Monday, October 16, 2006

Brain damaging habits

1. NO BREAKFAST.

People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causingbrain degeneration.

2. OVEREATING

It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. SMOKING

It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. HIGH SUGAR CONSUMPTION

Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. AIR POLLUTION

The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted airdecreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6. SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep willaccelerate the death of brain cells.

7. HEAD COVERED WHILE SLEEPING

Sleeping with the head covered, increases the concentration of carbondioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to braindamaging effects.

8. WORKING YOUR BRAIN DURING ILLNESS

Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease ineffectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. LACKING OF STIMULATION THOUGHTS

Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. TALKING RARELY

Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Type of acne and treatment

1. Whiteheads

Whiteheads happen when pore completely blocked, trapping sebum(oil), bacteria and dead cells that caused a white bump on the surface. We can see it clearly especialy the time it begging to pop out.

It can be treated by apply retin A, salicylic acid, cleocin-t,sulfur or normal benzoyl peroxide caused it kind of mild acne problem. Else, you can get it clear by oral antibiotics where you can get it from your dermatalogist.


2. Blackheads

Blackheads happen when a pore is only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface. The black color is not caused by dirt. Rather, it is a reaction of the skin's own pigment, melanin, reacting with the oxygen in the air. It will take a long time to clear it.

Same as the whiteheads by using retin A, salicylic acid, cleocin-t, sulfur and benzoyl peroxide. Otherwise take oral antibiotics.


3. Papules

Papules are inflamed, red, tender bumps with no head.

Same as white and blackheads.

4. Pustules

A pustule is similar to a whitehead, but is inflamed, and appears as a red circle with a white or yellow center. Pustules are your garden variety zits.

Same as white and blackheads.

5. Nodules

As opposed to the lesions mentioned above, nodular acne consists of acne spots which are much larger, can be quite painful and can sometimes last for months. Nodules are large, hard bumps under the skin's surface. Scarring is common. This is so called severe acne problem.

For severe acne, the dermatalogist will high recommend to take isotretinoin or accutane which derived from Vitamin A. But before you take this medicine your derm will do some blood and pregnancy test to ensure that you are not pregnant and carry any high blood pressure problem. You can't get pregnant during treatment and need to do regular blood test in monthly basis or before subscribe the medicine.


6. Cysts

An acne cyst can appear similar to a nodule, but is pus-filled, and has been described as having a diameter of 5mm or more across. They can be painful. This is also under severe acne problem.

Same as nodular.

In other post I will go details to let you know the risk, pro and con for each treatments.



Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Steps to perfectly clean skin


Cleansing is arguably the most important part of your basic skincare routine. Proper cleansing gets rid of old surface skin cells, dirt and dust, grime, make-up and bacteria, and keeps skin pores free of clogs and able to breathe freely.

1. Cleanse twice a day, no more. Unless you have exposed your skin to excessive dust, grime or pollution, twice-a-day cleansing is more than adequate for any skin type. Cleansing too often strips your skin of precious natural oils. Not cleansing regularly, particularly before you retire for the night, may lead to build-up and eruptions.

2. Choose a cleanser that is appropriate for your skin type. Do not use soap on facial skin: it can be too harsh and drying and damage skin over time. A too-rich cleanser can clog pores, while a too-dry cleanser can irritate the skin. A cleanser for dry skin should contain nourishing herbs and oils. One for oily skin should include herbs that balance oil production and support clarity. Sensitive skin benefits from an ultra-gentle, fragrance-free, non-irritating cleanser.

3. Always cleanse with tepid water. Hot water dries and damages skin over time, and cold water won’t dissolve and take away embedded dirt and grime as well as lukewarm water.

4. If you use sponges or washcloths, make sure they are clean and soft.

5. Rinse with lots of tepid water. Don’t forget to rinse off cleanser from the neck and hairline. Cleanser residue can clog pores and attract dirt.

6. Gently blot off excess water with a soft towel. Do not scrub dry or drag towel along skin.

7. Follow immediately with a water-based toner and a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type to seal in surface moisture and offer nourishment when skin is receptive.

Pores for thought

The best way to manage your pores effectively is a regular, thorough cleansing routine to minimize the build-up of sebum and surface dirt.

Pores are essentially openings in the skin, and there are two types: sweat glands and follicles, which secrete oil. Pores become clogged when oil, grime, makeup or pollutants accumulate as hardened plugs and these plugs form blackheads.

Clogged pores occur most often around the nose, which has more oil glands per square inch than any other area on your face or body. When the duct is blocked, the waxy 'sebum' – that’s the oil – trapped inside becomes infected and produces whiteheads, also called pimples.
Conventional methods of clearing blackheads and whiteheads include squeezing, but this is painful, it often leaves permanent scars, and it may lead to infection when the skin is broken. That means you’re more likely to get acne.

Suction with a vacuum tube is often used in beauty salons, but that can cause broken capillaries and it isn't very effective. The treatment is superficial and may not remove deep-seated plugs completely.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Cold Sore


Cold sores are caused by a type of herpes virus (HSV-1, which most often is not sexually transmitted) so they're contagious from person to person. Once you get this virus it stays in your body, meaning you'll probably get cold sores every now and then throughout your life.

Here are ways you can help prevent cold sores from making an appearance (or reappearance if you've had them in the past).

--> Avoid getting cold sores in the first place by not sharing stuff like lip balm, toothbrushes, or drinks with other people who might have cold sores. The virus that causes cold sores is transmitted through the nose (in mucus) and the mouth (in saliva).

--> People who have the virus know that cold sores can flare up from things like too much sun, stress, or being sick. Just one more reason to lather on that suntan lotion, eat well, exercise, and get plenty of sleep!


If you do have a cold sore, here are some tips for keeping yourself comfortable:
--> Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen if the cold sores are painful.

--> Suck on ice pops or cubes to ease pain and keep cold sores cool.

--> Stay away from acidic foods (like oranges, tomatoes, and lemonade) and salty, spicy foods, which can cause irritation.

--> Don't pick at cold sores while you're waiting for them to go away. They may bleed or become infected with bacteria.


Usually, cold sores go away on their own after a week or 2. But if you get them frequently or they're a problem, talk to your doctor or dermatologist. He or she may be able to prescribe a medication to alleviate symptoms and shorten the amount of time cold sores last.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Sun and Skin


When we're outdoors, we all know we need to protect our skin from the sun's harmful rays. Of course, it's impossible to avoid the sun - who wants to hide indoors all summer when it feels so great to get outside and be active? And the sun's not all bad, anyway:

Sunlight helps our bodies create vitamin D. So follow these tips when you're outdoors to help manage sun exposure:

--> Wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, even if it's cloudy or you don't plan on spending a lot of time outdoors. If you go swimming or plan to stay outside, reapply sunscreen (even if the bottle says the sunscreen is waterproof) every 2 to 3 hours.

--> Choose a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Look for the words "broad spectrum protection" or UVA protection in addition to the SPF of 15 or greater. Select a sunscreen that says "nonacnegenic" or "noncomedogenic" on the label to help keep pores clear.
--> The sun's rays are strongest between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, so make sure you reapply sunscreen frequently and take breaks indoors if you can. If your shadow is longer than you are tall, then it's a safer time to be in the sun (you should still wear sunscreen, though).

--> Apply more sunscreen (with higher SPF) when you're around reflective surfaces like water, snow, or ice.

--> We all know that the sun can damage skin, but did you know it can contribute to eye problems, too? Protect your face and eyes with a hat and sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection.

--> Some medications, such as prescription acne medications or birth control pills, can increase your sensitivity to the sun, so if you're taking medication, increase your sun protection.

--> If you want the glow of a tan, try faking it with self-tanners or salon tanning treatments. Avoid tanning beds, though, because although manufacturers claim that tanning beds are free of UVB rays, they still use harmful UVA rays.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

25 Reasons Why You Should Start Drinking Green Tea Now



1. Green Tea and Cancer

Green tea helps reduce the risk of cancer. The antioxidant in green tea is 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times better than vitamin E. This helps your body at protecting cells from damage believed to be linked to cancer.

2. Green Tea and Heart Disease

Green tea helps prevent heart disease and stroke by lowering the level of cholesterol. Even after the heart attack, it prevents cell deaths and speeds up the recovery of heart cells.

3. Green Tea and Anti-Aging

Green tea contains antioxidant known as polyphenols which fight against free radicals. What this means it helps you fight against aging and promotes longevity.

4. Green Tea and Weight Loss

Green tea helps with your body weight loss. Green tea burns fat and boosts your metabolism rate naturally. It can help you burn up to 70 calories in just one day. That translates to 7 pounds in one year.

5. Green Tea and Skin

Antioxidant in green tea protects the skin from the harmful effects of free radicals, which cause wrinkling and skin aging. Green tea also helps fight against skin cancer.

6. Green Tea and Arthritis

Green tea can help prevent and reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Green tea has benefit for your health as it protects the cartilage by blocking the enzyme that destroys cartilage.

7. Green Tea and Bones

The very key to this is high fluoride content found in green tea. It helps keep your bones strong. If you drink green tea every day, this will help you preserve your bone density.

8. Green Tea and Cholesterol

Green tea can help lower cholesterol level. It also improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, by reducing bad cholesterol level.

9. Green Tea and Obesity

Green tea prevents obesity by stopping the movement of glucose in fat cells. If you are on a healthy diet, exercise regularly and drink green tea, it is unlikely you'll be obese.

10. Green Tea and Diabetes

Green tea improves lipid and glucose metabolisms, prevents sharp increases in blood sugar level, and balances your metabolism rate.

11. Green Tea and Alzheimer's

Green tea helps boost your memory. And although there's no cure for Alzheimer's, it helps slow the process of reduced acetylcholine in the brain, which leads to Alzheimer's.

12. Green Tea and Parkinson's

Antioxidants in green tea helps prevent against cell damage in the brain, which could cause Parkinson's. People drinking green tea also are less likely to progress with Parkinson's.

13. Green Tea and Liver Disease

Green tea helps prevent transplant failure in people with liver failure. Researches showed that green tea destroys harmful free radicals in fatty livers.

14. Green Tea and High Blood Pressure

Green tea helps prevent high blood pressure. Drinking green tea helps keep your blood pressure down by repressing angiotensin, which leads to high blood pressure.

15. Green Tea and Food Poisoning

Catechin found in green tea can kill bacteria which cause food poisoning and kill the toxins produced by those bacteria.

16. Green Tea and Blood Sugar

Blood sugar tends to increase with age, but polyphenols and polysaccharides in green tea help lower your blood sugar level.

17. Green Tea and Immunity

Polyphenols and flavenoids found in green tea help boost your immune system, making your health stronger in fighting against infections.

18. Green Tea and Cold and Flu

Green tea prevents you from getting a cold or flu. Vitamin C in green tea helps you treat the flu and the common cold.

19. Green Tea and Asthma

Theophylline in green tea relaxes the muscles which support the bronchial tubes, reducing the severity of asthma.

20. Green Tea and Ear Infection

Green tea helps with ear infection problem. For natural ear cleaning, soak a cutton ball in green tea and clean the infected ear.

21. Green Tea and Herpes

Green tea increases the effectiveness of topical interferon treatment of herpes. First green tea compress is applied, and then let the skin dry before the interferon treatment.

22. Green Tea and Tooth Decay

Green tea destroys bacteria and viruses that cause many dental diseases. It also slows the growth of bacteria which leads to bad breath.

23. Green Tea and Stress

L-theanine, which is a kind of amino acids in green tea, can help relieve stress and anxiety.


24. Green Tea and Allergies

EGCG found in green tea relieves allergies. So, if you have allergies, you should really consider drinking green tea.

25. Green Tea and HIV

Scientists in Japan have found that EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) in green tea can stop HIV from binding to healthy immune cells. What this means is that green tea can help stop the HIV virus from spreading.

Starting from today, try to get a cup of green tea for total wellness.