so seriously, or it took your mind off of something that was causing you grief, or it just livened up an otherwise boring talk. Probably most importantly though, it allowed you to laugh which as we all know is "the world's best medicine."

But have you ever thought more about why this was so? Is there actually something about jokes and the resulting laughter that can change our health in a beneficial way? What is it about laughter that we love so much? Why are comedies so popular? Why is there such a thing as comic relief and why is it so effective--even in the most serious of plays or dramas? Well you shouldn't be surprised to find out that scientists have been studying it but you may be surprised to find out that there is actually something about laughter that affects us more profoundly than we think.

Basically there is good evidence now that laughter produced by jokes can change the chemical milieu that courses through our body on a second to second basis, and in profound degree. Laughter releases natural endorphins that act on the same receptors as morphine that produce the feelings of relaxation and heightened mood. Levels of Dopamine, serotonin, and Nor- epinephrine are altered as well that produce endogenous anti- depressant effect.

Researchers then wondered about what action in particular was producing these changes--was it smiling, or the physical changes that take place in rate of breathing, in blood pressure, increased heart rate, etc. What they found was (as usual) that it most likely was a combination of physical changes in the body that occur with laughter. Each one of these changes by it self produced small effects but together were synergistic in producing these stress relieving, and mood improving results. It was interesting to note that spontaneous laughter was better than self produced laughs but not by as large a difference than you might think. Also merely smiling produced significant changes in the blood chemistry. So basically tell someone jokes, smile more, and laugh even if you have to fake it--it does the body good!

The Whole Truth About Whiteheads

There are many different types of blemishes that you can get on your face. They are all generally called acne but when it comes to treatment, it is important to know exactly what is going on with your skin. People with acne are usually familiar with whiteheads (milium), however they don't know what causes them or how to get rid of them. The difference between this and a blackhead is that blackheads are exposed to oxygen which causes the black appearance.

A whitehead is a build-up of oils and dead skin that plugs up your pores. It is embedded under the skin so it appears as a raised white bump. These are also referred to as "closed comedones". This is because the pore is not open and oxygen never comes in contact with it. They are caused by hardened oils under the skin that are clogging the pores, which is the cause of most acne to begin with. Some dermatologists believe that people with frequent outbreaks may produce a drier oil than normal, which makes them susceptible to getting clogged pores. If you wear make-up, avoid using anything that is greasy to prevent all forms acne. Another acne preventing precaution is to wash your pillowcase regularly as well as your hair. This will prevent old dirt and oils from rubbing off onto your skin and causing irritation.

If you are experiencing a problem with whiteheads, there are many treatment options available that could clear your skin right up. The Derma Cleanse Acne Treatment System cleans, tones, and detoxifies your skin. It also regulates the hormones in your body to normalize the oil secretion. You do not have to see a dermatologist to get this medicine, even though it is recommended by most of them. Using a deep pore cleanser can prevent whiteheads from ever forming. It could also help to gently dislodge existing spots over time. Even though the chance of scarring from a whitehead is very unlikely, you should still never attempt to remove them yourself. It will only damage your skin and cause an infection. The contents leaking onto your skin can also cause more acne to form. A doctor can remove them individually for you in his office, using sterile tool

If you prefer to use a prescription provided by your dermatologist than deal with your whiteheads, a commonly prescribed medicine is Differin gel. It is a topical retinoid treatment that works to reduce inflammation involved with acne, as well as increases cell formation. It is more effective than other medicines such as Retin-A and it is also less irritating. It is alcohol free and it light and non-greasy. For patients with extremely sensitive skin, there is also less-harsh Differin cream. Most people with whiteheads also suffer from other forms of acne that this medicine would be beneficial to use for as well. He/She may also choose to prescribe an oral contraceptive as a way to regulate hormones in females. This is also beneficial in clearing up most types of acne.

Best LCD TVs

Buying an LCD TV is more of an art than a purchase. Originally LCD TVs were available in only smaller sizes, but now they are available in sizes as big as 50 inches. Whether big or small screen, LCD TVs suffer from certain flaws: they have lower contrast ratios, slower refresh rates and narrow viewing angles. Despite that, if certain precautions are taken, you could end up with the best LCD TV in the market.

Currently Sony, LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Philips, Sharp are the bigger brands in the LCD TV market. Even computer monitor manufacturers like Dell and Gateway have made a foray into the LCD TV market. But a big brand name does not ensure that the TV is the best. Even reputed companies purchase monitors and other parts from other countries to save on costs. This affects the overall quality of the TV. It is essential to check out the TV while it is in the showroom before buying.

One thing to consider is the aspect ratio. Some widescreen LCD TVs boast of an aspect ratio of 16 to 9. However, believing blindly in this could be a mistake. Some screens just stretch the image to fit the screen. In doing so, the images become jagged and washed out. Best LCD TVs are those that can retain their resolutions even when the image is stretched to fit a 16 to 9 screen. Trust your eyes to judge that.

Another thing is the viewing angle. LCD TVs were big duds earlier regarding their viewing angles. Due to the pixel twisting principle of liquid crystal display monitors, LCD visuals would be almost invisible from more obtuse angles. But now, this problem is diminishing rapidly. Contemporary LCD TVs have viewing angles as obtuse as 160 degrees.

LCD TVs are available in three varieties: standard definition (SD), enhanced definition (ED) and high definition (HD). High definition TVs are the best as they can be used both as computer monitors as well as regular TVs as they can produce both digital as well as analog signals. These TVs have higher freeze rates and so they can better reproduce moving visuals.

These are basically the important features to check while considering a good LCD TV. Best LCD TVs could be those that have all the above features along with sleekness in design, lightness of weight and easy button controls.

Role Of Nutrients In Hair Growth.

Hormones and Vitamins play an important role in the Hair growth. Hair consists of a pigment called "Melanin" which also occurs in the skin of human beings. This pigment is responsible for the dark nature of the skin and hair. In Young people, hair has large number of melanin pigments which leads to Dark nature of the hair and with the increase of the age, the no. of melanin pigments decreases, leading to whitening of the hair in old People. In older poeple, the follicles produce thin and long hair, and also sometimes also do not produce any hair. This is the cause for the Baldness in old people.

Alcohol effects hair growth, i.e. Alcoholics have poor hair growth or they experience hair loss due to malnutrition.
The Essential mineral for the growth hair is - Zinc (Zn) which is responsible for hair growth and also prevents hair from becoming Greyish in nature. Hormones and vitamins also have an essential role in hair growth -
Androgens are helpful in hair growth and also helps in Strengthening of Hair Shaft but are present in different ratio in men and women.

The Female hormones called Oestrogens decreases the growth of hair during the growth of the induvidual. During Pregnancy there is difference in hair growth as blood cntains more amount of Oestrogens at that time.

The effect of Androgens in male is different in many people, that is the reason some people do not get beard and hair on the chest upto a certain age of above 25 and a few get at an age of near 20.
Vitamin B - Panthenol Helps in maintaing the growth of hair and also contributes to the elastic nature and strength of the hair. Steroids taken by Asthma patients through inhalation does not effect the hair growth, but if taken orally, will slow down the hair growth.

Finally, Hormones are genetically produced and are determined and they help in growth of the hair.

Cheap Engagement Rings

As long as weddings and engagements have been around, people have associated engagement rings with large sums of money. Often times, it is hard to find cheap engagement rings and this fact puts a damper on what should be a happy and exciting occasion. Something that you may not know is that there is a solution, cheap engagement rings. These cheap engagement rings can be just as spectacular and lovely as an expensive engagement ring. If you look in the right place, you can easily find a cheap engagement ring without compromising quality or beauty.

You see, generally, when we think of cheap engagement rings, we think green fingers, poor quality and lack of beauty. But it simply does not have to be that way. Some jewelers, both on and offline, take great pride in offering their customers high quality engagement rings at a fraction of the cost. Popping the question with a beautiful engagement ring does not have to cost you thousands of dollars.

Cheap engagement rings are not hard to find either, there are a multitude of online and offline jewelers that offer very affordable engagement rings. It is important that you look for a reputable jeweler who stands behind all of their engagement rings and offer a money back guarantee.

When it is time to begin your search for a cheap engagement ring, there are a few things you should keep in mind. The first thing you should do is determine what price would fit your budget. It is important that, once you create a budget for your cheap engagement ring, that you keep it. This will ensure that you do not strain yourself financially. You should then determine the type of metal you want. You should be aware that platinum is the most expensive of the metals, yellow or white gold is much cheaper. In fact yellow or white gold is about half the cost of a platinum engagement ring and looks just as beautiful

Can Depression Be A Sign Of Something More?

Have you taken more than one antidepressant but are still feeling depressed? Are you frustrated that your depression keeps coming back? You are not alone. Many people are first told that they have depression or anxiety when, in fact, they actually have a different medical condition. Of these people, one in two will first be told they have depression, one in four will be told they have anxiety.

Why Does Your Depression Keep Coming Back?

There are a number of reasons why symptoms of depression may persist despite taking medication. One of these reasons may be because patients don't always remember to tell their doctors about all the symptoms they're experiencing. For example, patients may talk to their doctors when they feel down or depressed and are looking for relief. They may not talk about the times when they've felt really good or energetic. In fact, patients often think about these times as their "good times" or "normal times." This is important information that can help your doctor make a correct diagnosis and provide treatment that may help you feel better.

Help Your Doctor Help You

Getting a correct diagnosis is the first step to finding a treatment that is right for you. Bipolar depression is a form of depression that requires a different kind of treatment. If you have questions about bipolar depression, be sure to talk with your doctor. Several treatments, including some new medications, along with support from your doctor, can help people manage their symptoms over time.

What Is Bipolar Depression?

Bipolar depression is one part of bipolar disorder, a chronic-but treatable-illness. Sufferers usually have episodes of depression ("lows") and episodes of increased energy, racing thoughts or anxiety ("highs"). Untreated bipolar depression can affect an individual's ability to function at work, participate in social activities and maintain relationships. Getting an accurate diagnosis and the correct treatment can help patients with bipolar depression manage their symptoms and lead productive lives.

Film criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films

Film criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films. In general, these works can be divided into two categories: academic criticism by film scholars and journalistic film criticism that appears regularly in newspapers and other media.

Film critics working for newspapers, magazines, and broadcast media mainly review new releases. Normally they only see any given film once and have only a day or two to formulate opinions. Despite this, critics have an important impact on films, especially those of certain genres. Mass marketed action, horror, and comedy films tend not to be greatly affected by a critic's overall judgment of a film. The plot summary and description of a film that makes up the majority of any film review can still have an important impact on whether people decide to see a film. For prestige films such as most dramas, the influence of reviews is extremely important. Poor reviews will often doom a film to obscurity and financial loss.

The impact of a reviewer on a given film's box office performance is a matter of debate. Some claim that movie marketing is now so intense and well financed that reviewers cannot make an impact against it. However, the cataclysmic failure of some heavily-promoted movies which were harshly reviewed, as well as the unexpected success of critically praised independent movies indicates that extreme critical reactions can have considerable influence. Others note that positive film reviews have been shown to spark interest in little-known films. Conversely, there have been several films in which film companies have so little confidence that they refuse to give reviewers an advanced viewing to avoid widespread panning of the film. However, this usually backfires as reviewers are wise to the tactic and warn the public that the film may not be worth seeing and the films often do poorly as a result.

It is argued that journalist film critics should only be known as film reviewers, and true film critics are those who take a more academic approach to films. This line of work is more often known as film theory or film studies. These film critics attempt to come to understand how film and filming techniques work, and what effect they have on people. Rather than having their works published in newspapers or appear on television, their articles are published in scholarly journals, or sometimes in up-market magazines. They also tend to be affiliated with colleges or universities

The Benefits of Acidophilus

People know that bacteria are harmful to human's health. It causes different types of diseases and may even cause death. Talks have been going around about good bacterias, yet so many people have great knowledge about them.. Good bacteria are the bacteria that give good effects and aid the body to achieve better health. One example of a good bacteria is the acidophilus.

Acidophilus or lactobacillus acidophilus is the most commonly used good or friendly bacteria. These bacteria inhabit the intestines and vagina and protect against the entrance and proliferation of harmful organisms that can cause diseases.

Acidophilus protects the body through different aspects. One mechanism is through the breakdown of its food. When food is brokedown, it leads to production of lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide and other by products that make the environment hostile for undesired organism.

Acidophilus offers variety of potential therapeutic uses. These include:

• Aids digestion and suppresses disease-causing bacteria.
• Treat overgrowth of bad organism in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Prevent and treat diarrhea, including the infectious diarrhea, particularly from the rotavirus.
• Alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and possibly, inflammatory bowel disease.
• Replaces the friendly intestinal bacteria that are destroyed by antibiotics.
• Prevent and reduces the recurrence of vaginal yeast infection, urinary tract infections and cystitis.
• Improve lactose absorption in people who are lactose intolerant.
• Enhances the immune response. Studies have suggested that the consumption of yogurt and milk that contains specific strains of acidophilus supplements improve the natural immune response.
• Aids the treatment of respiratory infections such as sinusitis, bronchitis and pneumonia.
• Lower the risks of allergies such as asthma, hay fever, allergies to milk and skin reactions such as eczema.
• Help in treating high cholesterol.

Acidophilus is one of the good bacteria that should be part of the daily diet of humans. They can be taken and ingested in different forms, such as a drink or in capsule form.

Peyote Is Not Bad For You

Peyote is not harmful.

It has been shown in a recent study that there is no relation between using peyote and brain damage or psychological problems. This hallucinogenic cactus is often used by American Indians in religious ceremonies.

Also, in McLean Hospital, researchers from Harvard found that members of the Native American Church performed better on some psychological tests than other Navajos who did not regularly use peyote.
Since 1994, for 300,000 members of the Native American Church, it was legal the usage of peyote as a religious sacrament. Five years of study showed that the hallucinogenic substance is not a dangerous one even if used frequently.

John Halpern, a psychiatrist of McLean conducted the study. The study has been made on 60 persons who used peyote at least 100 times, comparing them to 79 persons who did not use peyote frequently and 36 persons who seldom used peyote but who have a history of alcohol abuse. The results showed the last ones were worst on the test. It is not proved that peyote has a pharmacological effect that improves human health.

Harrison Pope, the senior author of the study and director of the biological psychology laboratory at the hospital said: "It's hard to know how much of it is an actual sense of community they get (from the religion) and how much of it is the actual experience of using the medication itself,"

'Reassurance' for religious users

The researchers argue that their findings should offer "reassurance" to the 10,000 Native American Church members serving in the military who were barred from using peyote before new guidelines were adopted in 1997.

They wrote in their paper published in the Nov. 4 issue of Biological Psychiatry: "We find no evidence that a history of peyote use would compromise the psychological or cognitive abilities of these individuals,"

There must be a clear distinction between religious and illegal use of peyote. They assumed that other hallucinogens such LSD could be dangerous.

No 'flashbacks' observed

The mescaline, which is a substance contained in peyote, is described as more sensual and perceptual in comparison to LSD, and also less altering of thought and sense of self. The peyote does not seem to produce "flashbacks" in the same way as LSD.

This study was funded by National Institute on Drug Abuse, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A NIDA spokeswoman would not comment on the study.

"The thing that excites me most about the paper is that the study was actually done", said Lester Grinspoon, a Harvard Medical School psychiatry professor who was not involved in the research. "The U.S. government - and NIDA, in particular - have been rather balky about allowing studies of psychedelic drugs of any kind before."

Coffee Beans and the Best Way to Buy

Coffee beans are an item that because of the internet can now be sourced with great ease and convenience, the thing is do we buy them from our local coffee vendor or should we buy them from an internet based coffee store? Well this all depends on what coffee beans you might want and how patient you are, in other words both methods have their benefits. Buying a number of blends from a local store will be pretty straight forward but if you want something like green Kenyan beans then it may be that you have to look a little further and use the internet.

One bad aspect to hunting for coffee products locally is the fact that the variety of products that these local dealers stock is usually way beneath that held by the online sites, anyhow lets pretend the food and drink merchant did not have the items you originally wanted but did have a Green Coffee product you might possibly be interested in and a Iced Coffee product you might also want to look over. Obviously the next thing you need to do is check out the dealer to look at these coffee items for yourself, this is one of the genuine advantages of using a local coffee dealer, seeing the goods before you actually purchase.

Being able to evaluate merchandise like coffee makers and also kenyan coffee sachets for yourself is a real important factor if a person is coffee buying, internet shopping does have its good points but it does lose when it comes to looking at items. The fact that you have real human interaction with a merchant can often be a terrific advantage, lets say for example you order a Brazilian Santos pack or a Celebes Kalossi Toraja pack, lets also say there is some sort of problem with the goods you have ordered and need to return it to the coffee vendor it was purchased from, now it could just be a matter of simply trading the merchandise you bought for an identical item or another model. Product returns in local coffee stores can occur very quickly say you had purchased something such as a trick coffee mug or a italian coffee jug via an online coffee store you may perhaps have to pay both the delivery costs and the inconvenience of having to wait for the food and drink company to return your cash or send you a replacement product.

Now a good thing about local coffee dealers is the expertise they can give you, lets imagine you visit your locally based store because you are wishing to order a german coffee thermos it may be you happen to talk with the person in the store and because of their expertise in the area of coffee products you end up getting a completely different product altogether. Tips and expertise in the area of coffee products can easily be located on the net but you have to be aware of the proper methods by which to probe and dig for your required coffee guidance.

Hopefully now you are fully aware of the good and bad points about buying coffee beans online you will be able to make up your own mind on the subject, I prefer a little of both as I think that both online coffee buying and offline coffee buying are great.

Choosing A Wheelchair

When looking to buy a wheelchair, probably the most important feature is comfort. It is also important to try out the wheelchair and make sure it fits and you are comfortable on it, as well as in it. Looking for the wheelchair that is right for you, might start to get long and tedious, but with the variety of models that are out today, you should be able to find one that suits all of your needs. When looking at wheelchairs, think about how you spend your day and what sorts of tasks you do, this will help to pick out the chair that will best fit you. If you need to transfer yourself, it is optimal to buy a chair model that is able to change heights.

Apart from what you will be doing with your wheelchair, it is also important to consider that type of environment that you will be using your chair in. Will you be traveling a lot outdoors in your wheelchair? Or will you being using it indoors only? If you decide that you will need to use your chair outdoors, you will be better off picking a model that is powered. This will help to give the wheelchair more power to move you in different types of outdoor environments. It is also safer to use a wheelchair with a motor when going outdoors. You will also need to have access to a vehicle that is wheelchair accessible. If you do not already have one, make sure to have arrangements before hand and that the wheelchair will fit inside the vehicle
Having a wheelchair is not just a way for someone who is disabled to get around, it is a way of life. People who are confined to a wheelchair, need their chair to be comfortable, accessible, and also easy to use is important. When buying a wheelchair, it will help to make your lifestyle more active and help to keep you more independent, so you do not have to always rely on another person.

There are many different types of wheelchairs available today. The standard type of wheelchair is one that is manually operated and is best for those who suffer from only temporary injuries and for those that require minimal use of their spine and/or legs for a short time period.

Electric wheelchairs are best for those who are permanently confined to a wheelchair. An electric wheelchair will be able to give you more independence and the ability to freely move around.
Wheelchairs come in a wide variety of different weights and sizes. Trying out many is common and will help to ensure the best fit for your body.

Regardless of the type of wheelchair you are looking for, either manual or powered, the most important criteria for buying one is comfort, independence, and functionality.