Archive for May, 2007

10 Good Reasons to go all Natural with Skin Care

Saturday, May 5th, 2007

Does adding a couple of key natural ingredients to a skin care product make it natural? Certainly it is not considered so by many consumers. This article outlines the benefits of truly natural products on our skin, bodies and the environment.

The term “natural” is somewhat misleading with regard to use in cosmetics. In Australia and the US manufacturers can add 5% of a natural ingredient to a synthetic and call a product natural. This is generally regarded as “greenwashing” and such products aren’t considered natural at all. So what do you look for to get the REAL benefits from truly natural products?

1. Truly natural products contain no synthetic ingredients such as artificial colours or fragrances. Artificial fragrances are amongst the most irritating ingredient in skin care with the ability to cause or significantly contribute to irritating skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, rashes and hives. You will notice the difference in your skin when you avoid such ingredients.

2. Natural products contain no potentially harmful ingredients such as petrochemicals, mineral oils, sodium lauryl sulphate and propolene glycol. According to Skin Deep, an Environmental Working Group in the US, many of the synthetic ingredients used (in the US and Australia) in everyday skin care are potentially toxic to humans.

3. Natural skin care is formulated to support the healthy functioning of our skin from within and without. Humans absorb up to 60% of any substance applied to our skin. It has been calculated that the average women can absorb up to 2kg of different chemicals through their skin each year. By using natural products you ensure that what you are absorbing is benefiting your skin and body, promoting radiance and health.

4. Our bodies have to break down, detoxify and excrete any substance we put on them. This puts an extra burden of toxicity on the body and is of particular concern for young babies and children whose organs of elimination are not fully developed. Reduce your toxic burden by using whole, unrefined natural products.

5. Natural skin & body care products contain nutrients, including naturally occurring antioxidants, amino acids, botanical extracts, pure essential oils and essential fatty acids in their holistic form which is more compatible with our skin and bodies. This includes nutrients such as grape seed (rich in phytochemicals that support the skin), rose hip oil (rich in vitamin C), Carrot oil (rich in vitamin A), pumpkin seed oil (rich in zinc), olive oil (rich in squalene) to name but a few. These ingredients promote healthy skin by nourishing from the outside in.

6. Natural cosmetics are more active. Excluding water, often contain up to 95% active ingredients rather than 5% active ingredients in a 95% inert (non-active) base as in many of everyday personal care products and cosmetics. You will notice a difference when you use natural products.

7. Wholly natural products are not tested on animals.

8. Many of the suppliers of natural skin care are local and cottage industries. Buying these products supports sustainable manufacturing processes, the ability to maintain quality control by hand making small quantities in order to provide fresh product, small business enterprise and local communities.

9. Natural products are environmentally friendly. Recent studies have shown that the chemicals and toxins found in most skin care products have a harmful effect on the environment as well as they take longer to break down than whole, unrefined ingredients.

10. Value for money. Natural products are often cheaper than synthetic products as they don’t have to compete in the hyped brand focused market. You are also paying for active rather than inert ingredients. When considering the benefits available form natural skin care the value of natural products outweighs anything else on the market.

For more information about natural and organic skin care products contact Ananda at http://www.vitalenatural.com.au or at info@vitalenatural.com.au

Ananda Mahony ND has been involved in the natural skin care industry for many years. This article outlines the benefits of natural skin care over their synthetic counterparts. Please include this credit if you use this article.

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Cleaning Cubic Zirconia: Tips that will keep your CZ jewelry sparkling!

Saturday, May 5th, 2007

Cleaning cubic zirconia jewelry is much easier than you think! So take advantage of these simple tips that will keep your precious jewelry sparkling and lustrous-so you can enjoy them for years to come.

Like diamonds, the precious cubic zirconia (CZ) gems need to be cleaned to maintain their original brilliance and luster. Many variables in our surrounding can dull the shine of precious gems: body lotion, perfume, hairspray, perspiration, or just simply, normal everyday wear.

All lotions and soap film are some of the more difficult materials to remove. Just a little of any of these materials on your CZ stone, will take away much of the visual brilliance of the stone. So it is vital to keep your CZ clean to maintain its sparkling diamond look.

A convenient way to clean your CZ jewelry is to use a small brushing device with soft bristles (preferably a toothbrush), along with warm to hot water mixed with a mild liquid dishwashing detergent (such as the brand, Joy), and brush as well as possible to remove any scum build-up.

Then, rinse well in warm to hot water, pat dry with a clean cloth, and take a look. If more cleaning is needed, soak the jewelry piece in hot water, with about 1/3 detergent to 2/3 hot water. (The mix is not critical.) Then, just brush again. When you’re done cleaning your jewelry, be sure to dry it well so to keep its brilliant shine.

Avoid exposing your CZ jewelry to abrasive substances such as household chemicals when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, or when swimming in chlorinated water, as these chemicals can damage your jewelry. Although most abrasive cleansers will not damage a CZ stone, they will, however, take the lustrous shine off the metal in which the stone is set.

Gemologists can agree that CZ comes closer than any other gem material to matching the characteristics of a diamond-it’s uncanny. As CZ is quickly becoming more popular as a desirable substitute for diamond, it’s important to care for it the same way you would a diamond.

So if for some reason you cannot remove the dirt off your CZ jewelry, take it to a jeweler and give it a high-pressure steam clean, as would be done to a diamond. This will remove almost any scum off your jewelry.

When we clean a customer’s jewelry and inspect it for wear, and loose or missing stones, we find the jewelry needing repair is most often a jewelry piece that has never been cleaned by the owner. Persistent dirt gets between the metal settings and the stones, causing abrasive wear and eventually, perhaps a loose stone.

One of the most basic rules of jewelry care is to apply all lotions, make-up, hair spray, etc. first, before you put on your jewelry. To minimize scratches and other damage, store your jewelry either in a cloth pouch or in a separate compartment in your jewelry box.

Now that you know how easy it is to care for your CZ, be sure to clean your CZ jewelry regularly-depending on how often you wear it; if you wear it everyday, cleaning it once a week is sufficient.

Follow our simple tips on cleaning cubic zirconia, and you can be certain your CZ jewelry will not only maintain its original brilliance and luster for years to come, but it will continue to sparkle radiantly for you when you wear it, and show it off!

© 2007 Pennybest.com. All rights reserved. Reprinting or republishing of this article is allowed, provided the author’s information including copyright and resource link is retained to accompany the article.

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Diamond or Cubic Zirconia: Knowing the difference can save you money!

Saturday, May 5th, 2007

Learn why cubic zirconia has been recognized as a beautiful synthetic gemstone that has quickly become a desirable substitute for diamond. Knowing the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia can help you make better purchasing decisions and in turn, save you time and money.

So what is the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia? Why is cubic zirconia (CZ) quickly becoming more popular as a desirable substitute for diamond? Gemologists can agree that CZ comes closer than any other gem material to matching the characteristics of a diamond.

Most people, even trained gemologists, cannot tell the difference between diamond and CZ, with the naked eye. Moreover, to the untrained eye, CZ looks identical to a good quality diamond. However, under closer inspection, CZ appears to have slightly less brilliance (or sparkle) than a diamond, and more fire, or flashes of color.

CZs were originally developed by the Russians, for their space program. They were developed as an alternative to diamonds that were used in the optics of their lasers. CZs have a refractive index, dispersion and hardness so close to a diamond it’s uncanny.

So what are some key features that can guide you in telling the difference between diamond and CZ? Do keep in mind, though, in order to accurately distinguish the two gems, gemological equipment such as microscope, or loupe, must be used for testing and verification.

To start, let’s take a look at the hardness factor: Did you know CZ ranges between 8.5 to 9.0 on the Mohs’ hardness scale, whereas diamond, one of the hardest materials known to man, is rated 10, lying at the top of the hardness scale?

Furthermore, glass (or sand) is rated approximately 5 to 6 on the hardness scale, therefore, dust and dirt will not scratch CZ. Indeed, CZ can scratch glass just like regular diamonds, making it more resistant to chipping.

One great difference between diamond and CZ is weight. CZs are heavyweights in comparison to diamonds; a CZ will weigh approximately 1.75 times more than a diamond of equivalent size. So basically, a piece of CZ the same size as a one-carat diamond weighs about 1.75 carats. Well…isn’t that interesting?

Contemporary production of CZ is virtually flawless, whereas diamond usually contains impurities and inclusions, or have some sort of defect, be it a feather, included crystal, or perhaps a remnant of an original crystal face (e.g. trigons).

In regards to color-more precisely, the lack of color-only the rarest of diamonds are truly colorless, as most have a tinge of yellow or brown to some extent. By comparison, CZ in most cases can be made entirely colorless, equivalent to a perfect “D” on diamond’s color grading scale.

Also, under close inspection with a loupe, the facet shapes of some CZs appear different from diamonds. Both gems disperse light a little differently. Dispersion is just a scientific term for the breaking up of light into its spectral colors. With a dispersive power greater than diamond (0.060 vs. 0.044), the more prismatic fire of CZ can be seen by even an untrained eye.

Dispersion occurs based on the gem’s refractive index. In this case, refractive index simply indicates how much a beam of light will bend, based on the direction in which it is traveling when it passes between two materials of different optical densities (such as between diamond and air; or between CZ and air). Being that CZ has a refractive index of 2.176, compared to a diamond’s 2.417, diamonds are therefore said to be brighter than CZ.

Another difference between the two gems is that CZs are thermal insulators-meaning, they reduce the rate of heat transfer-whilst diamonds are among the most efficient thermal conductors-meaning, they allow heat to easily pass through them. Without testing the gems’ heat conductivity, it can be difficult to tell them apart.

Remember, it is a 50/50 guess to identify a gem by visual inspection; it is not a scientific method of authentication. That is why even certified and degreed gemologists use gemological equipment for testing and verification.

You will also be glad to know that CZs are not only durable and inexpensive, but just like diamonds, they come in any color of the rainbow, making them even more desirable.

There have been many instances to see if jewelers can tell the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia, just by examining the gems with the naked eye. Over and over again, it was inconclusive; jewelers could not tell the difference just by looking at the gems. So you can now understand why the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia rests in the price, and in the mind…

© 2007 Pennybest.com. All rights reserved. Reprinting or republishing of this article is allowed provided the author’s information including copyright and resource link is retained to accompany the article.

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How To Use An Infertility Message Board

Saturday, May 5th, 2007

Infertility message boards have proven to be an effective method for gaining emotional support and advice for those suffering fertility issues.

Infertility message boards bring together like minded people suffering similar problems and provide an avenue of support for people looking for answers and hope. The ordeal of going through infertility issues can take it’s toll on even the strongest-willed individuals and in the end, there is only so much comfort and support you can get from family and friends.

In fact, finding support in the form of a stranger on an infertility forum is an option many prefer to take.

Can Anyone With Fertility Issues Join A Forum?

The benefit of an infertility message board is not only can you find the loving support and distance that you need to share your worries and thoughts, but you are interacting with like minded individuals all willing to help each other overcome a stressful situation. Anything related to child conception is acceptable and no question is out of bounds. The purpose is to offer women a place where the eyes of those they love and see every day cannot pry and inquire as to their worries. As stressful as it might be to share with those you’ve never met the pain of your situation, these message boards are designed for just that purpose.

The Supportive Nature Of An Infertility Message Board

Infertility has a language all of it’s own. When people are suddenly faced with the prospect conception may be a pipe dream, they react in different ways.

Infertility forums offer the supportive understanding and care you require simply because there are thousands of other people in your shoes. Not everyone who has fertility issues will be found on a message board but many of those who are, have been through the personal crisis of not being able to conceive and are only too happy to pass on valuable advice to others.

Miracles do happen, especially in the world of infertility and you can bet if someone who had resigned themselves to never conceiving, suddenly becomes pregnant and goes on to have a child, then they will be more than likely to share their good news and pass on any information which may provide some hope to another couple.

Infertility message boards deal with issues such as treatment options; people can discuss what has or hasn’t worked for them. People can discuss infertility insurance issues which is a major one and a drawback for many couples who seem to be denied the option of having more expensive treatment because they cannot get insurance. Or simply, people may just want to discuss infertility and the impact it has had on their lives.

Infertility Facts

Forums are available all over the internet. If you are concerned about anonymity, remember, you can sign up or register under a pseudonym. Many message boards contain experts in the area of fertility while some forums will be run simply by people who have either gone through the issues you are experiencing or just want to be able to give something back after having success in conceiving a child.

Keep Your Doctor In The Loop!

A great way to utilize an infertility message board other than for emotional support is to seek out any new ideas or methods which you may not be aware of. Why? Because making a list of these and then discussing them with your physician may be an effective way of stumbling across any ideas worth implementing. If you have exhausted just about every avenue available to

you, then certainly this could be worth a try. Your doctor should quickly be able to determine the merits of anything you present to him/her.

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Breast Cancer Statistics – Survival Rates Increased 50%

Saturday, May 5th, 2007

From the desk of Dr Magne, author of Cancer Free For Life

Breast cancer statistics show that over 1.2 million persons will be diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide this year, according to the World Health Organization. Regular physical activity has been shown to decrease the likelihood of having breast cancer. What has not been known or studied has been the effect of regular physical activity on the breast cancer survival rates or likelihood of death in women that already have breast cancer. That is, until now.

The breast cancer statistics and findings as reported by the American Medical Association’s Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) were astounding! Certain participants in the study of women with Stage I, II or III breast cancer achieved a 50% reduction in the death rate from breast cancer.

Here are these breast cancer statistics: the journal reported that in the study 2,987 female registered nurses had been diagnosed with breast cancer during the years 1984-1998. What the study found was that the women who had physical activity equivalent to walking at a steady pace of 2.0-2.9 miles per hour for 3-5 hours a week had a death rate of only 50% of the death rate of women who had physical activity equivalent to walking less than one hour a week. The conclusion of the breast cancer statistics in the study was that physical activity after breast cancer has been diagnosed may reduce the risk of death from breast cancer. The study found that there was little evidence of any relation between increased physical activity and increased benefit.

It’s time to dust off those walking shoes!

As a physical activity, walking can be done almost anytime by anyone anywhere. All that’s needed is a good pair of walking shoes. Walking is fun and reduces stress. As for injuries, walking has the lowest injury rate of all the various kinds of exercise.

You can walk with a partner, friend, family member or dog, maybe even a neighbor’s dog. Or you can walk with your favorite headset and music. If you are walking outdoors with a headset, keep one ear open to hear the sounds around you.

As for basic walking tips:

  • As you begin regular walking, take it easy. Standard advice is to check with your physician before starting any exercise program. If it’s been years or decades since you walked regularly, perhaps you can begin with 5 minutes of walking and slowly increase your time and distance.

  • Walking at a pace of 75-95 steps a minute will have you walking at a speed of about 2-3 miles per hour.

  • Walk with your head up, looking out in front of you. Do not walk looking down right in front of you except to navigate any obstacles.

  • Really take it easy the first 5 minutes of walking to warm up. Afterwards, gently stretch for 5-10 minutes while your muscles are warm.

  • Practice good walking form. Your arms should swing naturally in the direction you’re walking, not from side to side across your body. Your foot should strike the ground on your heel, then a rolling motion forward toward the ball of your foot, then pushing off with your toes.

    And here are some basic walking shoes tips:

  • Buy your walking shoes from a sporting shoes store with large selections. That will give you plenty of choices. And buy your walking shoes later in the day when your feet will be larger.

  • Buy cushioned, supportive walking shoes. To see if a shoe is supportive, do this test — take a shoe and turn it upside down. Holding each end of the shoe, try to fold it. If you find the shoe bends in the middle, then that shoe is not a supportive shoe. A supportive shoe should bend where your foot normally bends, near your toes.

  • You should allow the width of your index finger between the end of your shoe and the end of your longest toe, or about one-half inch.

    Walking is the closest thing to the perfect exercise. In today’s fast-paced society, regular walking can be a welcomed break from the stress of the day. Maybe you’ll get to know your neighborhood or neighbors better. There may be walking trails you’ve never seen but wanted to.

    Wherever and however you choose to walk, not only can the experience be fun, you’ll know you’re being good to your body in a variety of ways. Besides the incredible breast cancer statistics and findings of the breast cancer study, walking helps with weight control and bone strength, elevates mood, helps build and maintain healthy muscles, joints and heart. With so many great health benefits, why not get started walking today!

    Dr Magne has been researching the origins and causes of disease and cancer for the past 25 years. Visit
    www.cancer-free-for-life.com to receive a FREE report on The 10 Ways to Cure Cancer Immediately. This article is available for reprint for your website and newsletter, provided that you maintain its copyright integrity and include the signature.

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  • Yoga boosts immunity against cancer

    Saturday, May 5th, 2007

    Psychosocial tests showed that the “demands of illness,” which reflects the burden of hardship of being a breast cancer survivor, fell in the yoga participants.

    IN BREAST cancer survivors, the Iyengar method of yoga not only promotes psychological well-being, but seems to offer immune system benefits as well, according to research reported at the American Physiological Society meeting in Washington, DC.

    The Iyengar method, created by B K S Iyengar, “is considered to be one of the more active forms of yoga,” lead researcher and presenter Pamela E. Schultz from Washington State University, Spokane, said on Monday .

    “It still has the meditative component, but it’s been shown to have a physical output equivalent to a moderate-intensity exercise,” she explained.

    Schultz and colleagues randomly assigned 10 breast cancer survivors to eight weeks of Iyengar yoga (two classes and a solo session at home per week) and nine to a wait-list control group. The women had an average age of 61 years, were about four years out from initial cancer diagnosis and were being treated with hormone therapy None of the women had any prior experience with Iyengar yoga.

    Psychosocial tests showed that the “demands of illness,” which reflects the burden of hardship of being a breast cancer survivor, fell in the yoga participants.

    “Psychosocial variables indicated improved quality of life with Iyengar yoga,” Schultz said.

    Importantly, these improvements correlated with decreased activation of an important immune system protein called NF-kB, which is a marker of stress in the body.

    “So it’s possible,” Schultz said, “that decreased activation of NF-kB indicates decreased stress in the body, which would be a positive thing. NF-kB can be activated by any type of stress in the body, like physical stress and mental stress.” Schultz plans to continue her research by looking at different immune system proteins to see if they too show changes for the better, “which would confirm immune and psychosocial benefits of Iyen gar yoga”.

    Find more about Yoga boosts immunity against cancer visit www.halfvalue.com and www.halfvalue.co.uk

    For more details on Books at www.lookbookstores.com

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    Safer Sex

    Saturday, May 5th, 2007

    Tips and advice on how to avoid sexually transmitted infections to cultivate a safer sex life for you and your partner. We are all sexual – from birth to death. When we decide to have sex, we want it to be satisfying – whether we are women, men, intersex or transgender, married or single, young or old, straight, lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Enjoying our sexuality is a normal, natural part of life. Most people have taken risks when they have had sex – risks that include getting sexually transmitted infections. People take so many risks that up to one out of two get an infection some time in their lives. The risks people take can be dangerous.

    We are all sexual – from birth to death. When we decide to have sex, we want it to be satisfying – whether we are women, men, intersex or transgender, married or single, young or old, straight, lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Enjoying our sexuality is a normal, natural part of life. Most people have taken risks when they have had sex – risks that include getting sexually transmitted infections. People take so many risks that up to one out of two get an infection some time in their lives. The risks people take can be dangerous. Many sexually transmitted infections can:

  • last a lifetime

  • put stress on relationships

  • cause sterility

  • cause birth defects

  • lead to major illness and death

    If you do find that you have contracted a STD, it is important to contact ALL previous and current partners. As you do not know how long you have had the disease (as it might have been dormant for sometime) and also you do not know if they have already got the disease. It is imperative that all sexual partners must undergo an STD check. Unfortunately, many people consider having STIs to be a moral issue. The stigma and shame some people feel because of this may lead them to neglect taking good care of their sexual health. Please don’t let embarrassment be a health risk for you. Speak frankly and openly with your clinician about your sex life and your sexual health concerns. Safer sex is anything we do to lower our risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection. It’s about getting more pleasure with less risk. Three Steps to Safer Sex:

    1.Become honest with ourselves about the risks we take.

    2.Decide which risks we are willing to take – and which ones we aren’t willing to take.

    3.Find ways to make our sex play as safe and satisfying as possible. The most important ways to reduce your risk are:

  • Keep your partner’s body fluids out of your body – vagina, anus, or mouth. The body – fluids to be most careful about are blood, cum, pre-cum, vaginal fluids, and the discharge from sores caused by sexually transmitted infections.

  • Don’t touch sores or growths that are caused by sexually transmitted infections.

    Safer sex also means protecting your partner.

  • Don’t allow your body fluids to get into your partner’s body.

  • Don’t have sex if you have sores or other symptoms of infection.

  • Have routine checkups for infections.

  • Get the correct treatment if you become infected. This information has been brought to you by Firstmed.co.uk, the UK’s leading online impotence clinic. If you wish to discuss any of the above issues in more detail, do not hesitate to contact info@firstmed.co.uk or call +44 (0)870 199 5287

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  • The Incredible Shrinking Fat Cell – What Really Happens When Body Fat is Burned?

    Saturday, May 5th, 2007

    What really happens when body fat is burned

    Earlier this week someone in our discussion forum wrote, “I haven’t “LOST” any fat… I know EXACTLY where it went! I got a chuckle out of that because I “got” the joke, but truth is, most people really don’t know how fat cells work, how the fat burning process takes place or where the fat goes when it’s burned . It’s actually quite a complex biochemical sequence of events, but I’ll explain it as simply as possible, so by the end of this article, you’ll be a “fat burning” expert!

    When you “lose” body fat, the fat cell (also called an adipocyte) does not go anywhere or move into the muscle cell to be burned. The fat cell itself, (unfortunately) stays right where it was – under the skin in your thighs, stomach, hips, arms, etc., and on top of the muscles – which is why you can’t see muscle “definition” when your body fat is high.

    Fat is stored inside the fat cell in the form of triaglycerol. The fat is not burned right there in the fat cell, it must be liberated from the fat cell through somewhat complex hormonal/enzymatic pathways. When stimulated to do so, the fat cell simply releases its contents (triaglycerol) into the bloodstream as free fatty acids (FFA’s), and they are transported through the blood to the tissues where the energy is needed.

    A typical young male adult stores about 60,000 to 100,000 calories of energy in body fat cells. What triggers the release of all these stored fatty acids from the fat cell? Simple: When your body needs energy because you’re consuming fewer calories than you are burning (an energy deficit), then your body releases hormones and enzymes that signal your fat cells to release your fat reserves instead of keeping them in storage.

    For stored fat to be liberated from the fat cell, hydrolysis (lipolysis or fat breakdown), splits the molecule of triaglycerol into glycerol and three fatty acids. An important enzyme called hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) is the catalyst for this reaction. The stored fat (energy) gets released into the bloodstream as FFA’s and they are shuttled off to the muscles where the energy is needed. As blood flow increases to the active muscles, more FFA’s are delivered to the muscles that need them.

    An important enzyme called lipoprotein lipase (LPL), then helps the FFA’s get inside the mitochondria of the muscle cell, where the FFA’s can be burned for energy. If you’ve ever taken a biology class, then you’ve probably heard of the mitochondria. This is the “cellular powerhouse” where energy production takes place and this is where the FFA’s go to be burned for energy.

    When the FFA’s are released from the fat cell, the fat cell shrinks and that’s why you look leaner when you lose body fat – because the fat cell is now smaller. A small or “empty” fat cell is what you’re after if you want the lean, defined look.

    It was once believed that the number of fat cells could not increase after adulthood, only the size of the fat cells could increase (or decrease). We now know that fat cells can indeed increase both in size (hypertrophy) and in number (hyperplasia) and that they are more likely to increase in number at certain times and under certain circumstances, such as 1) during late childhood and early puberty, 2) During pregnancy, and 3) During adulthood when extreme amounts of weight are gained

    Some people are genetically predisposed to have more fat cells than others and women have more fat cells than men. An infant usually has about 5 – 6 billion fat cells. This number increases during early childhood and puberty, and a healthy adult with normal body composition has about 25 to 30 billion fat cells. A typical overweight adult has around 75 billion fat cells. But in the case of severe obesity, this number can be as high as 250 to 300 billion!

    The average size (weight) of an adult fat cell is about 0.6 micrograms, but they can vary in size from 0.2 micograms to 0.9 micrograms. An overweight person’s fat cells can be up to three times larger than a person with ideal body composition.

    Remember, body fat is basically just a reserve source of energy and fat cells are the like the storage tanks. Unlike a gas tank in your car which is fixed in size, however, fat cells can expand or shrink in size depending on how “filled” they are.

    Picture a balloon that is not inflated: It’s tiny when not filled with air – maybe the size of your thumb. When you blow it up with air, it can expand 10 or 12 times it’s normal size, because it simply fills up. That’s what happens to fat cells: They start as nearly empty fat storage “tanks” (when you are lean), and when energy intake exceeds your needs, your fat cells “fill up” like balloons (not a pretty picture, is it?)

    So you don’t actually “lose” fat cells, you “shrink” or “empty out” fat cells. Since fat cells can not only get bigger, but also multiply, you have be diligent and consistent in your fat-burning lifestyle because even after you shrink your fat cells, the cells are still there (in your thighs, lower abs, etc), waiting to be filled up with more fat again, if you’re not careful…

    So stay active to keep burning fat and avoid consuming more calories than you burn, and your fat cells will get shrunk and stay shrunk!

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    Study supports surprisingly effective new fibromyalgia treatment

    Saturday, May 5th, 2007

    Fibromyalgia is a little understood and perplexing disease that is often difficult to control.  A recent study sheds light on a drug that may prove to be effective.

    Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disorder which is felt to be due to abnormal processing of neurotransmitters in the brain.  Gabapentin (Neurontin) is a drug that has been shown to block pain signal processing and has demonstrated efficacy for diabetic and other types of neuropathy. Rheumatologists have used gabapentin to treat FM for years “off-label” since it has no FDA approval yet for use in FM.

    A new study shows that it also significantly reduces neuropathic pain in fibromyalgia.  This may provide  the impetus for the FDA to approve gabapentin.

    In a multicenter trial,  researchers randomized 150 patients with fibromyalgia-related pain to gabapentin 1,200-2,400 mg a day or placebo for 12 weeks.

    The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), a pain severity score ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain), was used to determine the primary outcome. Response was defined as a reduction of 3 or more points.

    Patients on gabapentin had a significantly greater improvement in the BPI average pain severity score at week 12. The average reduction in BPI was 0.92 greater in the gabapentin group compared with the placebo group. Response was achieved by 51% of patients on gabapentin compared with 31% of placebo-treated patients.

    Gabapentin resulted in significant improvement in the average BPI pain interference score, patient assessment of fibromyalgia impact on health, overall impression of severity and sleep disturbance. However, the investigators observed no changes on the mean tender point pain score. (Tender points are often used by physicians to assess the degree of pain a patient has as a result of their fibromyalgia).

    Gabapentin effectively reduced pain in patients with fibromyalgia and it also improved sleep, which is commonly reported to be disrupted in patients with fibromyalgia.

    Researchers also pointed out that gabapentin was well tolerated at doses between 1200 and 2400 mg/day. More patients on active treatment reported feeling sleepy, dizziness and weight gain, although weigh gain was not seen on clinical examination.

    The researchers concluded that gabapentin is an option for patients looking for reduction in pain and improved sleep.

    (Arnold LA, Goldenberg DL, Stanford SB, Lalonde JK, Sandhu HS, Keck PE, Welge JA, Bishop F, Stanford KE, Hess EV, Hudson JI. Gabapentin in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.Arthritis Rheum 2007;56:1336-1344).

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    Exactly What Is Microdermabrasion?

    Saturday, May 5th, 2007

    Microdermabrasion Treatments and methods

    What is Microdermabrasion? You have probably met this word often when you were searching for an effective acne treatment. Microdermabrasion is not really new; in fact, it was first introduced in Ancient Egypt. In order to remove minor skin flaws, Egyptian women used to peel the outermost layer of the skin by using fine sand and abrasive marks with alabaster particles. Exfoliation became the trend and since then, women have used several methods and different substances to cleanse and naturally freshen and lighten their skin. In 1985, an Italian specialist performed Microdermabrasion, as we understand it today, for the first time. In modern times, skin problems are now treated with microderm abrasion because it was proven to be effective but more importantly, more people prefer this treatment because of its quick after treatment recovery and low health risk.

    For you to understand further what is Microdermabrasion, let us look closely into how it’s being done. Microdermabrasion is an effective, non-surgical way to get rid of skin imperfections by exfoliating the very top layers of the skin. It is a skin resurfacing treatment that works gently in abrading the outermost part of the skin. Microdermabrasion involves a stream of fine micro particles being blasted across the face by a kind of “skin vacuum cleaner”. The powder used varies between different machines and can include crystals of aluminum salts, sodium bicarbonate crystals, or even sodium chloride (table salt) crystals. Movement of these crystals under pressure loosens and partially removes the outermost epidermal layer of the skin. The Aluminum oxide micro crystal abrasion machines or diamond tipped wand gently sandblast your skin, leaving a new, fresh layer underneath thus leaving it smooth and fresh. Micro dermabrasion also helps your skin rejuvenate faster than normal. It is a simple, straight forward, non-invasive procedure that revitalizes dull skin, reduces large pores, erases fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, reduces mild pigment irregularities (hyperpigmentation), stretch marks and age spots. Likewise, it encourages the production of a new underlying layer of skin cells with higher levels of collagen and elastin, which further improves your skin’s appearance.

    Microdermabrasion is much gentler than dermabrasion, which is a more intensive procedure used to treat deeper facial lines, extreme sun damage, and scars. Microdermabrasion is so gentle that it can be performed at home aside from beauty salons, spas and medical or dermatological offices. It is recommended for adults who are in good physical health, with realistic expectations for the outcome of their treatment. People who do not have enough available time to undergo more invasive skin resurfacing treatments such as dermabrasion, laser skin resurfacing, or chemical peels may also be good candidates for microdermabrasion.

    Microdermabrasion treatments are safe, quick and are typically without side effects. Treatments are good for almost all skin types, and are excellent for those with sensitivities to chemical procedures. Immediately following your treatment, you may return to your normal daily activities. For optimal results, a series of multiple treatments are recommended. Additional treatments encourage the production of a new layer of skin cells containing higher levels of collagen and elastin, both of which further improve your skin’s appearance. It would be best to consult your dermatologist to fully understand what is Microdermabrasion before undergoing this treatment.

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