Fluoride in the Water - Good or Bad?

May 31, 2009 by DarleneN · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Nutrition 

Obviously, dental hygiene is a priority to conscientious parents. Yet, in spite of the advancements in dental care, more than one fourth of two to five year-olds and half of kids 12 to 15 have one or more cavities. Many agree with studies that seem to indicate that adding fluoride to public water will decrease the problem of tooth decay. But this opinion is in no way unanimous.

Fluoride in various compounds may be found naturally in water. In fact, it is the 13th most common element in the Earth’s crust. The question is, when fluoride is not found naturally in water, should it be added? Studies have been made for decades and will continue. The purpose of this article is to consider both views and then present options. You need to know whether you need fluoride filters for your drinking water.

Consider these quotes: “It is well known that fluoride helps prevent and even reverse the early stages of tooth decay.” “Today, water fluoridation is estimated to reduce tooth decay by 20-40%.” These statements were made by a medical doctor. Here’s another: “For over 60 years, water fluoridation has proved to be a safe and cost-effective way to reduce dental caries.”

The pro side says that fluoride decreases tooth decay in two ways. It works when it comes in contact with the surface of the teeth by preventing the acid made by the bacteria in plaque from dissolving, or demineralizing, tooth enamel. Second, it becomes part of the structure of developing teeth in children. Fluoride also encourages teeth damaged by acid to remineralize themselves. It can’t fix decayed teeth but can prevent new decay from occurring.

The other side makes statements like these: “. . . there is no difference in the tooth decay rates of the fluoridated and nonfluoridated areas surveyed.” They even claim that increased amount of fluoride in children also increases tooth decay.

Too much fluoride before 8 years of age, a time when teeth are developing, can cause enamel fluorosis, a discoloration or mottling of the permanent teeth. Sometimes the amount of fluoride ingested from the water and then through toothpaste and dental treatments can be too much.

At times the studies have not considered the long range effects of fluoride. The con side says it has been directly linked to cancer, changes in bone structure and strength, has caused birth defects and perinatal deaths, has impaired the immune system, caused initial stages of skeletal fluorosis, caused osteoarthritis, inhibits key enzymes, suppresses thyroid function and several other adverse problems.

How do opponents answer to evidence mentioned above that fluoride is good for dental hygiene? They say the studies are flawed in several ways.  First, the studies did not consider the fact that other minerals were in the water and they might have been the real factor in decreased instances of tooth decay. Second, they failed to differentiate between “natural fluoride” (like CaF) and added fluoride (like NaF). Third, the studies lacked statistical proof. Fourth, only dental fluorosis was included as safety experiments.

If you agree with the con side, what can you do if fluoride is added to your water? You could buy bottled water but this option has many drawbacks. Better, buy a water filter that promises to remove the fluoride. Some promise this optionally. For example, The Berkey Filters have an optional fluoride filter that can be attached to the regular gravity filter rods. There are ways to protect yourself from drinking fluoride in your water if you don’t want it.

What is Psoriasis Skin Disorder

May 31, 2009 by DarleneN · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Skin Care 

Affecting approximately one in every 50 adults, psoriasis of the skin is a physical condition that can cause significant mental suffering. Clinical research has concluded that although psoriaisis shows itself as a skin condition, the actual onset is rooted in the immune system of the body.

Salmon colored skin that becomes cracked, flaky and irritated is among the symptoms of psoriasis. With plaque psoriasis, which is also the most commonplace form, the afflicted areas develop round, eliptical or odd shaped patches of red that are covered with skin that is scaly and silver colored. There is no consistence in the size or form of the patchy areas and occasionally, several small patches can fuse together and look like one big irregular shape of irritated skin. As well as not being very nice to look at, the skin in these areas sometimes cracks and bleeds.

The area of affected skin can become very tender and feel as though it is burning. Like the shape, there is no consistency as to how long a specific flare-up will go on for. It could last a week to twleve days or you might have to suffer it for a number of weeks. One of the worst aspects for those affected is that it is a lifelong complaint and repeated flare-ups can happen at any time.

Although any part of the torso can be affected by psoriasis, the most common areas are the hands, head, trunk, elbows and knees. Flare-ups tend to be symmetric, meaning that both sides of the body will have flare-ups in identical areas at the same time.

Genetic factors play some role in psoriasis which means that those folks with parents or grandparents who have had psoriasis have a greater risk that they will develop it also. For reasons that are not yet fully understood, T-cells, which are needed by our bodies to produce infection fighting white blood cells, cause inflammation of the skin. These same cells also trigger some bodily process which results in the over production of skin cells. Because these skin cells are surplus to requirements, they simply pile up on top of each other and in turn produce the telltale raised patches on the skins surface. To nourish these extra skin cells, an increased blood supply is needed which results in the red look.

Injuries to the skin, sun and strep infections are common triggers of Psoriasis. Changes in the bodies hormone levels as well as stress and anxiety can also trigger off outbreaks. Folks with early stages of HIV appear to have higher instances of psoriasis as well. Smokers and alcohol drinkers are thought to be at greater risk of developing psoriasis although it is not contagious and cannot be passed on.

In the absence of any known cure for psoriasis, there are a number of effective treatments that can at least ease the symptoms. Begin by keeping the affected areas moist and by resisting the temptation to scratch.

The first line of treatments are topical and are applied directly to the affected area with the ultimate aim of trying to stem the production of excess skin cells. Coal tar, salicylic acid, corticosteroids, synthetic vitamin D, tazorac and anthrallin are common localized treatment choices as are specially formulated bathing products and moisturizers. For more serious cases where topical treatments maybe ineffectual, systemic medications may be prescribed by the doctor. Phototherapy, where sufferers are exposed to medically-supervised ultraviolet radiation is also effectual in treating psoriasis.

You Can Build Bigger Biceps

May 30, 2009 by DarleneN · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Weight Training 

Next time you go to workout, take a few seconds and watch the endless sea of people exercising their biceps. Are you one of these people? Do you work your biceps to death? I’m going to show you some tips on how you can build bigger biceps beyond anything you thought possible.

It’s impossible to get bigger biceps by only working out your biceps and disregarding the rest of your body. Instead, you need a good muscle building routine that will encourage muscle growth everywhere. Which ever routine you choose it should include basic exercises that workout the entire body, and and keep isolation exercises to a minimum. The squat and the deadlift are two examples of the best exercises that encourage muscle growth through your entire body. When you discover a muscle building routine that includes these basic exercises you will be laying the foundation to build bigger biceps.

Sometimes less is more. Quite a few people believe if you perform more sets than your arms will have to grow bigger. Unfortunately, this is not true. It’s important to keep your sets to a minimum, and focus on improving from your last workout. If you make the mistake of exercising your biceps too often you will not allow it recuperate properly, and you will actually be weakening the muscle instead of strengthening it.

If you want to build bigger biceps you need to incorporate these 2 basic exercises. Center your biceps routine around Barbell curls and dumbbell curls. I guarantee, if you talk to anyone who has big arms, they include these two exercises in their biceps workout. Steadily increase your reps and weight from week to week and you will begin to notice your strength increase and therefore your biceps improve.

Proper form is critical if you ever want to fully develop your biceps. You may think this is obvious, but it might surprise you just how many people ignore proper form when they exercise their biceps. One of the main reasons is ego. There are some people who simply use too much weight when their working out, either to boost their own self esteem or to impress the people around them. Stay focused and remember good form will deliver good results.

Follow these guidelines and you will be impressed with your results. For more information visit Muscle Building Program.

Know Eye Allergies And The Body Reactions

May 29, 2009 by DarleneN · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Allergies 

Generally allergies would occur mainly in the skin, or break out in some other form, like having indigestion or making you unpleasant. But one thing that is often overlooked is the human eye, since it too contracts allergic reactions quite easily. There are often symptoms that can let you know
that you’re having an allergic reaction to a substance, identifying whether it’s from an allergy or something else that’s causing your eye irritation.

Signs Of Trouble In Your Eyes

A lot of common symptoms can be associated with multiple diseases. Itchiness in the eyes, redness, swelling, a burning sensation, it can all possibly be part of some other disease. Another common sign is known as pink eye, which has the entire clear membrane of the white of your eyes going pink, and possibly getting itchy as well. You
You can find out the source of the irritation from a viral, bacterial, or allergic source.

If it only affects one eye, then the most likely cause is viral. A bacterial source of pink eye will also show because there is often a discharge coming out of the eye. However, if it’s not exclusively the eye that’s affected, then the source will most likely be allergic in nature. The doctor will most likely rule out all other possibilities once he or she finds out about the exact circumstances of the irritation.

Various Sources Of Eye Allergies

The eye, although protected from the outside by its lubrication, can still sometimes come into contact with possible allergens. The usual culprits in eye allergies include pollen, which occurs during the spring and summer months at its peak.
An unpleasant reaction to chemicals that enter your eye such as medication with side effects or eye drops can also cause an allergic reaction. Do you know it is also quite common
is having allergies associated with pets, so be sure to check these sources.

What you can do

Of course, being an allergic reaction, the best thing that you can do to avoid having an unpleasant reaction to your allergen is to avoid it. You’ll have to make sure that you keep your surroundings clean from most airborne allergens, like vacuuming regularly around your house to keep dust, pollen, and pet hair from getting airborne and into your eyes.

But still, you can’t avoid being exposed to other environments, so if you’re allergic to airborne particles, you’ll have to check with your doctor to see if you can benefit from using over the counter medicines that you can carry around.

These can possibly alleviate the symptoms you have through their active ingredients. You can also probably find products that have antihistamines in them, lessening the allergic reaction and calming down things a bit when symptoms manifest themselves as
swelling and redness.

A direct application to the symptom site will have a faster reaction time than if you were to take the medicine in oral form like capsules or tablets.

However, consult your doctor on the effects of prolonged use of your medicinal treatments, as your eyes might become dependent on your medication. You don’t want to have your blood vessels being dependent on eye drops to become small again when they swell up during an allergy attack.

Acne Free in 3 Days - Is this for Real?

May 29, 2009 by DarleneN · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Skin Care 

You don’t have to look far to see acne treatments that make all sorts of claims. but when you examine the products, the most popular acne treatments all work in the same way.

To put it simply, they do all have the following qualities:

  1. the best acne treatments exfoliate
  2. The best acne cures gently cleanse the skin
  3. The best acne cures moisturize the skin.


what makes them stand out?

take a closer look

the best acne treatments exfoliate!

Before we look into what exfoliation is, you need to understand where acne actually starts. When your pores get clogged up with dirt, oil and dead skin cells the process starts. Within a few days, you will see the first signs in the form of a skin blemish. This is where a lot of people go wron and just look at treating the skin topically and not looking at what has actually caused it in the first place.

You must first get used to a course of treatment that cleanses the skin and wipes away the dirt and grime. You must always use a product that is gentle to the skin. If a product is strong, then it will cause more spots.

It is essential that you always do as much research as you can to find out all the inforamtion that can help you. It is well worth checking out a site like acne free in 3 days to look at this further.

Good acne products act as a gently skin cleanser

Some of the products on the market are very stron and can cause harmful side effects. You may be able to treat your acne initially, but soon after, if you are using a harsh acne treatment, then you are likely to break out in acne spots again.

The best acne cures moisturize the skin

If your skin is oily prne skin, you will still have to moisturize your skin as if it was dry skin. so one of the main parts of your daily routine is to moisturize your skin. Make sure that after every daily cleansing treatment, you finish with a thorough moisturizing.

finishing your daily routine with moisturizer will always help to keep acne from spreading. always follow the good advice guides if you need to find out more. To learn a lot more about treating acne, it is essential that you take a close look at sites that are dedicated to helping you get results. The best site that I have seen is Acne Free in 3 Days.

Naturopathy - Helpful Safer and Natural Medication Method

May 28, 2009 by DarleneN · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Alternative 

As many people eager to find the safer and natural technique of healing, naturopathy can be one of the greatest alternatives. Naturopathy can be used to heal any kind of diseases and conditions. In this kind of alternative medication, the diseases and conditions will be cured by using the body’s ability.

Preferences of Practitioners

The people who practice naturopathy prefer to apply natural approach for healing even though the use of commercial or traditional drugs is still needed for certain cases. In naturopathy, the practitioners really stay away from to use the synthetic cures or conventional medicines.

As an option, these naturopathy practitioners use herbs and other foods to cope with the curing needs of the person. In general, most of alternative medicine practitioners really avoid invasive surgery and almost all types of synthetic medicines.

In actual fact, there are two basic of naturopathy two basic of naturopathy practiced by some practitioners. The first is rooted in ayurvedic medicines originating from India and some other Far Eastern remedies. Then the second is some cures and remedies from Europe.

Those who practice naturopathy do not assure that they can find a remedy for all illness and conditions. In cases like these, patients who do not respond well to naturopathy can be suggested to traditional medicine doctors.

A Number of Modes of Naturopathy

Some universal types of natural medicine include environmental medicine, diet, herbalism, homeopathy, and acupuncture. Beside that, there are also counceling, chiropractic, manual therapy, colonic irrigation, hydrotherapy, and relaxation. There may be other modes reachable and these depend mostly on the advice of the practitioner.

Many natural medicines practitioners or naturopaths have studied the subject of natural curing widely. If you’re interested in becoming a naturopath, there are actually lots of courses available to you.

By following the course, you’l graduate with a license or certification that you can suitably practice this kind of medication. The only problem with studying naturopathy is that not all countries know this kind of medicine and don’t regulate the teaching or the implementation of this.

In some of cases, there are some doctors who use the naturopathic way to some of their patients. This happens because there are some people who actually don’t need the assist of traditional medicine to cope with their illnesses. 

Everyone can practice naturopathy in the form of taking exercise, diet, relaxation, and etc. These forms of naturopathic practice have been practiced naturally by some of us. See, applying natural medication in our lives isn’t such a difficult task. 

Want to know further about naturopathy? Let’s explore more on the links here and you will get much more about it.

Helping You In Getting Rid Of Boils

May 27, 2009 by DarleneN · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Skin Care 

getting rid of boil

Boils are the bacterial contagion, and can be rather painful. Some individuals are more prone to getting boils, repeatedly, and it maybe a sign of diabetes. It is considered a skin disorder, and may be accompanied by mild fever. Most of the boils just disappear on their own, without any treatment. For some boils, the self-care treatment using the home curatives is sufficient, and these boils normally heal within 7-8 days.

Different Ways Of Getting Rid Of Boils

Making a small incision on the top of the boil is one way of getting rid of boil. This speeds up the recovery, and also reduces the pain and pressure. In case of deep infection, small gauze can be put over the boil that can absorb the further drain from it. 

It is important to understand that boils are contagious. The pus that drains out from the boil can contaminate the nearby skin, and may give rise to new boils.

The simplest way of getting rid of boil is to apply the warm compresses, with a cotton cloth dipped in hot water. This will help the boil burst soon, and pain will reduce dramatically. If you get a crop of boils, or if the boil does not come to a head in 5-6 days, see your doctor. Doctor may prescribe antibiotics for getting rid of boil and quickly getting control of the infection.

There are distinct home remedies for getting rid of boils. Grind the neem tree bark and apply this paste on the boil. Using the paste of garlic on the boil can help in quicker healing. Onion can be quite effective in getting rid of boils, and applying the onion paste on affected area kills germs, and helps the puss in coming out. Milk cream used on the boil softens it, and helps open their mouth, so that the puss can come out easily. Citrus juice of tomato can be quite assistive in treating the boils.

There are certain lifestyle changes that can help in preventing and getting rid of boils. It is important to keep the bowels clean, and try to avoid sweet, sour and fatty food. Melons help the bowels, and cleanse the blood. Take the balanced diet, and exercise regularly. People who are prone to boils should take more of orange juice, green leafy vegetable, grams, cereals etc.

Whether the boil is lanced by the physician or is drained at home, it is important to disinfectant the infectious area twice or thrice a day till the wound is totally healed. After washing, apply the antibiotic drug ointment, and cover the area with a bandage.

A Primer on Hyperhidrosis

May 27, 2009 by DarleneN · Leave a Comment
Filed under: General Health Issues 

All people sweat. It’s our body’s natural way of regulating our temperature. This is no small thing because even if we’re not doing any demanding physical activity, our body increases in temperature digesting what we take in.Without this natural cooling capability, our systems can overheat. Extreme sweating, however, should be taken seriously. This implies that that your body is releasing fluidsrandomly, and may even be to the extreme that it can result to dehydration. Excessive sweating is a condition known as hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis manifests itself in different ways. There are those who tend to experience the disproportionate sweating in general. Others have localized hyperhidrosis. They only sweat excessively in their hands, soles, armpits, or their face.

Hyperhidrosis is quite prevalent; studies show that about 5% of the population suffer from this condition. It makes no distinction between males and females. It typically has its onset at puberty and tends to be chronic and recurring. There’s helpful information here about how to stop excess sweating. While you can inherit this condition from your parents, it can skip generations.

What can cause hyperhidrosis? This is still subject to investigation Studies strongly suggest that there’s everything’s normal with the sweat glands of people with this condition.. The problem seems to be in the brain Excessive sweating can be triggered by emotional causes. For instance, this condition is linked to anxiety and PTSD. There are also physical conditions that contribute to hyperhidrosis. These include thyroid problems, weight problems, high blood glucose, tumors, menopause. Weaning away from from addictive substances can also result in excessive sweating. Stimulants that we take such as coffee and cigarettes are also known to trigger this condition. If you suspect that you have hyperhidrosis, visit a general practitioner-generalist or a dermatologist for a physical examination. They can give you an iodine starch test to know if you’ve got hyperhidrosis.

You can select from a variety of options for hyperhidrosis depending on your body chemistry and the gravity of the condition. Less serious types of hyperhidrosis can usually be addressed using over-the-counter antiperspirants, especially the clinical varieties. You may also try strong anti-perspirants, like Drysol, Hypercare, Certain Dri and XeracAC.

You may also consider systemic interventions if creams and roll-ons are not your thing. Anticholinergic medications such as Robinul can do the trick. Cosmetic cure botox can also help manage excessive sweating.There is also iontophoresis, a procedure which involves disabling sweat glands through electricity. Pills, botox and iontophoresis merely manages the symptoms temporarily, but does not eliminate the root cause of this condition.

If you are more into non-traditional medicines, try acupuncture and hypnosis. The latter if particularly effective for psychological hyperhidrosis. If all else fails, surgery is recommended. One surgical procedure for hyperhidrosis is endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). In this procedure, the nerve the sends the sweat signal is cut or burned. Sympathectomy is now an outpatient procedure

While not a fatal condition, excessive sweating can affect quality of life. It is quite an discomfitting condition, so much so that some people with hyperhidrosis avoid public situations. Wet clothing and wet palms can give the impression of bad grooming. Furthermore, hyperhidrosis can cause problems for manual work Sweaty palms and feet would have difficulty grasping objects and maintaining balance respectively. They may also worsen other skin conditions like acne. The good news is, prognosis for treatments mentioned above appears to be generally favorable. If you act quickly, hyperhidrosis is more than manageable.

Tips on falling asleep if you have insomnia

May 26, 2009 by DarleneN · Leave a Comment
Filed under: General Health Issues 

In this article, we will review some tips on helping a person fall asleep. How long does it take for a given individual to fall asleep?That might depend on a number of factors, including how tired the person is, what the person ate before they went to bed, and numerous other factors.If you have sleep problems, it may seem like hours before you fall asleep.

Insomnia Information: Insomnia means you are finding it very difficult to get to sleep.It also can mean that you are battling to stay asleep. Most people who battle insomnia say that they remember tossing and turning all night long, or remember being awake at night. Nights when I have insomnia I just can’t seem to turn my mind off, and often I can’t even close my eyes. Often it takes me about a half hour to fall asleep, but my son is asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow.

The TV helps me fall asleep — I have it on a timer to shut it off after a half hour.I also must have total darkness, and my bedroom needs to be ice cold – even in summer. Of course, this does not help save energy!

There are behavioral or natural treatments for insomnia. One well-known relaxation technique is to tense different muscle groups and then relax them. Another method involves repeating a set of visualizations to produce a state of relaxation. My favorite visualization? Just lying in the sun on a beach in the Bahamas.

It is also good to be able to manage the stress in your life as this can allow you to more easily relax at night or when it’s time to sleep. Another helpful method is to associate the bedroom with sleep and sleep alone, by limiting the time spent in the bedroom for non-sleep activities.So take your computer, office, and TV out of the bedroom. Reduce the use of stimulants such as caffeine, and avoid large meals just before bed; this can help reduce insomnia. One can also try soaking in a hot bath to relax or listening to some soft music before going to bed.

Melatonin is a sleep aid. It is especially helpful for people who suffer from insomnia caused by jet lag or shift work. Melatonin occurs naturally in the body when serotonin is exposed to a lowered quantity of light.

Other over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids such as Sominex or Nytol can also be tried by adults but, again, a person should discuss with their doctor before taking any of these sleep aids especially if you suffer from Parkinson’s disease, or are being treated for depression or other mental health problems. But it is also buying into the mindset of turning to a pill to solve a problem, which can produce problems in other areas of a person’s life. More insomnia info at bestinsomnia blog and how to stay asleep during the night.

It is advised that if you have trouble falling asleep and have tried all the natural tips in this article, then perhaps you should see a sleep therapist. So many people have sleep problems; there is now a subspecialty in medicine for sleep problems. Since insomnia can be a symptom of other medical problems, it is best to get a consultation with your doctor and discuss your sleeping problems with him.

Even with all the tips on falling asleep, it is still different with each person on how to fall asleep.

An Exhaustive Point to the Preparation of Aromatherapy

May 26, 2009 by DarleneN · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Alternative 

The application of aromatherapy becomes usually known for positive purpose in latest time. It is a kind of herbal medication. Furthermore, it typically involves the application of essential oils from flowers, trees, and plants. Pure essential oils which have been steam distilled from their originating plants is generally consisted in the performance of aromatherapy. Furthermore, it is believed can help to decrease a wide several of ailments and illnesses.

In practicing aromatherapy, there are many of different essential oils which may be used. Each of the oils has its own special curing properties which has different benefits in aromatherapy. Some of these oils work by calming the patient while others oils are meant to revitalizing and energizing.

Aches, pains, injuries and even severe diseases are effective to be treated using aromatherapy. It’s consider doesn’t have the uncomfortable and frustrating side effects and symptoms which are so often connected with more conventional methods of healing.

What Aromatherapy Can Do for You

Aromatherapy can be incredibly helpful. It is a good choice for those people who are searching a more natural healing because it’s much safer to use rather than more conventional healing methods.

Aromatherapy has many advantages in therapeutic effect. It is believed can cure insect bites, acne, chapped skin and lips, athlete’s foot, bronchitis, headaches, and sore throats. Furthermore, this kind of herbal medication is now being used to treat Alzheimer’s Disease patients.

Getting Started

There are several steps you should take if you are interested in incorporating aromatherapy into your own life. The first is to become more educated about aromatherapy in common. Essential oils and aromatic plants were actually used as far back as biblical times as the history of this preparation goes back thousands of years.

The next step is to comprehend about the many ways in which this application can be implemented, specifically aromatherapy massage. It applies essential oils to relax and calm the patient as its incredibly unique type of massage. Despite of this, there are messages which are transmitted to your limbic system and as a result this affects your heart rate, stress intensity, and blood pressure when you breathe in these oils.

People who apply aromatherapy massage state that they feel great deal more relaxed and at relieve. Frequently, besides making them feel better, aromatherapy also assists the actual massage portion of the medication to be more efficient. Treating sports injuries which can often be quite serious not only physically but mentally will be best when applying aromatherapy.

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