Pollution Putting Children At Brain Damage Risk

Is life tougher for children's health of this era? Maybe. However, we can take our part to protect them. We can begin with our own awareness about things polluting their daily life, then preparing steps to face the adversities.

Researchers write in The Lancet medical journal that children may have suffered brain damage as a result of industrial pollution. The scientists say that pollutants may be causing neurodevelopmental disorders by impairing the brain development of foetuses and babies.

Potential effects of exposure to toxic chemicals include lower IQ scores, autism, attention deficit disorder, and cerebral palsy. The researchers say that lead, methylmercury, arsenic and solvents such as ethanol and toluene are among many industrial and agricultural chemicals with latent effects to damage the brain.

Many chemicals are likely to be damaging to humans, in particular during the periods of development that begin during pregnancy and extend to adolesence. This includes flouride that could prove to be toxic in excessive quantity; as we know, flouride is a widespread additive in toothpaste and drinking water.

All those toxic substances may not generate symptoms for a number of years in human life. The combined evidence suggests that neurodevelopmental disorders caused by industrial chemicals has created a 'silent pandemic' in modern society.

As known from historical findings, toxic effects of lead identified since Roman era, but the use of lead in petrol, paints, ceramic glazes and other products continued. Children exposed to small amounts can suffer problems with concentration, memory, cognition and behaviour.

Methylmercury has been found in waters nearby plastics factories, hospitals and incinerators and can pollute freshwater fish and seafood. Studies have made a note of decrease in the IQ of children born to women who had consumed polluted seafood, as well as memory, attention and language impairments

Arsenic can be found in groundwater industrial pollution. Studies of school-age children show cognitive deficits in IQ associated with drinking arsenic-contaminated water.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) were widely used in electrical equipment and other industries. Contaminated products can consist of cooking oil and dairy products, and exposure is related with damaged skin conditions in adults, low birthweight in babies and slow childhood development

Solvent comprises ethanol, turpentine and toluene; frequently used in dry cleaning, paint thinners, glue, detergents and perfumes. Effects on foetuses can lead to decreased IQ scores and delayed development of speech and motor function.

Listed pesticides including those that act against insects, rodents, fungi and weeds. Compared with unexposed children, children exposed directly to high levels of the chemicals have been proven to have diminished shortterm memory, hand-eye coordination, reaction times and drawing ability.

We know that those abovementioned things are part of our daily life. Perfumes, glue, paint, food, etc. So what can we do? I think we can reduce usage of those unnatural substances, then try to use natural goods and foods if possible. For instance, instead of chemical perfume, you can try natural flower oil to freshen your room. Instead of having canned fruit, you can have the fresh ones. It's so easy. It can be fun activites for children too. All we need is trying to make natural life as a habit.

Reduce Your Fatigue

Fatigue is a common, but nonspecific, sensation of generalized weakness or exhaustion. It is extreme tiredness, often involving muscle weakness, that can result in difficulty performing tasks It can be mental, physical or both. Fatigue is normal after heavy physical exertion (like running six miles) or after a busy, tiring day, but it is not "normal" for someone to feel tired or a loss of energy with little activity or after adequate rest.

The symptoms of fatigue may last a long time or only a short time. They may strike at any time or may be predictable. There are things you can do to help reduce the effects of fatigue. Knowing how it affects you will help you handle it better. Fatigue affects everyone differently, vary from person to person. For instance, it may make you feel:

- Very tired with no energy. All you want to do is sleep.

- A loss of control. Sometimes fatigue may make you feel powerless. You may feel you have little ability to manage life.

- A loss of attention. Decisions become harder. It's as if your mind is tired, too.

- Irritable. It may be difficult to be pleasant or happy when you're persistently tired. This may put a tension on your relationships.

- Increased pain. Particularly for people who experience fatigue associated with their arthritis or lupus.

You can take steps to reduce fatigue and enhance your energy. Use the following strategies:

• Control stress and lighten your load. Relaxation techniques like meditation, self-hypnosis, yoga, and tai chi are effective in stress-reduction. Prioritize your list of “must-do” activities.

• Exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Exercise make you sleep more soundly. It also makes your body discharge hormones that can make you feel energized. You can take a walk, gardening, hiking etc. they can help restore body and soul.

• Eat for energy and don't smoke. Small meals every few hours can reduce your view of fatigue by ensuring supply of nutrients to the brain. Avoid nicotine, because it speeds the heart rate and stimulates wakefulness, making it harder to sleep.

However, the underlying cause of persistent fatigue can be hard to identify, and that doesn’t mean the fatigue is unreal. Often fatigue indicates something wrong physically or emotionally. Fatigue is a frequent and troubling symptom of many types of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, such as lupus. Illnesses associated with fatigue are anemia, heart disease, underactive thyroid, joint and muscle pain, overextending self, poor sleep, lack of physical activity and depression, those a few of the many causes. If your fatigue is of new beginning, getting worse, or interferes with activities of daily living, it would be helpful to see a physician to diagnose and treat the source of your fatigue.

What Gives Your Body its Shape?

Lets talk about our body shape. The body's skeleton is covered with muscles. What purposes do the bones serve? Why are there many layers of muscles? How are the muscles attached to bones? Can you locate hinge joints? Ball-and-socket joints?

A completed building presents a very different appearance after athe steel framework is hidden by brick, concrete, glass, and other materials of construction. In similar manner, the outlines of the human skeleton, bony and angular as it is, are rounded and softened by the flesh that covers it. Flesh is made primarily of muscles and fat with networks of blood vessels and nerves.

The muscles cover the bones. Muscles are bundles of elastic fibers arranged in regular order in layers over the entire body. Some muscles are fastened directly to bones, others are attached by tendons. Tendons are very though bands or cords made of the extensions of the connective tissue which covers and holds together the individual muscle cells. You can see and feel the tendon in the heel and the tendons in the back of the hand.

Someone with a well-developed muscular system has a physique that is well proportioned and flesh that is firm. Such a body is desired by everyone. Heredity largely determines the shape and size of our skeleton, but we can do a great deal about its muscular covering.

Fat softens the outline of the body. There are small deposits of fat cells among the muscle fibers. These serve as storehouses of energy and are necessary. Larger pads of fat, called adipose tissue, cushions organs. Near the surface of the body this tissue acts as insulation to prevent loss of heat. It is desirable to have a small amount of this padding, but too much adipose tissue interferes with efficient muscular actions and increase weight. When the muscular structure of the body is hidden by layers of fat the natural outline is lost.

The relative amounts of muscle and fat on the body are controlled by the kind and quantitiy of food eaten and the amount of exercise. If the right amounts of a variety of foods are eaten and there is sufficient exercise everyday, the body will have normal proportions. It is not thin and angular; nor is it heavy and shapeless.

Shoes and Comfort

As everybody may knows, shoes should be shaped so that toes may lie in natural position. Muscles of our body (including foot muscles) need exercises and free circulation of blood to bring them food and to carry away waste products of fatigue. Shoes, worn to protect the feet, must allow for this exercise and should not interfere with circulation.

If we take a look, the toes of an infant are spread apart and move almost as freely as the fingers. However, many adults have lost the normal shape and flexibility of the toes because they were crowded into narrow, pointed shoes while the bones still were partly cartilage. Some people wear shoes that are so tight that they impair circulation, and the muscles are held together compactly that exercise is almost impossible.

Improper shoes are one of the causes of most foot troubles; so careful consideration should be given to their selection. We see in shops, shoe sizes are not standardized among all manufacturers, so each pair of new shoes should be fitted before customer buy them. Experts recommend that the end of the shoes should be one-half to three-quarters of an inch beyond the toes to allow room for their extension as the arch ‘gives’ in stepping. Some shoe departments have a fluoroscope (a type of X-ray machine) with which the position of bones of the foot inside the shoes can be seen. This is helpful in detemining whether there is room within the shoe for toes to lie in natural position.

Pressure of tight shoes causes the skin to thicken over an irritated area with gradual formation of a corn or callus. This usually will disappear if properly fitted shoes are worn. On the other hand, if shoes are too large there is danger of rubbing on the skin, causing a blister.

What about heels? Anatomically, varying the heights of heels changes the relative position of bones in the feet. Broad, low heels, such as those on men’s shoes and women’s sport shoes give a firm foundation when we walk, work everyday, and for sports use. High and narrow heels look well with evening dresses and are appropriate, because a girl is on the balls of her feet and toes while dancing. As a matter of fact, such heels for ordinary wear tend to throw the body forward. The resulting strain on muscles and joints to maintain balance causes the person to tire quickly. However, some people tends to put more importance on their look than their comfort or health.

Sleep Better

We hear that there is strong links between adequate sleep and good health. However, if you are often sleepy during the day, you may be like many who informed one or more signs of sleep problems. The indicators consist of:

• waking often during the night, or waking early and being unable to return to sleep

• pauses in breathing while sleeping

• feeling tired much of the time or discomfort in the legs while resting

• feeling irritable without immediate reason, depressed or confused

If you have sleep disorder, you may ask yourself whether something occuring in your life that may be causing the problem. If possible, it may resolve itself. If the problem doesn’t work itself out, talk with your doctor. He or she might prescribe medicine or tests to decide if you have a sleep disorder.

Try keeping a sleep log for a week before you see the doctor. Record the amount of sleep you get nightly, your fatigue level for each day, and any other symptoms you have and then share the information with the doctor.

Here is several changes in your behavior that can help you sleep

longer and better:

• Getting exercise in the afternoon several hours before bedtime.

• Avoiding stimulants such as caffeine or alcohol in the late evening.

• Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day.

• Using your bed only for sleep or sexual activity.

• Relaxation training.

• Counseling to help you change any ways of thinking that might contribute to poor sleep.

• Consider a nap carefully. A short nap (30 minutes or less) in the afternoon may give you more energy during the second part of your day, but that daytime sleep does affect nighttime sleep. Taking a nap may cause you to take longer time to fall asleep or sleep for a shorter period of time that night.

• If you don’t fall asleep after 20 minutes of lying in bed, just get up and engage in a relaxing activity such as reading or listening to relaxing music. When you feel sleepy, go back to bed. If you don’t fall asleep within 20 minutes, repeat this procedure.

Source: Senior Hotline 13/I January-March 2007

How to Prevent Mental Disorder

How to prevent mental disorders, especially in children? Sixty percent of people who suffer from one or other complex disorders such as hypertension, epilepsy, diabetes, schizophrenia, which has a genetic component, and were partly caused by inadequate food habits and other environmental reasons.
If detected and treated early, it would be possible d' to prevent the mental disorder among children. Slowness in all the activities and l' incapacity d' to identify the parents symptoms early for this disease were certain. The muscular dystrophy s' is produced in the male children, and whose symptoms were difficulties while going and while going up to the top of the staircases. A particular gene in the chromosome of X of `because the disorder. One in 5.000 male children was affected by this disorder, whereas the children of girl n' were not affected. The genetic treatment early could cure the disease or prevent l' child d' to obtain the serious mental disorder.
The genetic specialist said that the studies indicated that many of those, which had the genetic diseases, had been born with the consanguineous parents (who are parents of blood). The separate studies proved that many mentally - the delayed children had been born with the consanguineous parents, it said. The reason for which the marriages between blood relations had as consequence the children being constant with serious disorders was the fact that the two copies of some current genes in l' child were abnormal. Each human body has 35.000 pairs of genes, one in each pair being derived from the father and other from the mother. L' newborn would not develop a disorder, if that of genes were normal. The medical research was still remote d' possibility; to prevent the mental and physical disorder in the children by antenatal genetic engineering, or to cure the diseases by genetic engineering since the gene cartography had been an expensive business. With the development d' a separated laboratory, l' unit would function with d' other departments, to see points of right, children d' test for symptoms of the genetic disorders, parents d' legal consultant, and l' test to prevent the children d' to obtain mental disorders during qu' they aged.

Note
The result I found about topics 'how to prevent mental disorder':

[PDF] Prevention of Mental Disorders - [ Terjemahkan laman ini ] Jenis Berkas: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Versi HTMLThe evidence presented in this report shows that it is possible to prevent mental disorders and. reduce the risk of mental ill-health. ...who.int/mental_health/evidence/en/prevention_of_mental_disorders_sr.pdf - Halaman sejenisoleh E INTERVENTIONS - 10 versi Prevent Mental Illness with Early Detection - [ Terjemahkan laman ini ] Please choose your area:. Portland, Maine · Queens, New York · Sacramento, California · Salem, Oregon · Albuquerque, NM · Ypsilanti, Michigan. Tampilkan peta 295 Park Ave, Portland, ME 04102, USA / - 6k - Tembolok - Halaman sejenis Prevent Mental Illness with Early Detection - [ Terjemahkan laman ini ] Getting help at the earliest possible time is key to feeling better and possibly to preventing mental illness altogether! The PIER program can help. ...www.preventmentalillness.org/pier_home.html - 14k - Tembolok - Halaman sejenis Scientists Identify Strategies To Prevent Mental Illness ... Scientists Identify Strategies To Prevent Mental Illness ... whether drug treatment prevents schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in young people at high risk, ...pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/41/10/50 - Halaman sejenisoleh J Arehart-Treichel - 2006 - 2 versi Mental Disorders: How to Prevent Them - [ Terjemahkan laman ini ] Tobacco induced mental disorders and brain damage can be prevented, here's how.medicolegal.tripod.com/preventmentaldisorder.htm - 68k - Tembolok - Halaman sejenis Schizophrenia Daily News Blog: Australian State Launches Strategy ... - [ Terjemahkan laman ini ] 2 Sep 2006 ... Based on this knowledge, the Territory of Canberra, Australia has launched a three-year strategy yesterday to help prevent mental illness. ...www.schizophrenia.com/sznews/archives/003869.html - 15k - Tembolok - Halaman sejenis Prevent Mental Illness with Early Detection - [ Terjemahkan laman ini ] Often friends are the first to notice symptoms of someone in the early stages of a mental illness. Getting help early is the first step to preventing mental ... Tampilkan peta 1660 Oak St SE, Salem, OR 97301, USA - 12k - Tembolok - Halaman sejenis Nail nibbler? Treatment may prevent biting - Mental health- msnbc.com - [ Terjemahkan laman ini ] 7 Sep 2007 ... Do you find your fingers drifting into your mouth when you’re nervous, anxious or just bored? Are your nails chewed to splinters or your ...www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20641923/ - 52k - Tembolok - Halaman sejenis Public health interventions to promote positive mental health and ... - [ Terjemahkan laman ini ] 22 Jan 2007 ... Public health interventions to promote positive mental health and prevent mental health disorders among adults ...www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=401001 - 15k - Tembolok - Halaman sejenis The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Vellore News : Clinical genetics vital ... - [ Terjemahkan laman ini ] 6 Sep 2007 ... Clinical genetics vital “to prevent mental disorders” ... therefore, vital in the prevention of serious physical and mental disorders, ...www.hindu.com/2007/09/06/stories/2007090651990300.htm - 20k - Tembolok - Halaman sejenis

SUN AND SUNBATH

As in the case of other life elements, man cannot do without sunlight. The sun is the source of light and heat. If there was no sun, there would be neither light nor warmth. Unfortunately, we do not make full use of sunlight and consequently we are unable to enjoy perfect health.

Sunbath is as useful as ordinary water bath though the two cannot replace one another. In cases of delibity and slow circulation, exposure of the uncovered body to the morning sun acts as an all-round general tonic and accelerates the metabolism.

The morning sun has the largest amount of ultra-violet rays which are a most effective component of the sun's rays. If the patient feels cold, he should lie in the sun covered up and gradually expose more and more of his body as he gets used to it.

One can also take the sunbath pacing up and down in the sun without any clothes on, in a private enclosure or in any other place away from public gaze. If such a place is not within easy reach, one can just cover up the private parts by tying up a piece of cloth or a langoti and expose the rest of his body to the sun.

I know of many persons who have been benefited by sunbaths. It is a well-known treatement for tubercolusis. Sunbaths or heliotherapy is no longer confined to the sphere of naturopathy. Orthodox medicine has taken it up from naturopathy and developed it further. In cold countries, special glass buildings have been constructed under medical supervision, so that the glass lets in the sun' rays and at the same time protects patients against the cold.

Sun treatment often results in the cure of intractable ulcers. To produce sweating, I have made patients lie in the sun at about 11 a. m., i. e. a little before midday. The experiment has been successful and the patients are soon bathed in sweat. In these cases the head should be protected from the sun by means of a cold mud poultice. Banana or any other leaves can be used to cover up the head and the face and thus further help in keeping the head cool and well protected. The head should never be exposed to strong sunlight.

Source: Key to Health (M. K. Gandhi).

Talking about Aging

Every one of us experiencing aging. Advancing age may seem to many of us as a scaring phenomenon of a lifecycle. Human born, growing as a child, teenager, adult, and facing the next process. Am I talking something hateful? I hope not. Aging is something natural and we can shift our manner from 'we have to face it' to 'we will face it with smile.' We are not alone with this aging things. Trees, earth, sky, piramids, birds, apartments, teenagers in school, etc. …, we are becoming older and older. It is very usual and natural. So, I think we don’t need to evade this curious thing.

All we need to do for the first time is: just feel free to think about aging. It is not something scary or ghastly look. It is our friend, something accompany every thing in this vast universe. No need to make him/her enemy. Even, we need to know him/her better.

People think about season cycle: spring, summer, autumn, and fall. Or daily sun cycle: dawn, morning, noon, evening. Yeah, eventually everything will walk through the same process.

So what can we do to happily being aging ones, knowing that we are not the same as we were at the old days.

The question is whether we are mindful about ourselves, knowing this aging body. By knowing what happens, we can take a good steps to face this aging life, this old earth and this old self. Take an example: We plant a seed of herb. After some times, we watched how the seed was growing so beautiful, showing the pretty flowers or fruits. We can help the herb maintain its lifecycle longer than if we don’t try to care it better.

It means we can save our life longer and better via awareness of ourselves. So what are the good steps of it? Here are:

Take care of your body. Don’t put waste or toxin in your body. Let your body flow in this natural scheme as much as possible. You have two legs, they are created for human to walks. So, give your legs enough chance to walk in your days. You have kidney. So don’t overburden it with unnatural drinking. Your kidney loves water. It was specifically not created to accept unnatural substances (think about soda, chemical substance, etc.)

Treatment for Small Wound

When you cut your finger, what to do?

The usual treatment for small wounds, including finger cut, is:

1. Wash the area thoroughly

2. Apply antibiotic salve

3. Cover with a bandaid or other bandage.

The salve should be reapplied three times a day.

However, small wound may started out as a simple paper cut, but in fact they can be quite serious. So it is best if you see a doctor. This is more urgent if the condition of your finger is gradually becoming red, swollen, infected. Anti-biotic salve wouldn’t work and soaking it in regular salt warm water doesn’t help either. Don’t wait, call the doctor.

Use Condom

A condom is a device most commonly used during sexual intercourse. It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner. Condoms are used to prevent transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs—such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV) and pregnancy. Because condoms are waterproof, elastic, and durable, they are also used in a variety of secondary applications. These range from creating waterproof microphones to protecting rifle barrels from clogging. Foot travelers in Amazonic South America wear condoms when wading through water to prevent a small catfish known as candirú from swimming into the urethra. The fish is attracted to the scent of blood and urine

What is generally called a condom is the 'male' condom, a sheath or covering which fits over a man's penis, and which is closed at one end. There is also now a female condom, or vaginal sheath, which is used by a woman and which fits inside her vagina. Below is about the male condom.

Condoms are usually made of latex or polyurethane. If possible you should use a latex condom, as they are slightly more reliable, and in most countries they are most readily available. Latex condoms can only be used with water based lubricants, not oil based lubricants such as Vaseline or cold cream as they break down the latex. A small number of people have an allergic reaction to latex and can use polyurethane condoms instead. Polyurethane condoms are made of a type of plastic. They are thinner than latex condoms, and so they increase sensitivity and are more agreeable in feel and appearance to some users. They are more expensive than latex condoms and slightly less flexible so more lubrication may be needed. However both oil and water based lubricants can be used with them. Some condoms are not lubricated at all.

You need to use a new condom every time you have sexual intercourse. Never use the same condom twice. Put the condom on after the penis is erect and before any contact is made between the penis and any part of the partner's body. If you go from anal intercourse to vaginal intercourse, you should consider changing the condom.

Condoms have an expiration (Exp) or manufacture (MFG) date on the box or individual package that tells you when it is safe to use the condom until. It's important to check this when you use a condom. You should also make sure the package and the condom appear to be in good condition.

Condoms can deteriorate if not stored properly as they are affected by both heat and light. So it's best not to use a condom that has been stored in your back pocket, your wallet, or the glove compartment of your car. If a condom feels sticky or very dry you shouldn't use it as the packaging has probably been damaged.

If used properly, a condom is very effective at reducing the risk of being infected with HIV during sexual intercourse. Using a condom also provides protection against other sexually transmitted diseases, and protection against pregnancy. In the laboratory, latex condoms are very effective at blocking transmission of HIV because the pores in latex condoms are too small to allow the virus to pass through. However, outside of the laboratory condoms are less effective because people do not always use condoms properly.

If there is question: Don't you trust me? Then answer: Trust isn't the point, people can have infections without realising it. If, I'm on the pill, you don't need a condom, answer: I'd like to use it anyway. It will help to protect us from infections we may not realise we have. If asked: I will pull out in time, answer: Women can get STDs and get pregnant from pre-ejaculate

Condoms are the only contraceptive that help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV) and both pregnancy when used properly and consistently. Condoms are one of the most reliable methods of birth control when use properly and consistently. Condoms have none of the medical side-effects of some other birth control methods may have.

Source: www.avert.org

How to Choose Fresh Fruit

Eating the proper amounts and the right kinds of fruits is important to healthy living. Nutritionists recommend eating a minimum of five one cup servings of each per day. To make sure you select healthy fruits and avoid that of questionable quality, here are a few basic tips in your selection.

Though seems so simple, buying fruit can be complex. That's why if you look closely at most any grocery store produce section you'll notice people squeezing, sniffing and examining their fruit very carefully.

The first rule to know is that the fresher the produce the better the quality. The best place to find the freshest and best selection of produce is at farmer's markets. Most farmers harvest their produce the day before or the day of the market. They also usually use minimal pesticides. This fact in itself provides you with better health while protecting the environment.

If you are not fortunate enough to have access to a farmer's market, just go to the grocery store and take care to pick only the healthiest produce. You need to use this grocery store produce within a few days. Try to locate a grocery store that has frequent deliveries of produce. Avoid grocery stores that have an extremely cold produce section. This makes it hard to check the texture and scent of produce. Convenience and corner stores more often than not have produce of poor quality due to the fact that it is not delivered fresh daily or it is not properly stored. Here is some of those fruits.

Bananas. Unlike most other fruits, bananas develop their best eating quality after they are harvested. This allows bananas to be transported great distances. Bananas are sensitive to cool temperatures and will be injured in temperatures below 55 F. For this reason, they should never be kept in the freezer. The ideal temperature for ripening bananas is between 60 and 70 F. Higher temperatures cause them to ripen too quickly.

Look for bananas which are firm, bright, and free from bruises or other injury. The state of ripeness is indicated by skin color. Best eating quality has been gained when the solid yellow color is specked with brown. At this time, the flesh is mellow and the flavor is fully developed. Bananas with green tips or with no yellow color have not developed their full flavor potential. Avoid bruised fruit (indicating rapid deterioration and waste); discolored skins (a sign of decay); a dull, grayish, aged appearance (showing that the bananas have been exposed to cold and will not ripen properly).

Oranges: When looking for a ripe orange, don't worry about color. Oranges with green or brown patches can be just as ripe (and some very orange oranges are even injected with food coloring to get that bright color). For the best flavor, seek for a firm, heavy orange with a thin, smooth skin.

The freshness of a bunch of grapes can be seen in the stem. If the stem is still green all the way to the grapes then their harvest was recent. A bunch with dried stems and soft, wrinkled or leaking grapes is decaying. Grapes do not ripen after harvest and should be served or freezed in an open container.

Cantaloupe: Be choosy when picking a cantaloupe because they're often picked while still unripe so they're not crushed during transportation. You can spot an unripe cantaloupe by its green tones. Instead, look for a cream-colored cantaloupe (with no green patches) that has a little soft end (the end opposite the stem). Also, give it a sniff and choose one that smells little sweet (but not overly so, which could mean it's too ripe).

Mangoes: Finding a ripe mango can be tricky because they can be yellow, red, green or orange in color. Those that are ready to eat will usually have a yellow hue and should be slightly soft to the touch. Ripe mangoes also have a sweet aroma near the stem end.

Berries should be brightly colored, plump and fragrant. To be sure the batch is good make sure the container hasn’t been stained or damp. Berries should not be handled much and only washed if necessary as that speeds mold. Berries have a very short shelf-life and should be consumed or refrigerated. They are best kept in layers on paper towels, covered by a moist paper towel or in an open paper bag. The smaller the size, the better the flavor.

Apples: A ripe apple will be firm and deeply colored. Apples should smell sweet and have strong, smooth and shiny skin. Apples can be stored in a freezer for some weeks. Depending on the variety, there should also be a slight rosy tone (such as with yellow and green apples). If you want to find apples with better flavor, buy them during apple season, which spans from late summer to early winter.

Papaya: Papayas with a red-orange skin are ripe and ready to eat. Those with yellow patches are still good, but will take a few days to ripen. Avoid papayas that are green or very hard, as they're not fully ripe and won't have a sweet flavor. May this information useful.

Carrot Juice

Popeye the sailor eat spinach. Bugs Bunny eat carrot, and he played good performance too. But we don’t have to be bunny to get health benefits from this nice root . Most of us have heard that eating carrot will improve our health.

There are some facts on carrot. It contains rich beta-carotene, which help our body create vitamin A supply. And this easily absorbed by our body. You may know that vitamin A helps maintain healthy vision (especially night vision). Carrot may help prevent cataracts and increase the immune system too. They reduce the risk of some types of cancer, function as natural solvent for any ulcer. They keep your bone and teeth structure in strong condition. Carrot taste sweet too.

Instead of buying the bottled one, it would be better to make your own raw carrot juice. No preservative, no strange additives. Making your own raw carrot juice will make it feel that the gift is presented fresh from the nature.

If you experience some skin 'discoloration' after drinking such juice, be sure, it is not a bad news. Such phenomenon is indicating that your body is getting cleansing from within.

When preparing carrot juice, try to buy organic grown carrots. Remember, carrot skin and its surfaces are containing valuable nutrition, so you don’t have to peel it.

If the taste is not much acceptable, you can blend it with other fruits and vegetables you like. This is one of the great recipes from The Kiripalu Cookbook: Gourmet Vegetarian Recipes, by Atma Jo Ann Levitt (Berkshire House Publishers).

Carrot, Celery and Apple Juice

Preparation time 10 minutes

Makes 2 cups juice

Ingredients: 5 medium carrots, 3 stalks celery, 3 small apples, cored.

Instruction:Wash all ingredients well, chop and blend.

Drink immediately the juice as it is still in fresh and best condition ;)

Coping With a Traumatic Event

What Is a Traumatic Event? Most everyone has been through a stressful event in his or her life. When the event, or series of events, causes a lot of stress, it is called a traumatic event. Traumatic events are marked by a sense of horror, helplessness, serious injury, or the threat of serious injury or death. Traumatic events affect survivors, rescue workers, and the friends and relatives of victims who have been involved. They may also have an impact on people who have seen the event either firsthand or on television.

What Are Some Common Responses? A person’s response to a traumatic event may vary. Responses include feelings of fear, grief and depression. Physical and behavioral responses include nausea, dizziness, and changes in appetite and sleep pattern as well as withdrawal from daily activities. Responses to trauma can last for weeks to months before people start to feel normal again.

Most people report feeling better within three months after a traumatic event. If the problems become worse or last longer than one month after the event, the person may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What Is PTSD? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an intense physical and emotional response to thoughts and reminders of the event that last for many weeks or months after the traumatic event. The symptoms of PTSD fall into three broad types: re-living, avoidance and increased arousal.

Symptoms of re-living include flashbacks, nightmares, and extreme emotional and physical reactions to reminders of the event. Emotional reactions can include feeling guilty, extreme fear of harm, and numbing of emotions. Physical reactions can include uncontrollable shaking, chills or heart palpitations, and tension headaches.

Symptoms of avoidance include staying away from activities, places, thoughts, or feelings related to the trauma or feeling detached or estranged from others.

Symptoms of increased arousal include being overly alert or easily startled, difficulty sleeping, irritability or outbursts of anger, and lack of concentration.

Other symptoms linked with PTSD include: panic attacks, depression, suicidal thought and feelings, drug abuse, feelings of being estranged and isolated, and not being able to complete daily tasks.

What Can You Do for Yourself? There are many things you can do to cope with traumatic events.

-Understand that your symptoms may be normal, especially right after the trauma.

-Keep to your usual routine.

-Take the time to resolve day-to-day conflicts so they do not add to your stress.

-Do not shy away from situations, people and places that remind you of the trauma.

-Find ways to relax and be kind to yourself.

-Turn to family, friends, and clergy person for support, and talk about your experiences and feelings with them.

-Participate in leisure and recreational activities.

-Recognize that you cannot control everything.

-Recognize the need for trained help, and call a local mental health center.

What Can You Do for Your Child?

-Let your child know that it is okay to feel upset when something bad or scary happens.

-Encourage your child to express feelings and thoughts, without making judgments.

-Return to daily routines.

When Should You Contact Your Doctor or Mental Health Professional? About half of those with PTSD recover within three months without treatment. Sometimes symptoms do not go away on their own or they last for more than three months. This may happen because of the severity of the event, direct exposure to the traumatic event, seriousness of the threat to life, the number of times an event happened, a history of past trauma, and psychological problems before the event.

You may need to consider seeking professional help if your symptoms affect your relationship with your family and friends, or affect your job. If you suspect that you or someone you know has PTSD, talk with a health care provider or call your local mental health clinic.

Source: www.cdc.gov

Counting Calories

Sometimes we try to count calories we take in our daily meals. Of course it is possible to count them by measuring this or that food. We can take a look at calories listed in book or manuals. While it is no possible to list all foods, you surely are able to find ones similar to those that you use.

Just estimate the energy value of everything that you have eaten during the last two days. Be sure that you include between-meal snacks, a treat atau the soda fountain, the cream and sugar you may have put in some coffee, the gravy on you potato, the jelly on your toast, and other seemingly small additions to the diet.

The sum of all these calories is an estimate of the energy value of your meals. It tells nothing about the building properties or other health provisions in food. Estimation of calories is limited in value, principally, for controlling or maintaing weight. After we understands which foods have high energy value and which have low, it is possible to select meals with this factor in mind. Then it becomes more practical to check our weight than to count calories.

Ear Candling

The Issue. Ear candling is an alternative practice that proponents believe will help remove ear wax. The practice of ear candling has recently become popular as an alternative therapy. Some promoters say it is an ancient treatment that can cure a number of medical problems. However, ear candling is dangerous, and has no proven medical benefits.

Background. An ear candle is a narrow, hollow cone that has been soaked in beeswax or paraffin and allowed to harden. The patient lies on his or her side while someone else inserts the point of the cone inside the ear. The top of the cone is then set on fire and left to burn for a few minutes.

The promoters of ear candling claim that the flame creates warmth and suction, which draws ear wax out of the ear canal. They say that ear candling can cure a wide range of medical problems, including ear aches, sinus infections, sinus pain and pressure, and vertigo.

No Medical Benefits - but Lots of Risks. There is no scientific proof to support claims that ear candling provides medical benefits. In fact, laboratory tests showed that ear candling produces no significant heating or suction in the ear canal. There is plenty of proof that ear candling is dangerous. Ear candling poses a risk of fire. It can also cause serious burns and other injuries if hot wax drips into your ear, or onto your skin or hair. There have been reports of several cases of injury. A report published in the medical journal Laryngoscope said, "ear candles have no benefit in the management of cerumen (ear wax) and may result in serious injury."

Problems reported among the group using ear candling included:

-Burns to the ear, skin, and hair from the hot wax

-Obstruction of the ear canal due to wax dripping into the ear

-Perforated ear drum

-Temporarily lost hearing

Is Wax Removing Necessary? Ear wax has a protective role. It cleans and lubricates the ear, and can protect the ear canal from bacteria and fungus. The ear has a self-cleaning system that naturally removes ear wax. Most people do not require additional cleaning. However, a breakdown in this self-cleaning system can cause a condition known as cerumen impaction. Cerumen impaction affects some people and can cause reversible hearing loss, dizziness, and ringing in the ears. Physicians are required to treat cerumen impaction.

How You Can Protect Yourself. Certain types of medical devices require a licence from the government, and in fact, many governments ban the selling of ear candles. So, avoid ear candling. It is dangerous and it provides no medical benefits. If you are concerned about ear wax, then ask your doctor about safe and effective ways of cleaning your ears. They are qualified and well-trained to do it, indeed.

Disaster and Healthy State of Mind

Anybody who experiences a disaster is influenced by it, whether directly or indirectly through location, family or friends, or exposure to media coverage of the event. Even if a disaster produces little physical damage, it can bring terror, confusion, and uncertainty into daily life. Strong and varied emotional reactions to such an experience are natural.

Given the uncontrollable nature of disasters, some people question whether they can take steps to plan for catastrophic events. Actually, we know that the more people prepare for the unexpected, the better they deal with these situations. Everyone has their own ways of handling stressful conditions.

Resilience—the ability to adapt well to life's ups and downs—can help manage stress and feelings of anxiety. Everyone can build resilience. It involves thoughts and actions that can be learned and done over time. People from different age can prepare for, respond to, and recover from hard experiences with disaster; they can maintain their healthy state of mind.

Make Your Own Herb Tea

You can make wonderful refreshing cup of herb tea. It can be done by using single herbs or herbs and spices in combination. Herb combinations can be found loose or in sachets in many retailing strore, especially in health-food stores. It tastes delicious, and you can choose what fit you. Some of the most yummy single teas include:

• Peppermint. Good for settling an upset stomach

• Lemon verbena or lemon grass. Both good tonics for your refreshment

• Chamomile. Calms the tense nerves

• Goldenrod (solidago). A good diuretic for those who retain water

• Lime blossom or passionflower. Great for relaxing you

So what trick to making good cups of herb tea? First, find several herbs or herb combinations that you enjoy. Then, add one or several of the following things:

• a teaspoon or so of lightly scented clear honey such as acacia or clover

• a squeeze of lemon juice or a slice of lemon

• a drop of goat’s milk or skim milk (especially nice with spicy teas)

• a dash of powdered cinnamon bark stick

You can try making a strong pot of your favorite tea, and then add a sliced peach to it. Sweeten with honey, then chill for a couple of hours in the fridge, and drink iced.