Forgetfulness, confusion, or having trouble remembering a name or word can be a normal part of life. But when thinking problems or unusual behavior starts to interfere with everyday activities—such as working, preparing meals, or handling finances—it’s time to see a doctor. These could be signs of a condition known as dementia.
Dementia is a brain disorder that most often affects the elderly. It’s caused by the failure or death of nerve cells in the brain. By some estimates, up to half of people ages 85 and older may have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia. Although age is the greatest risk factor for dementia, it isn’t a normal part of aging. Some people live into their 90s and beyond with no signs of dementia at all.
“Dementia really isn’t a disease itself. Instead, dementia is a group of symptoms that can be caused by many different diseases,” says Dr. Sanjay Asthana, who heads an NIH-supported Alzheimer’s disease center at the University of Wisconsin. “Symptoms of dementia can include problems with memory, thinking, and language, along with impairments to social skills and some behavioral symptoms.”
Several factors can raise your risk for developing dementia. These include aging, smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, and drinking too much alcohol. Risk also increases if your family members have had dementia.
Dementia can be reversed when it’s caused by dehydration or other treatable conditions. But most forms of dementia worsen gradually over time and can’t be corrected. Scientists are searching for ways to slow down this process or prevent it from starting in the first place.
The 2 most common causes of dementia in older people are Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, a condition that involves changes to the brain’s blood supply. Vascular dementia often arises from stroke or arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in the brain. Other causes of dementia include Parkinson’s disease, HIV infection, head injury, and Lewy body disease. (Lewy bodies are abnormal protein clumps in brain cells.)
Dementia in people under age 60 is often caused by a group of brain diseases called frontotemporal disorders. These conditions begin in the front or sides of the brain and gradually spread. A rare, inherited form of Alzheimer’s disease can also occur in people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s.
The symptoms of dementia can vary, depending on which brain regions are damaged. “In general, the left side of the brain is involved in language, and the right side is very involved in social behavior,” says Dr. Bruce L. Miller, who directs an NIH-funded dementia center at the University of California, San Francisco.
In the case of a frontotemporal disorder, “if it begins in the left side of the brain, you tend to have worsening language problems; if it starts on the right, it affects behavior and might be mistaken for a psychiatric condition,” Miller explains. Damage to particular left brain regions can cause people to become apathetic, lose their inhibitions, or show no consideration for the feelings of others.
With Alzheimer’s disease, memory-related areas in the lower and back parts of the brain tend to be affected first. Other types of dementia can affect regions that control movement.
“The treatment for all of these disorders is slightly different,” Miller says. That’s why it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis.
Because different types of dementia can have overlapping symptoms, and some people have more than one underlying condition, it’s best to see a clinician who has expertise in diagnosing dementia. “NIH has specialized centers across the country that have clinics that can diagnose and evaluate patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia,” Asthana says. (See NIH's Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers for more information.)
To make a diagnosis, physicians usually ask about a person’s medical history and do a physical exam including blood tests. They also check for mental abilities and sometimes perform brain scans. These tests can determine if the symptoms are related to a treatable condition—such as depression, an infection, medication side effects, or vitamin B12 deficiency.
With some types of dementia, a clear diagnosis can’t be made until the brain is examined after death. “There’s no single blood test or brain scan that can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease or some other types of dementia with certainty,” Asthana says. “In these cases, a definite diagnosis can be made only at autopsy.”
Many researchers are working to change that. More than a decade ago, NIH-supported scientists found a way to detect signs of Alzheimer’s disease in the brains of living people. Their sophisticated brain scans can spot abnormal protein clumps known as amyloid plaques. All people with Alzheimer’s disease have amyloid plaques. But extensive plaque buildup can also be found in some people who have no signs of dementia. Because of this uncertainty, amyloid imaging isn’t considered a definitive tool for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. But it is being widely used in clinical research studies.
“Right now, a lot of research is focusing on the pre-symptomatic stages of the disease, where we can see evidence of amyloid protein before a person has any symptoms. We can test to see if medications can slow or prevent buildup of this amyloid protein,” Asthana says. “So far, no studies have shown that clearing the brain of amyloid protein can actually translate into improved symptoms.”
Different types of drugs are being used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s dementia, and certain other forms of dementia. These medications may improve symptoms, but none can halt or reverse progressive damage to the brain.
“In contrast, if the dementia is due to vascular disease, there are many things we can do to prevent it from progressing. It’s the same things we do to prevent cardiovascular disease,” says Dr. Helena Chui, director of an NIH-funded Alzheimer’s center at the University of Southern California. “Some patients are given anticlotting medications. Others are given medications to keep blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes under control.”
Chui notes that a healthy lifestyle can help protect the aging brain. “Regular exercise, a heart-healthy diet, and avoiding smoking can reduce your risk for heart disease as well as dementia,” she says. Engaging in social and intellectually stimulating activities might also help to protect brain function. “You can change your trajectory toward a healthier brain by making healthy choices,” Chui says.
Signs of Dementia
Dementia isn’t a disease; it’s a group of symptoms. See a doctor if these symptoms are interfering with everyday life:
Repeating the same story or question over and over.Getting lost in familiar places.Delusions or agitated behavior.Problems with language, movements, or recognizing objects.Memory or concentration problems.Difficulty following directions.Getting disoriented about time, people, and places.Neglecting personal safety, hygiene, and nutrition.
Culled from www.nih.gov
Friday 31 January 2014
Nature-Inspired Surgical Glue Mends Hearts
Researchers developed a new tissue adhesive that is biodegradable, biocompatible, and easily manipulated. It could allow for less invasive surgeries that don’t require sutures or staples.
The waterproof, light-activated glue can successfully secure biodegradable patches to seal holes in a beating heart.Image courtesy of Karp Laboratory.
During surgery, reconnecting tissues and attaching prosthetic materials can be a challenge. Suturing can be time-consuming, and staples can damage tissue. Surgical adhesives could solve these problems, but current options have limitations with strength, adhesion, and toxicity. Procedures performed on delicate tissues, such as in young infants, or on tissues that are moving, such as the heart, pose particular challenges. In addition, an ideal surgical adhesive would need to be water insoluble, as flowing blood would wash away a water-soluble compound.
Inspired by the footpad of insects and the thick, sticky secretions of slugs and sandcastle worms, whose fluids can create bonds underwater, a research team led by Dr. Jeffrey Karp of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dr. Pedro del Nido of Boston Children's Hospital set out to develop a similar gel-like material that could function as a stable, water-insoluble and elastic surgical glue. The work was funded in part by NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). The findings appeared online January 8, 2014, in Science Translational Medicine.
As their base, the scientists used a compound called poly(glycerol sebacate acrylate) (PGSA). PGSA is composed of glycerol, a basic building block of lipids, and sebacic acid, a naturally occurring fatty acid. When mixed with a special light-sensitive chemical, the resulting gel solidified upon a brief, 5-second exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.
The researchers found that the gel easily spread over a surface and adhered to tissues in wet conditions. When exposed to UV light, it “cured” to form an adhesive that was soft, elastic, and water-tight.
The researchers extensively tested the glue in several settings. They found it had mechanical properties similar to arteries and the digestive tract. Patches coated with the glue stayed attached to the quickly beating hearts of rats without altering heart function. The scientists also successfully used the glue to seal a defect in the wall of a rat heart.
The team next tested the glue in pigs, which have a heart rate similar to that of humans. They attached patches inside beating hearts and showed that the patches remained in place when heart rate and blood pressure increased. Using the glue alone, they were able to create a leak-proof seal in the carotid artery of pigs.
“This adhesive platform addresses all of the drawbacks of previous systems in that it works in the presence of blood and moving structures,” del Nido says. “It should provide the physician with a completely new, much simpler technology and a new paradigm for tissue reconstruction to improve the quality of life of patients following surgical procedures.”
The technology has been licensed to a company, and patents based on the study have been filed. However, long-term experiments will be needed to further evaluate the gel before it can be tested in people.
—by Carol Torgan, Ph.D.
Thursday 30 January 2014
TOP 50 BEAUTY TIPS BY UK WOMEN
Do you agree?. Read and share :)
1. Cucumber on eyes to freshen them up
2. Drink 2 litres of bottled water everyday
3. Toothpaste on spots
4. Tea bags on tired eyes
5. Brush talcum powder through hair to freshen it up
6. Sleep in socks filled with moisturiser for soft feet
7. Pinching cheeks to give a natural blush
8. Shave legs with hair conditioner
9. Lemon juice on highlighted hair
10. Drinking plenty of milk
11. Toothpaste on insect bites
12. Nail polish in fridge
13. Baking soda on teeth to make them whiter
14. Vaseline on eyebrows
15. Lipstick on cheeks when you run out of blusher
16. Final hair rinse in vinegar
17. Spray hairbrush with perfume
18. Fish pedicures
19. Cold teaspoons applied to eyes to reduce puffiness
20. Using honey as a face mask
21. Super glue broken fingers nails rather than rip them off
22. Steam face in water with fresh herbs added
23. Vaseline to smooth out frizzy hair
24. Heat up eye lash curlers before using them
25. Sleep on back to avoid wrinkles
26. Add sugar to soap to exfoliate
27. Rinse hair with beer
28. Iron long hair to make it flat (before straighteners were invented)
29. Lemon juice to whiten tips of nails
30. Kept eyebrow & eyeliner pencils and lipsticks in the fridge
31. Pouring milk in to the bath or on skin
32. Apply whisked eggs to hair to make it shiny
33. Whitening toothpaste to get rid of fake tan on palms
34. Mix a drop of serum with foundation to make skin glow
35. Massage an ice-cube over your face to reduce wrinkles and acne
36. Use the cold setting on hair dryer to set mascara
37. Sleeping on a silk pillowcase to reduce wrinkles
38. Tomato ketchup on hair to reverse hair dye
39. Pumpkin and coconut oil on your hair to give it a moisture boost
40. Coffee as a body scrub to beat cellulite
41. Mash up avocado and use as a body scrub
42. Having a cold shower to make breasts appear bigger
43. Burst an evening primrose oil capsule and apply to spots to make the them heal faster
44. Antihistamine to reduce flushed cheeks
45. Rub fresh strawberries in your face to get rid of freckles
46. Using cranberry juice to boost hair shine and enhance colour
47. Adding peppermint oil to lip gloss to enhance pout
48. Brewer's yeast mixed with water to bleach facial hair
49. Soot from a spent match on a make-up brush, for smoky eyes look
50. A spritz of lemonade on damp hair to give hold and texture
Culled from www.telegraph.co.uk
1. Cucumber on eyes to freshen them up
2. Drink 2 litres of bottled water everyday
3. Toothpaste on spots
4. Tea bags on tired eyes
5. Brush talcum powder through hair to freshen it up
6. Sleep in socks filled with moisturiser for soft feet
7. Pinching cheeks to give a natural blush
8. Shave legs with hair conditioner
9. Lemon juice on highlighted hair
10. Drinking plenty of milk
11. Toothpaste on insect bites
12. Nail polish in fridge
13. Baking soda on teeth to make them whiter
14. Vaseline on eyebrows
15. Lipstick on cheeks when you run out of blusher
16. Final hair rinse in vinegar
17. Spray hairbrush with perfume
18. Fish pedicures
19. Cold teaspoons applied to eyes to reduce puffiness
20. Using honey as a face mask
21. Super glue broken fingers nails rather than rip them off
22. Steam face in water with fresh herbs added
23. Vaseline to smooth out frizzy hair
24. Heat up eye lash curlers before using them
25. Sleep on back to avoid wrinkles
26. Add sugar to soap to exfoliate
27. Rinse hair with beer
28. Iron long hair to make it flat (before straighteners were invented)
29. Lemon juice to whiten tips of nails
30. Kept eyebrow & eyeliner pencils and lipsticks in the fridge
31. Pouring milk in to the bath or on skin
32. Apply whisked eggs to hair to make it shiny
33. Whitening toothpaste to get rid of fake tan on palms
34. Mix a drop of serum with foundation to make skin glow
35. Massage an ice-cube over your face to reduce wrinkles and acne
36. Use the cold setting on hair dryer to set mascara
37. Sleeping on a silk pillowcase to reduce wrinkles
38. Tomato ketchup on hair to reverse hair dye
39. Pumpkin and coconut oil on your hair to give it a moisture boost
40. Coffee as a body scrub to beat cellulite
41. Mash up avocado and use as a body scrub
42. Having a cold shower to make breasts appear bigger
43. Burst an evening primrose oil capsule and apply to spots to make the them heal faster
44. Antihistamine to reduce flushed cheeks
45. Rub fresh strawberries in your face to get rid of freckles
46. Using cranberry juice to boost hair shine and enhance colour
47. Adding peppermint oil to lip gloss to enhance pout
48. Brewer's yeast mixed with water to bleach facial hair
49. Soot from a spent match on a make-up brush, for smoky eyes look
50. A spritz of lemonade on damp hair to give hold and texture
Culled from www.telegraph.co.uk
Monday 27 January 2014
Stanley Tang: The Young Tech Entrepreneur
Reading about Stanley Tang, a Young Tech Entrepreneur and Co-founder DoorDash from Hong Kong was very inspirational. To think he started doing 'business' on a small scale at the age of eleven while in school is even more astonishing. Previously he founded The University Kid (an online magazine sold in 2010) and BuzzBlaze. He is also the author of eMillions.
Stanley is studying Computer Science at Stanford and currently working on a delivery startup DoorDash. DoorDash is a delivery service that connects customers who want food delivered with restaurants that do not have the resources to hire their own drivers.
Stanley is truly an inspiration. Read and share :).
Stanley is studying Computer Science at Stanford and currently working on a delivery startup DoorDash. DoorDash is a delivery service that connects customers who want food delivered with restaurants that do not have the resources to hire their own drivers.
Stanley is truly an inspiration. Read and share :).
Rosebill Satha: One Woman Creating Opportunities in Malawi
From Unemployed to Employer
Rosebill Satha has a mind for business, an eye for opportunity and a passion for giving. So it is no wonder this 29-year-old Malawian business woman was named 2013’s Most Promising Young Entrepreneur by Under35CEO, an Africa-based organization that promotes youth entrepreneurship. But life hasn’t always been so easy.
Satha faced an uncertain future in 2005. Unemployed, with two young daughters and a husband homebound with an injury, her situation seemed hopeless. But she refused to be defeated. With skills in traditional weaving techniques and her business acumen gained from previous work in the tourism industry, Satha rose from this uncertainty to establish JARDS Products, an eco-friendly social enterprise that sells artisanal, hand-woven bamboo products.
She explains: “With little else to do, I started weaving baskets at home for friends as wedding gifts, a skill my mum taught me at 14.” Soon those same friends started to place basket orders and the demand became more than Satha could handle alone. She began training other women in her community in weaving skills, and currently employs eleven people and trains 35 youth annually in weaving and entrepreneurial skills. Satha often outsources JARDS’ biggest orders to the women that she’s trained. “I tell them how many items I need, and I ask them how many they can make and what a fair price might be for their time and materials.”
That same community and entrepreneurial spirit led Satha to become a Community Solutions Program (CSP) leader. IREX partnered Satha with Micro-Enterprise Training and Assistance (META) in Boise, Idaho, a nonprofit that teaches business planning and entrepreneurial skills to immigrants, Native Americans and other underserved populations, as well as administering micro-loans for their start-ups. Not only was Satha able to give invaluable advice and support to META’s work with entrepreneurs, but she was able to set up a connection for JARDS Products in Boise, selling her wares at DUNIA Marketplace, a local fair trade store. Satha was initially surprised by the amount of crossover her work in Boise had with that at home. “It was amazing that so many of the problems that women entrepreneurs face in Boise are similar to those that Malawian women entrepreneurs face – just on a different scale.” When Satha reflects on her time in the U.S. she says, “every experience that I have had with Community Solutions has helped me to grow as a person and as a leader.”
And grow she has. On her return to Malawi in December 2012, Satha was named Role Model Entrepreneur of the Year by the National Association of Business Women of Malawi; a title that she has taken seriously. Over the course of 2013, Satha mentored four young Malawian women entrepreneurs, connecting them to resources to grow their businesses, including experts she worked with back in Boise. In 2013, META’s Program Director, Ron Berning, went to Malawi to support her efforts in mentoring young women in business planning and marketing.
JARDS Products also had a boon year – it was featured at a number of regional trade fairs in Malawi, and was awarded a One Young World Social Business Accelerator Grant. Satha says of the future, “it’s looking bright. I plan to finish my workshop and start a training center in the next two years, where we can get more youth in to learn artisanal and business skills.”
Read more on www.irex.org
Rosebill Satha has a mind for business, an eye for opportunity and a passion for giving. So it is no wonder this 29-year-old Malawian business woman was named 2013’s Most Promising Young Entrepreneur by Under35CEO, an Africa-based organization that promotes youth entrepreneurship. But life hasn’t always been so easy.
Satha faced an uncertain future in 2005. Unemployed, with two young daughters and a husband homebound with an injury, her situation seemed hopeless. But she refused to be defeated. With skills in traditional weaving techniques and her business acumen gained from previous work in the tourism industry, Satha rose from this uncertainty to establish JARDS Products, an eco-friendly social enterprise that sells artisanal, hand-woven bamboo products.
She explains: “With little else to do, I started weaving baskets at home for friends as wedding gifts, a skill my mum taught me at 14.” Soon those same friends started to place basket orders and the demand became more than Satha could handle alone. She began training other women in her community in weaving skills, and currently employs eleven people and trains 35 youth annually in weaving and entrepreneurial skills. Satha often outsources JARDS’ biggest orders to the women that she’s trained. “I tell them how many items I need, and I ask them how many they can make and what a fair price might be for their time and materials.”
That same community and entrepreneurial spirit led Satha to become a Community Solutions Program (CSP) leader. IREX partnered Satha with Micro-Enterprise Training and Assistance (META) in Boise, Idaho, a nonprofit that teaches business planning and entrepreneurial skills to immigrants, Native Americans and other underserved populations, as well as administering micro-loans for their start-ups. Not only was Satha able to give invaluable advice and support to META’s work with entrepreneurs, but she was able to set up a connection for JARDS Products in Boise, selling her wares at DUNIA Marketplace, a local fair trade store. Satha was initially surprised by the amount of crossover her work in Boise had with that at home. “It was amazing that so many of the problems that women entrepreneurs face in Boise are similar to those that Malawian women entrepreneurs face – just on a different scale.” When Satha reflects on her time in the U.S. she says, “every experience that I have had with Community Solutions has helped me to grow as a person and as a leader.”
And grow she has. On her return to Malawi in December 2012, Satha was named Role Model Entrepreneur of the Year by the National Association of Business Women of Malawi; a title that she has taken seriously. Over the course of 2013, Satha mentored four young Malawian women entrepreneurs, connecting them to resources to grow their businesses, including experts she worked with back in Boise. In 2013, META’s Program Director, Ron Berning, went to Malawi to support her efforts in mentoring young women in business planning and marketing.
JARDS Products also had a boon year – it was featured at a number of regional trade fairs in Malawi, and was awarded a One Young World Social Business Accelerator Grant. Satha says of the future, “it’s looking bright. I plan to finish my workshop and start a training center in the next two years, where we can get more youth in to learn artisanal and business skills.”
Read more on www.irex.org
Sunday 26 January 2014
10 Strategies to Survive Unemployment
BY JUDITH EDNA EARLEY
In the past three years, the number of people who have been out of work for more than six months, otherwise known as long-term unemployment — has nearly tripled in this country. This sad fact has significantly contributed to a record number of bankruptcies, foreclosures and delinquent credit card payments.
Being laid off can be a humiliating experience and it’s anyone’s guess as to how long it will take you to find another job. But in the meantime, there are 10 strategies you can implement from day one to minimize the pain.
1. Put your priorities in order. First on that list should be keeping a roof over your head by paying your rent or mortgage. Second to that are utilities, groceries and transportation. No one wants his or her car repossessed, but if keeping up with gas and insurance is too much, there is no shame in taking public transportation. Contact your creditors, explain your situation and ask for a deferment plan. This is available also on student loans and back tax payments. Even your local utilities may have a lower cost program for low-income customers.
2. Track your spending. When you are on a fixed income from unemployment benefits or have no income at all, you really need to know exactly how much money is coming in and how much is going out. The best way to do this is to use cash only. Put away the credit cards and debit cards and use them only in case of emergencies. Other emergency assets are your retirement funds and the equity on your home. Please do not tap into these resources except as an absolute last resort. You don’t want to use secured debt to pay off unsecured debt.
3. Your new job. It’s really not true that you are out of work; your new full-time job is looking for a full-time job. Change your mindset and approach it like any other work. Get up at the same time every morning as you did when you were working. Establish a daily “to do” list: block off time for research, networking and revising your resume.
4. Don't live in your PJs. Along with that business frame of mind goes business-like dress. While it is tempting to spend the day in your pajamas or ragged sweats, you take your behavioral cues from what you are wearing. You don’t have to put on a three-piece suit or pantyhose, but you should shower, comb your hair and put on something that’s clean and pressed.
5. Raise money. Look for other ways to raise some additional money; clean out the attic and hold a garage sale, rent the spare bedroom out to a student, or turn a hobby or skill into a part-time job. Are you an expert seamstress or is carpentry your thing? You might be surprised at what skills you have been giving away that you can now charge money for!
6. Other aid. Do you know about emergency sources of aid in your community? In addition to unemployment benefits, you might qualify for food stamps, subsidized housing or other government aid.
7. Don’t get hooked on your computer. It’s so easy to get caught up in surfing and browsing — if you are not careful you could end up wasting hours of your day. Schedule a certain amount of computer time onto your to-do list!
9. Take care of yourself. Just because you are out of work doesn’t mean you should stop enjoying your life. You have to get out of the house or you may end up drained and depressed. Schedule some down time on your to-do list. Read those books that you have stacked on your bookcase but have never gotten around to. But don’t do it at home every day; read at the park or the coffee shop. You can also go to the zoo, attend a lecture at the museum or take in a movie — matinees are cheaper! You will return to your job search refreshed and you might even meet a key contact while you’re out!
10. Finally, face your fears. What are you really afraid of? Never finding another job, or having to take a significant cut in pay? Are you worried about eviction, ruined credit or being humiliated in front of friends and family? Now think about your worst-case scenario. If you were qualified to work before, you will find another job sooner or later. But what if you really do make less money? What would that mean? It may only mean temporarily adapting your lifestyle to your new income level until you can find something else.
If you properly prioritize your finances, you should be able to keep a roof over your head. But what happens if the bank actually forecloses on your house? While your life will be more difficult for a period of time, you can get back up on your feet. And probably end up a whole lot wiser in the process.
Judith Edna Earley is a freelance writer living in the Los Angeles area. She writes on a variety of topics and most recently authored The Autoimmune Beauty Book.
Saturday 25 January 2014
Washington Fellowship Application Information
Two days left to apply for WASHINGTON FELLOWSHIP. Apply today on www.irex.org
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 12:00 MIDNIGHT EASTERN STANDARD TIME MONDAY JANUARY 27, 2014
The Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative. President Obama launched YALI in 2010 to support young African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. The Washington Fellowship, which begins in 2014, will bring 500 young leaders to the United States each year for academic coursework and leadership training and will create unique opportunities in Africa for Fellows to put new skills to practical use in leading organizations, communities, and countries.
The online application for the Washington Fellowship is currently available. Completed applications, including all supporting documents, are due by 12:00 midnight Eastern Standard Time, January 27, 2014. All applications must be submitted via the online application system. The application instructions provide detailed information regarding the financial provisions of the fellowship, eligibility and selection criteria for the program, and details on applying. Please read the application instructions carefully prior to beginning the application. We recommend printing these instructions and referring to them while completing the application.
If you have questions about the application, please email washingtonfellowship@irex.org
Participating countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 12:00 MIDNIGHT EASTERN STANDARD TIME MONDAY JANUARY 27, 2014
The Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative. President Obama launched YALI in 2010 to support young African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. The Washington Fellowship, which begins in 2014, will bring 500 young leaders to the United States each year for academic coursework and leadership training and will create unique opportunities in Africa for Fellows to put new skills to practical use in leading organizations, communities, and countries.
The online application for the Washington Fellowship is currently available. Completed applications, including all supporting documents, are due by 12:00 midnight Eastern Standard Time, January 27, 2014. All applications must be submitted via the online application system. The application instructions provide detailed information regarding the financial provisions of the fellowship, eligibility and selection criteria for the program, and details on applying. Please read the application instructions carefully prior to beginning the application. We recommend printing these instructions and referring to them while completing the application.
If you have questions about the application, please email washingtonfellowship@irex.org
Participating countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Friday 24 January 2014
Diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.
The two main types of diabetes are:
type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes
The difference between the two types of diabetes is explained below.
In the UK, diabetes affects approximately 2.9 million people. There are also thought to be around 850,000 people with undiagnosed diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes
The main symptoms of diabetes are:
feeling very thirsty, urinating frequently particularly at night, feeling very tired, weight loss and loss of muscle bulk.
Type 1 diabetes can develop quickly, over weeks or even days.
Many people have type 2 diabetes for years without realising because early symptoms tend to be general.
What causes diabetes?
The amount of sugar in the blood is usually controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas (a gland behind the stomach).
When food is digested and enters your bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into cells, where it is broken down to produce energy.
However, if you have diabetes, your body is unable to break down glucose into energy. This is because there is either not enough insulin to move the glucose, or the insulin produced does not work properly.
Type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. As no insulin is produced, your glucose levels increase, which can seriously damage the body's organs.
Type 1 diabetes is often known as insulin-dependent diabetes. It is also sometimes known as juvenile diabetes or early-onset diabetes because it usually develops before the age of 40, often during teenage years.
Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2 diabetes. About 10% of all people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.
If you are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you will need insulin injections for the rest of your life. You will also need to pay special attention to certain aspects of your lifestyle and health to ensure your blood glucose levels stay balanced – for example, by eating a healthy diet and carrying out regular blood tests.
Read more about type 1 diabetes and living with diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body's cells do not react to insulin. This is known as insulin resistance.
Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1 diabetes. In the UK, around 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
If you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you may be able to control your symptoms simply by eating a healthy diet and monitoring your blood glucose level. However, as type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, you may eventually need medication, usually in the form of tablets.
Type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity. Obesity-related diabetes is sometimes referred to as maturity-onset diabetes because it is more common in older people.
Gestational diabetes (in pregnancy)
During pregnancy, some women have such high levels of blood glucose their body is unable to produce enough insulin to absorb it all. This is known as gestational diabetes and affects around 5% of pregnant women.
Pregnancy can also make existing type 1 diabetes worse. Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of health problems developing in an unborn baby, so it is important to keep your blood glucose levels under control.
In most cases, gestational diabetes develops during the second trimester of pregnancy (weeks 14-26) and disappears after the baby is born. However, women who have gestational diabetes are at increased risk (30%) of developing type 2 diabetes later in life (compared to a 10% risk for the general population).
Read more about gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that affects women during pregnancy. Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Normally, the amount of glucose in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin. However, during pregnancy, some women have higher than normal levels of glucose in their blood and their body cannot produce enough insulin to transport it all into the cells. This means that the level of glucose in the blood rises.
Types of diabetes
Gestational diabetes is diabetes first diagnosed during pregnancy. The two other main types of diabetes are:
type 1 diabetes – when the body produces no insulin at all (often referred to as juvenile diabetes or early-onset diabetes)type 2 diabetes – when the body doesn't produce enough insulin and/or the body’s cells do not react to insulin (insulin resistance)
See the relevant links above for women who already had diabetes before they became pregnant.
How common is gestational diabetes?
Two to five in every 100 women giving birth in England and Wales has diabetes. Most of these women have gestational diabetes, and some have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Outlook
Gestational diabetes can be controlled with diet and exercise. However, some women with gestational diabetes will need medication to control blood glucose levels. Read more about how gestational diabetes is treated.
If gestational diabetes is not detected and controlled, it can increase the risk of birth complications, such as babies being large for their gestational age (Macrosomia). Read about the complications of gestational diabetes for more information about the risks of this and related conditions.
In most cases, gestational diabetes develops in the third trimester (after 28 weeks) and usually disappears after the baby is born. However, women who develop gestational diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
www.nhs.uk
The two main types of diabetes are:
type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes
The difference between the two types of diabetes is explained below.
In the UK, diabetes affects approximately 2.9 million people. There are also thought to be around 850,000 people with undiagnosed diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes
The main symptoms of diabetes are:
feeling very thirsty, urinating frequently particularly at night, feeling very tired, weight loss and loss of muscle bulk.
Type 1 diabetes can develop quickly, over weeks or even days.
Many people have type 2 diabetes for years without realising because early symptoms tend to be general.
What causes diabetes?
The amount of sugar in the blood is usually controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas (a gland behind the stomach).
When food is digested and enters your bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into cells, where it is broken down to produce energy.
However, if you have diabetes, your body is unable to break down glucose into energy. This is because there is either not enough insulin to move the glucose, or the insulin produced does not work properly.
Type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. As no insulin is produced, your glucose levels increase, which can seriously damage the body's organs.
Type 1 diabetes is often known as insulin-dependent diabetes. It is also sometimes known as juvenile diabetes or early-onset diabetes because it usually develops before the age of 40, often during teenage years.
Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2 diabetes. About 10% of all people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.
If you are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you will need insulin injections for the rest of your life. You will also need to pay special attention to certain aspects of your lifestyle and health to ensure your blood glucose levels stay balanced – for example, by eating a healthy diet and carrying out regular blood tests.
Read more about type 1 diabetes and living with diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body's cells do not react to insulin. This is known as insulin resistance.
Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1 diabetes. In the UK, around 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
If you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you may be able to control your symptoms simply by eating a healthy diet and monitoring your blood glucose level. However, as type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, you may eventually need medication, usually in the form of tablets.
Type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity. Obesity-related diabetes is sometimes referred to as maturity-onset diabetes because it is more common in older people.
Gestational diabetes (in pregnancy)
During pregnancy, some women have such high levels of blood glucose their body is unable to produce enough insulin to absorb it all. This is known as gestational diabetes and affects around 5% of pregnant women.
Pregnancy can also make existing type 1 diabetes worse. Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of health problems developing in an unborn baby, so it is important to keep your blood glucose levels under control.
In most cases, gestational diabetes develops during the second trimester of pregnancy (weeks 14-26) and disappears after the baby is born. However, women who have gestational diabetes are at increased risk (30%) of developing type 2 diabetes later in life (compared to a 10% risk for the general population).
Read more about gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that affects women during pregnancy. Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Normally, the amount of glucose in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin. However, during pregnancy, some women have higher than normal levels of glucose in their blood and their body cannot produce enough insulin to transport it all into the cells. This means that the level of glucose in the blood rises.
Types of diabetes
Gestational diabetes is diabetes first diagnosed during pregnancy. The two other main types of diabetes are:
type 1 diabetes – when the body produces no insulin at all (often referred to as juvenile diabetes or early-onset diabetes)type 2 diabetes – when the body doesn't produce enough insulin and/or the body’s cells do not react to insulin (insulin resistance)
See the relevant links above for women who already had diabetes before they became pregnant.
How common is gestational diabetes?
Two to five in every 100 women giving birth in England and Wales has diabetes. Most of these women have gestational diabetes, and some have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Outlook
Gestational diabetes can be controlled with diet and exercise. However, some women with gestational diabetes will need medication to control blood glucose levels. Read more about how gestational diabetes is treated.
If gestational diabetes is not detected and controlled, it can increase the risk of birth complications, such as babies being large for their gestational age (Macrosomia). Read about the complications of gestational diabetes for more information about the risks of this and related conditions.
In most cases, gestational diabetes develops in the third trimester (after 28 weeks) and usually disappears after the baby is born. However, women who develop gestational diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
www.nhs.uk
Thursday 23 January 2014
SAY NO TO STREET HAWKING CAMPAIGN
Today, I officially launched my campaign SAY NO TO STREET HAWKING on Indiegogo Website. Please support my campaign on www.indiegogo.com
SAY NO TO STREET HAWKING is a campaign whose main aim is to stop people hawking on the streets especially children.
SAY NO TO STREET HAWKING is a campaign whose main aim is to stop people hawking on the streets especially children.
Indiegogo: Getting Your Passion Funded
Do you have an idea or a passion that you want to be funded?. If yes, Indiegogo can help you do that.
The Idea Behind Indiegogo
When our founders joined forces in 2007, they had diverse backgrounds and varied interests. However, they had one important thing in common: Danae, Eric and Slava each tried to raise money for something they were passionate about, but they came up short. They had great ideas, the passion to work hard, and good networks, yet access to funding through traditional channels proved limited. The trio was determined to find a solution to the problem. Indiegogo was born; the crowdfunding solution that empowers ideas and enables people to donate funds easily.
How We're Fixing Funding
We're fixing the funding process by empowering people from all over the world to accomplish extraordinary things through our platform. In 2008 we unleashed Indiegogo in the independent film industry and it was a smash hit. In 2009, we expanded to include all industries and today we're the leading international crowdfunding platform, having raised millions of dollars for thousands of campaigns worldwide. Our belief is that anyone, anywhere who is passionate and works hard should be able to raise money.
Our Mission is to Get Your Passion Funded
At Indiegogo you'll find a welcoming, supportive community that embraces collaboration, fearlessness and authenticity. You provide the passion, we'll provide industry leading tools and support to help you promote your campaign and raise funds quickly, easily and securely. Have a look around and get inspired by the amazing people and campaigns raising funds every day. You could be the next, great success story!
www.indiegogo.com
The Idea Behind Indiegogo
When our founders joined forces in 2007, they had diverse backgrounds and varied interests. However, they had one important thing in common: Danae, Eric and Slava each tried to raise money for something they were passionate about, but they came up short. They had great ideas, the passion to work hard, and good networks, yet access to funding through traditional channels proved limited. The trio was determined to find a solution to the problem. Indiegogo was born; the crowdfunding solution that empowers ideas and enables people to donate funds easily.
How We're Fixing Funding
We're fixing the funding process by empowering people from all over the world to accomplish extraordinary things through our platform. In 2008 we unleashed Indiegogo in the independent film industry and it was a smash hit. In 2009, we expanded to include all industries and today we're the leading international crowdfunding platform, having raised millions of dollars for thousands of campaigns worldwide. Our belief is that anyone, anywhere who is passionate and works hard should be able to raise money.
Our Mission is to Get Your Passion Funded
At Indiegogo you'll find a welcoming, supportive community that embraces collaboration, fearlessness and authenticity. You provide the passion, we'll provide industry leading tools and support to help you promote your campaign and raise funds quickly, easily and securely. Have a look around and get inspired by the amazing people and campaigns raising funds every day. You could be the next, great success story!
www.indiegogo.com
Reader's View
Ahabwe Michael commented on my post titled: Water and its benefits. He had this to say:
CELEBRATE WATER: Without safe water in their homes, many women and girls become victims of physical attack and sexual violence as they walk long distances to collect water, families are hit by frequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and dysentery because of sharing open water sources with animals, girls dropout of school, girls and women spend between 30 minutes to 90 minutes walking to look for water. We are working to ending this through providing safe water to families affected by HIV/AIDS. Women and girls are the main providers of household water supply and sanitation in Uganda, and also have the primary responsibility for maintaining a clean home environment. The lack of access to safe water and sanitation facilities therefore affects women and girls most acutely. This a situation we all need to end so that women can live healthier lives. Join us to celebrate water here http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/celebrate-water-give-a-gift-that-overflows
I am glad that there are people who are really concerned about Africa and genuinely want to help. Join to celebrate water. Read and share :)
CELEBRATE WATER: Without safe water in their homes, many women and girls become victims of physical attack and sexual violence as they walk long distances to collect water, families are hit by frequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and dysentery because of sharing open water sources with animals, girls dropout of school, girls and women spend between 30 minutes to 90 minutes walking to look for water. We are working to ending this through providing safe water to families affected by HIV/AIDS. Women and girls are the main providers of household water supply and sanitation in Uganda, and also have the primary responsibility for maintaining a clean home environment. The lack of access to safe water and sanitation facilities therefore affects women and girls most acutely. This a situation we all need to end so that women can live healthier lives. Join us to celebrate water here http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/celebrate-water-give-a-gift-that-overflows
I am glad that there are people who are really concerned about Africa and genuinely want to help. Join to celebrate water. Read and share :)
Water And Its Benefits
Water! Water!Water!. We can never have enough of it!. Read and share :)
The human body is a water machine‚ designed primarily to run on water and minerals. Every life giving and healing process that happens inside our body... happens with water. In just the last decade medical science has begun to focus more on the tremendous healing ability our body has and how much that ability depends on water. Our body instinctively knows how and strives to sustain youthful longevity‚ and in its every effort... water is the key. The human body is made up of over 70% water. Our blood is more than 80%‚ our brain ... over 75%‚ and the human liver is an amazing 96% water!
Our energy level is greatly affected by the amount of water we drink. It has been medically proven that just a 5% drop in body fluids will cause a 25% to 30% loss of energy in the average person... a 15% drop in body fluids causing death! Water is what our liver uses to metabolize fat into useable energy. It is estimated that over 80% of our population suffers energy loss due to minor dehydration.
Functions
Water is a fundamental part of our lives. It is easy to forget how completely we depend on it. Human survival is dependent on water -- water has been ranked by experts as second only to oxygen as essential for life. The average adult body is 55 to 75% water. 2/3 of your body weight is water (40 to 50 quarts). A human embryo is more than 80% water. A newborn baby is 74% water. Everyday your body must replace 2 1/2 quarts of water. The water you drink literally becomes you! Since such a large percentage of our bodies is water, water must obviously figure heavily in how our bodies function. We need lots of fresh water to stay healthy.
Water is the medium for various enzymatic & chemical reactions in the body. It moves nutrients, hormones, antibodies, & oxygen through the blood stream & lymphatic system. The proteins & enzymes of the body function more efficiently in solutions of lower viscosity. Water is the solvent of the body & it regulates all functions, including the activity of everything it dissolves & circulates.
Water helps regulate our body temperature through perspiration, which dissipates excess heat & cools our bodies.We even need water to breathe! As we take in oxygen & excrete CO2, our lungs must be moistened by water. We lose about 1 to 2 pints of water each day just exhaling.Asthma is frequently relieved when water intake is increased. Histamine plays a key role in regulating the way the body uses & distributes water & helps control the body' s defense mechanisms. In asthmatics, histamine level increases with dehydration. Our defense for the body is to close down the airways.The kidneys remove wastes such as uric aced, urea & lactic acid, all of which must be dissolved in water. When there isn't sufficient water, those wastes are not effectively removed, which may result in damage to the kidneys.Water lubricates our joints. The cartilage tissues found at the ends of long bones & between the vertebrae of the spine hold a lot of water, which serves as a lubricant during the movement of the joint. When the cartilage is will hydrated, the two opposing surfaces glide freely, & friction damage is minimal. If the cartilage is dehydrated, the rate of "abrasive" damage is increased, resulting in joint deterioration & increased pain.The actively growing blood cells in the bone marrow take priority over the cartilage for the available water that goes through the bone structure.Rheumatoid joint pain frequently decreases with increased water intake & flexing exercises to bring more circulation to the joints.75% of the upper body weight is supported by the water volume that is stored in the spinal disc core. 25% is supported by the fibrous materials around the disc. The spinal joints are dependent on different hydraulic properties of water which is stored in the disc core. Back pain is frequently alleviated with hydration.Brain tissue is 85% water. Although the brain is only 1/50th of the body weight, it uses 1/20th of the blood supply. With dehydration, the level of energy generation in the brain is decreased. Depression & chronic fatigue syndrome are frequently results of dehydration.Migraine headaches may be an indicator of critical body temperature regulation at times of "heat stress." Dehydration plays a major role in bringing on migraines. Dehydration causes stress & stress causes further dehydration.
Water losses
Adults lose nearly 6 pints (12 cups) of water every day. We lose 1/2 cup to 1 cup a day from the soles of our feet. Another 2 to 4 cups is lost from breathing. Perspiration accounts for another 2 cups. Another 3 pints (6 cups) are lost in urine.
When the body is dehydrated, a form of rationing & distribution goes into play to ration the available water. Since the body has no reserve system, it operates a priority distribution system for the amount that has been made available by intake.
The body's signals of dehydration are frequently joint pain, stomach pain & ulcers, back pain, low energy, mental confusion & disorientation. Numerous disease symptoms respond to increased water intake.
If you're not drinking sufficient water, your body starts retaining water to compensate for this shortage. To eliminate fluid retention, drink more water, not less. If you don't drink enough water to maintain your body's fluid balance, you can impair every aspect of your body's physiological function.
The "dry mouth" signal is the last outward sign of extreme dehydration. As our bodies try to adjust to being deprived of water, our thirst mechanism becomes disabled. The only time we receive the "dry mouth" signal is as the last outward sign of extreme dehydration. In addition, the thirst sensation gradually decreases with age. The result is increasing dehydration. As we start to give our bodies more water, the thirst mechanism begins to work again, but doesn't become fully apparent until our bodies are fully hydrated. When we are getting sufficient water, we're often thirsty.
Water vs. other beverages
There is a difference between drinking pure water & beverages that contain water. Fruit juice, soft drinks, coffee, etc., may contain substances that are not healthy, & actually contradict some of the positive effects of the added water. Caffeinated beverages stimulate the adrenal glands and act as diuretics, robbing your body of necessary water. Soft drinks contain phosphorus which can lead to depletion of bone calcium. Soda contains sodium. Fruit juices contain a lot of sugar & stimulate the pancreas. These drinks may tax the body more than they cleanse it. A 12 ounce can of regular soda contains the equivalent of 9 teaspoons of sugar and loads of empty calories.
Other beverages also contain dehydrating agents. They may actually reduce the water reserves in the body! Drinking other beverages to the exclusion of water also causes you to lose your taste for water. This is particularly true with children as they become dependent on Sodas & juices.
How much is enough?
A non active person needs a half ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. That is ten 8 ounce glasses a day if your weight is 160 pounds. For every 25 pounds you exceed your ideal weight, increase it by one 8 ounce glass.
An active, athletic person needs 2/3 ounce per pound which is 13-14 8 ounce glasses a day if you're 160 pounds. The more you exercise the more water you need. Spread out your water intake throughout the day. Do not drink more than 4 glasses within any given hour. After a few weeks your bladder calms down & you will urinate less frequently, but in larger amounts.
Adding water to your routine
Here are a few tips for adding more water to your life:
Keep a supply of water containers full in the fridge. That way, water is always on hand as an alternative to other less healthful drinks and conveniently available when you’re on the go.Upon arriving at the office, fill up a big jug of water at the tap. You’ll get plenty of water to drink throughout your workday.Caffeinated beverages act as diuretics and increase fluid loss, so they don’t count toward your daily hydration needs. Try substituting water for your second cup of coffee or that mid- afternoon soda.Don't wait for your body to signal it's thirsty. By that time, you're already starting to be dehydrated.
Culled from www.dorchesterhealth.org
An article by Louise Chang on WebMD on water.
Americans seem to carry bottled water everywhere they go these days. In fact, it has become the second most popular drink (behind soft drinks). But water lovers got a jolt recently when we heard that a new report had found that the benefits of drinking water may have been oversold. Apparently, the old suggestion to drink eight glasses a day was nothing more than a guideline, not based on scientific evidence.
But don't put your water bottle or glass down just yet. While we may not need eight glasses, there are plenty of reasons to drink water. In fact, drinking water (either plain or in the form of other fluids or foods) is essential to your health.
"Think of water as a nutrient your body needs that is present in liquids, plain water, and foods. All of these are essential daily to replace the large amounts of water lost each day," says Joan Koelemay, RD, dietitian for the Beverage Institute, an industry group.
Kaiser Permanente nephrologist Steven Guest, MD, agrees: "Fluid losses occur continuously, from skin evaporation, breathing, urine, and stool, and these losses must be replaced daily for good health," he says.
When your water intake does not equal your output, you can become dehydrated. Fluid losses are accentuated in warmer climates, during strenuous exercise, in high altitudes, and in older adults, whose sense of thirst may not be as sharp.
Here are six reasons to make sure you're drinking enough water or other fluids every day:
1. Your body is composed of about 60% water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.
"Through the posterior pituitary gland, your brain communicates with your kidneys and tells it how much water to excrete as urine or hold onto for reserves," says Guest, who is also an adjunct professor of medicine at Stanford University.
When you're low on fluids, the brain triggers the body's thirst mechanism. And unless you are taking medications that make you thirsty, Guest says, you should listen to those cues and get yourself a drink of water, juice, milk, coffee -- anything but alcohol.
"Alcohol interferes with the brain and kidney communication and causes excess excretion of fluids which can then lead to dehydration," he says.
2. . For years, dieters have been drinking lots of water as a weight loss strategy. While water doesn't have any magical effect onweight loss, substituting it for higher calorie beverages can certainly help.
"What works with weight loss is if you choose water or a non-caloric beverage over a caloric beverage and/or eat a diet higher in water-rich foods that are healthier, more filling, and help you trim calorie intake," says Penn State researcher Barbara Rolls, PhD, author of The Volumetrics Weight Control Plan.
The human body is a water machine‚ designed primarily to run on water and minerals. Every life giving and healing process that happens inside our body... happens with water. In just the last decade medical science has begun to focus more on the tremendous healing ability our body has and how much that ability depends on water. Our body instinctively knows how and strives to sustain youthful longevity‚ and in its every effort... water is the key. The human body is made up of over 70% water. Our blood is more than 80%‚ our brain ... over 75%‚ and the human liver is an amazing 96% water!
Our energy level is greatly affected by the amount of water we drink. It has been medically proven that just a 5% drop in body fluids will cause a 25% to 30% loss of energy in the average person... a 15% drop in body fluids causing death! Water is what our liver uses to metabolize fat into useable energy. It is estimated that over 80% of our population suffers energy loss due to minor dehydration.
Functions
Water is a fundamental part of our lives. It is easy to forget how completely we depend on it. Human survival is dependent on water -- water has been ranked by experts as second only to oxygen as essential for life. The average adult body is 55 to 75% water. 2/3 of your body weight is water (40 to 50 quarts). A human embryo is more than 80% water. A newborn baby is 74% water. Everyday your body must replace 2 1/2 quarts of water. The water you drink literally becomes you! Since such a large percentage of our bodies is water, water must obviously figure heavily in how our bodies function. We need lots of fresh water to stay healthy.
Water is the medium for various enzymatic & chemical reactions in the body. It moves nutrients, hormones, antibodies, & oxygen through the blood stream & lymphatic system. The proteins & enzymes of the body function more efficiently in solutions of lower viscosity. Water is the solvent of the body & it regulates all functions, including the activity of everything it dissolves & circulates.
Water helps regulate our body temperature through perspiration, which dissipates excess heat & cools our bodies.We even need water to breathe! As we take in oxygen & excrete CO2, our lungs must be moistened by water. We lose about 1 to 2 pints of water each day just exhaling.Asthma is frequently relieved when water intake is increased. Histamine plays a key role in regulating the way the body uses & distributes water & helps control the body' s defense mechanisms. In asthmatics, histamine level increases with dehydration. Our defense for the body is to close down the airways.The kidneys remove wastes such as uric aced, urea & lactic acid, all of which must be dissolved in water. When there isn't sufficient water, those wastes are not effectively removed, which may result in damage to the kidneys.Water lubricates our joints. The cartilage tissues found at the ends of long bones & between the vertebrae of the spine hold a lot of water, which serves as a lubricant during the movement of the joint. When the cartilage is will hydrated, the two opposing surfaces glide freely, & friction damage is minimal. If the cartilage is dehydrated, the rate of "abrasive" damage is increased, resulting in joint deterioration & increased pain.The actively growing blood cells in the bone marrow take priority over the cartilage for the available water that goes through the bone structure.Rheumatoid joint pain frequently decreases with increased water intake & flexing exercises to bring more circulation to the joints.75% of the upper body weight is supported by the water volume that is stored in the spinal disc core. 25% is supported by the fibrous materials around the disc. The spinal joints are dependent on different hydraulic properties of water which is stored in the disc core. Back pain is frequently alleviated with hydration.Brain tissue is 85% water. Although the brain is only 1/50th of the body weight, it uses 1/20th of the blood supply. With dehydration, the level of energy generation in the brain is decreased. Depression & chronic fatigue syndrome are frequently results of dehydration.Migraine headaches may be an indicator of critical body temperature regulation at times of "heat stress." Dehydration plays a major role in bringing on migraines. Dehydration causes stress & stress causes further dehydration.
Water losses
Adults lose nearly 6 pints (12 cups) of water every day. We lose 1/2 cup to 1 cup a day from the soles of our feet. Another 2 to 4 cups is lost from breathing. Perspiration accounts for another 2 cups. Another 3 pints (6 cups) are lost in urine.
When the body is dehydrated, a form of rationing & distribution goes into play to ration the available water. Since the body has no reserve system, it operates a priority distribution system for the amount that has been made available by intake.
The body's signals of dehydration are frequently joint pain, stomach pain & ulcers, back pain, low energy, mental confusion & disorientation. Numerous disease symptoms respond to increased water intake.
If you're not drinking sufficient water, your body starts retaining water to compensate for this shortage. To eliminate fluid retention, drink more water, not less. If you don't drink enough water to maintain your body's fluid balance, you can impair every aspect of your body's physiological function.
The "dry mouth" signal is the last outward sign of extreme dehydration. As our bodies try to adjust to being deprived of water, our thirst mechanism becomes disabled. The only time we receive the "dry mouth" signal is as the last outward sign of extreme dehydration. In addition, the thirst sensation gradually decreases with age. The result is increasing dehydration. As we start to give our bodies more water, the thirst mechanism begins to work again, but doesn't become fully apparent until our bodies are fully hydrated. When we are getting sufficient water, we're often thirsty.
Water vs. other beverages
There is a difference between drinking pure water & beverages that contain water. Fruit juice, soft drinks, coffee, etc., may contain substances that are not healthy, & actually contradict some of the positive effects of the added water. Caffeinated beverages stimulate the adrenal glands and act as diuretics, robbing your body of necessary water. Soft drinks contain phosphorus which can lead to depletion of bone calcium. Soda contains sodium. Fruit juices contain a lot of sugar & stimulate the pancreas. These drinks may tax the body more than they cleanse it. A 12 ounce can of regular soda contains the equivalent of 9 teaspoons of sugar and loads of empty calories.
Other beverages also contain dehydrating agents. They may actually reduce the water reserves in the body! Drinking other beverages to the exclusion of water also causes you to lose your taste for water. This is particularly true with children as they become dependent on Sodas & juices.
How much is enough?
A non active person needs a half ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. That is ten 8 ounce glasses a day if your weight is 160 pounds. For every 25 pounds you exceed your ideal weight, increase it by one 8 ounce glass.
An active, athletic person needs 2/3 ounce per pound which is 13-14 8 ounce glasses a day if you're 160 pounds. The more you exercise the more water you need. Spread out your water intake throughout the day. Do not drink more than 4 glasses within any given hour. After a few weeks your bladder calms down & you will urinate less frequently, but in larger amounts.
Adding water to your routine
Here are a few tips for adding more water to your life:
Keep a supply of water containers full in the fridge. That way, water is always on hand as an alternative to other less healthful drinks and conveniently available when you’re on the go.Upon arriving at the office, fill up a big jug of water at the tap. You’ll get plenty of water to drink throughout your workday.Caffeinated beverages act as diuretics and increase fluid loss, so they don’t count toward your daily hydration needs. Try substituting water for your second cup of coffee or that mid- afternoon soda.Don't wait for your body to signal it's thirsty. By that time, you're already starting to be dehydrated.
Culled from www.dorchesterhealth.org
An article by Louise Chang on WebMD on water.
Americans seem to carry bottled water everywhere they go these days. In fact, it has become the second most popular drink (behind soft drinks). But water lovers got a jolt recently when we heard that a new report had found that the benefits of drinking water may have been oversold. Apparently, the old suggestion to drink eight glasses a day was nothing more than a guideline, not based on scientific evidence.
But don't put your water bottle or glass down just yet. While we may not need eight glasses, there are plenty of reasons to drink water. In fact, drinking water (either plain or in the form of other fluids or foods) is essential to your health.
"Think of water as a nutrient your body needs that is present in liquids, plain water, and foods. All of these are essential daily to replace the large amounts of water lost each day," says Joan Koelemay, RD, dietitian for the Beverage Institute, an industry group.
Kaiser Permanente nephrologist Steven Guest, MD, agrees: "Fluid losses occur continuously, from skin evaporation, breathing, urine, and stool, and these losses must be replaced daily for good health," he says.
When your water intake does not equal your output, you can become dehydrated. Fluid losses are accentuated in warmer climates, during strenuous exercise, in high altitudes, and in older adults, whose sense of thirst may not be as sharp.
Here are six reasons to make sure you're drinking enough water or other fluids every day:
1. Your body is composed of about 60% water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.
"Through the posterior pituitary gland, your brain communicates with your kidneys and tells it how much water to excrete as urine or hold onto for reserves," says Guest, who is also an adjunct professor of medicine at Stanford University.
When you're low on fluids, the brain triggers the body's thirst mechanism. And unless you are taking medications that make you thirsty, Guest says, you should listen to those cues and get yourself a drink of water, juice, milk, coffee -- anything but alcohol.
"Alcohol interferes with the brain and kidney communication and causes excess excretion of fluids which can then lead to dehydration," he says.
2. . For years, dieters have been drinking lots of water as a weight loss strategy. While water doesn't have any magical effect onweight loss, substituting it for higher calorie beverages can certainly help.
"What works with weight loss is if you choose water or a non-caloric beverage over a caloric beverage and/or eat a diet higher in water-rich foods that are healthier, more filling, and help you trim calorie intake," says Penn State researcher Barbara Rolls, PhD, author of The Volumetrics Weight Control Plan.
Monday 20 January 2014
Job Interview Questions: Handling Usual and Unsual Queries
About eight years after I graduated from college and had worked for a while, I interviewed for an editing job at a publishing startup. It was many years ago, but one of the interviewer's questions sticks in my mind: "What were some of your extra-curricular activities in high school?" High school?
When I asked the interviewer if he really meant high school, he said yes. Although it didn't make much sense to me at the time, I realized later that the interviewer wanted to know what kind of person I was, how my interest in journalism started and if I remained passionate about the field. That discussion, which provided an easy segue to several key questions, wasn't so crazy after all.
So, recently, when Glassdoor sent me its list of leading oddball interview questions for 2013, I thought many of the queries made sense. One question that sparked a lot of attention from online news sites was, "How many cows are in Canada," which Google—known for its tough interviews—posed to a candidate for a local data quality evaluator position. Google data quality evaluators may never have to answer this particular question, but they need to have strong analytical skills, and skillfully provide solutions and troubleshot information.
Amanda Lachapelle, HR director for Glassdoor, told eWEEK in an email that companies ask offbeat questions because "if multiple job candidates have the same qualifications and experience on paper, it can help determine which candidate has better communication and critical-thinking skills, which therefore may help you determine which candidate is a better fit for your team."
Job seekers should expect some interview curve balls, including unconventional questions, but "most companies will ask more common interview questions like "What are your strengths?" and "What are your weaknesses?"—and it's important that you prepare well for those, too," wrote Jacqueline Smith of Forbes. Smith offers tips on handling the most common interview questions—such as learning about the company, Googling your name, practicing and planning before an interview, and being positive.
These steps could also help job candidates respond well to unconventional questions. It's important for interviewees to think ahead—and on the spot.
When responding to interviewers' questions—whether expected or unexpected—job candidates should stay calm and be themselves. They should learn to elaborate without going off on a tangent. Chances are that those doing the hiring want to know more about them than bovine creatures.
- See more at: http://www.eweek.com/blogs/careers/job-interview-questions-handling-usual-and-unusual-queries.html#sthash.PBaORKUB.dpuf
When I asked the interviewer if he really meant high school, he said yes. Although it didn't make much sense to me at the time, I realized later that the interviewer wanted to know what kind of person I was, how my interest in journalism started and if I remained passionate about the field. That discussion, which provided an easy segue to several key questions, wasn't so crazy after all.
So, recently, when Glassdoor sent me its list of leading oddball interview questions for 2013, I thought many of the queries made sense. One question that sparked a lot of attention from online news sites was, "How many cows are in Canada," which Google—known for its tough interviews—posed to a candidate for a local data quality evaluator position. Google data quality evaluators may never have to answer this particular question, but they need to have strong analytical skills, and skillfully provide solutions and troubleshot information.
Amanda Lachapelle, HR director for Glassdoor, told eWEEK in an email that companies ask offbeat questions because "if multiple job candidates have the same qualifications and experience on paper, it can help determine which candidate has better communication and critical-thinking skills, which therefore may help you determine which candidate is a better fit for your team."
Job seekers should expect some interview curve balls, including unconventional questions, but "most companies will ask more common interview questions like "What are your strengths?" and "What are your weaknesses?"—and it's important that you prepare well for those, too," wrote Jacqueline Smith of Forbes. Smith offers tips on handling the most common interview questions—such as learning about the company, Googling your name, practicing and planning before an interview, and being positive.
These steps could also help job candidates respond well to unconventional questions. It's important for interviewees to think ahead—and on the spot.
When responding to interviewers' questions—whether expected or unexpected—job candidates should stay calm and be themselves. They should learn to elaborate without going off on a tangent. Chances are that those doing the hiring want to know more about them than bovine creatures.
- See more at: http://www.eweek.com/blogs/careers/job-interview-questions-handling-usual-and-unusual-queries.html#sthash.PBaORKUB.dpuf
IT Resumes: Keeping Them Truthful
On the train the other day, I overheard one rider asking another if it was OK to fib a little—or at least embellish the truth—on a resume. As the train rattled quickly and loudly to my stop, I missed the response, but I couldn't stop thinking about the question.
Lying on a resume isn't illegal, but it's certainly unethical and grounds for dismissal for those who get caught—not to mention embarrassing for the companies that hired them. The tech sector hasn't been immune to resume scandals. The resume flap last year concerning the credentials of Scott Thompson, ex-CEO of Yahoo, certainly didn't help the company's image.
How honest are most IT pros about their credentials?
Stretching the truth is common, according to a recent survey conducted by TEKsystems. The technology staffing firm found that 63 percent of IT professionals and 77 percent of IT leaders said most IT resumes exaggerate job seekers' work experience. What's more, 35 percent of IT leaders and 39 percent of IT pros say most IT resumes contain "outright lies," the study showed.
The lies concern their technical experience and abilities, false or dated certifications, and exaggeration on their roles at past and present jobs, Rachel Russell, TEKsystems director, told eWEEK in an email.
Russell's note included the following bullet points on how job hunters can clean up their resumes:
--"Avoid misrepresentation by not just listing technical skills—describe how you used the skill through the projects you supported and the impact you made on the business."
--"Provide references that can provide insight on your technical abilities and non-technical abilities, like communication skills, management skills, etc."
--"Use the language that shows initiative (i.e., 'took initiative to') and describe how you solved an issue/challenge."
While you're at it, leave off the fluff and eliminate the irrelevant. A resume riddled with useless catchphrases—in lieu of strong keywords representing job hunters' skills and how they've applied them—doesn't help the job seeker, the recruiter or prospective employers.
The TEKsystems study found that 78 percent of IT leaders and 64 percent of IT pros agreed with the statement: "Many IT resumes include buzzwords that are actually irrelevant to the person's true experience."
Here's another reason to weigh your words when writing a resume. Long before recruiters, HR professionals and hiring managers see most resumes, they go through automated tracking systems—special software for ferreting out relevant keywords. But don't try to game the system. Use keywords honestly.
For job hunters with all levels of experience, tips on how to put together an effective resume are plentiful on career Websites, at bookstores, and from your favorite business magazines as well as other sources.
I wonder if the resume writer on the train found a way to present his skills clearly and truthfully, and how his job hunt is going. I hope that someone advises him to be creative in his job hunt but to be honest. Integrity counts.
- See more at: http://www.eweek.com/blogs/careers/it-resumes-keeping-them-truthful.html#sthash.7wtA2jGj.dpuf
Lying on a resume isn't illegal, but it's certainly unethical and grounds for dismissal for those who get caught—not to mention embarrassing for the companies that hired them. The tech sector hasn't been immune to resume scandals. The resume flap last year concerning the credentials of Scott Thompson, ex-CEO of Yahoo, certainly didn't help the company's image.
How honest are most IT pros about their credentials?
Stretching the truth is common, according to a recent survey conducted by TEKsystems. The technology staffing firm found that 63 percent of IT professionals and 77 percent of IT leaders said most IT resumes exaggerate job seekers' work experience. What's more, 35 percent of IT leaders and 39 percent of IT pros say most IT resumes contain "outright lies," the study showed.
The lies concern their technical experience and abilities, false or dated certifications, and exaggeration on their roles at past and present jobs, Rachel Russell, TEKsystems director, told eWEEK in an email.
Russell's note included the following bullet points on how job hunters can clean up their resumes:
--"Avoid misrepresentation by not just listing technical skills—describe how you used the skill through the projects you supported and the impact you made on the business."
--"Provide references that can provide insight on your technical abilities and non-technical abilities, like communication skills, management skills, etc."
--"Use the language that shows initiative (i.e., 'took initiative to') and describe how you solved an issue/challenge."
While you're at it, leave off the fluff and eliminate the irrelevant. A resume riddled with useless catchphrases—in lieu of strong keywords representing job hunters' skills and how they've applied them—doesn't help the job seeker, the recruiter or prospective employers.
The TEKsystems study found that 78 percent of IT leaders and 64 percent of IT pros agreed with the statement: "Many IT resumes include buzzwords that are actually irrelevant to the person's true experience."
Here's another reason to weigh your words when writing a resume. Long before recruiters, HR professionals and hiring managers see most resumes, they go through automated tracking systems—special software for ferreting out relevant keywords. But don't try to game the system. Use keywords honestly.
For job hunters with all levels of experience, tips on how to put together an effective resume are plentiful on career Websites, at bookstores, and from your favorite business magazines as well as other sources.
I wonder if the resume writer on the train found a way to present his skills clearly and truthfully, and how his job hunt is going. I hope that someone advises him to be creative in his job hunt but to be honest. Integrity counts.
- See more at: http://www.eweek.com/blogs/careers/it-resumes-keeping-them-truthful.html#sthash.7wtA2jGj.dpuf
Sunday 19 January 2014
The Digital Divide
The Digital Divide at a Glance:
200 million more men have access to the Internet than women..ITU
41% of men worldwide are connected to the Internet, compared to 37% of women...ITU
Bringing 600 million additional women and girls online could boost global GDP by up to US$13-18 billion.... Intel
Women worldwide are an estimated 21% less likely to own a mobile phone..GSMA
In Francophone West Africa, women have 35% fewer opportunities and benefits than
men with regard to ICT...Nancy Hafkin
Men in West Africa tended to feel threatened when women used cell phones and accessed the Internet, seeing it as destabilizing to relationships and viewed such unsupervised activity by women as inappropriate...Nancy Hafkin
Less than 10% of the Internet users in Guinea and Djibouti are women, less than 20% in Nepal, and less than 25% in India....Nancy Hafkin
Source: worldpulse.com
200 million more men have access to the Internet than women..ITU
41% of men worldwide are connected to the Internet, compared to 37% of women...ITU
Bringing 600 million additional women and girls online could boost global GDP by up to US$13-18 billion.... Intel
Women worldwide are an estimated 21% less likely to own a mobile phone..GSMA
In Francophone West Africa, women have 35% fewer opportunities and benefits than
men with regard to ICT...Nancy Hafkin
Men in West Africa tended to feel threatened when women used cell phones and accessed the Internet, seeing it as destabilizing to relationships and viewed such unsupervised activity by women as inappropriate...Nancy Hafkin
Less than 10% of the Internet users in Guinea and Djibouti are women, less than 20% in Nepal, and less than 25% in India....Nancy Hafkin
Source: worldpulse.com
2014 WWW Campaign: Women Weave the Web by World Pulse
We are excited to announce the launch of our WWW: Women Weave the Web Campaign! Join World Pulse in supporting women who are using the Internet to transform the world. From the streets of Nairobi to the plazas of Buenos Aires, women are logging on and sparking change. Now is the time to break down the digital divide. Participate in our campaign to make sure that every woman can access the tools that will empower her!
Our newly launched campaign is poised to crowdsource the wisdom of grassroots women leaders like you on issues related to digital inclusion and empowerment. With the launch of the campaign, we're kicking off theDigital Access phase to find out about challenges you have accessing the Internet and the solutions you and your community are developing. In a few months, we'll turn our focus to Digital Literacy and then to Digital Empowerment, to gather your ideas on the tools you need to fully espouse the web, as well as how the Internet empowers you to create real and powerful change on the ground. World Pulse will analyze the submitted testimonies, and, in conjunction with our partners, present your ideas and recommendations to important international forums, policy leaders, media outlets, and technology companies. Together, we can make sure our voices are heard in the halls of power, calling for the digital inclusion and empowerment of all women around the world!
Want to write a story? Take a picture? Connect with other women? There many ways to get involved with the campaign, from writing a journal entry on digital access to uploading a photo of your local library, or mapping internet cafes that are safe for women. Take a look at our How to Participate page to learn about all the ways that you can get your voice heard on this important issue!
This year, we have joined forces with several partners to bring some incredible opportunities and prizes to campaign participants! These opportunities include the $20,000 Lynn Syms prize, to be awarded to an outstanding grassroots woman and visionary voice using digital tools to effect change and advance her community work.
Campaign participants will also be able to apply to become a part of the Beyond Access Community, an initiative aimed at supporting local libraries in implementing community development programs. To be eligible for all the prizes, you first need to submit a journal entry to the campaign.
Read and share :).
Our newly launched campaign is poised to crowdsource the wisdom of grassroots women leaders like you on issues related to digital inclusion and empowerment. With the launch of the campaign, we're kicking off theDigital Access phase to find out about challenges you have accessing the Internet and the solutions you and your community are developing. In a few months, we'll turn our focus to Digital Literacy and then to Digital Empowerment, to gather your ideas on the tools you need to fully espouse the web, as well as how the Internet empowers you to create real and powerful change on the ground. World Pulse will analyze the submitted testimonies, and, in conjunction with our partners, present your ideas and recommendations to important international forums, policy leaders, media outlets, and technology companies. Together, we can make sure our voices are heard in the halls of power, calling for the digital inclusion and empowerment of all women around the world!
Want to write a story? Take a picture? Connect with other women? There many ways to get involved with the campaign, from writing a journal entry on digital access to uploading a photo of your local library, or mapping internet cafes that are safe for women. Take a look at our How to Participate page to learn about all the ways that you can get your voice heard on this important issue!
This year, we have joined forces with several partners to bring some incredible opportunities and prizes to campaign participants! These opportunities include the $20,000 Lynn Syms prize, to be awarded to an outstanding grassroots woman and visionary voice using digital tools to effect change and advance her community work.
Campaign participants will also be able to apply to become a part of the Beyond Access Community, an initiative aimed at supporting local libraries in implementing community development programs. To be eligible for all the prizes, you first need to submit a journal entry to the campaign.
Read and share :).
DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP
When you truely love someone, distance is not a barrier BUT if we had a choice, we would love to see our loved ones as much as we want to. Life is not exactly BLACK AND WHITE, so is relationship. Personally if i love someone and we are willing to communicate regularly and make sacrifices for each other, i don't really care about the distance but then that is me. This is NOT the same for everyone. Read an article online by Tom Scheve on distance relationship and thought i should share :).
Beyond the first few months of giddy affection and the feeling of butterflies, few -- if any --romantic relationships are easy. Sure, some look that way, but usually that's because two people are putting in a lot of work behind the scenes.
Long-distance relationships are even more difficult to maintain, and the reasons why they can fail are numerous. Many long-distance relationships certainly succeed, but they require careful navigation from the people involved to steer through the obstacles brought on by geography.
Of course, with the right mindset, plenty of emotional preparation and lots of work throughout, long-distance relationships can and do work out. But many potential pitfalls await every hopeful attempt at cross-country love.
Couples in long-distance relationships have to make up for a serious lack of face time. In this modern age, there are plenty of alternatives: phone calls, text messages, instant messaging and pretty much any other communication technology developed since the carrier pigeon. However, much of our hasty electronic communications are hammered out in shorthand, and this can easily become the native language of long-distance relationships.
The flip-side of this is that these forms of communication often don't pay off with a truly fulfilling interaction. Whereas it was once easy to chat in person, now those normal, daily interactions are severely curtailed. It requires real effort to keep in touch and feel connected.
If the relationship began long distance, it might be easier to communicate from afar because that dynamic is the only one that's existed. If both parties are used to being in one another's presence, it might become increasingly disheartening to communicate in less personal ways as time goes on.
A relationship can morph into a voice-and-text situation that assumes its own shape, making it somewhat strange when a couple actually spends time together in person after a long absence.
There is one type of person who does well with long-distance communication: the man or woman who truly values his or her own space (and a lot of it), but also wants to nurture a connection with a loved one.
Beyond the first few months of giddy affection and the feeling of butterflies, few -- if any --romantic relationships are easy. Sure, some look that way, but usually that's because two people are putting in a lot of work behind the scenes.
Long-distance relationships are even more difficult to maintain, and the reasons why they can fail are numerous. Many long-distance relationships certainly succeed, but they require careful navigation from the people involved to steer through the obstacles brought on by geography.
Of course, with the right mindset, plenty of emotional preparation and lots of work throughout, long-distance relationships can and do work out. But many potential pitfalls await every hopeful attempt at cross-country love.
Couples in long-distance relationships have to make up for a serious lack of face time. In this modern age, there are plenty of alternatives: phone calls, text messages, instant messaging and pretty much any other communication technology developed since the carrier pigeon. However, much of our hasty electronic communications are hammered out in shorthand, and this can easily become the native language of long-distance relationships.
The flip-side of this is that these forms of communication often don't pay off with a truly fulfilling interaction. Whereas it was once easy to chat in person, now those normal, daily interactions are severely curtailed. It requires real effort to keep in touch and feel connected.
If the relationship began long distance, it might be easier to communicate from afar because that dynamic is the only one that's existed. If both parties are used to being in one another's presence, it might become increasingly disheartening to communicate in less personal ways as time goes on.
A relationship can morph into a voice-and-text situation that assumes its own shape, making it somewhat strange when a couple actually spends time together in person after a long absence.
There is one type of person who does well with long-distance communication: the man or woman who truly values his or her own space (and a lot of it), but also wants to nurture a connection with a loved one.
Friday 17 January 2014
Acne Free Skin Tips For Everyday Life
Sarah LabdarTue February 8th, 2011
Acne is one of those pesky little problems that shows up especially when you don't want it to. Most people spend a lot of time and money to keep pimples from popping up but it doesn't always stop them. Because acne has several causes and not everyone experiences the same type of acne, it makes it difficult to completely eliminate acne from occurring. The acne industry is continually growing due to its frequent occurrence. Acne products and treatments are widely available and used. However, what if there was another way to keep yourskin clear of acne. Diet, lifestyle, habit, and skin care all contribute to acne free skin. Follow these tips to reduce your acne outbursts and keep your skin looking young and beautiful.
1. Avoid touching your face. Not just with your hands but also with anything that potentially has microorganisms on it such as hair, towels, pillows, or tissues. All of these can carry oil, dirt or bacteria onto the face, which can cause acne. Although it's difficult, limit the contact between your face and hands. If you must touch your face remember to wash your hands first. Additionally, use clean towels, pillowcases and tissues when coming into contact with your face.Don't pop your pimples. When you pop your pimples the bacterium within the clogged pores comes out, which can further spread the infection and inflammation. So instead of having one pimple you can end up with 20. Additionally you increase inflammation, and redness of the area surrounding the pimple due to the unnecessary pressure. Not to mention that if your hands are not clean when you pop your pimples, you can transfer more dirt, oil and bacteria into your pores making your acne worse.
2. Eat a healthy, balance diet. This includes eating fresh fruits and vegetables that are loaded with vitamins, minerals and water. Fruits and vegetables are easily digested and keep the flow of elimination in the body up to par. Caffeine, sugar and refined carbohydrates increase the oil produced within the sebaceous glands making acne more likely to occur. Eating a balanced diet keeps your skin healthy and nourished from the inside out. Healthy foods improve the look of your skin.
3. Drink water. The body needs water to properly hydrate the body, maintain blood pressure and elimination. Dehydrated skin, looks dry, can crack and can retain bacteria and toxins that is normally expelled through perspiration. Additionally water helps to maintain skins elasticity, which promotes cellular growth and repair. A proper amount of water to drink is 6-8 glasses daily. This will keep your skin glowing and naturally acne free.
4. Use oil free products. This includes cosmetics, cleansers, face washes, and hair products. The oil in these products can contribute to clogged pores and acne outbursts. Oil and cream based products can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. Additionally, avoid using cosmetic products over pimples. Although it's natural to use cosmetic products to cover up acne breakouts, it can actually make acne worse. The chemicals in make up can exacerbate acne and cause more inflammation on the skin.
5. Always remove make up at the end of the day before you go to bed. Leaving make up on you face allows pores to become clogged and acne bacteria to flourish. Residue from make up can accumulate on pillowcase and cause dirt and oil build up in your pores. Always use a fresh pillowcase to avoid sleeping on dirt and oils from your hair and face.
6. Shampoo your hair regularly. Dirty hair or hair with product in it can transfer oil, dirt and bacteria to you face upon contact. By keeping your hair clean you can avoid the transfer of these pore-clogging materials. If you do use product in your hair use a headband, or pull it back off your face. The chemicals in hair products although ok for your hair and scalp may cause irritation when it comes into contact with your face. Always shower after exercise as well. Sweat can cause product, oil and dirt to move from your hair to your face, which can get trapped in your pores causing acne to occur.
7. Exercise on a regular basis. Exercise increases circulation of the blood, nutrients and oxygen to the skin, which allows for proper expulsion of toxins and chemicals through perspiration. Exercise also reduces stress, which reduces the hormone imbalance within the body, which can cause acne.
8.Try to 6-8 hours of sleep a night. Our brain and body need time to reboot and recharge through sleeping. When we sleep our body cleanses the system of toxins from the previous day. In addition, sleep gives our body the rest it needs to be able to maintain all the systems of the body especially the immune system that protects our skin. Without adequate energy our body is unable to work properly and our systems don't work efficiently. Sleep restores our body's energy levels so we can adequately fight off infection, inflammation and bacteria.
9. Stop smoking. There is no doubt that smoking is bad for you health. However, in addition to all the terrible things that it does to your bodies it also harms our skin and can actually make acne worse. If quitting is something you struggle with try to cut down on the amount you smoke until you are able to give it up completely.
Acne is one of those pesky little problems that shows up especially when you don't want it to. Most people spend a lot of time and money to keep pimples from popping up but it doesn't always stop them. Because acne has several causes and not everyone experiences the same type of acne, it makes it difficult to completely eliminate acne from occurring. The acne industry is continually growing due to its frequent occurrence. Acne products and treatments are widely available and used. However, what if there was another way to keep yourskin clear of acne. Diet, lifestyle, habit, and skin care all contribute to acne free skin. Follow these tips to reduce your acne outbursts and keep your skin looking young and beautiful.
1. Avoid touching your face. Not just with your hands but also with anything that potentially has microorganisms on it such as hair, towels, pillows, or tissues. All of these can carry oil, dirt or bacteria onto the face, which can cause acne. Although it's difficult, limit the contact between your face and hands. If you must touch your face remember to wash your hands first. Additionally, use clean towels, pillowcases and tissues when coming into contact with your face.Don't pop your pimples. When you pop your pimples the bacterium within the clogged pores comes out, which can further spread the infection and inflammation. So instead of having one pimple you can end up with 20. Additionally you increase inflammation, and redness of the area surrounding the pimple due to the unnecessary pressure. Not to mention that if your hands are not clean when you pop your pimples, you can transfer more dirt, oil and bacteria into your pores making your acne worse.
2. Eat a healthy, balance diet. This includes eating fresh fruits and vegetables that are loaded with vitamins, minerals and water. Fruits and vegetables are easily digested and keep the flow of elimination in the body up to par. Caffeine, sugar and refined carbohydrates increase the oil produced within the sebaceous glands making acne more likely to occur. Eating a balanced diet keeps your skin healthy and nourished from the inside out. Healthy foods improve the look of your skin.
3. Drink water. The body needs water to properly hydrate the body, maintain blood pressure and elimination. Dehydrated skin, looks dry, can crack and can retain bacteria and toxins that is normally expelled through perspiration. Additionally water helps to maintain skins elasticity, which promotes cellular growth and repair. A proper amount of water to drink is 6-8 glasses daily. This will keep your skin glowing and naturally acne free.
4. Use oil free products. This includes cosmetics, cleansers, face washes, and hair products. The oil in these products can contribute to clogged pores and acne outbursts. Oil and cream based products can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. Additionally, avoid using cosmetic products over pimples. Although it's natural to use cosmetic products to cover up acne breakouts, it can actually make acne worse. The chemicals in make up can exacerbate acne and cause more inflammation on the skin.
5. Always remove make up at the end of the day before you go to bed. Leaving make up on you face allows pores to become clogged and acne bacteria to flourish. Residue from make up can accumulate on pillowcase and cause dirt and oil build up in your pores. Always use a fresh pillowcase to avoid sleeping on dirt and oils from your hair and face.
6. Shampoo your hair regularly. Dirty hair or hair with product in it can transfer oil, dirt and bacteria to you face upon contact. By keeping your hair clean you can avoid the transfer of these pore-clogging materials. If you do use product in your hair use a headband, or pull it back off your face. The chemicals in hair products although ok for your hair and scalp may cause irritation when it comes into contact with your face. Always shower after exercise as well. Sweat can cause product, oil and dirt to move from your hair to your face, which can get trapped in your pores causing acne to occur.
7. Exercise on a regular basis. Exercise increases circulation of the blood, nutrients and oxygen to the skin, which allows for proper expulsion of toxins and chemicals through perspiration. Exercise also reduces stress, which reduces the hormone imbalance within the body, which can cause acne.
8.Try to 6-8 hours of sleep a night. Our brain and body need time to reboot and recharge through sleeping. When we sleep our body cleanses the system of toxins from the previous day. In addition, sleep gives our body the rest it needs to be able to maintain all the systems of the body especially the immune system that protects our skin. Without adequate energy our body is unable to work properly and our systems don't work efficiently. Sleep restores our body's energy levels so we can adequately fight off infection, inflammation and bacteria.
9. Stop smoking. There is no doubt that smoking is bad for you health. However, in addition to all the terrible things that it does to your bodies it also harms our skin and can actually make acne worse. If quitting is something you struggle with try to cut down on the amount you smoke until you are able to give it up completely.
Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur Award
Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Could you be the next Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year? In order to be considered for this award (and the PR and £10,000 that comes with it), you must first win one of our monthly Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Awards.
The £1,000 Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Awards take place each month and the deadline for entries is midnight on the last day of each month. We currently have 4 x £1,000 cash prizes to give away to new business owners aged 16-30 across the UK. Apply now!
Could you be the next Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year? In order to be considered for this award (and the PR and £10,000 that comes with it), you must first win one of our monthly Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Awards.
The £1,000 Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Awards take place each month and the deadline for entries is midnight on the last day of each month. We currently have 4 x £1,000 cash prizes to give away to new business owners aged 16-30 across the UK. Apply now!
Youth Business International Contd
It is frustrating looking for a job and doing nothing. While hoping to get a job, why not think of becoming an entrepreneur, you might be the next 'Bill Gates', who knows?.
These are organisations affiliated to Youth Business International:
Acción Emprendedora
Barbados Youth Business Trust
Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust
B’Yeah
BIDAYA
Canadian Youth Business Foundation
The Centennial Fund
Colectivo Integral de Desarollo
Conexão
Development Solutions
Dominica Youth Business Trust
Emprecrea
Emprendimientos Juveniles
Ende Inter-Arabe
Enterprise Network for Young Australians
Enterprise Uganda
Entreprendre en Banlieue
Fate Foundation
Fundacion Impulsar
Jamaica Youth Business Trust
Kenya Youth Business Trust
Keren Shemesh Foundation
The Loden Entrepreneurship Programme
Qredits
Start-Up Direct
Swedish Jobs & Society (NyföretagarCentrum)
Tamweelcom
Youth Business China
Youth Business Hong Kong
Youth Business Italy
Youth Business Poland
Youth Business Russia
Youth Business Serbia
Youth Business Singapore
Youth Business Spain
Youth Business Sri Lanka
Youth Business Trinidad & Tobago
Youth Business Trust Belize
Youth Business Ukraine
Read and share :).
These are organisations affiliated to Youth Business International:
Acción Emprendedora
Barbados Youth Business Trust
Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust
B’Yeah
BIDAYA
Canadian Youth Business Foundation
The Centennial Fund
Colectivo Integral de Desarollo
Conexão
Development Solutions
Dominica Youth Business Trust
Emprecrea
Emprendimientos Juveniles
Ende Inter-Arabe
Enterprise Network for Young Australians
Enterprise Uganda
Entreprendre en Banlieue
Fate Foundation
Fundacion Impulsar
Jamaica Youth Business Trust
Kenya Youth Business Trust
Keren Shemesh Foundation
The Loden Entrepreneurship Programme
Qredits
Start-Up Direct
Swedish Jobs & Society (NyföretagarCentrum)
Tamweelcom
Youth Business China
Youth Business Hong Kong
Youth Business Italy
Youth Business Poland
Youth Business Russia
Youth Business Serbia
Youth Business Singapore
Youth Business Spain
Youth Business Sri Lanka
Youth Business Trinidad & Tobago
Youth Business Trust Belize
Youth Business Ukraine
Read and share :).
Youth Business International
Are you a young entrepreneur looking to grow your business and create employment?.
If yes, why not check out Youth Business International (YBI) today on www.youthbusiness.org
Youth Business International helps young people to start and grow their own business and create employment. We are a global network of independent non-profit initiatives operating in over 40 countries.
In 2012 YBI’s members helped 11,884 young people to start their own business. We estimate that these businesses will go on to create nearly 40,000 additional jobs within three years.
YBI members assist under-served young entrepreneurs with a combination of training, access to capital, mentoring and other business development services. Whatever their situation, if a prospective young entrepreneur has a good idea and the business plan to make it a reality, our members will support them.
Our staff are local people who understand the unique challenges of providing tailored enterprise support in their communities.
Our members vary in size and scale depending on the community they serve. Our largest member Youth Business China employs people in 61regional offices while our smallest members, from Caribbean Islands to Himalayan Kingdoms, employ only a few expert staff.
What unites our members is the integrated package of YBI support they provide to young entrepreneurs around the world.
Volunteer mentors are crucial to the YBI approach. YBI members pair young entrepreneurs with a mentor with a complementary set of skills to help them grow their business. In many cases these relationships can last one year or more. All YBI mentors are dedicated volunteers from the local community who themselves understand the unique challenges of starting a business.
Most importantly, we represent a community of tens of thousands of young entrepreneurs, who are united by the desire to start a business and create sustainable growth in their communities.
So help us turn job seekers into job creators
If yes, why not check out Youth Business International (YBI) today on www.youthbusiness.org
Youth Business International helps young people to start and grow their own business and create employment. We are a global network of independent non-profit initiatives operating in over 40 countries.
In 2012 YBI’s members helped 11,884 young people to start their own business. We estimate that these businesses will go on to create nearly 40,000 additional jobs within three years.
YBI members assist under-served young entrepreneurs with a combination of training, access to capital, mentoring and other business development services. Whatever their situation, if a prospective young entrepreneur has a good idea and the business plan to make it a reality, our members will support them.
Our staff are local people who understand the unique challenges of providing tailored enterprise support in their communities.
Our members vary in size and scale depending on the community they serve. Our largest member Youth Business China employs people in 61regional offices while our smallest members, from Caribbean Islands to Himalayan Kingdoms, employ only a few expert staff.
What unites our members is the integrated package of YBI support they provide to young entrepreneurs around the world.
Volunteer mentors are crucial to the YBI approach. YBI members pair young entrepreneurs with a mentor with a complementary set of skills to help them grow their business. In many cases these relationships can last one year or more. All YBI mentors are dedicated volunteers from the local community who themselves understand the unique challenges of starting a business.
Most importantly, we represent a community of tens of thousands of young entrepreneurs, who are united by the desire to start a business and create sustainable growth in their communities.
So help us turn job seekers into job creators
The Cartier Women's Initiative Awards
The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards is an international entrepreneurship competition for women leading innovative businesses. In 5 years, 76 women entrepreneurs have been supported and coached; 20 of whom have been selected as Laureates.
Apply today on www.cartierwomensinitiative.com
Read and share :).
Apply today on www.cartierwomensinitiative.com
Read and share :).
How Time Flies by Fola
Thought i should share with everyone. Culled from Bella Naija. Read and share.
There are those who watch their time fly away and there are those who desperately yearn for more time. I am certain that those who seem to yearn for more time have the time they already need. The only thing you need to do is to be sure that you are doing only the things you need to do and not all the things you think you should be doing. As for those who watch their time fly away, there’s no better way to commit suicide.
When you walk the streets you can see people who are going nowhere and will not amount to anything in life. It is not because they cannot become great, but because they are not responding to the call of greatness within them. I am a strong believer in the fact that there is greatness deposited in everyone. However, I am quick to recognize the fact that the greatness will not jump out on its own.
So how does the greatness come out or how have people become great? The first and probably the most important thing is that the people who become great are not those who watch their time fly away. They are the people who have their time planned and are doing something meaningful with their time.
Here are some excuses people use to justify watching their time fly away.
I Don’t Know What To Do
That you do not know what to do means you are confused. The reason you are confused is because you did not spend the time you had to plan your life. Now you are using your confusion to allow more time fly away. Get serious, sit down and plan your life.
I Am Still A Student
Many think they will be exempted from the principles of life by saying they are still students. Remember that Mark Zuckerberg was a student when he founded Facebook and is currently a billionaire under thirty. I have even seen students who are over thirty and are still hanging unto the lame excuse that they are students. Students can do very meaningful things with their life apart from just schooling.
I Just Graduated & I Am Looking For A Job
The story changes by the time they finish school. They expect people to just pity them or excuse them because they just finished school. Some other speakers have said they keep wondering what the educational system is doing to our students. Apprentices would go and learn a skill and when they are done they will start something on their own. But our graduates will finish school and most of them only think about getting a job.
There Are No Jobs Out There
Time continues to fly away because some people have searched for jobs for several years and they still have not thought about what to do. I think that some of them have even lost the use of the brains, because other people have started businesses to take care of the resumé of job seekers. So you are looking for a job to help you make money and some people are making money off you as a job seeker while your time is flying away. Unfortunately, you now seek the job until you probably become thirty years old and your excuse changes to ‘those companies are only looking for young people.’
There Is No One To Help Me
If there is no one to help you, then you should brace up to help yourself. There must be an association you belong to. It could be a non-profit or religious body. And you probably have a family. Think of how you can render services to some of these people in return for something. You may think of an idea and ask them to help you.
The Government Is Not Doing Anything
If the government is not doing anything, is that why your own life should be on hold? Some people keep saying the government is not doing anything and they sit down to watch their lives fly away. The person in government that you are indirectly blaming has done eight years in office and will soon handover to another person. Will you keep watching your time fly away till another eight years are completed? It is not what others are doing to you that is the problem. What you are refusing to do or what you are not supposed to do is the problem.
I Have Been Processing Documents To Travel Abroad
Have you seen people who have spent all they ever had just trying to travel abroad? While there is nothing wrong with going abroad I think some people have also wasted their lives with no result. All the money you have spent to try and travel abroad is what someone has spent and has built a house. You are still a tenant and you don’t even have a good business that keeps you busy all the time. You probably still run to relatives in order to get the money to dash travel agents. Start something while you are here. I once heard a pastor say that if you are a lizard where you are, you will not become a crocodile by going elsewhere. It is not your location that will change your situation. It is your mind.
I Am A Young Entrepreneur
I am a strong advocate of entrepreneurship and I always want to encourage people to start business as early as possible. Having said that, I also think there are those who still watch their time fly away because they claim that they are young entrepreneurs. They probably spend only a quarter of their time in the business they are doing and don’t have any other thing to do. Be wise. If your business has not become so busy there are other things you can do. That way you can also make more money and not be under pressure. When there are other sources of income to support what you do, it will be easier to push and not give up.
I may not have mentioned what you do to help your time fly away. I guess you’re lucky! All you need to remember is that watching your time fly away is a mild way to commit suicide. As you are killing time, you are also killing yourself. Stop letting the time fly away!
There are those who watch their time fly away and there are those who desperately yearn for more time. I am certain that those who seem to yearn for more time have the time they already need. The only thing you need to do is to be sure that you are doing only the things you need to do and not all the things you think you should be doing. As for those who watch their time fly away, there’s no better way to commit suicide.
When you walk the streets you can see people who are going nowhere and will not amount to anything in life. It is not because they cannot become great, but because they are not responding to the call of greatness within them. I am a strong believer in the fact that there is greatness deposited in everyone. However, I am quick to recognize the fact that the greatness will not jump out on its own.
So how does the greatness come out or how have people become great? The first and probably the most important thing is that the people who become great are not those who watch their time fly away. They are the people who have their time planned and are doing something meaningful with their time.
Here are some excuses people use to justify watching their time fly away.
I Don’t Know What To Do
That you do not know what to do means you are confused. The reason you are confused is because you did not spend the time you had to plan your life. Now you are using your confusion to allow more time fly away. Get serious, sit down and plan your life.
I Am Still A Student
Many think they will be exempted from the principles of life by saying they are still students. Remember that Mark Zuckerberg was a student when he founded Facebook and is currently a billionaire under thirty. I have even seen students who are over thirty and are still hanging unto the lame excuse that they are students. Students can do very meaningful things with their life apart from just schooling.
I Just Graduated & I Am Looking For A Job
The story changes by the time they finish school. They expect people to just pity them or excuse them because they just finished school. Some other speakers have said they keep wondering what the educational system is doing to our students. Apprentices would go and learn a skill and when they are done they will start something on their own. But our graduates will finish school and most of them only think about getting a job.
There Are No Jobs Out There
Time continues to fly away because some people have searched for jobs for several years and they still have not thought about what to do. I think that some of them have even lost the use of the brains, because other people have started businesses to take care of the resumé of job seekers. So you are looking for a job to help you make money and some people are making money off you as a job seeker while your time is flying away. Unfortunately, you now seek the job until you probably become thirty years old and your excuse changes to ‘those companies are only looking for young people.’
There Is No One To Help Me
If there is no one to help you, then you should brace up to help yourself. There must be an association you belong to. It could be a non-profit or religious body. And you probably have a family. Think of how you can render services to some of these people in return for something. You may think of an idea and ask them to help you.
The Government Is Not Doing Anything
If the government is not doing anything, is that why your own life should be on hold? Some people keep saying the government is not doing anything and they sit down to watch their lives fly away. The person in government that you are indirectly blaming has done eight years in office and will soon handover to another person. Will you keep watching your time fly away till another eight years are completed? It is not what others are doing to you that is the problem. What you are refusing to do or what you are not supposed to do is the problem.
I Have Been Processing Documents To Travel Abroad
Have you seen people who have spent all they ever had just trying to travel abroad? While there is nothing wrong with going abroad I think some people have also wasted their lives with no result. All the money you have spent to try and travel abroad is what someone has spent and has built a house. You are still a tenant and you don’t even have a good business that keeps you busy all the time. You probably still run to relatives in order to get the money to dash travel agents. Start something while you are here. I once heard a pastor say that if you are a lizard where you are, you will not become a crocodile by going elsewhere. It is not your location that will change your situation. It is your mind.
I Am A Young Entrepreneur
I am a strong advocate of entrepreneurship and I always want to encourage people to start business as early as possible. Having said that, I also think there are those who still watch their time fly away because they claim that they are young entrepreneurs. They probably spend only a quarter of their time in the business they are doing and don’t have any other thing to do. Be wise. If your business has not become so busy there are other things you can do. That way you can also make more money and not be under pressure. When there are other sources of income to support what you do, it will be easier to push and not give up.
I may not have mentioned what you do to help your time fly away. I guess you’re lucky! All you need to remember is that watching your time fly away is a mild way to commit suicide. As you are killing time, you are also killing yourself. Stop letting the time fly away!
Tuesday 14 January 2014
Keeping up with technology
In this era of mordern gadgets, its a 'job' trying to get updated on what the latest tech is. From PCs, medical devices, security tracking devices etc to mobile phones, technology is gradually changing the world.
Remember when we used black and white TV?. When 'box like' PCs were 'dope' like Will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas Group would say. Now communicating with our loved ones/business partners, friends/colleagues just happens within seconds, thanks to technology. Working from home, checking/monitoring your heart rate, internet etc are possible, thanks to technology.
Developments in technology are 'mind blowing' no matter what anyone says. Of course, technology still has its own cons but generally the pros are undisputable.
What technological development or gadget has been the best 'mind blowing' for you so far?.
Read and share :).
Saturday 11 January 2014
Picking Yourself Up When You Are Down
I thought about this topic today because of certain things happening in my life. I was thinking about it when i came across this article online from nonaknowsbest.wordpress.com and i decided to share it. I have added my own bits though. Read and share :)
It’s easy to feel motivated and inspired when things are going well. During these times you feel inspired to achieve and follow through on all the steps you’ve meticulously devised to reach your goals. But what happens when you hit a fork in the road? For example:
1) you receive an unexpected bill
2) you experience rejection
3) you notice you’ve gained weight
4) you fight with a loved one
5) Lost a job
6) Lost a loved one
7) Homeless
These negative (unexpected) experiences can really bring you down and throw you off course. Further, if you’re not careful, they can quickly cause you to spiral into thoughts of helplessness and hopelessness which often lead to depression.
In order to cope with the struggles life can throw at you – in the moment – it helps to tackle your moods from the physical and then, from the emotional/psychological perspectives.
Taking the first step – tackling the Physical side of your mood:
In the midst of a negative mood, you first need to change your physical body to try to shake off the feeling of hopelessness. Unfortunately this is when many people turn to alcohol and/or medication for a quick-fix solution (later suffering from the side effects). Better options include eating foods that release serotonin – like tuna, having a coffee or going for a walk/run (Exercise is a good mood lifter).
The second step – tackling the emotional and psychological side of your mood:
After you’ve shaken off the physical component, it’s important to work through the emotional and psychological components of how you are feeling. This often requires speaking to someone else who can give you a balanced perspective. This is why it’s great if therapists can make themselves available to clients in between sessions via text or email (when they are in the midst of a stressful situation or mood, rather than waiting until they have their next scheduled appointment to discuss major issues that arise). That way they can have a quick response to assist them to snap out of their negative state and feel better about moving forward – when it counts most. Speaking to people who really care about you can also genuinely help through reassurance especially your self confidence.
The last step is taking control.
Take a moment to step back and review your feelings and the circumstances that led to your emotional and physical reactions – with a more rational and clear mindset. Then take some time to think through any immediate action you could take to get through it. For instance, if you’ve experiences rejection, take some time to think about your approach to new or current relationships and see whether perhaps any negative emotions such as insecurity and neediness are sabotaging your efforts. Then, take a new course of action to improve these feelings and move forward.
Life will often throw things at you when you least expect it. However, if you cope with the strategies noted above, you will increase your resilience and optimism and live a much happier and fulfilling life.
It’s easy to feel motivated and inspired when things are going well. During these times you feel inspired to achieve and follow through on all the steps you’ve meticulously devised to reach your goals. But what happens when you hit a fork in the road? For example:
1) you receive an unexpected bill
2) you experience rejection
3) you notice you’ve gained weight
4) you fight with a loved one
5) Lost a job
6) Lost a loved one
7) Homeless
These negative (unexpected) experiences can really bring you down and throw you off course. Further, if you’re not careful, they can quickly cause you to spiral into thoughts of helplessness and hopelessness which often lead to depression.
In order to cope with the struggles life can throw at you – in the moment – it helps to tackle your moods from the physical and then, from the emotional/psychological perspectives.
Taking the first step – tackling the Physical side of your mood:
In the midst of a negative mood, you first need to change your physical body to try to shake off the feeling of hopelessness. Unfortunately this is when many people turn to alcohol and/or medication for a quick-fix solution (later suffering from the side effects). Better options include eating foods that release serotonin – like tuna, having a coffee or going for a walk/run (Exercise is a good mood lifter).
The second step – tackling the emotional and psychological side of your mood:
After you’ve shaken off the physical component, it’s important to work through the emotional and psychological components of how you are feeling. This often requires speaking to someone else who can give you a balanced perspective. This is why it’s great if therapists can make themselves available to clients in between sessions via text or email (when they are in the midst of a stressful situation or mood, rather than waiting until they have their next scheduled appointment to discuss major issues that arise). That way they can have a quick response to assist them to snap out of their negative state and feel better about moving forward – when it counts most. Speaking to people who really care about you can also genuinely help through reassurance especially your self confidence.
The last step is taking control.
Take a moment to step back and review your feelings and the circumstances that led to your emotional and physical reactions – with a more rational and clear mindset. Then take some time to think through any immediate action you could take to get through it. For instance, if you’ve experiences rejection, take some time to think about your approach to new or current relationships and see whether perhaps any negative emotions such as insecurity and neediness are sabotaging your efforts. Then, take a new course of action to improve these feelings and move forward.
Life will often throw things at you when you least expect it. However, if you cope with the strategies noted above, you will increase your resilience and optimism and live a much happier and fulfilling life.
Wednesday 8 January 2014
Lemon
I love lemon and I don't intend to stop.The benefits of lemon can not be over emphasised. Lemons are used both for culinary and non-culinary purposes. Personally, I like using lemons in their natural state (as fruits) rather than when its undergone a bit of processing. Not that its bad when it has been processed but that is how I like using it (natural). You can read more about it online.
Lets look at some of its uses
*Lemon,vinegar and baking soda are great cleaning products.
*Lemon works well in reducing odours whether armpit, fridge, feet etc
*Most people drink water with lemon squeezed into it not just because of its refreshing taste but also for weight loss (flushing out toxins).
*Helps prevent formation of crystals that may build up into kidney stones.
*Soothes sore throat
*Some people use it to cleanse their face but it is too strong for my skin (not 100% sure why i get too many little bumps on my face each time i use it) so I stopped using it but if it works for you, then, thats fine because it lightens age spots.
There are other uses of lemons but is there any vital thing we should know about lemons?.
Read and share your ideas.
Have a good day! :)
Lets look at some of its uses
*Lemon,vinegar and baking soda are great cleaning products.
*Lemon works well in reducing odours whether armpit, fridge, feet etc
*Most people drink water with lemon squeezed into it not just because of its refreshing taste but also for weight loss (flushing out toxins).
*Helps prevent formation of crystals that may build up into kidney stones.
*Soothes sore throat
*Some people use it to cleanse their face but it is too strong for my skin (not 100% sure why i get too many little bumps on my face each time i use it) so I stopped using it but if it works for you, then, thats fine because it lightens age spots.
There are other uses of lemons but is there any vital thing we should know about lemons?.
Read and share your ideas.
Have a good day! :)
Tuesday 7 January 2014
Earning Money Online
We come across so many websites that tell us how to earn money online or from the comfort of your home.
Do you know any of these websites?
If you do, how reliable are they and how long does it take before one starts earning money from these websites?
Share your ideas and experiences :)
Microsoft Office Applications and Microsoft Software Applications
Hi,
Good morning everyone!.Today, i am going to be discussing Microsoft Office Applications and Microsoft Software Applications.
What comes to your mind when Microsoft Applications is mentioned?, MS Word, Excel only or are there lots that seem to escape your memory?. But do you know that there is a difference between Microsoft Office Applications and Microsoft Software Applications?. Yeah right, i got you there :).
Microsoft Office is a set of interrelated desktop applications, servers and services collectively referred to as an OFFICE SUITE for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems example Microsoft Excel while Microsoft Software Applications include alot more such as the Office Applications example Microsoft Word, Development Software example Visual Basic, Internet example MSN, Server Software example Microsoft Office Project Server etc (please research and read online)
Sometimes, its confusing to think they are exactly the same because majority of us are used to hearing Microsoft Applications rather than Microsoft Office Applications. Its important to note this when putting it down on your CV.
Remember that this is a forum for sharing ideas, so, please feel free to contribute. Learning is a continuous process.
Have a good day! :)
Good morning everyone!.Today, i am going to be discussing Microsoft Office Applications and Microsoft Software Applications.
What comes to your mind when Microsoft Applications is mentioned?, MS Word, Excel only or are there lots that seem to escape your memory?. But do you know that there is a difference between Microsoft Office Applications and Microsoft Software Applications?. Yeah right, i got you there :).
Microsoft Office is a set of interrelated desktop applications, servers and services collectively referred to as an OFFICE SUITE for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems example Microsoft Excel while Microsoft Software Applications include alot more such as the Office Applications example Microsoft Word, Development Software example Visual Basic, Internet example MSN, Server Software example Microsoft Office Project Server etc (please research and read online)
Sometimes, its confusing to think they are exactly the same because majority of us are used to hearing Microsoft Applications rather than Microsoft Office Applications. Its important to note this when putting it down on your CV.
Remember that this is a forum for sharing ideas, so, please feel free to contribute. Learning is a continuous process.
Have a good day! :)
Monday 6 January 2014
Top Employable Skills
◆Verbal and written communication
◆Interpersonal
◆Teamwork
◆Planning and organising
◆Flexibility
◆Computer Skills
◆Decision making
◆Creativity
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