Friday, August 14, 2009

That Oh-So Comfy (Comfortable) Sundress

Sticky feeling makes us sssooooooh uneasy! We can’t do anything about it. Unless, you could stay in an air conditioned area all day long. Or can you stop that sun from emitting too much hotness? Better yet, find a way how the country could have a centralized AC unit. Remember, this is a tropical country! Do you understand the word hot? Ha-ha-ha…hot!

Fine, since we can’t do anything about humidity, all we can do is to always, make sure, do all the effort, to look fresh and comfortable. This way, you’ll look carefree and easy. One of the most important factors is outfit. You can wear shorts, sandos, or stringed tops. But the cutest of all is SUNDRESS!

But wait, don’t fret. For sure some wouldn’t want the idea. How about considering this simple guide that might help you pick a sundress to bring out the best in your features and build from head to toe? Remember, every woman has something to show off, and something to hide, and the most flattering sundress will do both so that you appear at your most beautiful all summer long. Learn to recognize the signs to well-fitting sundresses.

1. Show off well-toned legs with a side slit or two in a column tank dress. Conceal heavier legs under a long dress with a flowing skirt.

2. Hide heavier hips under an A-line dress, or opt for a knee-length number that has a little flare around the edges.

3. You can also downplay a small chest by wearing a ruffled or gathered bodice

4. Play up your well-toned shoulders and upper back with a halter sundress. An open collar or V-neckline will help minimize a well-endowed chest

5. Choose a slip dress with darts positioned near the waist to give the illusion of curves. This works well for those with a thicker waist or gals with a boyish, not-so-curvy figure.

6. Go strapless or choose delicate spaghetti straps to reveal a long neck and sexy décolletage. Camouflage heavy upper arms by draping them in a delicate chiffon scarf.

7. Consider a minidress if you're petite. The shorter skirt length will create the illusion of longer legs.

8. Always make sure that nothing is as important as feeling the comfort of wearing such. Even how beautiful that sundress looks, if it doesn’t fit, it will defy in you!
So, to make it easier for you, here’s another tip:

It fits when…

Always make sure that nothing is as important as feeling the comfort of wearing such.
Even how beautiful that sundress looks, if it doesn’t fit, it will defy in you!
So, to make it easier for you, here’s another tip:

It fits when…

* The neckline lies flat. Sit down to make sure it remains so. If you feel pressure on your throat or pulling down the back, the dress is too small. If there's a gap at the neckline, the dress is too big.

For long, elegant neck try boat neck style or a square neckline. For shorter or thicker neck, a v-neck or a halter-style top will look good on you.

* Seams lie flat down the middle of your shoulders. If there's any tugging on the shoulders when you sit, the dress is too small. If seams run wider than and droop off your shoulders, the dress is too big. If the shoulder straps are adjustable, adjust them according to your upper-body frame.

If you want to make your shoulders appear broader, a halter top or very thin spaghetti straps are a great choice, as they will help your shoulders blend into the rest of your torso, creating a more balanced visual effect. A plunging neckline minimizes your shoulders by drawing attention to the middle of your torso, so if you have very broad shoulders, a deep v-neck can make a big difference. If your shoulders are very toned, show them with a flattering sundress that has thicker, brightly colored or embellished straps that will draw the eye towards your shoulders.

* There isn't any digging or excess pressure on your underarms. Stretch out your arms and sit down to make sure. Lift your arms to make sure that your bra isn't showing. The armholes should close around your arms without undue pressure or sagging.

A flattering sundress for summer weather is one that will help you stay cool, and a halter or a sleeveless dress can bring out the best in your shoulders while helping you feel comfortable. If you do opt for sleeves to cover your upper arm, make sure that you choose a very light fabric, like breathable linen. Sleeves with an eyelet detail can give you maximum air circulation while still offering visual coverage. Another great choice is to pair a flattering sundress with a light linen or lace wrap or stole which you can throw around your shoulders to drape across your upper arms. This allows you to choose any dress you like without worrying about whether it exposes your upper arms or not.

* There isn't pressure pushing down on your breasts or stretching the fabric from the back. Sit up straight down and consider these two pressure areas again.

If you are very curvy up top, a flattering sundress will provide a tightly nipped waist and some fullness in the skirt to balance you out for a classic hourglass shape. If you want to disguise a flat chest, a blousy top with gathers or ruffles will add the illusion of a bit more weight. Color and pattern can also be a big help in this area: a band of light color or a busy patter n across the bust will draw the eye to the chest, giving the illusion of greater size, whereas a band of simple, dark color will minimize the appearance of the bust.

* The placement of the waistline is the most important feature of any flattering sundress, and it is more often than not the primary reason that a dress will fail or succeed in bringing out the best in your body. To choose the right waistline for your shape, think torso length.

o If you have a short torso, an empire waistline that falls just below the bust will make you look longer and leaner. A drop-waist dress is also a great choice because it will camouflage how high your natural waist is, giving you the illusion of more length. If you have a long torso, try a Basque waistline, a v-shaped waistline that will help you use your length to the most flattering effect by balancing it with your hips.

o If your legs are an asset, your most flattering sundress will have a skirt that falls above the knee so that you can draw attention to this great feature. If you want to create the look of longer, leaner legs than nature has give you, an a-line skirt that flares out at the bottom will create a strong vertical shape that will seem to add instant inches. If you have great calves, draw attention to them with an asymmetrical hemline that will add interest to the bottom of your flattering sundress.

o If you can’t find a sundress you love in a length you like, consider getting the hem let down or taken up to suit you better. This is a very simple and inexpensive alteration, so even if you’re not practiced with a needle and thread, you may want to visit a local tailor. After all, a flattering sundress should be perfect right down to your toes.

o The sundress is a fun and versatile summer piece. You can play it up with heels and accessories, or keep it simple with flat sandals. Choosing a silhouette that flatters your figure will let you step out with confidence.

Monday, August 10, 2009

The Role Of Vitamin B3 Niacin

Vitamin B3 niacin is an essential vitamin for your body, and it is just one of the eight water soluble types of B vitamins. Nearly all of the B vitamin classes will help the body convert carbohydrates into sugar or glucose, which can then be burned to produce energy. Also known as complex B vitamins, B3 niacin are essential in helping the body break down protein and fat.

Complex B vitamins also play an important role with maintaining muscle tone within the digestive tract, along with the health of the skin, nervous system, live, eyes, hair, and mouth. Even though a lot of people associate creative with the aspect of muscles and muscle tone, vitamin B3 niacin is as equally important - if not more important.

B3 niacin is also important with getting harmful or toxic chemicals out of the body. It can also help the body produce different sex and stress related hormones within the adrenal glands, among other parts of the body. The vitamin is also useful for helping with sexual dysfunction as well. This can be great news for those who have problems with pleasing their mate.

Also very effective with improving circulation, B3 niacin can also help to reduce cholesterol levels found in the blood. Even though vitamin B3 niacin is great as a stand alone supplement, it should also consumed with foods that contain protein, due to the fact that the body is able to convert the amino acid known as tryptophan into niacin.

The higher doses of B3 niacin, which are available only through prescription, have been proven to prevent and also improve a variety of different symptoms and ailments. Due to the high risk of toxicity, individuals should always consult with a doctor first, before they decide to start higher doses of B3 niacin.

There are also niacin skin care products that are being developed as well, which contain anti-aging products, helping to treat acne and also aid in the prevention of skin cancer. A lot of dermatologists expect that these products will become really popular over the next several years. Even though they are still in development stages, research has proven them to be very effective when compared to the other types of products.

The best sources for vitamin B3 niacin include beef, pork, turkey, beets, veal, fish, chicken, salmon, tuna, and peanuts. You can also get supplements that contain B3 niacin as well, which can give your body the amounts it needs. This is a very important vitamin, as it does a lot more for the body than most think. By consuming foods that contain it or taking the proper supplements - you’ll get the amount of B vitamins that your body needs on a daily basis.

Taking Manic Depression Seriously

Manic depression or Bipolar depression is actually considered as one of the worst type of depression that people usually suffer from.

Characterized by sudden and extreme changes in their mood, Manic depression is said to be called as such because manic = mania refers to the 'ups' while depression refers to the 'downs'.
A lot of people actually experience erratic changes in their moods, some times, these so-called mood swings may not just be caused by PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) or stress. Doctors actually have diagnosed mood swings as a common symptom of depression.

But when these so-called mood swings have gone to utmost absurdity, from getting irked even by the littlest or simplest of thins like not getting your favorite ice cream flavor, this may not be just a sign of brattiness, but when getting irked means you'll cuss and swear on the ice cream vendor and throw absurd tantrums, this may already be the start of Manic depression.The so-called 'manic' or 'ups' in Manic depression is described as to be the times when a person suffering from Manic depression may experience overly high periods, consisting of heightened energy, a sudden outburst of euphoric mood, extreme irritability, thoughts racing as well as aggressive behavior.
According to therapists, someone suffering from Manic depression may have these so-called manic 'periods' wherein sudden outbursts of euphoric and elevated mood swings may actually go through this for as long as not just a day, in can actually go on for as long as one week, even longer than that.

When it comes to the so-called 'low' or 'down' periods, as its name suggests can actually bring someone who is suffering from Manic depression may experience very similar symptoms to those who are suffering from actual depression. People who are suffering from Manic depression may actually experience episodes showing a depressed state of mind - a feeling of worthlessness and being unloved may start to corrupt the individual's mind. Various symptoms, showing guilt, extreme sadness, anxiety attacks, feeling of not belonging, extreme pessimism and obvious loss for pleasure. According to therapists, an individual who is depressed. consistently for more than a week can officially be diagnosed as someone who is suffering from Manic depression.

In spite of being one of the most common, yet severe type of depressive disorder, Manic depression, according to doctors can actually be treated. There's no reason to worry too much about it, just follow the proper procedures that the therapist will instruct you to do, take the proper prescribed medications as well as the proper dosage in order to help you (or your friend or love one) overcome Manic depression before it becomes too late. Also, individuals who are suffering from Manic depression should always be able to see their therapists on a regular basis so as to be able to release their pent up emotions to some one who can interpret and understand what they're going to a lot better as compared to "normal" people.

Although positive results for a Manic depressive patient can still be achieved from natural alternatives, a proper and a more lasting relief from Manic depressive symptoms can still be best acquired through seeing cognitive behavior therapists. Contrary to some beliefs, when it comes to psychiatric treatments, psychiatrists, preferably cognitive behavior therapists are still the best ones to consult for Manic depression, as well as the ones who'll most probably be able to cure Manic depression.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Zinc Supplements For Your Body

Zinc supplements provide a much needed mineral that is needed by each and every cell in your body. The body is unable to produce zinc on it’s own, which is why we need to makes sure we eat enough food that contains the mineral, drink enough water, or use the proper supplements that will give our cells the zinc they need.

Zinc is very important, as it plays a crucial role with hundreds of processes in the human body. The most prominent functions include support of the immune system, joints, tissues, along with aiding in cell growth. Zinc supplements have also been proven to eliminate sexual dysfunction, boost sexual function, aid in the health of the hair, and help with skin wound healing.

No matter how you look at it, zinc plays an important role in the function of most of our senses, which includes the ability to taste, smell, and also sight. Research has indicated that zinc can counter vision loss in the event of macular degeneration. A deficiency of zinc on the other hand can lead to dulling of the taste buds, along with the ability to detect scent.

Although zinc is an essential vitamin for our bodies, taking too much of it can be a bad thing. Research has proven that taking more than 100 mg daily for an extended period can cause damage in the immune system. Older folks on the other hand, can benefit from taking zinc if they have a deficiency. The supplement can actually help older people bring their intake back up to the levels they should be at.

When taking zinc supplements, you should always remember that zinc can indeed interfere with your absorption of copper. For this reason, a lot of experts recommend that they should be taken together. Anyone who takes a zinc supplement should take it as part of a well balanced diet, to ensure that other vitamins and minerals work together with the zinc.

With most dietary supplements in the U.S. being unregulated, you should always choose a manufacturer who is GMP compliant. Manufacturers that are GMP compliant will always follow the manufacturing standards of zinc, in order to minimize and quite possibly eliminate the risk of contaminants that you could be getting from the supplement.

If you choose your supplement wisely, you shouldn’t have to worry about any problems. You can buy zinc supplements at GNC, online, or other nutrition stores. It isn’t expensive either, which makes it a welcome edition to your diet. You should always consult with your doctor if you suspect that you have a zinc deficiency, so that he or she can tell you exactly how much zinc you need on a daily basis. This way, if you aren’t getting enough in your normal diet - you can get the supplements you need.

Benefits of Boxing Training for Fitness

You may improve your health and have a physically fit body by getting into boxing training fitness programs. This is the best way for you to have a stronger body and gain confidence. Boxing workouts can help you to be at your best fighting form as well.

Many people see positive results from boxing trainings. You may build stronger and more defined arms and legs. These programs and classes also help you to gain a sense of inner strength and emotional balance.

Boxing training classes got across to the mainstream of physical fitness training a few years back. They have seen the benefits on the cardiovascular and toning of the muscles by these boxing training workouts. Tae bo work out videos also popularized these boxing and kickboxing exercises.

Cardio boxing training classes and the innovative variations of the sparring jabs, power punches, defense, and fitness has all blends of aerobics exercises. You will learn the proper execution of the punch and kick combinations for a more intensive workout that can help you become stronger and more confident.

The combinations you perform on the blocks, jabs, and kicks are executed to an imagined opponent. You may see classes where participants throw punches and kicks on the air. You will also find training camps that have quality equipment such as punching bags and you may also have the option of getting a partner that has padded hands.

You may also enjoy more benefits aside from the physical aspects of boxing trainings. Cardio kick boxing workouts allow you to burn out 350 to 500 calories in just an hour. It also helps maintaining the heart rate at 75 percent to 85 percent regular beat. This has been proven to be good and is the recommended range if you are exercising or into training.

Moreover, these boxing training classes improve your speed, resistance, and strength. Flexibility and the reflexes of the muscles are also enhanced. Repetitive motion on arms by sparring and jogging while you punch helps your arms and legs gain strength and power.

These workouts also enable your joint movements to build very efficient fitness results.
These movements require you to develop balance and coordination that enables your body to be stable and maintain a good form.

These physical benefits you gain from boxing and kickboxing are just few of the many benefits that they can provide. You will be able to learn more about defense mechanism skills, which you may use in case of unwanted instances. You will also feel the satisfaction when you punch or kick. Relaxation and self-motivation is also developed.

You will feel a sigh of relief and feel that you are released from stressed. It also helps you to get rid of that anger that is inside of you. Once these things are releases, you may feel lightness into your body and peace of mind as well.

Many aerobic and fitness experts recommend boxing training lessons for beginners. It allows you to workout on your desired pace and body condition. Boxing classes let you to push yourself to the limit as long as you are safe and well conditioned.

Positive results await you with boxing training. You will enjoy a physically fit body and will keep you in better shape. You have the option working out and exercising at your preferred level and skill. Enjoy the fun of these boxing training programs.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Famous Diamonds

Among the most well known diamonds is the Hope. This 45.52 carat steel blue diamond is currently on display at the Smithsonian. The legends of the ill-fortune and curse bestowed on the possessor of the Hope Diamond are many. This diamond was donated to the Smithsonian in 1958. The Hope was originally a rather flat, blocky 110-carat rough.

The Dresden Green stands out among the natural colored diamonds. It is the largest green diamond in the world weighing 40.70 carats. This diamond is historic, large
and has a natural green color with a slight blue overtone. These facts make it virtually priceless.

The Conde Pink is a pear shaped and weighs 9.01-carats. This pink diamond was once owned by Louis XIII.

The Tiffany Yellow diamond a beautiful canary-yellow octahedron weighing 287.42
in the rough (metric) carats discovered in neither 1877 or 1878 in South Africa. The
gem after cutting boasts the extraordinary weight of 128.54 carats. And until recently, was the largest golden-yellow in the world.

The Koh-I-Noor ( Mountain of Light ) is now among the British Crown Jewels. This
diamond weighs 105.60 carats. First mentioned in 1304, it is believed to have
been once set in Shah Jehan‘s famous peacock throne as one of the peacocks eyes.

The Agra is graded as a naturally colored Fancy Light Pink and weighs 32.34 carats.
It was sold for about 6.9 million in 1990. Since this sale, it has been modified to a
cushion shape weighing about 28.15 carats.

The Transvaal Blue is pear cut. This blue diamond weighs 25 carats. It was found in
the Premier Diamond Mine in Transvaal, South Africa.

The Great Chrysanthemum was discovered in the summer of 1963, in a South African
diamond field. This 198.28-carat fancy brown diamond appeared to be a light
honey color in its rough state. However, after cutting, it proved to be a rich golden brown, with overtones of sienna and burnt orange.

The Taylor-Burton Diamond is a pear-shaped 69.42 carat diamond. Cartier of New York
purchased this diamond at an auction in 1969 and christened it "Cartier." The next
day Richard Burton bought the diamond for Elizabeth Taylor. He renamed it the
"Taylor-Burton”. In 1978, Elizabeth Taylor put the diamond up for sale.
Prospective buyers had to pay $2,500 each to view the diamond to cover the costs
of showing it. Finally, in June of 1979, the diamond was sold for nearly $3 million dollars.

Build your self esteem, a starter guide to self improvement

So how do you stay calm, composed and maintain self esteem in a tough environment? Here are some tips you may to consider as a starter guide to self improvement.

Imagine yourself as a Dart Board. Everything and everyone else around you may become Dart Pins, at one point or another. These dart pins will destroy your self esteem and pull you down in ways you won’t even remember. Don’t let them destroy you, or get the best of you. So which dart pins should you avoid?

Dart Pin #1 : Negative Work Environment
Beware of “dog eat dog” theory where everyone else is fighting just to get ahead. This is where non-appreciative people usually thrive. No one will appreciate your contributions even if you miss lunch and dinner, and stay up late. Most of the time you get to work too much without getting help from people concerned. Stay out of this, it will ruin your self esteem. Competition is at stake anywhere. Be healthy enough to compete, but in a healthy competition that is.

Dart Pin #2: Other People’s Behavior
Bulldozers, brown nosers, gossipmongers, whiners, backstabbers, snipers, people walking wounded, controllers, naggers, complainers, exploders, patronizers, sluffers… all these kinds of people will pose bad vibes for your self esteem, as well as to your self improvement scheme.

Dart Pin #3: Changing Environment
You can’t be a green bug on a brown field. Changes challenge our paradigms. It tests our flexibility, adaptability and alters the way we think. Changes will make life difficult for awhile, it may cause stress but it will help us find ways to improve our selves. Change will be there forever, we must be susceptible to it.

Dart Pin #4: Past Experience
It’s okay to cry and say “ouch!” when we experience pain. But don’t let pain transform itself into fear. It might grab you by the tail and swing you around. Treat each failure and mistake as a lesson.

Dart Pin #5: Negative World View
Look at what you’re looking at. Don’t wrap yourself up with all the negativities of the world. In building self esteem, we must learn how to make the best out of worst situations.

Dart Pin #6: Determination Theory
The way you are and your behavioral traits is said to be a mixed end product of your inherited traits (genetics), your upbringing (psychic), and your environmental surroundings such as your spouse, the company, the economy or your circle of friends. You have your own identity. If your father is a failure, it doesn’t mean you have to be a failure too. Learn from other people’s experience, so you’ll never have to encounter the same mistakes.

Sometimes, you may want to wonder if some people are born leaders or positive thinkers. NO. Being positive, and staying positive is a choice. Building self esteem and drawing lines for self improvement is a choice, not a rule or a talent. God wouldn’t come down from heaven and tell you – “George, you may now have the permission to build self esteem and improve your self.”

In life, its hard to stay tough specially when things and people around you keep pulling you down. When we get to the battle field, we should choose the right luggage to bring and armors to use, and pick those that are bullet proof. Life’s options give us arrays of more options. Along the battle, we will get hit and bruised. And wearing a bullet proof armor ideally means ‘self change’. The kind of change which comes from within. Voluntarily. Armor or Self Change changes 3 things: our attitude, our behavior and our way of thinking.

Building self esteem will eventually lead to self improvement if we start to become responsible for who we are, what we have and what we do. Its like a flame that should gradually spread like a brush fire from inside and out. When we develop self esteem, we take control of our mission, values and discipline. Self esteem brings about self improvement, true assessment, and determination. So how do you start putting up the building blocks of self esteem? Be positive. Be contented and happy. Be appreciative. Never miss an opportunity to compliment. A positive way of living will help you build self esteem, your starter guide to self improvement.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Physiology of Fat: Fat, Food, Facts and Fiction

IS FAT NECESSARY? IS LIKE ASKING "IS
Crime Necessary?" or "Is it Necessary to be Fat?" The implication alone is bad, like asking "How Often Do You Beat Your Wife?" Of course, the answer to all of these questions is "no."

Is fat essential in a healthy diet? Some nutritionists and scientists believe that a small amount of fatty acids or components of certain fats are essential to human nutrition. This has never been demonstrated for humans, although apparently it is true in rats. There is the incontrovertible fact that countless millions of human beings in Asia, Africa, South America and elsewhere do not consume fat in their diet. And yet they live to a health-normal or beyond-normal life span; their physical or nutritional development is not infrequently far superior to the people on a high-fat or average American fat dietary intake.
Most certainly it is known now that these same people on a low-fat or fat-free diet are virtually free from heart attacks and strokes, which are so common among people on a fat diet.

Many have wondered whether the Eskimos have a high rate of heart attacks and strokes as a result of their high fat diet. First it should be remembered that the Eskimo days of existing on blubber and whale alone are mostly over. Several years ago physicians working with the National Geographic Society found that the Eskimos who lived in the more modern settlements and ate and lived like other Canadians or Americans in country villages, were subject to the same degree of atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and heart conditions.

On the other hand, in those Eskimo cases where fish and whale fats constituted the basis of the diet, blood tests revealed that cholesterol and fats in the blood were very low. This surprising fact was later found to be due to the high concentrations of un-saturated fatty acids in the large amount of fish and whale oils consumed by these Eskimos. As will be shown later, these un-saturated fatty acids have the unique power to lower the blood levels of cholesterol and other fats, thus protecting the Eskimos from the complications of atherosclerosis in the heart, brain, kidneys, and other organs.

What is fat? First let us look at food in general. As long as we are alive, breathing, with our hearts pumping, our bodies are at work burning up energy—which is supplied by food.

Food or foodstuffs consist of six groups, all of which are basic necessities essential for normal health. These are proteins, carbohydrates, fats (which are also manufactured by the body), vitamins, minerals, and water.

Protein is the keystone of human nutrition. It is essential for every form of life for growth, pregnancy, formation of blood, bone, and every vital tissue. It is essential for the healing of wounds, the warding off of infection, the maintenance of body weight, and the conduct of vital organs and glands in the body.

Meat is the greatest source of animal protein for human consumption and man can live in good health on virtually an exclusive fresh meat diet. Animal sources of proteins are meat, fish, poultry, milk, eggs and cheese. These foods contain high sources of protein, as well as carbohydrates and fats. Vegetable sources of protein are wheat, beans, peas, lentils, soybeans, nuts, corn, rye and yeast, although these also contain elements of carbohydrate and fat.

Normal adults and growing children require one gram of protein for every 2.2 lbs. of body weight. This means that the average man or woman weighing 125 to 175 lbs. needs from 60 to 80 grams of protein daily for normal nutrition. This would be contained in the equivalent of 1/2 pound of steak, one chicken, a pound of fish or a pound of cottage cheese. Each gram of protein supplies four calories of energy.

Carbohydrates are a main source of energy. Carbohydrates include the two main classes: starches and sugars. They are one of the primary sources of energy of our diet. One gram of carbohydrate yields 4 calories of energy. The amount of carbohydrates necessary in the daily diet is very variable and also depends on the amount of it eaten with the protein in meals. The average American adult consumes anywhere from 150 to 400 grams of carbohydrate daily. It takes about 500 grams to make a pound. Usually more than half the calories in the diet (from 50 to 70 per cent) are supplied by carbohydrate.

Unfortunately, these carbohydrates are usually refined to excess, as in the case of flours and sugars. Essential vitamins and proteins are lost in this way and certain nutritional deficiencies may result. If excessive carbohydrate is eaten in the diet, many individuals will experience symptoms of gassy distress, flatulence, belching, or bloating. Bread, flour, milk, cereals, potatoes, cornstarch, cakes, rice, and puddings are examples of dietary starch as are moat vegetables, although these contain lesser amounts of both carbohydrates and protein. Sugars are represented by cane sugar, corn syrup, honey, maple sugar and syrup, milk sugar, malt sugar, jams, jellies, and most fruits.

Two of the most common symptoms or sensations that humans feel daily are dependent on carbohydrate metabolism: that is, hunger and fatigue. Certain endocrine glands in the body control the level of blood sugar in the body and are linked to the feelings of hunger, fatigue, and exhaustion. When the blood sugar falls abnormally low, one feels headaches, nervousness, dizziness, or weakness.

Many of my patients combat these tendencies to hypoglycemia or low-blood sugar in the following simple ways: in between meals take fresh fruits, preferably bananas or apples, or canned fruit juices or fruits; English "tea" with whole wheat cookies or crackers, graham crackers, arrowroot cookies and if needed, some lean meat or fish in sandwich form; skim milk thickened and fortified with generous servings of skimmed milk powder; bread and jam; fat-free sherbet or ices; dietetic or low-fat ice cream; fruit jellos are refreshing; hard candies or chocolate bars are often very handy but not as desirable as the natural, healthful in-between meal "snacks," suggested above, as they often damage the teeth and may have too short-lived action on the blood sugar. Not infrequently sugar itself will cause a "rebound" reaction resulting in an even lower blood sugar fall one-half to one hour after the sugar has been eaten.

Countless business people and factory workers find their efficiency and capacity for work greatly increased by following the above dietary aids. It is not necessary to wait until the symptoms of low-blood sugar already signal the breakdown of bodily health.

The habit of drinking coffee alone at the coffee-break is like whipping the tired old horse harder to get it to climb up the hill. The artificial stimulant, caffeine, can never possibly substitute its artificial stimulant drug action for the flow of energy that comes from healthful, natural foods.

Vitamins and minerals are discussed later. The necessity of water for the maintenance of life is known to all. This brings us to fats.

Fats—What they are and what they do to you. The outstanding fats eaten daily in the United States and Europe are butter, eggs, whole milk, cream, meat, fish and poultry fats, and cheese in various combinations. These fats, at 9 calories per gram, contain more than twice the amount of calories than protein or carbohydrate does at four calories each per gram.

Fats (or lipids) contain the elements of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in various combinations of animal and vegetable fats. Examples of animal fats are butter, lard, cream, milk, eggs, and the fat in meats. Vegetable fats are soyabean oil, olive oil, cottonseed and corn oils, and peanut oils; these are found in nuts, coconuts, avocados, margarines and other vegetable fats used in cooking.

Fats do not dissolve in water, and when pure they are odorless and tasteless. They are found in most bodily tissues, particularly in combination with other elements, proteins, or minerals. Fats or lipids act as vehicles for the absorption of the natural fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, and E.

In order for fats to be utilized by the body, they must first be digested and broken down into constituent parts before being absorbed. They are absorbed in the following manner: After the food is masticated and enters the stomach, the digestive system supplies its first fat enzyme called lipase, to begin the digestion of the fat. Enzymes or ferments are unique chemical compounds manufactured by the cells of the tissues. In the digestive tract they are vital for the chemical breakdown of all foods before they can be absorbed.

How are fats digested? The fat enzyme of the stomach, lipase, begins its job on the fats eaten. However, it is a rather weak enzyme, leaving most of its work to be carried out by steapsin, the fat enzyme manufactured by the pancreas, and by bile manufactured by the liver. In the bile are found bile acids and salts which, together with steapsin, split the fats ingested into the smallest molecules and particles possible. These can then be absorbed through the lining of the small intestine and pass either into the liver or directly into the blood stream as chyle, a milky or creamy serum.

How fats are absorbed. When the fat particles are brought to the liver, they undergo further chemical breakdown and metabolic changes before they enter the blood stream in the form of cholesterol, phospholipids, fatty acids, neutral fats (which are neither acid nor alkaline), lecithin, and other fat derivatives. Much of the fat is broken down by the liver cells into cholesterol, which is excreted into the bile and goes back again into the intestine in various chemical forms. Once in the intestine, some of the cholesterol is reabsorbed again along with other fats and some is excreted from the body in the bowel movement. If the proportion of the cholesterol in the bile becomes too high, then it precipitates out of the bile and forms gallstones, which can produce attacks of pain and indigestion, and so often keep the surgeon busy.

Now that the fats or lipids have entered the blood stream, they circulate and are deposited in the various bodily tissues and in the great body storehouses called fat depots. These are located in the abdomen, on the hips, the chest, around muscles, under the skin, in the liver, and elsewhere. The fats consumed in the diet are called exogenous fats. The liver and other tissues, however, manufacture equally important quantities of fats or lipids normally found in the blood stream. These are called endogenous lipids.

These lipids are manufactured from proteins and carbohydrates through certain remarkable processes inherent in vital bodily tissues and glands such as the liver or the adrenal glands. Energy and vital cellular constituents for the body result from these lipids. When present to excess, their effects become devastating to humans.

We now come to the fats circulating freely in the blood stream. Let's see how they get into the artery walls to actually damage or destroy the artery with atherosclerosis.

Fat may be your "poison". Many individuals have now developed an intolerance to fat. Some of my patients can't seem to handle any fat at all. As an example, one plump 40-year old mother of three develops severe gas and bloating after eggs or any other fatty food. Mrs. R. is often embarrassed to dine out for fear of overflowing right out of her girdle if friends supply her with a fatty food at their homes. At other times she has been embarrassed by solicitious friends who have delightedly congratulated her upon her "unexpected" and "surprise" pregnancy after eating some fat food!

Other patients of mine develop actual attacks of gallstone colic following a meal containing fat. Some 20 years ago, I studied the causes and effects of gallstones in humans by passing rubber tubes through the mouth and down into the digestive tract and then draining off the bile or gall manufactured by the liver and stored in the gall bladder. At that time I examined and found the cholesterol and fat content of the bile abnormally high in most patients who suffered from gallstones, liver, and gall bladder diseases. A fat-free diet was able to eventually reduce and restore the bile to its normal cholesterol and fat content, not to mention the well established fact that most patients felt vastly improved and often free of pain or distress.
Of especial interest to me is the case of a 46-year old automobile dealer, Mr. C, who used to have disabling and terrifying attacks of pain over his heart. (We call such pain angina pec-toris.) The pains began only after he had eaten breakfast and was preparing to leave for his business. His breakfast was a hearty one. It consisted of bacon and two scrambled eggs, fruit juice, some delicious coffee cake with two pats of butter, plus two cups of coffee containing generous portions of cream. He was a husky, strapping ex-athlete and burned up a great deal of energy in business activities.

When Mr. C. changed his breakfast habits and ate a good breakfast on the low-fat diet his anginal pain stopped as if by magic. Clearly he was one of the many individuals whose circulation could not tolerate fats.

This was again just recently shown in most convincing and dramatic ways by Doctors Peter Kuo and H. Joyner of the University of Pennsylvania Hospital and Medical School. These investigators studied the effects of fat meals in a series of heart cases and others afflicted with atherosclerosis over a several year period. One group of their patients suffered severe heart attacks every time a fat meal was administered to them. Studies of the heart and the blood were made during actual heart attacks by Electrocardiographs and other scientific instruments. It was found that when the blood stream contained its peak load of fat content, the heart attacks were most severe and threatened the very life of the patients. Such striking studies and findings were also the experience of other research physicians.

Take a lesson from the pig. Finally, let us look at the startling new discoveries made in swine. The hog or pig has always been associated in every mind as the epitome of fatness. The expression "to be fat as a pig" or as a hog is one of the most common expressions in our language. Fat and food from swine is one of the most frequent sources of nourishment used by humans, i.e. ham, bacon, pork, lard and so on. Yet only very recently has it been discovered that pigs are virtually the only animals subject to the natural or spontaneous development of atherosclerosis.

Several teams of researchers have published numerous convincing photographs of the development of atherosclerosis in many vital arteries of swine. This startling news was provided by Doctors J. H. Bragdon, J. H. Zeller, and J. W. Stevenson of the National Heart Institute of Bethesda, Maryland, who confirmed the original findings made in this research by a team of Wisconsin scientists headed by Doctors H. Gottlieb and J. J. Lalich.

The amazing facts were that about 50 per cent of the swine examined carefully showed the natural development of atherosclerosis in the main arteries of the body. This disease in the arteries was virtually the same as atherosclerosis seen in humans!
In addition, still other investigators such as Doctors Irving Page and Lena Lewis of the Cleveland Clinic found that hogs had unusually high levels of blood cholesterol and fats. There was a special increase in the swine studied of the atherogenic portion of the lipoproteins, so important in the development of atherosclerotic heart disease in humans.

It has always been thought that fat on the hog was natural and did not harm the animal, but just those humans who made "hogs" of themselves. Now all these extraordinary discoveries show us that even the pig is victim to fatty deposits in the arteries; to eat high on the hog even damages the hog. Let us "eat to live, not live to eat."

By following the instructions contained in the following pages on what to eat and what to weigh, you can learn to enjoy your food, and most important, enjoy better health and increased vitality and reap a harvest of added years to your life.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

How To Clean Hard Contact Lenses

Hard, or rigid contacts lenses are comprised of material that is known as PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate). This material is very rigid, and doesn’t contain near as much water as soft contacts. With that in mind, taking care of and cleaning hard lenses is very different that cleaning and maintaining soft contact lenses.

Before you purchase a pair of hard or rigid contacts, you should know how to take care of them and how to clean them. Hard contacts differ from soft contacts, as the cleaning process is very different. When you purchase your contacts you should also purchase your cleaning solution. Your cleaner is very important, as you must have it with hard contacts.

The one thing that hard and soft contact lenses have in common, is the fact that you must wash your hands before you handle either of them. You should always wash your hands with soap and water before you handle your hard lenses. Antibacterial soap is the best soap to use, as it will thoroughly clean your hands and it doesn’t contain any type of fragrance.

The first thing to do when cleaning your hard contacts is to take the lens out of your eye and put it in the center of your hand. You should have your cleaner out, and ready to use anytime you are looking to clean your lenses. Once you have the lens in the palm of your hand, squirt a couple of cleaning drops into the center of the lens. Now, gently work the solution into the lens, for a minute or so. You should always avoid using pressure, as you could end up tearing the lens.

Once you have finished cleaning your lens, you’ll need to rinse it. You can rinse hard contact lenses using lukewarm water. These types of lenses are very sturdy and don’t require any special liquid or solution for rinsing. When you have finished cleaning and rinsing your contacts, simply put them back in the case and fill it with the solution that you have for soaking your hard lenses in. The soaking solution will keep your contacts fresh, and clean the protein off of them that can build up from wear.

Hard contact lenses will last you for a long time, providing you take care of them. Most contact lenses will last you longer than soft lenses, without needing to be replaced for months at a time. They are easy to clean as well, providing you know how to clean them. You can find the soaking and cleaning solution at your local department store, with several brands to choose from. If you take care of your hard contact lenses and soak them in solution when you sleep, they will last you for a long time - with no problems or harm to your eyes.