วันเสาร์ที่ 2 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Can There be Safer Alternatives to Cosmetic Dermatology Dermabrasion and Facelifts?

Since the introduction of cosmetic dermatology, dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons have claimed to include refined procedures that are able to reduce the visible signs of aging and sun damage and to tone, smooth, and to cure skin imperfections of all varieties. With recent advances in the field of cosmetic dermatology, cosmetic surgeons claim that cosmetic surgeries of face lift, dermabrasion and fat grafting, artificial collagen restoration etc. have become easier and more affordable for more and more people to achieve the perfect looking skin that they crave for.

However, case studies made by various natural skin care manufacturing companies have revealed some major pitfalls of cosmetic dermatology. Ironically, in most cases, cosmetic dermatology has turned out to be the most unwelcome disasters that have affected your skin totally with high dosages of chemical drugs. In cases of surgeries of cosmetic dermatology, there has always been the risk of intense bruising and the scars that those leave behind, which even the most sophisticated surgeons have not been able to diminish fully. Apart from the effects of dermabrasion, microdermabrasion and laser resurfacing, Botox therapy and collagen restoration surgeries too have been quite fatal, as far as the safety aspects of the anti-aging skin care is concerned.

If you've got wrinkles, laugh lines or crow's feet and are planning 'surface repairs' on your face never opt for dermabrasion. Although many surgeons would recommend dermabrasion to repair the lines and scars on your face, remember there are alternative options too to get rid of your facial scars. Dermabrasion uses surgical instruments to remove the affected skin layers and may not always prove to be a simple and pain-free solution to your facial problems. Instead, a chemical peel is used more often to treat fine wrinkles.

Though surgeons say that there aren't any recorded ill effects of dermabrasion, those who've undergone this surgical procedure know how painful it is. In fact, dermabrasion is not welcome by most people, particularly the older generation, because it is not only a painful exercise, but also need a 'time-out' in most cases. Alternative pain-free and safe solutions available from premier dermal therapy product companies help extend cell life and reducing potential ill affects of demabrasion.

Today, courtesy the anti-aging skin care manufacturers, a variety of products are there at your disposal that heal almost all ailments mentioned in dermatology science. Some of those not only defy many popular beliefs of dermatology, but also heal old age skin ailments like wrinkles, laugh lines and crow's feet. This revolution has come as various manufacturers of skin-related drugs have been striving to enrich the science of dermatology by continuously inventing new methods of painless, safe and cost-effective treatment of skin diseases and anomalies for people of all age groups.

Anti-aging Process Therapies: These include an endless number of gels, creams and patches that are a superior substitute to surgery and other methods of medication in dermatology. They not only help in stemming the aging process, but also alleviate sufferings of painful surgery among the old age people. While there are transdermal (through-the-skin) therapies like OHT Peptide-3, there are also tanning towels and scar therapy patches that are used by the young and the old alike.

Deep Skin Cleansing Therapies: A number of products are marketed that help in deep skin cleansing and return the youthful glow on your face. While On-The-Spot Acne Patches help heal pimples by directing maximum strength acne medicine straight to the pimple - and keeping it there all night long, super-deluxe versions of Deep Cleansing pore strips clean your clogged pores. On the other hand, wart remover patches are a medicated treatment for the fast, effective removal of warts, redefining dermatology in the process!

Then there are a slew of discount beauty supply offers, including anti-aging skin care infused with botanicals, anti-oxidants and technologically advanced ingredients that take skin care to a new level.

The therapeutic benefits of a skin care cream made from elements of Mother Nature, either in the form of an anti-wrinkle cream or a stretch mark removing cream, are reaching sophisticated women today through websites of natural skin care product dealers. Working as online stores, they offer dry skin care and other skin care remedies in the form of luscious cr?me masks, herbal lotions and other nature-based therapies with restorative botanicals and animal proteins, improving skin tone and texture and maintaining skin elasticity.

While the *Botox? therapy, cosmetic peels and micro dermabrasion have been ever-growing obsessions for people with acne, pigmentation, wrinkles and other acute skin problems, the dry skin care cream, anti-wrinkle cream and stretch mark removing cream carry the latest non surgical face lift or face rejuvenation techniques along with full information of their basic natural ingredients. The non-surgical face-lift these products offer is 100% safe, toxin-free and cost-effective to a great extent.

What are you waiting for, then? Go for these ?non-surgical? face-lifts to give your skin new life!

Lopa Bhattacharya is a content writer/developer working for various overseas corporate website projects, CD-Rom presentations, brochures, flyers and other communication materials). Has worked on numerous SEO copywriting projects on varied themes ranging from travel, hotel industry, photography, web design and software development to US-based clubs and network communities. Was previously an editorial associate for the news, culture and entertainment portal based on the life and times of Kolkata.

วันศุกร์ที่ 1 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Universal Principles of Yoga Part 1

Yoga and Yogic philosophy is occasionally misunderstood because some people have not been informed of the universal principles that are not threatening to any belief or disbelief. Many people who do not practice Yoga are often surprised to find detailed dietary suggestions contained within their Yoga training. Yoga aids the student toward better health in every possible aspect. So, Yoga requires and in depth explanation.

Let?s start with the meaning of Yoga, which literally means ?unity? or ?union.? Your next question might be, ?Unity with what?? Yoga does help unify the mind and body, but it also unifies the spirit or soul within you with God. The soul is sometimes known as the ?Atman? and can also be referred to as pure or true consciousness. Yoga is not a religion, but it can be practiced in harmony with any religion.

Before we go any further; it should be noted that many students from a variety of religions have practiced Yoga and feel a deeper connection with God as a result of the mind, body, and spirit unification process. Therefore, Yoga is doing no harm to anyone of any religion. Yoga philosophy does not preach a ?Better than thou? doctrine. This has been mankind?s excuse to wage war, since history was first recorded and even before.

The concept of another person?s religion, nationality, ethnic background, race, and gender; being less, have always been convenient reasons for bigotry, slavery, and cruelty. Tolerance of others is not a new idea in Yogic philosophy.

There is no group that has the exclusive rights to Yoga. India is the birth place of Yoga and the people of India have gladly shared their gift with the rest of the world. There is no exclusive group that practices Yoga or teaches Yoga classes. Yoga was not designed to be an exclusive practice and Yoga has evolved for the best over 5,000 years to this day.

For the sake of being ?politically correct,? many Yoga teachers omit the spiritual aspect of Yoga in their Hatha Yoga classes. This is fine, since the masses of some cultures object to learning about a method to connect to God. However, what does it say about a culture that is to busy to talk or think about God?

It means many things and some societies are showing signs of systematic spiritual illness. However, if you teach Hatha Yoga under these circumstances, you might be best to leave religion outside your classes. Unless, you are teaching Bhakti Yoga or something similar such as Jewish, Moslem, or Christian Yoga, the union of mind, body, and spirit does not usually occur in a typical Hatha Yoga class.

? Copyright 2006 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

How To Lose Weight Part II

I mentioned last time that I started to lose weight by making small easy changes. The first was that I quit a very long habit of drinking Pepsi, I loved the stuff but it is loaded with sugar and acid that my dentist says is worse for my teeth than the sugar. Anyway, I lost 9 pounds from that one change in about 4 months. Besides the weight loss I noticed other changes like the brown spots I had on my face and chest almost disappeared. (I am sure that the extra water helped too) That was good proof to me how much one little change can make.

So what was the next change I made? I started drinking green tea instead of coffee. I had to try several brands before I found one I really liked. It amazes me how one thing can taste so different with different brands, oh well. That change was pretty simple for me and I love coffee! I felt a little better about a month down the road and lost about 4 more pounds. After about three months I started to drink coffee some times like when at a restaurant, but I try to mostly drink tea.

Since that change was fairly a breeze to me, after one month I decided it was time to make another change. So I started to eat one apple everyday. I like the taste of apples once I am eating them but for some reason I never felt like 'I want an apple, that sounds good'. So I had to make a conscious effort to eat one each day. This along with the extra water I started drinking when I gave up the soda pop made me very regular, if you know what I mean. That?s always a good thing!

Besides weight loss there are always added benefits to eating and drinking healthfully, even the smallest of changes effect everything, you will be amazed once you start. So make the effort today and make that change, you and your body will love you for it! Just do it!

I want to say here that it is extremely important to make these changes slowly and one at a time so you never feel deprived or too 'out' of your comfort zone. Also, Remember to find a replacement for what ever you give up or the vacuum will bring you back. Finally, there are things you should never give up; I love sweets, chocolate, YES! Why deprive myself of something I love so much? And how I can do that and still lose weight will be in the next installment.

Written by bonnie-- For more information on healthy weightloss visit our website.

Indoor Trampolines And Mini Trampolines

Indoor trampolines, also known as mini-trampolines, are small trampoline kits designed for children between 3 to 7 years old. They are available in many sizes but most of them are portable and smaller than regular trampolines. Average height is about 9 -11 inches off the ground and may be circular, rectangular or square in shape.

Since many emergency room-treated injuries are related to trampoline jumping, before letting kids use indoor trampolines (though smaller and look more harmless), all safety precautions should be taken. Adequate adult supervision is also imperative for all types of trampolines if it involves kids in the trampoline activity.

Indoor trampolines may also be used as a bouncing device by gymnasts or stuntmen to be catapulted into the air. Professional indoor, or Olympic style trampolines, have a webbed surface and are generally much more expensive. They also need folding down and are not suitable for outdoors. Other indoor trampolines may also be used as fitness and weight loss tools.

Popular Indoor Trampoline Models:

Nursery Trampoline: This indoor trampoline has a grip handle, and is designed to encourage children to exercise and keep fit. The model is suitable for outdoor use too. It is also equipped with a weatherproof mat and tubular steel frame with a durable coated finish. The padded cover around the mat cushions the frame and prevents children from stepping through the bungee cord for extra safety. Costs around $100 to $135.

Joey Trampoline: is designed to help kids learn balance and coordination with the assistance of a handlebar, which can be removed as the child gets older and bigger. It features 6 steel feet, anti-slip rubber pads, a powder-coated steel frame, heavy-duty jumping mat, and strong padded foam cushion frame cover for extra safety. Approximate cost - $60 to $70.

Child Sport Fit Trainer: Manufactured by Texas Trampoline, the jumping surface of this indoor trampoline is woven Permatron material, and has extra wide, deluxe safety pads that cover the frame and the springs. It?s an 8-foot square and 24 inches high trampoline which can also be used by adults who want to stay in shape. No additional tools are required for assembly. It costs around $600, and is one of the most expensive indoor trampolines.

Soft-Bounce Rebounder: A product from Needak, it has a surface diameter of 28.5 inches and a Permatron mat rebounding surface, with protective, spring cover padding, and is intended for indoor, aerobic use by adults. The rebounder comes in a folding or non-folding model. Purchase also includes a video, book, article, and a carrying bag. Costs around $120 to $180.

TP Medium Junior Trampoline: Features a detachable handle which can be used when the trampoline is used by more than one child. Designed to improve co-ordination, balance skills and spatial awareness of the child through play. Made from galvanized steel frame and tough mesh mat that allows rain to fall through. Costs around $60 to $70.

Bounce around Inflatable Trampoline: This is an inflatable bouncing trampoline constructed out of heavy-duty vinyl, which can be conveniently deflated after use. Great for kids who love to jump on beds. Approximately costs around $35 to $45.

Trampolines HQ http://trampolineshq.com/ offers articles and tips about trampolines and trampolining.

Why is it so EASY to GAIN WEIGHT during the HOLIDAYS?

I?m sure you have pondered this question, for it is no secret that we all tend to put on a few pounds during this magical time of year! For many of us across the globe it is a tradition to ring in the New Year with our belts loosened and seams bursting. Read on for 5 reasons why it is so easy to gain weight during the month of December, and what you can do to avoid them!

REASON #1: Have Yourself a Merry Little Eggnog

What tastes better on a cold December day than a mug of Hot Cocoa, Spiced Apple Cider, or Rich Eggnog? The holidays are filled with occasions for us to congregate and indulge in calorie packed beverages. An average glass of Eggnog packs over 340 calories and close to 20 grams of fat! Drinking just 10 glasses of Eggnog during the month of December will result in a 1 lb weight gain! This year steer clear of the calorie filled beverages and stick to drinking water.

REASON #2: Deck The Halls with Boughs of Finger Food

You can see it now, the appetizer table at your Holiday Party! Mountains of fried finger foods, plates filled with rich cheeses, colorful deviled eggs, and best of all, the selection of gourmet sausage. Mingling with friends turns to circling the finger foods, grazing like it is your last meal. This year take a plate and fill it once. No seconds, thirds, fourths?you get the idea.

REASON #3: Here Comes Santa Claus ? And He?s Bringing Cookies

People love to give gifts around the holidays and many of these gifts are edible! Who doesn?t enjoy receiving homemade fudge or fruitcake from their Aunt Gertrude? The problem lies in our attempt to eat ALL of the edible holiday offerings before it is time to take down the tree. Enjoy edible gifts in moderation, and don?t overeat simply because the food is available.

REASON #4: All I Want for Christmas is My Sweet Tooth

Gingerbread cookies, spiced cakes, and truffles are all abundant during the month of December. Far too abundant! Limit your sweet tooth to a couple sugar selections each week and save yourself from the extra, empty calories!

REASON #5: Away in a Manger, No Time for the Gym

Shopping, wrapping, baking, gatherings?and you want me to go to the gym? The holidays are the easiest time to put off working out. Sweating in the gym almost seems masochistic when your other option is to be curled up in front of the Christmas tree with a plate of cookies in your lap! This year factor your workouts into your schedule and stick to it. Make sure that at minimum you are still getting a cardiovascular workout in 3 times a week.

Take time to integrate these tips into your busy December schedule, and I am sure that you will be thanking yourself come the New Year! I wish you all Happy Holidays!

Diana Keuilian, author, ACE certified Personal Trainer, and co-founder of HitechTrainer.com offers online personal training and nutrition programs that fit your budget and schedule. Whether your goal is to lose weight, firm and tone, or to build muscle, HitechTrainer.com will build a custom designed program just for you. Visit: http://www.hitechtrainer.com/ and begin meeting your fitness goals today!

Great Looking Skin

Maintaining great skin can be a challenge if you don?t know the secrets to having perfect skin. Did you know that what you eat and what you use on your skin plays a tremendous role on the state of your skin?

Regardless of your skin type, all skin types should avoid eating fried foods because these foods contain free radicals that are toxic to the vital enzymes in the body.

Other foods that should also be avoided are alcohol and caffeine, especially on those individuals with dry skin. Alcohol and caffeine are diuretics that cause the skin to lose fluids and minerals. Basically, the diuretics dehydrate the skin making it look tired and dry leading to premature aging.

A great moisturizing secret is to use food from your kitchen on your skin. For example, avocado makes an excellent moisturizing facemask. It conditions the skin leaving it feeling moisturized and looking vibrant.

Try this recipe:

Mash ? avocado with 1 tbsp of plain yogurt.

Blend well and apply to clean skin.

Leave on for 10 ? 15 minutes and then rinse off face.

Proper cleansing of the skin prior to applying any moisturizer or facemask is always recommended. It's best that the pores are completely clean for the best results

If you want to learn more about having your own spa at home and healthy living, visit www.homespasecrets.com

Jan Johnson is the founder of http://www.homespasecrets.com offering free information on creating your own at-home spa on a dime. HomeSpaSecrets.com also offers healthy living tips and information.

Is Your Water Safe To Drink?

When people talk about nutrition, they usually overlook a very important nutrient necessary for good health. WATER! That's mostly because we've taken both for granted for thousands of years. Water has been mostly good for us up until only a relatively few years ago. That's all changed now, and we definitely need to think again, as it?s getting much worse, almost daily.

It?s usually recommended that we each drink 64 ounces of water per day - that?s 8 each 8 ounce glasses (full) every day. Actually, the better recommendation for good health is 1 gallon per 50 pounds of body weight. Few of us ever get even those minimum 8 glasses per day. According to one study, about 4/5ths of all adults do NOT get even this minimum. The majority of adults in the US are borderline dehydrated. Did you know that many deaths in nursing homes are actually caused by dehydration? Dehydration of the frontal lobes is a major factor in senility and is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer?s.

People are becoming aware that their drinking water (out of the tap) isn't very good any more. The market for bottled water is huge and becoming more and more profitable every year as a result. But, is all bottled water safe? Here are a few of the problems:

1.The plastic it is usually packaged in varies. The ?cloudy? type isn?t nearly as stable a plastic as the clear type. And, all plastic gives up a few molecules to water (the universal solvent of the philosophers). This is not good for any of us. Hard plastic or glass is best.

2.City and municipal water requirements are usually much more stringent than are bottling rules. In a study of 103 brands of bottled water the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that 1/3rd of the over 1000 bottles tested contained s bacteria, as well as synthetic organic chemicals, and one sample even contained arsenic above state health limits.

3.The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the tap water standards, and promotes a Minimum Federal Standard for cities and states. They have no jurisdiction over bottled water, so there are no real standard to protect us. (Do you trust any water bottler, or all of the employees of same?)

Let?s look at some labels and see what they really mean:

1. Bottled Spring water: All too often this is just a scam. Yes, it's from a spring, but there is no guarantee that the water from this spring is pure. Often, it's bottled from a local water supply directly from a tap. It's from a spring OK, but what spring? There's big money in bottled water, and if you haven't noticed, it's sometimes even more expensive than soft drinks.

2. Drinking Water. This is at least half honest. It's straight out of a faucet, we can hope that it's at least relatively free of toxicity, and maybe meets the minimum Federal standard for drinking water. Did you know that many, if not most, city and town water supplies in the USA do NOT meet Minimum? (Of course, those standards only apply to sissies.) Good luck.

3. Catching Rainwater. This time-honored way to get pure water just doesn't work very well anymore. The amount of toxic material in the air results in Acid Rain in much of the US. When my wife and I sailed around the Caribbean some years ago, we caught all our water that way, and simply filtered it thru a carbon block filter after putting in some chlorine to kill the possible airborne bacteria. It worked because the ocean rain is much purer than most of the rain over land.

4. Carbon Filtered Water. These are those little screw-on or pitcher water filters. Some even have a silver nitrate element to kill bacteria included. Few are good enough to remove most of the worst contaminants. And, few people change the filters often enough, so contamination creeps in again. They give you a false sense of security, and because of the carbon filtering, the water smells and tastes better, but in most areas, it simply isn't very good. (Perfume can cover up a contamination smell, but it doesn't remove the source.)

5. Distilled Water. This is excellent for your steam iron or making Colloidal Silver, but unless it's distilled in glass, it may have high amounts of Copper or Nickel from the distilling piping used. It also usually has no taste - pretty flat. But, it's still better than what probably comes out of your faucet.

6. Reverse Osmosis Water. This is probably the best of all drinking water, PROVIDED that the filters are changed regularly. Ideally, there are several particle filters and at least one carbon block filter prior to the Reverse Osmosis filter. This RO filter is a rubbery sheet, and by osmotic action, (and water pressure) molecules of water pass from the dirty side to the clean side. This type of filter can also get clean drinking water from the ocean. It is by far the best drinking water. (For a great taste, you can add about ? teaspoon of sea salt per gallon, or, even a few drops of lemon juice.)

Those are your choices for cleaner and safer water. As you can see, I recommend only the RO water because it's cheaper and safer than filling gallon I found a simple under-counter Reverse Osmosis unit at Costco or Home Depot for under $150. It wasn?t too difficult to install, and it works well for a year without changing filters in a two person household. (Otherwise, change filters every six months.) Your health is up to you. I hope this helps you to make good choices.

Dr Phil Bate is the inventor of the new (Patent Pending) Auditory Brain Wave Training system which does the same things as EEG Biofeedback/neurofeedback - solving brain problems such as ADD/ADHD. depression, insomina, etc. Dr Bate is a retired Orthomolecular Psychologist who helps people at free advice websites at: http://Alternate-health.com,http://ADHD-biofeedback.com,http://AuditoryBrainWaveTraining.com

Dr Phil Bate is the inventor of the new (Patent Pending) Auditory Brain Wave Training system which does the same thing as does EEG Biofeedback/neurofeedback - solving brain problems such as ADD/ADHD.depression, insomina, etc. Dr Bate is a retired Orthomolecular Psychologist who helps people at free advice websites at: http://Alternate-health.com http://ADHD-biofeedback.com http://AuditoryBrainWaveTraining.com