Health Benefits of Vegetarianism

It was only recently that smoking only recently became recognized as a health and environmental hazard. As a result of research and education on a habit once believed to be not only harmless but stylish, most major U.S. cities have banned smoking of cigarettes, cigars or pipes in all public places. Smoking has also been outlawed in government offices and completely eliminated from all domestic U.S. air flights. Now, another, even more devastating problem is under scrutiny.

Its threat to health and the environment is being realized based on overwhelming evidence amassed by recognized authorities over the past fifty years. Recently a group of eminent doctors called the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), themselves members of the American Medical Association (AMA), have gathered to change the U.S. consciousness on human nutrition, particularly among the medical community. The PCRM is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., consisting of doctors and lay persons working together for compassionate and effective medical practice, research and health promotion. Founded in 1985, the PCRM is supported by over 3,000 physicians and 50,000 lay persons PCRM president Newal D. Barnard, M.D., is a popular speaker and the author of The Power of Your Plate.

As stated by the PCRM in their 1991 literature, "A vegetarian diet has been advocated by everyone from philosophers, such as Plato and Nietzsche, to political leaders, such as Benjamin Franklin and Gandhi, to modern pop icons such as Paul McCartney and Bob Marley. Science is also on the side of vegetarian foods. A multitude of studies have proven the health benefits of a vegetarian diet to be remarkable.

"Vegetarian is defined as avoiding all animal flesh, including fish and poultry. Vegetarians who avoid flesh, but do eat animal products such as cheese, milk and eggs are ovo-lacto-vegetarians (ovo = egg; lacto = milk, cheese, etc.). The ranks of those who eschew all animal products are rapidly growing; these people are referred to as pure vegetarians or vegans (vee'guns). Scientific research shows that ovo-lacto-vegetarians are healthier than meat-eaters, and vegans are healthier than ovo-lacto-vegetarians." It should be noted that the Indian Hindu tradition has always been lacto-vegetarian, permitting the consumption of milk products.

The PCRM literature lists a host of health benefits of a vegetarian diet, including the following:

• Preventing cancer: "Numerous epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that vegetarians are nearly 50% less likely to die from cancer than non vegetarians."
• Preventing heart disease and lowering blood pressure.
• Preventing and reversing diabetes.
• Preventing and alleviating gallstones, kidney stones and osteoporosis.
• Preventing and alleviating asthma.

Home remedies for Face belimshes

Blemishes are marks on the skin, sometimes due to illness or some form of allergy developed some dark patches on the face which spoil the beauty of a person and are difficult to hide by make up.

Rub in some coconut ( Naryal ) oil before going to bed. Wash well in the morning. Repeat for 15 days.

Here is a homemade pack, which reduces the blemishes from the skin and improves the complexion. Take two spoonful of gram flour ( Besun ), add a pinch of turmeric ( Haldi ) to it as turmeric have some agents in it which reduces the marks, few drops of lemon juice and make a paste with a spoonful of curd. Apply this pack on the face regularly and you will notice drastic changes in your skin.

Natural Vitamin and Herbal alternatives

Courtsey:Darrell Miller

Joint tissue breaks down and arthritis sets in for a number of reasons, and there are several natural alternatives for joint health that can be use to prevent this and to treat affected joints.

Thyroid problems can slow down the production of adrenal hormones that are responsible for the production of cortisone and cosrtisol. These are anti-inflammatories, that when unavailable or in low supply can result in joint inflammation. If you suffer joint pain in the mornings that tends to improve as the day goes on, then it is likely that is the cause since adrenal activity can improve as the day progresses.

One of the main reasons for joint tissue breakdown is osteoarthritis whereby the cartilage wears down until it fails to provide the necessary protection against impact between the bones in a joint, or against the friction generated when two bones rub together. Injuries to joints can have the same effect, whereby an injury to a hip or knee can appear to clear up and then later the cartilage wears out sooner than expected. This can take several months or many years, depending on the severity and nature of the injury concerned.

Continual wear and tear can also cause joint tissue to break down. Athletes and other sportspersons often suffer twenty years or more after retirement from their sport due to the gradual wearing down of cartilage while they were active. Once they stop, this continues to a lesser extent until the cartilage is eventually worn away sufficiently for it to stop protecting the joint.

Problems with the auto-immune system can lead to rheumatoid arthritis and inflammation of the joints. This weakens them and can eventually completely destroy the tissue. In such cases the tissues in the joint tend to swell and become extremely painful. Gout can also damage joints, especially in the big toe. This is caused through a built up of needle sharp uric acid crystals. Another cause is a deficiency in sodium and potassium in the diet that are needed to help maintain calcium in solution. When these metals are in deficiency due, for example, to an adrenal problem or some other reason, calcium can deposit right in the joints, causing undue pain.

Calcium and vitamin D deficiencies are commonly associated with arthritis sufferers, and protein deficiencies are also believed to be a contributing factor of rheumatoid arthritis, and it is also true that degenerative arthritis can accompany rheumatoid arthritis. This occurs in almost 40% of cases, and diet and nutrition are now being recognized as a major cause of both types. Deficiencies in folic acid or its natural form of folate, vitamin E, zinc and selenium have all been associated with degeneration of joint tissue, so it makes sense that a supplement of these substances can help to avoid these conditions.

Standard medical treatment, however, is for the relief of pain and reduction of inflammation through the prescribing of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Typical NSAIDs are aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. Although it relieves pain, paracetamol is not an anti-iflammatory. An alternative to blocking the inflammatory reponse is to help to regenerate the damaged joint tissue.

However, reducing the inflammatory response to tissue damage does not address the underlying problem, but masks it. Not only that, but there are side effects associated with the use of NSAIDs. Excessive doses can create serious gastrointestinal problems, such as bleeding, ulcer perforation and even death is possible in severe cases. Anti-inflammatories cause gastric problems in up to 20% of cases

The newer Cox-2 inhibitors act on the enzyme that causes the inflammation within the joint, and while these can be very effective, they are still masking the underlying problem. Incidentally, the Cox-2 inhibitors should not be used with NSAIDs, and both increase the possibility of a myocardial infarction or heart attack. Also, if you are taking aspirin to reduce the risk of heart problems, you should be careful not to use other NSAIDs since they can interfere with the effects of the aspirin.

More effective in the long run is to treat the conditions with substances that deal with the cause of the problem. Vitamin C, for example, improves the lubrication effect of the synovial fluid in the joints, and vitamin E is a strong antioxidant that can help to repair damaged tissue and improve the circulation within the joints. Joints have very low blood circulation levels, which is a problem when trying to direct drugs to the joint tissues. Vitamin C is also good for improving the integrity of connective tissue. Zinc, manganese and copper are also instrumental in developing strong connective tissue and helping to repair the damage done to the joints.

Horsetail is a commonly used herbal remedy that can be taken as a tea, tincture or in capsules. It is the richest natural herbal source of silicon, which is used by the body to form connective tissue and collagen. Damaged connective tissue is rapidly repaired by horsetail, and its strength and elasticity significantly improved. It is commonly used in the treatment of arthritis and osteoporosis.

Cat's Claw is used for its beneficial effect on the immune system, and frequently used successfully to treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. However, this treatment is used more to help reduce the inflammatory effects of the condition than to effect a long lasting cure. Gotu Kola, also called Indian pennywort, is traditionally used for treating arthritis. The fresh leaves are effective in reducing the inflammation and pain, and help to improve the quality of life of arthritis sufferers. In Australia, it is referred to as 'the arthritis herb' and two leaves a day are said to be effective.

Another popular remedy is MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), although it is claimed to provide pain relief rather than a cure. Amino acids also seem to help, and L-cysteine helps promote collagen and connective tissue. It appears to work best when taken in combination with vitamin E and selenium that are powerful antioxidants. L-arginine has a similar effect in the reconstruction of joint tissue, again helping to repair damaged connective tissues.

There are therefore two approaches to treating both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, one providing pain relief and reducing inflammation, and the other repairing the damage done to the joint tissues. Vitamins, minerals, trace minerals and herbal remedies are used in both, though it is better to use a combination that provides pain relief and also helps to regenerate strong connective tissues in the joints.

When using combinations of remedies it is important that possible interactions are understood, and you should always seek the advice of your physician when using non-prescription remedies of any kind.

Health Benefits of Vitamin-D Supplements

Courtsey:Alan Jacobson

Vitamin D is a vitamin found in food, and it can also be produced by your body after you are out in the sun. Supplements can also be effective in helping you get the vitamin D you need and prevent deficiency. There are many reasons you should consider making sure you are getting enough vitamin D; in fact it seems like each day there is a new discovery regarding this particular vitamin.

There are several benefits that are known for sure: Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption which helps you maintain strong bones, and it also helps to maintain your immune system. While these are important benefits themselves, there are other exciting potential benefits that are just being discovered. Recent studies suggest that vitamin D may help protect you against some cancers, and possibly reverse heart disease. In addition, there is an emerging opinion that vitamin D supplements may reduce symtoms of anxiety and depression, with a particularly strong effect on women who suffer anxiety with PMS and anyone who gets depressed during the winter months. (Reference information regarding these studies can be provided if you contact the author of this article).

There are three ways you can ensure you are getting enough vitamin D. First, there are direct food sources, such as fortified milk, large fish like salmon and tuna, many breakfast cereals, and egg yolk. However, if you don't consume the fish, it is actually very difficult to get enough vitamin D from another source. For example, most milk is fortified to the degree that you'd have to have 10 cups to get your daily allowance. Second, your body produces vitamin D when you are in the sun, though it doesn't work when you are wearing sunscreen (though it is still important to use sunscreen to prevent cancer and other problems due to sun exposure). You should check this with your doctor, but it is known that a short exposure to the sun, even as little as 10 minutes allows the process of vitamin D production to start. The third way you can get vitamin D is through over the counter pills or supplements.

Vitamin D supplements may be most beneficial for you if you are in any of the following groups, all of who could be prone to vitamin d deficiency:

- Infrequent exposure to the sun or you must wear sun block almost all the time
- Lactose intolerant, or just don't enjoy milk or drink a lot of it
- Very sensitive to the sun and/or wear sun block
- Live far north of the equator, like New England in the US.
- Don't eat much large fish, perhaps due to concerns about mercury content
- Older adults (50 and over) are less able to produce and/or synthesize vitamin D
- Some medical conditions – consult with your doctor

There are serious health risks if you take too many vitamin D supplements. Read the container they come in carefully and consult with your doctor if it is at all unclear. Most supplements are very clear about the usual adult dose, so it should be easy for you to start a vitamin D supplementation regimen today.

Detoxification of your system!!

Your body feels heavy and lethargic and experiences a myriad of aches and pains. Chances are you've got an excessive build-up of toxins in your system and need to go on a detox diet

Detoxifying or deep cleansing is a powerful healing process, which is vital for the elimination of stored toxins that lead to ill health. Once food undergoes digestion, absorption and assimilation, the resultant waste needs to be eliminated from the system. If this does not happen (and most often it does not), the resultant waste collects in the body, leading to ill health.

Build-up of Toxins
The build-up of toxins clogs the digestive system, restricting energy flow and creating blockages. Organs are burdened, as they have to work harder to remove the waste, gradually weakening in the process. Subsequently the functioning of the organs gets sluggish and the body becomes acidic in nature, becoming prone to heaviness and lethargy. The body also experiences a myriad of aches and pains. Apart from the intestines, the liver and the lungs are more likely to get affected due to the accumulation of toxins.

Factors such as a high consumption ratio of refined foods, junk foods, oily or stale foods, odd mealtimes, overeating, and snacking too often all contribute to the accumulation of wastes in the body. A periodic cleaning helps remove stored debris and allow a free flow of energy, stimulating the organs to work at their optimum best.

How to Clean Up
The best and fastest way to detoxify is to stop eating. Fasting for at least 24 hours is beneficial. The energy spent in digesting the foods is thus saved and directed towards dissolving toxins, working towards re-balancing, re-vitalising and healing the body. Fasts should be undertaken once a week or fortnight, or even once a month to give the stomach a break.

However, some may find fasting tough, and so the next best option is to go on an all-fruit diet for one to three days. Fruits give major nutrients without burdening the digestive system as they are very easy to digest.

The night before the fast, take a natural laxative such as trifla with warm water to kickstart the process. Start the day with 1-2 glasses of lukewarm lemon and honey water and continue drinking plenty of warm water throughout the day. If on a fruit diet, also consume fruits or fruit juices 2-4 times a day.

Making Foods Work for You

Benefits of Detoxification

• Free of heavy toxic waste, the body gets charged up and feels refreshed, revitalized, rejuvenated.
• The nerves calm down.
• Allergies reduce.
• Acid-alkaline balance improves.

Food is a major source of intake that determines the state of one's health, which affects the dynamics of digestive system. Since the body's biorhythm is on an 'elimination' mode till noon, a light and highly nourishing diet should be followed till late morning or noon for the body to continue its cleansing work. Besides eating the right foods, brisk walks, exercise, or ideally yoga helps the process by stimulating the dull and lethargic system and tones up digestive muscles to work better.

The ideal detox fruits are papaya and seasonal citrus fruits. Avoid eating sweet and citrus fruits at the same time. Ideal wholesome foods are oatmeal porridge, clear vegetable soups, and sprouts (especially Alfalfa sprouts, which are a storehouse of essential nutrients, enzymes and trace minerals). A breakfast of fruits such as papaya, soaked dry fruits such as black raisins, and figs keep the body light yet nourished. If required one can add a bowl of oatmeal or nachni porridge, or whole-wheat toast to the breakfast.

Another good aid in the process of detoxification is aloe vera juice, or fresh wheat grass juice, which works extraordinarily well in purifying the body of even old disease-generating toxic residue.

While a toned and well-exercised body is extremely desirable, an internally clean and light body, radiating health, vitality and agility is simply a pleasure in itself. So go ahead and detox yourself; it'll surely work wonders for you!

What are Sinuses??

You're sneezing, coughing, and you have a bright red nose. You figure it's just another cold, but this one sticks around way too long. Is it really a cold? Maybe not. It could be a problem with your sinuses.

What Are Sinuses?
The sinuses (say: sy-nus-is) are air-filled spaces found in the bones of the head and face. Sinuses start developing before you are born and some of them keep growing until you're about 20. There are four pairs of sinuses, or eight in all. They are located on either side of the nose in your cheeks, behind and between the eyes, in the forehead, and at the back of the nasal cavity

Like the inside of the nose, the sinuses are lined with a moist, thin layer of tissue called a mucous membrane (say: myoo-kus mem-brayne). The mucous membranes help moisten the air as you breathe it in. The mucous membrane also makes mucus, that sticky stuff in your nose you might call snot The mucus traps dust and germs that are in the air we breathe. On the surface of the cells of the mucous membrane are microscopic hairs called cilia (say: sih-lee-uh).

The cilia beat back and forth in waves to clear mucus from the sinuses through a narrow opening in the nose and then move the mucus toward the back of the nose to be swallowed. Gross, huh? If you have a cold or allergies, the membrane gets irritated and swollen and produces even more mucus.

What Do Sinuses Do?
No one is completely sure why we have sinuses, but some researchers think they keep the head from being too heavy. Sinuses are pockets of air, and air doesn't weigh very much. If those pockets were solid bone, your head would weigh more.
Sinuses also give you the depth or tone of your voice. Did you ever notice how funny your voice sounds if your nose and sinuses get stuffy when you have a cold?

When Good Sinuses Go Bad

What about that cold that won't go away? A cold virus can:

• damage the delicate cilia so that mucus is not swept away
• cause the mucous lining of the nose to become swollen, which narrows and blocks the small opening from the sinuses into the nose.
• lead to the production of more mucus, which is often thicker and stickier, making it harder to flow out of the sinuses.

When the tiny openings that drain the sinuses get blocked, mucus becomes trapped in the sinuses. Like water in a stagnant pond, it makes a good home for bacteria, viruses, or fungi to grow.

If a cold lasts for more than 10 to 14 days (sometimes you may have a low-grade fever you may have sinusitis (say: syne-yuh- sy-tus). This means an infection of the sinuses. Sinusitis is a pretty common infection; in fact, close to 37 million people in the United States have sinusitis each year.

Acute sinusitis may be diagnosed when a cold lasts more than 10 to 14 days. Chronic sinusitis means a person has had symptoms for more than 3 months. Symptoms may be similar to acute sinusitis, but typically are less severe and not associated with fever.

In either case, symptoms may include:

• fever.
• persistent nasal discharge that often is yellow or green (this alone doesn't always mean you have a sinus infection).
• daytime cough (your cough may be worse at night).
• puffy eyes, especially in the morning.
• bad breath.

Less often, a kid could have headache or pain behind the eyes, forehead, and cheeks.

What Will the Doctor Do?
If a doctor thinks you have a sinus infection, he or she will probably examine your ears and throat and take a look in your nose. The doctor may also check your sinuses by tapping or pressing on your forehead and cheeks. If you have a sinus infection, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic. If bacteria are causing the problem, an antibiotic will help by killing the bacteria. If it's a virus, antibiotic medicine won't work.

In the case of a bacterial infection, the antibiotic should help you feel better in a few days. A decongestant or nasal spray may also be prescribed to help you feel better. If the sinus infection is chronic, the doctor may have you take medicine for a couple of weeks, just to be sure all the bacteria are knocked out.

Sometimes, if a sinus infection is not getting better, comes back even after you take all your medicine, or if the doctor is thinking about doing surgery, he or she may send you to have a CT scan of the sinuses. The CT scan is a special X-ray that takes a picture of your insides. It doesn't hurt, and it makes it much easier for the doctor to see what's going on. Your doctor can clearly see what the sinuses look like and then decide what kind of treatment will help you get better faster.

The good news about sinusitis is that it's not contagious, so if you are feeling well enough, you can go to school or go outside and play. In no time, you'll be over your infection - and you'll be saying so long to sinusitis!

Hypnosis and the Benefit of Deep Breathing!!

Essentially, the word hypnosis is just another word for relaxation. Yes hypnosis is brought on by suggestion, but it's that deep state of relaxation that qualifies hypnosis. I sometimes use the term creative relaxation. When I say that, I'm referring to the fact that it's the use of hypnosis that I call therapy. I've always defined hypnosis as just what it is, an altered state of awareness through deep relaxation.

Some people define relaxing as just taking time to read through a magazine or have a cup of tea. But really just changing activities is not relaxation. When you reach a state of total relaxation through hypnosis, you will see the difference. And it's in this totally relaxed state that you can bring some balance back into your life. Some people call it recharging their batteries or use any other metaphoric term, but it all means the same thing.

Real, deep, relaxation used daily or regularly has a terrific effect on all our internal systems, far beyond what a coffee break can do.

As to the question of whether sleep is equivalent to relaxation, most of us know from experience that it is not. Experts even state that hypnosis, or deep relaxation, is actually more beneficial to the overall well-being than merely sleeping nightly. We know that sleep can be disturbed by stressful energies and that we can wake up feeling even less rested, less energized, than when we went to sleep. However a deliberately executed session in hypnosis, or relaxation, has you concentrating very pointedly on just that, relaxing. You lie very still, and you let only positive energy consume you. Essentially, when you practice self-hypnosis, you control the result by guiding the entire session. All hypnosis is based on total relaxation. This is certainly more beneficial than just going to sleep because you are tired.

Power naps are useful in recharging as well, and addressing fatigue, but during deep relaxation or hypnosis, you are also creating the opportunity to reduce or alleviate a particular ailment through concentration. Sleep, whilst absolutely necessary, doesn't allow this opportunity. If you spend ten or twenty minutes a day or several times a week, practicing self hypnosis, you are sure in a few short weeks to feel a difference in your life, to feel more balanced, and more relaxed, and more in tune physically, emotionally, and in every other way.

There are probably hundred of ways you can achieve a deep state of relaxation, but they have one common element, which is deep breathing. It is a natural human occurrence that when you exhale, your body relaxes. This is a known fact, and a biological certainty. That's why it's the first thing that a medical professional will ask a patient to do when he wants his patient to relax.

In any type of emergency or panic situation, the victim is always instructed to take deep breaths. This is intended to calm, or relax the individual.

The more deeply you inhale, the more you will exhale, and therefore the more you will relax. So when we want to induce hypnosis, deep breathing is the first suggestion we make, typically because it starts to bring on relaxation. And when the person starts to relax and regulate their breathing, they will become gradually more relaxed.

We know also that when we sleep, our breathing slows and settles into a quiet, deep rhythm. We seek to achieve the same thing in hypnotic induction, to slow the breathing rhythm, because slowing our breathing slows down our system, and helps to bring about a shift in awareness. We achieve this state by slowing a person's breathing naturally and comfortably.

Starting an induction with a few deep breaths immediately creates a shift, and sends the message to the person that now it's time to relax. When you add concentration to the equation, you have a terrific recipe for hypnotic induction. Because concentrating on your breathing helps you become more aware of your internal experience. A person's breathing pattern can often be a telling sign for a hypnotist that a subject has achieved a deep state of relaxation, and slipped into a state of hypnosis.

In my hypnotherapy sessions I don't impose any set technique to deep breathing. Whatever a person's natural breathing method is what they should continue to do. There seems to be a typical pattern of breathing in through the nose, while exhaling out the mouth. If that's the comfortable breathing technique fro someone, that's perfect. If it's in and out through the nose, that's also fine. Whatever you are used to or whatever comes naturally.

You can practice this on your own, at any time. Just concentrate on taking a few deep breaths, and you will feel your shoulders drop, and your heart rate will settle. This is relaxation and the basis of hypnosis.

Is Your Job Putting on Weight?

Robert DiGiacomo, for Yahoo HotJobs!

While your job can't be blamed directly for your putting on the pounds, the potent combination of too much work stress, too little sleep, and not enough physical activity can lead to weight gain.

The best offense against work-related flab, experts say, is the often-repeated mantra of exercising regularly and eating right. Start by understanding why you're at risk of gaining weight on the job, so you can take steps to avoid it.

The Stress Connection
Too much stress causes your body to produce more of a hormone called cortisol, which not only triggers your appetite but cues your body to store fat cells and produce less testosterone, which results in less muscle mass, according to Shawn M. Talbott, a nutritional biochemist, author and consultant.

"It's just as important to get the stress under control as the exercise and diet," says Talbott, author of "The Cortisol Connection -- Why Stress Makes You Fat and Ruins Your Health." He adds, "If people do each of those three, they get a lot better results than if they have one of the three."

A Practical Diet
The size of your hand can serve as a practical guide to how much you should eat, according to Talbott.

For each 500-calorie meal, your fist represents the desired amount of carbs and your palm is the amount of protein, while your hand opened up is the portion of fruits and veggies and the circle you make with the OK sign between thumb and forefinger is how much added fat you should take in.

"It's a way to count calories without counting calories," Talbott says.

Smart Snacks
Stay away from the vending machines by bringing to work your own healthy snacks, such as nuts, popcorn, or granola bars, in pre-portioned packages, according to Marisa Moore, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

"The key is not to bring the entire box or package," Moore says. "If you bring the entire box, you're tempted to eat more than one."

Maximum Exercise, Minimum Time
For his busy corporate clients who find it hard to squeeze in a workout, Talbott recommends a three-times-a-week program of 28 minutes of interval training, combining intensive activities with cool-down periods.

"If time is the big issue, [this is] the shortest amount of time we can have someone exercise and see results," he says.

Healthy Riding
If you have a long commute, you can avoid having the car become a filling station by having breakfast before you leave for work, and a light snack prior to returning home.

"Everything looks good when you're hungry," Moore says. "You don't want to stop by a fast-food restaurant on the way to work or home, because you'll fill up with 1,200 calories before you know it."

Employer Assistance
Several companies, including General Mills, Florida Power and Light, and Pitney Bowes, are helping employees stay fit, says LuAnn Heinen, director of the Institute on the Costs and Health Effects of Obesity at the National Business Group on Health. Efforts include encouraging employee fitness, including adding walking paths to corporate campuses, making sure lunch meetings include salads and low-fat items, and giving discounts on salads and healthy items at the company cafeteria.

"These are employers who are consciously improving the environment to make it a downhill slide to stay healthy," Heinen says. "It's really about supporting the people who already have tried to be healthier."

Pineapples help fighting Cancer!!

The glistening, golden-orange pineapple slice, simply dripping delectable goodness, is a must-have dessert topping/drink for many. So named for its resemblance to a pinecone, the pineapple originated in South America and is now grown in tropical and subtropical regions all over the world. Called ananaas in Hindi, it is said to have been discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493.

Pineapple has a fruity fragrant aroma, and is loved in both its fresh and canned forms. Nutritionist Aruna Shyamsundar says, "The multiple fruit provides 46 kcal per 100gm of the edible portion, and is recommended in weight reduction and low cholesterol diets because of its low-fat content ( 0.1 g/100g).

Total dietary fiber is 2.8 gm, and the fruit has small amounts of b-complex vitamins. It can well be taken by renal patients for whom a low potassium diet is recommended, as it has just 37 mg of the mineral."

She adds, "Pineapple contains bromelain, which is a digestive enzyme having anti-inflammatory properties. It is rich in antioxidants, which are cancer fighting protective foods. Ulcer patients should avoid it as its natural acidity is high."

Best eaten between meals, the pineapple can be used to make jams, jellies, pies, salads and vegetable dishes.

Scientists discover breath test for Diabetics!!

A simple breath test could soon replace the painful finger pricks used to monitor blood sugar level in children suffering from Type 1 diabetes.

In what could come as a boon to diabetic children, who undergo constant finger pricks, sometimes more than six times a day, American scientists have discovered a method of monitoring diabetes that tests the breath rather than the blood.

A study conducted by a team of chemists and pediatricians from the University of California, Irvine, has revealed that children with Type 1 diabetes exhale higher concentrations of methyl nitrates when they are hyperglycaemic or have too much glucose in their blood. The team used a chemical analysis method, developed for air pollution testing, to conduct the study.

Announcing their non-invasive method in the latest edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, Dr Pietro Galassetti from UC, Irvine, said: "While no clinical breath test yet exists for diabetes, this study shows the possibility of non-invasive methods that can help millions who have this chronic disease."

Dr Sudhir Tripathy, endocrinologist, Sir Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi, said: "A breath test to monitor blood sugar level in children will be a boon. If analysing levels of methyl nitrates in the breath can give accurate levels, it will do away with the repeated finger pricks. Non-invasive methods developed earlier like the Glucowatch had not been successful in tropical weather."

During the study, researchers conducted breath-analysis testing on 10 children with Type 1 diabetes. They took air samples during a hyperglycemic state and progressively as they increased the children's blood insulin levels.

Chemists examined the exaled breath from the breath samples. They then measured the levels of over 100 trace gases and found methyl nitrate exhaled concentrations increased as much as 10 times more in diabetic children during hyperglycemia than when they had normal glucose levels. The methyl nitrate concentrations corresponded with the children's glucose levels — the higher the glucose, the higher the exhaled methyl nitrates.

Dr Galassetti said that during hyperglycemia, in Type 1 diabetes there are more fatty acids in the blood that cause oxidative stress.

Type 1 diabetes strikes children suddenly, makes them dependent on injected or pumped insulin for life. To stay alive, people with Type 1 diabetes must take multiple insulin injections daily and test their blood sugar by pricking their fingers for blood.

India is home to an estimated 46 million diabetics (the highest in the world, according to WHO).

Benefits of Exercise over Diet!!

When you are exercising, you use up more energy than when you are resting. During a fast walk, for example, you use four times as much energy/minute as you do when resting. If you take an hour's fast walk each day, you will use 260 kcal more than without any exercise, or 17 % more kcal than without any exercise.

Experiments with rats show that the rats who exercise at least an hour every day, have less risk of becoming overweight. However, it does not seem as the calories used during the exercise were most important. Instead, the natural mechanisms for regulating food and nutritional need works better with moderately and regularly exercising. The rats needed one hour of exercise per day, in order to make the normal weight control mechanisms of their body work.

Exercise also stimulates the production of beta-endorphins in the body. Beta-endorphins are substances produced by the body, which have similar effect to morphine. Because of this, exercise can reduce the need for alcohol, narcotics and overeating, since also these abuses stimulate the same pleasure centers as morphine and beta-endorphins. More .

Moderate exercising will also reduce the risk for a number of other diseases More. What about very much and extensive exercise? This is controversial. Some experts see extensive exercise as an abuse similar to substance abuse, since also when you exercise, you stimulate the production of beta-endorphins. However, experts do not agree on how much exercise is healthy, and where the limit is in terms of an unhealthy dependence on exercise.

Our recommendation to people with eating disorders is to exercise at least 30-60 minutes a day by walking, cycling, swimming, physical training, etc., in order to get the normal weight control to work better.

Dry Eyes!!

Dry eyes is a condition many people confront.It is caused when the tears produced by the eyes are insufficient in moisture, lubrication, and other features that help keep the eyes remain protected.

It may also be stimulated by environmental aspects such as weather that irritate the eye and dry up tears. People with dry eyes often feel discomfort in a variety of forms including irritation, inflammation, or the feeling of something in the eye.

They are diagnosed by a doctor and repeatedly have a decrease in the amount of tear creation due to obstruction or just a minimisation in tears. They tend to have the uncomfortable feelings and symptoms for a longer period of time where as dry eyes for a person who works on a computer frequently may be more short term. Treatments for minor degrees of dry eyes may not be as efficacious for chronic dry eyes because of the deviating causes.

Tears are a major protective agent for the eyes as they not only wash away dust from the eyes, but also soothe the eyes, provide oxygen and nutrients to the cornea, as well as help defend against eye infections by removing microorganisms that can colonise in the eyes.

It also shows that dry eyes are more likely if there is a depletion of tears due to reduction of generation because of age or by weather issues like windy days which can dry out tears quickly. Women approaching menopause especially face dry eyes due to the increase in hormones.

Another factor is that some people are not able to generate as much natural tears as needed whether it be from aging, blockage of tear ducts, or from medication that leads to less yielding of tears. This problem oftentimes leads to chronic dry eyes
as the person is not able to manufacture tears and the eyes are not sufficiently lubricated. Tears evaporate rapidly, and the eyes are not cleaned properly.

Environmental factors can also play a factor in eyes drying up. Examples include dusty air, dry or windy weather, or fumes like cigarette smoke which can evaporate tears much speedily or hamper their effectiveness.

Contact lens wearers usually experience dry eyes because they contacts seems to work against moisturization.A deficiency in vitamin A or insomnia may also lead to dry eyes.

Symptoms

• Unpleasantness in the eyes or a feeling of presence of foreign object in the eyes.
• Itchiness, redness, and excessive tearing without relief can all occur.
• Discomfort after periods of eye strain like watching TV, reading, data processing, sewing, etc are possible occurrences.

Remedy

• Drink plenty of water.
• Protect the eyes from harsh weather conditions like wind and dust.
• Make sure medication is not causing dry eyes.
• Eat healthy food containing eye nutrients especially with vitamin A, C, and E and
• if need be take supplements containing flax seed and Omega-3 fatty acids.
• When watching TV, using the computer or other eye straining activities, take frequent breaks and blink often.
• People who wear contact lenses should take them out and keep eyes well hydrated.
• Get plenty of sleep to keep eyes healthy.

Laugh your way to Health!!

The story is told of a man who, When a child of two, lost his eyesight. For almost thirty years, he lived in utter darkness. He was denied the joy of beholding the beauties of nature – the bubbling brooks, the swaying of trees, the richness of many-hued flowers, the splendor of the morning sun and the serenity of the sunset. At the age of 32, he had a cornea transplant, which gave sight to his unseeing eyes. Suddenly, he found himself in a new world of beauty and radiance.

"What are your immediate reactions, now that you are able to see?" He was asked.

"So long as I dwelt in darkness, I always imagined that the faces of most men around me were bright, cheerful. Now that I am able to look around, I am shocked to find that most faces are sad and glum. Scarcely do my eyes behold a cheerful, smiling countenance. Children, I find, are happy and bubbling with joy. But when they grow up, their smiles disappear, their joy evaporates."

Today, many doctors are of the view that if a man is happy and light-hearted, cheerful and contented, positive and uncomplaining, disease will not draw close to him and, even if it does, it will not stay with him for long.

"Laughter," says Dr. Wilde, "provides a rhythmic movement of the abdominal muscles, gently massages the intestinal organs, improves digestion and blood circulation. "

At the Harvard and Yale Universities of America and at the UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Institute at West Los Angeles and at several other research institutions, neurobiologists and medical researchers have confirmed that smiling, laughing and cheerful expressions set in motion happy waves in the mind stuff and generate neuropeptides which revitalize the immunity system to prevent and fight disease. People who are free from jealousy, envy, greed, are more healthy than people who lead cloistered, unhappy lives.

New clinches and prescriptions given by modern physicians are being displayed in hospitals and clinics. "Laugh your way to health"; "Laughter may be hazardous to your illness"; "Cheerfulness is the new Wonder Drug" are some of them.

How TV is responsible for Obesity?

TEENAGERS who watch several hours of television on a school day are consuming worrying amounts of chips, chocolate and high-energy caffeine drinks, an Australian study has found.

The survey of more than 18,000 students aged between 12 and 17, to be published today in the journal Health Promotion International, found that 55 per cent of teenagers who watched more than three hours of television each day reported drinking high-energy drinks more than four times a week and 61 per cent were eating snack foods more than four times a week, compared with 38 per cent and 46 per cent for those watching less than two hours a day.

The study also found that only one in five was eating enough vegetables and only two in five were eating sufficient fruit.

The chief executive of the Cancer Council Australia, Professor Ian Olver, said the survey supported evidence that child obesity had doubled since 1985.

He said governments should take note of the results and focus on strategies to combat child obesity, including a ban on junk food advertising.

"We know that about 75 per cent of overweight or obese teenagers become overweight or obese adults," he said. "It would be far more cost-effective … to address this problem where it starts - with children."

The study's author, Dr Victoria White, from the Cancer Council Victoria, said it highlighted the need for students to exercise more. "We found that only 14 per cent engaged in recommended [physical activity] levels," she said.

The Hidden Truth about Cholestrol!!

We all know that heart disease is one of the leading killers of people around the world, particularly highest in countries such as the US and Australia.

However, did you know that there are several medical studies worldwide that clearly show that higher cholesterol levels in the body actually increases longevity instead of decreasing it? Yes, you heard that right! People with high cholesterol have been statistically shown to live longer and healthier than people with low cholesterol in several studies. There are multiple references for this phenomenon in Shane Ellison's controversial book, The Hidden Truth about Cholesterol Lowering Drugs, Dr. Uffe Ravnskov's (MD, PhD) book entitled The Cholesterol Myths, as well as Sally Fallon and Mary Enig's book, Nourishing Traditions.

So why in the world are the pharmaceutical and medical industry pushing for practically everyone on the planet to "lower their cholesterol"? Well, the first, and more innocent answer, is flawed medical studies from decades ago that have been accepted as fact and never fully analyzed for their validity. Another answer is that this practice of recommending that half of the damn planet takes a cholesterol lowering medication (currently, statins), regardless of whether they truly have any real risk for heart disease, creates insane multi-squillion dollar profits for the drug companies!

As a perfectly absurd example of how doctors have been wrongly influenced by the drug companies... a couple years ago, I was a perfectly healthy 28 yr old, in great shape, exercising daily, eating a balanced healthy diet full of antioxidants and quality nutrition, no smoking, and with no real risk factors for heart disease, and just because my cholesterol level has been consistently measured over 200 for my entire life, my doctor recommended I consider using a statin drug.

Consider how outlandish this scenario is! The drug companies have hypnotized doctors into prescribing unnecessary prescription drugs to healthy young people with perfectly normal cholesterol levels that just happen to be over this arbitrary number of 200 that they've come up with. Luckily, I refused to be a guinea pig and fork over my hard earned duckets for potentially dangerous drugs, and decided to start researching this whole cholesterol and heart disease connection myself. Consider also that my father, who is now 60 years old, has had cholesterol levels slightly over 200 his entire life also (just like me), yet he is perfectly healthy at his ripe age of 60.

As time goes on and scientists continue to learn more about heart disease, it has become quite clear over the recent years that inflammation within the body (NOT cholesterol levels) is what causes plaque build up in the arteries and eventual heart disease. Inflammation can be caused by many personal factors such as stress, smoking, viruses, consumption of refined and/or hydrogenated fats (man-made trans fats), an imbalance of omega-6 polyunsaturated fats to omega-3 polyunsaturated fats in the diet, excess refined sugars in the diet, etc.

Here's a quick and dirty of how it works in general. Cholesterol is a healing substance within the body (among many other important functions), and responds to arterial inflammation by getting deposited in combination with other substances, forming "plaque" as a healing agent on the artery lining.

Levels of inflammation in your body can be measured with what's called a CRP test (c-reactive protein). The accuracy of this test still has room for improvement, as it can vary depending on the time of day and other factors, but it is a much better indication of heart disease risk than a cholesterol test (which is practically useless for determining heart disease risk).

Another more important test than cholesterol levels for heart disease risk is a test for serum homocysteine levels. The next time your doctor wants you to get blood cholesterol tests, request CRP and homocysteine tests instead. He/she should be well aware of the validity of these tests if they are up to date.

Basically, if you have significant internal inflammation, this plaque will be deposited as a healing agent regardless of whether you have high or low cholesterol. On the other hand, if you don't have inflammation, high cholesterol levels just keep circulating without getting deposited on the artery linings. Therefore, it is more important to control inflammation rather than trying to lower your cholesterol.

Lowering your cholesterol doesn't attack the root of the problem (what is actually causing the inflammation in you). Lowering your cholesterol does nothing except to make the drug companies rich, and possibly leave you with a whole assortment of possible negative side-effects.

The good news is that preventing heart disease is about living a healthy lifestyle, not about throwing down a drug pill everyday. Controlling your inflammation to prevent heart disease is as easy as reducing the stress in your life (try deep breathing exercises, Qigong, yoga, etc.), maintaining a healthy weight, eating a high-antioxidant, highly nutritious unprocessed diet (as recommended in my Truth about Six Pack Abs program), and avoiding smoking and other causes of heavy free radical production in the body.

I hope this article has given you some helpful info about the real causes of heart disease and not the propaganda that has been shoved down your throat for years, based on flawed medical studies from 40-50 years ago, making drug companies filthy rich.

If you or anyone you care about is currently taking statins, or if you just want to learn more about cholesterol and the scandal that is revolving currently around statin drugs, please see The Cholesterol Myths.

On a related topic, were you aware that there is also quite a controversy these days in the health industry over the fact that saturated fat is not necessarily bad for you, and can actually be downright good for you in some cases? I posted this article a few months ago, but thought I would mention this article again - The Truth about Saturated Fats

Give up Sugar and live longer!!

Passing on sweets and avoiding vitamins could help you live longer, German researchers have discovered.

They found that restricting glucose - a simple sugar found in foods such as sweets that is a primary source of energy for the body - set off a process that extended the life span of some worms by up to 25 per cent.

The key was boosting the level of ``free radicals'' - unstable molecules that can damage the body and which people often try to get rid of by consuming food or drinks rich in anti-oxidants such as vitamin E, they said in a study published in the journal Cell Metabolism.

Restricting glucose first spurred the worms to generate more free radicals, but then they quickly built up long-lasting defences against them, said Michael Ristow, an endocrinologist at the University of Jena and the German Institute of Human Nutrition, who led the study.

``During the process, the worm generates more free radicals, which activates defences against free radicals within the worm,'' he said in a telephone interview. ``The bad thing in the end promotes something good.''
The body needs glucose, but taking in too much was unhealthy, Ristow said.

Scientists have long known that restricting calorie intake in worms and monkeys increases longevity, and the study narrowed that idea further, to glucose.

The study also for the first time points to a possible reason why antioxidants - long thought to promote health - might do more harm than good, Ristow said.

The German team used a chemical that blocked the worms' ability to process glucose in a treatment that extended their life span by up to 25 per cent, the equivalent of 15 years in humans.

The worms unable to depend on glucose increased energy power sources in certain cells for fuel. That activity produced more free radicals, which in turn generated enzymes that strengthened long-time protection against the harmful molecules, Ristow said.

However, antioxidants and vitamins given to some worms erased these benefits by neutralising free radicals and preventing the body from generating the defences, Ristow said.

``These latter findings tentatively suggest that the widespread use of antioxidants as human food supplements may exert undesirable effects,'' the researchers wrote.

Moderating your Diet!!

Tip1
TRY AND UNDERSTAND THE WAY YOUR BODY WORKS

Do not eat too much of low calorie food, or too much of high calorie food. Just avoid extremely high or extremely low food intake. If you make a habit of consuming fewer calories than your body requires, your body will automatically go into 'starvation mode'. In effect, your body says, 'If I am not getting enough food, then I'd better slow things down by burning fewer calories until there's enough food again.' Your weight will certainly drop, but you will be losing water and muscle (not fat). The results? Lethargy, hunger pangs, headaches, early fatigue and loss of concentration.

Tip 2
BALANCE YOUR FOOD INTAKE

a. Eat more of low calorie, high fibre foods such as salads and fresh fruits (with-low fat or non-fat dressings) with each meal. Opt for more whole grains (freshly baked breads, pasta) in the form of great tasting foods. Hot 'n' spicy foods can help you to slim down! Clear soups, vegetable soups are highly recommended.

b. Cut back on the portion sizes of red meat, and substitute with lean meats in the form of skinned chicken, fish, egg whites, etc. (egg yolk is a concentrated source of saturated fats). Note that red meat (beef pork, ham, sausages), organ meat (liver, brain and kidney) and egg yolks fall into the 'saturated fat' category.

c. Saturated fats, oils and sweets are foods to be kept to an absolute minimum. Dry fruits and peanuts, puddings, jellies, marmalades for breakfast, sauces, oily parathas, for lunch, and pizzas, croissants, pastries, wafers and chips as snacks are a strict no-no!

TIP 3
IDENTIFY WHEN TO EAT AND WHEN NOT TO EAT

If an individual is exercising for weight loss, it is advisable not to consume any food for 1-2 hours prior to the activity, because then the body preferentially uses the circulating blood sugars and not the fat as a source of energy. Watch your caloric intake and count your calories.

Breakfast is one meal that's very important. This is because as the first meal of the day, breakfast helps you to raise your energy levels and provides you energy for the rest of the day. Dinner should always be the lightest meal of the day because the body burns only a few calories while you sleep. Hence the excess calories that you consume, particularly in the form of rich desserts, fried foods etc., can easily get stored in the body as fat.

TIP 4
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING

Use past failures as learning experiences on the way to successful weight control. Pick yourself up and restart, this time better equipped to manage the next bump on the road to permanent weight loss and good health. As the old saying goes, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." The decision is yours. In fact, it could be one of the biggest decisions you ever make!

Stay slim while relishing your food!!

• Drink plenty of water. In terms of a health benefit, water is second only to oxygen. Drinking two glasses of water before each meal helps in good digestion. It also makes it easier to eat less.
• Make it a point to eat slowly, chewing more than what you normally do. This gives the feeling of satiety.
• Try using a teaspoon instead of your fingers. This will also give you the feeling of fullness when you would have actually consumed less food.
• Always opt for a fresh fruit for dessert. This will prevent the craving for desserts, which are high in sugar and starch.
• Use fresh fruits in your desserts whenever possible. Substitute fresh fruit juice for syrup from canned fruits.
• Drinking cucumber juice in between meals helps to curb appetite. The alkaline content of cucumber will relax the body and make you feel full.
• Vegetable juices, clear soups and broth are low in calories. They should be taken regularly as healthy appetisers.
• Blend paneer (cottage cheese) in a blender. Use it instead of sour cream as a base for your salad or for your dip.
• Use skimmed milk in cooking and for drinking. You could have buttermilk instead of curds.
• Keep your milk container in the refrigerator overnight. Skim off the fat that rises to the top and then use the milk.
• Drinking black coffee or tea without milk or sugar curbs appetite.

Stay slim while relishing your food!!

• Drink plenty of water. In terms of a health benefit, water is second only to oxygen. Drinking two glasses of water before each meal helps in good digestion. It also makes it easier to eat less.
• Make it a point to eat slowly, chewing more than what you normally do. This gives the feeling of satiety.
• Try using a teaspoon instead of your fingers. This will also give you the feeling of fullness when you would have actually consumed less food.
• Always opt for a fresh fruit for dessert. This will prevent the craving for desserts, which are high in sugar and starch.
• Use fresh fruits in your desserts whenever possible. Substitute fresh fruit juice for syrup from canned fruits.
• Drinking cucumber juice in between meals helps to curb appetite. The alkaline content of cucumber will relax the body and make you feel full.
• Vegetable juices, clear soups and broth are low in calories. They should be taken regularly as healthy appetisers.
• Blend paneer (cottage cheese) in a blender. Use it instead of sour cream as a base for your salad or for your dip.
• Use skimmed milk in cooking and for drinking. You could have buttermilk instead of curds.
• Keep your milk container in the refrigerator overnight. Skim off the fat that rises to the top and then use the milk.
• Drinking black coffee or tea without milk or sugar curbs appetite.

Protect Your Eyes from Degeneration!!

Sight is our most precious sense. A large part of our ability to perceive the world around us depends on it. However, our eyes are very delicate organs and can be damaged easily. We go to the gym, take care of our skin and drink gallons of water all in the name of good health. But what do we do to protect our eyes?

Nature has supplied some built-in protection by locating them within a bony cavity and providing eyelashes to keep out dust and tears to wash dirt away. But, it takes much more than that to protect our eyes from hazards at work and during recreational activities.

The most common hazards to the eyes are dust, flying particles from drilling, cutting, digging and other similar operations, ultraviolet radiation from welding and electrical work, side effects from medicines and aging.

Eyes are in a constant state of degeneration. The rate at which it takes place is dependent upon the amount of nutrients the body has to fight the degeneration. In our younger years there is usually enough basic nutrients in the body to keep the rate of degeneration quite slow, but, as the years progress not only is the intake of nutrient reduced, but also the absorption of these nutrients in the body is greatly reduced by less effective digestive systems and lack of essential enzymes.

The solution lies in protecting the eyes from physical damage while at the same time nourishing them constantly with required nutrients. Use eye lube as eyes get drier with age and also due to long exposure to the computer. Have regular eye check ups and use sunglasses which have 100 percent UV protection.

As per studies the key nutrients that nourish the eyes are Zeaxanthin, Lutein, Bilberry Extract, N-Acetyl Cysteine, L-Carnosine, Beta Carotene plus trace elements such as Molybdenum, various Vitamins and a host of other Co-Factors such as Enzymes to ensure bio-availability.

Source:Natural Holistic

Two sources of Cholestrol!!

The first is food, the second is your body.

With 2 sources of cholesterol to deal with, it’s no wonder that so many adults have high cholesterol. Most folks aren’t even sure where cholesterol comes from.

Cholesterol from the foods you eat.
Cholesterol from food is hard to get away from, even though you may be watching your diet. All foods of animal origin contain cholesterol, including eggs, red meat, and shrimp. Generally, foods that are high in saturated fats or trans fats should also be limited. These include foods you may not even think of, such as:

* Grilled-cheese sandwich
* Margarine
* Potato with butter
* Chicken pot pie

As you eat, cholesterol from food is absorbed by your digestive tract. It then makes its way into your liver and can circulate through your body in your bloodstream. That’s one source. There’s also a little-known second source of cholesterol—your body.

Cholesterol produced by your body, based on family history.
Like many people, you may not know that your body produces cholesterol naturally, based on family history—despite the fact that it’s where more of your total cholesterol comes from. Your liver makes cholesterol, as do other individual cells throughout your body. Once cholesterol is produced, it can make its way into your bloodstream.

What does this process mean to you? Take the cholesterol your body makes and add it to the cholesterol you get from food. Now you can see how easily cholesterol can build up in your bloodstream and how your overall cholesterol level can increase.

The good news is, treating both sources can significantly lower your cholesterol.

Important information:
Unexplained muscle pain or weakness could be a sign of a rare but serious side effect and should be reported to your doctor right away.

Tips for a Healthy Body!!

Want to put more energy into your life? What with all the rush and stress of daily life nowadays, maybe the idea of having more "energy" sounds even more stressful. But look at it this way, Stress is really a negative type of energy, so the goal is to provide a more positive energy that keeps you alert and feeling vital. And I'd like to share with you some tips to help you feeling energized throughout your day.

The most basic way to provide energy is to feed your body with the proper "fuel." First, don't be tempted to skip a meal like breakfast or lunch because of lack of time. Be sure to include fruit with breakfast and for snacks or dessert, and vegetables with your lunch and dinner. And instead of multiple cups of coffee, go for water and herbal teas, or try green tea for a change. Of course, we all know that sugary, fatty foods are energy drainers. You may be "buzzing" for a while, but then comes the "crash."

If you are sitting for most of the day, at work, for example, take short breaks throughout the day by getting up and walking a bit to keep your circulation going. Getting outdoors for a short walk is ideal. For those times when you can't get away, I have two favorite simple exercises that are great pick-me-ups in terms of energy.

The first is based on traditional Chinese medicine and activates pressure points to increase your circulation. In this case, your ears! Using your fingers, rub your ears vigorously all over, for about a minute. Don't be so rough that it hurts, Sofia , but your ears will feel hot, which shows that your blood is circulating.

The second exercise comes from a yoga breathing technique called the Breath of Fire. Breathing shallowly can cause carbon dioxide to build up in your blood and make you drowsy. So this exercise will help flush out the carbon dioxide and replace it with oxygen. Breathe through your nose and inhale deeply. Then exhale through your nose in 20 to 30 short, rapid bursts, drawing in your stomach muscles for each burst. You can repeat this three times. Just be sure to take several regular breaths between each cycle so you don't get dizzy.

Anti-Aging For Men!!

The world of skin care has targeted, for most of it`s years, the female population only. Perhaps because women are more aware of their outward appearance, and more sensitive to the effects of premature aging. However, in recent years, the focus of skin care has gradually shifted to include the male population, and men are soaking it up. In fact, so many men are beginning to pay more attention to skin care, that recently, these men have been coined `metrosexuals`. This new awareness for men also applies to the arena of anti-aging.

Men are increasingly becoming aware of aging and what causes the skin to manifest outward signs of premature aging such as wrinkling, liver spots, and fine lines. They are beginning to educate themselves as to the contributing factors to aging and making better choices for their health and skin. And women are saying, "Been there, done that". It`s about time that men catch up, right? Men have just as much right and reason to pursue youth and health as women do. And perhaps for many women, we are secretly relieved to see that men are finally feeling some of the pressure to look younger that women have been experiencing for years.

Anti-Aging For Men - An Exploding Industry

Since more men are feeling the pressure to look better and younger the anti-aging industry for men has taken off. It began with many major skin care producers adding a few products for men here and there and some even creating a separate men's skin care and anti-aging line. These labels include major anti-aging skin care manufacturers such as Clarins, Polo, Bulgari, Logistics, Aveda, and drugstore names such as Nivea and Neutrogena. Men responded well to this anti-aging skin care introduction, evidenced by a consistently huge demand for the products, continual double-digit growth in male anti-aging sales, and the emergence of countless new anti-aging lines for men.

Anti-aging and skin care companies have responded to the demand for men`s products by creating new products as men become more willing to consider purchasing additional skin care such as toners and moisturizers. These companies have further encouraged men to join the fight against aging by setting up counters in department stores that are exclusively for men`s skin care and anti-aging. This has made purchasing anti-aging products much more comfortable and accessible for men since having to buy anti-aging products in a women`s department has been reported by men to be one of the biggest inconveniences involving their skin care.

Men Going the Extra Mile for Anti-Aging

Included in this new trend, is the fact that more and more men are pursuing methods outside of applied products for anti-aging, and this includes plastic surgery. According to the statistics at the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the number of men pursuing plastic surgery to look younger has increased nearly forty-percent in recent years, and continues to grow. More and more plastic surgeons are seeing huge increases in the numbers of male clientele.

Furthermore, more men are engaging in anti-aging treatments offered at spas and salons such as scrubs, facials, and alternative treatments. Salons and spas have responded to this increased demand by adding spa packages specifically for men and anti-aging.

Basics of Beautiful Skin!!

Your skin`s appearance is reflects your health and your lifestyle. Radiant, dewy and smooth skin indicates good habits. Congested, dull and roughly textured skin suggests the opposite. To keep your skin looking its best, it`s important to not only know the basics of skin care, but to understand the physiology of the skin.

Good Skin Begins with Good Health
Healthy skin glows. If you don`t get adequate nutrition or hydration, you skin will be dull and lifeless. Follow these suggestions for overall health:

· Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day to keep your skin and body hydrated.
· Make sure your diet is colorful--eat lots of fruits and vegetables
· Exercise consistently
· Get at least eight hours of sleep a night.
· Don`t smoke cigarettes

Cleanse, Treat, Moisturize and Protect

In addition to preserving your skin through healthy living, a basic skincare regimen is necessary. Take the time to develop a daily and nightly ritual that includes cleansing, treating, moisturizing and protecting. The products you use will depend on your individual skin type and/or condition.

Cleanse
Cleanse skin once or twice a day with the type of cleanser appropriate for your skin type. Cleansers should leave your skin clean and refreshed and prepared for treatment--they shouldn`t strip or dry the skin. Finish the cleansing process with a gentle toner to remove any lingering traces of makeup.

Treat

To target specific skin concerns, it`s necessary to treat your skin with active ingredients that penetrate the skin`s upper layers enough to make changes at the cellular level. Active ingredients that can change the skin`s structure include antioxidants like Vitamin C, AHAs and Retinoids.

Exfoliate

Exfoliation is another way to treat and refine the skin. Depending on your skin type and sensitivity level, you can exfoliate using scrubs, textured cloths, AHAs or BHAs. Exfoliating removes the upper layer of the skin (the stratum corneum layer of the epidermis) to reveal fresher skin. In the beginning, it`s best to be conservative to avoid over exfoliation.

Moisturize

Unless you have abnormally oily skin, it`s a good idea to moisturize daily. The role of moisturizer is to mimic healthy skin by introducing ingredients like antioxidants and water-binding agents. For dry skin, emollients like oils and fatty acids are necessary. It`s helpful to apply moisturizer directly after washing the skin to help seal in moisture.

Protect

No skincare regimen is complete without daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen. If you`re pressed for time, use a high-quality moisturizer with added SPF. Otherwise, wait 15 minutes after moisturizing to apply sunscreen.

Skin Physiology

The skin is comprised of three levels: the epidermis (surface), the dermis (cellular level), and the hypodermis (inner-most fatty layer). For basic skin care, we`re most concerned with the epidermis, because it`s most responsive to certain skin care treatments.

The dermis contains fibroblasts, which produce collagen and elastin. Collagen gives the skin its strength and smooth, plump appearance. Elastin keeps the skin resilient and elastic. Over time, the dermis stops producing both, leading to sagging and hollowed skin. It`s much more difficult to affect skin at the dermal level and only products with high concentrations of active ingredients stand a chance.

To keep skin looking youthful for as long as possible, try to preserve the healthy collagen you still have and prevent future damage. To do this, avoid UVA and UVB rays and prevent free radical damage. By adhering to a healthy lifestyle and a good skin care regimen, your skin can stay beautiful for a lifetime!

Dangerous Drugs discarded globally!!

Make a Check list, check weather this medicine is in our home or weather it has recommended by our doctor... pls do not use it!!!

India has become a dumping ground for banned drugs; also the business for production of banned drugs is booming. Plz make sure that u buy drugs only if prescribed by a doctor (Also, ask which company manufactures it, this would help to ensure that u get what is prescribed at the Drug Store) and that also from a reputed drug store. Not many people know about these banned drugs and consume them causing a lot of damage to themselves. We forward Jokes and other junk all the time. This is far more important.

DANGEROUS DRUGS HAVE BEEN GLOBALLY DISCARDED BUT ARE AVAILABLE IN INDIA. The most common ones are action 500 & Nimulid.

PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE: Cold and cough.
Reason for ban: Stroke.
Brand name: Vicks Action-500

ANALGIN: This is a pain-killer.
Reason for ban: Bone marrow depression.
Brand name: Novalgin

CISAPRIDE: Acidity, constipation.
Reason for ban : Irregular Heartbeat
Brand name : Ciza, Syspride

DROPERIDOL: Anti-depressant.
Reason for ban : Irregular heartbeat.
Brand name : Droperol

FURAZOLIDONE: Antidiarrhoeal.
Reason for ban : Cancer.
Brand name : Furoxone, Lomofen

NIMESULIDE: Painkiller, fever.
Reason for ban : Liver failure.
Brand name : Nise, Nimulid

NITROFURAZONE: Antibacterial cream.
Reason for ban : Cancer.
Brand name : Furacin

PHENOLPHTHALEIN: Laxative.
Reason for ban : Cancer.
Brand name : Agarol

OXYPHENBUTAZONE: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
Reason for ban : Bone marrow depression.
Brand name : Sioril

PIPERAZINE: Anti-worms.
Reason for ban : Nerve damage.
Brand name : Piperazine

QUINIODOCHLOR: Anti-diarrhoeal.
Reason for ban : Damage to sight.
Brand name: Enteroquinol

Dandruff:Causes, Prevention and Cure

Introduction
If dandruff is the only thing standing between you and a closet full of basic black, you're not alone. Many people have this chronic scalp disorder, which is marked by itching and excessive flaking of the scalp. Although dandruff isn't contagious and is rarely serious, it can be embarrassing and surprisingly persistent.

The good news is that dandruff can usually be controlled. Mild cases of dandruff may need nothing more than daily shampooing with a gentle cleanser. And stubborn flakes often respond to medicated shampoos. What's more, researchers have identified a yeast-like fungus that may cause or aggravate dandruff, a discovery that may lead to better treatments.

Signs and symptoms
For most people, the signs and symptoms of dandruff are unmistakable: white, oily looking flakes of dead skin that dot your hair and shoulders and an itchy, scaling scalp. But it's not quite that simple — many conditions cause excessive skin scaling, including:

Dry skin. Simple dry skin — the kind you get in winter when the air is cold and rooms are overheated — is by far the most common cause of itchy, flaking skin. But flakes from dry skin are generally smaller and less oily than those caused by dandruff.

Seborrheic dermatitis. This condition, a frequent cause of dandruff, is marked by red, greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales. Seborrheic dermatitis affects not only your scalp but also other areas rich in oil glands, such as your eyebrows, the sides of your nose and the backs of your ears, your breastbone, your groin area, and sometimes your armpits.

Psoriasis. This skin disorder causes an accumulation of dead skin cells that form thick silvery scales. Psoriasis commonly occurs on your knees, elbows and trunk, but it can also affect your scalp.

Cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp). This disorder, which causes a scaling, crusty scalp, is most common in newborns, but it can occur anytime during infancy. Although it can be alarming for parents, cradle cap isn't dangerous and usually clears up on its own by the time a baby is a year old.

Contact dermatitis. Sometimes sensitivities to certain hair-care products or hair dyes can cause a red, itchy, scaling scalp.

Causes At one time or another, dandruff causes have been attributed to dry skin, oily skin, shampooing too often or not often enough, a poor diet, stress, and the use of too many fancy styling products. Although some of these factors may exacerbate or contribute to scalp flaking, the real culprit may be a fat-eating, yeast-like fungus called malassezia, formerly known as pityrosporum.

Malassezia lives on the scalps of most healthy adults without causing problems. But sometimes it grows out of control, feeding on the oils secreted by your hair follicles and causing irritation that leads to increased cell turnover. The result is a large number of dead skin cells. As the cells fall off, they tend to clump together with oil from your hair and scalp, making them appear white, flaky and all too visible.

Exactly what causes an overgrowth of these organisms isn't known, although increased oil production; hormonal fluctuations; stress; illness; neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease; a suppressed immune system; infrequent shampooing and extra sensitivity to the malassezia fungus may contribute to the development of dandruff.

Risk factors Almost any adult is a candidate for dandruff, but certain factors can make you more susceptible:

Age. Dandruff usually begins in young adulthood and continues through middle age. That doesn't mean older adults don't get dandruff, however. For some people, the problem can be lifelong.

Sex. Because more men than women have dandruff, some researchers think male hormones may play a role in dandruff. Men also have larger sebaceous glands that produce an oil called sebum.

Oily hair and scalp. Malassezia feeds on oils in your scalp. For that reason, having excessively oily skin and hair makes you more prone to dandruff.

Certain illnesses. For reasons that aren't clear, adults with neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, are more likely to develop seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. So are people recovering from stressful conditions, particularly heart attack and stroke, and those with compromised immune systems.

Treatment Dandruff is a chronic condition that can almost always be controlled, but dandruff treatment may take a little patience and persistence. In general, mild scaling can often be helped by daily cleansing with a gentle shampoo to reduce oiliness and cell buildup.

When regular shampoos fail, OTC dandruff shampoos may succeed. But dandruff shampoos aren't all alike, and you may need to experiment until you find one that works best for you. Dandruff shampoos are classified according to their active ingredient:

Zinc pyrithione shampoos (Selsun Salon, Head & Shoulders). These contain the antibacterial and antifungal agent zinc pyrithione, which has been shown to reduce the fungus that causes dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.

Tar-based shampoos (Neutrogena T/Gel). Coal tar, a byproduct of the coal manufacturing process, helps conditions such as dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis by slowing cell turnover.

Shampoos containing salicylic acid (Ionil T). These "scalp scrubs" help eliminate scale, but they may leave your scalp dry, leading to more flaking. Using a conditioner after shampooing can help counter dryness.

Selenium sulfide shampoos (Selsun Blue). These shampoos help prevent cell turnover and may also reduce the number of malassezia. Because they can discolor blonde, gray or chemically colored hair, be sure to use them only as directed and to rinse well after shampooing.

Ketoconazole shampoos (Nizoral). The newest addition to the dandruff armamentarium, ketoconazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that may work when other shampoos fail. It's available over-the-counter as well as by prescription.

Try using one of these shampoos daily until your dandruff is controlled, then cut back to two or three times a week. If one type of shampoo works for a time and then seems to lose its effectiveness, try alternating between two types of dandruff shampoos. Be sure to leave the shampoo on for at least five minutes — this allows the ingredients time to work.

If you've shampooed faithfully for several weeks and there's still a dusting of dandruff on your shoulders, talk to your doctor or dermatologist. You may need a prescription- strength shampoo or more aggressive treatment with a steroid lotion.

Self-care You can't prevent dandruff, but you can take steps to reduce your risk:

Learn to manage stress. Stress affects your overall health, making you susceptible to a number of conditions and diseases. It can even help trigger dandruff or exacerbate existing symptoms.

Shampoo often. If you tend to have an oily scalp, daily shampooing to remove the excess oil may help prevent dandruff.

Cut back on styling products. Hair sprays, styling gels, mousses and hair waxes can all build up on your hair and scalp, making them oilier.

Eat a healthy diet. A diet that provides enough zinc, B vitamins and essential fatty acid may help prevent dandruff.

Get a little sun. Sunlight may be good for dandruff. But because exposure to ultraviolet light damages your skin and increases your risk of skin cancer, don't sunbathe. Instead, just spend a little time outdoors. And be sure to wear sunscreen on your face and body.

Complementary and alternative medicine While there are many purported home remedies for dandruff, one therapy that seems to be effective is daily shampooing with tea tree oil. Tea tree oil, which is extracted from the leaves of the Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) , has been used for centuries as an antiseptic, antibiotic and antifungal agent. It's now included in a number of shampoos found in natural foods stores. The oil is generally well tolerated but may cause allergic reactions in some people.

25 Reasons Why You Should Start Drinking Green Tea!!

Green tea has increasingly become a very popular drink worldwide because of its immensely powerful health benefits.It is extraordinarily amazing what green tea can do for your health.And if you're not drinking 3 to 4 cups of green tea today, you're definitely NOT doing your health a big favor.

Here Are The 25 Reasons Why You Should Start Drinking Green Tea Right Now:

1. Green Tea and Cancer Green tea helps reduce the risk of cancer. The antioxidant in green tea is 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times better than vitamin E. This helps your body at protecting cells from damage believed to be linked to cancer.

2. Green Tea and Heart Disease Green tea helps prevent heart disease and stroke by lowering the level of cholesterol. Even after the heart attack, it prevents cell deaths and speeds up the recovery of heart cells.

3. Green Tea and Anti-Aging Green tea contains antioxidant known as polyphenols which fight against free radicals. What this means it helps you fight against aging and promotes longevity.

4. Green Tea and Weight Loss Green tea helps with your body weight loss. Green tea burns fat and boosts your metabolism rate naturally. It can help you burn up to 70 calories in just one day. That translates to 7 pounds in one year.

5. Green Tea and Skin Antioxidant in green tea protects the skin from the harmful effects of free radicals, which cause wrinkling and skin aging. Green tea also helps fight against skin cancer.

6. Green Tea and Arthritis Green tea can help prevent and reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Green tea has benefit for your health as it protects the cartilage by blocking the enzyme that destroys cartilage.

7. Green Tea and Bones The very key to this is high fluoride content found in green tea. It helps keep your bones strong. If you drink green tea every day, this will help you preserve your bone density.

8. Green Tea and Cholesterol Green tea can help lower cholesterol level. It also improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, by reducing bad cholesterol level.

9. Green Tea and Obesity Green tea prevents obesity by stopping the movement of glucose in fat cells. If you are on a healthy diet, exercise regularly and drink green tea, it is unlikely you'll be obese.

10. Green Tea and Diabetes Green tea improves lipid and glucose metabolisms, prevents sharp increases in blood sugar level, and balances your metabolism rate.

11. Green Tea and Alzheimer's Green tea helps boost your memory. And although there's no cure for Alzheimer's, it helps slow the process of reduced acetylcholine in the brain, which leads to Alzheimer's.

12. Green Tea and Parkinson's Antioxidants in green tea helps prevent against cell damage in the brain, which could cause Parkinson's. People drinking green tea also are less likely to progress with Parkinson's.

13. Green Tea and Liver Disease Green tea helps prevent transplant failure in people with liver failure. Researches showed that green tea destroys harmful free radicals in fatty livers.

14. Green Tea and High Blood Pressure Green tea helps prevent high blood pressure. Drinking green tea helps keep your blood pressure down by repressing angiotensin, which leads to high blood pressure.

15. Green Tea and Food Poisoning Catechin found in green tea can kill bacteria which causes food poisoning and kills the toxins produced by those bacteria.

16. Green Tea and Blood Sugar Blood sugar tends to increase with age, but polyphenols and polysaccharides in green tea help lower your blood sugar level.

17. Green Tea and Immunity Polyphenols and flavenoids found in green tea help boost your immune system, making your health stronger in fighting against infections.

18. Green Tea and Cold and Flu Green tea prevents you from getting a cold or flu. Vitamin C in green tea helps you treat the flu and the common cold.

19. Green Tea and Asthma Theophylline in green tea relaxes the muscles which support the bronchial tubes, reducing the severity of asthma.

20. Green Tea and Ear Infection Green tea helps with ear infection problem. For natural ear cleaning, soak a cotton ball in green tea and clean the infected ear.

21. Green Tea and Herpes Green tea increases the effectiveness of topical interferon treatment of herpes. First green tea compress is applied, and then let the skin dry before the interferon treatment.

22. Green Tea and Tooth Decay Green tea destroys bacteria and viruses that cause many dental diseases.It also slows the growth of bacteria which leads to bad breath.

23. Green Tea and Stress L-theanine, which is a kind of amino acids in green tea, can help relieve stress and anxiety.

24. Green Tea and Allergies EGCG found in green tea relieves allergies. So, if you have allergies, you should really consider drinking green tea.

25. Green Tea and HIV Scientists in Japan have found that EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) in green tea can stop HIV from binding to healthy immune cells.

What this means is that green tea can help stop the HIV virus from spreading.

How much Water do you need a day?

Water is an important structural component of skin cartilage, tissues and organs. For human beings, every part of the body is dependent on water. Our body comprises about 75% water: the brain has 85%, blood is 90%, muscles are 75%, kidney is 82% and bones are 22% water. The functions of our glands and organs will eventually deteriorate if they are not nourished with good, clean water.

The average adult loses about 2.5 litres water daily through perspiration, breathing and elimination. Symptoms of the body's deterioration begins to appear when the body loses 5% of its total water volume. In a healthy adult, this is seen as fatigue and general discomfort, whereas for an infant, it can be dehydrating. In an elderly person, a 5% water loss causes the body chemistry to become abnormal, especially if the percentage of electrolytes is overbalanced with sodium.One can usually see symptoms of aging, such as wrinkles, lethargy and even disorientation. Continuous water loss over time will speed up aging as well as increase risks of diseases.

If your body is not sufficiently hydrated, the cells will draw water from your bloodstream, which will make your heart work harder. At the same time, the kidneys cannot purify blood effectively. When this happens, some of the kidney's workload is passed on to the liver and other organs, which may cause them to be severely stressed. Additionally, you may develop a number of minor health conditions such as constipation, dry and itchy skin, acne, nosebleeds, urinary tract infection, coughs, sneezing, sinus pressure, and headaches.

So, how much water is enough for you? The minimum amount of water you need depends on your body weight. A more accurate calculation, is to drink an ounce of water for every two pounds of body weight. Here is a formula to calculate the qty of water

((Wt*2.2)/2/ 15)*450

Tips to Stop Smoking!!

Teen smoking might begin innocently enough, but it can become a lifelong habit.
In fact, most adult smokers began smoking as teenagers.Your best bet? Help your teen resist taking that first puff. These 10 tips can help.

1. Understand the attraction.Sometimes teen smoking is a form of rebellion or a way to fit in with a particular group of friends. Some teens light up in an attempt to lose weight or to feel better about themselves. Others smoke to feel cool or independent. To know what you're dealing with, ask your teen how he or she feels about smoking. Ask which of your teen's friends smoke. Applaud your teen's good choices, and talk about the consequences of bad choices.
2. Say no to teen smoking. You may feel as if your teen doesn't hear a word you say, but say it anyway. Tell your teen that smoking isn't allowed. Your disapproval may have more impact than you think. In one study, teens who thought their parents would disapprove of them smoking were less than half as likely to smoke as those who thought their parents wouldn't care.
3. Set a good example. Teen smoking is more common among teens whose parents smoke. If you don't smoke, keep it up. If you do smoke, quit -- now. Ask your doctor about stop-smoking products and other ways to quit smoking. In the meantime, don't smoke in the house, in the car or in front of your teen, and don't leave cigarettes where your teen might find them. Explain how unhappy you are with your smoking and how difficult it is to quit.
4. Appeal to your teen's vanity. Smoking isn't glamorous. Remind your teen that smoking is a dirty, smelly habit. Smoking gives you bad breath. Smoking makes your clothes and hair smell, and it turns your teeth yellow. Smoking can leave you with a chronic cough and less energy for sports and other activities you enjoy.
5. Do the math. Smoking is expensive. Help your teen calculate the weekly, monthly or yearly cost of a pack-a-day smoking habit. You might compare the cost of smoking with electronic gadgets, clothes or other teen essentials.
6. Expect peer pressure. Friends who smoke can be convincing -- but you can give your teen the tools he or she needs to refuse cigarettes. Rehearse how to handle tough social situations. It might be as simple as, "No thanks, I don't smoke." The more your teen practices this basic refusal, the more likely he or she will say no at the moment of truth.
7. Take addiction seriously. Most teens believe they can quit smoking anytime they want. But teens become just as addicted to nicotine as do adults, often quickly and at relatively low doses of nicotine. And once you're hooked, it's tough to quit. Consider this: Of adolescents who've smoked at least 100 cigarettes, the American Lung Association reports that most would like to quit but are unable to do so.
8. Predict the future. Teens tend to assume that bad things only happen to other people. But the long-term consequences of smoking -- such as cancer, heart attack and stroke -- may be all too real when your teen becomes an adult. Use loved ones, friends or neighbors who've been ill as real-life examples.
9. Think beyond cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco, clove cigarettes (kreteks) and candy-flavored cigarettes (bidis) are sometimes mistaken as less harmful or addictive than traditional cigarettes. Hookah smoking -- smoking tobacco through a water pipe -- is another alternative sometimes touted as safe. Don't let your teen be fooled. Like traditional cigarettes, these products are addictive and can cause cancer and other health problems. Many deliver higher concentrations of nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar than do traditional cigarettes.
10. Get involved. Take an active stance against teen smoking. Participate in local and school-sponsored anti-smoking campaigns. Support bans on smoking in public places.

Having Tea may lower the risk of skin cancer!!

People who unwind with a cup of tea every night may have a lower risk of two common forms of skin cancer, new research suggests.

In a study of nearly 2,200 adults, researchers found that tea drinkers had a lower risk of developing squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma, the two most common forms of skin cancer.

Men and women who had ever been regular tea drinkers -- having one or more cups a day -- were 20 percent to 30 percent less likely to develop the cancers than those who didn't drink tea.
The effect was even stronger among study participants who'd been tea fans for decades, as well as those who regularly had at least two cups a day, according to findings published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

However, the findings do not mean it's okay to bake in the sun as long as you have a cup of tea afterward. The researchers found no evidence that tea drinking lowered skin cancer risk in people who'd accumulated painful sunburns in the past.

Nor did the study look at the relationship between tea drinking and malignant melanoma, the least common but most deadly form of skin cancer.

Still, the findings support the theory that tea antioxidants may limit the damage UV radiation inflicts on the skin, according to the study authors, led by Dr. Judy R. Rees of Dartmouth Medical School in Lebanon, New Hampshire. In particular, a tea antioxidant known as EGCG has been shown to reduce burning on UV-exposed skin. The current findings are based on interviews with 770 New Hampshire residents with basal cell carcinoma, 696 with squamous cell carcinoma, and 715 cancer-free men and women the same age.

Tea consumption was linked to a lower skin cancer risk, even with factors such as age, skin type and history of severe burns considered. However, tea drinkers who'd suffered multiple painful burns in the past did not have a lower risk of skin cancer. It's possible, the researchers explain, that the antioxidants in tea are enough to limit skin damage caused by moderate sun exposure, but not the more extreme effects of sun exposure, such as cancer-promoting damage to the DNA in skin cells.

SOURCE: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, May 2007