Tips to Create Your Own Homemade Body Wash

Homemade body wash is growing more popular by the day because it is simple to make and you can save money on bath products. It is also quite flexible to accommodate your favorite body wash scents, individual skin types and sensitivity. There are numerous recipes available for making your own body wash. Here are a few basic steps.

For the soap base, many options are available for body wash. You can purchase a cheap bottle of unscented shampoo or liquid soap, convert solid soap bars into liquid soaps or make your own liquid soap from scratch. If the last alternative is more suitable, the ideal soap to make is castile soap. It contains 80 percent olive oil.

Another important element in body soap is water. This can either be distilled or tap water. Mix a half cup of water for every cup of liquid soap base to get the right consistency of body wash. Add three tablespoons of regular table salt to this mixture and stir until the soap gets frothy. This produces the basic body wash that can be used for any skin type.

When it comes to scents, there is no limit to the variety you can create with your own body wash. The ideal way to make the soap scented is by adding essential oils into the mixture, making sure that the oils are safe for the skin. Some of the most popular essential oils for soap include almond oil, cocoa butter and Aloe Vera. These are all known for their health benefits on the skin.

You can also have other scents according to preference, such as jasmine, rose, vanilla, lavender and peppermint. These scents can be substituted for the essential oils. You can purchase them at your local grocery or drug store. Only a few drops of these essential oils are necessary to make your own personal scented body wash.

For moisturizing properties in the body wash, add baby oil to the mixture. Choose baby oil that is made from all natural ingredients and stir some drops into the base liquid soap. Olive oil can also serve as a moisturizer in soap. You can add a few drops if you choose to use a liquid soap other than castile soap.

Remember that these basic ingredients are affordable and can last for several months. Purchase several types of essential oils and scents so you can have a wide variety of body washes. Some people have an all-time favorite scent like vanilla or lavender for their body products, while others enjoy using different scents. If this describes you, simply make a batch of base liquid soaps and add different essential oils before taking a bath. This will serve as an experiment for future production.

Keep the homemade body wash in a recycled shampoo bottle or plastic soap dispenser in your bathroom. Adapt your body wash to your skin type and preference. Enjoy your own mix of ingredients. Always shake the bottle well before use.

Haliyma Barrow regularly publishes articles with her journalism experiences originating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania's student newspaper. She loves to write articles about various health and beauty issues.

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Choosing Exercise Routines for Seniors

If you are at least 50 years of age, then you are already considered a senior. This means you already have special needs. Even when it comes to working out, you should follow routines that are suitable for people your age. Being fit and healthy is very important, especially among older individuals. Experts recommend that seniors work out at least twice a week to get the benefits of exercise. Work out routines should consist of both strength training and aerobic activities. Stretching among seniors is also important to improve flexibility and to help prevent injuries.

Different Needs

One the first things that seniors should realize when it comes to health and fitness is that their needs are now much different compared to when they are still in their 20s, 30s or even 40s. It is just natural that you are not as agile and as strong as you were several years ago. This fact should not discourage you from trying to reach your peak potential at your age. Trying to do the things that you can do when you were still younger – like trying to lift heavy weights – can be very dangerous. A reality check is in order if you want to have a safe workout experience.

Workout at Home

If they can, people 50 and above can go to a gym but it is really not necessary. The home is a very ideal place for exercise especially for people on a budget and those who get intimidated easily by other people. Most seniors feel self-conscious when working out together with younger individuals. This is the reason why a home workout routine is perfect for these people.

If you are looking for a good exercise routine for seniors that you can do at home, then you should try rebounding. All you need for rebounding is a small space and a mini trampoline or rebounder. Rebounding is a very gentle exercise. Unlike jogging or running, it is low impact and will not strain the joints. This is the reason why it is perfect for seniors. Rebounding is not only a good cardio workout, it is also good for strengthening your muscles and for improving your immune system by stimulating the flow of lymphatic fluids. It is indeed the perfect exercise for people who are not just looking to lose weight but to become healthier as well.

Healthy Diet

Apart from getting ample exercise, seniors should also watch what they are eating. Exercise and diet go hand-in-hand. It is not good for old folks to become overweight because it can lead to a host of diseases. In order to lose weight, you should cut back on your intake of fats and carbohydrates. Making sure that you get enough protein will help you increase your metabolism level to burn fat more efficiently. As you age, it is just normal for your metabolism level to decline. But you can help boost your metabolism levels through regular exercise and proper eating.

Remember, seniors have special needs even when it comes to working out. Following an exercise routine for seniors can help older individuals to stay fit and healthy.

Article by http://www.needakusa.com/needak-rebounder.html

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Stop the breast feeding pain with these helpful tips

Learning how to stop breastfeeding is already a difficult task. It is even more difficult or at least equally difficult to stop the pain that is caused when breast-feeding. That sounds like an impossible job. But, of course, we can do something about that to make weaning your baby off of breast-feeding as smooth as possible. In this article, you will get tips on how to wean painlessly.

So how do you stop breastfeeding? Just follow the tips below:

• You can either wean gradually or abruptly. The recommended choice by most baby care professionals is a gradual weaning as this is easier for both you and your child. But if you have medical issues or other special reasons for weaning abruptly, you can still do so. Be warned as this choice may be difficult. Compared to gradual weaning, you will be more prone to infection, engorgement, and breast pain if you choose to wean abruptly.

• Start by taking away your baby’s least favorite feeding time. Or you can cut off minutes from your feeding time. You can even stretch the feeding intervals. This way, your milk supply gradually decreases. Breast pain is avoided too.

• Replace breastfeeding with sippy cups, feeding bottles, or small snacks appropriate for your child’s age. It can be baby food or mashed fruits or vegetables.

• If you experience any breast pain, consuming an over-the-counter pain reliever can take away the pain. You can apply a warm compress on the affected area too.

• Pumping out milk will lessen the pain and pressure. Extract the appropriate amount of milk to keep your breasts from being engorged with milk. But don’t empty it either.

• Entertain your baby and keep his or her mind off of breast-feeding by providing alternate activities or by showering your baby with hugs and cuddles.

• Consult your doctor if your breast becomes red or sore, or if your breasts excretes discolored liquid or blood. This may mean that you have mastitis or an infection. Causes of mastitis are improper pumping, incorrect nursing, and a poor-fitted bra. Have your doctor check your breast’s condition to be sure. Your physician can prescribe antibiotics to take away the pain or run more exams to determine the cause of the pain.

Breastfeeding is a happy experience for you and your child. However, this stage is bound to end as your child moves to other phases in his or her life. If you want to wean without the pain, you can apply the tips above on how to stop breastfeeding. One thing to consider is that your decision to wean should be final. Once your milk supply depletes, it may be difficult for you to produce milk again. In addition to that, you should also talk to your doctor. Immediately inform your physician if you feel something off in your breast. This may be a sign of infection or some other disease. Anyhow, you can still keep you and your baby’s bond strong by doing fun thing together. Good luck. I hope that these tips work for you.

Marcy has been an advocate of breastfeeding as it strengthens a baby’s immune system. She also understands the importance of weaning your children off of breast-feeding at the appropriate time and with the appropriate technique. From her posts, you can learn about when to stop breastfeeding and how to wean from breastfeeding.

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Lower your BP to live longer

In western countries, the number of people affected by high blood pressure (BP) or hy pertension is decreasing. In India, however, the figure is creeping up, albeit marginally (2-3 per cent). This is worrying because, untreated, hypertension may result in complications like a heart attack, heart or kidney failure, tearing of the blood vessels and loss of vision. It can also cause subtle loss of memory and the ability to think clearly.

BP indicates the force with which the heart pumps blood against the blood vessel. It has two values sel. It has two values -an upper or systolic and a lower or diastolic. Values of 120/80 are normal, while 139/89 indicates prehypertension and 140/90 or above hypertension. With age, the blood vessels tend to harden, decreasing their pliability. This causes a peculiar type of hypertension where only the upper value is high. About 70 per cent of the population over the age of 60 has this type of systolic hypertension. BP should be measured every two years after the age of 20 and yearly after 40.

The risk of hypertension increases with age, obesity, a family history of high BP, kidney diseases, diabetes, endocrine diseases, smoking, alcohol consumption, medications like corticosteroids, birth control pills or those for losing weight. Narrow abnormally placed blood vessels present from birth can also lead to high BP If no cause can be detected, it's called "essential hypertension" and requires medication to prevent complications. Even isolated systolic hypertension requires treatment. BP is linked to salt intake. A high salt intake results in elevated BP. The effect is even more pronounced in people (around 20 per cent of the population) who are "salt sensitive".

The recommended salt intake for a normal person is 5gm or 1 teaspoon a day. But the "hidden salt" must also be considered. All food and even drinking water contains varying amounts of natural salt. Sodium (a component of salt) is added to food products in the form of monosodium glutamate, sodium nitrite, sodium saccharin, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) or sodium ben zoate. These are ingredients in condiments and seasonings like tomato sauce, soy sauce and pickles. Processed meats such as bacon, sausage and ham, and fast foods like burgers and pizzas are high in sodium content.

Medications belonging to groups such as diuretics, alpha blockers, angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and rennin inhibitors are available to control blood pressure. The pharmaceutical industry also introduces "new and improved" drugs in the market with monotonous regularity. Control remains unsatisfactory in many patients who are then dosed with two or more anti hypertensives. The older, long-acting diuretics, surprisingly, remain one of the most effective medications, either as an adjuvant to existing medicine or alone.

Better control of BP with lower doses of medication can often be achieved if the person is willing to make certain lifestyle changes. Weight needs to be ideal. As weight increases, so does the pressure on your artery walls. To calculate your ideal body weight, multiply your height in meter squared by 23. Inactive people have a faster heart rate, forcing the heart to work harder for longer periods of time. Aerobic exercise like walking, jogging, swimming or running needs to be done daily. It should be started at the age of around six with 20 minutes of running. Gradually this should be increased to an hour by the age of 18 years.

Smoking (even secondhand smoke), using snuff or chewing tobacco releases chemicals into the body which damage the blood vessels, making them narrow and thus increasing the BP. Salt makes the body retain fluid, which in turn increases the BP . Limit your intake to 5gm a day . Sodium can be balanced by potassium found in fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat four to six helpings of this a day. Vitamin D obtained through the diet and by exposure to sunlight affects the levels of a BP-regulating enzyme in the kidneys. Inadequate levels can indirectly elevate the BP.

Heavy drinking can cause permanent heart damage. Even two or three drinks in a single sitting can cause the release of chemicals that temporarily elevate the BP.Stress can elevate the BP. It needs to tackled with meditation and yoga. Chronic diseases like diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney disease and sleep apnoea need to be controlled as they contribute to the risk of high BP. Children too are at risk from as early as six or eight years if they are obese, inactive and eat high sodium snacks. These lifestyle changes, therefore, need to be initiated from a young age.

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Probiotics Fight Colds, Antibiotics Fail

Consumers often turn to antibiotics as the answer to their medical maladies. Antibiotics, however, are far from effective against a number of diseases that frequently affect the average person – for example, colds, the flu, or other respiratory infections.

What Do Antibiotics Do?

Antibiotics have long been a staple in the medical community. Their introduction to human civilization cured previously fatal diseases. As such, they were hailed as the "wonder drug” in the early years of their discovery. 

Ever since Alexander Flemming discovered penicillin in 1928, antibiotics have been developed by leaps and bounds to counteract bacteria, parasites, and fungi that cause disease and infection. Antibiotics, however, are not the cure for illnesses caused by viruses.

Antibiotics are used to prevent or fight off  bacteria, which are microscopic organisms. Viruses are not microorganisms. Unfortunately, the common cold, sore throat, and other oft-occurring respiratory diseases are caused by viruses. Taking antibiotics may work for other infections, but in these cases, other medication or substances are required.


What Are Probiotics?

Enter probiotics – the “good bacteria.” Probiotics are found in food, drinks, and dietary supplements. Yogurt, milk, soy beverages, miso, and other fermented substances are good sources of probiotics.

Probiotics are taken to promote the growth of other good bacteria in the intestines. These bacteria are necessary to fend off harmful microorganisms like E. coli and salmonella. They’re also a source of B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids, known to lower cholesterol in the blood and strengthen cell walls.

Several years of research has also proven that probiotics are much more effective at keeping the common cold and infections of the respiratory track at bay. This is because probiotics don’t only fight harmful organisms, but also boost one’s immune system and promotes general wellbeing.

Research on Probiotics

In 2005, the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics published a study that suggests probiotics are effective against colds and other viral infections that affect the throat or lungs.

A team of German physicians tested out probiotics and placebos on 475 subjects. These subjects, men and women alike, have not been vaccinated against the flu. 

One group of subjects was assigned to take probiotic supplements, while another group was given “fake” supplements or placebos. None of the subjects were informed which group they belonged to.

Subjects were told to take their given supplements for five and a half months and report any flu-like or common cold symptoms. Each case was monitored meticulously.

By the end of the research, subjects within the probiotics group reported a decrease in common cold symptoms by 19%, and a reduction in influenza symptoms by as much as 25%. The probiotics group also experienced and recovered from fever in only half the time than the subjects in the placebo group.

Immune systems were also reportedly improved in the probiotics group, especially within the first two weeks of taking the supplements.

Other Health Benefits of Probiotics
 
Aside from a means to protect oneself from the common cold, probiotics also offer medley of other benefits to one’s health. Probiotics have been known to:

• Produce enzymes that assist in digesting certain substances, particularly lactose and proteins.
• Promote good bowel movements and fights against digestive disorders; prevents diarrhea and constipation alike.
• Improve digestion, which leads to better absorption of nutrients that the body needs to strengthen and protect itself.
• Lower cholesterol level and blood pressure.
• Prevents bile from turning into carcinogens, or cancer-causing substances.

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People with Cognitive Disabilities May Qualify For Disability

Disability programs are offered through a variety of organizations, with three of the most beneficial being social security disability, veteran's administration disability and through private disability insurance providers. While most people assume that you have to be suffering from a severe, permanent disability that's obvious to the casual observer, this isn't always the case. In fact, the guidelines for what is a disability is constantly changing as new laws are put into effect and recent research findings have broadened the definition of what is a disability.

Understanding Cognitive Disabilities

The definition of certain types of cognitive disabilities can vary greatly, but the all agree that these disabilities are the result of an inability to process certain types of information properly because of some type of problem with the way information is processed. These cognitive dysfunctions can be caused by obvious conditions, such as Down's Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injuries, or severe forms of Autism, or they can have no outward manifestation at all, making it more difficult for a disability provider to recognize and award disability payments to a person who is suffering from one or more cognitive disabilities.

If you have a less severe form of cognitive disability, don't despair. Disability insurers and the social security administration are increasingly recognizing cognitive disabilities that can impact your ability to work or develop a career because of issues with processing information or being able to function in certain environments.

Cognitive Disabilities Sometimes Recognized for Disability Coverage

Among the cognitive disabilities that may or may not be recognized on a case by case basis are:

• Dyslexia

• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Dyscalculia

• Memory Loss

• General Learning Disabilities

If you have been diagnosed or suspect you have some form of cognitive disability that is preventing you from providing for your family, a law firm specializing in disability issues can help guide you through the complexities of determining the extent of your disability and how to best approach your application for social security disability, veterans' disability or payment from your disability insurance provider.

Functional Disability vs. Clinical Disability

There are a variety of issues involved in determining the extent of a cognitive disability that can complicate issues. Clinical cognitive definitions tend to focus on the medical reason behind the disability. While this is fine from a treatment standpoint, it doesn't necessarily cover the issue of how the cognitive limitations will impact you in the working world.

For these determinations, it's often best to focus on the functional aspect of your cognitive disability. Some of the most common criteria for defining the level of cognitive disability include memory limitations, problem solving problems, attention deficits, inability to concentrate, reading, math or language comprehension problems, inability to comprehend visual or spatial relationships, and linguistics or verbal comprehension limitations.

In many careers, accommodating these various functional disabilities is simply impractical, making it extremely difficult for individuals suffering from functional cognitive disabilities to function in an office or working environment. The alternative is to provide enough properly documented information to back a finding in favor of disability payments so that the individual can provide for his or her own needs and family needs.

Improving Your Odds of Winning A Disability Claim

If you suspect or have been diagnosed with a functional cognitive disability, your first step should be to meet with a disability attorney who can help you pursue your claim. The right law firm will work with you to present your case clearly and concisely, outlining the severity of your cognitive disability and detailing how it impacts your daily living and limits your ability to provide for you and your loved ones.

The best disability lawyers will have a strong background in representing a variety of cases of cognitive disability. Look for an attorney who is board certified in Social Security Disability Law, is an Accredited Veterans Claim attorney, and an experienced litigator who keeps up to date on the constantly changing laws and regulations that have a bearing on disability cases.

Vern Marker is a freelance writer who loves to help others through education through his writing. He recently worked with a disability denial expert to bring you this blog post.

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A Few Minutes Now is Worth a Lifetime Later

Going to the doctor can be a scary prospect. Most people don't find it appealing to get poked and prodded while sitting half-naked on a table in a chilly exam room, but it is a necessary evil. Regular check-ups are an important part of maintaining good health and are the best method of cancer prevention. Should that dreaded “C”-word rear its ugly head, regular check-ups can provide early detection and your best options for successful treatment.

It's no secret that early detection can mean the difference between life and death when it comes to cancer. Those regular doctor's visits will let you know if you are at risk for certain types of cancers and what the early warning signs may be. Just as there are many types of cancer, there are many types of tests to detect cancer. Your doctor can advise you on which ones should be performed and how frequently.

Knowing your family health history can help identify your risk factors but lifestyle, ethnicity, and gender also play a role. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among all women. Among men, prostate cancer is most common. When caught early, the survival rates for these types of cancer are between 85 and 100% but, as the disease progresses, those rates can drop significantly and the treatments become more aggressive and invasive.
Even though there have been significant advances in cancer treatment, cancer prevention is still the best defense and it is not as hard as you might think. Avoiding or quitting smoking reduces the risk of lung cancer but also many other forms of cancer. Practicing sun safety helps prevent or minimize the occurrence of many types of skin cancer. Also follow your mother's advice and eat your veggies! Providing your body with the necessary nutrients and antioxidants will not only help prevent cancer but also other health risks, too.
There are no guarantees that you will be able to prevent cancer but there are actions you can take to reduce your risks. Incorporating cancer prevention techniques into your lifestyle and early detection through regular check-ups can provide your best defense against this disease as well as some peace of mind.

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