Is There A Single Acne Cure That Will Work For Everyone?

How do we go about preventing acne? Well to be honest if you don't have acne then you're probably not too bothered about preventing it. How about looking for a cure first of all and then looking for ways to prevent it coming back in the future? 

Although it's common now to believe that it is not diet that brings about acne ("chocolate has nothing to do with it" scream the experts) it's interesting to note that Eastern countries don't have acne epedemics to the extremes that we in the West are used to.

One thing is clear; acne is not caused by dirt. It is caused when the oil in our body is not metabolized efficiently and dead skin cells become sticky and block the pores of the skin. Bacteria then enters into the pores and causes infection and inflammation. 

So what can be done to prevent this happening? It seems obvious to stay away from McDonald's and other junk foods, yet our bodies may still produce oil. 

Hygiene helps to control it, yet acne is not caused by a lack of hygeine, it comes about because of bacteria already present in the skin. The only true combatant, it seems, is to use a multitude of acne prevention methods at the same time.

Zinc gluconate and some antibiotics administered orally are both effective in treating the inflammation of acne, while insulin is also reported to have worked in the same way. No big studies have been done on the latter though, so proceed cautiously with this one. Some doctors have even recommended birth control pills as having limited acne, then again some say that they can cause acne!

Research is now being done on the use of lasers for the prevention of acne. Lasers have been used to treat the scars left by really bad acne, and it has recently been discovered that the follicle sac from which the hair grows, as well as the sebaceous gland that produces oil, can be burned away by the use of lasers. 

You may have heard of the N-Lite laser treatment. It was recently shown in a popular daytime TV show in the UK with a guest who claimed it was the only thing that had completely cured her. This led to widespread acclaim for N-Lite and hundreds of new clients for the company.

Naturally, since this TV appearance, many people have used their services with varying results. 

The fact is that there is no one cure that will handle everybody's skin type. The only way to beat acne is to mix and match different treatments, internally, as well as on the skin's surface, until you find the one cure that works for you and you alone.

What Is A Good Paintball Mask?

The face mask is the most significant protective gear in playing the sport of paintball.  It mainly shields the eyes from balls with a traveling speed of up to three hundred “feet per second”.  Most completely cover the face and the ears, but there are those who prefer to wear goggles, protecting only the eyes. 

Paintball masks are designed to absorb any direct shot, from any distance or range. An ordinary pair of goggles will supply only a false sense of security and put one at great risk since it they are not constructed to block a paintball. All paintball mask manufactures measure up to DOT safety criteria and safety standards.

The choice of the mask’s material is of significance.  There are masks made of different material from rubber, plastic to foam. It is a wise idea to buy your own face mask rather then renting one. It should be the first equipment purchased before playing paintball.  Be sure to properly test the fit of the mask to your face and make sure that you can see clearly so you can well and enjoy your game. The lens is the mask’s most significant quality, so check it carefully; then examine the foam and see if it is comfortable to wear and the design is attractive

1. Typically, paintball masks will have either non-thermal or thermal lens or be anti-fog for fog resistance: these do not need an anti for agent applied to the lens to perform their function.  These thermal lenses will cost more but they are a good choice because they just won’t fog up.

2. The foam in a paint ball mask is an important factor to consider, as it can determine your level of comfort. For instance, a “Vforce Armor” is a neoprene type of foam – a type of foam that is considered a good foam, but it is uncomfortable. The “Vforce Shield” and “Vforce Profiler” is and open cell and two layer foam which is very comfortable to wear.  The open cell foam can be compared to a memory foam that is used in pillows.

3. Style is another factor.  There are masks that are more expensive even when the foam and lens are the same quality as cheaper models, but the difference is in the style of the mask.

Choose wisely and never sacrifice cost over quality; your safety should always come first!

Are Natural skin care products the answer to all problems?

When it comes to skin care products, you will find that a lot of people are very particular about using only natural skin care products. They treat all the synthetic products as harmful to the skin.

So, are natural skin care products the answer to all of our problems? What if a natural skin care product is not available for the treatment of a particular skin disorder? Are the synthetic skin care products so harmful that they should be banned?

Different people have different answers to these questions. However, the reality is that due to presence of synthetic preservatives, it's really tough to find a natural skin care product that is 100% natural. There are natural skin care products that have natural preservatives, but their cost might be detrimental. Moreover, such natural skin products have a shorter shelf life and hence are not preferred by the manufacturers of natural skin care products. 

Some people carry a wrong notion that since natural skin care products are natural, they cannot cause any harm to the skin. The suitability of a skin care product is not based on whether it is synthetic or natural. An unsuitable natural skin care product can harm you in almost the same way as a synthetic one. So, use natural skin care products, but be open to synthetic ones too (you might need them when a natural solution is not available)

Your selection of a natural skin care product should be based on 3 factors: 

1. The skin type (dry, oily, normal, sensitive) of the person who will use that natural skin care product
2. The climatic conditions in which it will be used e.g. hot and humid condition would warranty the use of oil-free natural skin care products.
3. The process for application/use of the natural skin care product. A good natural skin care product (in fact any product) can seem useless if not used in the proper way.

You can also make natural skin care products by yourself, by using the recipes that are readily available on the internet and in the books at book stores. 

Use of organic fruits and vegetables is also popular as a natural skin care procedure. Some essential oils, herbal oils, are useful too and are known for their moisturising and antiseptic properties

However, using a natural skin care product does not mean that you can exercise carelessness with other aspects of skin care. Natural skin care products should be used like supplements to the following 'essential' recommendations: healthy eating habits (avoiding oily food), regular exercise, drinking a lot of water (8 glasses everyday), and cleanliness. This will then form a perfect and completely natural skin care routine that will help maintain a healthy beautiful skin for longer time.

The Healthiest Foods You Can Get

The following is a list of the healthiest foods that you can get.  This will help you get an idea as to what foods are the best for your body.

Fruits

Apricots
Apricots contain Beta-carotene which helps to prevent radical damage and also helps to protect the eyes.  A single apricot contains 17 calories, 0 fat, and one gram of fiber.  You can eat them dried or soft.

Mango
A medium sized mango packs 57 MG of vitamin C, which is nearly your entire daily dose.  This antioxidant will help prevent arthritis and also boost your immune system.  

Cantaloupe
Cantaloupes contain 117 GG of vitamin C, which is almost twice the recommended dose.  Half a melon contains 853 MG of potassium, which is nearly twice as much as a banana, which helps to lower blood pressure.  Half a melon contains 97 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 2 grams of fiber.

Tomato 
A tomato can help cut the risk of bladder, stomach,  and colon cancers in half if you eat one daily. A tomaton contains 26 calories, 0 fat, and only 1 gram of fiber.

Vegetables

Onions
An onion can help to protect against cancer.  A  cup of onions offers 61 calories, 0 fat, and 3 grams of fiber.

Broccoli
Broccoli can help protect against breast cancer, and it also contains a lot of vitamin C and beta-carotene.  One cup of chopped broccoli contains 25 calories, 0 fat, and 3 grams of fiber.

Spinach
Spinach contains carotenoids that can help fend off macular degeneration, which is a major cause of blindness in older people.  One cup contains 7 calories, 0 fat, and 1 gram of fiber.

Grains, beans, and nuts

Peanuts
Peanuts and other nuts can lower your risk of heart disease by 20 percent.  One ounce contains 166 calories, 14 grams of fat, and over 2 grams of fiber.  

Pinto beans
A half cut of pinto beans offers more than 25 percent of your daily folate requirement, which protects you against heart disease.  Half a cup contains 103 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 6 grams of fiber.

Skim milk
Skim milk offers vitamin B2, which is important for good vision and along with Vitamin A could improve  allergies.  You also get calcium and vitamin D as well.  One cup contains 86 calories, o fat, and 0 fiber.

Seafood

Salmon
All cold water fish such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna are excellent sources of omega 3 fatty acids, which help to reduce the risk of cardiac disease. A 3 ounce portion of salmon contains 127 calories, 4 grams of fat, and 0 fiber.

Crab
Crab is a great source of vitamin B12 and immunity boosting zinc.  A 3 ounce serving of crab offers 84 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 0 fiber.

Natural Beauty Care

Everybody longs for that healthy glow, for sparkling eyes and shiny hair that bounces with every step. Millions of dollars are spent every year in beauty products to make skin that much clearer, wrinkles that less visible and lips pout that much more. And while there are cosmetics that do work, you shouldn't underestimate the value of natural beauty products. Remedies that are available with nature. They're easy to find, won't put a hole in your pocket, and don't have a trace of any harmful chemicals. Read on to see what gifts from nature can make you your most beautiful self.

For your hair 

Lemon juice:
Lemon juice when used on your hair is an effective treatment for dandruff. Its citrus property cleanses the hair. Squeeze a lemon onto your hair and massage into the scalp, and then wash it out using water and your preferred shampoo.

Coconut Oil:
Coconut oil is used in several parts of the world as an aid to beautiful hair. It has enriching vitamins and nutrients that help your hair to grow long and lustrous. In addition, it also combats dandruff.
Massage into the scalp before washing hair. If possible, do so a night before, so the oil can soak in overnight.

Vinegar:
Vinegar is great to add some bounce and vitality into dull and lifeless hair. Mix a little vinegar into warm water, and then rinse your hair with the solution. You hair will look revitalized.

For your skin

Water:
The important of water cannot be stated enough. It is one of the most important contributors to beautiful skin. It flushes out toxins and battles breakouts. A person should drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Warm showers are also very beneficial to the skin. When your skin is well hydrated, it looks young and healthy.

Roses:
They're more than just pretty flowers! Rosewater is extremely good for the skin. It purifies the skin, and leaves it wonderfully scented. Combined with hazel, it is especially good for oily skin.

Turmeric Powder:

If you want your skin to naturally get fairer and more radiant, you could try turmeric. Just mix a piece of turmeric with curd and apply it onto your skin. Leave the paste on for about ten to fifteen minutes, and then wash off using cold water.

For your body:

Fruits:

Fruits are one of the best gifts that nature can give you. Most of them are low in calories, and can give you a whole lot of energy. In fact, almost all diets have fruits as an essential part of them.

Spinach:

Spinach leaves are very, very healthy. There's a reason why Popeye enjoyed spinach so much! It helps to make your body stronger, and more resistant to illnesses and ailments.

Nutrition For The Elderly

Healthy eating and nutrition for the elderly is greatly impacted by several factors, one of them being a change in body composition.  During the later years in life, the body will lose bone and muscle and gain fat because the hormones aren't very active anymore.

There are many factors which hinder an elderly person's health.  The information below will help you to lead a healthy life - no matter how old you may be.

Water
Water in the body decreases with age, so many older folks will become dehydrated very easily.  Sometimes they won't feel thirsty, while other times it's  too much work to pour a glass a water.  With this in mind, it's recommended that they drink at least 1 ounce of water for every 2.2 pounds of weight.

Protein
At this stage in life, protein is very important. Protein is needed to support a healthy immune system and prevent the wasting of muscle.  Since energy needs are less, older folks should eat high quality protein such as eggs, lean meats, poulty, and fish.

Carbs and fiber
Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the entire body.  You can find carbs in bread, cereals, pasta, and other grain products.  A diet that's high in fiber and water will help to prevent constipation as well.

Fat
Fat intake for the elderly should be limited, not eliminated.  You can limit fat by choosing lean meats, low fat dairy products, and food preperation  methods that don't include frying.  

Iron
For the elderly, iron deficiency can be seen with those who aren't eating much.  Good sources for iron include lean red meats or breakfast cereals.

Zinc
Zinc intake is normally with the elderly, and to make matters worse, it's not absorbed very well either.  Meat, poultry, and fish should be a part of your diet to help you meet the requirements for zinc.

Calcium
Calcium is one ingredient that most elderly folks simply aren't getting enough of.  Most believe that milk upsets their stomach, and therefore they will avoid it.  They should be getting around 1,500 mg of calcium a day, and nonfat powdered milk can be used in recipes as a substitute for milk.  Other foods such as yogurt, low fat cheese, and broccoli can also help you meet the requirements for calcium.

Vitamin B12
In order to absorb the benefits of B12, the intrinsic facotr must be produced by the stomach.  Most elderly people suffer from a deficiency in B12 because they have a condition known as atrophic gastritis.  This condition causes inflammation of the stomach, bacterial overgrowth, and the intrinsic factor. Without the intrinsic factor, this vitamin can be absorbed.

Each one of the above nutrients are needed to keep an aged body in good health.  Elderly individuals should try to stay active and strive for a well balanced diet.  Even though the aged body isn't the same as it used to be, proper care and the right nutrients can help the elderly enjoy a healthy and long life.

Controlling Intestinal Gas Naturally

Intestinal gas, flatulence, farting or breaking wind is a natural part of the digestive process. This odorless gas, although at times embarrassing, is the result of good digestion. Every day our body produces one to three pints of gas that is ultimately passed. Intestinal gas is made up of oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane. If we notice an unpleasant smell, it is because the gas contains other compounds, including hydrogen sulfide and ammonia.

Bacterium that lives in our intestinal tract is what produces most intestinal gas. It digests the food we eat; primarily sugars, starches and cellulose. When ingested sugars are not been properly broken down, they can ferment and produce gas as they pass through the small intestine. Contractions of the small intestine propel this gas through the large intestine, where it is expelled out the rectum. This prevents gas from accumulating in the body, which can cause cramping.

Certain foods produce more gas then others. Some healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, oatmeal, beans and peas often are the worst offenders. These foods are high in soluble fiber. Fiber slows the digestion of starches in the small intestine, thus promoting increased gas. Fiber, however, has many benefits including promoting a healthy digestive tract, regulating our blood sugar and maintaining normal cholesterol levels.

Normally we pass gas about fourteen times a day. Intestinal gas is only considered excessive if it is being passed over twenty times per day. If someone complains of excessive gas, but isn't passing it over twenty times a day, then something else may be going on. Perhaps the real concern is the foul odor to their gas, an inability to hold gas back, or even a problem with soiling their undergarments when gas is being passed. Thankfully there are a number of natural, alternative health remedies we can try which may help to reduce or eliminate the embarrassment of intestinal gas from our lives.

Recommendations For Wellness

Avoid foods such as beans, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, coffee, eggs, fish, prunes, radishes, dates, figs - or artificial sweeteners like sorbitol - which can promote gas production.

Limit high fat foods. Fats slow the digestion of foods through the stomach and small intestine.

Avoid milk and milk products, especially if you suspect you are lactose intolerant.

Try taking a digestive enzyme or digestive bitter tonic before meals to help improve carbohydrate digestion.

Activated charcoal tablets, when taken before a meal, have been shown to greatly reduce gas formation.

Ginger, either fresh or in tablet form, is useful in relieving flatulence.

Catnip and fennel are herbs that are often used to ease bloating and reduce intestinal gas.

Nature's Sunshine's Anti-Gas Formula contains a blend of herbs that assist the body's efforts to expel gas.

Supplementation with probiotics such as a cidophilus and b ifidophilus supports healthy bacteria in the digestive tract and keeps gas-producing bacteria in check.

Nine Facts About Fiber

If you've been looking for a way towards a high octane diet, you'll find fiber to be exactly what you need.  Even though research has shown fiber to be powerful, many people aren't taking this nutrient seriously.

To help you fuel your health with fiber, here are  10 facts to help.

1.  Fiber fights diseases.  A diet high in fiber can help to prevent colon cancer and heart disease. High fiber helps the body to eliminate cholesterol by binding it in the digestive tract.  For thousands of years, fiber has been used to stop constipation.

2.  Fiber can actually help with overeating.  All high fiber foods will take longer to chew and digest, making you feel satisfied longer

3.  Most popular foods don't have enough fiber. If you like the more popular foods, you probably need to increase your intake of fiber.

4.  Grains offer the most fiber.  Dietary fiber is actually plant matter that we cannot digest.  The best sources are whole grains and concentrated grain products.  

5.  Kids need fiber as well.  Children that are older than 2 years of age should consume a daily intake of fiber.  Kids are most receptive to fiber found in fruits, vegetables, and even fortified breakfast cereals.  

6.  More fiber needs more water.  In order to keep fiber moving through your digestive tract, you'll need to consume a lot of water.  With your diet of fiber, you'll need eight or more glasses of water every day.

7.  Fiber cannot be cooked out.  When you cook your fruits and vegetables, don't worry about cooking the fiber out, as it stays.  The fiber found in fruits and vegetables aren't just in the skin or in the peel.

8.  You can get enough fiber.  If you eat more than 50 grams of fiber in a day, you can get diarrhea 
and bloating, which can interfere with your body's absorption of other key minerals.

9.  Getting the right amount of fiber in your diet doesn't have to be hard.  Even though you may think
so, getting the amount of fiber you need isn't very hard to do.  All you have to do is eat the right 
foods and you'll be well on your way to a fiber rich lifestyle.

As one of the key ingredients to healthy eating, fiber is something you don't want to skip.  Fiber can
serve many different purposes, which were covered above.  If you aren't getting enough fiber in your 

diet - you should do something about now instead of waiting until it is too late.

Shingles Natural Treatment

In the past ten years recent studies and research with alternative treatments for shingles has shown it is possible to recover in less than one week and to reduce outbreaks of lesions and pain in three days.

Shingles is a serious health condition and it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations. Traditionally, most doctors prescribe painkillers for the temporary symptomatic relief of the pain and an antiviral drug to suppress the virus. This form of treatment with drugs reduces the severity and frequency of outbreaks but does not eliminate it from the body. This course of treatment can take six weeks or more and does very little for the patient. The pain associated with shingles can continue long after the initial outbreak.

Some doctors prescribe steroids or itch-relieving creams that contain steroids. Recent studies question the effectiveness of steroids in relieving shingles and suggest avoiding any treatment with steroids. Monitoring by your doctor is recommended, if steroids have been prescribed. It is best to find alternative treatments with your doctor and to seek out natural remedies.

The virus herpes zoster causes shingles and is the same virus that causes chicken pox. Shingles is an infection of the central nervous system and may affect the elderly, those with a compromised immune system, anyone under severe stress or those who have been exposed to the chickenpox virus again. Symptoms may include burning, itching, or pain in one part of the body. A few days later, blisters and a rash appear. The infection may run along a nerve path and look like a branch of a tree. Shingles usually appear on the trunk area and the chest but can also be found on the face. Shingles can cause blindness if it affects the eyes. If an outbreak occurs on the face the patient should get immediate medical care.

Natural Remedies For Shingles

A good starting point for treating shingles is a diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables. A good diet and reducing daily stress will help boost your immune system

A simple remedy for lesions is to apply a cool or cold wet washcloth or towel to the affected area. A wet towel can be put into the freezer for a while after wetting it to make it colder.

Eliminate sugar from your diet and add these important nutrients to your daily diet - vitamin E, vitamin B12 and vitamin C.

* Vitamin C is suggested with an initial diagnosis of shingles. You may start with 1,000 mg. (+)

* Vitamin E taken daily before meals may reduce the pain of shingles (Study published in the Archives of Dermatology) (+)

* Vitamin B12 injections may reduce the pain of shingles (Study published in the Journal Geriatrics) (+)

(+) It is recommended that you consult with your doctor before starting any vitamin program.

* E capsules can be squeezed directly onto lesions.

* Avoid heat as well as tight clothes and itchy fabrics like wool.

* Calamine lotion may relieve the pain and help dry the lesions.

Shingles is a serious illness and before starting any treatment program you should consult with your doctor. Shingles is the same virus as chicken pox. You cannot catch shingles from someone else unless you've never had chicken pox. If you have shingles you should use caution being around pregnant women who have not had chicken pox - you could infect both the woman and her unborn baby.