Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Is There a Special Vitamin Supplement For a Woman?

By: Beverly Taylor

Women have special health needs at different stages of our lives. We may need a specific vitamin supplement for a woman at one stage of our life and need something completely different at another period. Doctors often prescribe vitamin and iron supplements for a woman who is expecting. If she does, take them as directed and do not alter the dose. While a lack of a particular vitamin can cause deficiencies, too much can result in toxicity.

When a vitamin supplement for a woman is recommended or prescribed it is because it contains the specific vitamin or vitamins a woman’s body needs. Your doctor will take into the account the amount of calcium and other nutrients that you need on a daily basis and make his recommendation.

You should familiarize yourself with the different vitamins and their role in your health. You want to know in what foods you can get certain vitamins and how much of each of the vitamins that your body needs. If you are taking a vitamin supplement for a woman because you are pregnant, you’ll want to investigate whether or not you’ll need one after you give birth.

If you have a disease or a condition that dictates you take a special vitamin supplement for a woman it may be something you always have to deal with. Your doctor can certainly advise you on this. However, in most cases, pregnancy notwithstanding, you should be able to get all the vitamins and minerals you need from a balanced diet. Your doctor can do a simple blood test to check the levels of certain vitamins in your system and whether or not you are deficient.

It is important to note that vitamins A, D, E and K are fat soluble. An excess amount of these vitamins are stored either in fatty tissue or the liver until needed. Because of this, toxicity can occur if too many vitamins are taken. While that rarely happens when we get our vitamins solely from the foods we eat, it can and does happen when we combine too many vitamin supplements with our diets. Discuss this with your doctor if you think you need a vitamin supplement for a woman.

Once you realize the different roles vitamins and minerals play in our overall health, it’s actually fun to keep up with the amount we are ingesting, either through the foods we eat or through supplements. In doing so, you will most likely find that your overall diet improves and the need for any additional supplements will be minimal.

Article Source: http://www.articlecube.com


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Tuesday, November 07, 2006

How To Choose A Quality Diamond Ring and Diamond Jewelry

You are about to make a very important decision. You are going to buy a diamond. Whether it is an engagement ring to start a new life with someone special or a pair of earrings to signify twenty five years together, a diamond is something special. You want make sure you are getting the best quality diamond for the money you are spending. So, how do you know you are not wasting your money? Here are a few things to keep in mind while shopping for that diamond ring.

The very first thing you are going to want to look at is your budget. In years past, the rule of thumb was that you spend two months salary on a diamond ring. However, that rule generally no longer applies. Today, with people living together before the question is asked, it is much more a question of how much your budget will handle.

After you know the price range you are looking for and can afford, you can then move on to the four “Cs” of diamonds. Color, cut, clarity and carat weight. Let’s take a look at the first one.

Color is the overall color of the stone. Traditionally, diamonds will rage from colorless to yellow. The less color in the stone, the more desirable it is. This typically has a relationship to the purity of the gem, although some people prefer the yellowish tint to a diamond stone. I personally think the yellowish tint makes it look old and not as clean as it should be.

Cut is very important to how the diamond will shine. If it is well cut, it will capture all available light and reflect it back to the height of its potential. If the diamond is cut too shallow, it will not gather light. If it is cut too deep, it will take light and not reflect it back. There are various different kinds of cuts, and a knowledgeable jeweler should be able to explain this to you as well as show you the same piece in different cuts so you can see the difference for yourself.

Clarity refers to how flawless the stone is. Diamonds that are flawless are going to be very rare and, therefore, very expensive. Usually, you can get more bang for your buck if you go down a couple of points on this category and get either a near flawless stone or one that has no visible incursions to the naked eye. Of course, the more visible the flaws, the less expensive the diamond. When you exmaine the gem with the naked eye, you should not be able to see "scars" or blemishes within the stone. If you can see scars but only when wearing a jeweler's "loop" (the magnifying monacle microscope that any quality jeweler has on hand, which you can ask to borrow to examine a stone), then it is probably worthy of your consideration.

The last of the four Cs is carat. This is how big the diamond is. It is worth mentioning that the larger stones are more rare and are more expensive. Because of this, you can get the same amount of total carat weight for less money. As an example, two half-carat stones are less expensive than a single full carat ring.

When shopping for the perfect diamond ring, the setting will also come into play, as well as what type of metal the ring is made of. Gold is traditionally the metal of engagement and wedding rings, but silver; white gold and platinum have started to become more popular in recent years as well. This is more a matter of personal taste than anything else, although you want a quality setting.

One more thing to look for when shopping for a quality diamond ring - a quality jeweler. They will help you decide what your budget should be and show you a wide range of what you can afford. They will be able to tell you more on the four Cs, show you a variety of settings and help you through the buying process so you are comfortable with your purchase. Don't be afraid to ask the jeweler to borrow his "loop" for a minute so you can get a close view of the diamond you are considering.

About The Author

Jon Arnold is a computer engineer and long-term world traveler who maintains many websites to pass along his knowledge and findings. You can read more about diamond rings and diamond jewelry at his web site at http://www.diamond-jewelry-ring.com/.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Ovarian cancer, a condition characterized by an overgrowth of malignant cells in one or both of the ovaries, is one of the deadliest and under-recognized cancers affecting women. Every year, there are more than 25,000 women that suffer from this deadly disease. Half of them are most likely to die within a period of five years.

Early Detection: Improves ovarian cancer Treatment

The sad thing about ovarian cancer is that during the early stage, there are usually no signs and symptoms that tell you about this disorder. Symptoms start to show up when the cancer is already widespread, making ovarian cancer treatment too difficult.

However, there are women who are lucky enough to detect the symptoms early on; hence, diagnosis is hastened up and ovarian cancer treatment is given immediately. Tests such as pelvic and rectal screening, ultrasound, x-ray and laparoscopy may help a doctor detect tumors in the ovaries.

At present, almost 75 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are not treated immediately due to late detection of the cancer. Experts say that when detection of the cancer is made early and when ovarian cancer treatment is given immediately, women diagnosed with the disease have 90% survival rate since the cancer can be easily treated in its early stage.

Diagnosis and ovarian cancer Treatment

When symptoms finally show up and the doctor suspects that a patient may have ovarian cancer, laparoscopy is conducted to confirm diagnosis. It is a direct visual examination of the abdominal cavity, the ovaries, the exterior of the fallopian tubes and the uterus using an instrument that is inserted just underneath the navel.

Upon confirmation of ovarian cancer, the doctor explores the extent of the cancer and submits the patient for surgery. The surgeon removes the growth or much of the malignant tissue. In most cases, the whole ovary or both of the ovaries and the fallopian tubes are removed as they the malignant cancer cells have already affected these areas. This kind of surgery is called salpingooophorectomy. If the malignant cells affect the uterus, hysterectomy is conducted (surgical removal of the uterus).

Surgery is usually ensued by radiotherapy, which is the use of high energy radiation to destroy malignant cancer cells in the body and shrink remaining tumors, which may later on become malignant. This procedure may be done using an external machine or a radioactive material put inside the body near the malignant cells.

The patient also undergoes chemotherapy, whereby the patient is given anti- cancer drugs to help hasten up ovarian cancer treatment. Drugs may be administered orally (through the mouth), intravenously (through the veins) or through the muscles (by means of injection of a needle.

Most anti cancer drugs given to the patient have chemical compounds that are toxic to the malignant cells; thus, growth of the cancer cells is reduced or stopped. These anti cancer drugs are called cytotoxic drugs. Other anti cancer drugs used are synthetic forms of sex hormones such as androgen drugs and progesterone drugs.

In most instances, different kinds of anti cancer drugs are prescribed in combination in order to speed up ovarian cancer treatment. However, not all ovarian cancer patients are given with the same anti cancer drugs. The drugs given to a patient depends on the extent or stage of development of the ovarian cancer and her general health condition.

About The Author: Jeanette Pollock is a freelance author and website owner of http://www.ovariancancerdomain.com. Visit Jeanette's site to learn more about ovarian cancer treatment.

Do You Experience Sleeping Problems?

You must remember when being a child that due to the excitement you felt before a planned trip, it was impossible for you to sleep. Unfortunately, your sleeping problems are not today the outcome of an expected and desired journey. Problems at work or in the house keep your mind occupied and your body restless. Although you know how important it is for you to sleep during nighttime, you are convinced that you are incapable of entering the stage of dreams, especially when the thought that you must sleep and you cannot crosses your mind. Surpassing your present worries by simply counting sheep may help some but not you. You better come up with a better plan before visiting a doctor's office.

First, take a deep breath and try to understand that sleep is your body's time to heal. A healthy body and mind can help you overcome all those persistent problems you have to face during the day. Stop putting on a fight and realize that bed time is your chance to reboot your body's batteries and revive your mind. Try to relax and always remember that this is a goal you can attain all by yourself.

Check the room's temperature. The cooler it is the better are the chances you will be able to sleep sooner. do not try to freeze to death so as to expedite the process, but rather keep the temperature at a totally comfortable level so as to avoid feeling hot, since this is proven to mess your sleeping patterns.

Keep the room dark by closing blinds and curtains. The darker the room is the less possible might be for you to feel the difference between open and closed eyes.

Invest in a comfortable and back supporting mattress. If your bed is too soft or too hard, you will probably experience greater difficulties in falling asleep and you will be waking during the night trying to find a better and more comfortable position, for your legs, back or neck.

Consider buying earplugs and an eye mask. Earplugs can isolate you from the sounds outside -or even inside- your house and an eye mask will help you block out any excess light.

Sometimes, simple things like adjusting the room temperature by turning on the AC or the fan and let a soft music theme play in the background -if you prefer listening to something pleasant- can help.

Additionally, some people suggest you should try to meditate, while others advice you to drink milk or herbal tea made from chamomile.

Keep in mind that experts agree that you should avoid consuming any large portions of food or alcohol or caffeine-based beverages, since the digestion process will take hours before it is complete and alcohol or caffeine are very effective stimulators that can mess your sleeping patterns and keep you awake for hours.

Most importantly, try to maintain a fixed sleep schedule every night, as this routine will help you fall asleep faster so as to get the appropriate amount of rest.

In case none of these suggested tips can help you establish again healthy sleeping habits, you should consider visiting a doctor. Some sleep disorders, like insomnia, require special treatment and medication.

About The Author: Kadence Buchanan writes articles for http://healthandourworld.com/ - In addition, kadence also writes articles for http://letsdropsomeweight.com/ and http://foodandourlives.com/

Where To Get Deals On Makeup

If you love to wear makeup but hate to pay full price for your lipstick, mascara, compact, or blusher, not to worry. There are plenty of ways for the frugal shopper to enhance her loveliness without breaking the bank. Check out these ideas for finding low-cost makeup:

Use Coupons!

Plenty of makeup manufacturers offer great rebates and coupons. In fact, if you look through your department, pharmacy, and grocery store circulars each week to see what's on sale, you may actually be able to snag a great makeup deal. Consider this – if a concealer is typically $8, but is on sale for $6 and you have a coupon to save you $2, you'll only pay half (or $4).

Check Out Clearance Aisles

Most stores have an aisle or two devoted to the items that haven't sold well, and often those items include makeup. And don't worry – it's not all green eyeshadow and black nail polish. You can absolutely find some top-quality makeup in shades and colors you'll love. And some clearances are up to 90% off. Imagine buying a product that retails for $10 at a cost of $1! Wow!

Host a Party

Have a friend who sells makeup as a "side" business? Why not host a party for her? Mary Kay, Avon, and other makeup sales reps all love to reward the hostess with free gifts and "chits" for makeup purchases. You'll be able to use name-brand merchandise without having to spend much (if anything) at all.

Check Out Online Stores

There are some online merchants who sell top-end makeup for very little. First, see what you can find on the popular auction sites; next, type "cheap makeup" into your search engine. Again, you'll never know what's out there for a few bucks until you dig around! And it's worth the effort to make an awesome makeup find!

Look for Samples

At many high-end department stores, you can snag great makeup deals just by asking. As you peruse the makeup kiosks (such as Estee Lauder and Revlon), casually ask the sales staff if they have any makeup samples you could try. Often, the sample sizes are quite ample and may last for a while. It's a terrific way to reward yourself with some exceptional makeup for virtually nothing (except the cost to get to the store!)

Haunt Yard Sales

Believe it or not, you can find makeup at yard and garage sales! The only thing you have to be concerned about is making sure any makeup you purchase from these places has never been opened. Otherwise, the makeup could be contaminated with bacteria which could make your face break out. Also, look for expiration dates; sometimes, makeup at yard sales has expired. (That's why it's there.) But don't let this stop you – many a person has gotten rid of makeup she doesn't care for (or was given as a gift), and it'll be a reward for you!

By being a little innovative, you can find terrific ways to save on makeup.

About The Author: robert michael is a writer for Dream makeup which is an excellent place to find makeup links, resources and articles. For more information go to: http://www.dreammakeup.com

Thursday, September 21, 2006

5 Ways to Create a Profitable Image

Recently, I happened to catch part of an E!

Entertainment program called something like, "The 25 Hottest Red Carpet Stars." It showed some of the most beautiful women in the world as they counted down to number one. Uma Thurman, Selma Hayek, Nicole Kidman - all of the "usual suspects" were there. The youngest was Kiera Knightly, the oldest was Sophia Loren. Halle Berry was number one.

As I watched, it occurred to me that in addition to enjoying active careers and all but monopolizing magazine covers these days, many of the women on their list also happen to have lucrative fashion or beauty endorsement deals on the side. Catherine Zeta-Jones (Elizabeth Arden), Angelina Jolie (St. Johns Knits), Ashley Judd (American Beauty by Estée Lauder) - the list goes on and on.

Coincidence? Hardly! Everyone loves a winner.

So when the red carpet reports show "who's hot" and "who's not," companies line up with endorsement deals, hoping to catch some of the stardust coming off the red carpet.

So what does all of this celebrity fashion have to do with you?

It emphasizes just how far a polished image can take you. There are TONS of celebrities out there, but only a handful dominates the magazine covers and endorsement deals. They're not necessarily the most beautiful or the most talented, though a little of both certainly helps. No, these are the ones who understand the power of personal packaging and are savvy enough to "make hay while the sun shines," or in this case, while the spotlight shines on them.

The question is, are you?

Are you harnessing the power of a polished image, whether you're climbing the corporate ladder or are far removed from that world? Are you taking the time to make sure your outside accurately reflects the quality of your inside? Or, like so many women, are you taking an expensive education or in-demand ability and putting it in a discount wrapper?

If so, you're doing yourself a disservice.

As shallow as it is, people DO judge you by how you look. In fact, since your clothing and demeanor reveal SO much about you, from your origins and education level to your probable income, others make snap judgments about you all the time - just as you do with them. If you look and carry yourself like a thoroughbred, others will assume you belong in the race or in the winner's circle. If you're unkempt and plod along obligingly, they'll assume you're a work horse and treat you accordingly - even if you have the talent and instincts to lead the field.

I've seen it too many times to count, even in industries or in positions where looks aren't supposed to matter.

So what can you do to harness this power and use it to your benefit, whether you're in the classroom, climbing the ladder, staying home with the kids, or enjoying retirement? Here are five steps to creating a profitable, "red carpet" image:

1. Make your Appearance a Priority

When you're young and into fashion, how you look may be your only priority. As you get older, however, other things take more of your time like working, raising kids, volunteer work, and the like. Often, we're so busy taking care of others that we lose ourselves in the process. We can justify dropping a lot on dressing our daughter for a special occasion yet balk at spending the same amount on ourselves. Or, if we've put on a few pounds, we put off updating our closets to reflect the new size. We accept the short end of the stick time and again until we look and feel like a work horse - and then we wonder why all we get is more work.

Remember: People treat you how you treat yourself. If you ignore yourself, others with ignore you. If you strive to look like a thoroughbred, people will respond accordingly.

2. Build a Style File

Start by flipping through a few magazines or catalogs or clicking around online. When you find looks you like and that appropriate for your lifestyle, rip them out of the magazines or print off screen shots and start collecting them in a file. You'll begin to see a pattern of the types of clothing elements you like. You can also pick up some nifty styling ideas.

3. Shop in your Closet

Before you head to the mall, flip through your closet and see if you can duplicate any of the looks in your style file with what you already own. Your pieces may not look exactly like what's in the picture (you have a yellow shirt but the picture shows a blue one, for example), but try approximating the look as closely as you can. It's an easy way to look up-to-date without spending anything.

4. Clear the Clutter

If you're having trouble taking stock of your clothes or accessories because you have so much, get rid of the things you don't wear so you can see what you have to work with. If you're hauling around a bunch of stuff in your handbag, tote, or briefcase that you don't need, get rid of it. If every inch of your office or workspace is covered with papers that need to be filed or sorted, clear them out. If you routinely use your car for business or hauling kids and it's a mess, clean it up. In short, get rid of all the clutter around you that's bringing you down and zapping your energy. Once you clear the mess, you'll look and feel like you're in control - instead of totally out of control and incapable of handling more.

5. Strive for Consistency

Finally, strive to present a consistently polished image. Anyone can clean up for a special occasion. But if you make it a priority to consistently look good, you'll not only feel better about yourself, those around you will consistently treat you with respect because they'll know what to expect from you. Those red-carpet starlets don't JUST look good on the red carpet; they look good any time they're photographed, which makes their endorsement partners even more confident that they have the right person for the job.

So it should be with you. A polished image doesn't have to be expensive to be effective. If you strive for a consistent look every time you walk out the door, you'll be delighted by the response you get. Try yourself and see.

About The Author

Diana Pemberton-Sikes is a wardrobe and image consultant and author of "Business Wear Magic," ebook that shows women how to increase their income by dressing appropriately for their line of work. Visit her at http://www.fashionforrealwomen.com.

Straight From The Runway: All You Need To Know Beauty Trends Guide

When it comes to beauty trends, every woman wants to ace them. Even if it’s not to the same degree as a super model or someone that has an entire fortune to splurge, but to some extent beauty trends are important to every woman, regardless of her background, preference or budget.

The way our society relates information to us in regard to up and coming beauty trends or trends that are now outdated, it should make us wonder why we all don’t look the same! Truth be told, there are so many different kinds of beauty trends out there, it’s impossible to keep up with them all, let alone sport them all. There isn’t a woman on earth who has the financial resources or the time for this impossible mission

Magazines continuously offer front cover glances at what kind of beauty trends are currently in style, making it easy for everyone to pick up on. A quick look through the shelf tells you big, Hollywood-style glasses are in and lace is out again. Magazines also offer articles within them that explain different kinds of trends and how to transform oneself from one “trendy” look to the next.

The fact that these beauty trends are usually first spotted on television or in newspapers and magazines first should give you enough clues that it probably isn’t your nameless neighbor who created the latest trend. If you are wondering who really does come up with them you certainly don’t have to look too far to find the answer. Yes, it is the top companies in the industry trying to market their products that make the current beauty trends flourish or flop. They practice demand manipulation all the time. Cosmetic companies realize that women want to refresh their look from time-to-time so they introduce new product lines each season and make it seem as if you will die without their new toys. Don’t forget to include the clothing industry in this thought, because they come up with many beauty trends as well.

One thing about beauty trends is that some of them never go away. They’re called classic, timeless styles. Let’s face it, we all know that society thinks of thin women as beautiful, and if you are not thin you are certainly not part of that trend which never seems to end. Of course, beauty trends like these have been known to be superficial and it all has to do with personal taste and preference. It is the beauty trends like what color make-up to wear during certain times of the year that continually change and grow. Beauty trends such as not wearing pink one year but it being all the rage the next year is what keeps the beauty industry alive and kicking.

So the next time you read how pink lipstick is the color to wear this summer, remember that there are still many other colors that will look good on you. Don’t stomp out of the house and rush to the nearest store only to buy the pink that you always know to be unsuitable for you. Trust your instincts, stay true to your own sense of style and you’ll never again have to wonder what they next big beauty trend will be.

About The Author

Glen B. Porter provides readers with up-to-date commentaries, http://www.entertainment-resource-directory.com, and reviews for http://www.top-entertainment-news.com, music, movies and other related information.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Women's Guide: Simplifying Your Life

The role of women in society has evolved. Now, we have other choices than being a homemaker; we have the same rights to obtain an education, join the business environment, and share the same legal rights with men. Although this social change is the best thing that has happened to all women, new issues have arisen.

Women are leading more stressful lives because not only did we join the workforce; we also have to juggle the house and kids at the same time. A typical day of today’s woman would consist on going to work, ensuring everyone in the family is taken care, ensuring that the household chores get done in addition to extracurricular activities, PTA meetings etc. Whew! I am already tired by just thinking about it.

In other words, women are leading more stressful lives than ever. This is not good because stress affect us entirely. It clouds and slows down our thinking process and puts a lot of weight on our bodies. The results are unclear communication with others, malfunction in work/school, irritability, tiredness, etc. As you can see none of the symptoms cause by stress are positive. Therefore, it is best to avoid it.

You are probably thinking avoid stress? Yeah Right! And I am here to say that you probably can not avoid every single mishap but there are simple actions that can help reduce some of the weight on your shoulders. This can be achieve by managing your time correctly, involving your family and much more. Below I have added ten tips that can reduce your stress level.

1. Do you have too many chores at home- If you have a partner and children then you can divide the chores. You would be amaze but even toddlers can help by putting away their own toys.

2. Buy organizers- Organizers in my opinion are a necessary tool. With both sexes working outside of the home, there is not that much time to maintain a tidy home. However, if you have organizers this definitely helps you reduce the amount of clutter in the house. The end result: A put together home.

3. Keep track of your time- Yes, planning ahead does help. Once you know what you want, plan what you need to do and state exactly when.

4. Have room for mistakes- Nothing is ever going to be perfect. So, do not beat yourself up over and over again. Instead, rise and use the negative experience to your advantage by learning from it.

5. For people that cook daily- Reduce the amount of times that you cook in a week. You can cook for two days at a time or cook various meals in one day for several days. Just make sure that the food is store properly. It is advisable to freeze the prepared food until; you are ready to use it. 6. Have a daily or weekly to do list- Let’s face it, with so many things in our heads it is pretty easy to forget what you need to do.

7. Pay for cleaning services- If you can not delegate different chores to others and have some cash to spare then, pay someone else. If you can not afford full service then pay for part of the chores. Pay a kid from your neighborhood a couple of bucks for raking your leaves or mowing the lawn.

8. Use the internet to your advantage and reduce shopping time by buying things online. Even some supermarkets are offering this service.

9. Lessen the time spend on unproductive activities- Included are talking on the phone, watching TV, chatting etc. You can do them but make sure that you do not talk for three hours or watch five different TV shows in one day etc. Activities like this do nothing but, waste time that you could use productively.

10. Leisure time- Always try to enjoy your life, set time to do activities that you love to do or interest you. It’s simple when we have fun there is no room for stress.

Remember life is just a whole bunch of moments put together so; do not waste them.

Until Next,

Kenia Morales

Kenia Morales is the publisher of online magazine http://kpatra.com "For Every Aspect of Today's Woman. Visit her site to find a variety of women related issues and topics." Click on the link below to sign up for her self improvement tips by mail for free: http://formmail.hotplugins.com/cgi-bin/showformmail.cgi?fmid=5070

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenia_Morales




Friday, March 17, 2006

3 Steps to Manifesting Your Ideal Life

Submitted by ehspina

The Law of Attraction specifies that you will attract to yourself those experiences that match your beliefs. Use these mystic principles to manifest your ideal life.

Over the past several weeks I've received dozens of email solicitations for books, CDs and videos that promise to reveal newly discovered techniques to improve my life. These emails promise a wide variety of benefits: how to get rich, lost weight , meet the woman of my dreams and buy a million dollar mansion with no money down. In some cases the salesman will throw in a "Ginzu knife" or "pocket fisherman" if I order immediately!


While some of these marketers may actually believe they've invented a whole new system of creating a life anyone would want, the truth is "there is nothing new under the sun." Mystics have studied the underlying principles that manifest reality for centuries. These same principles existed in the time of Socrates and they existed before the establishment of many of today's religions.

Whether it's money, love, health, or anything else, the principles are the same. In mystical terms, the Law of Attraction specifies that you will attract to yourself those experiences that match your beliefs. In the words of quantum physics, the observer affects that which is observed. Since you are the observer, it's you who affects your life, that is, it's you who creates your experience of reality.

You create your experience via your underlying beliefs-whether they are conscious or unconscious. If you're not conscious of your beliefs then you must make them conscious. As Carl Jung said, "Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate." Or, as mystics will say, "Know thyself." This includes your beliefs.

Before you begin to manifest your ideal life, you must get clear on exactly what you want. Examine your desire from a mystic perspective. Is it something that would be of benefit to many people or is it a purely selfish desire? If you are attempting to manifest your desire at the expense of someone else, there will be a steep price to pay in the future. Remember, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap," so why saddle yourself with additional burdens? If your desire seems selfish, reframe it so that it's of benefit to others.

Once you are clear on exactly what you want, then it is a straightforward matter to manifest your desire.

There are three steps:

Step 1. Visualize exactly what you want for 5 minutes per day. Let's say you want to go sightseeing in Paris. You may want to visualize the Eiffel Tower. Why 5 minutes? Because any longer and your mind will wander. Any shorter and you may not be fully fleshing out your vision.

Step 2. Put yourself in the picture, with detail and emotion. You have a clear view of the Eiffel Tower. But, if you don't visualize yourself in the picture, the universe will manifest your desire, but perhaps not in the format you anticipated. For example, you might get a postcard of the Paris skyline in the mail. To avoid any misunderstandings, picture yourself standing in front of the tower. What are you wearing? Are you there with your spouse or some new love interest? Add details, employing all your sensory data. You're eating a delicious croissant. The wind is blowing gently on a beautiful, sunny spring afternoon. You hear conversations en francais and you smell the perfume of the petite jeune fille standing near you.

Don't forget to add emotion. Are you enjoying the taste of your croissant? Do you feel the joy of exploring a new country? Are you reveling in the sense of freedom as you travel the world? The more realistic you make it, the better.

Step 3. At this stage, focus only on the end result. This is very important. Don't worry about how you get there. You can't possibly imagine all the ways that your goal might manifest, so don't limit yourself to people you know or the most obvious avenues to attain your goal. Let the universe worry about the details.

When you are done with your meditation, release it to the universe. Continuing to hold it in your mind will prevent its manifestation. You have to let go. To ensure you've let go, occupy yourself with a completely unrelated activity after you complete your meditation.

You're ready to go; but first, a brief note of caution. This is an extremely powerful technique, so keep in mind the old adage, "be careful what you wish for, you just might get it." An example, an acquaintance of mine was remarking on how lucky a friend of hers was to receive a $100,000 settlement for a personal injury she suffered. Within two weeks, my friend was involved in a moderately serious auto accident that left her with a bad back and a subsequent $50,000 settlement. Was it worth it? I don't think so.

To ensure that you don't manifest something similar, I recommend you close each meditation by saying, "If it pleases God, then so be it," or "If this is for my highest good, then so be it." This is an extra form of protection that will help you avoid needless headache.

Lastly, don't think that because you're busy visualizing you don't have to take any action on the physical plane. For example, if you're looking for a boyfriend or girlfriend, you can't just sit inside and visualize your ideal mate, you still need to get out. You must go about your business, but be alert to opportunities that the universe is presenting to you.

The Law of Attraction is the basic underlying principle at work here. If you're not manifesting what you desire then there are two possibilities: you aren't clear on exactly what you want or you're not aware of a certain belief, probably unconscious, that is contradicting your conscious desire.

Identifying your unconscious beliefs is a topic that we'll cover in our next newsletter.

Until then, manifest your dreams, the mystic's way!

About The Author:

Edwin Harkness Spina is the author of the award-winning spiritual thriller Mystic Warrior. Receive a free copy of Mystic Secrets Revealed, when you sign up for the Mystic Warrior Newsletter at http://www.MysticWarrior.us/newsletter.html

(Source: http://www.articleavenue.com)

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Jewelry from 3000 BC Egypt to the 21st Century

Egypt

The use of gold jewelry can be dated back to Egypt 3000 BC. Gold was the preferred metal for jewelry making during ancient times. It was rare, it was easy to work with, and it never tarnished.

Magnificent bracelets, pendants, necklaces, rings, armlets, earrings, collars, and head ornaments were all produced in ancient Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs. In 1922 Howard Carter’s excavations led to the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb and many gold artifacts, all showing the art work of ancient Egypt.

Greece

In ancient Greece, gold beads in the shape of shells, flowers and beetles were very common. In Northern Greece beautiful necklaces and earrings have been excavated from burial.

By 300 BC the Greeks were using gems such as emeralds, garnets, amethysts and pearls. They also created colored glass stones and enamel stones. Carved agate cameos and gold filigree work were widely made.

Italy

The Italian Etruscans produced granulated textured gold work. They made very large, necklaces, bracelets and earrings. They were also known for producing hollow gold pendants that were filled with perfume. Even today the Italians are still known for the quality gold jewelry.

Rome

The Romans used 18 and 24 carat gold for their coins. Coinage gold was readily available so it was popular with craftsmen for decorative jewelry. Over 2000 years ago the Romans were using sapphires, emeralds, garnets, and amber in their jewelry. Europe.

During the 13th century the Medieval Sumptuary Laws were enacted which put a cap on luxurious jewelry and clothing. The town folk of France, banned from wearing girdles made from pearls or any other gemstone.

They were also banged from wearing gold or silver. Similar laws existed in England banning artisans from wearing gold and silver. These laws show how fine jewelry had spread beyond nobility to the town folk.

For as long as mankind has existed gems and jewels have been used as token of ones love for another. While many pieces of jewelry existed adorned with fine gems and made from precious metals, there was also some very good fake jewelry.

True gemstones and pearls originated in the east and they were bought mainly by the Italians. The Italian merchants then sold the jewelry to the Europeans.

High quality glass imitations were often used and sold with the intent to deceive. These high quality glass stones were often used in the Royal funeral robes and in children's jewelry.

Valued more than gemstones, were the flawless, round, natural white pearls. South India provided some of the finest pearls. The Italians were able to make quality imitation glass gems and pearls that could only be identified by a gemologist.

There is historical proof that recipes for false pearls existed as far back as 1300. White powdered glass was mixed with albumen and snail slime to produce imitation pearls.

Earrings and Dress Jewelry

During the 17th century woman always wore earrings, whether they were dressed or undressed. It was very acceptable to wear faux pearls and paste gem earrings during the day saving fine diamond jewelry and gem jewelry for evening attire.

Dress ornamentation decreased in size. Sleeves or skirts were often decorated with matching brooches.

During the 16th it was very fashionable to wear large quantities of pearls. Both jewelry to clothing accessories were adorned with pearls.

During the 17th century Jaquin of Paris patented a method of making fake pearls. Hollow blown glass balls were coated with varnish mixed with iridescent ground fish scales. The hollow balls were then filled with wax to strengthen them. This discovery made Paris the main producer of faux pearls for well over 200 years.

Paste is a compound of glass containing white lead oxide and potash. Paste jewelry was very common in the later part of the 17th century. The highest quality and most long lasting paste jewelry was produced after 1734 by Georges Strass.

Paris lead the production of faux gems [paste] and faux pearls. Just about any kind of fake gem could be made, including fake opals.

After 1760 the production of fake jewelery spread to London and to Birmingham. During the industrial revolution steel was produced in large quantities so it was easily available. It was ues for setting marcasite and jasper ware cameos. Glass and Wedgwood porcelain paste cameos were made in English factories and were also very popular.

The fashion from this era also included ornate shoe buckles of paste, steel and tin, elaborate paste jewel buttons, as well as semi precious for day wear.

Empire Jewelry

In 1804 Napoleon emerged as Emperor of France, resulting in a revival of jewelry and fashion as a new court of pomp. 'Joailliers' worked fine jewelry and 'bijoutiers' used less precious materials.

The members of the new French imperial family had the former French royal family gems re-set into the latest neo-classical style. The new trends soon found their way to Europe, particularly England. The main influence for design was the Greek and Roman.

Parures and Cameos

Parures were a matching suite of coordinating precious gems which could include a necklace, a comb, a tiara, a diadem, a bandeau, a pair of bracelets, pins, rings, drop earrings or and cluster stud earrings and possibly a belt clasp.

A full parure consisted of a minimum of four pieces. A demi parure consisted of three or less pieces. Both Josephine and Napoleon's second wife had magnificent parures.

Once Napoleon's cameo decorated coronation crown was seen, cameos became the rage. Cameos were carved from hard stone, conch shells and even from Wedgwood porcelain.

Victorian Jewelry

In 1837 when Queen Victoria came to the throne jewelry was romantic and nationalistic. It focused on European folk art, which later influenced the Arts and Crafts Movement. Until mid century most western jewelry came from Europe, with some jewelry being produced in North America and Australia.

Mass production of mid Victorian jewelry in Birmingham, Germany and Providence, Rhode Island resulted in lower jewelry standards. Victorian women rebelled when they saw some the poor quality of much of this machine made jewelry.

Woman rebelled by wearing no jewelry at all, or buying from the emerging artist craftsman. Some jewelers like Tiffany recognized a niche market and began to make fine jewelry of a very high standard, opening shops in main European cities.

Mourning Jewelry

During the Victorian era mourning jewelry was very fashionable. The initial months of mourning were unadorned by jewelry of any kind. As the mourning rituals increased, mourning jewelry developed as a fashion item. Queen Victorian wore a great deal of jet mourning jewelry after Prince Albert’s death.

Jet from Whitby, North of England was set into mourning pieces. All types of material that were black were used and almost all included a lock of the dead loved one's hair. Hair was also plaited, braided or twisted very tightly until it became hard and thread like.

Arts and Crafts Jewelry

During the 1870s the Arts and Crafts movement evolved as a reaction to mass produced shoddy goods and inferior machine made products which were a result of the industrial revolution.

William Morris and John Ruskin were both leaders of the arts and crafts movement in England. They promoted simple Arts and Crafts of designs based on floral, primitive or Celtic forms worked as wallpapers, furniture and jewelry.

The polished stones used in Arts and Crafts jewelry gave a medieval, simpler, gentler, tooled hand made look and feel to items.

Art Nouveau

The Art Nouveau followed the arts and crafts movement resulting in a new jewelry look. The movement began in Paris and its influence went throughout the Western world. Art nouveau jewelry had curves, sinuous organic lines of romantic and imaginary dreaminess.

It was very ethereal turning into winged bird and flower forms. French, René Lalique was the master goldsmith of the era of Art Nouveau producing exquisite one off pieces. Today, the Art Nouveau style is still admired, sought after, and copied.

Pearls

Various combinations of pearl necklaces come in and out of fashion with regularity so pearls too are a must. Today pearls are still a wardrobe essential. Both faux pearls and cultured pearls are very affordable today.

Since the opening of trade with China in the 1990s, many pearls are imported from China dropping the price to about 1/3 of what it was prior to China entering the market.

The Japanese have suffered disease in their pearl beds as well as facing competition and are finding it hard to compete with China's prices.

Pearl necklaces and pearl earrings can lift a complexion and bring light and radiance to the face taking years off a woman whatever her age. They have been a wardrobe staple for centuries, and a wedding attire tradition.

Cultured pearls have become very affordable, and faux pearls are very cheap and the quality can be excellent. Currently Pearls are a very “hot” fashion statement and with the modern twist of being interspaced on gold wire or floating on special synthetic cord they are essential to the millennium look.

Cocktail Jewelry

During the 1920s Lalique mass produced and designed high quality glass jewelry. Fake, or costume jewellery was sometimes then called cocktail jewelry.

Costume or Cocktail jewelry was greatly influenced by designers such as Coco Chanel, and Elsa Shiparelli as well as a host of other designers. These two designers were particularly known for encouraging clients to mix their fine jewelry and costume jewelry. Both designers offered imagination and fun and both often sported fabulous fakes.

In the late 1930s Napier of the USA was at the forefront of manufacturing fake cocktail jewelry offer glamour and escapism. Today, Napier still produces excellent contemporary costume pieces.

Hollywood Influence

By the 1940s and 1950s American culture was very dominant in Europe. The influence of movie films and the prominence of film stars set the fashion stage for womens make-up, hair and wardrobe.

People wanted copies of outfits and jewelry worn by the actresses. Women believed that the glamour of Hollywood would rub off on them if they dressed and looked like the glamorous Hollywood actresses.

During the Second World War metals were rationed, halting the production of fine jewelry. Quality costume jewelry picked up the now defunct fine jewelry market. Costume jewelry flourished becoming an acceptable alternative to fine jewelry. 1980's Television Influences Jewelry

During the 1980s with the evolution of glitzy television soaps such as Dynasty and Dallas, costume jewelry once again became a “hot” fashion statement. With over 250 million viewers, it didn’t take long for costume jewelry to be reborn.

Glitz and sparkle by day was not only acceptable, it became the norm. Earrings grew to an unbelievable size, as did other pieces of jewelry. By the 1990s this sparkly dazzling jewelry phenomena was dead, replace with tiny real diamond studs or a fine stud pearls.

21st Century Jewelry

For the 21st century women believe a mix is good. Fine jewelry combined with costume jewelry are wardrobe essentials. The sophisticated women of this century know what they want from their jewelry and how to wear it to make their fashion statement.

They recognize that costume jewelry can liven up their wardrobe. The types and quality of costume jewelry has grown enormously. Today one can purchase what is classified as fine costume jewelry which is usually plated at least seven times with 10 22 ct gold.

Swarovski crystal set in gold are common accessories, and cubic zirconium, man’s imitation diamond, can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of real diamonds allowing every women to add diamond styled jewelry to their wardrobe.

Ciro, Adrian Buckley, Butler and Wilson, Swarovski Crystal Jewelry Napier, Joan Rivers, Joan Collins, Christian Dior, California Crystal, Property of A Lady and of course Kenneth J Lane to name just a few continue to produce high quality fashion jewelry for today’s women.

Costume jewelry can take you from the board room to a night out of dining and dancing to your most intimate evening. It can make you look your best for your wedding, or a day at the beach. You can make Your Fashion Statement With Costume Jewelry!

Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry, and wedding help. So stop by and visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/ We'll help you make your fashion statement! Remember looking good doesn't have to cost a fortune!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sher_Matsen

Friday, February 24, 2006

Migraines And Women

by: James Mahony

Migraines occur far more frequently in women than in men. In fact, in adult women the rate of frequency is roughly fifteen to seventeen percent, whereas in men it is only about five percent.

Studies have concluded that estrogen withdrawal is a key factor in migraines related to menstrual cycles.

Twenty-five to thirty percent of all women in their 30s experience at least an occasional migraine.

Menstrual migraines generally last longer than non-menstrual migraines and often are much more difficult to treat effectively.

Sixty to seventy percent of women who suffer from migraines have menstrual-related migraine.

Ten to fourteen percent of women with migraines have them only during menstruation. These types of headaches are known as ‘true menstrual migraine’.

Premenstrual migraine may in fact be part premenstrual syndrome (PMS), the menstrual related mood disorder. Symptoms of PMS include fatigue, irritability or depression, bloating and, yes, headache.

Two-thirds of women who suffered from pre-menopausal migraines find their condition improve with physiologic menopause. On the other hand, it has been found that surgical menopause worsens migraine conditions in two-thirds of cases.

Migraine attacks usually disappear during pregnancy. At the same time, however, some women report an initial onset of migraines during the first trimester of pregnancy, with the disappearance of their headaches after the third month of pregnancy.

Treatment options for menstrual migraine

Sidenote: Hope you're finding this useful? I have always been curious about this matter. And when I found very little quality information about it, I decided to share a part of what I've learned about it - which is why this article came to be written. Read on.

When choosing to treat menstrual migraines with medication, the drugs used most often are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). The NSAIDS of choice in treating menstrual migraines are:

ketoprofen (Orudis)
ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin)
fenoprofen calcium (Nalfon)
naproxen (Naprosyn)
nabumetone (Relafen)

For best results when using NSAIDs to treat migraines, usage should be started two to three days before menstrual flow actually begins and the therapy should be continued throughout the period. Gastrointestinal side effects are generally not serious enough to be considered because the therapy takes place over such a short period, no pun intended.

For patients who suffer from more severe menstrual migraines or who desire to continue taking oral contraceptives, doctors also recommend taking a NSAID. This therapy should begin l9th day of your cycle and continue through the second day of the next cycle.

Some women have found antinausea medicine and pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen sufficient enough to dull the pain. Others trust in analgesics or serotonin agonists such as Imitrex, Zomig, Amerge or Maxalt. When using medications, it is extremely important to be aware of the dangers of avoiding a repetitive pattern of medication or overuse of medication as this can cause rebound headaches.

You might also consider using an estrogen skin patch. This treatment is utilized in the days leading up to your period and may either delay or actually prevent the onset of a menstrual migraine.

Some studies have found that daily doses of magnesium may help menstrual migraines in certain women. In addition, vitamin and herbal treatments have been found to be effective. The herb feverfew or vitamin B2 when taken on a daily basis may reduce

Either the severity or the frequency of headaches, though research does not point to menstrual migraines in particular.

Even though two-thirds of women do report improvement in their migraine condition with the onset of natural menopause, two-thirds of women report a worsening with surgical, therefore neither a hysterectomy nor an ovarian removal are recommended.

As always, you should consult your physician for a proper diagnosis before discontinuing or launching on kind of new treatment, including over-the-counter medication treatments.

Every person has a unique health profile that includes aspects specific to their physiology and family history and that may preclude them from taking certain medications.

Some final tips

There enough different migraine triggers to fill a book and keeping track of them can be a full time job. It is highly recommended that you keep a trigger diary that includes a record of foods you eat, weather conditions, medications you have taken, stressful events, menstrual activity, etc.

Also of benefit is developing a plan around your period. Reduce stress as much as possible by planning work and leisure commitments around your cycle so as to cut back on menstrual-related triggers as much as possible.

I hope you've found this information helpful and gained something of value from the article.

In case there is any specific portion that is not clear enough, or that you'd like to know more about, please write to let me know and I'll try and update the article or write another one getting into greater detail.

About The Author

James Mahony is the founder of
http://www.migraineheadacheprevention.com
A site dedicated to preventing and treating migraine headaches http://www.migraineheadacheprevention.com http://www.articlesforwebsitecontent.com

Too Busy for Relationships?

If you currently feel that you don’t have enough friends in your life, one reason may be that you have let yourself become too busy to make time for the relationships you already have.
Nurturing and maintaining friendships requires effort and commitment. Many of us let our lives become so busy with work and other commitments that we don’t get around to scheduling time for pleasure and renewal with the friends, relatives and acquaintances we already have.
Making the effort to call your friends more regularly, and to accept more of the invitations you receive from others, can improve your social life in a hurry!
Are there any people you could call right now and be assured of a pleasant welcome? Are these people that you could count on to help you in a crisis? Can you have close talks with them? Do you have fun when you are together? Are you happy to have them in your life?
If you haven’t seen much of them lately, is it because you have become too busy? Have you grown apart? Was there an argument?
If the main reason you haven’t been getting together with the people you already know is because you have gotten too busy, take a good look at how you spend your time. Compare it with your real values and priorities in life. Is your hectic lifestyle really bringing you the quality of life that you want?
If you have become too busy for friends, why has this happened? Are you pursuing material toys in your life at the expense of relationships with other human beings? Have you allowed your time to be over-committed because you never say “No” to anyone? Do you insist on doing things yourself that could be delegated to others? If so, why? Do you believe that everything depends on you?
Examine whether the way you are currently spending your time accurately reflects your deepest values and priorities. Make sure that you schedule adequate time for the things that are truly most important to you. If you really want to keep friends in your life, make a space in your schedule, and a space in your heart for them.

About the author:

This article is written by Royane Real who is the author of several self help books, including "How You Can Have All the Friends You Want" To read more of Royane Real’s articles on friendship as well as self help articles by other writers visit her new website at
http://friendshipvillage.bravehost.com

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Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Why We Should Be Worried About The Bird Flu

by: Michael Colucci

Is the Bird Flu Virus for real? Or is it something the media has blown up once again. Does the bird flu virus really possess a threat to us humans?
The bird flu virus is the current virus that has been scaring people away from eating at KFC. People might think that the bird flu virus might cause them to die.

What the media is doing, is only trying to scare a lot of people from the bird flu virus. This is maybe because of the pandemic that we have experienced before from other flu that have killed millions.
The most famous of all the flu is the pandemic that happened during 1918-19. The Spanish flu killed more people than World War 1. 500 million became ill of this virus and around 40 million died.

That’s why for every new flu virus that’s been arising, people get worried right away. Scientist will try to prevent viruses from getting a lot worse like the 1918-19 pandemic. The media on the other hand serves to inform the people of the potential threat.

Another thing to worry about is that 36,000 people die everyday of ordinary influenza virus in the United States alone. Can you imagine how much worse a pandemic can cause?

Also every 3 to 4 times in a century there will always be a chance that a flu pandemic may hit. What if the bird flu virus is already among them? That’s why people form the media and scientist grow deeply worried.
The flu can basically achieve these things because it has the ability to mutate. It can change quickly and outwit the vaccines that have been created for previous flu strains. Then they take the immune system by storm.

The flu can also grab the genetic material of other viruses and also jump from one species to another. There are times where the transfer needs to be done via an intermediary. Such as the West Nile Fever, this needs a mosquito to be transferred.

The viruses that have transferred from animals to people are not something new. This has been happening since the 1980’s. The new virus that ahs been scaring people of that comes from animals is the bird flu.
Bird flu’s symptoms usually start out quite simple and the infected person might think that it’s just an ordinary flu. The infected person will experience muscle aches, sore throats, colds and cough. However, it may lead to the immediate death of the infected person.

Currently, people who have died form bird flu are still not abundant to call it a pandemic or worry about an outbreak. What worries the health officials is the possibility it becomes an outbreak when it mutates and can transfer from one person to the other.

That’s why its better the media and the health officials worry about this thing a whole lot before we get another pandemic like that of the Spanish Flu.

About The Author
Michael Colucci is a technical writer for Bird Flu Facts - A site that offers the latest facts on the bird flu.
bird-flu-facts.org

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Sympthon of Depression

Depression is a condition that is not clearly understood by many. What is this mood disorder and who is likely to suffer from it? What is post-partum depression? Learn how to identify symptoms of depression. Find out how depression is treated with anti-depression medication and therapy.

What is Depression?
'Depression' is a mood disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness. It permeates through the body and mind. Depression lowers motivation and energy levels. This disorder takes control of the mind, body and soul. When depressed, you may often experience feelings of low esteem, guilt and self-reproach driving you to take irrational decisions. Depression often results from combination of factors - personal experiences, financial problems, tension or trauma in personal life. Whatever be the cause, depression is not just a state of mind. It is related to physical changes in the brain too. Depression is associated with an imbalance of neurotransmitters (chemicals that carries signals in your brain and nerves) in the brain.
Types of Depression
There are several forms of depression. Diagnoses for depression are mostly determined by the intensity and duration of the symptoms.
Clinical Depression
Major depression or clinical depression is among the most severe depression disorders. Clinical depression is diagnosed in terms of symptoms and severity of the symptoms. A person affected by clinical depression may appear fully dejected and disinterested in regular activities. The victim will be more or less in a hopeless state. Persons affected with clinical depression may undergo appetite and weight loss.
Dysthymic Disorder
Dysthymia is moderate level of depression. Most people go through this disorder even with out knowing that they are affected by dysthymia. These people undergo many changes that affect their quality of life. They may experience fatigue, sleeping and eating problems and be plagued by low self-esteem, guilt and negative thinking. These people may also suffer from concentration and memory problems. While the symptoms of dysthymia are not as pronounced as in clinical depression, they are more enduring and resistant to treatment.
Manic Depression
Manic Depression or Bipolar depression is a kind of disorder associated with mood shifts. People affected by manic depression have sudden extreme mood swings, much like a rollercoaster ride. Manic depression is characterized by mood swings that can sometimes to be quite rapid. People who suffer from manic depression have an extremely high rate of suicide.
Atypical Depression
This depression is common in women. Atypical depression is a variation of depression that is slightly different from major depression. The person affected may experience mood swings. Symptoms of atypical depression include fatigue, oversleeping, overeating and weight gain. This type of depression usually begins in adolescence and, if untreated, will often continue throughout life.
Psychotic Depression
People who suffer from major depression may also show symptoms of psychotic depression. The affected person may hear and see imaginary things - sounds, voices and visuals that do not exist. Persons suffering from psychotic depression are prone to hallucinations, which are common with someone suffering from schizophrenia. This kind of depression requires immediate attention, as consequences may be fatal.
Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety disorders are a form of emotional upsets. The affected person feels highly aroused and is afraid of a panic attack. An anxiety disorder is a constant feeling of tension and a person affected by this will have no reason for the way he/she feels.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is the kind of depression that occurs in women after pregnancy. Postpartum depression is considered to be a form of major depression due to the similarity of symptoms in both the conditions. Studies indicate that about 10 % of new mothers develop postpartum depression. There are indications that postpartum pregnancy is common in women who have already experienced some form of depressive illness. Postpartum depression can happen anytime within the first year after childbirth. The symptoms of this disorder may include sadness, lack of energy, trouble concentrating, anxiety, feelings of guilt and worthlessness. The postpartum depression symptoms are more prolonged, severe and disabling. Hence it requires immediate attention and medical care. If left untreated, postpartum depression may last for months or years. In rare cases it may even become worse and may lead to a severe form of depression called postpartum psychosis. A combination of medication and psychotherapy treatments can help you relieve from postpartum depression.
Signs and Symptoms of Depression
The following are some of the most common symptoms of depression.
  • Depression isolates, disables and contributes to deteriorating physical as well as emotional health. The severity of these symptoms may vary from person to person.
  • persistent sadness, anxiety or emptiness
  • feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
  • feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
  • loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and regular activities, including sex
  • decreased energy, fatigue
  • difficulty concentrating, remembering and making decisions
  • inability to think clearly, feeling fuzzy-headed
  • insomnia, early-morning awakening or oversleeping
  • loss of appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
  • restlessness, irritability
  • persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders and chronic pain
  • thoughts or talk of death or suicide; suicide attempts
  • thoughts or talk of self-harm or harm to others.

Depression treatment and support

Depression can be treated through a combination of medication, talk therapy and other treatment strategies worked by your health care professional at a depression treatment center. The right depression treatment is the one that works best for you.

Anti depression drug / Depression Medication

Anti depression drugs are medications used to relieve and cure depression. They are used to treat serious, continuing mental depression that interferes with a person's ability to function. These depression medications help reduce the extreme sadness, hopelessness and lack of interest in life that are typical in people with depression. All antidepressant drugs are effective, but certain types work best for certain kinds of depression. For example, people who are depressed and agitated do best when they take an antidepressant drug. Similarly, people who are depressed and withdrawn may benefit more from an antidepressant drug that has a stimulating effect.These depression medications having different chemical structures act on different chemicals in the brain in order to relieve depression and mental disorders. However, the same depression medication may not be effective for everyone. It is essential to work closely with a physician to determine which anti depression medication might be best for you. Sometimes this may involve trying more than one medication or a combination of medications. Never change your dosage or discontinue your medication without talking to your doctor. The list of medications provided here is just for information and does not replace your consultation with the physician. Some antidepressants prescribed by physicians include

  • Amoxapine
  • Bupropion
  • Clomipramine
  • Anafranil
  • Asendin
  • Effexor
  • Rapiflux
  • Wellbutrin
  • Zoloft
  • Zyban
  • Zoloft

Zoloft (Sertraline) is an anti depression drug indicated for the treatment of mental disorder. It improves a depressed person's mood. This medication is generally prescribed for people with an obsessive compulsive disorder, panic attacks, post-trauma stress or anxiety disorders. Zoloft works by increasing the activity of the chemical sertonin in the brain.

Depression treatment

Talk Therapy - Apart from medication, your health care professional at a depression treatment center may also suggest psychotherapy or talk therapy in order to relieve your mental disorder. Psychotherapy can be used alone or in combination with other treatments and depression medications. However talk therapy is well suited to treat cases of mild to moderate depression. People with severe forms of depression may not benefit from psychotherapy until their symptoms have been lifted through another means of treatment. Interpersonal, groups and family can provide depression help.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) - Electroconvulsive therapy is used to treat severe form of depression at a depression treatment center. When medications and psychotherapy fail to reduce symptoms, ECT can be an alternative treatment. ECT relieves depression through electrical stimulation to the brains. ECT is a painless form of depression treatment as muscle relaxants are administered to the anesthetized person to eliminate shaking.Deep Brain Stimulation - Deep brain stimulation therapy is used to help depression patients, who do not respond to psychotherapy or ECT. Deep brain stimulation is based upon the observation that a region of the brain called Brodmann area 25 is metabolically overactive in treatment-resistant depression. However, there are not enough studies to prove the effectiveness of this therapy.

Depression support groups

There are many depression support groups available both online and offline. Psychiatrists and psychologists of these centers help the depressed person through regular counseling. With the development in technology, there are also many online depression forums to help support the depressed one.

Source:TargetWoman

Beauty Fitness with Yoga


In the quest for a beautiful figure and overall fitness, Yoga is one of the most sought after technique that brings about increased fitness and flexibility levels. This holistic approach to fitness also addresses the spiritual and mental well being of a person. You can develop a calm and stress free mind in a fit body with yoga asanas and meditation practices. The principles of fitness with yoga are controlled breathing, postures or asanas and meditation. Bringing about control on your breathing rate calms the mind and relaxes the body. The yoga asanas tone the muscles, strengthen them and re-align the body. Yoga as a beauty fitness routine can fit into anyone's lifestyle. You can choose the yoga techniques that are suited for your individual needs - be it a child, factory worker, housewife, athlete or aged person.

Yoga and obesity
Abdominal fat is a common problem with most women. The fat in this region differs from the fat elsewhere in the body. There are more receptors for the stress hormone cortisol. This hormone levels rise and fall with varying situations but can remain at an elevated level if you are under constant stress. High cortisol levels can lead to increased fat deposition in the abdominal area. Yoga helps in tackling fat in the abdominal and other regions. It has also been known to influence eating disorders. By bringing a balance of emotions, you can be relieved of depression, anger and anxiety.A yoga regimen can help you rebuild energy, improve bone density and tackle disorders such as Anorexia. Beauty fitness with yoga is a reality since regular practice of yoga helps a woman remain agile and slim. Asanas such as Paschimotannasana, Sarvangasana, Halasana, Dhanurasana, Veerasana, Trikonasana and ArdhaMatsyendrasana can help you sculpt your body.

Yoga fitness regimen
Just by devoting about twenty minutes daily with yoga, you can improve your natural charms. The practice of yoga can help tremendously, especially during puberty, when the body is developing more quickly. Yoga helps in regulating glands that control the growth hormones. Adopting a fitness regimen with yoga can give you increased confidence, improved state of well being and a more shapely body. Yoga aids in improved cardiovascular health, toned muscles and increased flexibility.
With yoga you can achieve:
Improved balance
Strengthened and toned legs and hands
Firm and flat lower belly

Yoga and beauty
The improved blood circulation and hormone balance makes the inner physical system immaculate and the postures and various physical exercises of yoga provide shape to the external body. Yoga lends the skin a healthy glow by balancing the hormones and boosting the flow of oxygen-rich blood to our skin. This keeps the skin resilient and prevents dryness and excessive sagging. Yoga tones the facial muscles and also those in the neck. These asanas can also prove to be a boon for those in their mid forties whose skin has started to wrinkle, black circles have appeared around the eyes and the stomach has become flabby.
Source : Targetwoman

Recipe Sushi

With its rich coastline that offers many seafood options and rich plankton, it is but natural that sushi should be the logical food. Japanese sushi is catching on in popularity the world over. These dishes use sushi rice that has been seasoned with sweet vinegar. Sashimi or raw fish and rice are the principal ingredients of sushi. Look up information on sushi rolls and recipes to make vegetarian sushi. Our sushi calorie guide shows you how you can eat sushi and not let it show on your waistline. As they would say in Japanese Itadakimasu or Bon Appetit!

Japanese sushi

Japanese sushi dishes are those that use rice seasoned with sweet rice-wine vinegar. Raw fish, cooked fish, shellfish, avocado and many other vegetables are used in sushi dishes. Sushi began as a preservation technique for storing fish. The pressed rice sushi was slightly dried in the sun so the outside had a crunchy texture and the inside was soft and tasty. This was done with salt and rice - and this led to the creation of sushi dishes that are gaining in popularity the world over. Sushi dishes such as Chirashii-zushi, maki-zushi and inari-zushi are seen at Japanese celebration meals. Kaiten-zushi or sushi fast food is an inexpensive way to eat this traditional Japanese dish. Sushi plates are placed on a conveyor belt on a table or eating area.
Sushi has invaded American mealtime tables in a big way. With its low fat and health food appeal, it is little wonder that there are so many takers for Japanese sushi. While enjoying your sushi, do not dunk the pieces entirely into the sauce. The sauce is merely to add a touch of flavor. While sushi pieces in Japan are small, the American versions are larger.
Nigiri - This sushi dish consists of small rice balls with a range of topping options - fried egg, octopus, eel, squid, shrimp and tuna.Norimaki zushi - sushi rolls that come in a variety of fillings and thickness.Gunkan - These are small cups made of sushi rice and dried seaweed. Fillings range from sea urchins to fish eggs and other seafood.Temaki - Sushi rolls filled with rice, seafood and vegetables.Inari - Simple sushi recipe that involves sushi rice filed into tofu bags that have been deep-fried.
Do not confuse raw fish with sushi. Sashimi is fresh and raw fish that is elegantly served chilled and sliced. Flatfish such as seabream, tuna, cuttlefish and abalone are ideal for sashimi. Brighten up a sashimi dish with parsley, lettuce and raw vegetables. It is served with soy sauce and ponzu. Wasabi, red pepper and green onions are accompaniments for a sashimi.

Recipe sushi
Here is a list of essentials that you would need before you start making sushi:
Bamboo rolling mat (Makisu)
Cutting board
Sharp knife
Wooden spoon or spatula
Large wooden or glass bowl
Medium grain rice
Rice vinegar
Sugar
Nori Seaweed or soybean paper (for rolls)
Wasabi (Japanese horseradish mustard)
Gari (pickled, thinly sliced ginger)
Fish, seafood, and /or vegetables as desired, depending upon what type of sushi you plan to make Soy sauce

A recipe for sushi:
Take short or medium grained rice and wash till the starch is cleared. Cook for about 15 minutes. Spread and allow to cool. Combine vinegar with sugar and salt to make a sauce. Mix with rice after it has cooled and stir it in. This sushi rice is then used in the sushi rolls along with the toppings of your choice.

Calorie sushi:
A Japanese sushi meal is ideal for a light lunch or snack. Sushi dishes are low in fat and contain fewer calories. Typically a sushi dish contains 350 - 400 calories. While fish provides an excellent source of protein and omega 3 fatty acids, the seaweed is rich in iodine. Here is a list of the calorie content of various sushi dishes:
Sushi and Sashimi - 350
Shrimp Teriyaki - 350
Ebi-Sushi - 45
Sashimi (beef) - 125
Sashimi (squid) - 65

Roll sushi:
Sushi rolls (norimaki) are usually made of pieces of fish, crab or shrimp rolled with tempura pieces cooked to a crisp. Cucumbers and avocado also find their way into most sushi rolls. Rice sheets or seaweed are used for rolls. Seasonings for sushi are soy sauce and Wasabi (Japanese horseradish). Pickled ginger or gari is served with sushi. It provides the refreshingly different taste between bites of sushi rolls. Finger roll sushi is called Nigiri zushi. Raw tuna rolls are called Tekkamaki while cucumber rolls are called Kappamaki. Inari zushi is brown and sweetish on account of the deep fried tofu.

To make sushi rolls:

1. Place a sheet of nori on the bamboo mat.
2. Moisten your hands and put a couple of tablespoons of sushi rice in the center and spread it evenly.
3. Spread a streak of wasabi in the middle and add layers of fish and vegetables.
4. Fold the bamboo mat to enclose the filling within the nori. Shape it and seal the roll tightly.
5. Cut the roll seam side down into rounds using a sharp knife.

Recipe sushi vegetarianYou can combine any of these vegetables when you make sushi - cucumber, zucchini, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, carrots, daikon radish, asparagus, scallions, mushrooms, avocado and fresh spinach. Cook the rice sushi. Julienne the vegetable and steam them. Mix vinegar and brown sugar and mix with cooled rice. Follow the same recipe for sushi rolls using the vegetables. Smear wasabi paste over the rice layers.

Vegetarian sushi recipes make use of succulent fresh vegetables and tofu - rich in essential minerals and vitamins and low in fat. Making vegetarian sushi at home is not as difficult as you would imagine. You can whip up colorful sushi dishes - sweet brown rice contrasting well with the dark nori wraps and colorful vegetables. Other vegetarian options for sushi are watercress, radish sprouts, bell pepper and mashed yams. Stuffed with spinach or avocado and carrot and sprinkled with sesame seeds, sushi recipes can be tried out at home for a delicious and healthy meal. Serve the sushi vegetarian rolls with dipping sauce, pickled ginger and green tea.

Rice sushi:
Rice sushi is not to be made with long grain rice but short grained sticky rice. Rice for sushi must not be cooked very soft. You need about one cup of cooked rice for each sushi roll. Rice sushi tastes best when made with Japonica -type medium-grained rice. Cool the rice for the sushi and add vinegar. Don't smash the rice grains when you mix the vinegar though. Sushi vinegar recipe - Combine 2 tbsp sugar, 1/3 cup white vinegar, 11/2 tsp salt and a dash of MSG. Bring all ingredients to a boil.
Source: Targetwoman

Thursday, February 16, 2006

How to Spot A Fake Diamond

By: Glenn J Fournier

If you have even a passing interest in the topic of diamonds, then you should take a look at the following information. This enlightening article presents some of the latest news on the subject of diamonds.
In this world of advanced technology it is almost impossible to simply look at a diamond and determine whether it is real or not especially if you dont know much about diamonds. There are some steps that you can take to avoid buying a fake diamond,however.


First, only deal with reputable jewelers, and when you find a reputable jeweler, stick with them. Avoid buying diamonds or other jewelry from jewelers that you have never dealt with before in the past. Ask to see the certificate for the stone. If no certificate exists, walk away.

So far, we've uncovered some interesting facts about diamonds. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.
Look at the setting that the stone is in. Fake diamonds, such as zirconias, are usually set in low quality metals. Take a close look at the stone. Fake diamonds are not durable natural diamonds, on the other hand, are the most durable stone on the planet. Look for scratches or nicks.


After purchasing a diamond, take it to another jeweler for appraisal. In fact, take it to two or three other jewelers for an appraisal to make sure that the appraisals are all fairly close. If you find that you have purchased a fake diamond, you may be accused of making a switch when you return to the store of your purchase; therefore, it is important to have a certificate for the diamond. No two stones are alike.

As your knowledge about diamonds continues to grow, you will begin to see how diamond fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.

Article Source: Article Hub