Do You Know the Sixty Uses of Salt ?

Although you may not realize it, simple table salt has a great number of uses other than simply seasoning your food. The following list will give you sixty uses of salt, many of which you probably didn't realize:
1. Soak stained hankies in salt water before washing.
2. Sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away.
3. Soak fish in salt water before descaling; the scales will come off easier.
4. Put a few grains of rice in your salt shaker for easier pouring.
5. Add salt to green salads to prevent wilting.
6. Test the freshness of eggs in a cup of salt water; fresh eggs sink; bad ones float.
7. Add a little salt to your boiling water when cooking eggs; a cracked egg will stay in its shell this way.
8. A tiny pinch of salt with egg whites makes them beat up fluffier.
9. Soak wrinkled apples in a mildly salted water solution to perk them up.
10. Rub salt on your pancake griddle and your flapjacks won't stick.
11. Soak toothbrushes in salt water before you first use them; they will last longer.
12. Use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot.
13. Mix salt with turpentine to whiten you bathtub and toilet bowl.
14. Soak your nuts in salt brine overnight and they will crack out of their shells whole. Just tap the end of the shell with a hammer to break it open easily.
15. Boil clothespins in salt water before using them and they will last longer.
16. Clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made of salt and vinegar, thickened with flour
17. Add a little salt to the water your cut flowers will stand in for a longer life.
18. Pour a mound of salt on an ink spot on your carpet; let the salt soak up the stain.
19. Clean your iron by rubbing some salt on the damp cloth on the ironing surface.
20. Adding a little salt to the water when cooking foods in a double boiler will make the food cook faster.
21. Use a mixture of salt and lemon juice to clean piano keys.
22. To fill plaster holes in your walls, use equal parts of salt and starch, with just enough water to make a stiff putty.
23. Rinse a sore eye with a little salt water.
24. Mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash. Use it hot for a sore throat gargle.
25. Dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth polisher.
26. Use salt for killing weeds in your lawn.
27. Eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt.
28. A dash of salt in warm milk makes a more relaxing beverage.
29. Before using new glasses, soak them in warm salty water for awhile.
30.A dash of salt enhances the taste of tea.
31. Salt improves the taste of cooking apples.
32. Soak your clothes line in salt water to prevent your clothes from freezing to the line; likewise, use salt in your final rinse to prevent the clothes from freezing.
33. Rub any wicker furniture you may have with salt water to prevent yellowing.
34. Freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water.
35. Add raw potatoes to stews and soups that are too salty.
36. Soak enamel pans in salt water overnight and boil salt water in them next day to remove burned-on stains.
37. Clean your greens in salt water for easier removal of dirt.
38. Gelatin sets more quickly when a dash of salt is added.
39. Fruits put in mildly salted water after peeling will not discolor.
40. Fabric colors hold fast in salty water wash.
41. Milk stays fresh longer when a little salt is added.
42. Use equal parts of salt and soda for brushing your teeth.
43. Sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing clean.
44. Soaked discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to remove stains..
45. Clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt.
46. Salty water boils faster when cooking eggs.
47. Add a pinch of salt to whipping cream to make it whip more quickly.
48. Sprinkle salt in milk-scorched pans to remove odor.
49. A dash of salt improves the taste of coffee.
50. Boil mismatched hose in salty water and they will come out matched.
51. Salt and soda will sweeten the odor of your refrigerator.
52. Cover wine-stained fabric with salt; rinse in cool water later.
53. Remove offensive odors from stove with salt and cinnamon.
54. A pinch of salt improves the flavor of cocoa.
55. To remove grease stains in clothing, mix one part salt to four parts alcohol.
56. Salt and lemon juice removes mildew.
57. Sprinkle salt between sidewalk bricks where you don't want grass growing.
58. Polish your old kerosene lamp with salt for a better look.
59. Remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot solution of salt water.
60. If a pie bubbles over in your oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spilled juice. The mess won't smell and will bake into a dry, light crust which will wipe off easily when the oven has cooled

Med Info : Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing Spondylitis
Also known as:  Rheumatoid spondylitis or Marie-Strumpell disease
What is it?
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a disease of the connective tissue that results in the inflammation of the joints in the spine. The word "ankylosing" refers to a condition where the bones of a joint are fused, stiff, or rigid. "Spondylitis" is an inflammation of the spine.
Who gets it?
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is found in less than 1% of the population. It is three times more likely to occur in men than in women, with symptoms usually occurring for the first time between the ages of 20 and 40. People with a parent or sibling with AS are more likely to have the disorder. Afro-Americans have an approximately 25% higher incidence of AS than Caucasians.
What causes it?
The exact cause of AS is unknown. However, the fact that the disease tends to run in families makes genetics a likely factor. Researchers have identified a gene called HLA-B27 in more than 90% of patients with AS. However, the presence of this gene doesn't guarantee AS. Only around 10 to 15% of people who inherit the gene actually develop this disease.
What are the symptoms?
Like most forms of arthritis, AS flares up, so patients may have periods with no symptoms alternating with periods of mild to moderate symptoms. The most common symptom is back pain. Pain is often worse at night, and stiffness is worse upon waking in the morning. The pain and stiffness in the back can progress to the chest and neck. Patients may find that the pain is relieved by bending forward, which is why people with AS often have a stooped appearance. Eventually, the bones in the back may fuse. In some, the back ends up curved and inflexible. This condition is called "bamboo spine."  In others, the back is straight and stiff. AS can also cause eye inflammation, damage to the heart valve, difficulty taking deep breaths, psoriasis, ileitis (inflammation of the small intestine), colitis (inflammation of the large intestine), fever, fatigue, and weight loss.
How is it diagnosed?
If your pattern of symptoms fits the description of AS, your doctor will order x-rays of the spine and pelvis. He or she will look for wear at the joint between the spine and the hip bone, and for abnormalities in the vertebrae. A simple blood test may also reveal the HLA-B27 gene. If AS is diagnosed, you will be referred to a rheumatologist, which is a doctor who specializes in treating arthritis.
What is the treatment?
Treatment of AS is focused on relieving pain and restoring mobility. Drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are prescribed to relieve pain and stiffness. Your doctor may recommend corticosteroid drugs to treat severe joint and eye inflammation. Corticosteroids are only prescribed for short-term use because of potential side effects. A physical therapist can teach you exercises that will help with breathing and posture, as well as to increase and maintain flexibility. A back brace may also be needed to keep the back straight. Surgery, performed by an orthopedic surgeon, is only considered in severe cases where the hip or knee joint is completely worn away or permanently bent. Alternative treatments, such as herbal remedies and acupuncture, have brought relief to some patients. Consult your doctor before trying any alternative treatments.
Self-care tips
While there is no known way to prevent AS, most patients lead full, productive lives with treatment to control and relieve symptoms.

This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference guide written by our health care reviewers.  The health information written by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your physician.  It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. '

8 Wonder Ways For A Flat Tummy

Blame it on SRK’s six-pack-magic, Aamir’s eight-pack-charisma or Priyanka’s hot bikini bod, but flaunting the flattest tummy and a set of well toned abs is the latest dream for many youngsters.
But, they usually tend to forget that it takes more than just basic crunches and crash dieting to carve a drool worthy, flat stomach. Explains fitness trainer, Deanne Pandey, “Ab exercises + cardio exercises + right diet – this is the most effective formula to achieve well-toned abdominal muscles. Missing upon any one of these will take away the real impact of an abs-workout.”
“An ideal diet and workout for every individual depends upon his/her weight loss requirement, body type and body shape,” suggests Pandey. For instance, a pear shaped person may indulge in a less strenuous workout and minimal diet modifications to get the desired tummy in comparison to an apple shaped body, who is usually heavy in the tummy area.
Here are a set of workout and physical activities, which when combined with an ideal eating plan and cardio workouts can assure you of the killer abs that you always dreamt of...
1. Naukasana- A common yoga posture that works wonders on your abs.
Method: Lie flat on the ground, with your back on the floor. Raise your upper body and legs to an angle of 30 degrees and hold the posture for 30-40 seconds, then relax. Repeat this asana for 10 times to begin with, graduating to 30 times. Breathe normally all through the work out.
“Holding onto the posture tightens and contracts your upper and lower abs while repeating the movement tones them up,” tells yoga expert Usha Chegappa of Bharat Thankur’s Artistic Yoga.
2. Ushtrasana : It is the counter pose to naukasana .
Method: Stand on your knees, with heels facing upwards. Arch your back, placing your hands on your knees one by one. Hold your head behind pushing your belly outwards. Hold this posture for 30 seconds and repeat 30 times.
“During naukasana , the ab muscles contract building up tension in the area, while ushtrasana releases the tension by giving your tummy a good stretch. It is important to practice ushtrasana after naukasana to save one's back from injury,” explains Usha.
3. Basic crunch : The good old crunch still remains the best exercise to bag the perfect abs.
Method: Lie on the floor with your legs off the floor in a right angle. Keep your shoulders just above the floor. Breathe in and bring your knees in towards your chest, while lifting your upper body to an angle of 30 degrees and breathe out while you relax. Repeat this exercise 15-20 times to begin with.
“Don’t arch your back. The crunches will help you contract your abdomninal muscles giving them an effective workout,” suggests Deanne.
4. Bridging: Stretch till you feel the burn!
Method: Lie flat on the floor with your hands resting by your sides, feet flat on the floor, shoulder width apart and knees bent. Now, contract your abdominals, lower back and gluts and slowly lift your midsection to form a bridge from your knees, through your hips to your shoulders. Hold this position for a few seconds, and then slowly lower. Fitness expert Kiran Swahney suggests, “Avoid this exercise in case you are suffering from lower back problems.”
5. Lying Torso Twists:  Twisting motion stretches the oblique muscles.
Method: Lie on the floor with knees pulled over your chest. Place a ball between your knees and stretch arms to the sides like an airplane, palms facing up. Contract your abs and twist your hips to the right, bringing knees towards the floor Don’t touch the floor, but use your abs to bring your knees back to the start and go to the other side.
“Make sure your shoulders lie flat on the floor and keep breathing normally,” advises Kiran.
6. Cycling: Not on the cycle, but on the floor.
Method: Lie on the floor and raise your legs. Make slow pedaling motions with both your legs alternatively. Keep breathing normally. Touch your left elbow to your right knee, then your right elbow to your left knee.
“The slower and controlled are the motions, more is the pressure exerted on your abs giving better results,” explains Deanne.
7. Side plank: targeted to your oblique muscles or side abs.
Method: Lie down on your side with elbows supporting your body above the ground. Now lift your body sideways. This will make you feel the stretch on your oblique muscles giving them a good workout. 2-3 sets of 15-20 movements are ideal.
“Make sure your body is in one line without any bends and arches. If indulging in a strenuous workout is on your mind, hold in the position and pulsate,” adds Deanne.
8. Dancing wonders: Feel the pulse
“Stomach muscles are core muscles involved in any kind of dancing. A toned stomach accentuates your moves, while dance movements make your stomach sexy. It’s a co-related process,” says dance instructor, Nanda Kundu.
Some of the dance forms that can help you tone your stomach include Lindy Hop, Jive, cha cha and belly dancing. “All these forms of dance involve lots of lifts, dips and tricks which give a great workout to the stomach muscles,” adds Nanda.
The above mentioned abdominal muscles are required to be repeated over a period of time to get desired results. “Give sufficient rest between abdominal exercises and sets. Increase the amount of repetitions that you perform each week by two times, until you can comfortably perform 20 repititions of each abdominal exercise,” advises Kiran.
“With adequate diet and a regular workout, the effects can be felt in as many as just seven days,” adds Usha.

SAFETY OF COMMONLY USED DRUGS IN NURSING MOTHERS

SAFETY OF COMMONLY USED DRUGS IN NURSING MOTHERS

Philip O. Anderson, PharmD, FASHP, FCSHP
Director, Drug Information Service, University of California San Diego Medical Center
Clinical Professor of Pharmacy, University of California San Diego & University of California San Francisco

Avoid.  These drugs should be avoided during lactation if possible.  If they are essential to the mother's health, breastfeeding may have to be discontinued temporarily or permanently.
- Amantadine*
- Amiodarone
- Antilipemics (excluding resins)
- Antineoplastic Agents
- Aspirin (large doses)
- Bromide
- Cocaine
- Chloramphenicol**
- Clozapine
-  Dipyrone (dipirona in Mexican drugs)
- Gold Salts
-  High-dose Iodide (including topical)
- Indandione Anticoagulants
- Metamizol (same as dipyrone)
- Radiopharmaceuticals (withhold breastfeeding temporarily)
- Salicylates (large doses)
Potentially Hazardous. Although not absolutely contraindicated, an alternative drug in the same class should be used from one of the lists below, particularly while breastfeeding an infant of 2 months of age or less.
Acebutolol
Alcohol (daily use or large amounts)
Atenolol
Antihistamine/Decongestant
Combinations*
Benzodiazepines, long-acting  (e.g., diazepam)
Chlorthalidone*
Citalopram
Clonidine*
Contraceptives, Estrogen-Containing*
Doxepin
Ergotamine
Ethosuximide
Fluorescein, Intravenous
Fluoxetine
Iodinated Contrast Media (withhold breastfeeding temporarily)
Lamotrigine
Lithium (monitor infant serum levels)
Metronidazole**
Nadolol
Narcotics(especially with meperidine, in addicts or with high doses in neonates)
Nefazodone
Nicotine/Smoking*
Nitrofurantoin
Phenobarbital (anticonvulsant doses)
Piroxicam
Primidone
Quinolones (norfloxacin preferred)
Reserpine
Sotalol
Sulfonamides, Long-Acting
Thiazide Diuretics, Long-Acting or in High Doses*
Venlafaxine
Probably Acceptable in Usual Doses: There are insufficient data to absolutely ensure that these agents have no adverse effects in breastfeeding infants, but if they occur they are probably infrequent and/or mild.  The potential for rare allergic or idiosyncratic reactions should be kept in mind.
ACE Inhibitors (eg, enalapril)
Aminoglycoside Antibiotics
Anticholinergic Agents*
Anticonvulsants(except ethosuximide, lamotrigine,  phenobarbital primidone)
Antihistamines* (nonsedating types preferred)
Antituberculars
Azathioprine (immunosuppressive doses following organ transplantation)
Barbiturates (except phenobarbital)
Bupropion
Clindamycin
Decongestants, Oral*
Ergonovine (short courses)*
Fluvoxamine
Gadolinium MRI contrast agents
Haloperidol (used alone)
H2-Receptor Antagonists Hydrochlorothiazide (low doses)
Lorazepam
Macrolide antibiotics
Methimazole (£20 mg/day)
Metoclopramide (£14 days)
Midazolam
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Oxazepam
Paroxetine   
Phenothiazines (used alone)
Propofol
Propylthiouracil
Quinidine
Salicylates (occasional use)
Sertraline
Spironolactone
Sulfisoxazole
Sumatriptan
Tetracyclines (£14 days)
Trazodone
Tricyclic Antidepressants  (nortriptyline, desipramine,  preferred; avoid doxepin)
Little Risk in Usual Doses. Although the potential for rare allergic or idiosyncratic reactions should be kept in mind, usual doses pose little risk for the breastfed infant.
Acetaminophen
Acyclovir
Antacids
Bupivacaine
Caffeine
Cephalosporins
Clotrimazole
Contraceptives, Progestin-Only
Corticosteroids
Decongestant Nasal Sprays
Digoxin
Fexofenadine
Fluconazole
Heparin & LMW Heparins
Ibuprofen
Inhalers, Bronchodilators  & Corticosteroids
Insulin (requirement may drop)
Labetalol
Laxatives, Bulk-Forming and  Stool Softening (eg, Psyllium,  Docusate)
Lidocaine
Loratadine
Magnesium Sulfate
Methyldopa
Methylergonovine (short courses)
Metoprolol
Miconazole
Nifedipine
Penicillins
Propranolol
Theophylline
Thyroid Replacement
Vaccines (except smallpox)
Valacyclovir
Vancomycin
Verapamil
Warfarin
* Drug may also inhibit lactation.
** In situations where bottle feeding poses a grave threat to the infant's life, breastfeeding may be undertaken cautiously.
Sources: (1) Anderson PO et al., eds.(2002) Handbook of Clinical Drug Data, 10th ed. McGraw-Hill; (2) Anderson PO (1991) Drug use during breast-feeding Clin Pharm 10:596-624.  (3) UCSD Drug Information Service 619-543-6971. For health professionals and nursing mothers.
Note: The information contained in this document is time-limited.

Med Info : Andropause

Andropause
Also known as: Male Menopause
What is it?
Andropause, or male menopause, is a condition associated with declining androgen levels. It may result from primary or secondary hypogonadism or from a pathologic condition.
Who gets it?
Andropause affects about half of men older than age 50.
What causes it?
Andropause is caused by lower levels of testosterone and its consequences as men age. Recent studies show that after age 30, testosterone levels generally decrease by one to two percent per year - although this decline can vary widely.
Sudden, drastic declines in testosterone levels are usually caused by hypogonadism. Classified as either primary or secondary, hypogonadism should be ruled out in patients experiencing symptoms of andropause.
What are the symptoms? 
Symptoms of andropause can vary from one man to the next.  Symptoms of male Andropause may include lethargy or decreased energy, decreased libido or interest in sex, erectile dysfunction with loss of erections, muscle weakness and aches, inability to sleep, hot flashes, night sweats, depression, infertility and thinning of bones or bone loss.
How is it diagnosed?
Andropause can be diagnosed by measuring the level of testosterone in the blood. Andropause occurs as a result of testosterone deficiency and a low free and bioavailable testosterone level is found in males with androgen deficiency. Total testosterone levels can be used as a screen for the Andropause but it is the decrease in the free form of testosterone that causes the symptoms.
Usually testosterone deficiency is not the most common cause of impotence; other causes include atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, and use of certain medications. These factors, as well as previous genital trauma and other aspects of the patient’s medical history, are important in diagnosing andropause.
What is the treatment?
To treat andropause, the doctor may advise the patient to undergo hormone replacement therapy. Replacing testosterone can have a significant benefit particularly in older men with an improvement in well-being, improved sex drive, improved sexual function, improved muscle mass and strength and an increase in bone density. There are now several alternatives available for testosterone replacement therapy in the form of skin patches and creams that can deliver testosterone into the blood in a non-invasive way.
Men who are carefully selected for hormone replacement therapy must be monitored for signs of prostate disease, dyslipidemia, hepatotoxicity, erythrocytosis, and other side effects.
Consult your physician and ask her/him whether you should have a testosterone level determined to see if you are deficient. If you are deficient and are a candidate for testosterone replacement therapy, your physician will prescribe just the right therapy for you. Questions can be directed to the Endocrine Clinic here at Penn State Hershey Medical Center.
Self-care tips
Patients diagnosed with andropause and being treated with hormone replacement therapy should be monitored to check testosterone, lipid and hematocrit levels. That way, treatment can be adjusted according to the patient’s needs and side affects closely monitored.

This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference guide written by our health care reviewers.  The health information written by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your physician.  It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

Med Info : Anemia

Anemia
What is it?
Anemia is condition caused by low levels of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin (the part of the red blood cells that delivers oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body). There are over 400 different types of anemia ranging from mild to severe. Many of them are rare.
Who gets it?
Anyone with certain underlying conditions can develop anemia. Those at risk include anyone with chronic blood loss due to cancer, gastrointestinal tumors, hemorrhoids, heavy menstrual flow, stomach ulcers, alcohol abuse, or other medical conditions.
What causes it?
Anemia is caused by chronic bleeding, a decrease in red blood cell production, or an increase in red blood cell destruction. A poor diet low in iron can cause anemia, as can some hereditary disorders and certain diseases. However, excessive bleeding due to cancer, childbirth, injury, gastrointestinal tumors, heavy menstrual flow, hemorrhoids, nosebleeds, stomach ulcers, alcohol abuse and surgery is the most common cause of anemia.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of anemia include weakness; fatigue; pale sallow skin; dizziness; lack of color in the palms of hands, gums and nail beds; chest pain; cravings for ice, paint or dirt; headache; inability to concentrate; inflammation of the mouth; insomnia; irregular heartbeat; lack of appetite; nails that are dry and brittle; swelling of the hands and feet; thirst; ringing in the ears and unexplained bleeding or bruising.
How is it diagnosed?
To diagnose anemia, the doctor may look at the patient’s medical history and symptoms to determine what tests should be done. Anemia may be diagnosed through laboratory tests that measure the percentage of red blood cells or the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. The doctor may also use the tests to determine the type of anemia responsible for the patient’s symptoms. In addition, the doctor may order x-rays and examinations of bone marrow to identify the source of the bleeding.
What is the treatment?
Treatment of anemia is usually directed at the underlying cause. The doctor may recommend anemia due to nutritional deficiencies be treated with iron supplements, injections of vitamin B12, or other vitamin supplements. If blood loss is severe, the doctor may recommend the patient undergo transfusions of red blood cells to accelerate their production. Medication or surgery may be necessary to control menstrual flow, repair a bleeding ulcer, or remove polyps (growths or nodules) from the bowels. Cancer-related anemias may be treated with blood transfusions and/or medication.
Self-care tips
While inherited anemias cannot be prevented, avoiding excessive use of alcohol, eating a balanced diet that contains plenty of iron-rich foods, and taking a daily multivitamin can help prevent many types of anemia.

This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference guide written by our health care reviewers.  The health information written by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your physician.  It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

Maximum Fitness, Minimum Time: 16 Tips

These 16 strategies will help you get the body you've always wanted:
1. In the beginning, your fitness plan should not be overly aggressive. One of the biggest problems most people encounter when starting a fitness program is rapidly depleted motivation after only a few weeks; this is due to an overly ambitious fitness plan.
Two days per week of 20-minute low-intensity cardiovascular exercise (walking, jogging, biking, swimming) and two days per week of 30-minute light resistance training (using weights or resistance machines) is adequate in the beginning. As you adapt to the lifestyle shift, you can add more days and get improved results. But beware: If you try to do too much too fast, you may end up quitting altogether.
2. If your goal is fat loss, then your cardiovascular exercise should be low intensity. Your heart rate during cardio exercise should not exceed 50 percent to 70 percent of your maximum heart rate. The simple formula for calculating your 100 percent maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age.
If the intensity of your exercise increases your heart rate beyond 70 percent (which can occur very easily if you are in poor shape), you start shifting from using body fat as your energy source to relying on glucose metabolism. Your personal trainer can supply you with a simple heart-rate monitor you can wear during exercise. That way, you always stay in your peak fat-burning range.
3. Don't waste your time working small muscles with isolated movements. If you don't enjoy doing resistance training or are pressed for time, concentrate on working the largest muscle groups with compound resistance movements.
When I see overweight people doing wrist curls or lateral raises, I wonder why. It's generally just a lack of understanding of how their bodies work. Most people want to lose fat and tone and firm their bodies. The way to do that is to use resistance (weights or machines) to train the large muscle groups
Men should be concentrating on legs, chest and back. Women should concentrate more on their legs and back. The best exercises for legs are lunges or squats (your personal trainer will show you the proper form and then monitor you during the exercise) and the leg press. The best chest exercise is the bench press, and the best back exercise is the seated row. All of these are compound movements, which means they incorporate multiple muscle groups.
4. Always stretch. Stretching improves flexibility, blood flow, muscle recovery and a host of other things. Additionally, stretching can prevent injury, make you sleep better and improve your performance in all sports. Always stretch, but be certain not to stretch cold muscles. You should always warm up before stretching. However, it is very important that you know how to stretch. Never bounce! Your personal trainer will show you the proper execution and timing of your stretches.
5. Never do a traditional sit-up. Unless you are super athlete with an incredibly well-developed midsection, sit-ups can lead to a strained lower back and possibly lumbar injuries. But it gets worse. Rather than hitting your abdominal section, sit-ups can shift exercise tension to your hip flexors, which defeats the purpose of the exercise.
There is so much misinformation about how to strengthen, tone and firm the midsection, it's almost frightening. It is very difficult to learn proper abdominal exercise technique by reading about it or watching it demonstrated on a video. You need to do it with supervision and get feedback about your form from a knowledgeable source.
And keep in mind that you use your abdominal muscles in almost every single movement you make. Strengthening your abdominal region is the most effective way to prevent, or recover from, lower back pain.
6. Set realistically attainable goals. You must have tangible, quantifiable, short-term and long-term goals for your fitness program so that you can gauge your progress. It's crucial to have a baseline before you begin. Your health club or personal trainer can give you a complete fitness analysis that will aid you or your trainer in developing a personalized fitness program to address your particular needs.
Having goals, particularly short-term goals, allows you to track your progress and keeps you motivated when times are tough and you don't feel like exercising. Keeping a journal of your cardio and resistance-training workouts, as well as tracking what you eat, will ensure fitness success.
Just remember that your goals should be realistic and attainable. The best way for you to understand what is realistic and attainable for you is to talk to a fitness professional -- don't buy into the hype of infomercials or diet products that blatantly mislead.
7. Set exercise appointments with yourself. You wouldn't miss a business meeting or client appointment, would you? So don't miss your exercise appointment with yourself. Nothing is more important than your health. Nothing. Everything else will crumble around you if your health goes south. So make your exercise appointments a priority.
If you find it difficult to keep these appointments, then consider hiring a personal trainer who will hold you to your commitment. When you have money invested and someone waiting for you to show up, you are much more likely to actually show up!
8. Remember the benefits of exercise. Remember that feeling of euphoria you experienced after a particularly good workout? You experienced that feeling because the most powerful feel-good drug in the world, endorphins, were coursing through your veins. If there is a panacea, it's exercise.
Nothing feels better than the post-workout high you experience after exercising. Revel in that feeling. Let it wash over you and truly experience it. Etch that feeling in your brain. It will fuel your motivation on those inevitable days when you just don't feel like exercising. Being physically fit affects every single aspect of your life: You sleep better, eat better, love better, overcome stress better, work better, communicate better and live better!
9. Exercise correctly. So much time is wasted doing, at best, unproductive exercise, or at worst, dangerous exercise. Get educated on how to exercise correctly. And the absolute best way to do that is to hire a personal trainer to develop a program for you and then teach you what to do and how to do it right.
Personal training does not have to be an ongoing process. You can hire a personal trainer for whatever length of time you need to learn the ropes. It could be five sessions or 15. It's completely up to you. But statistics prove that those who understand how to exercise correctly, get better and faster results. And that's what you want, right? Results!
10. Enjoy yourself. The most difficult thing is actually getting into your running shoes or going to the gym. But once you begin your workout, relax and enjoy the process. Don't fight it. Make exercise your personal time.
When you are exercising, you can focus completely on yourself. Yes, exercising can and should be somewhat rigorous (depending on your level of fitness), but it is just that investment that makes it supremely rewarding. As with anything, if you are in the moment, you can fully appreciate the experience and truly enjoy the process.
11. Americans eat too many carbohydrates for our lifestyles. Minimize your intake of bread, pasta, rice, potato and, of course, all sugary drinks. We are no longer an agrarian society participating in manual labor. Most of us are fairly sedentary throughout the day and therefore do not need the high levels of carbohydrates to sustain our energy.
Additionally, carbohydrates are addictive. The more doughnuts you eat, the more you want. The bulk of your carbohydrates should come from vegetables and fruit. Focus on those with high water content, such as cucumbers, grapefruit, tomatoes, cantaloupe, strawberries and even vegetable soups (watch out for high sodium), which will all fill you up nicely.
By the way, numerous studies have conclusively proven that the quarter of the population eating the most vegetables get half the cancer of the quarter eating the least!
12. Deep-fried food has no nutritional value none! Almost every food, whether it s steak, chocolate or red wine, has some nutrients to contribute. But one thing is absolute: Fried foods are garbage.
Potato chips, french fries, onion rings, breaded chicken strips and all the rest of the deep-fried junk are pregnant with saturated fat and calories -- and they contain almost zero nutritional value. If you're trying to lose weight and/or reduce fat, simply eliminate fried foods completely from your diet. Yikes! That stuff is scary.
13. Never skip breakfast. If you want to maximize your fitness results or fat-loss efforts, you've got to eat breakfast. Even if you don't exercise at all, breakfast remains the most important meal of the day.
Your breakfast should contain complete proteins and complex carbohydrates. A great breakfast is oatmeal (not the pre-packaged, pre-sweetened kind) with a little honey and banana and a protein drink. Or try scrambled egg whites with Healthy Choice turkey sausage.
14. Eat fat to lose fat. Healthy fats are necessary to your body for a bunch of reasons: regulating hormonal production, improving immune function, lowering total cholesterol, lubricating joints and providing the basics for healthy hair, nails and skin.
You must be aware of the difference between healthy good fats and dangerous bad fats. Good fats are monounsaturated fats such as olive; peanut and canola oil; avocados; all-natural peanut butter and nuts; and omega-3 fats found in salmon, mackerel and soy-based foods. Bad fats are saturated fats, partially hydrogenated fats and trans fats.
Your personal trainer can provide you with a simple diet program that will complement your exercise to help you live longer, feel better and boost your immune system. The bottom line is your body needs good fats and will revolt if you attempt to abstain from them; it absolutely does not need bad fats.
15. Drink plenty of fresh, clean water. Yes, I know that you've heard this over and over again. The recommended amount is approximately eight glasses, or 64 ounces, of water every day. When you are exercising, you need to drink even more. More than 75 percent of your body is water (even bone is more than 20 percent water). When you don't drink enough water and substitute diuretics like coffee, tea and caffeinated sodas, you dehydrate your body, your blood doesn't flow properly and your digestive system doesn't operate smoothly (among other problems).
Even a small deficit of water can radically affect how your body performs. Here's a good rule of thumb: If your urine is a dark yellow or has a strong odor, you're not drinking enough water. Drink up!
16. Eat regularly throughout the day. Fasting or overly restrictive diets will enable you to lose weight in the short run because the weight you lose is primarily water weight and lean muscle mass. But in the long run, it has exactly the opposite effect you want.
When you restrict your diet, your body instinctively thinks it's being starved and shifts into a protective mode by storing fat. Energy expenditures are fueled by your lean muscles. Therefore, your body fat remains essentially the same and you lose vital fluids and muscle instead.
The less muscle you have, the slower your metabolism becomes and the less fat you burn. You should be eating three nutritionally balanced meals each day, and you should have at least one or two healthy snacks. This keeps your metabolic furnace stoked -- you burn more at a faster rate. I know it's counter-intuitive, but it's the gospel truth!
There you have it: Sixteen essential strategies for an effective weight-loss-and-fitness program that will have you looking and feeling better than you have in years -- maybe ever!
I realize that starting (or re-starting) a productive and effective fitness program is not easy. That's why I encourage you to get help.
If you're sick, you go to the doctor. If you've got a tax problem, you see an accountant (or an attorney). Have a toothache? You're off to the dentist. Leaky pipes result in a call to the plumber. So why is it that so many people attempt to solve their health and fitness problems without consulting an expert? I don't know why, but I encourage you to make the investment in yourself -- in your quality of life -- by hiring a qualified professional to help you get started.
The hardest part is getting started and sustaining your motivation until fitness becomes habitual. Once you develop the habit, which can take as little as 30 days, your whole life will change for the better.

Be Happy, Boost Weight Loss

Researchers tell us that we think 400 words per minute and speak about 125 words per minute. What those figures don't reveal is how many of those words are positive and how many are negative.
All people can use the strength and power of positive words to enhance their lives. Positive words can be particularly helpful when we are trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Most people are not aware of the things they think and say on a continual basis. Our thoughts and words have a powerful impact on our attitude and behaviors.
The Journal of the American Dietetic Association reports that people tend to eat an average of 118 calories more per day when they are moderately depressed or anxious. If this impulsive eating continues, this amount of additional calories is enough to put on an extra 12 pounds a year! To prevent this from taking place, you must first become aware of the words and thoughts that run through your mind every day.
This means you must make a conscious effort to examine your thoughts and words. This is not an easy task! It takes concentration and determination to be cognizant of what you are thinking and saying, especially when you are not in the mood.
What can you do to change the direction of your life? There are some things that you can do on a daily basis that will make your words and thoughts more positive. The more you do these exercises, the easier it will be to make positive behaviors a permanent part of your life. Consistency and repetition will help make your lifestyle changes permanent.
1. When you wake up in the morning (and before you go to bed), write a list of 10 positive things about yourself. In the beginning, it may be difficult to complete this list. The more you do the exercise, the easier the process will get. If possible, list different positive things each time.
2. Establish a secret signal to yourself each time that you catch yourself saying or thinking something negative. Some examples could be snapping a rubber band, putting away your money or rubbing your knee. Do anything that will act as a wake-up call to stop the negative behavior.
3. Ask a trustworthy friend or relative to listen to you speak. Ask them to be honest with you whenever they hear you say something negative. Carry around a small tape recorder and tape yourself, so you can listen to what you say. Also, write down your thoughts and reread what you have written to see if you are being negative. Give yourself a reality check!
4. Learn how to breathe. Breathe from your stomach and exhale through your nose. Deep breathing helps to put energy and oxygen back into your system. When you are breathing, think positive thoughts. Create a mantra that works for you and repeat it while you are breathing. Here's one example: "I am a bountiful, beautiful person. I am healthy and full of positive energy."
The more you work on establishing positive thoughts, the healthier you will become. Imagine you can control your destiny by living your life in a happy and healthy manner. Consistency and repetition will make your lifestyle changes permanent.

The Fab Ab Checklist

It's time to declare your independence from those flabby abs!
Far too many people spend hours trying to tighten that tummy, only to see the same old pudgy pooch day after day. Where are the fruits of your labors, you wonder.
Well, fitness expert Michael Stefano has the answer. The author of The Firefighter's Workout (HarperCollins) has put together a checklist for flat abs that will guarantee results. But if you're not focusing on all five aspects, then you probably aren't getting any closer to that six-pack.
The Flat Abs Checklist
1. Eat Right: Find a nutritional program that works for you and stick to it.
2. Exercise: Three times a week, perform some type of aerobic conditioning or circuit training for 20 to 30 minutes.
3. Ab/Core Routine: Include 2 abdominal exercises in your routine.
4. Good Posture: Perform a posture check.
5. Reduce Stress: Relax with exercise, deep breathing or meditation.
"If you don't take this five-step approach, you're going to be missing something," Stefano tells eDiets. "No matter how much you exercise, if you miss one of these steps you're going to handicap yourself. You can't take a one-prong approach.
"Too many people think you can just do sit-ups and bike kicks to flatten your abs. Sure those exercises will tone and tighten the abs, but you have to take steps to reduce the fat."
Stefano says that far too often people believe that doing ridiculous amounts of sit-ups is the only way to get fab abs. Sure, their stomach muscles are rock hard, but they're hidden beneath that beer belly.
"Unless you're already lean, just doing sit-ups, bike kicks or any abdominal exercises will have no effect at all on the reduction of body fat," he says.
While most people are well aware of the need for a healthy eating regimen, a regular aerobic workout and an ab/core routine, many exercise enthusiasts may not realize the importance of good posture and stress reduction techniques. If you're constantly slouching and not standing up straight, you'll have that pot-belly appearance. Good posture promotes a taller, leaner and more youthful look.
Stress increases the production of insulin (the fat storage hormone) and cortisol, which is associated with increased appetite and increased fat deposits, typically around the trunk and abdomen. Stefano points out that the effects of cortisol can be combated by meditation. When you do relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation, a hormone known as DHEA is released. This hormone reduces blood cortisol levels and fights against the negative effects of stress.
By following all five steps, you'll be on your way to fabber abs. Get started with the following ab/core routine. Perform two sets of 20 for each exercise. Rest one minute between sets. Do this routine two to three times a week.
CRUNCH
Lie on your back on a mat or padded carpet with your knees partially bent, feet flat on the floor, arms folded across your chest (least intense). Be sure the feet are not too near your buttocks. Exhale as you press the lower back into the floor and begin to raise your head, shoulders and chest off the floor in one unit, concentrating on bringing the ribs towards the hips. Pause briefly as you feel your abdominal muscles contract. The movement need only be a few inches. Inhale and slowly curl back down, trying not to let your head and shoulders touch the floor, maintaining tension in the abdominal muscles for the entire set. Repeat to muscle fatigue.
Trainer's Notes:
Be sure to keep the knees only partially bent with the heels at least one foot from your butt. This engages the oblique muscles as well as the rectus abdominus. To increase intensity, lengthen the pause when the abs are flexed to 2 seconds, or place your hands behind your head (as in the bicycle kick). Extend the arms overhead to maximize intensity levels.
Goal: 2 sets of 20 to 30 repetitions
BIKE KICK
Lie on your back on a mat or padded carpet with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Press the low back into the floor, engaging the abdominal muscles, as you put both hands behind your head (don't pull on the head). Bring the right elbow over to the left knee, and then bring the left elbow over to the right knee in a twisting, bicycle pedal motion. Continue to breathe naturally. Alternate opposite elbow to opposite knee with hands interlaced behind the head in a slow and controlled manner, and to muscle fatigue, with full extension of each leg on every repetition.
Trainer's Notes:
Be sure to breathe naturally and not hold your breath at any time during this exercise. Full extension of the legs will increase intensity (as shown), as will performing the motion very slowly. Keep the knees bent throughout the movement, while you tap the feet to the floor (instead of extending the leg straight out), to decrease intensity.
Goal: 2 sets of 20 to 30 repetitions

do u feel PAIN -- Vaginismus

What is vaginismus?
Vaginismus is vaginal tightness causing discomfort, burning, pain, penetration problems, or complete inability to have intercourse.
Vaginismus
Vaginismus is a condition where there is involuntary tightness of the vagina during attempted intercourse. The tightness is actually caused by involuntary contractions of the pelvic floor muscles surrounding the vagina. The woman does not directly control or 'will' the tightness to occur; it is an involuntary pelvic response. She may not even have any awareness that the muscle response is causing the tightness or penetration problem.
In some cases vaginismus tightness may begin to cause burning, pain, or stinging during intercourse. In other cases, penetration may be difficult or completely impossible. Vaginismus is the main cause of unconsummated relationships. The tightness can be so restrictive that the opening to the vagina is 'closed off' altogether and the man is unable to insert his penis. The pain of vaginismus ends when the sexual attempt stops, and usually intercourse must be halted due to pain or discomfort.
Vaginismus Involuntary Tightness - In the diagram(diagram deleted due to FOTN GUIDELINES) on the left, the effects of vaginismus are illustrated with the tightening of the pelvic floor muscles and the resulting tightness of the vagina. On the right, the pelvic floor is relaxed and intercourse is possible without pain.
Types of vaginismus
When a woman has never at any time been able to have pain-free intercourse due to this muscle spasm her condition is known as primary vaginismus. Some women with primary vaginismus are unable to wear tampons and/or complete pelvic exams. Many couples are unable to consummate their relationship due to primary vaginismus.
Vaginismus can also develop later in life, even after many years of pleasurable intercourse. This type of condition, known as secondary vaginismus, is usually precipitated by a medical condition, traumatic event, childbirth, surgery, or life-change (menopause).
Examples of Vaginismus - In the vaginismus condition, as the man approaches the woman, her PC muscle group (darkly shaded) involuntarily tightens the vaginal entrance making intercourse painfully impossible or penetration may be successful but may result in burning, discomfort, and pain.
(PICS DELETED DUE TO GENETELIA GUIDELINE)

Daily Exercise Suggestions

Daily Exercise Suggestions
"To climb steep hills requires slow pace at first."
-Shakespeare, Henry VIII. Act I. Sc. 1
Walk 10 Minutes a Day and Increase Your Fitness Level Old thinking was to work out in a sweat-filled gym for hours a day. No pain, no gain. New studies show that even short bouts of activity can increase your fitness level, especially if you're new at working out.
Park and Walk
Whenever you have an errand, park your car as far away as you can handle and walk to the store. At the mall, park at the farthest end and walk the length of the mall. Use every opportunity to walk. At the end of the day, it all adds up to better fitness.
Crunch in Bed
Before you even get out of bed in the morning, do 10 stomach crunches while lying flat on your mattress. Increase daily by one until you get up to 100. Think you'll never get there? Try it. You may eventually have to set your clock to wake up 15 minutes earlier, a small price to pay for a flatter stomach.
Play sport that enjoy e.g. cricket, basketball, football and more

10 Super Healthy Food

Salmon. Fatty fish may not sound healthy, but study after study confirms that consumption of salmon lowers the risk of death from heart disease. It is indeed the fat, in particular, the omega-3 fatty acids that help the heart by preventing sudden and fatal disturbances in heart rhythm. You are less likely to die from a heart attack if you eat at least one serving of salmon or other fatty fish each week, according to the American Heart Association. Fresh fish might taste better, but canned salmon also is high in omega-3 fatty acids. It is also available in the convenient pouches, like tuna.
Nuts. Almonds, peanuts, walnuts and hazelnuts are bite-size powerhouses of health-promoting substances that help prevent heart disease and cancer. High in monounsaturated fat, vitamin E, magnesium and fiber, a small, one-to two-ounce serving is all that is needed to provide health benefits. And because they have a high fat content, a small amount is surprisingly filling.
Beans. Yes, they are starchy, but they are also a great source of protein, fiber, folic acid, zinc, magnesium and potassium. Drained and rinsed, canned beans are a great, inexpensive and convenient protein source. Mix them with salads or soups.
Oranges. These and other citrus fruits are loaded with cancer-battling bioflavonoids and immune system-boosting vitamin C. Go for the fruit, not just juice.
Spinach. This dark, leafy green vegetable is packed with vitamin C, beta carotene, vitamin A, fiber, and some calcium and iron. These nutrients and potent antioxidants fight cancer and boost immunity, not to mention that it is a low-calorie food. There are not too many foods with this kind of "bang for your buck."
Sweet Potatoes. Too bad many eat them only on Thanksgiving. Sweet potatoes are among the most nutritious of vegetables since they are packed with more disease-fighting beta carotene, fiber and other antioxidants. They are starchy, however, so use them in place of white potatoes, rice or other starches.
Berries. These colorful fruits contain chemicals that act as antioxidants, believed by scientists to protect the body from the stresses of age, and may reduce risk of cancer. Seek out whatever is in season, or in the frozen section, pick up blueberries, strawberries, cranberries and blackberries. Top cereal, ice cream, yogurt or just eat plain with a dollop of whipped cream.
Oatmeal. You've certainly heard this before. It's the soluble fiber in oatmeal, oatbran or other whole grains that has been shown to reduce cholesterol and risk of heart disease. However, there are other high-fiber cereals that will do just fine.
Tomatoes. You say "tomato;" I say "lycopene." This is the one vegetable where fresh is not as advantageous, because the powerful antioxidants are more concentrated in cooked varieties. Keep canned tomatoes on hand to throw in with other vegetables or pair up with fish, chicken, pork or beef.
Low-fat Milk or Yogurt. I rarely meet someone who gets the recommended amount of calcium in their diet. These dairy products are not that high in calories for the amount of calcium, protein and vitamins A and D that they contain. If you aren't a milk drinker, eat yogurt or low-fat cheese, or at least take calcium supplements

Some Tips To Stay Young & Healthy

Some Tips to stay YOUNG AND HEALTHY:
1. Take a 10-30 Minutes Walk Every Day And While You Walk, Smile.
2. Sit in Silence for At Least 10 Minutes Each Day
3. Sleep for 7 Hours.
4. Live With The 3 Es -- Energy, Enthusiasm, And Empathy.
5. Play More Games.
6. Read More Books Than You Did last year.
7. Make Time to Practice Meditation, Yoga, and Prayer. They Provide Us
with Daily Fuel For Our Busy Lives.
8. Spend Time With People Over The Age Of 70 & Under The Age Of 6.
9. Dream More While You Are Awake.
10. Eat More Foods That Grow On Trees And Plants And Eat Less Food That
Is Manufactured in Plants.
11. Drink Plenty Of Water.
12. Try To Make At Least Three People Smile Each Day.
13. Don't Waste Your Precious Energy On Gossip.
14. Forget Issues Of The Past. Don't Remind Your Partner With His / Her
Mistakes Of The Past. That Will Ruin Your Present Happiness.
15. Don't Have Negative Thoughts Or Things You Cannot Control. Instead
Invest Your Energy in The Positive Present Moment.
16. Realize That Life Is A School And You Are Here To Learn. Problems Are
Simply Part Of The Curriculum That Appear And Fade Away Like Algebra Class
But The Lessons You Learn Will Last A Lifetime.
17. Eat Breakfast Like A King, Lunch Like A Prince And Dinner Like A
Beggar.
18. Smile And Laugh More.
19. Life Is Too Short To Waste Time Hating Anyone. Don't Hate Others.
20. Don't Take Yourself So Seriously. No One Else Does.
21. You Don't Have To Win Every Argument. Agree To Disagree.
22. Make Peace With Your Past So It Won't Spoil The Present.
23. Don't Compare Your Life To Others'. You Have No Idea What Their
Journey Is All About. Don't Compare Your Partner With Others.
24. No One Is In Charge Of Your Happiness Except You.
25. Forgive Everyone For Everything.
26. What Other People Think Of You Is None Of Your Business.
27. GOD ! Heals Everything.
28. However Good Or Bad A Situation Is, It Will Change.
29. Your Job Won't Take Care Of You When You Are Sick. Your Friends Will.
Stay In Touch.
30. Get Rid Of Anything That Isn't Useful, Beautiful Or Joyful.
31. Envy Is A Waste Of Time. You Already Have All You Need.
32. The Best Is Yet To Come.
33. No Matter How You Feel, Get Up, Dress Up And Show Up.
34. Do The Right Thing!
35. Call Your Family Often.
36. Your Inner Most Is Always Happy. So Be Happy.
37. Each Day Give Something Good To Others.
38. Don't Over Do. Keep Your Limits.
39. When You Awake Alive In The Morning, Thank GOD For It

Good Sleep can fight with Cancer

A complete night sleep can help something to beat cancer. According to one research, Shift workers have higher rates of breast and colon cancer than women who sleep normal hours.
Some researchers are on the view that one reason to cause this cancer is the exposure of these people to light at nights. Long exposures of light reduce the level of melatonin, a hormone that both makes us sleepy and is thought to protect against cancer.
Not only melatonin, but two possible culprits are the hormones melatonin and cortical. Melatonin is an antioxidant that mops up damaging free radicals, but the body produces less of it when sleep cycles are disrupted. Melatonin appears to suppress the growth of tumors.
Cortical helps to regulate the immune system, may also be compromised by troubled sleep.
In this regard, make sure before sleeping that your bedroom is dark, so that your body will produce enough melatonin to give you a good & healthy sleep and body.

Enjoy your life to the fullest

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There are so many a time you might have come across people symbolize human body as a machine. If not treated with care, it breaks down. Well, it is true. Keeping yourself fit and healthy is indispensable and needs to be dealt with seriously. We often ignore the important of fitness, whereas undoubtedly fitness is essential for excellent performance of the body. Fit energetic people possess a lot of stamina and resistance in their bodies and can persistently carry out various tasks without getting tired sooner. Though there are certain rules for one to tag along in order to maintain fitness and good health.
Fitness Guidelines:
• Proper food
Remember, the food you eat determines what you are! This means that your health can be reasonably judged by the kind of food you eat. Make it a habit of eating the right food and in the correct amount. Mainly, human body stays fit if a person adds fresh fruits and vegetables (anytime at breakfast, lunch or dinner) to his diet chart. Wheat, Rice, meat –then again, considered healthiest foods – should be made an essential component of the diet. One should always bear in mind that the intake of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and minerals should all be in a proper proportion. Want to keep the doctor away, have an apple everyday!
Not just that, try to maintain a proper timing of taking the meal every day. Skipping meals - which now has become a common habit in many - may lead to devastating effects. If possible a dietician may be consulted for marinating a balanced diet, with all the essential nutrients.
• Right exercises
Adopt exercising in your daily routine. It should be made an integral part of your every day life. There are plenty of exercises. But right exercises at the right time will only result in eventual body fitness. Fitness experts recommend doing exercises early in the morning since your body is fresh and relaxed after a good night’s sleep.
Commonly recommended exercises include Forward bend, Side stretch, Push ups, Front press and others. Apart from these, early morning walk, swimming, cycling, skiing, jogging even dancing are considered some good methods of exercising.
• Sports- As the proverb goes ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’ It specifies that games and sports in a person’s life are as indispensable as eating food and breathing air. You don’t have to know many sports for this purpose. Even if you outshine at any one particular type of sport which can be anything like Cricket, Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Rugby etc. you can get a way with it!
There is not better exercise than playing sports.
• Mental Fitness
When we talk about fitness, it just doesn’t refer to your physical being, keeping the mind fit is equally important for a healthy being. The suggested method to keep your mental health perfect is by reducing your work load and pressure, since it can be very distressful and disturbing. So to keep the mental condition calm, quiet and energetic, meditation is required. Just try it and you will never be at a loss! Consider doing Yoga for a change. Yoga just not helps you remain physically fit. It provides you a greater degree of mental relaxation.Your body is God’s gift to you. So cherish it and take care of your well-being. Stay hale and hearty and enjoy your, life to the fullest.
Cheers.

Smoking

Smoking is one of the worst things kids or adults can do to their bodies. Yet every single day nearly 4,400 kids between the ages 12 and 17 start smoking. Why? There's more than just one simple answer. Some kids may start smoking just because they're curious. Others may like the idea of doing something dangerous - something grown-ups don't want them to do. Still others might have grown up around lots of people who smoke and they might think it's the way to act like an adult.
You've probably heard that smoking and tobacco use can cause cancer and heart disease. That's true, but sometimes kids can't really think that far into the future to worry about an illness they might not get for 20 years. So let's talk about the problems that might affect kids more quickly:
bad breath
yellow teeth
smelly clothes
more colds and coughs
difficulty keeping up with friends when playing sports
empty wallet - cigarettes and tobacco products are very expensive!
Let's find out more about cigarettes and tobacco.
What Are Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco?
Tobacco (say: tuh-ba-ko) is a plant that can be smoked in cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. It's the same plant that's in smokeless tobacco, known as dip, chew, snuff, spit, or chewing tobacco. Smokeless tobacco is not lit and breathed in like tobacco in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Instead, smokeless tobacco is put between the lip and gum and sucked on inside the mouth.
Tobacco contains nicotine (say: nih-kuh-teen), a chemical that causes a tingly or good feeling - but that feeling only lasts for a little while. Nicotine is also addictive (say: uh-dik-tiv). That means that if you start to use nicotine, your body and mind will become so used to it that you'll need to have it just to feel OK.
Anyone who starts smoking could become addicted to it. If you're addicted to something, it's very hard to stop doing it, even if you want to. That's why so many adults have a hard time quitting smoking.
Why Is It So Bad for You?
Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco kill hundreds of thousands of Americans every year. You know those rubber bracelets that were created to bring attention to different causes? The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids created a red one with the number 1,200 on it. Why 1,200? That's the number of people who die each day due to smoking.
The nicotine and other poisonous chemicals in tobacco cause lots of diseases, like heart problems and some kinds of cancer. If you smoke, you hurt your lungs and heart each time you light up. It also can make it more difficult for blood to move around in the body, so smokers may feel tired and cranky. The longer you smoke, the worse the damage becomes.
The Other Cost of Smoking
Using tobacco eats up a lot of money, too. A pack of cigarettes costs $4, on average. That means, even if you buy just one pack a week, you'll spend $208 in a year. Some people smoke a pack a day, which adds up to $1,460! That's a lot of CDs, computer games, and clothes.
What's It Like?
Usually, people don't like smoking or chewing tobacco at first. Your body is smart, and it knows when it's being poisoned. When people try smoking for the first time, they often cough a lot and feel pain or burning in their throat and lungs. This is your lungs' way of trying to protect you and tell you to keep them smoke free. Also, many people say that they feel sick to their stomachs or even throw up. If someone accidentally swallows chewing tobacco, they may be sick for hours. Yuck.

What if My Friend Smokes?
If you have a friend who smokes or uses tobacco, you can help him or her by encouraging the person to quit. Here are some reasons you can mention:
It will hurt his or her health.
It will make his or her breath stinky.
It will turn his or her teeth yellow.
It will give him or her less endurance when running or playing sports.
It's expensive.
It's illegal to buy cigarettes when you're underage.
If you think it will help, you could print out articles like this one for your friend. He or she may be interested in learning more about the dangers of smoking. But the person also could be a little angry. No one likes to hear that they're doing something wrong. If your friend gets upset, don't push it too much. In time, he or she may realize you are right.
In the meantime, it could help to talk with a parent or a school counselor to say you're worried about your friend. When your friend is ready, a grown-up can help him or her quit for good. If your friend decides to quit, support him or her

STRESS - What is Stress?

Stress Management
What is Stress?
Stress is the "wear and tear" our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment; it has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings. As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new awareness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. With the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, a job promotion, or a new relationship, we experience stress as we readjust our lives. In so adjusting to different circumstances, stress will help or hinder us depending on how we react to it.
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How Can I Eliminate Stress from My Life?
As we have seen, positive stress adds anticipation and excitement to life, and we all thrive under a certain amount of stress. Deadlines, competitions, confrontations, and even our frustrations and sorrows add depth and enrichment to our lives. Our goal is not to eliminate stress but to learn how to manage it and how to use it to help us. Insufficient stress acts as a depressant and may leave us feeling bored or dejected; on the other hand, excessive stress may leave us feeling "tied up in knots." What we need to do is find the optimal level of stress which will individually motivate but not overwhelm each of us.
How Can I Tell What is Optimal Stress for Me?
There is no single level of stress that is optimal for all people. We are all individual creatures with unique requirements. As such, what is distressing to one may be a joy to another. And even when we agree that a particular event is distressing, we are likely to differ in our physiological and psychological responses to it.
The person who loves to arbitrate disputes and moves from job site to job site would be stressed in a job which was stable and routine, whereas the person who thrives under stable conditions would very likely be stressed on a job where duties were highly varied. Also, our personal stress requirements and the amount which we can tolerate before we become distressed changes with our ages.
It has been found that most illness is related to unrelieved stress. If you are experiencing stress symptoms, you have gone beyond your optimal stress level; you need to reduce the stress in your life and/or improve your ability to manage it.
How Can I Manage Stress Better?
Identifying unrelieved stress and being aware of its effect on our lives is not sufficient for reducing its harmful effects. Just as there are many sources of stress, there are many possibilities for its management. However, all require work toward change: changing the source of stress and/or changing your reaction to it. How do you proceed?
1. Become aware of your stressors and your emotional and physical reactions.
Notice your distress. Don't ignore it. Don't gloss over your problems.
Determine what events distress you. What are you telling yourself about meaning of these events?
Determine how your body responds to the stress. Do you become nervous or physically upset? If so, in what specific ways?
2. Recognize what you can change.
Can you change your stressors by avoiding or eliminating them completely?
Can you reduce their intensity (manage them over a period of time instead of on a daily or weekly basis)?
Can you shorten your exposure to stress (take a break, leave the physical premises)?
Can you devote the time and energy necessary to making a change (goal setting, time management techniques, and delayed gratification strategies may be helpful here)?
3. Reduce the intensity of your emotional reactions to stress.
The stress reaction is triggered by your perception of danger...physical danger and/or emotional danger. Are you viewing your stressors in exaggerated terms and/or taking a difficult situation and making it a disaster?
Are you expecting to please everyone?
Are you overreacting and viewing things as absolutely critical and urgent? Do you feel you must always prevail in every situation?
Work at adopting more moderate views; try to see the stress as something you can cope with rather than something that overpowers you.
Try to temper your excess emotions. Put the situation in perspective. Do not labor on the negative aspects and the "what if's."
4. Learn to moderate your physical reactions to stress.
Slow, deep breathing will bring your heart rate and respiration back to normal.
Relaxation techniques can reduce muscle tension. Electronic biofeedback can help you gain voluntary control over such things as muscle tension, heart reate, and blood pressure.
Medications, when prescribed by a physician, can help in the short term in moderating your physical reactions. However, they alone are not the answer. Learning to moderate these reactions on your own is a preferable long-term solution.
5. Build your physical reserves.
Exercise for cardiovascular fitness three to four times a week (moderate, prolonged rhythmic exercise is best, such as walking, swimming, cycling, or jogging).
Eat well-balanced, nutritious meals.
Maintain your ideal weight.
Avoid nicotine, excessive caffeine, and other stimulants.
Mix leisure with work. Take breaks and get away when you can.
Get enough sleep. Be as consistent with your sleep schedule as possible.
6. Maintain your emotional reserves.
Develop some mutually supportive friendships/relationships.
Pursue realistic goals which are meaningful to you, rather than goals others have for you that you do not share.
Expect some frustrations, failures, and sorrows.
Always be kind and gentle with yourself -- be a friend to yourself.

The Human Body - A Dissection (Not for Weak Hearted People)

The Human Body - A Dissection (Not for Weak Hearted People)
From the tiniest veins, arteries and nerves to serial cross-sections of the spinal cord, these incredibly detailed dissections show and label most every part of the human body.
The collection is the product of a 17-year collaboration between David L. Bassett, a School of Medicine alumnus and faculty member known for his elegant dissections and love for the human body, and William Gruber, the photographer who invented the View-Master stereoscopic viewing device.
The partnership between the two resulted in the production of the
Stereoscopic Atlas of Human Anatomy, which began in 1948, but was not not completed until 1962. It consisted of 221 View-Master reels with 1,554 color stereo views of dissections of every body region. Each stereo view was accompanied by a black-and-white, labeled drawing and explanatory text.
A courtesy the Lane Medical Archives (thanks Drew!), today we present you some of the most impressive pictures of The Basset Collection. Meet the Human Body.

A deep dissection of the side of the head shows the many blood vessels (red arteries, blue veins) and nerves (graying white) in the facial region. The hole is the external ear canal. The temporal muscle, used for chewing, is the prominent fan shaped muscle on the side of skull, behind the mouth and above the jaw.

After the removal of an outer layer of bones around the jaw, the dissection shows blood vessels and sensory nerves to the lower teeth and chin.

The onion-like structure is an eye, seen from above with the bony roof of the eye socket removed. The profusion of blood vessels and the muscles that rotate the eye are visible.

A pelvis from a woman, right, is lighter and wider than that of a man, left. The wider angle of a woman's pubic bones at the base of the pelvis allows birthing of a baby.

Removal of the skin and the layer of tough tissue beneath it, the palmar fascia, reveals a complex arrangement of blood vessels and nerves in the hand and wrist.

This dissection of the kidneys was done after red latex was injected into the arteries and blue latex into the veins.

With all layers of the skin removed on the left side of the head and neck, the dissection displays the blood vessels and nerves of the scalp, almost all of which come from the periphery, not through the skull. Colored latex was injected into the blood vessels: red for arteries, blue for veins. The structures in the neck remain covered by a tough layer of tissue known as the cervical fascia.

Inside the vertebral column, cut in half vertically, is a channel for the spinal nerves. The brown material is the bones; the white material is the intervertral disks that sometimes "rupture," causing back pain. A horizontal split has been made on the left to show the connection of the sacrum, a triangular bone at the base of the spine, to the pelvis.

This view of the wrist joint features the two rows of four carpal bones each and shows how they are connected to the bones of the forearm and the fingers.

A dissection of the leg and the foot displays the long tendons connected to the toes, and the blood vessels and nerves to the top of the foot.

This dissection of the backbone was performed by Donald Stilwell, another Stanford professor, for the Bassett atlas. Note the profusion of arterial blood vessels nourishing the vertebral area of the neck and chest area. Also, at the top, the ends of the vertebral arteries, which pass into the skull to nourish the brain.

The mediastinum, a central chest compartment located between the lungs, houses the heart. Immediately to the right of the heart is the aorta, the largest artery of the body. To the right of the aorta are groups of blood vessels (one artery and two companion veins) that run between the ribs to distribute blood through the body. The phrenic nerve, which sends messages to the diaphragm to breath, is visible as it crosses the heart vertically.

Dissection of the meninges and brain in situ. On the right the calvaria and layers of the scalp are shown in relation to the dura. On the left the dura has been cut away to reveal the cerebral hemisphere and cerebellum covered with the arachnoid membrane. The confluence of the sinuses is shown.

The sclera and cornea have been cut away on the medial side of a right eye to display the anterior chamber, iris, ciliary body and outer surface of the choroid. Although none of the vessels has been injected, the branches of the superior and inferior medial vorticose veins are clearly visible. The long posterior ciliary artery was cut across in the resection of the sclera but its course can be traced nearly to the ciliary body.

On this dissection of the heart, the epicardium has been removed from all parts of the atria with the exception of the left auricle.

Dissection of lungs in situ. The lungs have been dissected from their medial surfaces and are reflected laterally for this image. Fragmentary portions of all of the chambers of the heart have been preserved. The great vessels have been kept intact, although the aorta and pulmonary trunk have been elevated to expose more posterior parts of the heart.

The cervical spinal cord. By removing the rear arches of the neck (cervical) vertebra and the fibrous covering (dura) over the spinal cord one sees the cervical spinal cord and its nerves. The blood vessels nourishing the cord and vertebral column and the origin of the cord from the brain are clearly shown.

Dissection of thorax from a posterior approach. Ribs and vertebral bodies have been resected bilaterally between the second and the ninth thoracic segments. The periosteum which covered the inner surfaces of the ribs have been preserved in most areas. The anterior longitudinal ligament, with remnants of the intervertebral discs attached, has also been retained in part. The lungs have been inflated and are visible through the intact costal pleura. The proximal parts of the III-VII spinal nerves have been positioned on the pleura in such a way that their dorsal and ventral roots, dorsal rami and communications with the sympathetic trunks are visible. These components are labeled for the left seventh thoracic nerve. The intercostal arteries and veins have been cut off in various ways.

The knee joint opened from the front shows the inner surface of the knee cap or patella within its large ligament which is folded downward and forward. The ear shaped cartilages lie on the surface of the joint floor formed by the tibia. Between the cartilages one sees the cut ends of the cruciate ligaments so often injured in athletics and frequently reconstructed surgically.

The Jawbone. The masseter muscle of mastication reflected back to expose the jawbone (mandible) and the related vessels, nerves and muscles.

Honey and Cinnamon

~Honey & Cinnamon~
Introduction
¬It is found that mixture of Honey and Cinnamon cures most of the diseases.
¬Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world.
¬Ayurvedic as well as Yunani medicine have been using honey as a vital
medicine for centuries.
¬Scientists of today also accept honey as a Ram Ban (very effective)
medicine for all kinds of diseases.
¬Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases.
¬Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right
dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients also.
¬A famous magazine named Weekly World News published in Canada dated 17
January, 95 has given a list of diseases that can be cured by Honey and
Cinnamon as researched by western scientists.
Arthritis
¬Take one part honey to two parts of luke warm water and add a small
teaspoon of cinnamon powder, make a paste and massage it on the itching part
of the body slowly.
¬It is noticed that the pain recedes within a minute or two.
¬Or arthritis patients may daily, morning and night take one cup of hot
water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder.
¬If drunk regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured.
¬In a recent research done at the Copenhagen University, it was found that
when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon
Honey and half teaspoon cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that
within a week out of the 200 people so treated practically 73 patients were
totally relieved of pain and within a month, mostly all the patients who
could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without
pain.
Hair Loss
¬Those suffering from hair loss or baldness, may apply a paste of hot olive
oil, one tablespoon of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder before bath
and keep it for approx. 15 min. and then wash the hair.
¬It was found very effective if kept for 5 mins. also.
Bladder Infections
¬Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a
glass of luke warm water and drink it.
¬It destroys the germs of the bladder.
Toothache
¬Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey
and apply on the aching tooth.
¬This may be done 3 times a day daily till such time that the tooth has
stopped aching.
Cholesterol
¬Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16
ounces of tea water, if given to a cholesterol patient, it reduces the level
of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours.
¬As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken 3 times a day any chronic
cholesterol is cured.
¬As per the information received in the said journal, pure honey taken with
food daily relieves complains of cholesterol.
Colds
¬Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon luke
warm honey with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days.
¬This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.
Infertility
¬Yunani and Ayurvedic have been using honey for years in medicine to
strengthen the semen of men.
¬If impotent men regularly take two tablespoon of honey before sleeping,
their problem will be solved.
¬In China, Japan and Far-East countries, women who do not conceive and to
strengthen the uterus have been taking cinnamon powder for centuries.
¬Women who cannot conceive may take a pinch of cinnamon powder in half
teaspoon of honey and apply it on the gums frequently throughout the day, so
that it slowly mixes with the saliva and enters the body.
¬A couple in Merryland, America had no children for 14 years and had left
hope of having a child of their own.
¬When told about this process husband and wife started taking honey and
cinnamon as stated above, the wife conceived after a few months and had
twins at full term.
Upset Stomach
¬Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach
ulcers from the root.
¬GAS : According to the studies done in India & Japan, it is revealed that
if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.
Heart Diseases
¬Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread or chappati
instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast.
¬It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart
attack.
¬Also those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily,
are kept miles away from the next attack.
¬Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens
the heart beat.
¬In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients
successfully and have found that due to the increasing age the arteries and
veins which lose their flexibility and get clogged are revitalized.
Immune System
¬Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and
protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks.
¬Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large
amounts.
¬Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to  fight
bacteria and viral diseases.
Indigestion
¬Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food,
relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.
Influenza
¬A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ingredient
which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.
Longevity
¬Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly arrests the
ravages of old age.
¬Take 4 spoons of honey, 1spoon of cinnamon powder and 3 cups of water and
boil to make like tea.
¬Drink 1/4 cup, 3 to 4 times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and
arrests old age.
¬Life span also increases and even if a person is 100 years old, starts
performing the chores of a 20 year old.
Pimples
¬Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste.
¬Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning
with warm water.
¬If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.
Skin Infections
¬Eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections are cured by applying
honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts.
Weight Loss
¬Daily in the morning, 1/2 hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and at
night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup
water.
¬If taken regularly it reduces the weight of even the most obese person.
¬Also drinking of this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to
accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.
Cancer
¬Recent research in Japan and Australia has reveled that advanced cancer of
the stomach and bones have been cured successfully.
¬Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one
tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month 3
times a day.
Fatigue
¬Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful
than detrimental to the body strength.
¬Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon power in equal parts are more
alert and flexible.
¬Dr. Milton who has done research says that half tablespoon honey taken in
one glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after
brushing and in the afternoon at about 3.00 p.m. when the vitality of the
body starts decreasing, increases the vitality of the body within a week.
Bad Breath
¬People of South America, first thing in the morning gargle with one
teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water.
¬So their breath stays fresh throughout the day.
Hearing Loss
¬Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder taken in equal parts
restores hearing.