Protein Packed Diet

Posted on May 27, 2010 by admin

The who, what, when, where, and why of a high-protein diet.

Thinking of hitching your wagon to a new weight-loss craze? In case you haven’t heard about the pros of a protein-rich diet, listen up! Adding some protein (quite a bit of it, actually) can help you lose a little weight. But how does it really work, and is it for you?

The Protein Plan

A high-protein diet’s main goal is to help you lose weight. Whereas the typical diet consists of 10 to 15 percent of all calories coming from protein, a high-protein diet demands as much as half of your calories come from protein. As a high-protein diet changes your eating habits, it can also change your metabolism.

If you stop eating sufficient carbohydrates and other nutrients, your body can stop burning food for fuel and will instead begin to use your own fat as fuel. This can result in rather rapid weight loss, which sounds pretty good to anyone looking for a quick fix. Unfortunately, this fast and furious pound shedding isn’t experienced without some side effects. Irritability, heart palpitations, kidney trouble, headaches, and other problematic symptoms can all result from a diet high in protein and low in other nutrients.

The Protein Participant

When followed for short periods of time, a high-protein diet is usually safe for otherwise healthy adults. However, anyone with kidney or liver disease should avoid high-protein diets, as they put excessive stress on the body’s waste removal system, a system that is already damaged due to kidney or liver disease.

High-protein diets are also not ideal for people with high cholesterol or are already at risk for heart disease. Since some foods packed with protein also come with a fair amount of cholesterol and fat, adding even more of these foods into your diet isn’t a good idea.

The Protein Predicament

While a high-protein diet may help you lose weight, it is doing it with the same problem that many diets have. Instead of encouraging a healthy, well-rounded diet filled with various foods, a high-protein diet leans heavily on protein-rich foods. As a result, other foods, such as those that are high in carbohydrates, become neglected. Though reducing carbohydrate intake in most people is fine, a drastic reduction in the consumption of any vitamin, mineral, or nutrient is never good for your body.

If you’re set on going with a high-protein diet, be careful not to neglect other foods in the process. That way, you’ll be more likely to get the results you seek without damaging your body along the way. You should also consult a dietitian to find out the most efficient and healthiest ways to up your protein intake. After all, your goal is to lose weight – not your good health!

Finding the Protein

Looking for a nice piece of protein that will help in your quest for a thinner you? Look no farther than your local butcher! Just remember these tips to make sure your protein won’t work against your waistline.

Tip 1: White Poultry Is Good Poultry. Few foods provide the same protein punch as a good piece of chicken – at least not for the money. Just make sure you go for the white meat. Dark meat may be juicier and tastier, but it also comes with added fat. You may also want to cut off the skin, as it has some of that undesirable saturated fat.

Tip 2: Steak Should Be on the Menu. The ultimate protein-rich food is steak. When chosen properly, a lean piece of steak tastes fantastic and gives your body the protein it craves. When chosen poorly, a fatty piece of steak will give your body the protein you seek, but it will be marred by unwanted fats.

Tip 3: A Fish a Day. People in Asian countries have long touted the health benefits of fish. One of the perks of eating fish is the great amount of protein in each bite. Combine that protein with the fact that fish is usually very low in fat, and you’ve got a protein source that will never do you wrong!

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Look Younger with Food

Posted on May 27, 2010 by admin

Say goodbye to your plastic surgeon, and hello to the right foods.

Tired of going in for another BOTOX ® injection every few months? Wish there was a way to maintain your hold on youthfulness without paying big bucks? Then here’s some good news for you: What you put in your mouth can make a difference in how young (or old) you look.

Ready to eat your way to a younger looking you? Keep reading to find out what foods and drinks you should stick with and run from to give yourself the upper hand against aging.

Eat This

Vitamin A: Acne may make you feel like a teenager, but if not kept under tight control, it can cause lasting damage to your skin that results in you looking older than you are. To help fend off acne, get plenty of vitamin A. Good choices include orange foods, such as carrots, yams, and apricots and green goodness like spinach and parsley.

Vitamin E: In the event you don’t suffer much from acne but still want the best skin possible, you’ll need to stock up on plenty of vitamin E, which is found in almonds, sardines, egg yolks, leafy green vegetables, and whole grains. Why vitamin E? It may just have the greatest impact of any food on the health of your skin and eyes. Since your skin is the first thing many people see and the eyes are considered the window to the soul, keeping both healthy and youthful in appearance can help you beat the aging curve.

Whole Grains: There are countless reasons to include whole grains in your diet. One of them is to appear younger. Because while whole grains and any other whole food help your skin look better, eating whole grain breads and cereals feeds your body plenty of healthy carbohydrates. By getting good and full on healthy carbs, you give your body the energy it needs to go strong all day long. This ensures you can sprint through your day’s activities, starting from the moment you wake up, through your workday, your gym workout, and time with the family!

Water: It may not be fancy, but drinking plenty of water is one of the easiest ways to help your body get rid of unwanted toxins that can speed up the aging process. So the next time you’re out on the town, instead of ordering a soda, ask for a tall glass of water. Your youthful looks will thank you.

“You’re never too old to become younger.”
– Mae West

Avoid This

Fried Foods: Just when you thought there was no other reason to sidestep fatty fried foods, here’s one more. Eating fried foods can cause your skin to look unhealthy and aged. Fortunately, sidestepping these foods is rather easy, as all you have to do is toss your chicken on the grill and bake your fish in the oven. Don’t think you can go a lifetime without a fried doughnut? Giving in every once in a while will remind you of the flavor you seek, without putting too many extra years on your skin.

Juices: You may think that slamming down an 8-ounce glass of juice is a great way to increase your intake of vitamins and minerals. And it is. Unfortunately, many of the juices on the market are also filled with some other items that aren’t so good for you. Namely added sugars. Before downing a carton of your favorite juice, check out its label to see how much added sugar or sweetener is included. If it’s 100-percent natural, drink away. Otherwise, stay away.

Sweets: They taste good and make you happy for a moment, but what sweets don’t do is give you energy to get up and get going. Since you’re going to need plenty of exercise to stay in touch with your younger side, stay away from the cookie jar and fulfill the yearning of your sweet tooth with natural sugars found in bananas or oranges.

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Healthy, Immediate Weight Loss

Posted on May 27, 2010 by admin

Is there a magic pill to take away your extra pounds without putting your health at risk?

Losing lots of weight fast is the American dream. Chased by many, caught by few, fast weight loss seems to always come at a price – your long-term good health. But is there a way to trim off extra pounds quickly without compromising the integrity of your entire body? Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Read on to find your way to fast and healthy weight loss.

Go Extreme

One of the most extreme ways to shed pounds overnight is to push yourself to the limit at the gym for hours at a time. If you hit the weight room and elliptical machines for two hours and run three miles each day, you’re going to lose weight. Only eat enough calories to refuel your body and you’re going to lose even more. Within a week, this strict diet and exercise regiment could result in losing as many as 20 pounds.

Since you probably don’t have that much time to devote to the gym and you may not have a physician who can monitor your every workout to ensure you don’t hurt yourself more than help yourself, you’ll probably need to try something else. Fortunately, you can lose pounds fast without having medical assistance by your side the entire time.

Watch What You Eat

The first way to lose weight quickly on your own is to watch what you eat. Any extra calories have to go – especially if those calories are crammed into a candy bar. And if you think those late-night snacks aren’t doing you any damage, think again! Review every single bite you take and only cling to those morsels of food that benefit your body.

The easiest way to avoid eating excessive, unhealthy, useless calories is to stick to all things lean. Fruits, vegetables, and lean meats should fill your diet, you should stay far from starches, and your diet should contain fewer calories. Just be careful that you don’t eat so little that your body can’t function properly. Also, try to get protein in every meal, which will help your body burn more fat and hang on to muscle.

Get Fit

Keeping an eye on your food intake and reducing your food intake will result in a few pounds here and there, but rapid weight loss requires some serious exercising. No, you don’t have to bench press 300 pounds 25 times every day. But you do have to work out every day for about an hour.

However, your hour of exercise should be performed at a moderate pace. The long, drawn-out hour of exercise may seem a long time to do moderate exercise, but keeping your body moving consistently for that long will reap long-term benefits. And instead of lying under a bar for your workout, make the majority of your routine cardio. After you meet your weight goal, add some strength training, which will help you maintain a healthy weight for years to come.

Fast and Furious

Need some more help losing weight on the quick? Use these fast-and-furious tips to beat your weight into submission.

  • Go to the gym twice a day for 30 minutes or more. This way you get in a full hour of working out without having to commit one big chunk of time at once. If you go for an hour each time, you’ll move toward your weight-loss goals even faster!
  • Drink plenty of water. It helps you feel full and allows your body to sweat more, which is another way to lose some quick weight.
  • Only eat when you’re sitting at a table. Otherwise, you’ll wind up eating lots of calories that you don’t recall. Sit down and take your time so you’ll really know what you eat each day.
  • Always make new goals. If you want to shed 30 pounds in two weeks, don’t stop exercising when you meet this goal. Set another goal to grow stronger, faster, and healthier, and keep up the good work!
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Eat Healthy and Save Money

Posted on May 27, 2010 by admin

That’s right – eating well doesn’t have to break your bank.

These days, it seems everyone is looking for ways to cut back on spending and find the best deals. This means lowering your monthly utility bills and not buying that new luxury vehicle. And it also means watching your dimes during your weekly trip to the grocery store. How can we save money on our food but still eat a healthy, well-balanced diet? Read on and you will find key ways to reduce your grocery bill without going hungry. All it takes is a little research and a plan.

First: The first step is to make a plan. Determine what you would like to eat for an entire week. Then, examine your cabinets and refrigerator for what you currently have and make a list of what you still need before you head to the store. Once in the store, don’t veer off to meet your sudden cravings. Instead, stick to your list, without making any exceptions. When you have meal options already in your kitchen, you will be less likely to eat out or to stop for quick, more expensive foods to fix.

Second: A second way to eat healthy on a tight budget is to watch for sales. Many grocery stores offer buy-one-get-one-free deals or other great discounts. It is helpful if you know how much items normally cost before you jump on a sale that might not really be that great of a deal. But if something truly is on sale, you may want to stock up on items you know you can use in the future.

Third: Another way to save on groceries is to cut coupons. Sure, this may seem like an inconvenience that’s not worth your time, but if you invest a little of your time, you can save a lot of money. For the best coupons, find out if your grocery store accepts multiple coupons for a single item, such as the store coupon, a manufacturer’s coupon, or even a competitor’s coupon. Frequenting grocery stores that accept any coupon you have makes it much easier to save. To find coupons, check your local newspaper or magazines. But don’t think that’s the only place to find deals. Many companies offer online coupons that can be printed off and used at will.

“When you go to the grocery store, you find that the cheapest calories are the ones that are going to make you the fattest. “
– Amanda Zimmerman

Fourth: A sure way to eat healthy on the cheap is to shop along the edges of your grocery store. If you notice, it is in the center aisles where the majority of your more expensive, packaged foods are located. You can find fresh meats in the deli, whole grain bread from the bakery, milk products in the dairy section, and fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables in the produce section, which are all on the outskirts of any grocery store.

Fifth: Another way to save money on groceries is to buy the store brand. For many food products, you will not be able to taste the difference between more expensive brands and the cheaper store brand. In fact, you may find yourself preferring the flavor of the cheaper alternative and you may be surprised to find out how healthy the store brands often are.

Sixth: If you have the time, it definitely pays to prepare your own food instead of buying pre-made meals or snacks available at the grocery store. When you make your own meals, you know what ingredients you are putting into each food (and your body), and you can be sure they are good for you. Good places to begin making your own food are popcorn (Why not pop it on the stove?) or homemade cookies or muffins (Have the kids lend a hand). Before long, you’ll be enjoying homemade meals every day, and your pocketbook will thank you.

Finally: Eating a healthy diet does not have to be expensive. All it takes is a plan and a little extra time. So be smart at the grocery store, stick to your list, use coupons, look for deals, prepare your own food, and take heart knowing that your body and your bank account are healthy.

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Cheap, Classy Art for Your Home

Posted on May 27, 2010 by admin

Turning your bland walls into something to behold doesn’t require a big budget. It takes a big imagination.

You’ve lived in the same house for 10 years, and now your plans to spruce up your dull walls seem like a pipedream. The framed pictures of the family are a decade old and the cheaply framed posters of great works of art is a little bit too college dormitory. But you’ve grown tired of the naked walls and are ready for a change.

How can you add tasteful art to your home without spending millions of dollars? You’re about to find out.

Artistic Tip #1: Go Local

Many people wanting to add some artistic flair to their homes get discouraged, because the only place they’ve ever seen art is in a museum. While some of the world’s most celebrated pieces are indeed housed in museums across the globe, there is plenty of fantastic art being made in your backyard.

Instead of mourning your inability to have a Monet in your living room, track down the Monet living and working in your neighborhood. Whereas countless artists in the past were relegated to being clerks and policemen during the day without any way to display their art to the world, the Internet has made it possible for closet artists to make their work available to the general public. Hop online and search around for a local artist that creates work to your liking, and you’ll probably find something better than you ever expected for a price better than you imagined.

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. “
– Scott Adams
Artistic Tip #2: DIY

If you’re exceptionally particular about the art that is going to be hanging in your house, it may be best to do it yourself. Grab a paintbrush, an easel, and a canvas the size you want and get to work. It may take a few tries, but if you keep at it, you may be surprised at your artistic abilities. And if you grow tired of something in your painting, you can always go back and fix it later. After all, you’re the artist!

Don’t think you’ll be content with art you create? You can still keep it in house by recruiting your kids or a friend. Simply give your kids some art supplies and leave them to do their thing. After an hour or so, they will probably have a dozen or more unique pieces of art that can never be duplicated. Find which ones you like the best, frame them with matting, toss them on the wall, and your home will take the giant leap from bland to grand. Don’t have any kids? Start talking about your desire with friends. Before you know it, you’ll have a line of people at your front door, anxious to do something artistic to be displayed in your living room, dining room, and bedroom.

Artistic Tip #3: Get Shopping

You may only think of second-hand stores as great places to pick up a killer suit that came from the 1960s, but there can be some great art there also. Granted, you may have to think outside of the box, but the art is there nonetheless.

In addition to the accidental finds of paintings and sculptures that await you, second-hand stores are often filled with memorabilia of a day past or present. When you walk into the store, be very creative and try to find ways to use regular objects for art. Grab a handful of old 45 records for an album collage or nail the individual records on the wall as wallpaper, slip an old advertisement inside a frame, or mount shelving to line your wall with odd finds.

Artistic Tip #4: Stop Waiting

No matter what you’re planning to do on your quest for a more artistically pleasing home, the secret is to get started. Sure, the paintings you put on your wall the first time through may not stay there until your dying day, but mounting them anyway lets you figure out what will look good in your home.
So stop moaning and groaning, complaining that you don’t have the resources to change the appearance of your walls, and get to work. Your home needs art!

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Naming Your Child

Posted on May 27, 2010 by admin

An easy task until it’s time to do it.

You’ve been pregnant for a few months and it’s becoming more and more clear that you’re going to have to name the soon-to-arrive bundle. Unfortunately, it’s no easy task. Your parents, your spouse’s parents, and all your family and friends think they know the perfect name for a child, no matter if you’re expecting a boy or a girl. Instead of being a fun experience, picking a name can become a burden if you’re not focused on three important things.

Important Thing #1: You

While it’s good to get opinions from people you trust, you can’t base your decision on their thoughts. The responsibility of choosing a name for your baby ultimately rests on your shoulders. Letting someone else determine what to name your child is a bad decision that may result in resentment and dislike of your child’s name.

If you and your spouse disagree about a name, you’ll have to work together to come up with a compromise. Some parents-to-be split up the naming responsibilities. One will choose a first name and the other will pick the middle name. Or you can allow the dad to pick the name for baby boys and mom can choose the names for baby girls. Whatever your solution, take however much time it takes to be sure you feel good about your final decision.

Important Thing #2: Your Baby

Equally as important as your opinion on your baby’s name is your baby’s opinion. Granted, you won’t know what your child thinks of his or her name for a few years, but you can weed out names that could cause problems down the road. Some names rhyme with or lend themselves to embarrassing nicknames.

Others have negative connotations. Avoiding these potential problems before your child is born will give your child a more carefree life after being born.
In addition to your child’s name as a whole, pay attention to his or her initials. They, too, can be a source of embarrassment if they spell out an inappropriate or embarrassing word. Paying attention to these little details will ensure everyone is happy with your baby’s name from day one.

Important Thing #3: Tomorrow

Until recently, naming a child was a once-in-a-lifetime event. However, that has started to change as parents find themselves wishing they’d given their child a different name. Whether you find out you gave your newborn the most popular name of the decade or decide Moonflower isn’t going to cut it for your little one and want to change it, you can. For the easiest transition, change your child’s name before he or she turns a year old. If you keep thinking of changing the name but can’t make a decision until your child is older, get his or her input before making the change. If your Emily and John don’t want to become Leana and Gomer, don’t force them.

Also, if you have big plans to change your child’s name, you should know upfront that it’s not an easy process. You’ll be making plenty of phone calls, sending forms and receiving forms before you’ll have confirmation that your child’s name is indeed changed. With that in mind, it’s important for you to choose your child’s name with care in order to get it right the first time.

Name of Adoption

Naming your birth children is difficult. If you adopt a child, the naming process can be even harder. Unlike naming your birth children, adopted children are usually already named. Determining what to do with the name is a delicate matter that requires substantial thought.

Your options are to either keep the entire name given the child at birth or to keep the first or last name of the child and change the other. Though it is possible to completely change your child’s name, it may not be in the best interest to do so, as it causes the child to have a complete disconnect with his or her birth parents. The goal of naming your adopted child is to maintain his or her heritage and give him or her the sense of belonging that is so important for the development of all children. How you reach this goal is up to you.

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Wave Bye-Bye to Bedwetting

Posted on May 27, 2010 by admin

Some quick and easy tips to help your little people wake up dry and happy.

Through the ages, potty training has been one of the most difficult tasks of young parents. But it is possible to help your newly trained children to make it through the night nice and dry. Here’s how.

Change Your Mindset. Many parents fear that a bedwetting child is an unadjusted child. However, this is not true. In fact, very few children struggling with bedwetting are also dealing with emotional problems, and bedwetting is rarely a sign of rebellion or of kidney or bladder issues. What it may be a sign of is a sleep disorder, slow development of bladder control, or stress that shows up when sudden life changes force the child to focus his or her energies on something besides maintaining bladder control.

Since nearly 15 percent of all children ages 3 and older experience occasional bedwetting episodes, bedwetting should not be viewed as an extreme abnormality. By understanding the causes of bedwetting, parents can deal with their children with greater gentleness.

Be Bed Smart. In order to help your bedwetting child to change his or her wet ways, you’ll need to start by varying your child’s bedtime routine. Reduce the amount of liquids you provide your child an hour before bedtime, and have your child use the restroom before going to bed. These two steps will turn many potentially wet nights into dry nights of success! If they’re not, you may want to begin waking your child up once a night to use the restroom. It takes a little more effort on your part, but it’s better to wake up to keep your child dry than to wake up to change a wet bed.

Once your child has a dry night, be sure to praise him or her duly. If you consider how much time and energy you’ll save from not having to change bed sheets and give your child another bath in the middle of the night, it will be no problem to summon up some genuine enthusiasm. And when your child has a slump in his or her success, don’t get upset or punish your child. Let him or her know that it was a minor incident and one that doesn’t have to be repeated again any time soon.

Lean on Two. When a new mindset for you and some new bedtime habits for your child aren’t enough to put a stop to bedwetting, there are two more things to try out: time and medicine.

Most children who are potty trained but have problems staying dry at night will resolve their bedwetting ways if given a little time. If you feel your child is taking a little too long to teach his or her body how to refrain from urinating during sleep, talk with your child’s physician. In rare cases, children are prescribed anti-diuretic medications to help reduce the frequency of bedwetting.

With the tools needed to overcome bedwetting placed firmly in your hands, and a good deal of patience and understanding, your child should be enjoying nights of dryness in no time!

Bigger Problems

If your child is still wetting the bed despite all of your efforts, don’t get angry. Get educated. Since bedwetting can be a symptom of something bigger happening with your child, work with your child’s physician to get to the root of the problem.

Besides the easily treated issues that can cause bedwetting, other conditions that can result in bedwetting include the following:

  • anatomical or structural abnormality in the muscles, nerves, or organs used in urination
  • diabetes
  • emotional issues
  • injury, disease, or abnormalities of the body’s nervous system
  • urinary tract infections

While these causes of bedwetting are possible for your children, they are rare. More than likely, your child will simply need more time and home remedies to defeat beat bedwetting. But if your child is affected by diabetes, urinary tract infections, or other serious conditions that can cause bedwetting, getting them diagnosed and treated properly will help your child stay dry at night and enjoy improved overall health.

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Best Beaches for You

Posted on May 27, 2010 by admin

Need a vacation? Use this guide to hit the beach that meets your vacation needs just right.

Work has worn you down and life is getting a little bit too routine. Fortunately, you’ve been saving your vacation up for a moment like this. So pack your swimsuit, shorts, and t-shirts, and prepare for the time of your life.

Whether you want a relaxing time on the beach with nothing to do or an action-packed adventure, these beaches are sure to please. And as you may notice, they’re all located in the good ol’ USA to help keep your vacation at low cost, so you can spend all that extra money on a new hairdo or in the souvenir stores.

Getting Far Away

Want to hit the beach without being surrounded by barking dogs, screaming kids, and sunbathing adults? Make your way to the secluded beaches in the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. Unlike other places, you will be one of the few people to do so.

Located in the great state of Oregon, all of the beaches in the State Scenic Corridor offer gorgeous scenery and something many beaches can’t offer: silence. All you’ll hear is the therapeutic sound of waves crashing on the shore. As these beaches are some of the most secluded beaches around, they make you feel as if you’ve traveled to your own island oasis of vacation pleasure.

People Watching

Go to any popular beach and you can spend days watching people come and go. But if you want to watch for your favorite stars, you’ve got to go to one beach in particular – Laguna Beach. Located in sunny California, Laguna Beach is the hot spot for celebrity sightings.

If you don’t see any movie stars after a few hours, you may be looking in the wrong place. Pack up your umbrella and star-spotting binoculars and head to some of the local restaurants for dinner. A good choice for celebrity sightings is Surf and Sand. But even if you don’t wind up sitting next to Leonardo DiCaprio or Angelina Jolie, the food is good enough to make it all worthwhile.

Scuba Diving

Prefer to avoid celebrities and instead come face to face with some of the biggest and most colorful underwater creatures on the planet? Head to West Palm Beach in Florida for some of the best scuba diving conditions in America.
While underwater, you have the chance to come across a variety of creatures, ranging from tiny, cute seahorses to large, frightening sharks, sea turtles, dolphins, and more! All it takes is a sense of adventure and a willingness to enjoy nature for a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime scuba experience.

Out on the Boardwalk

Seeking a sense of excitement and old-fashioned fun that doesn’t require you to swim with the sharks? You need to get to the Wildwoods’ Boardwalk on the New Jersey shoreline. An impressive two and one-half miles long, the Boardwalk has tons of rides, shopping, and restaurants.

In fact, by the time you make your way to every available business on the Wildwoods’ Boardwalk, it will be well past dark. Fortunately, the Boardwalk stays alive in the dark hours, making it possible for you to have a blast during your beach vacation well after the sun has gone down.

Surf’s Up

For many people, a beach is only as good as the surf. For diehard surfers, there are few places that offer better surf than Black’s Beach in San Diego, California. The swells are frequent, you can take off on a wave from any direction, and the waves are often of impressive size.

However, Black’s Beach is one place that should be reserved for surfers who know what they’re doing. If you’re just getting your surf legs under you, it may be better to give spots in Texas or the East Coast a try until you feel comfortable with your board and the waves.

Pack ‘Em Up

Need to get out of town on the quick and only want the essentials for your beach getaway? Here are a few things that you will want with you on every beach vacation:

  • swimwear
  • sun block
  • sunglasses
  • sandals
  • towels
  • book or magazine
  • water
  • snacks
  • beach blanket
  • large-brimmed hat
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Dealing with Dry Skin

Posted on May 27, 2010 by admin

Tired of skin as dry as the Sahara Desert? Learn how to combat it!

If you suffer from dry, flaky skin, you’re not alone. In fact, some dermatologists estimate that more than 100 million Americans live with dry, itchy skin on a daily basis. Getting a grip on what brings on dryness, how to get rid of it, and how to avoid it in the first place is the first step to getting more comfortable in your own skin.

Bring It On

The causes of dry skin vary depending on the person and the time of year. For the most part, your dry skin is caused by something you’re doing. On rare occasion, a health condition unrelated to your skin is causing your skin to dry out. No matter what brings it on, dry skin usually shows up on your arms, hands, calves, shins, and abdomen.

During the winter, the biggest perpetrator of dry skin is dry air, particularly the dry air found indoors being manufactured by heating systems. Other causes that bring on dry skin throughout the year include harsh soaps, itchy clothing, and certain medications.

Take It Away

By not treating your dry skin properly or at all, the end result may be inflammation, infection, and swelling of the skin. Thankfully, beating dry skin is usually a simple matter that requires little more than some time and effort. The best (and easiest) first step is to moisturize your body regularly. And instead of wiping lotion on your body when you start feeling dry, do it when your body is still a little bit damp. This allows the moisturizer to trap the water on your skin, helping your skin stay moisturized longer.

Dry air inside can be combated with a humidifier, and cold, dry air outside can be battled by wearing long socks, scarves, hats, and gloves. And to start your day with nice and moist skin, turn the temperature down on your shower and moisturize right after you gently pat yourself dry. (Yes, harsh rubbing of your skin to get dry can dry your skin out even more.) You can also help your skin by avoiding itchy clothing; using mild soaps; and talking with your physician if you experience dry skin while taking medication for high blood pressure, allergies, or acne.

Not the Average Dry

For most people, a little dry skin here and there is no big deal. Apply some lotion and it goes away. However, dry skin can occasionally be more difficult to treat. Sometimes, a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis sets in. While moisturizer helps with these conditions, you will also require medical attention and possibly medications to completely manage eczema or psoriasis.

When your dry skin isn’t tied to eczema or psoriasis, but continues to grow worse and more irritating, see your physician. With antihistamines, other medical treatment, or lifestyle changes, you should be able to find relief from dry, itchy skin.

Testing Your Skin Knowledge

Think you have the know-how to keep your skin silky smooth and far from the land of Dry? Take this quiz to see just how much you know!

Which will help you avoid dry, flaky skin?

  • A hot bath or a lukewarm shower
  • Scented soaps or unscented soaps
  • A wool sweater or a cotton sweatshirt
  • Unprotected sun exposure or regular use of sunscreen

If you picked the latter on all of the above choices, congratulations! You’re one step closer to fending off dry skin. Now use your knowledge to protect your skin from unwanted dryness.

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Fighting False Immunization Information

Posted on May 27, 2010 by admin

Some of your favorite immunization myths are finally put to rest.

If you’re a parent, you’ve got a lot to consider. You’ve got to find ways to get your kids to eat their vegetables, exercise, and boost their mental health – all at once. You work hard to do the best thing for your kids. Then, all of a sudden you catch word that immunization, which you thought was protecting your child’s health is actually harming your child!

Over the years, immunization has gone from hero to villain. However, it’s important that parents understand that the bad news surrounding immunization may not be true after all. Here’s the inside scoop on a few bits of misinformation you may believe.

Myth # 1: In the United States, practically every disease that can be prevented with vaccines has become extinct, making it pointless to practice vaccination.

While vaccination’s effectiveness is a wonder to behold, it’s not the time to stop immunization. Since many parts of the world continue to suffer with vaccine-preventable diseases, it is easy for unvaccinated Americans to bring these diseases back to the United States on accident. Also, vaccinating fewer American children will ultimately lead to increased incidence of diseases that are currently eliminated in our country.

Myth # 2: Vaccines actually cause people to suffer the disease the vaccine was created to protect against.

Looking at raw numbers, it appears vaccination does cause people to end up with the very diseases they think they’re being protected from through vaccination. A closer inspection shows otherwise. As the majority of people in the United States have been vaccinated, it is only natural for more people with vaccinations to suffer diseases. It’s simple numbers. Though more vaccinated individuals do end up with measles, mumps, and other diseases with immunizations, those who aren’t vaccinated are much more likely to suffer these diseases than their vaccinated peers.

Myth # 3: Immunization can lead to conditions, such as autism, which are much more dangerous than any disease from which children are vaccinated.

A few years ago, the news was having a heyday with research that stated that autism was associated with a certain vaccine. These supposed findings were refuted soon afterward by numerous respected medical institutions and many of the researchers who participated in the study. Unfortunately, this information was given three seconds of media attention, whereas the original, frightening report was on every news channel for months on end. Each and every parent should know that not having children vaccinated puts them in much greater danger than vaccination ever will.

Myth # 4: Vaccines only appear useful because of the great sewage system and other hygienic steps taken in our nation.

Improved living conditions have indeed reduced the number of diseases that get passed from one person to the other. However, the advent of vaccinations brought about unprecedented reductions in diseases in a very short period of time. As helpful as good sanitation may be, it could never have made polio a distant part of the past, like immunization has done.

Still not convinced your child needs some shots of good health? Consult your child’s pediatrician for more reasons vaccination is the healthy way to go.

Stay on Schedule

In order to ensure your child receives the maximum benefit from immunization, you’ve got to stay on top of his or her needed vaccines. Use the chart below to keep tabs on your child’s immunization schedule.

Vaccine Doses Age
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) 4 By age 2
Hib 3-4 By age 2
Pneumococcal 4 By age 2
Polio 3 By age 2
Hepatitis A 2 By age 2
Hepatitis B 3 By age 2
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) 1 By age 2
Rotavirus 3 By age 2
Varicella 1 By age 2
Influenza Yearly Starting at 6 months
Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis 1 Age 11-12
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine 1 Age 11-12
Human papillomavirus (HPV) (girls) 1 Age 11-12
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