Natural Treatment for Acne Problems

Natural Treatment for Acne Problems

Pimples on the face, the neck or the back are specific to Acne. As Acne generally appears during puberty when the physic aspect counts a lot, it can be very disturbing to teenagers and can even offer some risks to those affected by it.

The pimples are forming mostly due to a hormonal unbalance that leads to an excessive sebum secretion and the clogging up of the skin pores. The sebum that accumulates inside the pore can get mixed with the bacteria that are found on the skin and so a big red, painful pustule appears on the skin. Sometimes these pustules can transform into comedons or cysts filled with liquid. These are the most dangerous forms of Acne and must be treated very carefully as they can leave scars on the skin and permanent psychological damage to a teenager.

If Acne is not found in a severe form it can be treated with the help of natural products. Aromatherapy can be successfully used for resolving pimples. Some of the essential oils like the juniper tree one (be careful not to use it if you are pregnant) and the Lebanese cedar oil (avoid it during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy) help the excessive sebum secretion normalize. Lavender oil and geranium oil have healing and antiseptic properties and the petit-grain and the daisy essential oils are good for reducing inflammation.

This is how you can use the essential oils: add two drops of juniper tree oil and Lebanese cedar oil in a water cup filled only by half with water. With a cotton wool apply on the Acne affected skin areas the solution every two hours. You can combine juniper tree oil with one spoon of jojoba oil and apply the composition on pimples.

If you have Acne on your body you can add a few drops of these essential oils to your non-perfumed body lotion and use the composition before going to bed. In the morning you will see that the inflammations made by pimples on your skin would have reduced.

Besides Aromatherapy you can try fitotherapy. Fitotherapy is about using herbs and plants for healing your body. Here is a special recipe for healing Acne skin. Mix up equal quantities of dandelion roots, bur, nettle, borage and Echinacea and prepare an infusion from all these herbs. Drink up one or two cups a day from this infusion.

Boil 2 or 3 teaspoons of dried sweet basil in a cup of water. Let this infusion get cold and then with cotton wool apply on the skin the solution but only after you have cleaned the skin properly. You must not clean the skin with alcohol lotions; you should use a gentle oil-free cleanser.

If you like using natural products then you can clean you face once a day by bending over steamy water for 5 to 10 minutes. Then dry your face skin and wipe it with rose water or marigold water.

These natural remedies are suitable only for those who do not have severe Acne. For those who natural solutions are not helpful they should go to a dermatologist and request an anti-Acne cream.

How Vitamin D May Help In The Battle Against Cancer

How Vitamin D May Help In The Battle Against Cancer

Vitamin D's importance in maintaining strong, healthy bones through its interaction with the essential mineral, calcium, is well known. But the vitamin is also vital for the health of the nervous and immune systems, in regulating insulin levels and blood pressure, and even as a possible protector against certain common cancers.

The best known and most serious disease associated with vitamin D deficiency is rickets, which arises when the deficiency causes blood calcium levels to fall too low, and the body to respond by stripping the bones of calcium leading to loss of bone density and malformation.

Interestingly, studies have shown that the geographical pattern of the incidence of rickets is very similar to those for both breast and colon cancer, suggesting a possible (though not fully understood) link between vitamin D deficiency and these diseases. One 5 year study which grouped 120,000 people by levels of vitamin D intake reported that men in the highest intake group had a 29% lower incidence of colon cancer than those in the lowest intake group and similar results have been observed in breast cancer research. Relatively high blood levels of active form vitamin D have also been associated with a lower risk of pre-cancerous growths (polyps) in the colon whereas lower levels of vitamin in the blood have been associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer.

Vitamin D is known to be essential for a healthy immune system and has been shown to be particularly important in helping prevent auto-immune diseases - those in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys its own cells, wrongly having identified them as invaders. Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis are examples of serious diseases which fall into this category and a number of research studies suggest that a generous intake of vitamin D may be a significant mitigating factor.

Blood levels of vitamin D have also been shown to be inversely correlated with blood pressure, and some research suggests that high dose supplements of vitamin D of (1,600 IU per day) may help this, although orthodox medicine, as ever, is cautious about definitively acknowledging any direct causal link.

The traditional view was that adequate supplies of vitamin D can be synthesised in the skin upon its exposure to sunlight. But the problem is that a large proportion of the population in the affluent world lives in latitudes which provide very limited sunlight for six months of the year. People commonly work indoors and tend to use high factor sunblocks on the rare occasions on which they might expose significant areas of skin to the sun.

It is a cruel irony that this concern about skin cancer may lead to the ill-health associated with vitamin D deficiency and may even increase the risk of other cancers. But in these circumstances the usual assumptions about vitamin D production in the body appear questionable at best, if not downright complacent. And the situation is even worse for the elderly, who may not only enjoy even less exposure to the sun than the young, but are less able to make use of that which they do obtain.

Moreover, there are relatively few good natural food sources of vitamin D, and the best source, oily fish such as sardines, mackerel and salmon is one which many people, and perhaps children in particular, often find unpalatable. The situation has improved somewhat with the fortification of milk, orange juice, bread and some cereal products, but it may still be difficult for individuals to ensure they obtain a sufficient intake of the vitamin, particularly because the amounts added to different foods and drinks are very variable.

Since the amount of vitamin D required from food will vary greatly depending on the amount of exposure to sunlight enjoyed by the individual, it has not been deemed possible to determine a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin D. But the Food and Nutrition Board has suggested 200 IU (5mcg) for infants, children, and adults up to 50, rising to 400 IU for the 50-70s, and 600 IU for the over 70s, as an "Adequate Intake" of the vitamin from food on the assumption that none is being obtained from sunlight.

Orthodox opinion, however, seems to regard these suggestions as too conservative. And even for those individuals fortunate enough to enjoy regular exposure to good quality sunlight, the intake of 400 IU (10 mcg) of vitamin D as part of a multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplement is recommended. For the over 65s, those with less than optimal liver or digestive health, those living in less advantageous climates and those who spend the majority of their time in indoor occupations a supplementary dose of a further 400 IU, for a total of 800 IU is strongly advised.

For maximum effect, however, vitamin D supplementation should be always be combined with adequate dietary calcium - supplemented if necessary to achieve an intake of 1,000 - 1,200 mg per day of this essential mineral.

Concerns and Expectations During Pregnancy

Concerns and Expectations During Pregnancy

A woman's life would not be complete if she would not have the experience of conceiving a child. Although there are some women who, under certain health circumstances, cannot bear one, there are now new ways of becoming pregnant. Artificial insemination, for example, is an artificial process of giving fertilization which is done by placing the sperm of the man into the female's cervix or uterus rather than by natural copulation. Other women prefer adoption, but this kind of process usually takes time and money.

Being pregnant at the right time could be beneficial for the couple in many ways. Pregnancy often makes them even closer together, and this would be the turning point where they would feel and begin their own family. It also connects the couple in a very special way, and through getting pregnant they may develop more values regarding life and marriage.

Pregnancy is especially hard on the part of the woman. This is the time where they have to be extra health conscious by eating the right food, having proper exercise, ample rest, and sometimes getting what they want. Think of eating strawberry shortcake at 3 a.m.? These requests can be a bit unreasonable, but to make the pregnant woman feel better, her husband would have to give way...and make a way.

During the course of pregnancy, the woman might feel various complications that are considered normal when pregnant. Cramps during pregnancy can be mild to severe, depending on the mother's health status. During the first trimester, women can experience cramps during implantation, which usually happens from eight to ten days after the ovulation period. Another cause for cramps would be the stretching of the uterus. The woman's body will prepare for the baby by expanding and stretching the uterus, therefore causing mild cramps. Unfortunately, cramps can be accompanied by bleeding or spotting when there is a possibility of a miscarriage. Other causes of cramping during the first trimester would be due to gas pains and constipation, often leading to feelings of discomfort. In the course of the second and third trimester of pregnancy, cramps can also occur during pre-term labor and during early labor. These cramps are often accompanied by back pain.

Another common complication among pregnant women would be to experience nausea and vomiting. It occurs when a combination of physical changes and hormone levels take place during early pregnancy. This condition usually begins around the sixth week of pregnancy, and can happen at any time of the day. Although most women experience nausea and vomiting until the twelfth week of pregnancy, queasiness can also come and go during the nine month period. In most pregnant women, such feelings of nausea and vomiting affect their health, especially when it comes to eating. It is important not to skip meals even if one feels sick and queasy, so that the right amount of nutrients are given to the unborn child.

In controlling nausea and vomiting, keeping track of the woman's diet is crucial. When waking up, try to eat a few crackers and rest for fifteen minutes before getting out of bed. Eating small meals can help in avoiding an empty stomach, and cold meals are recommended, since food odor can sometimes be annoying for pregnant women. Eating pickles, pretzels, bread, cake, watermelon, nuts, or mushroom soup can help in relieving the feelings of nausea. Getting plenty of rest, taking time off from work, fresh air, and even acupuncture can also relieve a pregnant woman from nausea and vomiting. By having regular check ups with the OB Gynecologist, pregnancy can be fairly easy for both husband and wife.

Back Pain after Shoulder Surgery:

Back Pain after Shoulder Surgery: A Problem After A Problem

There are a lot of people that experience back pain after shoulder surgery and it can be so severe that it causes them to be unable to sleep for whole of the night. Of course, this may be an out-of-the-way case nevertheless it has been found to have an effect on a number of persons. The reason may lie in muscular problems though it may also occur after undergoing shoulder surgery. It can be so brutal that even taking medications as well as using heating pads may prove useless in treating the situation.

After a shoulder surgery you might expect that your whole trouble has come to an end but this is not true always. Sometimes you might experience back pain after shoulder surgery and in some cases there may be reappearance of your past back pain, which may no doubt be less than prior to having had the surgery, but is present nevertheless.

Steps You Need To Take In curing Back Pain after Shoulder Surgery:

After you had your shoulder surgery if you are still experiencing pain then you might be thinking that What should you do? The first thing you ought to do is talk to your doctor who will guide you correctly and may be able to prescribe some form of medication to help in reducing the pain you're experiencing. There are also a few things you can do of your own to help relieving back pain. However, before you try anything, make sure you discuss the procedure with your doctor to make sure you aren't doing anything worse and thus making more damage than good. When you are recovering from surgery, you want to make sure you are allowing yourself to heal properly and you don't want to do anything that will exacerbate the problem.

Effective And Simple Remedies to Reduce Back Pain After Shoulder Surgery:

Buy an analgesic and inflammatory solution or gel which you can easily get from your local grocery store. This kind of lotion is often found in spas (specifically for massages) and you can massage it into your back muscles. This will definitely help you in providing immediate relief from back pain

Another effective home remedy is placing a heating pad on your back for a few minutes at a time. The heating pad should not be on for too long, because too much heat can be dangerous. Of course, another soothing option is to get a massage to get instant relief.

Use ice packs on the your back for about 10 minutes and then leave the area for extra thirty minutes devoid of the ice packs, and then repeat the whole sequence once more. Using ice helps in cooling and reducing inflammation that get drained by your back muscles while they spasm. To avoid the possibility of getting mild frostbite, do not use ice straightforwardly on the skin.

These are just a few ways to solve your trouble. Your doctor may have more, so you should ask him or her what you should do when the pain becomes intolerable.

Hiding the Truth About Losing the War on Cancer

Hiding the Truth About Losing the War on Cancer
by Tony Isaacs

For well over half a century we have been promised by mainstream medicine that a cure or major breakthrough for cancer was just around the corner. Every year we see promising new drugs and therapies announced. Yet every year we also see more people contract cancer and more people die of cancer.

Instead of focusing on natural and safe methods of prevention and treatment, we continue to treat by using surgery, chemotherapy and radiation to cut out, poison out and burn out the symptoms of cancer while leaving the underlying causes untreated - and we continue to largely ignore the role that proper diet, nutrition and lifestyle plays in preventing and helping cure cancer.

Although surgery does have some success against a limited number of cancers, chemo and radiation achieve at best a 3% increase in length of survival and true cures from cancer (meaning that the patient becomes completely cancer free and the cancer never returns). The fact is that for those who are diagnosed with cancer, after the third year the survival rate for those who had no treatment at all increases steadily and for those who had mainstream treatment it decreases steadily.

Sources: Dr. Ralph Moss and Webster Kehr, the "Cancer Tutor"

Despite the dismal record, those in the $300 Billion a year cancer industry appear determined to maintain a stranglehold on treatment. One way they do so is to suppress natural alternatives. Another is to misreport their success rates by altering statistics to make their success appear to be much better than it actually is.

Here are six ways that mainstream medicine misreports their statistics:

1. By re-defining "cure" as "alive five years after diagnosis: instead of using the word's real meaning, which is "cancer-free". Thus a patient could still have cancer the entire five years and die one day after the 5th anniversary date of diagnosis and still be recorded as a cure.

2. By simply omitting certain groups of people, such as African Americans, or by omitting certain types of cancer, such as all lung cancers patients, from their statistical calculations.

3. By including types of cancer that are not life-threatening and are easily curable, such as skin cancers and DCIS.

The statistics most commonly reported include many such easily curable cancers, such as localized cancers of the cervix, non-spreading cancers and melanomas, as well as "cancers" that many feel are not true cancers at all, merely pre-cances. For example, DCIS is a pre-cancerous condition that is 99% curable and makes up 30% of all breast cancers. Deduct that 30% from the breast cancer cure rates and survival statistics and and the figures are much less impressive.

4. By allowing earlier detection to erroneously imply longer survival.

5. By deleting patients from cancer treatment studies who die too soon, even if that is on the 89th day of a 90 day chemotherapy protocol.

6. By using a questionable adjustment called "relative survival rate" where they get to deduct a certain number of cancer victims who statistics say would have died during the five years of other causes such as heart attacks, car wrecks, etc.

Source: Tanya Harter Pierce "Outsmart Your Cancer"

These outrageous "fudges", as Ms. Harter too kindly calls them, have all been incorporated into cancer cure statistics to hide the fact that the war on cancer has been hopelessly lost and wrongly waged. In the opinion of many who are far more knowledgeable and qualified than I am, the so-called War on Cancer is little more than a hoax.

"Everyone should know that most cancer research is largely a fraud and that the major cancer research organisations are derelict in their duties to the people who support them." - Linus Pauling PhD (Two-time Nobel Prize winner).

"The National Anti-Cancer Program is a bunch of sh*t." - James Watson, Nobel Laureate for Medicine in 1962 , joint discoverer of the double helix of DNA, and for two years a member of the US Joint Advisory Committee on Cancer

When it comes to mainstream successes, of the three major mainstream treatment methods, surgery is the only one with respectable success rates and even then it is only successful the vast majority of the time in those who have operable types of cancer that has not yet metastisized at the time of diagnosis - and most cancers are not detected prior to metastisizing.

When it comes to Chemo, in the words of Dr. Ralph Moss:

"Chemo has some success in a few kinds of cancer, but in the conventional cancers which chemotherapy sometimes "works" such as small-cell lung cancers, the actual survival benefit is reckoned in weeks or months, not in years. And during this time, the patient is likely to experience major, even life threatening, side effects from the treatment, so the overall advantage to the patient is moot."

Radiation results are even more dismal. In some studies, patients who opted for radiation have had lower survival rates than those who did not have radiation.

Sources: Tanya Harter Pierce, Dr. Rath Foundation

Another common deception of mainstream medicine is to quote "response rates", which is defined as having a 50% tumor shrinkage for a period of twelve months. It has nothing to do with cure rates or long term survival, but it is the statistic that is often quoted to patient by their oncologists.

Yet another deception is the use of the term "remission" to imply cure, when it is nothing of the sort. As "the Cancer Tutor" Webster Kehr writes in "The War Between Orthodox Medicine and Alternative Medicine"

First of all, the National Cancer Institute defines "remission" as:

"A decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer. In partial remission, some, but not all, signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared. In complete remission, all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared, although cancer still may be in the body." NCI - http://www.nci.nih.gov/dictionary/db_alpha.aspx?expand=R What exactly does this definition mean relative to the three "treatment decision criteria" . . . You, the citizen, are supposed to assume that "remission" means a person is cured of their cancer. But that is not what the definition states. It states there is an absence of "signs and symptoms." So is there a correlation between the absence of "signs and symptoms" and the three treatment decision criteria above?

Generally, the determination of remission is based on a reduction in the size of the tumor or in the change of some tumor marker. These things may indicate the number of cancer cells in the body, but they are very, very crude estimates of the number of cancer cells in the body. These numbers also do not measure the pain and suffering of the patient (i.e. the quality of life) or the status of the immunity system, which is very, very important if all of the cancer cells have not been killed.

And then there is what is likely the greatest mainstream deception of all: the millions of people who are diagnosed with cancer, but actually die from the damages done by chemotherapy and radiation, most frequently major organ failure. All of those deaths are recorded as due to cancer. Though that does not bolster the mainstream cancer treatment success rates, it helps hide the dangers and deaths due to mainstream treatments.

It should be plain that the war against cancer is not being won - and to continue to claim otherwise after over half a century begs the question of why such obviously false and misleading claims and statistics. In this respect, one is reminded of the Vietnam War, where we were told that we won every battle and that we killed many more of the enemy in every skirmish. And yet the war was a failure and in the end we admitted it, stopped deceiving the public, and moved on to a different approach to stop the needless loss of lives. Today it appears that the war with Iraq will ultimately end the same way.

The war against cancer has lasted much longer and we have lost millions and millions of lives. After over half a century of failure, one has to ask how long will it take to admit it, stop deceiving the public, and move on to a different approach to stop the needless loss of lives?

Smoking affects children's genes

Smoking affects children's genes

Charles Darwin’s theories of evolution may have to be modified as a result of new research showing that smoking causes genetic changes that can be passed on to children, tending to make them obese. The study is thought to be the first to show clearly that people’s lifestyle and environment can alter genes in ways that can be inherited by subsequent generations. Standard evolutionary theory derived from Darwin maintains that such changes take place by chance over numerous generations.
Marcus Pembrey, professor of paediatric genetics at the Institute of Child Health at University College London, who carried out the research, said the findings indicated a new mechanism of inheritance. “It seems that the way we live our lives can affect future generations,” he said. “It is not just our own genes that we affect by choices like smoking or diet. It is those of our descendants, too.” In his research Pembrey used a database assembled as part of Bristol University’s ‘Children of the 90s’ project, which has collected data on more than 10,000 youngsters born during 1991-92.

Of those, about 5,000 had fathers who smoked. Pembrey identified 166 of them who said they had started smoking before the age of 11. He then studied the growth of these men’s offspring. Pembrey said: “The sons of the early smokers were significantly bigger than other children. The daughters were unaffected.” Pembrey believes the men’s exposure to smoke so early in life did not damage their DNA directly. Instead it affected the mechanisms controlling which genes are active and which are inert. It has long been known that lifestyle and environment can have their own additional impact on the way genes are switched on and off.
What has never been accepted - and what Pembrey is now proposing - is that such changes can be inherited. Such findings cannot be explained by modern theories of evolution based on Darwin’s theories. Darwin suggested that evolution occurs through random mutations; those which make an organism better equipped for life survive while others vanish. Pembrey told a BBC Horizon programme: “If early smoking can affect children conceived so many years later, then this is powerful evidence for the importance of high-qualit health, lifestyle and nutrition throughout childhood.”

Sleep Apnea And Children - A Troubling Problem

Sleep Apnea And Children - A Troubling Problem
by John Spencer

Believe it or not, sleep apnea and children are related. In fact, sleep apnea and everyone are related! The sleeping disorder is one of the few afflictions that know no age, race or gender. Equally affecting all, sleep apnea can kill you if left untreated. Sound extreme? I thought so, too, until I did a little research. It turns out, sleep apnea increases pulmonary pressures on the right side of the heart. This has the potential to cause a severe form of congestive heart failure. Who knew that sleeping could cause a heart attack? Certainly not me, until last week.

Sleep apnea and children were particularly saddening to learn about. To think that small children are having trouble breathing at night breaks my heart. Literally, those who have sleep apnea go without breathing for ten seconds or more in between snores. Usually, they end up audibly gasping for breath. After just one night of sleeping this way, the kids experience a blood oxygen desaturation of at least three or four percent. While this may not sound like much, it really makes a difference in one's overall health. When you take a look at some of the symptoms and side effects of sleep apnea, they're staggering.

Looking at all of the different ways that the sleeping disorder can affect the young, it's easy to see that sleep apnea and children really don't mix. After awhile, people who have it can begin to suffer from depression, anxiety attacks, paralyzing headaches and forgetfulness. Additionally, many young children who have sleep apnea are also diagnosed with failure to thrive. This is a direct result of food being tasteless and even uncomfortable to eat. Also, their physical stature can be effected. In many cases, children with sleep apnea grow up to have short and heavy necks.

Tips To Manage Adhd In Adults

Tips To Manage Adhd In Adults
by Ashton Renderly

ADHD in adults is usually better managed with acceptance, understanding and appropriate education as to what to do and what not to do when treating ADHD. The following tips will hopefully help in making ADHD less of a problem but more of a challenge that - with support and awareness - could easily be overcome.

First things first, learn adhd

The best weapon against adhd is education. A better informed adhd person is a person that well understands what adhd is and what are the possible treatments available for adhd.

Read up on adhd. Better yet, ask around those who have worked with adhd or those who may have adhd themselves. It would be best to converse with professionals. You yourself may be able to design a treatment that suits your personal needs.

It is also best that you help involve other people especially those you live or interact with constantly. Once they understand the adhd concept, they will also find it easier to know how to relate with you as well.

Learn to listen

It would help adhd sufferers if they listen to the feedback they receive from the persons they trust. It has been known that children and adult suffers of adhd observe themselves very poorly that they are usually in self-denial.

Join adhd support groups

Believe it or not, most of the information that pertains to adhd are not usually found in books but are actually stored inside the minds of adhd sufferers. When adhd groups come together, their experiences could be considered as valid information that could help each adhd adult.

Do not be afraid to be yourself

Adhd sufferers would feel happy to know that they need not feel imprisoned by careers or any other traditional manners of living with this disorder. As much as possible, try to allow yourself the freedom to just be your honest self. It would do you good to surrender whatever is the image of yourself you think you "expect' or should just be. Be it the model employee, or organized corporate executive. Let you be the you in which you really are.

Do not hate yourself

Try to remember that adhd is primarily caused by genetics and not by any failure in your part because you are particularly weak in will or because of a moral flaw. Having adhd does not also mean that your character needs to be improved because it is weak. It does not also mean that you are immature.

Adhd is a condition that is neuropsychiatric in origin. Accepting this fact and acknowledging this issue is a major and first step to the process of healing.

Make structure your friend

Treatment of adhd is helped more by establishing a structured environment. This is because an environment that is structured - like a slide bobsled that helps keep the ball from going off the track - helps keep the adhd adult similarly on track.

It would also help if there are color-coded files, schedules, texts or memoranda as most adhd people are oriented visually and arresting.

Expect the inevitable

It would be best to anticipate a possible success and failure of a project, a relationship or obligation. Acknowledging the good and bad of an incident is a good way to help face challenges whatever they may be.

All in all, adhd is totally treatable once adhd adult sufferers acknowledge that they have adhd and it is possible to live with it but not to totally surrender to it.

The Morality Of Child Labor

The Morality Of Child Labor
by Sam Vaknin

How to cope with your abuser?

Sometimes it looks hopeless. From the comfort of their plush offices and five to six figure salaries, self-appointed NGO's often denounce child labor as their employees rush from one five star hotel to another, $3000 subnotebooks and PDA's in hand. The hairsplitting distinction made by the ILO between "child work" and "child labor" conveniently targets impoverished countries while letting its budget contributors - the developed ones - off-the-hook.

Reports regarding child labor surface periodically. Children crawling in mines, faces ashen, body deformed. The agile fingers of famished infants weaving soccer balls for their more privileged counterparts in the USA. Tiny figures huddled in sweatshops, toiling in unspeakable conditions. It is all heart-rending and it gave rise to a veritable not-so-cottage industry of activists, commentators, legal eagles, scholars, and opportunistically sympathetic politicians.

Ask the denizens of Thailand, sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil, or Morocco and they will tell you how they regard this altruistic hyperactivity - with suspicion and resentment. Underneath the compelling arguments lurks an agenda of trade protectionism, they wholeheartedly believe. Stringent - and expensive - labor and environmental provisions in international treaties may well be a ploy to fend off imports based on cheap labor and the competition they wreak on well-ensconced domestic industries and their political stooges.

This is especially galling since the sanctimonious West has amassed its wealth on the broken backs of slaves and kids. The 1900 census in the USA found that 18 percent of all children - almost two million in all - were gainfully employed. The Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional laws banning child labor as late as 1916. This decision was overturned only in 1941.

The GAO published a report last week in which it criticized the Labor Department for paying insufficient attention to working conditions in manufacturing and mining in the USA, where many children are still employed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics pegs the number of working children between the ages of 15-17 in the USA at 3.7 million. One in 16 of these worked in factories and construction. More than 600 teens died of work-related accidents in the last ten years.

Child labor - let alone child prostitution, child soldiers, and child slavery - are phenomena best avoided. But they cannot and should not be tackled in isolation. Nor should underage labor be subjected to blanket castigation. Working in the gold mines or fisheries of the Philippines is hardly comparable to waiting on tables in a Nigerian or, for that matter, American restaurant.

There are gradations and hues of child labor. That children should not be exposed to hazardous conditions, long working hours, used as means of payment, physically punished, or serve as sex slaves is commonly agreed. That they should not help their parents plant and harvest may be more debatable.

As Miriam Wasserman observes in "Eliminating Child Labor", published in the Federal Bank of Boston's "Regional Review", second quarter of 2000, it depends on "family income, education policy, production technologies, and cultural norms." About a quarter of children under-14 throughout the world are regular workers. This statistic masks vast disparities between regions like Africa (42 percent) and Latin America (17 percent).

In many impoverished locales, child labor is all that stands between the family unit and all-pervasive, life threatening, destitution. Child labor declines markedly as income per capita grows. To deprive these bread-earners of the opportunity to lift themselves and their families incrementally above malnutrition, disease, and famine - is an apex of immoral hypocrisy.

Quoted by "The Economist", a representative of the much decried Ecuador Banana Growers Association and Ecuador's Labor Minister, summed up the dilemma neatly: "Just because they are under age doesn't mean we should reject them, they have a right to survive. You can't just say they can't work, you have to provide alternatives."

Regrettably, the debate is so laden with emotions and self-serving arguments that the facts are often overlooked.

The outcry against soccer balls stitched by children in Pakistan led to the relocation of workshops ran by Nike and Reebok. Thousands lost their jobs, including countless women and 7000 of their progeny. The average family income - anyhow meager - fell by 20 percent. Economists Drusilla Brown, Alan Deardorif, and Robert Stern observe wryly:

"While Baden Sports can quite credibly claim that their soccer balls are not sewn by children, the relocation of their production facility undoubtedly did nothing for their former child workers and their families."

Such examples abound. Manufacturers - fearing legal reprisals and "reputation risks" (naming-and-shaming by overzealous NGO's) - engage in preemptive sacking. German garment workshops fired 50,000 children in Bangladesh in 1993 in anticipation of the American never-legislated Child Labor Deterrence Act.

Quoted by Wasserstein, former Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich, notes:

"Stopping child labor without doing anything else could leave children worse off. If they are working out of necessity, as most are, stopping them could force them into prostitution or other employment with greater personal dangers. The most important thing is that they be in school and receive the education to help them leave poverty."

Contrary to hype, three quarters of all children work in agriculture and with their families. Less than 1 percent work in mining and another 2 percent in construction. Most of the rest work in retail outlets and services, including "personal services" - a euphemism for prostitution. UNICEF and the ILO are in the throes of establishing school networks for child laborers and providing their parents with alternative employment.

But this is a drop in the sea of neglect. Poor countries rarely proffer education on a regular basis to more than two thirds of their eligible school-age children. This is especially true in rural areas where child labor is a widespread blight. Education - especially for women - is considered an unaffordable luxury by many hard-pressed parents. In many cultures, work is still considered to be indispensable in shaping the child's morality and strength of character and in teaching him or her a trade.

"The Economist" elaborates:

"In Africa children are generally treated as mini-adults; from an early age every child will have tasks to perform in the home, such as sweeping or fetching water. It is also common to see children working in shops or on the streets. Poor families will often send a child to a richer relation as a housemaid or houseboy, in the hope that he will get an education."

A solution recently gaining steam is to provide families in poor countries with access to loans secured by the future earnings of their educated offspring. The idea - first proposed by Jean-Marie Baland of the University of Namur and James A. Robinson of the University of California at Berkeley - has now permeated the mainstream.

Even the World Bank has contributed a few studies, notably, in June, "Child Labor: The Role of Income Variability and Access to Credit Across Countries" authored by Rajeev Dehejia of the NBER and Roberta Gatti of the Bank's Development Research Group.

Abusive child labor is abhorrent and should be banned and eradicated. All other forms should be phased out gradually. Developing countries already produce millions of unemployable graduates a year - 100,000 in Morocco alone. Unemployment is rife and reaches, in certain countries - such as Macedonia - more than one third of the workforce. Children at work may be harshly treated by their supervisors but at least they are kept off the far more menacing streets. Some kids even end up with a skill and are rendered employable.

Understanding Anemia -- the Basics

What Is Anemia?

Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood is deficient in healthy red blood cells, which are the main transporter of oxygen to organs. If red blood cells are also deficient in hemoglobin, then your body isn't getting enough iron. Symptoms of anemia -- like fatigue -- occur because organs aren't getting enough oxygen.

Anemia is the most common blood condition in the U.S affecting about 3.5 million Americans. Women and people with chronic diseases are at increased risk of the condition. Important factors to remember are:

DOCTOR recommended reading

Anemia Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Anemia?

The symptoms of anemia will vary according to the type of anemia, the underlying cause and your underlying health problems. Anemia may be associated with other medical conditions such as hemorrhage, ulcers, menstrual problems or cancer -- and specific symptoms of those conditions may be noticed first.

Symptoms common to many types of anemia are:

The body also has a remarkable ability to compensate for early anemia. If your anemia is mild or developed over a long period of time, you may not notice any symptoms.

• Easy fatigue and loss of energy.
• Unusually rapid heart beat, particularly with exercise.
• Shortness of breath and headache, particularly with exercise.
• Difficulty concentrating.

Read more about Anemia Symptoms

Related Anemia Terms

sickle cell, pernicious, aplastic, iron deficiency, causes, hemolytic, anemia and pregnancy, treatment, types, Fanconi, Macrocytic

• Certain forms of anemia are hereditary and infants may be affected from the time of birth.
• Women in the childbearing years are particularly susceptible to a form of anemia called iron-deficiency anemia because of the blood loss from menstruation and the increased blood supply demands during pregnancy.
• Seniors also may have a greater risk of developing anemia because of poor diet and other medical conditions.

There are many types of anemia. All are very different in their causes and treatments. Iron-deficiency anemia, the most common type, is very treatable with diet changes and iron supplements. Some forms of anemia -- like the anemia that develops during pregnancy -- are even considered normal. However, some types of anemia may present lifelong health problems.

What Causes Anemia?

There are more than 400 types of anemia, which can be broadly classified into three categories:

• anemia caused by blood loss.
• anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production.
• anemia caused by destruction of red blood cells.

Anemia caused by blood loss. Red blood cells can be lost through bleeding, which can occur slowly over a long period of time, and can often go undetected. This kind of chronic bleeding commonly results from gastrointestinal conditions such as ulcers, hemorrhoids, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) and cancer. Chronic bleeding can also occur with use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin or Motrin. Menstruation and childbirth often cause significant blood loss in women, especially if menstrual bleeding is excessive and if there are multiple pregnancies.

Anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production. In sickle cell anemia, an inherited disorder that affects African-Americans, red blood cells become crescent-shaped (hence the name, "sickle cell") because of a genetic defect. They break down rapidly, so oxygen does not get to the body's organs, causing anemia. The crescent-shaped red blood cells also get stuck in tiny blood vessels, causing pain.

Anemia caused by decreased red blood cell production. Iron deficiency anemia occurs because of a lack of the mineral iron in the body. Your bone marrow (in the center of the bone) needs iron to make hemoglobin, the part of the red blood cell that transports oxygen to the body's organs. Without adequate iron, your body cannot produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells. The result is iron deficiency anemia.

An iron-poor diet can cause iron-deficiency anemia, especially in infants, children, teens and vegetarians. The metabolic demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding can deplete a woman's iron stores, as can menstruation. Both frequent blood donation and endurance training can also run down the body's iron stores. Some people have enough iron in their diets, but cannot absorb the iron because of digestive conditions such as Crohn's disease or because part of their stomach or small intestine has been surgically removed. Certain drugs, foods and caffeinated drinks can also interfere with iron absorption.

Vitamin B-12 and folate deficiency anemia (megaloblastic anemia) is another anemia caused by vitamin deficiency. The body needs vitamin B-12 and folate to manufacture red blood cells, and will develop megaloblastic anemia if one or both of these substances is deficient.

Some people have a condition that prevents the body from absorbing vitamin B-12 from food, leading to what's called pernicious anemia. Poor vitamin B-12 absorption may also result from Crohn's disease, an intestinal parasite infection, surgical removal of part of the stomach or intestine, and infection with HIV. People who eat little or no meat -- vegetarians or vegans -- may not have enough vitamin B-12 in their diets.

A folate deficiency can develop from eating too few folate-containing foods -- such as vegetables -- or overcooking vegetables. Deficiency may also occur if your body needs extra folate (for example, during pregnancy), if you take certain medications, or if you abuse alcohol. Two intestinal diseases -- tropical sprue and gluten-sensitive enteropathy (celiac disease) -- can deplete your body of both vitamin B-12 and folate. During early pregnancy, sufficient folic acid can prevent the fetus from developing neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

Anemia caused by problems of the bone marrow and stem cells. Sometimes the body can't produce enough red blood cells because of a problem with the primitive cells (that can develop into red cells) in the bone marrow called stem cells. These critical cells may decrease in number, may carry defects, or may be replaced by other cells, such as metastatic cancer cells.

Aplastic anemia is a very serious condition that occurs when there's a marked reduction in the number of stem cells or absence of these cells. Aplastic anemia can be inherited, can occur without apparent cause, or can occur when the bone marrow is injured by medications, radiation, chemotherapy or infection.

Thalassemia is an inherited anemia that occurs when the red cells can't mature and grow properly. Thalassemia is an inherited condition that typically affects people of Mediterranean, African, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian descent. This condition can range in severity from mild to life-threatening; the most severe form is called Cooley's anemia.

Lead is toxic to the bone marrow, and lead exposure can lead to anemia. Lead poisoning occurs in adults from work-related exposure and in children who eat paint chips. Improperly glazed pottery can also taint food and liquids with lead.

Anemia associated with other conditions. In advanced kidney disease and hypothroidism the body does not produce adequate hormones necessary for red blood cell production. Other chronic diseases -- such as autoimmune disorders, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and infection -- can also reduce red blood cell production.

Anemia caused by premature destruction of red blood cells. When red blood cells are fragile and cannot withstand the routine stress of the circulatory system, they may rupture prematurely, causing hemolytic anemia. Hemolytic anemia can be present at birth or develop later. Several inherited conditions, such as sickle cell anemia, can cause these defective red blood cells. Some hereditary conditions that decrease cell production, such as thalassemia, also produce fragile cells.

Hemolytic anemia may occur spontaneously or can be triggered by stressors such as infections, drugs, snake or spider venom, or certain foods. Toxins from advanced liver or kidney disease can also shorten the life of red blood cells.

The immune system may inappropriately attack red blood cells that it perceives as foreign, leading to anemia. When a pregnant woman's immune system targets her baby's red blood cells, the baby develops a specific type of anemia called hemolytic disease of the newborn.

Vascular grafts, prosthetic heart valves, tumors, severe burns, chemical exposure, severe hypertension, and clotting disorders can all damage normal red blood cells and mark them for early destruction. In rare cases, an enlarged spleen can trap red blood cells and destroy them before their circulating time is up.

Immunization Rates High for U.S. Kids

There's Still Room for Improvement, Especially for Teens, Says CDC

Aug. 30, 2007 -- The CDC today reported that U.S. immunization rates for young kids remain at or above record highs, but teens need to get up to speed on their vaccinations.

"We're doing well in the childhood program but we've still got a ways to go with adolescents," Melinda Wharton, MD, MPH, deputy director of the CDC's National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, said at a news conference.

The CDC's latest immunization statistics report covers 2006 vaccinations for kids aged 19-35 months and teens aged 13-17.

The report shows that in 2006, more than three-quarters -- 77% -- of U.S. children aged 19-35 months in 2006 got all of the recommended doses of six childhood vaccines that target 10 diseases.

Those children got four doses of the diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine; three doses of the polio vaccine; one or more doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine; three doses of the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine; three doses of the hepatitis B vaccine; and one or more doses of the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine.

Kids' Immunization Rates Steady

The percentage of children aged 19-35 months who got all recommended doses of those six vaccines is similar to the 2005 percentage.

But that percentage is still below the government's 2010 goal to have at least 90% of U.S. kids in that group get all recommended doses of their vaccines.

Children's immunization rates varied among states. Here are the top five states, along with the percentage of children aged 19-35 months who got all recommended doses of their vaccines:

1. Massachusetts: 83.6%
2. Connecticut: 82%
3. North Carolina: 81.5%
4. Georgia: 81.4%
5. Pennsylvania: 80.8%

The five states at the bottom of the immunization list are:

46. West Virginia: 68.4%
47. Alaska: 67.3%
48. Montana: 65.6%
49. Wyoming: 63.5%
50. Nebraska: 59.5%

Among children aged 19-35 months, nearly 78% of whites had gotten the complete vaccination series, compared with about 74% of African-American children. That gap is tied to socioeconomic status, says Wharton.

The figures are based on nationwide telephone interviews with the parents of more than 21,000 U.S. children aged 19-35 months.

Teen Vaccines

For the first time, the CDC also interviewed the parents of more than 2,800 teens aged 13-17. Those interviews show that some teens aren't up to date on their vaccinations.

For instance, the government wants at least 90% of teens aged 13-15 to get the recommended doses of the hepatitis B vaccine and the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.

In 2006, between 84% and 88% of teens in that age range had gotten the recommended doses of those vaccines.

But teens were especially behind on newer vaccines. For instance, only about 12% of 13-17-year-olds had received the new meningococcal conjugate vaccine and only about 11% had gotten the combined tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough vaccine.

The CDC's immunization figures appear in tomorrow's edition of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Movement and Exercise During Treatment

While starting a serious exercise program during cancer treatment is usually not a good idea, maintaining energy for your current daily activity level is important as is regaining any lost strength.

As you considered exercise programs, keep the following in mind: Your physician can help you determine what activity level is most appropriate. While exercising, be sure to drink plenty of water—staying well hydrated is important to overall health but even more critical during treatment. Listen to your body and don’t over exert yourself.

Benefits of Exercise Often Include:
Stress reduction,
Improved sleep,
Maintenance or strengthening of cardiovascular system,
Enhanced flexibility and range of motion,
Reduced fatigue,
Relaxation, and
Enhanced self confidence and a feeling of wellness.

You may not realize it, but even light to moderate walking can help increase energy levels and boost self esteem. As well, many patients find that exercise helps reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Be sure to inform your healthcare provider and start slowly.

Simple Ways to Make Movement Part of Your Day:
Make the most of your daily activities by incorporating exercise.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Park farther away.
Go down every aisle in the grocery store—whether you need to or not!
Stroll around places like malls where you’ll enjoy a controlled environment, people, and plenty of places to rest when you’re tire.
Try exercising in water. Activities like swimming water aerobics are gentle on your joints and you won’t become over-heated. (Remember to use sunscreen if your pool is outside.)
Try Tai Chi, Qi Gong, or yoga. These centuries-old forms of exercise incorporate rhythmic breathing and relaxation techniques with gentle movements.
Gardening can be done with light or moderate movement. Once again, protect yourself from potential sunburn and insect bites.
Find an activity that you enjoy and look forward to doing.

Six Tips for Dealing with Anemia

Anemia, a common condition among cancer patients, is an inadequate supply of red blood cells that results in a decrease in the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and blood loss during surgery are all common causes of anemia in cancer patients. Anemia is an important consideration because it may cause unwanted symptoms, such as fatigue, tiredness, or shortness of breath and may exacerbate or cause other medical problems, such as a heart condition. Furthermore, severe anemia may cause a delay in cancer treatment. If you do experience anemia during cancer treatment, there are several steps you can take to control symptoms and lessen their impact on your treatment schedule and quality of life.

The following tips will help you handle the effects of anemia:
If you experience any symptoms of anemia (such as fatigue, tiredness, or shortness of breath), tell your healthcare team immediately.
Eat a well balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids.
Get adequate rest.
Prioritize your activities so that you can participate in those that are most important and require more energy when you are feeling your best. Low-priority activities can be put off until you feel stronger.
Let friends and family help you with errands and regular chores so that you can conserve your energy.
To prevent dizziness, get up slowly from a sitting position; when you are lying down, sit up slowly before standing.
Consult your doctor about the risks and benefits of treatment for anemia with erythropoietin, a blood cell growth factor that increases red blood cell production. Commercially available forms of erythropoietin include epoetin alfa (Epogen® or Procrit®) and darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp®), a newer and longer acting form of erythropoietin.

History of the Uses of Asbestos

As far back as 2500, BC, asbestos was first recorded to be in use in Finland. There it was apparently mixed with clay to create ceramic pots and utensils. In ancient Greece, it was first mentioned in a book written by Theophrastus, titled, ‘On Stones.’ In this text, the author described a mineral that looked like ‘rotting wood’ that did not burn when doused with oil and set on fire.

The Greeks used to make common lamp wicks and other fireproof products from asbestos because of its fire retardant abilities. In fact the word we use today, asbestos, comes from the Greek word, asbestinon, which means unquenchable. It’s mentioned in Pliny’s work Natural History around 60 A.D.

We find asbestos use in the medieval ages. It was used in the padding of the medieval armor. Throughout history, it’s been used for various products but it only found widespread use in the 1800s. The first patent for an asbestos product was issued in 1828. It was for a special lining of steam train engines. In 1868, a patent for a roofing material containing asbestos was issued. This roofing material was highly regarded for its durability and fire resistance.

Around this same time, large deposits of asbestos were discovered in Quebec, Canada. This discovery jumpstarted the development of many asbestos products. It wasn’t long before asbestos could be found in: gaskets, fireproof safes, bearings, electrical wiring insulation, building materials, and even children’s toys.

By the 1900s many of the technological advances were made by the addition of asbestos. Plastics now contained asbestos fibers to increase their heat resistance. The automotive industry embraced asbestos use and soon it was found in tires, brakes and clutch linings.

At the same time, asbestos became commonplace in the building industry with roofing tiles starting the trend. At that time, asbestos could be found in plumbing pipes, textured paint, vinyl tiles, ceiling tiles and insulation.

This material is still used today for very specialized tasks. Its primary use is in the shielding for the space shuttle and in the insulation for the solid fuel boosters. This is one of only a couple remaining legal uses of asbestos in the US.

Asbestos Industry

Where does asbestos come from?

Asbestos is a naturally substance from metamorphic rocks and deposits of it can be found in most countries in the world. It is still mined today in the former Soviet Union, Canada (white asbestos), South Africa (brown asbestos), and Australia (blue asbestos). Many countries, including the United States, have banned asbestos mining due to the extreme hazards.
How is it processed?

Asbestos is mined usually using the opencast method. The raw material is coarse and fibrous, looking very much like old wood. This material is processed into fluffy fibers. These fibers are graded to determine its selling price. All six kinds of asbestos, and chrysolite, are classed as cancer causing agents or carcinogens. Actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, termolite are rigid, strong and have thick fibers, which can easily penetrate the body tissues, leading to scarring, tumors or cancer. The only other kind, chrysolite, is made of fibers that can be easily spun and woven into cloth, making it the most desired and the most expensive. Only a small percentage, less than 10% of all chrysolite fibers are long enough to spin and weave into cloth.
How is asbestos shipped, delivered and sold?

Due to its hazardous nature, strict guidelines must be followed for safe shipping. All personnel handling the material should wear personal protective gear including coveralls, eye protection, respirators, gloves and shoe covers and undergo decontamination after handling the material. Their gear needs to be inspected daily and if found damaged, should be disposed of properly. If the damage occurs within or immediately following the containment area, the incident must be reported immediately.

The asbestos should be in airtight containers and clearly marked as being hazardous. On the manifest, the item should be clearly labeled as asbestos so that the shipping workers handle it correctly.

Treatment by Stage

In order to make the best decision, the medical team will take into account the age, health and stage of the mesothelioma cancer cells.

In Stage 1 – where mesothelioma is present in the right or left pleura. It may have spread into the lung, pericardium or diaphragm on the same side but not the lymph nodes. Treatment could include:
Surgery - to remove affected sections of the pleura, lung part of the diaphragm and part of the lining around the heart.
Surgery to remove the pleura and the tissue near it, done to relieve symptoms only - not to cure the disease.
Radiation – to relieve symptoms when surgery is not an option due the patient’s weakened health.
Use of a clinical trial – where new medications are being tested by patient volunteer to find better cures.

In Stage II or III – it’s understood that a cure is not possible and treatments are done to make the patient comfortable. Treatments could include:
Tharacentesis or paracentesis – drains the fluid from around the heart or abdomen helps to reduce pain
Radiation or chemotherapy to help reduce symptoms
Chemotherapy or radioactive drugs - injected directly into the pleural space. This can give some cancer cells and will slow down the fluid build up.

In Stage IV – treatment is done to keep the patient as comfortable as possible.
Chemotherapy or radiation – can be given but only if the patient fully understands the side effects. It might not be the best option as it is an end stage of cancer.
Supportive care – patients with advanced staged mesothelioma require a strong supportive network, usually requiring more than one person is capable of giving.
Pain medication – to make patient as comfortable as possible
Clinical trials – new medications to try.

Facing a disease like mesothelioma is difficult for anyone, it’s important to talk over any treatment program with your family and physician.

Proper Cognitive Restructuring Aids in Overcoming Bad Behaviors

Proper Cognitive Restructuring Aids in Overcoming Bad Behaviors
by Larry Lloyd

Producing a manualized cognitive restructuring program that is effective in helping people overcome faulty thinking and self-defeating conduct is an art form that very few have mastered.

The question is, is it even possible to go into someone's subconscious mind and alter thoughts? YES! The secret lies in Dr David Hawken�s book on truth vs. falsehoods. Truth has energy that can infiltrate the veil of self-imposed false beliefs and help people find their true selves. That is, help them see that they are so much greater than they believe they are.

Creating a cognitive restructuring curriculum requires a profound understanding of the truth, otherwise the written words will have no penetrating energy. Untrue words drop off of the page and onto the ground. There they disintegrate and die and are never thought of again.

True words lift people to a higher calibration whereas untrue words discourage. True words have a force that enlivens energies that resonate at a frequency that people will accept. It's this cognitive energy that can change faulty thinking.

After years of helping domestic violence victims it is still enlightening to watch this self-actualization process. Most abused women believe that they have less value than they really do. By the time they reach the 3rd or 4th session of applying true words, the truth begins to have its affect.

This reprogramming is manifested in their physical, mental and emotional elation. The changes for most people are significant and permanent. Yet let us remember that cognitive restructuring counseling is an invitation to change, not a force. Change is the responsibility of the client. The chief reason counseling programs are ineffective is because they are not set up correctly and they have very little penetrating truth. This is because the person(s) who produced it didn't have the necessary truth. People can go to psychotherapy sessions for years and years and not change because the therapist isn't aligned with the truth. The truth can have a lasting impact on people in a matter of hours, however, it must be available.

NOTE: Use of this article requires links to be intact.

Low Carb Diet Eating: Super Salads

Low Carb Diet Eating: Super Salads
by Wade Robins

The foundation of any healthy low-carb eating is in its vegetable content. Any low-carb eating which does not include enough vegetables to provide the vitamins and minerals lacking in high-protein foods may lead to weight loss, but it will also lead to trouble if it continues for more than a few weeks.

Many people today, however, are not big veggie eaters; the fast food culture has often restricted the daily vegetable intake of millions of rushed diners to the pickles, onions, wilted lettuce, and barely pink tomatoes on their burgers or chicken sandwiches. So it's not surprising that those who decide to try low carb diet eating neglect the veggies.

Go Organic

But after a few days of low carb diet eating of nothing but meat, eggs, and cheese, even lettuce may start to look good. So when you feel the cravings for carbs kick in, be ready to head them off with a power salad, which will not only be a tremendous treat after all that protein. You can get pre-packaged salad mixes at the grocery store, so you don't have to buy huge amounts of different salad fixings. And if you go for organic salad mixes, and dress them up with organic ingredients, you'll have sweeter vegetables than you ever imagined.

One of the most nutritious ingredients you can add to any meal is spinach. This superfood has been shown to support eye health, as well as the brain, skin, and cardiovascular and immune systems. So be sure you salad mix contains spinach; even better, you can buy a bag of organic spinach leaves.

Diversify Your Choices

You have a wide selection of low carb vegetables to add to your salad, from red, green and yellow bell peppers to onions to broccoli and celery to tomato; you can also add nuts or a little bit of low carb fruit like grapefruit or berries. Sunflower seeds can add some nice crunchiness without a lot of carbs and make a great replacement for croutons. If you simply have to go the crouton route, limit yourself to the equivalent of a half slice of bread. You can also sprinkle blue cheese crumbles on your salad for an interesting contrast to the sweetness of the vegetables.

Because you're on a low carb diet eating plan, you can treat yourself to some fat when you choose a dressing for you salad. And one of the most delicious, and healthiest, dressings you can make is an olive oil and fruit--raspberry or strawberry are wonderful-- vinaigrette mix. Olive oil is a fat that actually helps your cardiovascular system instead of clogging it, and you can feel good about eating it. For more info see http://www.southbeachdietclub.com/sbdclub/Origin_of_South_Beach_diet.html on Origin of South Beach diet.

You salads will have to be your main source of carbohydrates for the duration of your low carb diet eating plan, so it's essential that you take the time to make them taste good. You can even add cooked meat or fish to your salad base, and have a complete low carb diet eating treat. Here's a recipe to get you started:

Spinach Raspberry Chicken Salad

1 tsp olive oil 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (3/4 lbs.) cut into bite-size strips 1 cup thinly sliced onion Salt and Pepper to taste 1 6-ounce bag baby spinach or organic baby spinach salad mix 1/4 cup bottled raspberry vinaigrette dressing 1 cup fresh or fresh frozen raspberries, partially thawed 1/4 cup feta or bleu cheese

To Prepare:

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet or wok; add chicken strips and onion and stir-fry over high heat 3 to 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center.

Season chicken to taste with salt and pepper.

Turn off heat. Add spinach and vinaigrette to skillet; toss well.

Divide mixture among plates. Sprinkle each salad with raspberries and feta cheese.

Common Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is one of the most deadly forms of cancer. It’s considered to be 100% fatal due to the inability to be diagnosed in time for any treatment to be effective. Studies have shown that on average, patients live only 242 days after diagnosis.

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos dust or particles. From the time of exposure it can take twenty to thirty years before the symptoms manifest. Generally, the disease starts from the mesothelium (the lining of the body that protects the organs such as the lungs, the heart and parts of the abdomen) and can easily spread to the other parts of the body.

There are three kinds of mesothelioma and each has different symptoms.
Pleural mesothelioma – attacks the lining and the cavity of the lungs. Symptoms, as the disease advances, include: chest pain as the lungs fill with fluid along with shortness of breath, a tightening sensation in the chest, persist coughing, rasping, difficulty in swallowing, coughing of blood, fever and weight loss.
Peritoneal mesothelioma – attacks the areas in the stomach and abdomen of a person. This type is very painful as the tumors press on the wall of the abdomen. Symptoms include: stomach pains and swelling in the abdomen, pain as severe as a ruptured appendix. As the disease advances, next comes intense pain in the chest, difficulty breathing, anemia, abnormal clots in the blood, rapid weight loss, constipation, fever and vomiting.
Pericardial mesothelioma – attacks the lining to the heart and surrounding area. This is the rarest of the types. Symptoms includes sever chest pains, palpitations, labored breathing and coughing.

The problem with correctly diagnosing pericardial mesothelioma in time to treat it successfully is that its symptoms could easily be mistaken for some other medical condition. A successful diagnosis requires that the patient undergo either an abdominal scan, CAT scan or an MRI.

The warning signs should never be ignored and it’s important when seeing the family physician to mention any possible asbestos exposure in the past.

Mesothelioma Research

Recent years have shown considerable progress in mesothelioma research and clinical trials.
Technology

Although there is still no early detection for mesothelioma, there have been advances in technology. Now anyone who has knowingly been exposed to asbestos may have these tests performed:
Chest x-ray – useful to see if there is anything abnormal in the chest.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan – helps to determine if an abnormality in the chest is mesothelioma or some other non-malignant tumor.
Computer Tomography (CT) scans – can create detailed images of the chest and show any abnormalities.
Clinical Trials

As far as current research there is an on-going field trial for a new drug called Alimta (Pemetrexed). This is to be used in conjunction with Cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug, which interferes with cancer cell growth. Alimta is intended to stop cancer cell multiplication.

This drug has been approved by the FDA for mesothelioma patients, particularly when surgery is not an option. It needs to be remembered that this drug is new and there are few records yet to prove effectiveness. On the positive side, however, there are reports of a 54-year old patient in Africa who participated in this treatment and returned to work after five treatments.

Interesting and positive research work is also being done at the Josson Cancer Center. A drug, Tarceva, is being combined with anti-inflammatory drug, Celebrex. Apparently this combination has an increased response rate of three times on cancer patients. Again, these are only initial findings and need to be validated before this treatment can be approved as safe and effective.

Asbestos Abatement

Specific procedures must be followed to remove asbestos from homes and buildings. This is to prevent the building from being contaminated with asbestos. This procedure is known as asbestos abatement. It needs to be done by licensed contractors and it is highly recommended that untrained personnel do not undertake asbestos abatement on their own.

Specialized equipment is needed for asbestos abatement. Various safety steps also need to be taken. Every effort should be made to make a secure and airtight environment for this work. Certain necessary steps are required to remove asbestos from:

Heating and air conditioning ducts
Special care needs to be taken to fully seal the building from any possible contamination from asbestos particles by spreading plastic sheets over the ducts and any spaces in the walls or floors to seal the floor and surrounding area.
The use of a special HEPA-AIRE negative air vacuum, built specifically for asbestos abatement, to connect to the airtight space, which draws all air and airborne particles through a special filter.
The special filters used in these machines must be disposed of in accordance with hazardous materials regulations.

For other areas
A fine mist can be sprayed over an area suspected to contain asbestos. This helps to settle the dust.
Contractors spray a special chemical, an encapsulant, over the area.
Contractors wear special one-piece coveralls designed to keep the wearer from coming in contact with the asbestos. This suit covers the head, hands, body and feet of the worker.
It’s important to have an airtight environment both for the area and for the worker.

Air-testing equipment is also used for asbestos abatement. It measures the amount of asbestos in the air before, during and after the asbestos procedure. Contractors are required to keep asbestos levels below a certain reading. These levels must also be certified as safe before the work area can be unsealed and people are allowed to safely enter.

All protective equipment must be disposed of according to the hazardous materials laws.

Asbestos Exposure

Risks of exposure

Once the asbestos enters the air, it can stay suspended for a long period of time, which increases the chance of being inhaled and settling in the lungs. Asbestos that is spun into loose fibers is the easiest material to be released into the air but any material containing asbestos can become airborne. These particles can be difficult to remove and require specialized equipment in the form of HEPA negative air pressure machines with specially designed filters to clean the air.

Common ways in which asbestos can become airborne include:
During renovations to buildings that already contain asbestos,
Concrete containing asbestos is pulverized,
Roofing tiles treated with asbestos are crushed,
Any asbestos containing product is disturbed in such a way that it releases particles into the air,
Even drinking water may contain asbestos from natural, sources or from asbestos containing cement pipes.

All personnel who work on construction sites, demolition sites, or with the mining and production of asbestos may be exposed to high levels of asbestos.
Precautions

It’s important to use properly trained contractors, certified and reputable, for asbestos removal. This process is called asbestos abatement. These trained professionals know how to remove the asbestos safely and to stop the asbestos from becoming airborne. Once airborne, these particles can only be removed using the special HEPA machines.

It’s important to realize that there is NO safe level of asbestos exposure. Exposure can cause cancers, tumors, scarring and death.

Where is Asbestos Found?

Where is Asbestos Found?

Products

There are very few legal uses for asbestos in today’s world. One of those is for the shielding on the space shuttle and another is in the insulation of the solid fuel boosters.

One use that most people don’t think about is vehicle brakes. It’s ideal in this application as it resists heat. Most of the other products containing asbestos are building materials. Such as:

Construction (commercial, residential)
Insulation contains asbestos. It can be dangerous because it is often used to insulate homes, office buildings and schools. Homes built prior to 1950 have a good chance of containing insulation still with traces of asbestos. Its use was widespread at this time. This type of insulation is the one most dangerous for airborne particles. However unless you decide to renovate these particles won’t be disturbed.
Flooring may contain asbestos. Sheet vinyl or vinyl tile may contain asbestos. It was added during production to make the flooring stronger. This type of asbestos product is considered safe most of the time. If it becomes damaged however, or if you decide to cut or sand the flooring, these particles could be released into the air.

If you own an older home and you’re concerned it’s advisable to have your house inspected by a specialist.
Naturally occurring asbestos

Asbestos is a natural substance from metamorphic rocks and deposits of it can be found in most countries in the world. It is still mined today in the former Soviet Union, Canada (white asbestos), South Africa (brown asbestos), and Australia (blue asbestos).

Many countries, including the United States, have banned asbestos mining due to the extreme hazards

What is Asbestos?

Contrary to common belief, asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material. It is still mined and processed in many countries throughout the world today.
Types of Asbestos

There are six main types of asbestos, broken into two separate categories. These two categories are:

Serpentine: meaning snake like or curly in appearance

Amphibole: characterized by straighter fibers

The serpentine group has only one member - chrysotile, which accounts for over 90% of all asbestos in world production. This asbestos is white or green in color and is often used as insulation or for fireproofing products. With its widespread usage, chrysotile is responsible for most asbestos-related health problems.

The amphibole group contains the other five types of asbestos. Of these, amosite and crocidolite are the only two used for commercial purposes. These two are characterized by strong, stiff fibers and are consider highly dangerous when these airborne fibers are inhaled or ingested.

Amosite, brown-asbestos, had been banned in many countries for decades but it was still being commercially produced up until this last decade. At one time, it accounted for 5% of the asbestos used in factories and buildings.

Crocidolite is a rare bluish form of asbestos. It is highly resistant to chemicals. It’s considered to be the most dangerous form of asbestos and was previously used to reinforce plastics. Prior to this, it was used in some yarns and ropes.

The remaining three types of asbestos are: tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite. There were never in commercial use and are not covered in our discussion here.

Most Common:
Chrysotile (White asbestos)
Amosite (Brown asbestos)
Crocidolite (Blue asbestos)

Rarer Forms
Fibrous Tremolite
Fibrous Anthophyllite
Fibrous Actinolite

Causes of Hair Loss

Normally, hair loss is caused by heredity, hormones and age. Genetic makeup determines if hair follicles are sensitive to the DHT hormone (dihydrotestosterone), causing them to shrink.

This “shrinkage” results in overall thinning hair with time. In addition, the aging process can weaken the hair follicle and consequently the hair shaft. This causes thinning hair and balding - permanent hair loss.

In addition, Hair loss is believed to be primarily caused by a combination of the following:

• Aging
• Change in Hormones
• Illness
• Family History of Baldness
• Burns
• Trauma

Source 1 , Source 2

Tips for Common Symptoms

Sprains or Strains
For minor symptoms:

Apply ice Rest and elevate injured area Take pain relievers: ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen See your health care clinician if: Problem lasts more than three days or pain is severe. There is dislocation or misalignment. You have difficulty moving the affected area. There is black and blue discoloration. Sunburn For minor symptoms: Avoid further exposure to the sun Apply cool compresses to the area or take a cool bath Take pain relievers: ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen (note warning for children under 16) Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids Apply aloe gel to soothe area To avoid sunburn, wear protective clothing and sunscreen See your health care clinician if: Burn is accompanied by fever, vomiting, drowsiness or confusion. Blisters form on large areas of the skin. Blisters break and appear infected.

Tips for Common Symptoms

Headaches
For minor symptoms:

Take pain relievers: ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen (do not use aspirin for children under 16) Apply hot or cold packs Avoid bright lights Take sinus medication if head/nose is congested, but do not use Sudafed if you have high blood pressure See your health care clinician if: Headache persists or recurs. Headache follows injury or trauma. You experience fever, vomiting, drowsiness, or confusion. The headache is severe or associated with neck stiffness. Heartburn/Indigestion For minor symptoms: Avoid spicy, acidic or other aggravating foods, and alcohol Stop smoking Eat smaller amounts of food at one time, especially if near bedtime Take antacids, such as Maalox, or acid-suppressants such as Pepcid-AC Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen products See your health care clinician if: Problem recurs or pain is severe. Pain occurs with shortness of breath or other symptoms that suggest heart problems. Sore Throat For minor symptoms: Gargle with warm salt water to soothe throat Take pain relievers: ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen (do not use aspirin for children under 16) Use throat lozenges Increase fluids See your health care clinician if: Sore throat lasts more than a week. Fever accompanies the sore throat. You have difficulty swallowing, breathing or speaking. There are white patches on back of throat or tonsils. You have been exposed to someone diagnosed with strep throat. You have tender neck lymph nodes.

12 Tips for Better Living

1) Eat only when hungry. Food that is fresh, prepared with love is said to be the best. Avoid food which has preservatives, permitted colors and those which has been over cooked, burnt, and seasoned with lot of spices and salt.

2) Sleep when sleepy and try to maintain a regular bed time. The duration of sleep changes depending on each individual, season, mental-physical exertion, after surgery, period of convalescence, after child birth etc. But a healthy person should sleep well (quality of sleep is more important than duration) and on waking up next morning should feel fit and fine- is an indication to show that sleep has been sufficient. Sleeping during daytime is not good if one wants to enjoy perfect health. Daytime sleep interferes with digestion and metabolism. Perfect quality sleep energizes a person.

3) Natural urges like passing stools, urge to urinate, sneeze, yawn, cough, cry, vomit, sleep and hunger are not to be controlled. Controlling the above causes many health problems ? so it is best voided as soon as the urge is felt.

4) Anger, jealousy, greed, unbridled lust and passion, coveting the wealth and property of others; dishonesty ?these types of negative qualities are to be controlled to enjoy peaceful life and is a positive step towards better health. (Health Tips in the coming months will elaborate on the above).

5) Excessive use of sense organs is always to be avoided (eg. watching horror movies daily or looking at lustrous objects always, or hearing jarring sounds or hearing music always with headphones on, etc. constantly are to be avoided, inhaling strong smell frequently is not very good).

6) Prayer should be a part of your daily routine ? this helps keep your immunity in tact.

7) Habits (food habits, daily lifestyle) should be practiced regularly and sincerely as per each constitution (eg. Pitta persons should reduce spices, Kapha person needs to keep warm etc.)

8) Doing any thing in excess should be always avoided (excessive sexual indulgence, frequent snacking, over working, consuming lot of alcohol etc.)

9) Adventure sport, doing daring acts (swimming against water current, driving vehicles very fast, fighting wild animals or taking part in bull fights etc. activities) just for fun are to be avoided if one wants to enjoy perfect health.

10) Doing your duty honestly, sincerely for your employer, family and society helps you stay fit and healthy.

11) Spending your weekend in the company of best books, honest people and/or in relaxing activities like being with nature, or taking part in prayers, meditation, reading scriptures, or chanting are beneficial.

12) Think straight ?eat right is an axiom that one should adopt in life (positive thinking or counting your blessings should be a part of your life and eating should be as per hunger-less in quantity, according to season and what the body really needs)

This article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, prescribe or heal any health condition. It is not intended to substitute for care from healthcare professionals.

Medical Tips

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is not an illness that strikes only mountaineers. Some people can become sick from hypothermia in temperatures in the low 50s. Prevention is the best medicine.


1.Wear a synthetic pile or wool sweater. These materials keep you warm even when wet. In addition, the synthetic materials dry very quickly.
2.The worst material is cotton, which loses all of its warmth when wet.
3.If wind or rain is a factor, make sure to bring a shell along.
4.And if you expect temperatures below 40 or so, you should probably consider taking a down parka with you.


Snake Bites
>First and foremost, don't panic.
>One of the best methods is an extractor you can buy at an outdoors store.
>Select the right sized suction cup, attach it to the syringe, then put it over the bite with the plunger fully extended.
>Push the plunger in as it begins to suck to your skin.
>Leave it there for about five minutes and then remove the plunger.
>Wipe any venom away.
>Keep the injured part at the same level or below the rest of the body.

Simple Medical Tips

Simple Medical Tips

Medicines

2. Make sure that all of your child's doctors know about everything your child is taking and his or her weight. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and dietary supplements such as vitamins and herbs.


At least once a year, bring all of your child's medicines and supplements with you to the doctor. "Brown bagging" your child's medicines can help you and your doctor talk about them and find out if there are any problems. Knowing your child's medication history and weight can help your doctor keep your child's records up to date, which can help your child get better quality care.


3. Make sure your child's doctor knows about any allergies and how your child reacts to medicines.


This can help you avoid getting a medicine that can harm your child.


4. When your child's doctor writes you a prescription, make sure you can read it.

If you can't read the doctor's handwriting, your pharmacist might not be able to either. Ask the doctor to use block letters to print the name of the drug.


5. When you pick up your child's medicine from the pharmacy, ask: Is this the medicine that my child's doctor prescribed?

A study by the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences found that 88 percent of medicine errors involved the wrong drug or the wrong dose.


6. Ask for information about your child's medicines in terms you can understand—both when the medicines are prescribed and when you receive them at the hospital or pharmacy.

What is the name of the medicine?
What is the medicine for?
Is the dose of this medicine appropriate for my child based on his or her weight?
How often is my child supposed to take it, and for how long?
What side effects are likely? What do I do if they occur?
Is this medicine safe for my child to take with other medicines or dietary supplements?
What food, drink, or activities should my child avoid while taking this medicine?
Is the dose of this medicine appropriate for my child based on his or her weight?
When should I see an improvement?

Tips for Common Symptoms

Tips for Common Symptoms

Allergies or Itchy Eyes
For minor symptoms:


Avoid the problem agent if possible
Take an antihistamine: Benadryl, chlorpheniramine, or Claritin
Use eye drops such as Naphcon-A for allergic conjunctivitis
Use a decongestant such as Sudafed for nasal congestion, but do not use if you have high blood pressure
Apply hydrocortisone cream to bites or allergic skin rash

See your health care clinician if:

Throat or chest tightness, swelling of lips or tongue — call immediately.
Problem recurs frequently or doesn't respond to over-the-counter medications.


Colds
For minor symptoms:
Get rest and drink plenty of fluids
Take pain relievers: ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen (do not use aspirin for children under 16)
Take a decongestant such as Sudafed to relieve nasal congestion, but do not use if you have high blood pressure.
Take a cough suppressant such as Robitussin DM for hacking cough

See your health care clinician if:

Cold or cough lingers more than one week.
Fever persists for more than a few days.
You have painful breathing or shortness of breath.
You have discolored mucous.
You have severe headache or sinus pain.


Cold Sores or Fever Blisters
For minor symptoms:
Apply ice for 5-10 minutes to reduce pain
Apply topical agents such as Herpecin-L® or Campho-phenique® for comfort
Use moisturizers such as Blistex® to hasten healing
Take pain relievers: ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen (do not use aspirin for children under 16)
Be patient: cold sores usually go away in 7-10 days
Be cautious: cold sores may be due to herpes simplex virus and may be contagious

See your health care clinician if:

Sores are excessive or do not heal.
Pain prevents you from eating or drinking.
You have severe or frequently recurring sores.


Constipation
For minor symptoms:
Increase dietary fiber and fluid intake
Take a stool softener such as Colace or fiber product as Metamucil®
DO NOT use laxatives, such as Ex-Lax, regularly
Increase activity and exercise

See your health care clinician if:

Condition persists for several days.
You have a fever.
You experience stomach cramping, bloating, rectal bleeding or nausea.


Cuts and Scrapes
For minor symptoms:
Wash thoroughly with soap and warm water
Stop any bleeding by applying direct pressure
Keep area clean and dry

See your health care clinician if:

Wound is deep.
You cut yourself on something rusty or dirty.
Bleeding won't stop.
Red streak appears around wound.
Wound doesn't heal.
You haven't had a tetanus booster in 10 years.