Most people who suffer from acne rely on their dermatologists and aestheticians to provide the perfect solution. However, prescribing creams and medications that are loaded with steroids may not be the best answer for you. Studies have shown that some of these solutions may cause severe liver damage among other side effects. There are several natural acne product that have been used over the years to cure many different health issues, from skin to other illnesses and conditions. If you suffer from chronic acne or with problem skin in general, read on to learn about the natural product that may help your skin clear.
The Perfect Solution
May 31, 2010 by ·
Tribals Forced To Drink Contaminated Water
May 30, 2010 by ·
No time for wage-seekers to walk long distances to safe drinking water source At many places, tribals draw muddy water from dried up open wells ‘Tribals told to ensure sedimentation and boiling of water’
Hard times: A tribal woman (extreme right) from Pipri village in Narnoor mandal carrying muddy water to drink as wage seekers head towards their work site. —
ADILABAD: In the absence of protected water supply schemes, consumption of contaminated water has become inevitable for the hapless inhabitants of the agency areas of Adilabad district.
Drinking polluted water has started showing its impact as five Gonds of Kasipet mandal have died in the last few days, according to CPI floor leader in the Assembly Gunda Mallesh.
At many places, tribals draw muddy water from dried up open wells thereby putting themselves at risk of contacting deadly diseases. These include thousands of wage-seekers working under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in Jainoor, Sirpur (U), Narnoor, Utnoor and Indervelli mandals.
As they cannot avoid wage earning activity, the labourers have hardly any time to walk long distance to a safe drinking water source early in the morning or to make the water potable by boiling and filtering.
Pollution notwithstanding, they make do with the meagre water found in local open wells.
“The extremely hot weather makes it imperative for our people to reach work sites rather early in the morning. So, they get up early and fetch as much water as they can from sources that are close to their habitations,” explains Pusan Baji Rao, sarpanch of Pipri gram panchayat in Narnoor mandal.
Use plastic containers
The only precaution women take while drawing water from the open wells is the use of plastic containers as against metal buckets that invariably stirs the ‘puddle’ of water and makes it more murky.
Pipri, Gowri, Kolama Loddiguda, Loddiguda and Budha Maharguda on AP-Maharashtra border in Narnoor mandal are some of the villages where wage-seekers have been found drinking water that is not potable. Labourers from Daboli gram panchayat, Garenguda, Busimetta camp, Kondapathar and Guda Mamda in Jainoor and Khamguda, Pangidi Powerguda, Kakadloddi and Chorpalli in Sirpur (U) mandals also face the same predicament despite the government initiating supply of water through tankers at some of these places.
“We have asked them to ensure sedimentation and boiling of the water before consumption. There are sufficient number of chlorine tablets at the primary health centres,” asserts Adilabad Agency District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) Thodsam Chandu, a doctor, who nevertheless, expressed surprise that diseases had not broken out so far. By S. Harpal Singh, The Hindu
Impressive Mother Angelina Jolie
May 29, 2010 by ·
The Oscar-winning actress – who raises three six children with partner Brad Pitt – tries to be more careful in her work out of consideration for her family but still wants them to be amazed by her stunt work.
She said: “The funny thing about having children is that now I am twice as motivated to do a cool stunt because my kids will like it.
“I’m very responsible these days not to be self-destructive because of my kids, but at the same time I have all the more reason to do all the cool things possible because I want to try and make my kids proud.”
Angelina started work on her most recent action-packed movie ‘Salt’ soon after giving birth to twins Knox and Vivienne, now 22 months, and admits she was delighted to get the “push” she needed to get back in shape as the film was so physically challenging.
She explained: “I’ve always been ridiculously fearless to a fault. I feel happier if I’m living every day to the fullest.
“I’d just had two babies and the push to be physically strong was very welcome at the time.” m&c
Finding Those That Really Works
May 29, 2010 by ·
Acne is most often an internal problem caused by many factors. It may be caused by the overproduction of oil, dead cells that have not been sloughed away, environmental grit, sweat and makeup. These elements may seep into your pores, causing irritation. And while it is true that there are a lot of acne products now available in the market, but we cannot deny also that finding those that really works is quite a daunting task. Thus, to make sure that you are having the best acne treatments, with the best price in town then better shop on it at your most trusted outlet.
Don’t Blame It On The Burgers
May 29, 2010 by ·
For years, fat has been thought to cause heart disease, diabetes and obesity. But new evidence suggests it may not be the culprit after all. Jerome Burne reports
One of the classic plotlines of detective fiction has the DA, the mayor and the press all convinced that they have identified the killer – all that remains is to put him away for a long time. But a lone detective, usually plagued by his own demons, thinks they’ve got the wrong man; the real killer is still out there, ready to strike again.
This is the scenario that’s been playing out for decades in the hunt to nail the food responsible for our epidemics of heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Nearly all public health officials and cardiologists have had fat on death row since the 1970s with just a few isolated voices seeking a retrial.
But recently pressure for a pardon has been growing and an increasing number of senior figures have been highlighting evidence that exonerates fats and instead puts carbohydrates, particularly refined flour and sugar, in the dock.
Although you wouldn’t know it from official advice, the case against saturated fat isn’t actually that strong. There are many studies going way back to the 1960s that found no link with cutting it out and reducing heart disease risk, although there are some that did.
The latest witness for the defence is a meta-analysis (a study combining the results of other studies) published in March that found: “There is no significant evidence for concluding that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of CHD or CVD.” It’s very legit, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and big – involving 21 studies and nearly 350,000 patients.
What’s more, the authors point out, replacing saturated fat in the diet with more carbohydrates, especially refined carbs, makes all the risk factors for heart disease and diabetes worse. “This is striking,” says Dr Dariush Mozaffarian of Harvard Medical School, “because it is what we have been doing for years.” Virtually all of the low-fat supermarket meals have contained added sugar to make them palatable. Dr Mozaffarian’s own research suggests that polyunsaturated omega 6 vegetable oils like soya bean may reduce heart attack risk.
Part of the case against saturated fat is that it increases total cholesterol levels. However this idea is “based in large measure on extrapolations, which are not supported by the data”, says Meir Stampfer, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health. The |point is that although it does raise levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol, it also increases “good” HDL cholesterol, higher levels of which are protective.
Two years ago Professor Stampfer co-authored a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, which found that the group on a low-carbohydrate diet who ate the most saturated fat ended up with the healthiest ratio of HDL to LDL and lost twice as much weight as those on a low fat diet.
The dossier indicting sugar as a far more serious threat than fat is already pretty hefty. An addition came last month in the form of a big study (6,000 adults) which confirmed the idea that adding sugar to processed or prepared foods is not a good idea. The effect of this, remarkably, hadn’t been studied before. Researchers at Emory University found that the added sugar affected two markers for heart disease risk – it pushed up fat in the blood (triglycerides) and reduced the “good” HDL cholesterol, in contrast to saturated fat.
The people in the study were a cross section of the population and it turned out that on average this added sugar that many consumers aren’t even aware of was contributing an extra 21 teaspoons a day to their diet. This made up 15 per cent of their total calories. Thirty years ago when the low-fat drive was starting, added sugars only made up 10 per cent . “Added sugars are associated with important cardiovascular disease risk factors,” say the authors. Could low-fat diets have actually been causing heart disease and obesity?
Also last month two more studies came out linking refined carbohydrates with a raised risk of heart disease. One found that women, but not men, were more at risk of heart disease the more foods like white bread, croissants, muffins they ate. These are high glycaemic foods – carbohydrates that are easily absorbed and quickly raise blood glucose levels. The other linked the high glycaemic and widely used sweetener fructose to an increase in men’s blood pressure. Movie audiences rooting for a maverick detective would by now be convinced that the real killer was still out there.
But what exactly is carbs’ modus operandi? Step forward expert witness for the defence – Dr Michael Shechter of Tel Aviv University. He is the first researcher to study exactly happens to the lining of your arteries (the endothelium) when high glycaemic food like cornflakes gives you a rush of blood glucose. The endothelium is increasingly being seen as the place where all sorts of vascular disease start.
“Foods like cornflakes, white bread, French fries and sweetened soda all put undue stress on the endothelium, which explains for the first time why high glycaemic carbs can affect the progression of heart disease,” says Dr Shecter. His study was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology last year.
At this point that fat prosecutors will point out that they have recognised that there are good and bad fats and that they already recommend the good vegetable and fish oils and that they advise moderation in high-glycaemic foods. So what’s the problem?
“The authorities have been very slow in acknowledging the problem with carbohydrates,” says Professor Charles Clarke, Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, who specialises in treating diabetes. “The official advice for losing weight, controlling diabetes and reducing the risk of heart disease is to eat what is known as a ‘healthy balanced diet’.
“This means keep your fat intake low but make sure you get a good amount of carbohydrates like pasta, bread and potatoes. Unfortunately that allows you to consume a lot of high-glycaemic foods. In fact it’s perfectly possible to follow a ‘healthy balanced diet’ and consume the equivalent of 60 teaspoons of sugar a day, which is not good.”
It seems the maverick detectives still face a tough foe on nutrition’s mean streets. The Independent
What Works Best For You
May 29, 2010 by ·
With infomercials selling every imaginable device to strengthen and tone your abs, it can be hard to decipher what product or exercise is most likely to help you achieve a toned six pack. Recent study tested the effectiveness of exercises on the rectus abdominus, the sheath of muscles which runs down the center of your torso, and on the obliques, the muscles that wrap around the sides. Further, the study revealed that equipment is not necessary for effective ab workouts. In fact, some of the popular devices fared poorly when compared to traditional activities such as the crunch or the bicycle. Hence, let us not forget that not all exercises work for all people and so it’s better to try several different forms of exercise to see what works best for you, and if an exercise is uncomfortable or doesn’t seem right then try another one.
Desserts Are A Fitting End To Any Party Occasion
May 29, 2010 by ·
“The reputations of many Southern cooks are tied to a fabulous dessert specialty,” writes Scott Jones. “And, as we Southerners will agree, no meal is complete without a sweet finish.
Irresistible desserts are a fitting finale to any spring or summer party occasion – graduations, barbecues, picnics, teas, birthdays or other gatherings. Wow guests with impressive and creative beauties prepared with fresh in-season fruits, cream cheese, chocolate or other favorite flavors.
For buffet tables, think showy large or individual fruit or chocolate tarts, cakes, pies, cheesecakes, pound cakes, cupcakes and such. Fresh is best, but if pressed for time, make the desserts a day in advance or refrigerate or freeze some of components ahead – crusts, cake layers or cupcakes – and complete preparation or frosting on party day.
The latest crop of dessert cookbooks is filled with loads of possibilities.
In “Classic Southern Desserts: All-Time Favorite Recipes for Cakes, Cookies, Pies, Puddings, Cobbler, Ice Cream & More,” from the editors of Southern Living (Oxmoor House; $29.95), you’ll find a treasury of more than 200 of the top-rated sweets culled from Southern Living magazine. While uniquely Southern classics are sprinkled in (i.e. Lane Cake, Hummingbird Cake, Mississippi Mud Cake), it’s really the best desserts from the last five or six years, and most will appeal to cooking enthusiasts across the country, notes Scott Jones, the magazine’s executive food editor, who worked with the food staff on the volume.
There’s something for everyone. Recipes run the gamut – with some utilizing convenience products (such as cake mixes), shortcuts, short ingredient lists and not so labor intensive preparations to others that require an investment of more time. “Generally speaking, most recipes have 10 to 12 ingredients and anyone can do them,” points out Jones. Foolproof baking advice and loads of gorgeous color photos are also included.
“The reputations of many Southern cooks are tied to a fabulous dessert specialty,” writes Jones. “And, as we Southerners will agree, no meal is complete without a sweet finish.
“Desserts in the south are driven by the season.” In the summer, it’s fresh fruits, ice creams and sorbets. In the fall, cooks bake more.
“Universally loved are pound cakes that can be enjoyed year round – and can be readily made out of pantry ingredients. The easy-to-make Million-Dollar Pound Cake can be served with fresh fruit and whipped cream, can be toasted or grilled – and it’s great with hot tea or coffee.”
Banana Pudding Pie with a meringue topping is one of his favorites. A vanilla wafer crumb crust is layered with banana pieces, a vanilla cream filling and vanilla wafers. “The Candy Bar Pie is pretty wonderful, too,” adds Jones. With its pretzel crust and sweet and salty flavor profile, it’s a showstopper. “People will rave about it and you will look like a rock star and you don’t have to have pastry degree to do it.”
When it comes to party desserts, “it’s not necessarily about the fanciest dessert,” he says, “but about making a dessert within your comfort zone – and adding a special touch that makes it your own.”
Some of the recipes in the book give people permission to do from scratch cooking using convenience products (cake mixes, pudding mixes, refrigerated store-bought pie crusts) or relying and doctoring up prepared products like an angel-food (with lemon cream cheese frosting) or pound cake (with raspberry sauce) when time pressed.
Freeze desserts or some of their elements when feasible, he advises. “The party isn’t going to be any fun if you have to make everything at the last minute.”
For garnishes, Jones suggests flattening gumdrops and making them into flowers to top a cake. Use a Microplane to shave a frozen candy bar (Snickers, Milky Way, etc.) for garnishing cakes, cupcakes, pies or cheesecakes. Crushing up sugared lemon drops or peppermint candies in a plastic bag is another quick garnishing trick.
More than 50 fresh dessert options can be found in the recently released “Farmers’ Market Desserts” by Jennie Schacht (Chronicle Books; $24.95), an Oaklandresident.
“My favorite desserts are made with fresh fruits (and occasionally vegetables), dried fruits, nuts and sweet sticky honey,” notes Schacht, “so before I head into the kitchen, I start with a trip to the farmers’ market.”
Fresh corn, cornmeal and olive oil doesn’t sound promising for dessert, right? “But add ripe berries and a little sugar and you will have a captivating Cornmeal Cake With Fresh Corn & Berries that is hard to stop eating,” says Schacht. The moist cake is vibrant, fresh and simple to prepare (even her 86-year-old mother can make it, and it was Schacht’s birthday cake of choice, made with raspberries, earlier this month). It’s also good with blackberries – or a combination of the two. Serve slices, the day baked, with whipped cream and sugared berries.
For moist, light, great-tasting, chocolaty cupcakes, whip up Easy Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes in a jiffy. “The frosting – a combination of semisweet and bitter chocolates, sour cream and kirsch – adapted from a recipe by the late James Beard – is one of the easiest and best I know.”
None of Schacht’s recipes, inspired by her gustatory imagination as well as by things tasted in bakeries or restaurants or by recipes in cookbooks, newspapers and from chefs, is set in stone. Feel free to substitute and tweak as desired. By Natalie Haughton, LA Daily News