Vasovagal Syncope, a fancy term for fainting

A number of conditions can cause fainting, including heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and anemia. More common than these, however, is a relatively benign condition called vasovagal syncope, also known as the "common faint". Syncope [sing-kuh-pee] is themedical term for "blacking out" and vasovagal refers to the abnormal stimulation

Healthy foods for your eyes - How to improve eye sight

When it comes to foods for the eyes, carrots are right on top of everyone’s list. However, this rich source of vitamin A is not the only ingredient of a healthy eye diet.

Vitamin A

• prevents night blindness and focal drying of the eyes called Xerophthalmia and can retard the development of cataracts and macular age related changes.
• You can get vitamin A from two types of food sources: Animal products that contain vitamin A (such as liver or butter) or plant products that contain carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A. 
• Foods containing carotene are usually yellow or orange, or leafy and green.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin

• These can also be very helpful for maintaining retinal health. Not only do they delay changes in the retina but also act as good protection. 
• The best source of lutein and zeaxanthin is green, leafy vegetables, particularly spinach. Kale and collard greens are also good choices. 
• You can also find lutein and zeaxanthin in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, such as corn.

Vitamin C

• It is an antioxidant, works well for the retina, delays cataracts, and is helpful in the healing and strengthening of the eye.
• If you smoke, drink or have diabetes, you should increase you vitamin C intake, because its levels will tend to be lower than average. Citrus fruits, berries, peppers, tropical fruits, potatoes and green, leafy vegetables are good sources.

Selenium & Zinc

• Salenium helps it to make its own antioxidants. Brazil nuts, yeast and seafood (like oysters) contain good amounts of selenium. 
• Zinc helps your body to absorb vitamin A and is also part of an enzyme in your body that reduces the number of free radicals. 
• Zinc might also protect against macular degeneration and night blindness. You can get zinc from, wheat and nuts.

The best source of omega-3 fatty acids is cold-water fish, which is high in both EPA and DHA, Alternate source include vegetable oils (including foods made from vegetable oils, like margarine); and the popular evening primrose supplements.
The best way to take care of the eyes is to eat a healthy diet and to have an eye checkup at regular intervals. A six-monthly checkup after the age of 40 should be mandatory.

What is Listeria and who is at risk?

Listeria monocytogenes, or Listeria for short, is a bacterium that causes an infection called listeriosis. A recent outbreak of listeriosis, found to be due to contaminated cantaloupe, has placed Listeria in the news. Today's Health Tip describes the features of Listeria infections and discusses who is at particular risk for developing listeriosis.How does someone contract listeriosis? Listeria

A few tricks for treating insect bites

A few tricks for treating insect bites

You don’t have to sit back and just passively put up with insects,
especially those that like to bite (mosquitoes, wasps etc.). Eat
asparagus and your sweat will develop an odor that repels insects. Or
apply lemon oil to your skin.
If you are bitten, there are natural substances to soothe the
irritation. Aloe vera has extraordinary powers of soothing skin
disorders. It is available in forms for both internal and external
application in most health and beauty stores.
If you have one of these amazing plants growing at home, cut the
tip off one of the leaves (the leaf will heal itself). Apply the pulp and
juice to the itching or swollen area.
Lightly boiled cabbage or leek makes an excellent analgesic
poultice. Of course, if you are hiking in the woods, you might have a
little trouble finding cabbage! Plantain also works well. Cut it and rub
it to get to the juice then apply it to the affected area.

What to do when you get something in your eye

What to do when you get something in your eye

Got some dust in your eye? Or some other irritant like an eyelash or
cigarette ash? You can use the following technique to help others as well
as yourself.
Before doing anything, make sure you don’t do what you absolutely
shouldn’t: rub or press the eye, lift the eyelid, or remove contact lenses
without washing your hands.
How to proceed?
· Examine your eye. Is it red? Swollen? Is it tearing? What do you
feel? Does it itch? Burn? Is your vision blurred?
· Let nature do its work - it is usually effective. Tears and natural eye
movements will usually get rid of the irritation.
· Try rinsing your eye with some warm water, or with drops. You
can pull on the skin around the eyes, but don’t touch the eyelid.
· If this doesn’t work, wash your hands, and then lift both the upper
and lower eyelids to locate the irritant. Is it on the inside of one of the
eyelids, or is it stuck to the eyeball itself? Pour some sterilized, warm
water on your eye to flush the irritant out.
· If you can’t locate the irritant or if the discomfort persists after you
have removed the particle, you would better consult a doctor.

Losing weight: ThePakistani method

Losing weight: ThePakistani method

Pakistani women have an amazing trick they use to stay slim: they
keep a string permanently tied around their forearms. According to
Dr. Drupas, a gentle but constant pressure on the nerves in the
forearm stimulates certain glands, particularly those involved in
weight control (thyroid, suprarenals).
Why don’t you try it? Find two ordinary rubber bands and place
them around your right forearm, one third of the way up between your
wrist and elbow.
The rubber bands should exert noticeable pressure without cutting
off blood circulation and should not slip or slide when you move
your arm. This is not a tourniquet!
For best results, you have to wear the rubber bands constantly,
even at night when you sleep. It is also recommended not to wear any
other jewelry on the right arm.

How to Boost Our Brain

Our brain is our most important asset. Its higher cognitive abilities allow us to rapidly adapt to new situations, environments and dangers. It is the most complicated biological structure known and sometimes the most difficult to define.Brain chemistry is delicate; consuming a diverse array of whole foods with as few additives as possible is the simplest and easiest way to maintain proper brain function.

Way to  Boost Your Brain

• You should be eating smaller nutrient rich meals more frequently. In addition to a nutrient-rich diet, Omega-3 fatty acids are shown to be an important factor in the brain’s construction of cell walls and are valuable in treating psychiatric disorders such as depression. 
• The key is a balanced diet of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
• Maintaining a healthy body plays a role in your brain’s health as well. Exercise improves memory, concentration, abstract reasoning and more.
• Dancing can be a very good exercise for the brain, because discovering new and different movements excites your brain in ways that mental exercise alone cannot.
• Brain tissue is 85% water and your brain requires more water than any other organ in your body. Drinking enough water over your lifetime prevents toxins from interfering with your brain’s fragile neuro chemical balance.
• Crossword puzzles are great brain workouts because they force you to think about very abstract ideas from sparse information and clues. Connecting all these ideas is a great way to train your brain to develop concrete ideas from seemingly random factoids.
• Learning a different language, at any level, encourages excellent brain function. Learning a language is a comprehensive brain activity affecting many different sections, speech, hearing and reading. Forming new connections between the abstract ideas that are conveyed with language is one of the most important brain-health exercises you can do.
• Getting the proper quantity and quality of sleep is perhaps one of the most important methods of preserving brain function; it’s also the of the simplest. When we sleep we give our brain time to repair damage and consolidate memory and sensory inputs accumulated during our conscious day.

Even a quick nap will do wonders for your concentration and memory, as research has shown the initial stages of sleep are the most beneficial to concentration. The better-known REM, or Rapid Eye Movement, cycle of sleeping encourages sound mental health. When you can, it is best to sleep in, or sleep at least until you wake up naturally, your body and brain know best when they are rested.

7 Types of food that burns fat

You know already if we eat more calories than our body can burn we gain weight. It’s true that certain foods will boost your metabolism but only if you eat them as a part of a effective diet and weight loss program.

Foods Burns Fat

Apples : Do you remember the old saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Well not only a doctor but also the extra pounds as well. Apples contain the highest percentage of pectin, this is a soluble fiber.

Garlic : Garlic is one of the most effective fat burning foods.It contains the compound allicin which has anti bacterial effects and helps reduce cholesterol and unhealthy fats.

Tomatoes : Tomatoes is very effective to add on your diet. Not only are they good in your battle against overweight but they are also an excellent prevention against cancers and high blood pressure.

Carrots : Adding a carrot to the beginning of every meal is a very effective way to lose weight. Why do you ask? The carrot leaves no room in the stomach for the dessert. When using this trick you should been able to lose about a pound in one week.

Oranges : Oranges are rich in Vitamin C and they have fat burning properties. Compared with exercises they are an effective way to lose fat.

Mangoes : Mangoes are full packed with fiber and are low in calories.

Spinach : Popeye gets his strength by eaten spinach and yes they are very healthy. Spinach contains a lot of iron; it is an exceptional nutrition food and is a good prevention against cancer.

Date Palm

Date Palm

Phoenix dactylifera

The fruit is called Date Palm, the fruit is believed to have originated in and around desert oases of northern Africa and, perhaps, southwest Asia. The Date Palm is used as a staple food and the fruit is rich in fiber content and also consists of nutrients like oil, calcium, sulfur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper, magnesium, etc. It is also believed that one date is a minimum of a balanced and healthy diet.

Health Benefits of Dates

Health benefits of dates are uncountable, as this fruit is affluent in natural fibres. Dates are even rich in several vitamins and minerals. These natural products contain oil, calcium, sulphur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium which are advantageous for health. It is said that consumption of one date daily is necessary for a balanced and healthy diet. Dates help in fighting constipation, intestinal disorders, weight gain, heart problems, sexual weakness, diarrhoea and abdominal cancer.

Health benefits of dates have made them the best nourishment for muscles development. People consume dates in several ways, like mixing the paste of the dates with milk, yoghurt or with bread or butter to make the food tasty and healthy. This paste is beneficial for both adults and children, especially during the time of recovery. According to the modern medicine survey, it is known that dates are useful in preventing abdominal cancer. It is also seen that many Muslims break their fast by eating dates and water according to their traditions. Breaking fast with eating dates helps us to avoid overeating of the food after the fast. When the body absorbs the nutritional value of the dates, the feeling of hunger gets pacified.

Benefits of dates
    * Dates with milk helps in curing sickness and injuries gradually
    * Dates have nicotinic content which helps in curing intestinal disturbances.
    * Dates when consumed daily has been found to help the growth of pathological organisms which      helps  growth friendly bacteria in the intestines
    *  When dates is added with boiling milk, the content becomes more nutritious and this mixture is        specially makes children and adults more brisk.
    *  Dates have the ability to digest very quickly and used to give the body quick energy
    * Constipation: Date is termed to be a laxative food. This is the reason that dates are beneficial for people suffering from constipation. For getting the laxative effect from dates, you need to soak dates for one full night in water. You should consume these soaked dates in the morning like syrup to get their actual advantages.
    * Intestinal Disorders: The nicotinic content that is present in the dates is said to be beneficial for curing any kinds of intestinal disorders. Continuous intake of dates helps to maintain a check on the growth of the pathological organisms and thus, helps in the rise of friendly bacteria in the intestines.
    * Weight Gain: Dates are said to be a part of healthy diet. They consist of sugar, fats, proteins as well as many essential vitamins. If the dates are consumed with the paste of cucumber, one can easily come out from the problem of over-slimming. One kilogram of dates contains almost 3,000 calories. These calories alone are sufficient to meet the daily requirements of a human body.
    * Healthy Heart: Dates are quite helpful in maintaining your heart in a healthy condition. When soaked for a night and crushed in the morning and consumed, they prove to be quite advantageous for weak hearts. They help in fortifying the heart, if taken twice in a week.
    * Sexual Weakness: Dates are even beneficial for increasing sexual stamina in the human body. A handful of dates, when soaked in fresh goat's milk for the night and then grinded in the same milk with the mixture of cardamom powder and honey, becomes a very useful tonic for increasing sex endurance and sterility caused due to functional disorders.
    * Diarrhea: Ripe dates contain potassium. Potassium is beneficial for controlling diarrhea. They are easily digestible, which helps to cope up with the problems of diarrhea.
    * Intoxication: Dates are known as an excellent remedy for alcoholic intoxication. Dates provide quick relief in the case of alcoholic intoxication. They should be rubbed and soaked overnight for getting more nutritious values from them.
    * Abdominal Cancer: Dates are beneficial for curing abdominal cancer. They work as useful tonic for all age groups. They work as better as the medicines, and are natural and do not bear any side effects in the body. They can be easily digested and used for supplying extra and needed energy.

Although dates carry tremendous nutritional values, great care should be taken in their selection because they consists of sticky surface which attracts various impurities in them. Hence, you should consume only those dates that are processed and packed properly. Make sure to wash them thoroughly before consuming. This will help remove the impurities present in them.

11 Facts about Phosphoric Acid contained in Coca Cola

11 Facts about Phosphoric Acid contained  in Coca Cola

 1. Phosphoric acid is a clear, colorless, odorless liquid with a syrupy consistency.

2. Phosphoric acid is used as an acidifying agent to give colas their tangy flavor.

3. Due to the use of phosphoric acid, cola is a actually more acid than lemon juice or vinegar. The vast amount of sugar acts to mask and balance the acidity.

4. Phosphoric acid also goes by E338, orthophosphoric acid, and phosphoric(V) acid.

5. Food-grade phosphoric acid is a mass-produced chemical, available cheaply and in large quantities.

6. Phosphoric acid is commonly used for rust removal.

7. Phosphorus-containing substances occur naturally (0.1%-0.5%) in foods such as milk, meat, poultry, fish, nuts, and egg yolks.

8. Phosphoric acid has been linked to lower bone density in some epidemiological studies, including a discussion in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

9. Opposing studies showed the opposite – that  low intake of phosphorus leads to lower bone density. Guess who funded the studies? PepsiCo.

10. Aside from the risk of osteoporosis, Cola consumption has also been linked to chronic kidney disease and kidney stones.

11. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a consumer watchdog group not affiliated with the food industry, only a small fraction of the phosphate in the American diet comes from additives in soft drinks. Most comes from meat and dairy products. So your reason for not drinking Coke should be its sugar content and artificial food colorings, not the phosphoric acid.


Specific Uses:
Used in cleaning operations to remove encrusted surface matter and mineral scale found on metal equipment
such as boilers and steam producing equipment. Orthophosphoric acid is routinely used as a cleaning
compound in its dilute form to remove oxidation from non-stainless steel surfaces, staining of stainless steel,
lime and scale from heat exchangers and in Clean-in-Place (CIP) cleaning operations especially in dairy
processing to remove build up of calcium and phosphate salts from processing equipment. It is also used to
brighten metals and remove rust.
Additionally, orthophosphoric acid can be mixed with other detergents for process cleaning operations. It is
used as an acidulent and flavoring in soft drinks--mainly colas--jellies, frozen dairy products, bakery products,
candy, cheese products and in the brewing industry. It is also used as a sequestrant in hair tonics, nail polishes
and skin fresheners. The concentrated form is irritating to skin and mucous membranes.

SLIM FAT FACTS

SLIM FAT FACTS

Twenty fat facts from america believe it or not

1. Child-safety seat manufacturers are starting to make bigger models after a recent study showed that over 250,000 U.S. children age 6 and under are too fat to use them.

2. According to a study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, nearly half the 4,000 people responding to an online survey about obesity said they would give up a year of their life rather than be fat.

3. Between 15 percent and 30 percent also said they would rather walk away from their marriage, give up the possibility of having children, be depressed, or become alcoholic rather than be obese.

4. Five percent and 4 percent, respectively, said they would rather lose a limb or be blind than be overweight.

5. From 1991 to 2000, the average weight of Americans increased by 8.5 pounds.

6. In 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration increased its estimate of the weight of the average male from 170 to 184 pounds.

7. Airlines spent $275 million on 350 million additional gallons of fuel in 2000 to compensate for the additional weight of their passengers. Now we know why the peanuts are no longer free!

8. Stand by your man: More than a decade ago, Manuel Uribe, now weighing 1,200 pounds (the equivalent of five baby elephants) and bedridden for the past five years, was abandoned by his wife because she was frightened by his increasing size.

9. Virgin Atlantic paid Barbara Hewson from Wales the equivalent of US$24,100 in 2002 as compensation after she was squashed by an obese person sitting next to her on a transatlantic flight. Barbara suffered a blood clot in her chest, torn leg muscles, and acute sciatica and was bedridden for a month.

10. Duke University Medical Center found that women and men who lost 10 percent of their total body weight reported a significant improvement in their sexual quality of life.

11. Obesity ranks second among preventable causes of death. Tobacco use is number one.

12. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, of the 7.5 million veterans who receive their health benefits from the agency, more than 70 percent are overweight and 20 percent have diabetes, which may lead to blindness, amputations, and kidney and heart problems.

13. Two years ago, the Hardee’s fast-food chain introduced the 1,420-calorie 107-fat-gram “Monster Thickburger.” It contains two 1/3-pound slabs of Angus beef, four strips of bacon, three slices of cheese, and mayonnaise on a buttered sesame-seed bun.

14. Mississippi is the home of the mud pie, Cajun fried pecans, sweet potato crunch, fried shrimp, and catfish. Mississippi is also home to the country’s fattest people—more than 25 percent of adult Mississippians are obese. Coincidence?

15. Recent studies have shown that obesity can cause you to lose sleep.

16. On the other hand, a lack of sleep may result in obesity.

17. It’s a vicious cycle.

18. Never forget your past: Aborigines and the Pima indians of Arizona developed obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension after transitioning to a Western lifestyle.

19. If the entire morbidly obese populated state, with more people than Virginia.

20. A 2003 study reported that 21 percent of all New York City elementary students from all income levels are obese

Health Benefits of Eating Fish

Health Benefits of Eating Fish

Fish is a high-protein, low-fat food that provides a range of health benefits. White-fleshed fish, in particular, is lower in fat than any other source of animal protein, and oily fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, or the “good” fats. Since the human body can’t make significant amounts of these essential nutrients, fish are an important part of the diet. Also, fish are low in the “bad” fats commonly found in red meat, called omega-6 fatty acids.

Why are omega-3s good for your health?
A growing body of evidence indicates that omega-3 fatty acids provide a number of health benefits. They:
 
           *help maintain cardiovascular health by playing a role in the regulation of blood vessel
             constriction:                   
           *are important for prenatal and postnatal neurological development;
           *may reduce tissue inflammation and alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis;
           *may play a beneficial role in cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), reducing depression and halting mental decline in older people.
The omega-3s found in fish (EPA and DHA) appear to provide the greatest health benefits. Fish that are high in omega-3s, low in environmental contaminants and eco-friendly include:
  
           *wild salmon from Alaska (fresh, frozen and canned),
           *Arctic char,
           *Atlantic mackerel,
           *sardines,
           *sablefish,
           *anchovies
           *farmed oysters
           *farmed rainbow trout and
           *albacore tuna from the U.S. and Canada.

Fish Oil – What Every Midlife Woman (and Man) Should Know
One cannot read a newspaper or listen to the radio or TV without fish oil being mentioned. What, exactly, is it? Why all the hype now? Is it really as good as it’s cracked up to be? All are important questions; you need to know the answers if you want to stay healthy in midlife and beyond.
What is it?

The healthy substances in fish oil are known as the omega 3 fatty acids. Although the highest concentration of these is found in fish, you can also find omega 3 fatty acids in other foods such as flax seed, walnuts and canola oil.

Why all the hype now?
Nutritionists and those in the alternative health community have understood the value of omega 3 fatty acids found in fish for years. Now that the use and value of fish oil has been extensively studied by mainstream medical institutions, more and more physicians are recommending it for their patients.

Is it really as good as it’s cracked up to be?
The American Heart Association thinks so. They recommend that people consume omega-3 fatty acids from fish and plant sources to protect their hearts. Studies have found that omega-3 fatty acids do the following:

• Decrease the risk of sudden death (from heart disease) and abnormal heart rhythms
• Decrease the development of atherosclerosis and plaque formation
• Decrease blood clots
• Improve the overall health of the body’s arteries

And¦..

• Lower triglyceride ( a type of lipid or cholesterol ) levels in the blood

What else is fish oil good for?

Fish oil has been found to be of benefit in stroke prevention, Crohn’s disease, lupus, prostate cancer, colon cancer, high blood pressure and rheumatoid arthritis. Interestingly,

A recent study done in England found that pregnant women who consumed 2-3 servings of fish or seafood a week throughout their pregnancy had children with higher IQ’s than those pregnant women who consumed no fish or seafood.

How should you be getting your omega-3 fatt y acids? Is there a difference between fish and other sources?

There are different types of omega-3 fatty acids. The active forms, found exclusively in fish, are called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Those fish that are highly recommended include herring, sardines, wild salmon and fresh tuna. It is important to note: Farm raised salmon also contain omega 3 fatty acids. However, many of these fish are treated with antibiotics, have been genetically modified, and/or have been fed fish pellets with dye to give them a pink color. Canned salmon, which is packed in the juices of the salmon and contains bones – a great source of calcium – is usually made from wild salmon, and thus, may be a better option than fresh farm raised salmon. Canned tuna can contain a fair amount of mercury, and the levels can be quite variable.

Another form of the omega-3 fatty acids can be found in plants. Flaxseed and flaxseed oil contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is converted by the liver to the active forms, EPA and DHA. Since the conversion to the active components can vary from person to person, fish oil is a far more potent form of omega-3 fatty acids. It is best to use both fish and flax seed to get omega-3 fatty acids.

If you are interested in taking fish oil as a supplement, look for brands that are distilled and that test for contaminants. Taking it as a contaminant-free supplement will avoid the problem of being exposed to mercury from fish. There are a couple of common brands that do this, Nordic Naturals and Eskimo Oil.
Here is an important tip: If you have fish oil capsules, and, after piercing, it smells like rotten fish, it is time to find a new bottle. Rancid oil isn’t good for you.

Eating fish is probably the best route for getting omega-3 fatty acids. It is always best to get nutrients from whole food.

What about mercury?

There is the potential for fish oil and, of course, fish do contain mercury. Mercury can be toxic to the nervous system and is particularly harmful to the developing nervous systems of babies and small children. Because they may contain too much mercury, there are certain types of fish to avoid or eat sparingly. These include: shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish.

Are there other risks?

Those with bleeding problems should probably avoid fish oil since it thins the blood. Those on blood thinners need to let their healthcare providers know that they are regularly getting fish oil in their diets or taking a supplement so that their bleeding time can be monitored. Some people become nauseated after taking it. Some who take it might find it elevates their LDL cholesterol slightly. Quality issues with fish oil supplements are huge. It is really important to find a good, mercury-free brand as mentioned above.

What is the recommended dose?

There really isn’t a set recommended dose. Fish oil supplements in the amount of 2-4 grams a day have been found to lower triglyceride levels in the blood. Most doctors recommend anywhere from 1-3 grams of fish oil a day. For those patients with high triglycerides the recommendation is 2-4 grams a day.

If you are interested in taking fish oil supplements it is really important to discuss it with your doctor or health care provider first. One more tip, if you find you are burping up fish after you take your supplement, switch to a different brand. There are many, which don’t give you a fishy after-taste!!

The Bottom Line? The hype about fish oil is well-deserved. It can help you stay healthy in midlife and beyond.

 

How to stop binge drinking

How to stop binge drinking

What Is Binge Drinking?

The term "binge drinking" refers to drinking heavily over a short period of time with the intention of becoming severely intoxicated.Now, however, the term refers to the heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time (just as binge eating means a specific period of uncontrolled overeating). It can be harmful in a number of ways. It may put a person at risk of alcohol poisoning, which could be lethal. That one aside, many personal injuries, broken wrists and ankles are a result of falling down when drunk. Car accidents caused by drunken drivers are still sadly so common. Some of the indirect dangers include unplanned pregnancy, even “almost-rapes”, unwanted casual sex, unnecessary fights, weight gain caused by the sugar in alcohol and the post drinking munchies. So how can you trick yourself into abstaining  from binge drinking?.
Today the generally accepted definition of binge drinking in the United States is the consumption of five or more drinks in a row by men — or four or more drinks in a row by women — at least once in the previous 2 weeks. Heavy binge drinking includes three or more such episodes in 2 weeks.
Why Do People Binge Drink?

Liquor stores, bars, and alcoholic beverage companies make drinking seem attractive and fun. It's easy for a high school student to get caught up in a social scene with lots of peer pressure. Inevitably, one of the biggest areas of peer pressure is drinking.

What Are the Risks of Binge Drinking?

Many people don't think about the negative side of drinking. Although they think about the possibility of getting drunk, they may not give much consideration to being hung-over or throwing up.

You may know from experience that excessive drinking can lead to difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, mood changes, and other problems that affect your day-to-day life. But binge drinking carries more serious and longer-lasting risks as well.

Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol poisoning is the most life-threatening consequence of binge drinking. When someone drinks too much and gets alcohol poisoning, it affects the body's involuntary reflexes — including breathing and the gag reflex. If the gag reflex isn't working properly, a person can choke to death on his or her vomit.
Other signs someone may have alcohol poisoning include:
    * extreme confusion
    * inability to be awakened
    * vomiting
    * seizures
    * slow or irregular breathing
    * low body temperature
    * bluish or pale skin

If you think someone has alcohol poisoning, call 911 immediately.

Other reasons why people drink include:
    * They're curious — they want to know what it's like to drink alcohol.
    * They believe that it will make them feel good, not realizing it could just as easily make them sick and hung-over.
    * They may look at alcohol as a way to reduce stress, even though it can end up creating more stress.
    * They want to feel older.
Firstly, it would help to be aware of how much you are actually drinking and learn how alcohol affects you as an individual. We all have different reactions that are determined by various factors. For example, women generally have less water in the body, which means that women do not dilute the alcohol as quickly as men do. Women also have less of the liver enzymes that metabolize the alcohol. Women’s hormonal levels also have an effect on how fast our bodies eliminate the alcohol.

Our weight affects our BAC (Blood alcohol content), the ratio of alcohol in our blood. To put it simply, binge drinking leads to quick intoxication by getting the BAC ratio high.

According to Evans, Glen and Robert O'Brien (1991) The Encyclopedia of Alcoholism: At 0.07 and higher, we have a very noticeable speech impairment and disturbance of balance; impaired motor coordination, hearing and vision; feeling of elation or depression; increased confidence; may not recognize impairment.

Can you see how this could be dangerous?
The biggest cause of binge drinking is culture and peers. We drink because all our friends drink and when we go out at nights especially on the weekend, we tend to want to get intoxicated together. Some people drink to feel better.

If it is a recent setback like a breakup, make sure that you are in control and aware that you may be using alcohol to feel better. Be mindful as you can end up feeling even more depressed when it wears off. If you suspect that you are possibly depressed and not coping, then seek advice and help instead of masking it with drinking.

Reduce the amount of alcohol you consume on a night out. Make it a rule and a habit to have a glass of water in between every drink. Set a limit for yourself and stick to it. Keep in mind the above data and remember that you don’t have to keep up with anyone. If you are a woman, make sure that you are consuming less than your male friends, if you have heavier friends, the same rule applies. Drinking a glass of water, in between drinks, will help you “keep-pace” with them as well.

Remember that we get very thirsty when we drink and the trick is to drink water. If we don’t, we tend to drink more alcohol to quench the thirst.

Drink slowly. It is not a race. Find alcohol that you enjoy the taste of so that you can relish it like your favourite iced drink. Make sure you have a good meal before your drink and if that was not possible, then try to eat while you drink.

Have “small” drinks and dilute in as much soda or water as you can. If you don’t like the taste of alcohol, then guess what? You shouldn’t be touching it! Be rational. Many people mix their drinks with colas and juices to mask the taste of the liquor, which is quite absurd. If you are going to drink, then do so as a responsible adult. Find the drink that you enjoy the taste of and sip it. If it is a wine or beer and if your chosen drink is a spirit, dilute it in water or soda, this will keep the added sugar content down.

Enroll one or two of your close friends in your decision to not get drunk and look out for each other. And girls, too many binge nights will take a toll on your looks. You go out to socialize and talk or even to dance. Try to remember that alcohol is not the reason for socializing, but just the by-product.

FART FACTS

 FART FACTS 

Where does fart gas come from?
    The gas in our intestines comes from several sources: air we swallow, gas seeping into our intestines from our blood, gas produced by chemical reactions in our guts, and gas produced by bacteria living in our guts.

What is fart gas made of?
    The composition of fart gas is highly variable.
    Most of the air we swallow, especially the oxygen component, is absorbed by the body before the gas gets into the intestines. By the time the air reaches the large intestine, most of what is left is nitrogen. Chemical reactions between stomach acid and intestinal fluids may produce carbon dioxide, which is also a component of air and a product of bacterial action. Bacteria also produce hydrogen and methane.
    But the relative proportions of these gases that emerge from our anal opening depend on several factors: what we ate, how much air we swallowed, what kinds of bacteria we have in our intestines, and how long we hold in the fart.
    The longer a fart is held in, the larger the proportion of inert nitrogen it contains, because the other gases tend to be absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the intestine.
    A nervous person who swallows a lot of air and who moves stuff through his digestive system rapidly may have a lot of oxygen in his farts, because his body didn't have time to absorb the oxygen.
     According to Dr. James L. A. Roth, the author of Gastrointestinal Gas (Ch. 17 in Gastroenterology, v. 4, 1976) most people (2/3 of adults) pass farts that contain no methane. If both parents are methane producers, their children have a 95% chance of being producers as well. The reason for this is apparently unknown. Some researchers suspect a genetic influence, whereas others think the ability is due to environmental factors. However, all methane in any farts comes from bacterial action and not from human cells.

 What makes farts stink?
    The odor of farts comes from small amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas and mercaptans in the mixture. These compounds contain sulfur. Nitrogen-rich compounds such as skatole and indole also add to the stench of farts. The more sulfur-rich your diet, the more sulfides and mercaptans will be produced by the bacteria in your guts, and the more your farts will stink. Foods such as cauliflower, eggs and meat are notorious for producing smelly farts, whereas beans produce large amounts of not particularly stinky farts.


 Why do farts make noise?
    The sounds are produced by vibrations of the anal opening. Sounds depend on the velocity of expulsion of the gas and the tightness of the sphincter muscles of the anus. Contrary to a popular misconception, fart noise is not generated by the flapping of the butt cheeks. You can see proof of this in the close-up video footage of Carl Plant's fart on Mate-in-a-State .


 Why are stinky farts generally warmer and quieter than regular farts?
   

    Most fart gas comes from swallowed air and consists largely of nitrogen and carbon dioxide, the oxygen having been absorbed by the time it reaches the anal opening. These gases are odorless, although they often pick up other (and more odiferous) components on the way through the bowel. They emerge from the anus in fairly large bubbles at body temperature. A person can often achieve a good sound with these voluminous farts, but they are commonly (but not always!) mundane with respect to odor, and don't feel particularly warm.
    Another major source of fart gas is bacterial action. Bacterial fermentation and digestion processes produce heat as a byproduct as well as various pungent gases. The resulting bubbles of gas tend to be small, hot, and concentrated with stinky bacterial metabolic products. These emerge as the notorious, warm, SBD (Silent-But-Deadly), often in amounts too small to produce a good sound, but excelling in stench.

 
How much gas does a normal person pass per day?
    On average, a person produces about half a liter of fart gas per day, distributed over an average of about fourteen daily farts.
    Whereas it may be difficult for you to determine your daily flatus volume, you can certainly keep track of your daily numerical fart count. You might try this as a science fair project: Keep a journal of everything you eat and a count of your farts. You might make a note of the potency of their odor as well. See if you can discover a relationship between what you eat, how much you fart, and how much they smell.


How does a fart travel to the anus?
       One may wonder why fart gas travels downward toward the anus when gas has a lower density than liquids and solids, and should therefore travel upwards.
    The intestine squeezes its contents toward the anus in a series of contractions, a process called peristalsis. The process is stimulated by eating, which is why we often need to poop and fart right after a meal.  Peristalsis creates a zone of high pressure, forcing all intestinal contents, gas included, to move towards a region of lower pressure, which is toward the anus. Gas is more mobile than other components, and small bubbles coalesce to from larger bubbles en route to the exit. When peristalsis is not active, gas bubbles may begin to percolate upwards again, but they won't get very far due to the complicated and convoluted shape of the intestine. Furthermore, the anus is neither up nor down when a person is lying down.


Why do farts come out of your butt?
 The butt is the location of the anus in humans, and by definition, a fart is an anal escape of intestinal gas. We should be grateful that we are not crinoids. The crinoid is a marine creature with a U-shaped gut, and its anus is located next to its mouth.


How long does it take fart gas to travel to someone else's nose? Fart travel time depends on atmospheric conditions such as humidity, temperature and wind speed and direction, the molecular weight of the fart particles, and the distance between the fart transmitter and the fart receiver. Farts also disperse (spread out) as they leave the source, and their potency diminishes with dilution. Generally, if the fart is not detected within a few seconds, it will be too dilute for perception and will be lost into the atmosphere forever.
    Exceptional conditions exist when the fart is released into a small enclosed area such as an elevator, a small room, or a car. These conditions limit the amount of dilution possible, and the fart may remain in a smellable concentration for a long period of time, until it condenses on the walls.

 
Why is there a 13 to 20 second delay between farting and the time it starts to smell?
 Actually, the fart stinks immediately upon emergence, but it takes several seconds for the odor to travel to the farter's nostrils. If farts could travel at the speed of sound, we would smell them almost instantly, at the same time we hear them.


Is it true that some people never fart?
    No, not if they're alive. People even fart shortly after death.


 Do even movie stars fart?
   Yes, of course. So do grandmothers, priests, kings, presidents, opera singers, beauty queens, and nuns. Even Yoda farts. See the Britney Spears music video "Oops, I farted again."


Do men fart more than women?
   No, women fart just as much as men. It's just that most men take more pride in it than most women. There is a large variation among individuals in the amount of fart gas produced per day, but the variation does not correlate with gender.
  
Do men's farts smell worse than women's farts?
    Based on what I have experienced of women's farts, all I can say is that I hope not. Scientific studies of farts show that women's farts have a higher concentration of odor-causing gases than men's farts, but men's farts have a larger volume. The two factors equalize out (the same number of stench molecules for both), so the odor is about the same.


At what time of day is a gentleman most likely to fart?
    A gentleman is mostly likely to fart first thing in the morning, while in the bathroom. This is known as "morning thunder," and if the gentleman gets good resonance, it can be heard throughout the household.


Why are beans so notorious for making people fart?

    Beans contain sugars that we humans cannot digest. The most offensive sugars, known as "flatulence factors" to scientists who research farts, are raffinose, stachiose, and verbascose. When these sugars reach our intestines, the bacteria go wild, have a big feast, and make lots of gas!
    Other notorious fart-producing foods include corn, bell peppers, cauliflower, cabbage, milk, bread, eggs, beer, and raisins. People unable to digest milk due to lactose intolerance will suffer extreme flatulence if they consume dairy products.
    A friend of mine had a dog who was exceptionally fond of apples and turnips. The dog would eat these things and then get prodigious gas. A dog's digestive system is not equipped to handle such vegetable matter, so the dog's bacteria worked overtime to produce remarkable flatulence.


What things other than diet can make a person fart more than usual?
    People who swallow a lot of air fart more than people who don't. This can be cured somewhat by chewing with your mouth closed, eating more slowly, and not gulping food or liquids. Chewing gum, smoking, and sucking on candy also can cause a person to swallow more air. Carbonated drinks give a person extra gas. Nervous people with fast moving bowels will fart more because less air is absorbed out of the intestines. Some disease conditions can cause excess flatulence. Going up in an airplane or other low-pressure environment can cause the gas inside you to expand and emerge as flatus. Tilting your head back and pouring a drink straight down your gullet (chugging) also leads to an excess of swallowed air, and hence, farting.

Is a fart really just a burp that comes out the wrong end?
    No, a burp emerges from the stomach and has a different chemical composition from a fart. Farts have less atmospheric gas content and more bacterial gas content than burps.

 Is it harmful to hold in farts?
    There are differences in opinion on this one. Certainly, people have believed for centuries that retaining flatus is bad for the health. Emperor Claudius even passed a law legalizing farting at banquets out of concern for people's health.  There was a widespread belief that a person could be poisoned or catch a disease by retaining farts.
    Doctors I have spoken to recently have told me that there is no particular harm in holding in farts. Farts will not poison you; they are a natural component of your intestinal contents. The worst thing that can happen is that you may get a stomach ache from the gas pressure. But one doctor suggested that pathological distention of the bowel could result if a person holds in farts too much. And Dr. P. said that the effort involved in retaining flatus can cause hemorrhoids.


How long would it be possible to not fart?
     As I understand it, a captive fart can escape as soon as the person relaxes. This means that a lot of people who assiduously refrain from farting during the day do so at great length as soon as they fall asleep. Having been on a great many overnight field trips, long bus trips, and trans-Pacific flights, I can personally vouch for the fact that lots of people do fart voluminously as they doze off.  So the answer to the question would be, you can refrain from farting as long as you can stay awake!

 
Do all people fart in their sleep?
       I have not made a scientific study of this, but I don't think all people fart in their sleep. I think mainly those who refuse to fart when they're awake do so when dozing off. For other people, toilet training takes such a strong hold that they let nothing pass their sphincters in sleep. For these people, the gas accumulates in the night and they vent it upon awakening.


Where do farts go when you hold them in?
    How often have you held in a fart, intending to release it at the first appropriate opportunity, only to find that the fart has disappeared when you are ready for it?
    I asked several doctors where the fart goes. Does it leak out slowly without the person knowing it? Is it absorbed into the bloodstream? What happens to it?
    The doctors agree that the fart is neither released nor absorbed. It simply migrates back upward into the intestine and comes out later.
    It is reassuring to know that such farts aren't really lost, just delayed.


How can one cover up a fart?
    There is a company called Fartypants that sells underwear designed to absorb the odor of farts. If you should be caught without your Fartypants, another ploy is to blame the dog or cat, if one should be present, or complain about how the wind must be blowing from the direction of the paper mill.
    As for the sound... if you are in a large group of people, act oblivious and innocent, or glance quickly at the person next to you, as if you think he/she did it. Other strategies include coughing or suddenly moving your chair so that people think that they misheard the fart. If you are with one other person, you can act as if nothing happened, and the other person may believe he was mistaken in thinking he heard a fart.
    CJT addresses the problem of farting loudly in a public restroom as follows: "My solution: use a handful of loose toilet paper, cover your butt hole and it will muffle the farting; my friends and I call it the 'Buff Muff'!"
    Depending upon the company, another strategy is not to cover it up, but to proudly proclaim the fart as your own grand accomplishment and to issue a challenge to the others to outdo that one if they think they can.


Is it really possible to ignite farts?

    The answer to that is yes! However, you should be aware that people get injured igniting flatus. Not only can the flame back up into your colon, but your clothing or other surroundings may catch on fire. A survey done by Fartcloud (the site, alas! is no more) indicates that about a quarter of the people who ignited their farts got burned doing it. Ignition of flatus is a hazardous practice. However, if you want to try it, and you don't have a friend to light your fart for you, you might find it easier to accomplish the job using the Fartlighter.
    There have also been cases in which intestinal gases with a higher than normal oxygen content have exploded during surgery when electric cautery was used by the surgeon.
Why is possible to burn farts?
    Farts burn because they contain methane (sometimes) and hydrogen, both of which are flammable gases. (Hydrogen was the same gas that was used in the ill fated Hindenburg dirigible.)
    Farts burn with a blue or yellow flame.   According to Dr. James L. A. Roth, a blue flame is indicative of the presence of methane in the flatus. Since methane producers are an elite group (only 1/3 of the population), an exclusive club called the Royal Order of the Blue Flame has been established that is open only to them. Mate-in-a-State has video footage of flatus ignition. Observe the color of the flames. These people are not methane emitters.


Is it possible for a talented person to earn a living through flatulence?
Few people earn their living directly via flatulence. But a friend of mine says that he saw a carnival act in which the performer whistled tunes with his farts, blew out candles on the opposite side of the stage, and sent flames all the way across the stage. A famous performer who earned his living this way was Le Petomane, who performed in France at the beginning of the 20th Century. However, my friend isn't old enough to have seen Le Petomane, so maybe he had a chance to see Mr. Methane. Mr. Methane  lays claim to the distinction of being the world's only performing flatulist.
    However, people may also earn a living through the prevention of flatulence , through the practice of medicine specializing in the treatment of flatulence and other gastrointestinal problems, by writing books about flatulence , and through the production and sales of various fart gags such as whoopee cushions and farts in a can.
    Fartypants sells a fart filter and a number of other fart-related products.
    Maybe, if you're lucky, you'll be able to find a copy of Le Petomane's biography by searching at alibris by clicking on the link below. Last time I checked, they had two copies available!


Why do dog and cat farts smell so bad?

A carnivore's protein-rich diet produces relatively small amounts of intensely stinky gas because proteins contain lots of sulfur. A dog's or cat's farts are rarely audible, but the odor is overwhelming.  I have asked biologists why dogs and cats generally fart silently, and their theories include: the amount of gas produced is small, but potent, the horizontal orientation of their gastrointestinal system puts less pressure on the anal opening, so the gas is expelled more slowly, their anal sphincters don't close as tightly as humans' because it takes less force to hold in the contents of the colon -- again because of the horizontal orientation of the gastrointestinal system -- and a loose anus makes less sound, and, my favorite dogs and cats don't feel embarrassed about farting, so their sphincters are more relaxed, leading to less noisy flatulence.
    Mike F. points out that many dog foods are soy-based, so on top of all the above factors, add beans and stand back!
    Large herbivorous animals such as cows, horses and elephants, on the other hand, produce vast quantities of relatively non-stinky fart gas. The farts of these animals are noisy and can go on for astoundingly long periods of time. Cows in particular are productive, in part because they swallow huge amounts of air. They need oxygen in their guts for the various protozoa employed there as digestive aids.


Is there any kind of animal that doesn't fart?  If we define a fart to be an anal escape of intestinal gas, then it follows that animals that lack intestines or an anus cannot fart.  Most animals possess intestines and an anus, but there are some that don't. These include:
     Sponges: These organisms lack true tissues and organs. They have just a few types of cells organized into a bag with holes in it. Water flows into some holes and out other holes. Sponges are so different from other animals that some biologists think we shouldn't even call them animals.
    Cnidaria: This phylum includes the jellyfish, corals, sea anemones and hydra. Their tissues are organized into a bag with a mouth surrounded by stinging tentacles. Food enters the mouth and is digested inside the bag, after which the leftovers are expelled via the same opening. In effect, the same hole serves as both a mouth and an anus. Any gas expelled by a cnidarian would be more appropriately termed a belch rather than a fart, since the animal lacks intestines and separate anus.
    Pogonophoran worms: These remarkable animals, who dwell on the sea floor near active volcanic regions associated with mid-ocean ridges, possess no mouth, no stomach, no intestines, and no anus. Apparently they retain their svelte, worm-shaped figures by giving up on eating completely! They survive by means of a mutualistic relationship with chemosynthetic bacteria that live in their flesh. Anyway, these animals cannot possibly fart.

    A second category of animals that probably don't fart are animals that live very deep underwater. At high pressures, gas remains in solution rather than forming bubbles. So there is a good chance that all those clams, echinoderms, fish and other animals living near the sealer don't fart because their farts stay in solution and never emerge as bubbles, even though the animals possess perfectly good intestines and anuses.

    Our ability to distinguish between the need to fart and the need to poop is something that we learn gradually in the process of toilet training and early childhood. With the tactile nerve endings in the rectal area, we can actually feel different sensations depending upon what is waiting by the exit. Of course, sometimes we are fooled, especially if the substance at hand is extremely fluid in nature, and that is when we have the unfortunate accident of venting a squirt of diarrhea rather than an innocent fart.


Why do chicks always deny farting?
    I suppose I should start by saying that only some chicks deny farting. The rest of us acknowledge our gaseous accomplishments with pride.
    However, a great many sisters do deny farting. The reason is that they have been misled into thinking that farts are not ladylike. It is a great mistake to say that farting is not ladylike. The reason is that all people fart, including ladies. Anything that ladies do is by definition ladylike, and that includes the emission of anal gases.


Is it possible for a fart to kill you?
A great many of you have asked if farts can be fatal, or if you can die from smelling a particularly bad fart. My initial response to this question was "no," but I thought I'd better ask a doctor. So now it is official, the medical opinion I received is no, a fart can't kill you.
    However, if you really work hard at it, you can manage to kill yourself with just about anything. I recently read of a man who hooked up his nose to his anus with a system involving a gas mask, rubber tubing and a hollow wooden post. He died of suffocation. This story comes from the Darwin Awards, and I personally cannot attest to the overall veracity of their stories.
    The story of the bed-bound obese man who died from inhaling his own flatulence is an urban legend that has been in circulation for some time.

Many uses of Apple Cider Vinegar

Many uses of Apple Cider Vinegar

BEAUTY:
Hair: It is widely known that apple cider vinegar can be used as a rinse for your hair after shampooing to add healthy body and shine. Recycle an old shampoo bottle and fill it with 1/2 a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a cup of cold water. Pour through your hair after shampooing several times a week.
Face: Did you know that apple cider vinegar can help regulate the pH of your skin? Dilute apple cider vinegar with two parts water, and spread the concoction over your face with a cotton ball as a toner. You can do this at night after washing, and in the morning before you apply your moisturizer. You can also dab apple cider vinegar directly onto age spots and leave them on overnight to lighten their color.
Hands and Feet: Are your hands and feet feeling tired and swollen after a long day? Treat yourself to a personal spa massage by rubbing apple cider vinegar onto them.
Sunburn: Suffering from a bad sunburn? Add a cup of apple cider vinegar to your bath and soak for 10 minutes.
Teeth: Did you know that apple cider vinegar can help remove stains from teeth? Rub teeth directly with apple cider vinegar and rinse out.
Aftershave: Fill a bottle with equal parts apple cider vinegar and water and shake to blend.
 
HEALTH:
Weight-Loss: For daily weight and pH balance maintenance, add 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to 16 oz of water. Sip this concoction throughout the day.
Detox: Add 2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a 1 or 2 liter filtered water bottle. Drink this throughout the day to cleanse your body and kidneys all day long.
 
HOME AND PETS
Cleaning: Mix 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup water. You can use this concoction to clean microwaves, bathroom tiles, kitchen surfaces, windows, glasses and mirrors. This mixture also works as a disinfectant.
Flea Reduction: Rub apple cider vinegar onto your pet’s skin. Add a little bit of apple cider vinegar to their water. Spray apple cider vinegar, diluted 50 percent with water, onto your pets and onto your furniture to repel the presence of fleas.

Facts on smoking

Facts on smoking

The facts on smoking are disturbing and indicate that smoking has a devastating effect on the human body. Despite scientific studies that show the traumatic effects smoking has on the mind and body, millions continue to smoke. This leaves many people asking, why people continue to smoke despite its known health risk?

Smoking is an addiction
The facts on smoking indicate that smoking is very much an addiction, similar to heroin and cocaine. The main ingredient in tobacco, nicotine, stimulates the portion of the brain that is connected with a pleasurable feeling. The neurotransmitter, dopamine, controls the desire to consume drugs. Nicotine has been shown to increase dopamine levels in the pleasurable portion of the brain. This feeling is quickly realized, within 10 seconds of the inhalation of nicotine and dissipates soon after the cessation of smoking. This causes cravings and the subsequent use of nicotine to calm the craving. This repetitive process; craving, satisfaction, craving; associated with symptoms of withdrawal is indicative of addiction.

Symptoms of withdrawal
Nicotine users can experience withdrawal symptoms within hours of their last cigarette. This negat ive experience causes many people to return to smoking soon after vowing to quit. These symptoms are rapid, and are relatively strong for the few days. They may last for weeks and some smokers who quit may experience these withdrawal symptoms for months. Those who decide to quit smoking may experience the following symptoms of withdrawal.

Cravings
The desire to have a cigarette intensifies with the absence of nicotine in the body. This desire can be overwhelming and drives many people to smoke within a few hours of quitting.

Irritability
Nicotine users can experience increased irritability when going through nicotine withdrawal.

Sleep disturbances
A person going through nicotine withdrawal can experience unpleasant sleep disturbances.
Increased appetite
Another common withdrawal symptom of nicotine is an increased appetite. This causes many people, especially women, to resume smoking.

Attention deficits
Many people experience attention difficulties when going th rough nicotine withdrawal.
In addition to the physical aspect of withdrawal, many nicotine users experience psychological symptoms as well. These may include desiring certain smoking rituals, smells, tastes and sights. A smoking cessation program can help a person effectively and permanently kick the habit.
Effects of smoking
Numerous studies have evaluated the adverse health effects smoking has on the body and the economy. The most serious facts on smoking related health and economic risks are listed below.

    * Tobacco is the only product, that when used as intended, damages the body and causes numerous life threatening health ailments.
    * Smoking related diseases, such as chronic lung disease and coronary heart disease, result in the deaths of over 400,000 Americans every year.
    * Tobacco products contain close to 5,000 different chemicals, of those chemicals 69 are known to cause cancers.
    * 90% of all lung cancer deaths can be directly contributed to smoking. In addi tion to that, smoking is responsible for 80 to 90% of all deaths related to chronic lung diseases.
    * Nearly 9 million Americans suffer from a serious smoking related health ailment. For perspective, nearly 20 Americans suffer from a serious smoking related illness for every 1 person that dies from smoking related health issues.
    * Aside from heart and lung issues, smoking also has a detrimental effect on the digestive systems. It can cause infertility, peptic ulcer disease and delayed healing in wounds.
    * Smoking during pregnancy has been linked to an array of neonatal and infant health issues.
    * 10% of all infant deaths, 14% of preterm deliveries and 20 - 30% of low birth weight babies can be directly related to smoking during pregnancy. Additionally, seemingly healthy babies born to women who smoked during pregnancy were found to have narrow airways and decreased lung function.
    * Facts on smoking in public places have shown that a non smoker will inhale the equivalent of 4 cigarettes if they remain in a room with a smoker for over 2 hours. This dispels the myth that smoking only endangers the health of the smoker.
    * In the United States, nearly $170 billion is incurred for health care costs caused by smoking related health issues.
    * Neonatal care costs attributed to tobacco exposure during pregnancy is estimated at over $350 million a year.

How To Choose Low Fat Frozen Foods

How To Choose Low Fat Frozen Foods

1. Here’s a little bit of appetizer. The method of freezing food dates back to the earliest times of farmers, fisher folks, and hunters. They used unheated buildings to house their harvest during the winter. This technique turns water into ice thus preventing bacterial growth that contributes to the decomposition of food. Clarence Birdseye is an American inventor responsible for developing the quick-freeze system. His design has faced countless innovations through the years including the addition of liquid nitrogen.

2. Watch out. In general frozen foods were created to provide a healthy alternative for people who are always on the move but you have to realize that not all of them were manufactured under the same conditions and processes. You have to look out for those that contain preservatives. Take extra time in marking sodium and fat contents. The American Heart Association recommends that you limit your sodium intake to around 2,400 milligrams per day, which means that you should choose frozen preparations that have 200 milligrams of sodium for every hundred calories. There are products that you will find containing too much grease when you compare fat in grams with total calorie. Daily fat intake should be less than thirty percent of daily calorie count.

3. Make sure you get it complete. There are low fat dinners that contain 250 to 300 calories so if you consider this meal as a third of what you have to get for a single day it’s less than 1,000 calories. This is not even sufficient to provide the energy needs of an individual under a weight reduction program. The ideal number to hit in terms of calories is 300. This would give you enough strength to overcome temptations of heating up a round of high-calorie snack on the latter portion of your day.

4. Veggies should not be taken for granted. A significant kink on a frozen product’s armor is the small space allotted for vegetables and fruits. Even though you’re pretty much sure that your reliable frozen food brand can provide the needed greenery you can still pump up the vitamins and minerals in your meal by reserving a spot for salad or steamed veggie on your plate.

5. Take your time and read. When buying frozen food products you have to meticulously scrutinize the label area. There are government mandated nutritional labels that can give you gem-like information regarding the product you’re about to ingest. This includes portion size, number of calories, amount of sodium, and number of fat in grams. You have to give extra attention to portion size as there are products that are packed to dish out two servings. This is particularly important when you desire to trim those pounds and inches.

Desi Dawa - Home Remedies

Desi Dawa -  Home Remedies

       Here are 35 Indian Home Remedies for everything imaginable and have been used for hundreds of years, before the advent of modern medicine. This is good especially for minor aliments and aches and pains. Print it out and keep it in a place where you can find it easily, when needed. This may avoid a trip to the doctors and/or make you feel healthy (and even look beautiful) in the process. Take Care!

1) Home Remedies for Asthma:

    * Take 1 tsp honey and 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder and mix them well before consuming.

    * For people who are in their early stages of asthma, a perfect home remedy is to boil 8-10 cloves of garlic in 1/2 cup of milk and consume it during night time.

    * Take very hot water and add a tsp of honey in it. Consume it just before sleeping and take small sips.

2) Home Remedies for Body Odour:

    * Use antibacterial soap or deodorant soap while bathing.

    * To combat the unpleasant armpit odour apply cider vinegar. It serves as the best body odour home remedy treatment.

    * In the bathing water, add a few cups of tomato juice and soak yourself  in water for about 15 minutes.


3) Home Remedies for Backache:

   * Lime juice serves as an excellent home remedy for backache. Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon and add common salt in it. Drink it two times in a day. It will act as a great back pain reliever.

    * As a part of back pain home remedy treatment, raw potato in the form of poultice is to be applied on the pain affected area.

    * Usually Vitamin C that is mainly found in citrus fruits is considered valuable for getting rid of backaches. Consume about 2000 mg of this vitamin everyday.

    * Applying garlic oil on the back gives immense relief from back pain.

    * Take about 10 small garlic pieces and fry them in oil on a low flame.You can either use sesame oil, coconut oil or mustard oil. Fry till the garlic cloves turn light brown. Let the oil prepared from garlic cool completely.Thereafter apply it on the back and keep it for about three hours. In a couple of days, you'll feel its magical effects.

4)Home Remedies for Cough:

   * Grapes help a great deal in treating cold in a few days. Consume 1 cup grape juice and also add 1-teaspoon honey to it.

    * Almonds are excellent for dry coughs. Soak about seven almonds in water and keep them overnight. Next morning peel off the brown skin. Now grind them to form a powder and add twenty grams each of butter and sugar and form a paste.Consume it twice a day , once in the morning and the second time in the evening.

5) Home Remedies for Common Cold:

 * Lemon can be used effectively to treat common cold, as it increases the body resistance. Take one glass of warm water and pour some lime juice and a tsp of honey in it and consume it once or twice on a daily basis.

    * Take 1 tbsp of Pepper powder and boil it in a cup of milk. Also add on a pinch of turmeric to it. Put some sugar for taste. Drink it once in a day for about three days.

    * Take 3-4 tsp Onion juice and 3-4 tsp Honey and mix well before consuming.

6) Home Remedies for Common Fever:

 * The juice of grapefruit is valuable in all fevers. Helpful in quenching thirst, it also removes the burning sensation produced by the fever. Half a glass of grapefruit juice should be taken with half a glass of water.

    * Another ideal food in all types of fever is orange. It provides energy, increases urinary output, and promotes body resistance against infections. It is especially effective when the digestive power of the body is seriously hampered.

7)Home Remedies for Defective Vision:

    * Consume foods rich in vitamin A (like raw spinach, turnip tops, milkcream, cheese, butter, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, cabbage, Soyabeans, green peas,fresh milk), as vitamin A  helps in improving the eyesight.

8) Home Remedies for Diabetes:

    * Take 15 fresh mango leaves and boil them in 1 glass of water. Keep them overnight. Filter and drink the next morning.
    * As a part of diabetes home remedy treatment, grapefruit is considered most beneficial. Eat three grape fruits three times in a day.
    * Indian gooseberry (Amla), a rich source of vitamin C serves as the best home remedy for diabetes. Take 1 tbsp of gooseberry juice and mix it with a cup ofbitter gourd (Karela) juice. Consume the mixture daily for about 2 months.

9) Home Remedies for Dry Chapped Lips:

1. Boil the moong till just tender. Cool.
2. Boil the potatoes and chop coarsely. Cool. 
3. Tap the Poori at the center lightly to make a half inch hole in it.
4. Add about 1/2 teaspoon of the potatoes and 1/2 teaspoon of the boiled Moong.
5. Now add 1 tbsp of the Tamarind chutney.
Dip the filled Poori into the chilled pani puri water and serve.
6. You can add the above ingredients into the Poori according to your taste.
7. Many people like to have only the sweet tamarind chutney,
some like it hot and therefore adding the potatoes
and lentils they dip the poori into the Pani Poori water.
8. Some only add the moong/lentils while others favor the potatoes. Make your favorite combination.
    * Drink plenty of water every day.
    * Cut fine slices of cucumber and rub on lips.
    * Take a saline bath.
    * Apply neem leaves extract on your lips.

10) Home Remedies for Diarrhoea:

    * Take a ripe banana and mash it properly. Add 1 tsp of tamarind pulp and a pinch of salt to it. Consume this mixture two times in a day.
    * A simple effective home remedy for diarrhea is to drink a cup of strong tea or coffee.
    * A popular diarrhea home remedy treatment is to consume a paste made of15-20 fresh curry leaves mixed with 1 tsp honey.
    * Take a ripe banana, add 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder to it and eat it on a daily basis.
    * Take a tsp of date paste and mix with 1 tsp honey. This mixture is to be consumed 4-5 times a day.


11) Home Remedies for Ear Ache:

    * Boil 3-4 cloves of Garlic in some water. Mash them and add a pinch of salt. Wrap this 0poultice in a flannel or woolen cloth and place on the aching ear.
    * Pour some garlic juice in the paining ear. Its antibiotic qualities help to relieve the pain.
    * Take Vitamin C to boost your immune system. It is a natural antibiotic and antihistamine that helps to reduce inflammation and fever. Include zinc in your diet because it reduces ear infection. Certain foods, more commonly dairy products like milk, butter, cheese etc tend to aggravate ear infections, so it is better to avoid them during an ear infection.

12)Home Remedies for Genital Warts:
    * Extract juice from onion slices and add salt to it. Apply this juice on the wart-affected area and see the magical effects.
    * Another great idea is to apply the milky juice of figs on the warts 2-3 times in a day, till the warts disappear.
    * Put few drops of apple cider vinegar on the warts using cotton ball.
    * Consume foods rich in folic acid and beta-carotene.
    * Eat plenty of green leafy veggies.

13) Home Remedies for Gingivitis:

    * Take some clove oil and rub it on your gums. Or else, keep a clove in your mouth and chew slowly.
    * Brush your teeth with toothpaste that contains sage oil, peppermint oil etc..
    * In 1 glass of lukewarm water, add a pinch of salt and prepare a homemade saline solution. Using this solution, gargle two times in a day. It will help a great deal in reducing the swelling in your mouth.
    * To heal the gum swelling, use an anti bacterial mouth wash.
    * Patients suffering from Gingivitis should consume foods containing low saturated fats.


14) Home Remedies for Hair Loss:

    * One of the best home remedies for treating hair loss is to massage your scalp with fingers gently. It will also aid in increasing blood circulation and lend glow to your hair.

    *  Amla oil serves as an excellent tonic for hair conditioning. Apply this oil on the scalp and see the wonderful results.. OR for nourishing your hair, apply coconut milk all over your scalp and massage it into the hair roots.


15) Home Remedies for Hangover:

    * Drink plenty of water before going to bed as well as when you wake up in the morning.
    * Eating some foodstuff while and after you are drinking will slow down the rate at which alcohol enters the blood, thereby reducing the hangover.
    * Consume vitamin C tablets, as they lead to the breakdown of alcohol content in the body.


16) Home Remedies for Headache:

    * Eat an apple with a little salt on an empty stomach everyday and see its wonderful effects.
    * When headache is caused by cold winds, cinnamon works best in curing headache. Make a paste of cinnamon by mixing in water and apply it all over your forehead


17) Home Remedies for Heartburn:

    * Ginger serves as an effective home remedy for heartburn. Grind fresh ginger and prepare ginger tea.. You can even add ginger to foods.
    * Increase your fiber intake, as it aids in the absorption of excess acid and gas. It helps in flushing out the toxins from your body.
    * Drink plenty of water at least 8 glasses everyday.
    * Green tea is also effective in treating heartburn.
    * Prepare herbal tea containing equal small amounts of peppermint,chamomile, ginger, licorice root and catnip. Preferably, it should be taken after dinner


18) Home Remedies for Herpes:

    * Take a few ice cubes and rub them on the cold sore affected area for a few minutes.
    * Take a warm tea bag and apply it on the fever blisters for about half an hour.
    * Lemon balm extract is considered valuable in healing Herpes infection.
    * Consume foods rich in vitamins. Zinc and iron are also vital.
    * Eat plenty of fruits and green veggies.

19) Home Remedies for High Blood Cholesterol:

    * In 1 glass of water, add 2 tbsps of coriander seeds and bring to a boil. Let the decoction cool for some time and then strain. Drink this mixture two times in a day.
    * Sunflower seeds are extremely beneficial, as they contain linoleic acid that helps in reducing the cholesterol deposits on the walls of arteries. You just need to modify your cooking style a bit and substitute sunflower seeds for solid fats such as butter and cream.
    * Incorporate loads of fiber in your meals, as fiber helps a great deal in lowering the cholesterol pressure in blood.


20) Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure:

    * A real effective home remedy for high blood pressure is to take 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp ginger juice and 1 tsp cumin powder and mix them well.Have this mixture atleast two times in a day.
    * As a part of high bp home remedy treatment, it's good to try out the idea of consuming coriander or fenu greek leaves mixed in 1 cup of water.
    *  Take about 25-30 curry leaves and make a juice, using 1-cup water. You can even add on lime juice to it for making it tastier. Strain and drink it in the morning.


21) Home Remedies for Menopausal Disorder:

    * When a woman experiences menopause, she should take a daily supplement consisting of 500 mg magnesium and 2 gm of calcium.
    * Carrot seeds are of great value in case of menopause. In 1 glass of cow's milk, put a tsp of carrot seeds and boil for about 10 minutes or so. Consume it everyday as a medicine.
    * Liquorice serves as an effective remedy for menopause, as it contains the natural female hormone, estrogen. Thus, it helps in making up for the lost hormones.


22) Home Remedies for Obesity:

 
    * On an empty stomach in the morning, drink 1 glass of warm water mixed with juice of half a lime and 1 tsp honey.
    * In 1 cup of water, add 3 tsp of lime juice, 1/2 tsp pepper powder and some honey. Drink this everyday for=2 0about 3-4 months.
    * As a substitute of breakfast, consume 2 ripe tomatoes in the morning.This remedy will aid in reducing your weight at a faster rate.

24) Home Remedies for Prostate Disorders:

    * Pumpkin seeds are extremely useful in treating prostate disorders. The seeds of pumpkin act as a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids that are vital to the health of the prostate.. Men suffering from prostate trouble must take about 60-90 gm of pumpkin seeds daily. Pumpkin can be consumed in the form of powder spread over the cooked food. You can also mix them with white flour for making chapattis.
    * Zinc has been found beneficial in the treatment of prostate disorders.Take about 30 milligrams of this mineral everyday.
    * Vitamin E is beneficial for prostate health. The patient should be given foods rich in vitamin E like wholegrain products, green leafy vegetables, milk and sprouted seeds.
    * In 200 ml spinach juice, add 300 ml of carrot juice. You can even have carrot juice separately. Vegetable juices are excellent in curing prostate disorders.

25) Home Remedies for Ringworm:

    * Take a raw fresh papaya and cut out slices. Rub the slice on the ringworm patch. It serves as an excellent home remedy for ring worms.
    * Take a few mustard seeds and powder them. Thereafter, make a paste using water.. Apply the paste on the ringworm-affected area and see its wonderful effects.
 
26) Home Remedies for Sexual Impotence:

    * Garlic is considered valuable in treating the problem of sexual impotence. It acts like a tonic for loss of sexual power Chew 2-3 cloves of raw garlic daily.
    * Another aphrodisiac food next to garlic is onion. It aids in strengthening the reproductive organs. Prefer going in for white onions.
    * Carrots have proved beneficial in creating the desire for sex. Take about 150 gm of finely chopped carrots and eat them with a half boiled egg, dipped in 1 tbsp of honey. Consume it once a day for about a month or two.


27) Home Remedies for Sinusitis:

    * Mango serves as an effective home remedy for preventing the frequent attacks of sinus, as it is packed with loads of vitamin A. OR Another beneficial remedy consists of consuming pungent foods like onion and garlic, as a part of your daily meals.

    *  Fenugreek leaves are considered valuable in curing sinusitis. In 250 ml water, boil 1 tsp of Fenugreek seeds and reduce it to half. This will help you to perspire, dispel toxicity and reduce the fever period.
    * Tie a tsp of black cumin seeds in a thin cotton cloth and inhale..


28) Home Remedies for Sore Throat:

    * Take 1-2 cloves of garlic and 2-3 cloves and make a paste. Mix with 1 cup of honey. Drink 1 tsp about 3 times in a day.
    * In 1 cup of warm milk, add a pinch of turmeric powder.. Drink the milk before going to bed.
    * Take 1 whole onion and boil it with some water. Thereafter, mash it and add some butter, salt and pepper to it. Now eat this mixture.

29) Home Remedies for Stomach Ache:

    * Drink plenty of water , as it helps in ensuring smooth bowel movements.
    * Drink lemon tea with some honey added in it for taste. It will keep away stomach ache.
    * Mix 1 tsp each of mint juice and lime juice. Add some ginger juice and black salt in it. Drink this mixture.

30) Home Remedies for Tonsillitis :

    * Take a fresh lemon and squeeze it in a glass of water. Add 4 tsp of honey and ¼ tsp of common salt in it. Drink it slowly sip by sip.
    * Milk has proved beneficial in treating tonsillitis. In 1 glass of pure boiled milk, add a pinch of turmeric powder and pepper powder. Drink it every night for about 3 days.


31) Home Remedies for Toothache:

    * Dip 1 clove of garlic in rock salt and place it on the affected tooth.
    * Keep a piece of raw onion inside the mouth on the affected tooth.
    * Clove serves as an excellent home remedy for toothache. Keep a clove in your mouth and suck it. You can even apply clove oil on the affected tooth.
    * Lime is considered valuable in maintaining the health of teeth.
    * Consume the juice of wheat grass, as it acts as a fabulous mouthwash in case of tooth decay.

1. Another good remedy for toothache is to put 2-3 drops of vanilla extract on the affected area. This provides instant relief from toothache.
2. Cut a piece of potato and place it on the sore tooth for about 15mins.
3. Press a hot tea bag against the tooth. It is a nice remedy for toothache.
4. Gargle with a medicated mouth wash.
   In case the pain is caused by trapped food particles, rinse mouth with water vigorously.
   Press an ice cube on the nearest cheek for about 15mins 3 times a day to decrease the pain

32) Home Remedies for Wrinkles:

Cheap Ways to Prevent Wrinkles

    * Application of 20 left over egg whites at the bottom of the shell to the problematic area serves as an effective home remedy for wrinkles.

    * For the sagging skin under the eyes or on the throat, apply some odorless Castor oil.

    * Take some coconut oil and massage on the wrinkled skin.

    * Eat 1 tsp of shredded ginger along with a few drops of honey every morning.

    * Rub the core of a pineapple all over your face for sometime and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes.

33) Home Remedies for Urinary Tract Infection:

    * In 8 oz of water, put 1/2 tsp of baking soda and drink it.

    * Drink plenty of water, as it aids in flushing out the waste products from the body.

    * Drink Cranberry juice. You can also add some apple juice for taste.

34) Home Remedies for Warts:

    * Apply Castor oil daily over the problematic area. Continue for several months.

    * Apply milky juice of fresh and barely-ripe figs a number of times a day.Continue for two weeks.

    * Rub cut raw potatoes on the affected area several times daily. Continue for atleast two weeks.

    * Rub cut onions on the warts to stimulate the circulation of blood.

    * Apply powder of herb Indian squall daily over the warts.

    * Apply milk from the cut end of dandelion over the warts 2-3 times a day.

    * Apply oil extracted from the shell of the cashew nut over the warts.

    * Apply Papaya juice.

    * Apply Pineapple juice.


35) Home Remedies for Vomiting:

    * Take 2 cardamoms and roast them on a dry pan (tava). Powder the cardamoms and thereafter add a tsp of honey in it.. Consume it frequently. It serves as a fabulous home remedy for vomiting.
   
    *  In the mixture of 1 tsp of mint juice and 1 tsp lime juice, add 1/2 tsp of ginger juice and 1 tsp honey. Drink this mixture to prevent vomiting.

    * Lime juice is an effective remedy for vomiting. Take a glass of chilled lime.juice and sip slowly.

    * To prevent vomiting, drink ginger tea.

    * In 1 glass water, add some honey and drink sip by sip.