How Moms Lose Weight Naturally And Reverse Diabetes in 90 Days Without Giving Up Swee

Moms, if you could make one simple change in your diet to help you lose weight, melt fat, sleep better, and improve your memory, would you do it?
What if that same simple dietary change could also:

- Reverse diabetes?
- Increase your energy?
- Conquer depression?
- Save your eyesight?
- Restore mental alertness?
- Increase your lifespan?
Now, this may sound too good to be true.
But it's not.
And you don't have to take [COLOR=black! important][COLOR=black! important]drugs[/color][/color]. Nor do you have to try some newfangled experimental supplements. Or stop eating. Or even give up the foods you love.
It's as simple as reducing the amount of sugar you eat.
This is not a trick.
You can actually give up sugar and keep your sweet [COLOR=black! important][COLOR=black! important]tooth[/color][/color] happy.

This is the greatest health secret of all time. And I'm going to teach you how to incorporate it into your life so you can lose weight without taking drugs. But, before I tell you how, I want you to know...
Why You Should Give Up Sugar.
Have you ever been plagued by hard-to-diagnose health problems like why you can't lose weight, no matter how hard you exercise or diet?
Well, it's not all in your head. It could be your sugar addiction. In fact a recent study proves that sweets are more addictive than cocaine.
Today, the average consumption of sugar is a whopping 160 pounds! It's suicide in slow motion. Sugar addicts eliminate 11-20 years from their lifespan.
Now I'm not saying to forget your sweet tooth completely.
We all have the need to get a sweet fix. It's part of our biological makeup. Moms are known to consume chocolate in times of stress. Men suck down sodas to make it through the "afternoon blues."
The irony is that your body doesn't actually need any sugar. Over time, "sweetener addiction" leads to a host of dreaded diseases like insulin resistance, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. To avoid the sabotage, you must understand how to get your sweet fix without becoming addicted.
How to Reduce your Sugar Levels, Lose Weight & Reverse the Effects of Diabetes
1. Understand how much sugar you are putting into their body.
Most moms are simply giving into an addiction while slowly ruining their health. To judge whether or not you are at risk, read your food labels for one day and count how many grams of sugar you are eating. Multiply your answer by 365. Then simply divide by 453.9. This will tell you how many pounds of sugar you are stuffing into your mouth annually!
2. Don't replace table sugar with the artificial sweetener Splenda to get your sweet fix.
Splenda is a perfect example of a drug in disguise. It contains the drug sucralose. Invented in a pesticide lab, this chemical is 600 times sweeter than sugar. To make sucralose, chlorine is used. And, chlorine has a split personality.
It can be harmless or it can be life threatening. In combo with sodium, chlorine forms a harmless ionic bond to yield table salt. When used with carbon, the chlorine atom in sucralose forms a covalent bond. The end result is deadly organochlorine, known simply as a “Really Nasty Form of Chlorine.”
Unlike ionic bonds, covalently bound chlorines are a big no-no for the human body. They yield insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides. This is not something you want in your sports drink or your child's lunchbox.
3. Avoid Equal and Nutrasweet.
Teaching organic chemistry, I taught my students how to identify the active ingredients in soda using a technique known as TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography). They discovered that the byproducts of sodas containing aspartame are all known poisons that will slowly kill you: methanol, phenylalanine, and aspartic acid. I never saw my students with a diet soda after that. Guess what Equal and Nutrasweet contains.
4. Use Natural Sweeteners as Safe Alternatives to Artificial Sweeteners.
Alternatives like erythritol, agave, xylitol and luo han guo can be found in abundance. Choosing which natural sweetener to use depends on which one tastes best to you.
How to Choose Which Natural Sweetener to Use
Agave nectar usually wins. It stimulates taste buds exactly the same way sucrose does. But unlike common table sugar, very little of its active ingredient - insulin - is absorbed. Therefore, you are protected from the dangers of sugar addiction.
Agave is a bit harder to bake with. This is where the safe and natural erythritol wins. You can replace it gram for gram with sugar. Even better, I like to use 25% table sugar and 75% erythritol in baking and ice cream. You won't even notice the healthy difference. That's the real magic here!
Getting Your Sweet Fix Doesn't Have to be Deadly.
All natural sweeteners are known to help control appetite, keep insulin and [COLOR=black! important][COLOR=black! important]blood [COLOR=black! important]sugar[/color][/color][/color] low, and prevent the formation of age accelerating molecules in our body. None of them are addicting. Nor will they diminish your lifespan. They are perfect to use with my Hormone Intelligence Therapy (HIT) program for reversing diabetes, losing fat and feeling great in 90 days.
If you learn to gauge your sugar intake with The People's Chemist Death by Sugar Calculator and start using natural sweeteners, you will lose weight guaranteed. You won't be plagued by hard-to-diagnose health problems. And you'll have more years to enjoy life and those you love.

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The Worst ‘Healthy’ Foods

If you want to lose weight, it may seem like a good idea to trade candy bars for granola bars or to swap bacon and eggs at breakfast for the classic bagel (it’s shaped like a zero; how bad could it be?).
Sadly, it’s just not that simple. Customers’ nutrition knowledge is rising, so food marketers are desperate to attract the right kind of attention from the eating public. So they’re twisting nutritional buzzwords to trick us into eating the kinds of foods that can actually help make us fat. We need to be more careful than ever to make sure we’re feeding ourselves and our families the very best real health foods — not sugar-infused calorie bombs disguised as weight-loss foods.
Read up for our latest batch of dietary phonies. They may look good on the front label, but they’ll get you in the end if you’re not careful.
Granola Bar
200 calories
15 g sugars
Eat this instead!
1 oz cheddar cheese with Triscuits
150 calories
5 g sugars
Ever wonder what keeps a granola bar together? The answer: high-fructose corn syrup, which quickly raises blood sugar and cancels out most of the potential benefits the granola almonds and oats might give you. Switch over to good old-fashioned cheese and crackers, and you trade sugar and calories for protein and fiber. It’s a big deal that will make you smaller, as will steering clear of the sugar bombs. By the way, these are the most sugar-packed foods in America.
Yogurt with Fruit on the Bottom
190 calories
30 g sugars
Eat this instead!
Plain yogurt with fresh fruit mixed in
110 calories
15 g sugars
Pass on these over-sweetened yogurt cups; they contain as much sugar as a soft drink. Almost all of that comes directly from the “fruit,” which is swimming in high-fructose corn syrup. Yogurt and fruit can be a great way to start your day, but do it yourself by mixing a cup of nonfat plain yogurt with a half cup of mixed berries.
Bagel with Cream Cheese
700 calories
40 g fat
13 g saturated
Eat this instead!
Cheese omelet
425 calories
18 g
6 g saturated
Bagels are bogus. The bread is bad enough, containing 300 calories and 60 grams of carbohydrates, but tack on the liberal cream cheese schmear (by our survey of popular breakfast chains, up to 4 ounces for a single bagel!) and your “harmless” breakfast sandwich weighs in as worse than a Whopper. The omelet swap will save you nearly 300 calories, plus provide a surge of metabolism-boosting protein. And a recent study from the University of Connecticut found that eating eggs can help raise HDL (good) cholesterol. And while you’re being vigilant.
Dried Fruit
175 calories
45 g sugars
Eat this instead!
Fresh fruit, like an apple or a peach
70 calories
15 g sugars
OK, so dried fruit won’t totally derail a day of good eating (unless you down the whole bag of banana chips), but it’s far from being a harmless snack. First, because the dehydrating process sucks most of the volume from the fruit, you can eat cups of the stuff, and 600 calories later, still not feel any fuller. More troubling, though, is the fact that Sun-Maid and Ocean Spray add sugar to the fruit, making Craisins closer to candy than Mother Nature’s original intention. The choice is clear: Stick to the original, straight from the tree.
Fish Sandwich
600 calories
30 g fat
11 g saturated
Eat this instead!
Grilled chicken sandwich
300 calories
13 g fat
4 g saturated
Fish is good for you, except when it’s battered, fried, robed in cheese, and bathed in tartar sauce. The lesson? Even the biggest star can be sabotaged by the supporting cast. To this end, avoid any menu item with the word “crispy,” the restaurant industry’s favorite euphemism for “fried.” Make sure your next fish or chicken sandwich is grilled, dressed with fresh produce, and topped with a low-cal barbecue sauce, or even ketchup and mustard. And watch the salt; these 20 foods are the saltiest in America!
Stick margarine (1 Tbsp)
100 calories
11 g fat
2.5 g saturated
2.5 g trans fat
Eat this instead!
Whipped butter (1 Tbsp)
50 calories
6 g fat
1.5 g saturated
In their haste to remove saturated fat from butter, margarine makers created the margarine monster — a dangerous lipid called trans fat, with more dangerous links to heart disease than saturated fat. Pick up whipped butter instead; by whipping air into the spread, manufacturers decrease the caloric density of a tablespoon of butter, and they make it easier to top your toast. If you buy margarine, make sure it’s the type found in the tub, hopefully with an added bonus like omega-3s folded into the mix

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Worst ‘Healthy’ Drinks - And What You Should Drink

Staying hydrated can be great for your body. Drink enough of the right liquids and your mood will improve, your focus will sharpen, your heart will beat stronger, and you’ll be less likely to suffer from headaches and fatigue. All that, plus if you pick the right potions, you’ll receive beneficial nutrients, antioxidants and protein as a chaser.
Bottoms up, right? Not so fast. Some bottles are better than others, as you’re about to learn. Too many Americans are problem drinkers — and I’m not talking about bourbon for breakfast. As a nation, we love high-sugar, high-calorie drinks like sodas and smoothies; a whopping 21 percent of American’s calorie intake comes from drinks, and that’s an increase of 150 calories since 1977. The big-bottom line: Half of that caloric payload comes from sweetened beverages such as soft drinks, fruit punch, and other sweet drinks.
The sad part is: Nobody actually needs any of those calories. Water — by the glass and in the foods you eat — should be plenty to top your tank. But if you find it kind of bland, we hear you. That’s why we’re slapping warning labels on the big-calorie guzzlers, and pointing you toward the thirst-quenchers that won’t make you fat.
Cheers.
Iced Coffee

Drink This
Dunkin’ Donuts Caramel Crème Iced Latte (16 oz)
260 calories
9 g fat
40 g sugars

Not That
Starbucks 2% Iced Dulce de Leche Latte (16 oz)
420 calories
16 g fat
52 g sugars
In the hierarchy of espresso drinks, lattes sit squarely at the bottom. That’s because they’re more milk than java, and are susceptible to huge pumps of sugar syrup from eager-to-please baristas. A macchiato gives the same caffeine kick for a tiny fraction of the caloric cost by swapping out the excess steamed milk for a crown of frothed milk. It’s a simple but meaningful switch for caffeine junkies looking for a healthier fix. For other easy foods swaps for effortless weight loss — without ever having to diet again — try these fabulous fifteen.

Protein Shakes

Drink This
Slim Fast High Protein Extra Creamy Strawberry (11.5 oz can)
190 calories
5g fat
13 g sugars

Not That!
Boost Plus High Protein Strawberry (8 oz bottle)
240 calories
6 g fat
16 g sugars

Besides having fewer calories and sugar than the smaller Boost shake, the Slim Fast drink also has more protein and five extra grams of fiber, which means it will work harder at keeping your belly full in the hours after you sip it.

Yogurt Smoothie

Drink This
Dannon Light & Fit Strawberry Banana Smoothie
70 calories
12 g sugars

Not That!
Stonyfield Farm Organic Wild Berry Smoothie
150 calories
25 g sugars


The Stonyfield smoothie is smaller but more than doubles up on the calories and sugar in the Dannon Light. Don’t be fooled by the “organic” name — this yogurt smoothie is thick with added sugars, which spikes your blood sugar and tells your body to start storing fat — not the best way to start your day.
The Dannon Light shake jumpstarts your morning metabolism with a nice protein kick, but spares you the sickly Stonyfield sweetness. Watch out wherever, whenever for added sugars by avoiding this great list of the most sugar-packed foods in America!
Functional Beverage

Drink This
Dasani Plus Orange Tangerine Vitamin Enhanced Water (20-oz bottle)
0 calories
0 g sugars

Not That!
Snapple Agave Melon Antioxidant Water (20-oz bottle)
140 calories
33 g sugars

If you were fooled by the words “agave” and “antioxidant,” don’t be embarrassed — for a product that’s supposedly water, it’s totally shocking how many calories and grams of sugar are packed into this fraudulent “health” beverage. But that doesn’t mean you should run the other way when you see an enhanced water; in fact, adding a little flavor (such as the orange tangerine in the Dasani water) can make staying hydrated easier and more pleasant — without adding calories or sugar.

Bottled Beverage

Drink This
Sobe Lean Blackberry Currant (20-oz bottle)
15 calories
2 g sugars

Not That!
Sobe Lizard Lava (20-oz bottle)
310 calories
77 g sugars

To glance at these two mysterious containers, you might think they contained exactly the same liquid — they’re both pink, they both come in a chunky glass bottle, they’ve both got some kind of creature on the label — but once you take a closer look at the nutrition facts, an entirely different story becomes clear. The Lizard Lava bottle contains about half a meal’s worth of calories and as much sugar as 11 popsicles.
That doesn’t exactly spell refreshment, does it? Instead try the other pink bottle, with Sobe’s Lean Blackberry Currant. With only 15 calories and 2 grams of sugar in a bottle, it just goes to show you that you can’t judge a drink by its bottle. In fact, make sure you’re always on the lookout for things like these sneaky “health” foods that aren’t!You’ll be shocked.
Energy Drink

Drink This
Monster Lo-Ball Java Monster Coffee + Energy (16-oz can)
100 calories
8 g sugars

Not That!
Rockstar Original (16-oz can)
280 calories
62 g sugars
I’ll put it all out on the table here: I’m not a big fan of energy drinks. It’s much healthier to boost energy by exercising, eating healthy foods, and getting enough sleep. But let’s face it — sometimes you’re desperate for a pick-me-up, and it’s easy to reach for one of those shiny cans of liquid fuel.
However, if you guzzle down a can of Rockstar Original, I’m pretty sure you’re just going to end up with a jittery buzz instead of the boost you’re seeking — with 62 grams of sugars, you’re looking at a major sugar crash not too far down the road. Better to stick with a low-sugar, low-calorie option like Java Monster Coffee + Energy.


Juice Imposter

Drink This
Fuze Slenderize Strawberry Melon (18.5-oz bottle)
23 calories
4.5 g sugars

Not That!
Arizona Kiwi Strawberry (23.5-oz can)
360 calories
84 g sugars

Unfortunately, most of the drinks that come in flashy containers and purport themselves to be juice quite simply aren’t. That goes for both our “Drink This” and our “Not That” option here — even the healthier Fuze drink is only about 5 percent juice. That said, it’s also a low-carb, low-sugar drink that provides nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins, so it’s not all bad — unlike Arizona’s “juice.” Bottom line: These days, if you want juice, you probably need to squeeze it yourself.
Kids’ Juice
Drink This
Minute Maid Kids Multi-Vitamin Orange Juice
120 calories
24 g sugars

Not That!
Welch’s G**** Juice
170 calories
40 g sugars

Kids love g**** juice for one reason: It’s loaded with sugar. That also means it’s loaded with calories. G**** just ain’t so great. On the other extreme, Minute Maid’s enhanced orange juice is mother nature’s multi-vitamin, providing your kids with monster doses of calcium and vitamin D for bone growth and protection, plus a host of powerful antioxidants. To make the best choices for your kids when eating out.
Kids’ Drink

Drink This
Capri Sun Tropical Fruit Roarin’ Waters (6.8-oz pouch)
35 calories
9 g sugars


Not That!
Sunny D with Calcium (8-oz serving)
140 calories
31 g sugars
If you believe the commercials, stocking your fridge with Sunny D will make you the coolest mom (or dad) in the neighborhood, and your kids will be smiling and thanking you, and you’ll be wearing a cashmere sweater, and your whole house will be bathed in soft, buttery sunlight. Right. Well, believe it or not, if you’re interested in giving your kids a fun drink that’s actually reasonably healthy, hand them one of those silver Capri Sun pouches — OK, so they’re not exactly a health drink, but they’re better than Sunny D — cashmere or no cashmere

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Skin Care Tips --- By -- Mrs . RaaVaNan

Skin Types and Skin Care:
It is really important for you to be able to identify your skin type. This is to enable you to look after your skin correctly.
Also the selection of your cosmetics is, to a considerable extent, influenced by your skin type. Although no two skins are exactly similar most have characteristics which enable them to be grouped into one of the following types: Dry skin, Normal skin, Combination skin and Oily skin.
To determine your skin type, wash your face with a mild face wash. Then, after 30 minutes, press a clean tissue against your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. If the tissue shows no trace of oil, then you have dry skin. Dry skin looks rough and is prone to premature fine lines and wrinkles. If your skin is oily in some parts but dry in others, then you have combination skin. Normal skin usually looks smooth and is not prone to break outs. Oily skin feels oily to touch and tends to shine. Oily skin is also prone to blackheads and pimples. A sensitive skin needs special care, as it may be sensitive to some ingredients found in popular cosmetics. Those with sensitive skin should always use beauty aids that are hypoallergenic to protect their skin from allergic reactions. A regular skin care programmed, adapted to the needs of your particular skin type, and goes a long way in keeping your skin radiant and problem free.
- Dry Skin: Dry skin needs extra care, as it is prone to fine lines and wrinkles. This is especially true during the winter months when it feels even drier and may feel too taut or may even flake. A few measures help alleviate dryness and keep your skin supple and, at the same time, guard against premature aging.
1. Always wash your face with a mild, soap-free face wash. Never use soap, as that would further strip your skin of natural oil.
2. Always use a moisturizer during the day. Use upward, circular motion to lightly massage the moisturizer into your face. Make sure not to pull or tug your skin.
3. You should consider using a night cream before going to bed at night. It is advisable to use a cream that contains Alpha Hydroxy Acids(or AHA’s, as they’re commonly known).AHA’s are derived from sources such as milk, fruit and sugar-cane. These acids gently exfoliate the dry, dead, outermost layers of skin while they moisturize the newly revealed layers. They greatly benefit complexions that look dull, dry or flaky and they give your skin a beautiful glow.
4. Both AHA and Vitamin C help reduce fine lines and other signs of aging. Thus, you may get good results quickly by using a moisturizer or cream that contains Vitamin C during the day and an AHA-based night cream. Most known brands have moisturizers and creams that contain these.
5. If you have dry skin that tends to flake off, looks red and has some itchy patches that scab, consult your doctor to rule out eczema. Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is generally considered to be a hereditary condition that can occur throughout the year. Other causes of eczema can be fabrics such as wool, some skin-care products or detergents etc.Your doctor may prescribe a cream to soothe the redness and irritation.Non-irriating fabrics such as cotton also help avoid flare-ups.
6.Many people suffer from weather-related dry skin. If the weather in the winter months is normally drier and this tends to dehydrate your skin, regular use of moisturizer will keep your skin hydrated and supple.
Home Remedies For Dry Skin
1. Add 1/2 tsp of rose water to 1 tsp of honey and gently apply to the face. Leave it for about 15-20 minutes, and then wash off with tepid water. Honey moisturizes and soothes dry skin, and is gentle enough for daily use.
2. Massaging you face regularly with almond oil or olive oil works wonders for dry skin.
3. Take 1/4 of an apple. Peel off the skin and grate. Cool in the refrigerator. Apply it on the skin and leave it on for 15 minutes. Wash off with cool water. Apple helps soothe dry skin and gives it a pleasant glow.
4. Take 1 tbsp of cream. Stir lightly till it becomes a smooth paste. Apply to face and neck before bath. Cream helps remove suntan and makes your skin silky and supple.


- Normal Skin Normal skin is usually trouble-free and needs simple care to keep it healthy and glowing. Normal skin also tolerates most popular lotions and creams as well. A regular skin-care program combined with a balanced, healthy diet helps keep normal skin stay supple and young. Regular care for normal skin should include a few simple steps.
1. Cleansing, toning, and moisturizing daily keeps normal skin in great shape for a long time. It is advisable to use natural products on your skin.
2. It’s easy to take trouble-free skin for granted. But, if neglected, it will begin to develop fine lines and wrinkles. So always remember to nourish and moisturize your skin.
3. Creams and lotions that contain vitamin A, C and E help improve the texture of your skin, making it smoother and softer. Moreover, these vitamins counter the effects of free radicals.
4. Even if your skin is normal, you still have to give it regular care. Your skin, like any other skin type, is constantly assaulted by free radicals. Free radicals are molecules formed in the skin when it is exposed to the environment, pollution, or sunlight.
Home Remedies For Normal Skin
- Mash 1/4 of a ripe banana. Apply on the face, taking care to avoid the areas under the eye. Leave it on for 10 minutes, then wash off with cool water. Banana is excellent to do away with dead skin that makes your skin look lifeless. Regular use of banana gives your skin a fresh, healthy glow.


- Combination Skin: Skin that is oily in some parts but dry or normal in others is considered as combination skin. The oily skin is concentrated on the T-zone, which is across the forehead, down the nose and chin. Whenever you wash your face, you may find that some areas of your face feel tight after washing; and that these parts look dull or feel dry and rough whereas the T-zone looks shiny, feels oily to touch and is prone to pimples and blackheads. Combination skin needs special attention because the dry parts of your face need to be considered, whereas the oily parts need to be kept clean to avoid breakouts. Follow these simple tips each day and see what a difference they make to your skin.
1. Cleanse your entire face twice a day. Always use a mild cleanser to gently remove dirt, grime and make-up from your face.
2. The dry areas of your face need to be moisturized to prevent the formation of premature wrinkles. Use a good moisturizer on the dry parts of your face, and if possible, use an oil-free moisturizer on your T-zone.
3. If you use make-up, try and use oil-free/shine control type of make-up on the T-zone. These products are easily available in the market today and help absorb all the excess oil secretion and control the shine.
4. If you have a combination skin, your skin will greatly benefit from AHA and Vitamin C moisturizers and creams. Products that contain AHA tend to normalize the skin.
Home Remedies For Combination Skin
1. Always keep a small bottle of rose water in the refrigerator. Saturate a bit of clean cotton with cool rose water and dab liberally on your face. Enjoy the fresh feeling.
2. Take 3-4 tbsp of ripe, deseeded papaya pulp. Mash well and cool in the refrigerator. Apply on face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then wash off with cool water. Papaya helps normalize combination or oily skin and gives it a beautiful healthy glow.


- Oily Skin Skin that looks oily, feels greasy to touch and is prone to blackheads and pimples is known as oily skin. It is imperative to keep oily skin clean and to control the excess secretion of oil. On the positive side, oily skin tends to age more gradually as compared to other skin types, as natural oil protects oily skin from fine lines and wrinkles. A simple but regular skin-care programmed coupled with a well-balanced, healthy diet helps manage oily skin and minimizes skin break-outs.
1.It is essential to cleanse your face twice a day, once in the morning and once at bedtime. Always use a mild cleanser. They help prevent clogged pores and reduce pimples..
2. Follow up the cleanser with an astringent as this will remove all excess oil. It is best to avoid an alcohol-based astringent. Instead, it is advisable to use natural products. Alcohol-based products strip too much oil from the face.
3.If your skin does break out, do not touch or squeeze the pimples. Pimples, if squeezed, may leave permanent scars. There are a number of effective pimple creams available in the market today. Consult a dermatologist to know which one is best suited for you. More about scar cream
4. If possible, get your face professionally cleansed once a month.
5. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water each day. Water helps flush out toxins from the body.
6. Avoid fried foods and chocolates.
7. Make sure that you eat a well-balanced diet which includes fruits and green leafy vegetables daily.
Read about: skin lightening
Home Remedies For Oily Skin
1. Keep a bowl of water in the fridge and splash this cold water on your face 3-4 times a day. Cold water will not only leave you feeling refreshed but will also tighten the pores.
2. Neem leaves are excellent for pimples. Crush washed neem leaves to form a paste and apply this to the affected parts. Leave it on for at least an hour.Neem will help the pimples dry up faster.
3. For marks and blemishes left behind by pimples use calamine lotion. Just dab some lotion on the blemishes at bedtime and they will gradually fade away.
4. A great pack for oily skin is the chilled cucumber. Finely grate cucumber or blends a cucumber in the blender to form a paste. Chill in the fridge. Apply it on the face and relax for 15 minutes. Wash off with cold water. For best results, repeat twice a week, on a clean, cleansed face.

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Skin Types & Care

- Skin Types And Skin Care -

It is really important for you to be able to identify your skin type.This is to enable you to look after your skin correctly.Also the selection of your cosmetics is, to a considerable extent, influenced by your skin type.Although no two skins are exactly similar most have characteristics which enable them to be grouped into one of the following typesry skin, Normal skin, Combination skin and Oily skin.

To determine your skin type, wash your face with a mild face wash.Then, after 30 minutes, press a clean tissue against your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin.If the tissue shows no trace of oil, then you have dry skin.Dry skin looks rough and is prone to premature fine lines and wrinkles.If your skin is oily in some parts but dry in others, then you have combination skin.Normal skin usually looks smooth and is not prone to break outs.Oily skin feels oily to touch and tends to shine.Oily skin is also prone to blackheads and pimples.A sensitive skin needs special care, as it may be sensitive to some ingredients found in popular cosmetics.Those with sensitive skin should always use beauty aids that are hypoallergenic to protect their skin from allergic reactions.A regular skin care programme, adapted to the needs of your particular skin type, goes a long way in keeping your skin radiant and problem free.

Dry Skin -
Dry skin needs extra care, as it is prone to fine lines and wrinkles.This is especially true during the winter months when it feels even drier and may feel too taut or may even flake.A few measures help alleviate dryness and keep your skin supple and, at the same time, guard against premature aging.

1. Always wash your face with a mild, soap-free face wash.Never use soap, as that would further strip your skin of natural oil.
2. Always use a moisturiser during the day.Use upward,circular motion to lightly massage the moisturiser into your face.Make sure not to pull or tug your skin.
3. You should consider using a night cream before going to bed at night.It is advisable to use a cream that contains Alpha Hydroxy Acids(or AHA's, as they're commonly known).AHA's are derived from sources such as milk, fruit and sugar-cane.These acids gently exfoliate the dry, dead, outermost layers of skin while they moisturise the newly revealed layers.They greatly benefit complexions that look dull, dry or flaky and they give your skin a beautiful glow.
4. Both AHA and Vitamin C help reduce fine lines and other signs of aging.Thus, you may get good results quickly by using a moisturiser or cream that contains Vitamin C during the day and an AHA-based night cream.Most known brands have moisturisers and creams that contain these.
5. If you have dry skin that tends to flake off, looks red and has some itchy patches that scab, consult your doctor to rule out eczema.Eczema, also known as atopic dermititis, is generally considered to be a hereditary condition that can occur throughout the year.Other causes of eczema can be fabrics such as wool, some skin-care products or detergents etc.Your doctor may prescribe a cream to soothe the redness and irritation.Non-irriating fabrics such as cotton also help avoid flare-ups.
6. Many people suffer from weather-related dry skin. If the weather in the winter months is normally drier and this tends to dehydrate your skin, regular use of moisturiser will keep your skin hydrated and supple.

Home Remedies For Dry Skin -

• Add 1/2 tsp of rose water to 1 tsp of honey and gently apply to the face. Leave it for about 15-20 minutes, then wash off with tepid water. Honey moisturises and soothes dry skin, and is gentle enough for daily use.
• Massaging you face regularly with almond oil or olive oil works wonders for dry skin.
• Take 1/4 of an apple. Peel off the skin and grate. Cool in the refrigerator. Apply it on the skin and leave it on for 15 minutes. Wash off with cool water. Apple helps soothe dry skin and gives it a pleasant glow.
• Take 1 tbsp of cream. Stir lightly till it becomes a smooth paste. Apply to face and neck before bath. Cream helps remove suntan and makes your skin silky and supple
  

Normal Skin-
Nomal skin is usually trouble-free and needs simple care to keep it healthy and glowing.Normal skin also tolerates most popular lotions and creams as well.A regular skin-care program combined with a balanced, healthy diet helps keep normal skin stay supple and young.Regular care for normal skin should include a few simple steps.

1. Cleansing, toning, and moisturising daily keeps normal skin in great shape for a long time.It is advisable to use natural products on your skin.
2. It's easy to take trouble-free skin for granted.But, if neglected, it will begin to develop fine lines and wrinkles.So always remember to nourish and moisturise your skin.
3. Creams and lotions that contain vitamin A, C and E help improve the texture of your skin, making it smoother and softer.Moreover, these vitamins counter the effects of free radicals.
4. Even if your skin is normal, you still have to give it regular care.Your skin, like any other skin type, is constantly assaulted by free radicals.Free radicles are molecules formed in the skin when it is exposed to the environment, pollution, or sunlight.
   

Home Remedies For Normal Skin -
Mash 1/4 of a ripe banana. Apply on the face, taking care to avoid the areas under the eye.Leave it on for 10 minutes, then wash off with cool water.Banana is excellent to do away with dead skin that makes your skin look lifeless.Regular use of banana gives your skin a fresh, healthy glow.

Combination Skin -
Skin that is oily in some parts but dry or normal in others is considered as combination skin.The oily skin is concentrated on the T-zone, which is across the foreheat, down the nose and chin.Whenever you wash your face, you may find that some areas of your face feel tight after washing; and that these parts look dull or feel dry and rough whereas the T-zone looks shiny, feels oily to touch and is prone to pimples and blackheads.Combination skin needs special attention because the dry parts of your face need to be considered, whereas the oily parts need to be kept clean to avoid breakouts.Follow these simple tips each day and see what a difference they make to your skin.

1. Cleanse your entire face twice a day.Always use a mild cleanser to gently remove dirt, grime and make-up from your face.
2. The dry areas of your face need to be moisturised to prevent the formation of premature wrinkles.Use a good moisturiser on the dry parts of your face, and if possible, use an oil-free moisturiser on your T-zone.
3. If you use make-up, try and use oil-free/shine control type of make-up on the T-zone.These products are easily available in the market today and help absorb all the excess oil secretion and control the shine.
4. If you have a combination skin, your skin will greatly benefit from AHA and Vitamin C moisturisers and creams.Products that contain AHA tend to normalise the skin.

Home Remedies For Combination Skin -

• Always keep a small bottle of rose water in the refrigerator. Saturate a bit of clean cotton with cool rose water and dab liberally on your face. Enjoy the fresh feeling.
• Take 3-4 tbsp of ripe, deseeded papaya pulp.Mash well and cool in the refrigerator.Apply on face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then wash off with cool water.Papaya helps normalise combination or oily skin and gives it a beautiful healthy glow.
  

Oily Skin-
Skin that looks oily, feels greasy to touch and is prone to blackheads and pimples is known as oily skin.It is imperative to keep oily skin clean and to control the excess secretion of oil.On the positive side, oily skin tends to age more gradually as compared to other skin types, as natural oil protects oily skin from fine lines and wrinkles.A simple but regular skin-care programme coupled with a well-balanced, healthy diet helps manage oily skin and minimises skin break-outs.

1. It is essential to cleanse your face twice a day, once in the morning and once at bedtime.Always use a mild cleanser.They help prevent clogged pores and reduce pimples..
2. Follow up the cleanser with an astringent as this will remove all excess oil.It is best to avoid an alcohol-based astringent. Instead, it is asvisable to use natural products.Alcohol-based products strip too much oil from the face.
3. If your skin does break out, do not touch or squeeze the pimples.Pimples, if squeezed, may leave permanent scars.There are a number of effective pimple creams available in the market today.Consult a dermatologist to know which one is best suited for you.
4. If possible, get your face professionally cleansed once a month.
5. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water each day.Water helps flush out toxins from the body.
6. Avoid fried foods and chocolates.
7. Make sure that you eat a well-balanced diet which includes fruits and green leafy vegetables daily.

Home Remedies For Oily Skin -

• Keep a bowl of water in the fridge and splash this cold water on your face 3-4 times a day.Cold water will not only leave you feeling refreshed but will also tighten the pores.
• Neem leaves are excellent for pimples.Crush washed neem leaves to form a paste and apply this to the affected parts.Leave it on for at least an hour.Neem will help the pimples dry up faster.
• For marks and blemishes left behind by pimples use calamine lotion.Just dab some lotion on the blemishes at bedtime and they will gradually fade away.
• A great pack for oily skin is the chilled cucumber.Finely grate cucumber or blend a cucumber in the blender to form a paste.Chill in the fridge.Apply it on the face and relax for 15 minutes.Wash off with cold water.For best results, repeat twice a week, on a clean, cleansed face.

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Skin Care Tips

Basic Skin Care Tips – Look Attractive Even In A Crowd

Want to look attractive with a glowing and smooth skin? Then start with some basic skin care treatments that will make you look simply stunning within a few days. Healthy skin is the most important thing that changes you completely. Healthy skin imparts you with such a glow that even if you are tired for the entire day you look ever young and fresh at the end of the day.

Whether you are a lawyer or a doctor or a professor, healthy skin is a necessity for all. Skin care treatments decrease the wrinkles on your face and body and stops skin from drying up at any time. While you take care of your skin, you need not visit any spas and healing centers. You can simply follow the four daily basic steps like cleansing, exfoliating, toning and moisturizing in your home to freshen your skin considerably.

Four basic steps of homely skin care treatments

Cleansing is simply a daily step that removes all dust and dirt from the skin. For normal skins 2-3 times is necessary while for oily skin you 4-5 times is good. Cleansing include cleaning your skin with creams, milk, lotions, foams, oils, gels and liquids. Using cotton pads dipped in these items is an affordable way. Exfoliation includes cleaning with a scrub like synthetic puff or natural sponge. Shaving by men is a great way of exfoliation.

Toning includes dipping cotton pads in astringents or applying fresh cucumbers with cup of yogurt and cleaning your face. Also you can apply tablespoon of honey and lemon juice and rub it in outward and upward strokes for excellent results. The last stage of skin care includes well moisturizing the skin to bring a healthy glow to it. Apply moisturizer specially to dry areas to notice the change in few days.

Tips to have the best skin

Men have 15% oilier skin than women and also significantly larger poles. So the main step to have a clean skin is washing your face, neck and hands regularly with cold water at an hour’s interval.
Following are some important skin care tips for all:
- Clean your skin with cleansing products to get the best results.
- Scrub your skin regularly so that the dead cells can be removed from your face.
- For getting intense moisturizing treatments use pure Vitamin E and Vitamin C or aloe Vera oil.
- Take special care of the skin under the eye, as it is the most sensitive and tender skin part.
- While toning use astringents that contain glycolic or alpha hydroxyl acids. The acids actually reduce the pore size and help avoid ingrown hairs.
- People with oily skin should always carry blotting papers and light powder pouches that will seep away the oil from the skin and give you a fresh and natural skin.
- Always take care of your lips and apply balm with SPF and peppermint oil in it to make them look luscious.
- If you want the perfect skin during Laser treatments, stay away from excessive alcohol, intense fatigue, tiredness, smoking and stress.

Saving your skin from the intense UV rays of the sun are important. Whenever your skin is supposed to get exposed to sunshine apply some branded sunscreen lotion to your face, neck, arms and other exposed part of your body to stop tanning and pre-mature wrinkles.

With these excellent skin care tips start taking care of your skin to look forever young, fresh and attractive.

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Natural Skin Care

Natural Skin Care Beauty Tips Made From Natural Ingredients -
By: Sharon Hopkins
(source: womenxitedotcom)

For natural home cures, kitchen is the great place to start. Natural cures created at home for the smallest of problems from natural ingredients such fruits, vegetables, herbs are catching loads of attention due to its very nature of cure - no or negligible cost, purity, without side effects, dollops of TLC (tender, loving care), simple and no side effects. Sounds too good to be true?

• Try this for dandruff problem- soak 1 tbsp of fenugreek seeds overnight. Grind them into a paste. Apply on hair for an hour and wash it off using gram flour paste.
• For dry, flaky skin on your arms and legs, try this concoction. Mix 6 tsp petroleum jelly, 2 tsp each of glycerin and lemon juice. Apply this moisturizing lotion at least twice a week.
• Peel, grate and squeeze the juice of a cucumber. Mix it with ½ tsp each of glycerin and rose water. Apply this if you are suffering for sun burns.
• A facemask of egg white and honey gently removes the tan from your face.
• Dip cotton wool pads in chilled mixture of cucumber and potato juice. Keep this on your eyelids for 15 to 20 minutes and gently wash it off. A way out for dark circles.
• Melt paraffin wax; mix it with little mustard oil and apply on the affected area. Leave it on overnight. After 10 or 15 days, your cracked heels will become smooth.
• Mix oats with honey, yogurt and ground almonds. Apply this to your face, leave it for five minutes and wash with lukewarm water.
• Try chocolate mask to make your normal to dry skin, skin smooth. Take 1/3 cup cocoa, 3 tsp of heavy cream, 1/3 cup ripe papaya, ¼ cup honey and 3 tsp of oatmeal powder. Mix them together. Smooth on your face. After 10 minutes, wash your face with warm water.
• For oily skin, apply a mixture of g****s (softens your skin), lemon (natural cleanser) and egg white (tightens the skin). Leave it for 20 minutes and rinse with warm water.
• Tone and refresh your skin by rubbing the wedge of a cut lemon all over your face. Leave it for about 20 minutes and then rinse off with cold water.
• You can mix 1 tbsp cranberry sauce juice with 2 tbsp of Vaseline for a delicious home made lip balm.
• Mix honey, lemon and vegetable oil for a great home made moisturiser for your dry skin. Apply this concoction for 10 minutes.
• For a glowing skin, heat 4 tbsp of almond oil, 2 tbsp each of lanolin, petroleum jelly and extra virgin olive oil. Blend all these ingredients and massage into your skin.
• Mix a slice of pumpkin with egg yolk and milk. Let this mask set on your face for 30 minutes for a glowing skin.
• Massage your body with a mixture of coconut oil and some of your favourite scented oils like lavender or rosemary. Your skin, besides smelling heavenly, will acquire a silky and supple quality.
• Mix ½ cup honey to your bath water for soft and smooth skin.
  
• Paste of mint leaves and almonds, mixed with warm water and applied all over body till it dries and rinsed off with warm water makes a soothing body pack.
• Buttermilk dabbed on skin for 15 minutes will soak up oil from your skin without drying it.
• Carrot juice applied daily helps blemishes fade.
• For dark underarms and neck - apply lemon juice mixed with cucumber juice and a pinch of turmeric daily. Leave this on for 20 minutes.
• A mix of crushed mint leaves and oats applied for 20 minutes and washed off with warm water will reduce pimples.
• Hair on face - apply a sticky paste of egg white blended with sugar and corn flour. When it dries, gently peel it off. Repeat this three to four times a week.
• Thin apple slices rubbed onto oily skin will help in controlling the oily shine.
• For supple skin, apply a ripe mashed banana on your face for 20 minutes daily.
• Try this natural bleach to lighten the tan. Mix orange peels (sun dried and powdered) with milk. Apply this paste for 25 minutes and rinse off.

The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions on the recipes from this article. Avoid using if you are allergic to something. The responsibility lies with the reader and not the site and the writer.

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Skin Care for Men

Have you ever seen a couple together and thought, “He must be taking his mom out to lunch”-only to find that the couple is married? It’s a fact: men’s and women’s skin age differently.

Testosterone causes men to have thicker skin, which means that it tends to sag and wrinkle less and is a more effective barrier against environmental irritants and bacteria. Not only do women have thinner skin, but their oil glands produce slightly less oil than men’s, which means they have less “natural” moisturizer. Men usually shave their faces, which exfoliates the dead cells and lessens the appearance of wrinkles. On the down side, for many men shaving is an abrasive experience and can account for the roughening of the skin along the jaw line and cheeks.Regardless of the inherent advantages that men have when it comes to their skin, a daily skin care regime can work wonders to maintain a vigorous, youthful appearance (that testosterone doesn’t last forever, guys). Skin care for men is remarkably similar to that for women. You will want to clean your skin every day, apply toner and moisturize your skin. And always use sun block, at least SPF 15.
Protect Your Skin
Sun is damaging to the appearance and health of your skin, and even those of you who spend a total of five minutes in the sun per day-getting in and out of your car, for instance-will want to heed the following tips. Always use an SPF 15 sunscreen and apply it everywhere the sun’s rays might touch you: ears, the back of your neck, and bald areas of your scalp. If you’re sweating or swimming, apply it at least once an hour. Wear tightly-woven clothing to prevent the sun from penetrating the fabric and getting to your skin.
Sunburns
If that week-long beach volleyball tournament has left you with sun-reddened, throbbing, blistered skin, there are a few things you can do to lessen your discomfort. Apply aloe vera to burned areas to moisturize and promote healing; chamomile steeped in water can help to relieve the sting; calamine lotion will lessen the itching; cool compresses, baths, and showers will sooth your skin, and adding vinegar or cooked oatmeal to your bath water will reduce the sting. Starchy, liquefied raw potatoes applied directly to the sunburned areas will also lessen the pain, but make sure that you wait until the mixture dries completely before you rinse it off to reap the full benefits.
Acne
Acne is a problem for many men. Thick skin and active oil glands can cause everything from the occasional blemish to full-blown acne. Men’s acne treatment is similar to women’s, but the products tend to be a little more concentrated. Our Baking Soda Scrub recipe (below) is non-irritating and will sooth and gently exfoliate your skin. For other tips and recipes to treat acne, go to Acne Prone Skin Care.
Baking Soda Scrub
Wet your face with warm water. Apply 1 tbsp. baking soda to dampened skin, massaging gently but thoroughly all over the face (including behind the ears). Rinse carefully removing all the baking soda, and repeat the process. Dry your face, apply toner and sun block.

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Nail Care Tips

Nail Damage and Prevention:
1. The simplest way to avoid nail damage is to wear gloves.
2. If you can’t wear gloves, you could at least use a long handled mop-this allows you to keep your hands off water and your nails will definitely benefit.
3. If you do get your hands wet, remember to rinse them well and dry them carefully after the work is done.
4. Then apply ample amounts of a moisturizing cream.
5. You must also take certain other precautions:
A. Use a pencil to operate the dial;
B.Use a tin-opener to open tins;
C.Use gardening gloves;
D.Avoid contact with strong chemicals;
E.Use moisturizers liberally.
6. Wear Polish-It works as a barrier for your nails and use acetone-free nail polish remover.
7. File in one direction only-Filing back and forth is bad because this frays and weakens the nails. File your nails in one direction only for the best results.
8. Keep your nails short.
9. Manicure after a bath. It is best to do your manicure after a bath because your nails are soft.
Pamper Yourself-Manicure & Pedicure:
Cosmetics to Disguise Nail Defects:
If your nails are deformed, the first thing to do is to visit your dermatologist-a number of nail problems are temporary and improve as the new nail appears and only a very few are permanent. The appearance of your nails can also be improved considerably by the use of cosmetics-for instance, ordinary nail enamel can camouflage a number of nail defects. A broken or split nail can be mended using what are called nail-mending fluids. To do this, a piece of thin tissue is placed over the crack or break in the nail. The nail mending fluid is then applied. When the product dries and sets, the nail can be painted with the nail enamel.
Common Nail Problems:
1. Brittle Nails:
Brittle nails and flaking of nails are very common due to excessive dryness of the nail plate. The nail plate is made up of dead keratin cells held together by a natural glue of fats and water. Any loss of fats and water causes the cells to separate and results in flaking and brittleness of the nails.
A.Many of our domestic chores remove the natural fats from the nails resulting in brittle nails, so do wear gloves.
B.Nail polish removers also have a dehydrating effect. If you have brittle nails avoid removing your nail polish too frequently. You can use a colorless polish or a base-coat or a top-coat, because then you can keep touching it up quite happily, without having to use the remover very frequently.
C.Regular massage around the nail-base with cream can have a good effect on brittle nails.
2. Hangnails: Hangnails are tears in the skin of the nailfolds and the cuticle. The cuticle and the nail folds have a tendency to stick to the nail plate as it grows forward; the stretched cuticle may eventually tear. Sometimes the skin of the nail folds also cracks, particularly if it is dry. Nervous nail biting habits, chewing nails, and picking the cuticle all encourage the development of hangnails.
A. To avoid such conditions, keep the cuticles soft by massaging in creams and regularly loosening it from the nail-plate.
B.Clip off existing hangnails.
C.Avoid pulling off slivers as this can be very painful and can even cause infection of the nailfolds.
3. In-Growing Toe-Nails: If the toenail is not cut properly, it penetrates into the nail-fold as it grows, causing redness, swelling and pain.
A. Don’t cut them too short;
B.Don’t ever cut down the side of the nail;
C.Always follow the shape of the toe;
D.Once the pain has started, try to push the nail-fold away from the sharp edge of the skin.
4. Fungal Infections of the Nail (under nail fungus): When fungus infects the nails, they become thickened, broken and discoloured.Fungal infection can be easily treated- griseofulvin is given for milder infection and ketoconazole for more severe types-but let your doctor treat you.

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Nail care tips

Why won't nails grow?
Unless you have some type of medical condition that prevents it, your nails are growing. On average, your nails grow about 1/8 of an inch per month. The reason why most people's nails don't seem to grow is because they break before they see results. Many people bite their nails, rip them off, others tend to shed or peel. They best way to see results is to start a healthy nail program with your nail technician.

Will artificial nails keep my nails from growing crooked?
If your nails have always grown a certain way, they will continue to grow that way until you die or something changes your nail matrix (the "brain" of the nail). Nail enhancements can only "cover" your natural nail appearance, not change it.

What can you do about ridges in nails?
Actually, nothing. If you've always had them, you always will. If you never had them before and just started to notice them, one reason could be stress or simply the fact that you're getting older. As we get older the nails on our hands & toes become ridged. In order to get a
smooth polish application just GENTLY buff the nail surface with a white block buffer, remove the dust, apply a ridgefiller base coat, two coats of polish, and finally a topcoat.

How can I help my dry skin and cuticles?
Moisturize, Rehydrate, Oil, Lotion... any chance you get! Keep a good quality hand cream with you always. Whenever you wash your hands, apply it. Also, use a good quality cuticle oil and gently rub into your cuticles twice a day. For really chapped hands & feet I recommend a nice dip in paraffin wax.

Should cuticles and calluses be cut?
NO!! Never cut your cuticles or cut your calluses. These are your bodies armor. The cuticle protects the nails from infection, and the calluses give you shock absorbers . When you cut them, they will
grow back thicker and harder, and possibly create an infection. The best way to care for your cuticles is to apply a good quality cuticle oil and gently push them back with a orangewood stick. You may carefully trim any hangnails or for best results, schedule a manicure with your nail technician.

What causes finger nail damage?
The nail can be damaged by nail-biting, scratching the nail folds, bad manicuring , or trauma such as slamming a finger in a car door. Damaged nails may appear ridged or cracked and broken. If they do not appear "normal" after about one year, then most likely the nail matrix has been damaged and the nail will never be normal again.

What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a hereditary disorder which most commonly affects the skin on the elbows, knees, face, and even the scalp with a rash like appearance. In the finger nails, psoriasis may appear as pits in the nail plate, or as the nail plate separating from the nail bed (onycholysis). Other symptoms include the nail loosing its normal luster, appearing discolored, or grossly thickening.

What is Paronychia?
Paronychia is an inflammation of the nail folds commonly caused by constant exposure to moisture. Exposure to bacteria or fungus can often cause a secondary infection accompanied by painful swelling of the nail fold. If the infection goes untreated for an extended period of time, the nail plate can become deformed. Paronychia can be treated by draining the infected nail fold, taking oral antibiotics, or using a topical antifungal or antiseptic lotion. If you have paronychia it's best to avoid prolonged exposure to water (eg. washing dishes), or try wearing gloves.

What do Nails reveal about your health?
Take a look at your fingernails. Are they strong and healthy-looking? Or do you see ridges, or areas of unusual color or shape? The condition of your nails may offer clues to your general health. Illness
can cause changes in your nails that your doctor can use to develop a diagnose.

Here are a few nail disorders that may be linked with illnesses:

Beau's lines — Indentations that run across your nail. This can appear when growth at the matrix (nail root) is disturbed by severe illness such as a heart attack, measles, or pneumonia.

Clubbing — Your fingertips widen and become round while the nails curve around your fingertips. Caused by enlargement in connective tissue as compensation for a chronic lack of oxygen. Lung disease is present in 80 percent of people who have clubbed fingers.

Half-and-Half (Lindsay's nails) — Look for an arc of brownish discoloration. May appear in a small percentage of people who have a kidney disorder.

Onycholysis (ON-i-ko-LY-sis) — The nail separates from the nail bed. Most of the time, this problem is associated with physical injury (trauma), psoriasis, drug reactions, fungal disease or contact dermatitis from using nail hardeners. Sometimes onycholysis can be related related to an over- or under-active thyroid gland, iron deficiency, or syphilis.

Spoon nails — Soft nails that look scooped out. Depression is usually large enough to hold a drop of liquid. This condition often indicates iron deficiency.

Terry's nails — The nail looks opaque and white, but the nail tip has a dark pink to brown band. This can be a symptom of cirrhosis, congestive heart failure, adult-onset diabetes, cancer, or aging.

*Remember that the nail conditions described above are in no way deffinitive proof of a bigger health problem. Please consult with a medical professional for a realiable diagnosis.

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Mouthwash Tips

Homemade Rosemary-Mint Mouthwash

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups distilled or mineral water
1 tsp fresh mint leaves
1tsp rosemary leaves
1 tsp anise seeds
Boil the water, add herbs and seeds, infuse for 20 minutes. Cool, strain and use as a gargle/mouthwash. If you wish to make up a larger quantity, double or triple the recipe then add 1 tsp of tincture of myrrh as a natural preservative.
Homemade Spearmint Mouthwash

Ingredients:
6 ounces water
2 ounces vodka
4 teaspoons liquid glycerine
1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
10-15 drops Spearmint essential oil
Boil water and vodka, add glycerine and aloe vera gel. Remove from the heat, let cool slightly. Add spearmint oil, shake well. Pour into bottle, cap tightly.
Homemade Fruit Teeth Cleaners
1. Rub a lemon rind on your teeth to remove brown stains. Rinse your mouth thoroughly afterward.
2. Clean your teeth with a fresh strawberry. Rub it over and between your teeth.
A very simple homemade mouthwash
Wash your mouth with half a glass of warm water containing a teaspoon of table salt.
Baking Soda Mouthwash

Mix 2 ounces of Water, 1/4 Teaspoon of baking soda or Sea Salt, 1 drop of Pure Peppermint Oil, and 1 drop of Tea Tree oil. This Homemade mouthwash recipe leaves a great refreshing minty taste in your mouth and helps prevent bad breathe.
The above are some of the best homemade mouthwash recipes. Hope you like them. Please send your feedback (look at the bottom of this page).
Also some Breath Fresheners
• Chew fresh parsley to sweeten the breath.
• Chew fennel seeds to freshen the breath.
• Chew anise seeds to freshen the breath.
• Chew a few peppermint or spearmint leaves or drink a cup of peppermint tea.

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Men General Care

For Men General Care
Do you think that facial washes, lotions, specialty shampoos and gels are just for the ladies? Current trends contradict this traditional stereotype; according to retailers, men are buying more skin care products and hair products than ever, and not just for their wives.
Although men should certainly take care of their bodies in many of the same ways that women do, there are differences between men and women and the health needs that they each have. The basic structure of the skin is the same although a man’s skin does tend to have a slightly thicker top layer. Men also have stronger, thicker facial hair than women and produce more oil. This excess oil can block the pores and cause blackheads and spots if the skin is not kept clean. A simple skin care routine will help to keep skin clean and healthy and will go a long way to preventing such problems.
Washing your face in the morning is integral. Facial cleansers are preferable to soap since soap nearly always over dries your skin and leaves it feeling tight and uncomfortable. An exfoliating scrub two to three mornings a week helps remove dead skin cells and prevent breaks-outs and blocked pores. Use a facial wash before you shave in the morning and before you go to bed at night or whenever you skin is dirty. Massage the cleanser gently in a circular motion: do not scrub! Your face is not a frying pan or hubcap.
Many men start their mornings off with a nice warm shower, and this is a good time to incorporate easy ways to keep your skin and hair clean and in good shape. Lukewarm water is best, as hot water will strip your skin of its natural oils. Use a loofah (a rough sponge made from the fruit of a tropical plant) to remove dead skin. Shampooing doesn’t just encompass hair, but your scalp as well. Massage shampoo into your scalp with your fingertips and rinse. Use a conditioner to tame and moisturize your wild locks. Rinsing your hair thoroughly will prevent the build-up of shampoo residue that results in dry and “flat” hair. Try not to blow-dry your hair too often as it will become brittle, and apply gentle styling products like gel, spray or a light mousse to hold and shape your hair.
Aside from regular face washing, guys often neglect other aspects of their skin care. Men are more vulnerable to the wind and sun because shaving strips away the uppermost layer of skin. Use water-based, oil free sunscreen and a UV-resistant lip balm. We don’t always realize the toll stress takes on our skin. Stress produces hormones in the body which when broken down release free radical chemicals that damage cells. Smoking has a similar effect as does alcohol and pollution. Dull skin needs boosting and reviving to make it look healthier and younger. After shaving, many men use commercial aftershaves. Traditional aftershaves had a very high alcohol content and splashing them onto newly shaved skin was supposed to sting and feel refreshing. The alcohol quickly evaporated and left behind the fragrance. Unfortunately, they were often really uncomfortable and caused skin reactions. We have several natural Aftershave recipes to soothe raw, irritated skin like the Minty Menthol Aftershave.
There is no magical cure for aging, and prevention is always easier than searching for a cure, but you can do a lot to smooth the visible signs and keep wrinkles under control. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Protect your skin with sun block daily. Smoking is possibly the worst thing you can do to your skin. Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water as dehydration is really bad for your skin. Aim for eight large glasses a day. Get sufficient sleep and try to relax. Stress really shows on your face and can damage the skin if it continues over a long period. Using massage as a relaxation technique always works. Take that time out once a week to meditate, listen to music, and enjoy one of our Massage Oil Recipes on your aching shoulders and neck. You deserve the incredible feeling of taking care of your body, hair, and skin just as much as women do, so treat yourself to some pampering.
And don’t forget to drink plenty of water!

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Maintaining A Healthy Brain

Physical activity” is usually regarded as the pursuit of exercising the muscles, tendons and joints of the body, and rarely thought of as benefiting our internal organs (outside of the heart). But this is a limited viewpoint as effective fitness can have a profound impact all of our vital organs, especially the brain.
Researchers now believe that we can work-out our brains by adopting many of the same habits that sustain a healthy body, from focusing on good nutrition and physical fitness to managing stress.
This is important for us because the well-maintained brain is quicker, smarter, less forgetful, and less prone to age-related decline. Here are several ways to treat the brain real good:
FOOD CHOICES
Roughly 50-60% of the brain’s overall weight is pure fat (the rest of it is a mix of protein and carbohydrates). The brain uses fat as insulation for its billions of nerve cells. The better insulated a cell, the faster it sends messages and the speedier your thinking.
For this reason, fats are excellent food for the brain. But, all fats are not created equal, and it is necessary to educate yourself on which fats will serve the functionality of the brain best. As a general rule, any source of omega-3 fats such as walnuts, flaxseed, flaxseed oil or dark, leafy green vegetables will help the brain run smoothly.
However, FISH provides the brain with its favorite form of fat: DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). According to David Perlmutter, co author of The Better Brain Book, “DHA is far and away the most important nutrient for brain health”. Salmon and Anchovies are excellent sources of DHA.
RELAXATION
Chronic stress takes a heavy toll on the brain because stress hormones (such as corticosteroids) contribute to a general environment of inflammation and attack the brain’s memory center, the hippocampus.
According to researchers, stress is most damaging when you let it eat away at you. Therefore, it is extremely beneficial to find a way to do something about it. Deep breathing is an excellent way to relax, as is the practice of meditation which has long been known to alter brain waves.
In fact, recent studies have shown that meditation can change the physical structure of the brain (in a positive way). Therefore, our thoughts DO play a major role when it comes to the health of our brain.
ANTIOXIDANTS
The brain produces more free radicals- highly reactive cells that contribute to cell damage- than any other organ. Antioxidants are the body’s clean-up crew, and work around the clock to scrub the body clean of free radicals. They are found primarily in fruits and vegetables, and are in great abundance in berries (especially blueberries and Goji berries).
EXERCISE
Working up a sweat is critical for brain health. “Across the board, exercise increases brain function, memory retention and other key areas of cognition up to 20 percent” says Arthur D. Kramer, PhD, neuroscientist at the University of Illinois.
The brain accounts for only 2% of the body’s weight, but accounts for 15% of its blood flow, and regular exercise keeps the brain’s arteries open and unclogged. New research is suggesting that exercise may actually encourage the brain to make new connections between neurons and build new vascular structures.
Bottom line, get on that treadmill and lift some weights—it’s good for your brain!
REFINED SUGARS
The brain needs sugar (glucose) for energy. However, it prefers a nice steady and natural supply of it- the kind you find in fruits and vegetables- not in the refined sugars heaped in energy drinks and candy.
High sugar foods send a tidal wave of glucose crashing into the bloodstream, overwhelming the body’s ability to store balance. Habitual ingestion of simple carbs and processed foods causes chronic inflammation, type-2 diabetes, and host of other health problems.
Needless to say, none of this is good for the brain and it is great practice to limit your intake of refined sugars.
Purposefully flexing the brain muscle through physical activity, proper nutrition, and deep relaxation is a great way to live a longer and healthier life!

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Tips To Keep Healthy Brain!

Keep your brain active every day:


Stay curious and involved, commit to lifelong learning.

Read, write, and do crossword puzzles.

Attend lectures and plays, or take courses at local colleges or community centers.
Be social:


Stay active in the workplace.

Join social groups like bridge clubs or square dancing.

Travel.
Eat smart:


Certain foods like kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, corn, and eggplant are high in antioxidants and can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Cold water fish like halibut, mackerel, salmon, trout, and tuna are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Almonds, pecans, and walnuts are a good source of Vitamin E, an antioxidant.
Stay in shape:


Physical exercise maintains good blood flow to the brain and reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, which are risk factors for Alzheimer's.

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Health Tips for Heart, Mind, and Body

Unhealthy lifestyle. It’s a common contributor of our biggest health problems: stroke, heart disease, diabetes, cancer. What do the nation’s top physicians recommend to keep your heart, mind, and body in optimally good health?
For the secrets to a long healthy life, WebMD turned to Richard A. Lange, MD, chief of cardiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. His advice:
1. Daily exercise.

You brush your teeth every day; exercise is equally important for your daily routine. Turn off the TV or computer, and get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day.
To work your heart, it’s got to be aerobic exercise. You’ve got lots of options: walking, jogging, biking, rowing machine, elliptical machine, swimming. But don’t feel like you have to be an athlete. Walking is great exercise. Get 10 minutes here and there during the day. It all counts.
Start with something simple, like parking in the far corner of the parking lot — so you get those extra steps to the door. Take the stairs one or two flights instead of the elevator. If you take public transportation, get off one stop early and walk the rest. Get out at lunch to walk. Or walk with your significant other or your spouse after work. You’ll get a bonus — relaxation and stress reduction.
2. Healthy diet.

Quit eating junk food and high-fat fast food. Your heart, brain, and overall health are harmed by foods high in saturated fats, salt, and cholesterol. There’s no getting around it. You’ve got to replace them with healthy foods: lots of fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, olive oil — what we call the Mediterranean diet. Eat like an Italian, a Spaniard, a Greek! Enjoy!
3. Weight loss.

Too much body weight puts your health at great risk. When you take in more calories than you burn, you get fat — it’s that simple. You’ve got to eat less. You’ve got to exercise more. You’ve got to push yourself to make these lifestyle changes — but you’ve got to do it to help avoid serious health problems like heart disease, diabetes, or stroke.
4. Regular physical exams.

Tell your doctor your family medical history. Learn your personal risk factors, and the screening tests you need. Women may have mammograms to screen for breast cancer and Pap tests for cervical cancer. Men may have prostate cancer PSA tests. Routine screening for colorectal cancer should start at age 50, perhaps earlier if colon cancer runs in your family. You also need regular diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol tests. Make sure your immunizations are up to date. You may need flu and pneumonia shots, depending on your age.
5. Less stress.

When a person says they’re too busy to exercise, it tells me other things are crowding out what’s important in life: They don’t spend time with family and friends; don’t exercise enough; don’t eat right; don’t sleep properly. All these things reduce stress in your life, and that is critical to your health and longevity.
To be healthy, we need to set boundaries — and set limits on work hours. We should not be working so hard that we’re neglecting the things that keep us healthy. This is important advice, too, for people who take care of elderly parents or young children. Make sure you’re getting proper exercise and sleep — and that you’re not trying to do too much.
Body Wraps:

Body wraps are 100% organic skin care beauty products and are used for 100’s of different things including

• Instant Slimming
• Skin Tightening
• Odor Reduction
• Inch Loss
• Weight Reduction
• Remove Toxins - Detoxify
• Improved Circulation
• Improved Skin Firming (tighten skin)
• Double Chin Reduction
• Reduction of Dry Skin
• Reduction of Psoriasis & Eczema
• Clearer skin complexion
• Insomnia Reduction
• Serious Cellulite Reduction
• Breast Firming Masks
• Facial Firming Masks
• Neck Skin Firming
• Clear Complexion and Preventing Acne
• Muscle and Joint Pain Relief
• Beauty from the inside out
• Organic Skin Care & Beauty Products
• Works great to clear up acne skin
• Amazing Detox benefits
• Do Fat Calc to see the results
• Super fast weight loss results
• Some report losing 10lbs per week
• Lasting results with repeated wraps (5 or so)
• Sculpting for women and men body types

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Hair Care

Regular Care of Hair:
Taking care of hair is in fact much the same as taking care of skin. An effective hair care discipline involves cleansing, toning and conditioning routines carried out with religious regularity.


1. Care Of Oily Hair And Scalp Condition:
The principle of care for oily hair and scalp condition is the same as used for oily skin condition. The routine aims at removing the excess oil and to exfoliate skin cells which clogs up and suffocate the hair follicles in our scalp. The emphasis is laid on cleansing and toning routines. Since the hair has to be washed as frequently as it gets dirty and oily, a natural shampoo on a formulation of herbs such as amla, shikakai, trijla is ideal. Massaging hair and scalp is important for the well being as well as good growth of the hair. For dry hair, scalp massaging with oil is recommended. For oily hair massaging with toning lotion is suitable.
Home-made Cosmetics For Oily Hair:
A. Take some dry soap nuts(reetha) and soak them in water overnight. Mash them in the morning and strain the soapy solution. Add a tsp of shikakai powder and wash your hair.
If you are unable to make the shampoo cleanser at home, use this infusion recipe. Prepare it and mix in the shampoo you use.
B.To make the infusion, boil two handfuls of mint leaves in one and a half glass of water for 20 minutes. Strain the solution and mix in a 300ml bottle of shampoo.
Toning Lotion For Oily Hair:
Mix a tbsp of Malt Vinegar in a glass of water. Add a pinch of salt in it. Use 2 tbsps of it on your scalp and massage it with your finger tips twice a week. Leave the lotion on for one hour. Rinse with cool water, brush and set your hair.
2. Care For Dry Hair:
Dry hair tends to be thin and rough. It is susceptible to tangles, damage, breakage and split ends. The primary aim is to replenish the oil and the moisture in the hair.
Home-made Cosmetic Care For Dry Hair:
Below are given few natural recipes that are time-tested.
The Gentle Cleanser:
Beat an egg in a cup of the skimmed milk. When the foam becomes consistent, rub it into the scalp. Leave it on for 5 minutes. Rinse the hair thoroughly with water. Carry out this routine twice a week.
The Protein Conditioner:
Beat one tbsp of castor oil, one tbsp of glycerine, one tbsp of cider vinegar and a tsp of mild herbal shampoo. Apply it on scalp and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse with clear water.
A Special Massage Oil Toner
Buy a bottle of castor oil or coconut oil. Add a tsp of lavender essential oil in it. Heat a little and massage it gently on your scalp at night. Rinse or shampoo it out in the morning. Follow this routine at least twice a week.

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Summer Hair Care Tips

Summer sun, heat, humidity, and chlorine from the pool can damage your hair's cuticle and result in dry, drab, split, brittle or frizzy hair and ends.

Limit your time outdoors. Spending a lot of time outdoors in the sun can both dry out and damage your hair. Split ends are especially a problem during the summer. To avoid them, you should have your hair trimmed on a regular basis during the summer months.

Most hair stylists recommend getting your hair cut every six weeks. By getting your hair trimmed often, you can eliminate a lot of split ends and damaged hair.

You should also purchase a leave in conditioner for your hair if you will be exposed to the sun for several hours. There are many hair products available that contain SPF protection for your hair and scalp.

If you have color treated hair, using a conditioner with SPF protection will prevent your hair color from fading.

Use hair products that contain SPF protection. Hair can get sunburnt just like the scalp. Hair products that contain moisturizers and SPF protection will work wonders for your hair. Hair can get sunburnt just like the scalp. If hair becomes severely burnt, you will have to trim the damaged sections off.

Do not use peroxide. Stay away from hair lighteners that contain peroxide. Peroxide can cause damage to your hair and change the color drastically.
Take special care of color-treated hair. Hair that has been dyed or highlighted is especially prone to UV damage. Color-treated hair is already damaged, the sun will make the cuticle even rougher which makes hair more fragile and dried out.

Take care of color-treated hair by deep condition your hair using a product containing keratin, jojoba oil, wheat germ protein or other natural ingredients that increase moisture, shine and elasticity.

Wet your hair before swimming in a pool. If your hair is wet before you enter a pool, it won't soak up as much chlorine.

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Recipes for Home Hair Car

Here are some of the top treatments people swear by when it comes to adding life to their looks:

Mayonnaise

Want to soften hair and leave it shiny? Then mayonnaise is the conditioning condiment for you. Comb just enough mayo through your hair to coat it lightly. Then leave on for 30 minutes before shampooing out per normal. For a deeper conditioning treatment, place a shower cap on top of your mayo-coated locks and leave on for longer. Other interesting uses? Next time you get gum stuck in your hair, rub Mayo in until the gum dissolves right out.

Vinegar

Used for centuries as health tonic, this tasty, tangy acid can help remove residue that dulls your hair. Add about a tablespoon of vinegar to your hair as you rinse it. And if you have an itchy scalp or dandruff, try massaging full-strength apple cider vinegar into your scalp before shampooing. In addition to adding shine to your hair, vinegar is also known for its skin healing properties.

Avocado

Talk about green goddess. Once you're through with this rich hair mask you'll be ready to take on the world. Combine an avocado, one egg yolk and a dash of olive oil and massage it through your hair. As with most of these treatments, leave on for at least 30 minutes. Then shampoo, rinse and condition as normal. And remember, even if an avocado is past its prime for your salad, you can still use it on your hair so it doesn't go to waste.

Eggs

Crack a few eggs and beat together in bowl. After shampooing, massage through your hair and leave on before rinsing out thoroughly. This treatment should help repair or strengthen your hair follicles -- leading to silkier locks with good body. Alternate ideas include whisking one egg yolk together with a dash of olive oil and 3/4 cups warm water.

Beer

Some people use beer as a styling tonic, but you can just as easily benefit from this brew as a conditioner. Shampoo and rinse as usual. Then pour one bottle of beer through your hair and massage through from scalp to ends. Rinse thoroughly with cold water. And don’t worry; if you rinse well enough you won’t even smell the hops on your hair. You’ll just be left with shinier hair with more beautiful body.

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Home treatment

How do people get flu?
Infection with influenza at various points in one’s life is inevitable, unless one happens to live in an extremely remote and isolated community.
Flu viruses are highly contagious and spread easily:

• In the general community, pre-school and school children are most likely to get flu. This is because children have little pre-existing immunity and are highly susceptible to the viruses, which they then bring home to their families. The highest infection rate is amongst school aged children younger than 10 to 12 years, and amongst people in old age homes.
• Closed communities, such as homes for the elderly, university campuses and military bases, are prone to outbreaks of influenza, which run their course over a few weeks.
• About 21 percent of people living in the same house as an infected child or adult, will contract flu, according to American studies.
• About 6 percent of people exposed to influenza outside the household, will get flu.
• About 30 to 50 percent of asymptomic people (those who are infected but show no symptoms) transmit the flu virus to others.

Home treatment - what you can do
This article will look at four different aspects of self-treatment: - Over the counter medication
- Self treatment: the natural way
- A recipe for colds, flu, thickened mucus and sinusitis
- Over-the-counter medication
Over-the-counter drugs treat symptoms of flu, but not the cause. It will not cure flu, but will relief some symptoms. If the flu is not very severe, these, and vitamins and herbal remedies should be sufficient. These medications can make life a more bearable during your illness.
Self treatment: the natural way

1. Stay in bed for a few days. You will recover a lot sooner. Listen to your body and rest a while.
2. Don’t exercise - it might strain your heart and lungs. Your body is fighting a viral war, so assist in the fight!
3. Drink lots of fluids - water, fresh fruit juice and vegetable juice or soup.
4. Dissolve eucalyptus or peppermint oil in boiling water and steam those sinuses. This will loosen the phlegm, while disinfecting the environment.
5. Other aromatherapy oils to try are lavender, g****fruit, rosemary and tea tree oil (put a few drops in a burner, or in the bath, or use in a carrier oil for a soothing back and shoulder massage).
6. Increase your intake of vitamin A to 10 000 IU’s (3mg RE activity) a day and vitamin C to 1000-2000mg a day in divided dosages. Once you are feeling better, return to your normal maintenance level.
7. Studies have shown that Vitamin C may reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.
8. Use medicinal herbs. Herbs like garlic, Echinacea and golden seal act as natural “antibiotics” against viruses, bacteria and even fungi. They are also decongestants that dry the mucosal linings in a gentle way. They do not have side effects. They actually support the immune system.
9. Double-blind placebo controlled studies suggest that Echinacea purpurea not only shortens the duration of colds and flu while making it less severe, it also actually stops a cold that is just starting.
10. Andrographis seems to be a promising treatment for colds. It is a shrub found in India and throughout Asia. It is sometimes called Indian Echinacea because it has much the same benefits as Echinacea purpurea. Although it is not certain how Andrographis works for colds, some evidence suggests that it stimulates immunity.
11. Try zinc lozenges to soothe a sore throat and zinc nasal spray for a runny nose. Make tea with fresh or dried sage leaves simmered in boiling water, with a teaspoon of honey, for a sore throat. You can also gargle with sage tea.
12. What about chicken soup? It may soothe a sore throat, clear clogged passageways, and hydrate a thirsty body. A new study suggests that chicken soup may contain a number of substances with beneficial medicinal activity. A mild anti-inflammatory effect could be one mechanism by which the soup could result in the mitigation of symptomatic upper respiratory tract infections.

A recipe for colds, flu, thickened mucus and sinusitis:
Mix together a pinch of ginger, cinnamon, mustard, cayenne pepper and tumeric with a fresh clove of garlic (optional), a little lemon juice and honey in hot water - it makes for a delightfully spicy drink. You might even add a tot of brandy. Add a pinch of sage and thyme if the mucus is yellow or green. Drink this regularly until you feel better.
From : Health & Happiness (Tafelberg Publishers 2000) and Choose Wellness! (Modern Publisher 2001) both written by Dr Arien van der Merwe.
These guidelines should not be seen as an attempt to replace medical advice. If natural remedies and supplements do not improve the condition within three days, if you are worried about anything, or if the condition gets worse and develops into sinusitis or bronchitis, consult your doctor at once. An acute asthma attack, croup, and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) are examples of diseases where Western medicine and technology can and should be utilised to best advantage to save lives.
Read Diet Reviews and articles about becoming healthier and improving your health.

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