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RIP - Pop world mourns Boyzone's Gately

2009-10-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

Friends, fans and stars have paid tribute to
Boyzone singer Stephen Gately, who has
died suddenly at the age of 33 while on
holiday in Majorca.
Gately's bandmates described him as "our friend
and brother" and said he "lit up our lives and
those of the many friends he had all over the
world".
Boyzone manager Louis Walsh has pulled out of
Sunday's X Factor TV show.
A spokesman for Gately's family attributed his
death to natural causes and ruled out drugs and
suicide.
Gately's boy band enjoyed huge success in the
1990s, scoring six UK number one singles.
They reformed in 2007 before embarking on a
string of comeback concerts and were planning
to release a new album next year.
A statement from the four remaining members
of Boyzone said: "We have shared such
wonderful times together over the years and
were all looking forward to sharing many more.
"Stephen was a beautiful person in both body
and spirit. Our love and sympathy go out to
Andrew and Stephen's family. We love you and
will miss you forever."
Singer Ronan Keating was in Chicago when the
news of Gately's death emerged and has travelled
to join the rest of the group, who have flown to
Majorca.
Irish solicitor Gerald Kean, a spokesman for
Gately's family, said: "There's no foul play
involved and it's not suicide.
"It's just a tragic accident is what we've been told
and we're happy that that is correct information.
"There is nothing untoward, it's not drugs, we
don't believe, it's not suicide, it's not murder, it's
not a fight. That's what we've been told."
The family hope to have the remains returned to
Ireland by the end of the week for the funeral in
Dublin, he added.
A post mortem will take place in Spain on
Tuesday.
Police said they were called to a house near Port
d'Andratx on the western tip of the island on
Saturday afternoon.
"At the moment it is not known how he died," a
police spokesman said. "There are no signs of
suspicious circumstances."
Gately was on holiday with his long-term partner
Andy Cowles, who was introduced to him by Sir
Elton John and his partner David Furnish.
Sir Elton said on Sunday he and Furnish were
"stunned by this tragedy".
"Stephen was the kindest, gentlest soul," he said.
"We send our love and condolences to his
partner Andy and to all his friends everywhere."
Former Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, a friend of
Gately, said the singer and his group had been
"part of Irish life, and far wider than that" for 15
years. "It's a huge, huge tragedy. It's so sad," he
said.
Louis Walsh's spokeswoman confirmed that the
manager would not go ahead with his
appearance as an X Factor judge.
His spokeswoman said: "He thanks you all for the
messages of support at this sad time."
An X Factor spokeswoman said the other three
judges would "continue with the show in the
usual way".
Walsh earlier told the News of the World
newspaper that he was "in complete shock".
Fellow Irish boy band Westlife, also managed by
Walsh, put out a statement describing Gately as a
"friendly, positive spirit and a passionate
performer".

Mike Bongiorno dies!

2009-09-11T19:20:00.000-07:00

Well known Italian television presenter and quiz master Mike Bongiorno has died aged 85.

Born in New York to an Italian mother and an Italian-American father, Bongiorno moved to Italy when still a child and became an institution in the Italian broadcasting scene.

He was one of the first high profile presenters to defect from Rai to privately-owned Canale 5 and continued to present programmes well into old age.

Among his best known programmes were Lascia o raddoppia.

Many will remember him for his trademark Allegria! at the start of his shows.

Mr Bongiorno died suddenly of a heart attack in Monte Carlo.

from: timesofmalta

mythical of chupacabra - Monster or dog?!

2009-09-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

The mythical chupacabra is a hairless, nocturnal wolf-dog; the name, roughly translated, means "the goatsucker." Widely regarded as the Mexican Bigfoot, tales of the bloodsucking beast originated in Puerto Rico, but alleged sightings have been reported over the last few years in the U.S. Last week a Texas taxidermist got what might be a chupacabra, and CNN and Telemundo rushed over to interview him faster than you can say "Look at that hairless goatsucker!"

"The phone has been ringing off the hook" at the Blanco Taxidermy School, Robert McDaniel, the chief instructor, told The Times on Wednesday. The news media and the curious -- "Good Morning America" among them -- have called in asking for interviews and to find out if they have really found a chupacabra. "We've gotten about 100 calls today," he said.

The interest is all about a dead, hairless, coyote-like creature that was captured by Lynn Butler, a former student at the school. According to McDaniel, Butler heard something in his cousin's barn "tearing up the chickens pretty bad. So he left poison out thinking it was a raccoon or other varmint." The next day he found the lifeless animal that many claim is a chupacabra.

Jerry Ayer, owner of the Blanco Taxidermy School, isn't so sure that what he has really is what everyone hopes he has. But as the man who is in the process of stuffing the beast, he does know he's working on something unique.

"To be honest, I don't know what it is. I'd probably say it's a freak-of-nature coyote, or a hybrid breed with a genetic mutation," the soft-spoken Ayer said.

Ayer says he stuffs about 15 to 20 coyotes a year, and this is no coyote. "The footpads are different. They're rather bulbous. And this has longer legs by a few inches."

But what makes it so different from other coyotes or dogs is that it is mostly hairless. "It has a little fuzz around the feet," Ayer says. "Almost like little socks of fur. And there's a little hair up the backbone. Very odd-looking."

Clearly intrigued by the creature's abnormalities, Ayer continues, "The hairlessness is sinister because you can see the bones protruding at the hips."

It's that creepy look and scavenger-like behavior that Ayer believes leads people to buy into the myth. "These types [of animals] will zip in and out of people's backyards and eat anything live or dead. They have two big canine teeth in the front and they go for the neck." When someone hears the animal and goes out back with a flashlight to investigate, "They see this weird-looking dark creature running off. And they see two holes in the side of the neck of a goat, and they take it from there."

Chubacabra What they take it for is a chupacabra, whether Ayer agrees or not. "It doesn't matter what I call it," Ayer says. "It's been labeled."

But one thing does matter to Ayer. "I don't want to be known as the chupacabra quack," he said by telephone. "People say there's a mythical beast and [that] I have one. I'll call it chupacabra because people love it, but I don't know what it is."

Two universities might help identify exactly what Ayer has. He said he has received requests from the University of Texas and UC Davis to provide tissue samples for their ongoing research.

And what of the possibility that a chupacabra might make an appearance locally -- say, at the Los Angeles Zoo? Asked if the zoo would house a chupacabra if one was captured, Jason Jacobs, the zoo’s marketing and public relations director, put off the issue as a matter of conjecture. "We don't have scientific proof that one exists," Jacobs noted.

Meanwhile, as the university scientists conduct their studies, the careful craft of taxidermy is being performed in Central Texas.

McDaniel and Ayer, who are half-brothers, say they have no immediate plans to charge admission to view the animal once it is properly stuffed and mounted; they're just happy that it is bringing attention to the taxidermy school. (According to McDaniel, for $3,500 the school will provide all the education anyone would need to become a professional taxidermist.)

Once the mounting is complete, Ayer says, he plans on displaying it at the school. But he'll store it at night in a safe place -- because, he says, he's sure something as rare as whatever he has would be quite valuable to thieves.

-- Tony Pierce

Photo credits: Robert McDaniel

more information on : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chupacabra

Burial film irks Jackson brother ?!

2009-09-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

A live video feed of guests arriving at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park had been provided, but ceased as the star's body arrived for privacy reasons.

But a camera kept filming the ceremony on a hovering helicopter, leaving him "dismayed". It had "severely disrupted" the service, he said.

Jackson has requested the media stop showing that footage.

In a statement, the former Jackson 5 singer said: "I was dismayed last night and again today at the coverage I saw on television of our ceremony for Michael.

'Ignored wishes'

"We had asked the media to respect the privacy and the sanctity of this event; to give us one moment of privacy to mourn as a family out of the public spotlight.

"Unfortunately, despite a no-fly zone around Forest Lawn, many media organisations decided to ignore our wishes," he said.

Mourners arrive at Michael Jackson's funeral

"I therefore ask today that media organisations airing helicopter footage of the ceremony we held for my brother immediately pull that footage from their air and refrain from airing it in the future."

Around 200 mourners gathered at the cemetery to pay their respects to Jackson including the star's former wife, Lisa Marie Presley, Dame Elizabeth Taylor, actor Macaulay Culkin.

The service took place after dark in the open air outside Forest Lawn's Great Mausoleum.

It came more than two months after Jackson died of a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs at the age of 50.

Last week Jackson's death was ruled to be a homicide by the Los Angeles coroner.

from: bbc uk

halloween trick or treating, hallowen day

2009-09-04T12:22:00.000-07:00

Halloween (also spelled Hallowe'en) is a holiday celebrated on October 31. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints’ Day. It is largely a secular celebration, but some Christians and pagans have expressed strong feelings about its religious overtones.Irish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America during Ireland's Great Famine of 1846. The day is often associated with the colors orange and black, and is strongly associated with symbols such as the jack-o'-lantern. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, visiting haunted attractions, carving jack-o'-lanterns, pranking people, reading scary stories, and watching horror movies. (wikipedia)

Warning! Erin Andrews nude video may have link to virus

2009-09-04T12:20:00.000-07:00

A video that shows popular ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews in the nude in a hotel room made its way onto several Web sites and may contain a link to a virus in a Trojan horse that could be downloaded by users.

Despite that warning on Monday, Internet users continued to try to find the video Tuesday, according to Google's "Trends" monitor, which reported that the words "Erin Andrews video" are in the top 10 items being searched for on Google.

read more on : http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32011728/ns/technology_and_science-security/

Jaycee Dugard: Saved By Intuition!

2009-09-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

The FBI spent 18 years trying to find Jaycee Dugard, a girl abducted in 1991, when she was 11, while walking to her bus stop in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. But when the case broke last week, it wasn't a sweeping raid or a well-placed tip that eventually led the FBI to Dugard and the arrest of her alleged captor, Philip Garrido. It was intuition.

Situation: People of Wal Mart !

2009-09-04T12:08:00.000-07:00

Some people just have the knack at making things work. WWho would have thought that a website that invites users to send in embarrassing pictures of Wal-Mart customers would become such a hit. The website People of Wal Mart is barely a month old but it is now getting too much traffic that it crashed on Tuesday. Now I tried to access the site a while ago but it is again down, probably because too many people are trying to access it at this time.

Why is the site so hot now? Probably we can glean the answer from the manifesto of the three men who authored People of Wal Mart :

“People of Walmart was founded in August of 2009 by three friends and roommates after an inspirational trip to WalMart. Let’s face it; we all have seen the people who obviously don’t have mirrors and/or family and friends to lock them in a basement, and they all seem to congregate at Walmart. It’s not everywhere that you can shop for milk at 10 a.m. next to a 400lb mother of 6 wearing a pink tube top, leopard tights, and hooker heels”

http://wow-legs.blogspot.com/2009/09/people-of-wal-mart.html

How Becoming A Healthy Eater

2009-08-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

Being a healthy eater requires you to become both
educated and smart about what healthy eating
actually is. Being food smart isn't about

learning to calculate grams or fat, or is it
about studying labels and counting calories.

Healthy eating is all about balanced and moderate
eating, consisting of healthy meals at least
three times per day. Healthy eaters eat many
different types of foods, not limiting themselves
to one specific food type or food group.

Eating healthy requires quite a bit of leeway. You
might eat too much or not enough, consume
foods that are sometimes more or less nutritious.
However, you should always fuel your body and
your brain regularly with enough food to keep
both your mind and body strong and alert.

A healthy eater is a good problem solver. Healthy
eaters have learned to take care of themselves
and their eating with sound judgement and making
wise decisions. Healthy eaters are always aware
of what they eat, and know the effect that it
will have on their bodies.

When someone is unable to take control of their
eating, they are also likely to get out of control
with other aspects of life as well. They could
end up spending too much, talking too much, even
going to bed later and later.

You should always remember that restricting food
in any way is always a bad thing. Healthy eating
is a way of life, something that you can do to
enhance your body or your lifestyle. If you've
thought about making your life better, healthy
eating is just the place to start. You'll make
life easier for yourself, those around you, and
even your family.

5 action of alcohol on internal organs

2009-08-21T02:16:00.000-07:00

Action on the stomach.

The action of alcohol on the stomach is extremely dangerous that it becomes unable to produce the natural digestive fluid in sufficient quantity and also fails to absorb the food which it may imperfectly digest. A condition marked by the sense of nausea emptiness, prostration and distention will always be faced by an alcoholic. This results in a loathing for food and is teased with a craving for more drink. Thus there is engendered a permanent disorder which is called dyspepsia. The disastrous forms of confirmed indigestion originate by this practice.

How the liver gets affected.

The organic deteriorations caused by the continued use of alcohol are often of a fatal character. The organ which most frequently undergoes structural changes from alcohol, is the liver. Normally, the liver has the capacity to hold active substances in its cellular parts. In instances of poisoning by various poisonous compounds, we analyse liver as if it were the central depot of the foreign matter. It is practically the same in respect to alcohol. The liver of an alcoholic is never free from the influence of alcohol and it is too often saturated with it. The minute membranous or capsular structure of the liver gets affected, preventing proper dialysis and free secretion. The liver becomes large due to the dilatation of its vessels, the surcharge of fluid matter and the thickening of tissue. This follows contraction of membrane and shrinking of the whole organ in its cellular parts. Then the lower parts of the alcoholic becomes dropsical owing to the obstruction offered to the returning blood by the veins. The structure of the liver may be charged with fatty cells and undergo what is technically designated 'fatty liver'.

How the Kidneys deteriorate.

The Kidneys also suffer due to the excessive consumption of alcohol. The vessels of Kidneys lose elasticity and power of contraction. The minute structures in them go through fatty modification. Albumin from the blood easily passes through their membranes. This results in the body losing its power as if it were being run out of blood gradually.

Congestion of the lungs.

Alcohol relaxes the vessels of the lungs easily as they are most exposed to the fluctuations of heat and cold. When subjected to the effects of a rapid variation in atmospheric temperature, they get readily congested. During severe winter seasons, the suddenly fatal congestions of lungs easily affects an alcoholic.

Alcohol weakens the heart.

Consumption of alcohol greatly affects the heart. The quality of the membraneous structures which cover and line the heart changes and are thickened, become cartilaginous or calcareous. Then the valves lose their suppleness and what is termed valvular disorder becomes permanent. The structure of the the coats of the great blood-vessel leading from the heart share in the same changes of structure so that the vessel loses its elasticity and its power to feed the heart by the recoil from its distention, after the heart, by its stroke, has filled it with blood.

Again, the muscular structure of the heart fails owing to degenerative changes in its tissue. The elements of the muscular fibre are replaced by fatty cells or, if not so replaced, are themselves transferred into a modified muscular texture in which the power of contraction is greatly reduced.

Those who suffer from these organic deteriorations of the central and governing organ of the circulation of the blood learn the fact so insidiously, it hardly breaks upon them until the mischief is far advanced. They are conscious of a central failure of power from slight causes such as overexertion, trouble, broken rest or too long abstinence from food. They feel what they call a 'sinking' but they know that wine or some other stimulant will at once relieve the sensation. Thus they seek to relieve it until at last they discover that the remedy fails. The jaded, overworked, faithful heart will bear no more. it has run its course and the governor of the blood-streams broken. The current either overflows into the tissues gradually damming up the courses or under some slight shock or excess of motion ceases wholly at the centre.

Lil' Wayne : Every Girl Lyrics..full

2009-06-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

I like a long haired thick red bone
Open up her legs then filet Mignon that pussy
Ima get in and on that pussy
If she let me in Ima own that pussy
Gon' throw it back and bust it open like you posed' to
Girl I got that dope dick
Now come here let me dope you
You gon' be a dope fiend
Your friends should call you dopey
Tell em' keep my name out they mouth if they don't know me
Huh
But you can't come and tunecha
I'll fuck the whole group
Baby I'm a groupie
My sex game is stupid
My head is the dumbest
I promise
I should be hooked on phonics
haha

But anyway I think you're bionic
And I don't think you're beautiful
I think you're beyond it
And I just wanna get behind it
and watch you
(back it up and dump it back-
back it up and dump it back)

[CHORUS:]
Cause' we like her
And we like her too
And we like her
And we like her too
And we like her
And we like her too
And we like her
And she like us too

I wish I could fuck every girl in the world
I wish I could fuck every girl in the world
I wish I could fuck every girl in the world

[Drake:]
yea
alright
(ohh ohhh)
She be jumpin up and down
Tryna fit that ass in
Took her half an hour
Just to get that belt to fasten
All they want to talk about is partyin' and fashion
Every single night I have a dream that I am smashin
Them all
Young Money man this shit so timeless
And I'm in the mood to get faded so please bring your finest
And what are all your names again we drunk remind us
Are any y'all into girls like I am lets be honest

She wants me she wants me
Cause' I got it all shawty tell me what you don't see
I will fuck with all y'all
All y'all are beautiful
I just cant pick one so you can never say I'm choosy hoes
And Wayne say pussy pussy pussy
And weed and alcohol seem to satisfy us all
Damn
And every time I think of staying with her
She bring that friend around that make a nigga reconsider man

CHORUS

[Jae Millz:]
I aint being disrespectful baby I'm just being Millz
And I don't know how fake feels so I gotta keep it real
I just wanna fuck every girl in the world
Every model every singer every actress every diva
Every house of diddy chick every college girl every skeezer
Stripper and every desperate housewife that resemble eva
My role model was wilt
So married woman or milf
It don't matter who you is miss
You can get the business
Haaaa

[Gudda Gudda:]
These hoes is gods gift like Christmas
I like em caramel skin long hair thick ass
And I swear I'm feelin all y'all
I'm scrollin down my call log
And Ima call all y'all
My butter pecan Puerto Rican
She screamin out papi every time a nigga deep in
And I'm about to get my Bill Clinton on
And Hilary can Ride em' too boy I gets my pimpin on

CHORUS

[Mack Maine:]
And bitch Im Mack Maine -aine -aine -aine
Sanaa Lathan
Meagan Good
Angelina Jolie
Hah
D Woods
For free suites Id give Paris Hilton all-nighters
In about 3 years, holla at me Miley Cyrus
I don't discriminate, no not at all
Kit kat a midget if that ass soft I break her off
I exchange V cards with the retards
And get behind the Christian like DR cuz he are
Mack Mizzo
baby
Cause he are Mack Mizzo
Baby

[CHORUS:]
Cause' we like her
And we like her too
And we like her
And we like her too
And we like her
And we like her too
And we like her
And she like us too

I wish I could fuck every girl in the world
I wish I could fuck every girl in the world
I wish I could fuck every girl in the world

Young Mula baby

Tips beauty skin

2009-02-24T16:31:00.001-08:00

Sun Prevention - If whenever possible, stay out of the sun. If you are out and about, protect your skin by using a sunblock on not only your face but also your hands. Not only does the sun contribute to dryness and wrinkles, but it can also contribute to skin cancer.

Tanning - Although a tan may look nice, in the long run the sun's rays will do lots of damage to your skin, not to mention the possibility of skin cancer. An alternatif to looking tanned is to choose a tanning cream. These creams can be found at any cosmetics counter and are easy to use and safe on your skin. And if you use a tanning salon to start out your tan, that does not mean it is any safer to go out in the sun.

Night Cream - Use a good night cream every tonight on your face and neck. Skin cells get their best renewment during the night time, so take this opportunity to take especially good care of your skin at this time. I would not, however, recommend that you use a night cream if you have oily skin, as this can contribute even more to the oiliness.

Moisturize - Even if you have oily skin your should always moisturize after washing your face. Choose a moisturizer that is made for your skin type. Moisturizer will also help your foundation to go on more smoothly and evenly.

Showers - Only take warm showers or baths. Do not use hot water. Hot water will dry our the skin and make it flaky. Use a moisturizer while your skin is still wet to seal in the moisture. (veroniki-tips)

Stress

2009-02-22T07:34:00.001-08:00

To take away stress, take a very warm shower or bath and let the water relax your muscles. Scent the bath water if you wish.

If possible, have some relaxing music in the room. Dim the lights a scented candle if you wish. Let the stress dissolve into the water and be washed away by it. Imagine you are a part of the water it self.

How much protein do we need

2009-02-22T07:11:00.000-08:00

How much protein do we need? A recent survey shows that an average adult need 11 grams for every thirty pounds of body weight for example if you weigh 150 lbs. You need

55 grams of protein. Pregnant women should add 10 grams per day and children between the ages of 1 and 14 should have about 1 gram for each pound of body weight.

Pimples!

2009-02-22T03:21:00.001-08:00

Pimples are the woes of oily skin or change in sex hormone levels. Usually, as your age, your skin becomes less oily, and pimples erupt less and less. Avoid squeezing a headless pimple. You run the risk of spreading infection under your skin.

Cleanse your entire face, and especially the area around the pimple, with a skin toner containing 10 to 50 percent alcohol. If you cannot eliminate pimples on your own, visit a dermatologist.

Tips fat-burning

2009-02-21T10:41:00.000-08:00

Strength training will help increase your ratio of lean muscle to body fat, enabling you to burn more calories and to trim and shape your figure. Lean muscle weighs more than fat but healtheir for you and helps give you

that taut, defined shape. Aerobic exercise such as bicycling, rowing or (if you use a wheelchair) other types of arm-cycling are all important, since they will complecement the weight training with additional fat-burning.

Please stop smoking

2009-02-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

Stop smoking now. Because smoking speeds up the development of atherosclerosis (a conditions in which cholesterol and other substance build up in the artery walls to form plaque)

by damaging artery walls, which allows for cholesterol deposit to develop.

Weight-Loss surgery cuts cancer risk

2008-12-08T00:47:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Morbidly obese patients who undergo weight-loss surgery greatly reduce their risk of cancer, according to a study providing fresh evidence of health benefits from these increasingly common operations.

Researchers from McGill University in Montreal found that the people who underwent bariatric surgery saw reductions in particular in the risk for breast and colon cancer . Many people see dramatic weight loss after such surgery.

People who are deemed morbidly obese typically are at least 100 pounds (45 kg) overweight. The researchers tracked 1,035 such patients who had bariatric surgery for five years. They also monitored 5,746 patients who matched the surgery group in age, sex and weight but did not have this surgery.

Those who underwent bariatric surgery had about an 80 percent lower risk of developing cancer, the study showed.

"The evidence is mounting that weight loss through weight-loss surgery , if you are extremely obese, is extremely beneficial both to your health as well as to your quality of life," Dr. Nicolas Christou, McGill’s head of bariatric surgery who led the study, said in a telephone interview on Thursday.

In addition to cutting the incidence of breast cancer by about 85 percent and colon cancer by about 70 percent, those who underwent bariatric surgery also saw reductions in the risk for pancreatic cancer, skin cancer, uterine cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the researchers said.

Obesity raises the risk for several types of cancer, including cancers of the breast, colon, esophagus and kidney, as well as numerous other diseases.

The study buttresses findings published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine that obese people who have bariatric surgery have a lower risk of death from heart disease, diabetes as well as cancer compared to obese people who do not have such surgery.

Bariatric surgery alters the digestive system’s anatomy to cut the volume of food that can be eaten and digested.

In Christou’s study, presented at a meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, most of the patients had gastric bypass surgery, which leaves the stomach smaller and permits food to bypass part of the small intestine.

"There’s an old misconception that this is cosmetic surgery. But actually, people who are overweight don’t live as long because a lot of them develop weight-related health problems that shorten their lives. What we see in all these studies is that when people lose the weight, their health gets better," said Dr. Daniel Gagne of the Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh, who presented another study at the meeting.

An estimated 205,000 people underwent bariatric surgery in the United States last year.

Other studies unveiled at the meeting also described health benefits in people who lost weight after bariatric surgery.

Gagne’s study showed that most patients with asthma and arthritis were able to stop taking steroids to treat the conditions within about a year of having bariatric surgery.

The study involved 49 morbidly obese patients who were taking steroids and other immunosuppressant medications to treat chronic inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases.

New York University researchers showed that losing less than half of excess weight within a year of bariatric surgery was enough for patients to see dramatic improvements in type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and sleep apnea.

(Editing by Alan Elsner)

Flavoring Food May Promote Weight Loss

2008-12-08T00:46:00.001-08:00

Boosting the flavor of your food with calorie-free seasonings and sweeteners may help you feel fuller faster and decrease the amount you eat, according to a U.S. study that suggests this may be a new way to help people lose weight.

The study of "tastants" — substances that can stimulate the sense of taste — included 2,436 overweight or obese people who were asked to sprinkle a variety of savory or sweet crystals on their food before eating their meals. They used the salt-free savory crystals on salty foods and used the sugar-free sweet crystals on sweet or neutral-tasting foods. The participants didn’t know what the flavors of the crystals were, other than salty or sweet. The hidden flavors of the savory tastants were cheddar cheese, onion, horseradish, ranch dressing, taco, and parmesan. The flavors of the sweet tastants were cocoa, spearmint, banana, strawberry, raspberry and malt.

A control group of 100 people didn’t use tastants. Both groups continued their normal diet and exercise habits during the study.

At the start of the study, the treatment group had an average weight of 208 pounds and an average body mass index (BMI) of 34, which is considered obese. After six months of using the tastants, the 1,436 people in the treatment group who completed the study lost an average of 30.5 pounds, and their BMI decreased by an average of five points.

In the control group, the average weight loss was two pounds, and the average BMI decrease was 0.3.

The findings were to be presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in San Francisco.

The people in the treatment group may have lost more weight than those in the control group, because the tastants made them feel full faster, and they ate less, suggested study author Dr. Alan Hirsh, founder and neurologic director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago.

Another possibility is that the tastants improved the flavor of bland but healthy foods such as tofu and some vegetables, resulting in healthier eating habits.

Tastants aren’t commercially available, but people can use techniques of enhancing their senses of smell and taste to help them lose weight, Hirsch said.

"Sniff your food before you eat it. Chew it a lot. Choose low-calorie foods and season them," he said.

In another study to be presented at the Endocrine Society meeting, researchers found that three months of aerobic exercise decreased body fat and calorie intake in overweight and obese people. These changes were linked to increased levels of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), said the team from the University of Chile Clinical Hospital in Santiago.

BDNF’s main role is to promote the growth and survival of nerve cells, but recent research has shown that BDNF also is related to obesity and metabolism.

This study included 15 overweight or obese men and women, ages 26 to 51, who did a three-month program of aerobic exercise on a treadmill and bicycle. They were told they could continue to eat their usual number of calories.

At the end of the study, the participants had decreased BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure, and reported consuming fewer calories than at the start of the study. They also had increased levels of BDNF. The higher the concentration of BDNF, the fewer calories participants consumed and the greater the weight loss.

This suggests that BDNF acts as an appetite suppressant, the researchers said. They noted that identifying markers such as BDNF may help health care providers determine which patients will benefit from exercise.

Source = http://www.asktherapy.com

10 Tips to Maintain Beauty and Health

2008-12-08T00:42:00.000-08:00

Beauty , health , and nutrition are all integrated. If you eat a balanced diet you will be able to maintain your physique and glowing beauty externally and good health internally. A balanced diet is one that provides all the nutrients you need, the right amount of proteins, carbohydrates, and fat.
To achieve goals you need to ensure a good balance in your diet, introduce variety into your meals, and practice moderation. The basis of nutrition lies in your height, weight, dimensions, and your daily energy needs. Once you know this, you can compute what your daily calorific needs are and set goals for weight maintenance, gain, or loss. By regulating your diet you can be active as well as happy.
You must:

1. Eat sensibly. Include a variety of foods in your diet such that all nutrients that are required by your body are present. Make use of a food pyramid and calorie chart to prepare tasty and nutritious meals.

2. Eat plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. They will supply you with essential vitamins, minerals, and protection from several diseases.

3. Maintain your weight at a healthy level. Successful weight management is one of the golden keys to good health. By doing this you will considerably reduce the risk of many diseases like hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, and osteoporosis.

4. Learn self control, eat moderate portions. The secret lies in eating everything but in small portions.

5. Make a time-table for your meals and how many calories you will be taking in each meal. Never fast, starve yourself, or skip a meal. Eat when your body demands sustenance but not huge quantities.

6. Practice moderation. Good health does not lie in eliminating carbohydrates or fats. Include all your favorite foods but balance them with the rest of your diet.

7. Be sure your meals each day include all the food groups.

8. Plan to exercise every day. Either walk or take up aerobics, dance, or join a gym. Exercise will not just burn calories but put a glow into your skin, tone your muscles, and strengthen your bones. Exercise also removes accumulated toxins from your body.

9. Maintain a dairy in which you record your goals, and what you eat each day. Review your week objectively and create a table that shows at a glance what you did right and what you did wrong. This will help keep you on the right track.

10. Celebrate each victory. Give yourself a present or take yourself out every time you achieve a goal.

By eating healthy, one can live a complete and rounded life without diseases, reduce stress greatly, look and feel great, be happy from within , age well, produce healthy progeny, and live life to the fullest.

Read the source

The Acne Free Diet - Learn How to Eat Your Way to Healthy Skin

2008-11-23T03:43:00.001-08:00

One camp says that certain foods like chocolate and sugar will make you break out and another camp says it has no bearing at all on your acne.

So is it possible to become acne free on diet alone? Probably not 100%, but with the proper diet, it is possible to reduce breakout severity and control them better with over the counter solutions.

While this diet may be good for all forms of acne, it is primarily aimed at the most common form called comedonal acne, which is the medical term for whiteheads and blackheads. Comedonal acne occurs when a sebaceous follicle gets plugged with dirt, tiny hairs or bacteria. The result is either a blackhead or a whitehead. The key to preventing comedonal acne is keeping the sebaceous follicle open, and believe it or not, this can be practically controlled by what you eat!

What is the Acne Free Diet?

According to a study at RMIT University, a diet lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein can be the key to clearer skin. Scientists believe that carbs that are high on the Glycemic Index can lead to more breakouts than carbs that have a lower GI.

Here are some carbohydrates that have a lower GI and can help you become acne free:

• Whole grain bread
• Brown rice
• Oatmeal
• Whole wheat pasta

What About Protein?

Lean protein is recommended, as meat high in saturated fats can lead to oily skin and clogged pores. Look for chicken, fish and other lean protein choices versus meats that are heavy in fat. This will also lead to better health overall as well as clearer skin.

Don't Forget Your Fruits and Veggies

Vegetables are an important part of any diet, and it's no exception on the acne free diet. Your diet should include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. These should preferably be choices lower on the Glycemic Index, so you should avoid starches such as potatoes, white rice and very sweet fruits.

Some fruit and vegetable choices may include:

• Apples
• Grapefruit
• Oranges
• Almost all vegetables except "sweet" veggies like corn, pumpkin, potato, etc.

Sugar and Sweets

While it may be hard to forgo sodas and sweets, the payoff can be big in the form of clearer more beautiful skin. Not only is "junk food" bad for your health overall, it can lead to clogging of your pores, which ultimately can lead to whitehead and blackhead (comedonal acne) breakouts. By greatly reducing or eliminating these from your diet, you can go a long way to healthier skin and a healthier you!

While a diet free of junk food and high fat yummies may not sound like the most exciting thing in the world, having clearer skin and a heightened self-esteem is. The acne free diet may not 100% prevent or cure your whiteheads and blackheads, but it will go a long way in reducing it with an awesome side effect of giving you a healthier body.

Learning how to be Acne Free can be a real pain. What works? What's junk? http://www.skinacneremedytreatmentproduct.com has the answers you're looking for without all the hype.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ingrid_Lihan

4 Steps to an Overnight Acne Care Solution

2008-11-23T03:37:00.000-08:00

Getting rid of Acne in the minimum possible time will be the top priority for anyone who has been afflicted with this problem. Though acne is neither a lethal ailment nor one with any prolonged effect leading to other complications, acne has its adverse cosmetic values. Apart from the irritation that is caused by acne, most acne care products use the cosmetic problem as a selling point. Here are some useful tips that can help you understand acne care in better light.

Clean face

A clean face is among the fundamental necessities of proper acne care. The number of times you clean your face would depend on your type of work and exposure to the forces of nature. Those working in closed door conditions, with little or chance of perspiration may need it only twice a day, once in the morning and once before you go to bed. But, others whose occupation demands moving around, doing hard labor, plenty of exercise, or sportspersons, should cleanse their face more often and up to 4 or 5 times a day.

A stunning cleansing agent

Some people have found the simple tooth paste as an effective remedy in acne care. The results from this measure are claimed to be instantaneous and long lasting. It is not necessary to smear your face all over with tooth paste. Just apply it to the affected area and allow it to dry up over 15 to 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water (lukewarm rather) and retire to bed. Some burning sensation may be experienced initially, but it is just momentary and would vanish soon. In most cases, pronounced results can be seen the very next morning. The white tooth paste should be used and not the gel type. However, for skin that is very sensitive or in cases where the burning sensation persists, immediately wash off your face and consult a physician.

The metabolism is responsible

In most cases, the root cause of acne is accumulation of toxic waste inside the body. This can happen due to a number of causes and predominantly, poor personal hygiene and food habits are considered to lead the pack. Eating more of concentrated food, lesser intake of water, absence of green leafy vegetables, fruits etc. in the diet can prevent the normal cleansing function of the body and allow accumulation of toxic waste. Since this cannot remain inside the body for longer periods of time, it finds a vent in the form of acne.

Acne and women

The cause for acne in women gets a little more complex due to the hormonal changes occurring during menstrual cycles. Pregnancy related acne is also very common. Yet another factor making women more prone to acne is the use of a plethora of cosmetics. While cosmetics are indeed important for any woman, if acne has made it appearance, acne care would involve choosing the cosmetics with great care or avoiding them for some time can be beneficial.

Acne Care is a subject of large scale attention particularly in America. Multitude of tips and products are available in the market. You may want to learn more - please visit http://www.skinacneremedytreatmentproduct.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ingrid_Lihan

World Wide Food Crisis - Grains Gone Wild, by Paul Krugman

2008-08-11T12:16:00.000-07:00

Published on Monday, April 7, 2008 by The New York Times

"These days you hear a lot about the world financial crisis. But there's another world crisis under way - and it's hurting a lot more people."

"I'm talking about the food crisis. Over the past few years the prices of wheat, corn, rice and other basic foodstuffs have doubled or tripled, with much of the increase taking place just in the last few months. High food prices dismay even relatively well-off Americans - but they're truly devastating in poor countries, where food often accounts for more than half a family's spending.

"There have already been food riots around the world. Food-supplying countries, from Ukraine to Argentina, have been limiting exports in an attempt to protect domestic consumers, leading to angry protests from farmers - and making things even worse in countries that need to import food."

How did this happen? The answer is a combination of long-term trends, bad luck - and bad policy.

SV Note: Food doesn't yet cost half my income, but it is by far the biggest expense in my budget. That's with eating simply, cooking most of my own food from scratch, buying bulk, buying local whenever possible, and keeping a garden. But we still eat far better than most people in the world, mainly because of all the cheap imported food that's available - cheap relative to the actual social, environmental, and economic costs of producing and transporting it.

Read Paul Krugman's article, Grains Gone Wild, to find out why cheap food, like cheap oil may be a thing of the past.

Acne Scar Natural Treatment Tips With Aloe Vera

2008-07-29T21:43:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the last time you look in the mirror and feel proud about your face? Do you wish that you can get back the unblemished skin that is free from breakouts? Everybody want to avoid acne scars as much as possible.

During the process of healing, the pimples will leave behind a hyperpigmented mark on your skin. Don’t worry as this mark is the result of post-inflammatory reaction. It can be there from six to twelve months which provide ample time for the skin to heal and reconstruct itself. However, if the mark remain there after a year, then you can consider it as a permanent scar.

Acne scars comes in different conditions ranging from mild to severe. They can badly spoil your facial outlook in particular cystic acne. They are caused by the permanent marks left by zits. You can prevent the scarring from arising at first through proper therapy. However, they will be on you face throughout your life if you don’t remove them.

Commonly, acne scars are categorized into three kinds: Ice-Pick Scars: Their diameters are between 1 to 2mm. Boxcar Scars: They measure more than 3 mm in radius. Rolling Scars: Their radius usually pass more than 4 to 5 mm and they give a rolling impression to the overlying skin.

So, how do you prevent permanent acne scars and what is the best scar treatment? The common solutions for acne scars and cysts usually involve surgical procedures and laser therapy. They include dermal fillers, laser resurfacing, blue light therapy, subcutaneous incision, punch excision, punch excision with skin graft replacement, and punch excision. You may be terribly disappointed when your zits turn work bad with these customary acne scar treatments.

Since the invasive therapies are not encouraging, many now prefer natural treatments such as zinc and sulfur and home remedies. Natural remedies has been used by ancient people to cure skin diseases such as rosacea. They also used herbs and plants as the natural acne control. These herbal remedies can enhance the complexion and keep the skin youthful.

Treating acne scars can be achieved in two methods either by external local medication or internal body metabolism treatment or a mixture of both. An effective natural acne scar treatment must deal both inflammation and bacteria, and always strive to avoid scarring.

Aloe vera is one of the natural acne scarring treatment. It is a tropical herbal plant that is friendly to sensitive skin. Its juice can be extracted for local administration on acne scars. Burns, cuts, and rashes can be treated with aloe vera. Moreover, it promotes healing of wounds and damaged skin naturally. You can use it both internally and externally

Aloe vera contains the ideal polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates) that can help to repair damaged skin. Studies show that these polysaccharides together with other substances can minimize the severity of the pimple condition. They supply the building blocks that the skin requires for healing. It also has anti-inflammatory agents to subside blemish breakouts. As a holistic treatment for scars, it can also help to fade stretch marks since they are another form of scars.

It is a fact that you can use aloe vera to treat acne scars. Apart from acquiring a healthy skin, this plant of nature is capable to lessen the redness and swelling naturally. Aloe Vera extract is a gentle alternative to traditional over the counter and prescription acne medication which very rarely produces side effects. Even if you use it every day, your skin should be fine without any detrimental effect. However, don’t assume that it is the only solution you have. When aloe vera blend with other herbs, the acne scar natural treatment can be more effective.

Acnezine contains one of natural ingredients which is aloe vera. Find out more about Acnezine and its other natural substances in the Acnezine review. if you want to find out more about holistic solution to get rid of pimples please click the link on natural cures for acne below right now!

By romulus2

sex prevent heart attack?

2008-07-26T03:51:00.000-07:00

Is there any relationship between sex and heart attacks? – Recent study shows – yes.

Men who have three or more orgasms per week are much less likely to have heart attack than those who don’t. It is not clear why it happens. May be it works just like regular physical exercise?

In my opinion – another explanation is more likely here.

Men who have three or more orgasms per week should be mentally, physically and spiritually healthy. They are more likely to have normal hormones levels.

So in order to avoid or prevent heart attack no one should force himself to have sex. Maintaining balance in hormone levels is the key.

sex, heart, health