Total Quality Means Having Your Act Together

October is "Quality" month and industry seems frantic to climb upon a bandwagon called Total Quality Management. It's an old idea dressed up as the new cure-all for the economic woes of small business.

I'm not against it -- it makes good sense -- concepts like: do it right the first time; make sure that everything your employees do is the best that can be done; get everyone in your organization providing top quality service; negotiate with your suppliers and talk with your customers to help you do this!

But what owner or manager would have ever planned or hoped for anything different? Have business gurus now realized that doing the job right is the secret of success? Get serious. The drive for quality is not new.

What's new is that the Japanese, once known for poor quality (at least in the 1950's and 60's) are now consistently producing top quality, while some leading North American organizations, once proud of their high quality work, can't seem to hit the mark. This affront to their egos leaves these organizations searching for the Japanese "secrets", forgetting that scores of North American and European companies have always provided top quality product and service and still do.

But if you operate a small- to medium-sized business, the issue isn't that you need to appreciate the importance of top quality from all your employees. To me that's a given. Of course you value quality and for most operators you know what that quality must be or you wouldn't be in the business.

Manufacturers know what top quality is for their products. Merchants know what top sales service should be. Restauranteurs fully understand quality in food preparation, presentation and service.

The real issue is, how do you get control over your organization so that you can ensure top quality happens all the time? And for many, this issue is a Catch 22, because if you haven't been able to control the quality of work in your business up to now, you can't expect things to suddenly be any different just because you launch a Total Quality Management campaign. Why should you suddenly be able to get everyone to do their jobs as you would like, if you weren't able to do that in the past?!!

The "secret" to getting quality is this: companies who have their acts together constantly produce the quality they want. Companies who don't have their acts together, can't. The difference between the two is a lot of hard work.

So, to control quality in your company start doing the following:

* Analyse why you weren't achieving consistent quality in the past and plug the holes. Could it have been, for example, that your standards and procedures for quality weren't clear, documented, communicated or enforced?

* Set quality standards at the level you really want for all jobs in the organization. Don't settle for second best quality anywhere, just because a few people object to doing their jobs the correct way or to being held accountable for their performance. Everyone can do his or her job the right way if you make it clear that's how the job has to be done! Extensive research has shown that employees in all industries perform much better when they know what's really expected of them. So don't be afraid of being precise and demanding.

* Systematize as much as possible. Make the capacity to achieve consistent high quality as system-dependent as possible -- rather than being dependent upon individual employees. Top quality has to become "the way things are done" and built into your organization.

* Enforce "quality" through a general management system which makes "quality" a condition of work and an integral part of all jobs. Your profits will improve dramatically if you prevent quality problems from happening through consistent adherence to quality standards, rather than trying to fix up quality mistakes after they've happened. Ensuring quality does not mean adding a few more quality inspectors!

* See that all your managers are themselves managed, from the top executives to the shop floor supervisors. If you don't, your attempt to implement a total quality focus will fail. In particular, make sure that all your managers are, in fact, coaching or giving direction to their employees the way you want it done.

* Set measurable performance standards for the way people are managed and then ensure it happens. Don't just presume it will. You've got to control your management before you'll ever control quality.

About The Author: President of The Mansis Development Corporation, Dr. Kent is a specialist in the structure and management of small and medium-sized organizations, and frequently serves as a personal coach and management consultant to executives for solving their management and employee performance problems. Before founding his consulting company, Bob held senior management and executive positions in federal and provincial government and private corporations. He has been a director of several health care and service organizations and a consulting member of private and government task forces in the areas of government finance, organization structure, personnel management and executive development. Since 1972 he has lectured in management at several Canadian and American universities in the faculties of Management, Administrative Studies, Medicine and Continuing Education where he has been an award winner for excellence in teaching and professional expertise; and he has published over 125 books and articles on management.

Article Source: managerwise.com

Three Reasons Coconut Oil can Help You Lose Weight

Sorting through fact and fiction when it comes to weight loss is a tough order, especially when fad diets spring to life and wither away all in the same season.

Many claims have been made about coconut oil and weight loss, but a number of whole food enthusiasts know this one is the real deal.

And that's because coconut oil is more than a weight loss aid: it's a well-documented health food. Take it from experts like Dr. Bruce Fife and Dr. Mary Enig, both of whom speak volumes about the merits of coconut oil, when they vouch for its credibility. Coconut oil really can help you lost weight, and here's three reasons why:

#1 Get a Metabolism Boost

Coconut oil is one of the most abundant sources of medium-chain fatty acids, and these nifty little triglycerides can work wonders for a sluggish metabolism. In a study that looked at the effect of medium-chain fatty acids on metabolism, it was found that these fats could increase the metabolic rate by up to 48 percent and for up to 24 hours. If your metabolism has been damaged by dieting or stress, a daily dose of coconut oil can do wonders for getting it back on the right track.

#2 Balance Your Blood Sugar

The profound effect coconut oil seems to have on the metabolism extends to insulin function as well. This may be because coconut oil can supply the body with energy similar to blood glucose, but without having a negative impact on blood sugar and insulin levels. Including coconut oil before or during a meal also lowers the glycemic impact of what you're eating, which prevents those dreaded blood sugar highs and lows.

#3 Cure Candida and Yeast Overgrowth

The beneficial fatty acids in coconut oil do more than speed up a lagging metabolism. Lauric acid and caprylic acid in coconut oil also protect against one of the hidden causes behind weight gain: candida and yeast. When an overgrowth of candida is present, weight loss can be almost impossible. Candida causes symptoms like fatigue, poor concentration, recurring infections related to yeast, excessive sinus infections, and much more. But the side effect that really hinders weight loss is cravings for sugar and carbohydrates. This is because yeast feeds off sugar (carbohydrates break down into sugar once in the body), so it causes cravings in order to support its own life.

Taking coconut oil to counteract yeast overgrowth is highly effective, but it should be done with care. Coconut oil is such a powerful remedy for candida that it can cause strong symptoms of headaches, chills, and foggy thinking as the yeast dies off. This can be reduced by slowly incorporating coconut oil into your diet, starting with as little as one teaspoon daily.

More Than Just a Fad

Coconut oil didn't spring to life in the last few years, although it may seem that way. The truth is that coconut has been a healing superfood for centuries in tropical cultures. These people value coconut and its derivatives for their tremendous medicinal power - and they are remarkably healthy as a result. Even in Western society, coconut oil found widely popular uses until the middle of the 20th century, when coconut oil's reputation took a bashing from researchers who examined the health impact of hydrogenated coconut oil - basically the evil twin of the real thing. But thanks to experts who are willing to give a genuine look into coconut oil's benefits, we now can be assured that this oil is a bonafide health food.

Tips for Taking Coconut Oil:

- Don't settle for the cheap brands found next to shortening on grocery store shelves. Much of this coconut oil is hydrogenated, which negates all of its benefits. In addition, this is commercially-processed coconut oil that has been stripped of its natural properties. The best type of coconut oil is the extra-virgin unrefined variety, which will retain its light aroma and taste in addition to its amazing health benefits.

- Even if you don't suspect candida, it's still wise to introduce coconut oil into your diet slowly. The body can react strangely when it's unfamiliar with such a nutritious food. Start with about one teaspoon once per day, and gradually increase to at least three tablespoons daily. This amount will help you reap the maximum benefits from this incredible tropical superfood.

About the author:
Elizabeth Walling is a freelance writer specializing in health and family nutrition. She is a strong believer in natural living as a way to improve health and prevent modern disease. To learn more about nourishing foods, stop by Elizabeth's blog, which explores topics like healing with traditional nutrient-dense foods, lacto-fermentation, raw milk, natural living and much, much more. www.livingthenourishedlife.com

Arrticle Source: naturalnews.com

Facial Care: Tips For A Healthy & Glowing Face

Never take your skin for granted. Everyone of us should take care of atleast basic needs of skin. Skin should be kept clean & protected from sunlight. Since, the skin of the face needs even more care than the rest of the body,

it is important to give extra attention to it. Believe it or not, giving only 5 to 15 minutes a day to your face can help enhance your overall personality!

The face has more oil glands, especially the central forehead, adjacent to eye areas, nose & chin. For a flawless & glowing facial skin, One should perform a brief morning regimen & a longer regimen before going to bed. Follow following morning & evening facial care regimen for better results:

Morning Facial Care
Step 1 - Clean your face with luke-warm water, every morning. Avoid bar soap. Instead use a creamy cleanser or purifying gel wash.
Step 2 - Blot gently with a towel to dry the skin. Do not rub.
Step 3 - To restore the natural pH level of the skin, you should tone the skin on the face. Toning makes your skin clean, clear & ready to be hydrated. Remember, toning also helps remove any residual cleanser or make-up that may have been left behind.
Step 4 - Apply a moisturizer which suits to your skin type. A moisturizer helps smooth away fine lines & dryness leaving your skin feeling softer & smoother. Now, you can apply a sunscreen on top of the moisturizer.
Step 5 - You are now ready to wear your makeup. Match foundation with your skin tone & ensure it looks natural.

Evening Facial Care
Step 1 - Similar to the morning regimen, start your evening regimen, too, by cleaning your face with luke-warm water with a creamy cleanser or purifying gel wash. Washing your face with these skin cleansers will remove your make-up.
Step 2 - Next, apply toner using a cotton pad. Exfoliate before face dry. Exfoliating helps in removing dead skin cells. It also brightens the skin & give healthy glow to your face. Massage gently & rinse well.
Step 3 - Finally, apply a moisturizer to your face, which is specified for your skin type. A firming eye cream should also be used around the eye area. Important: Since, skin needs to breathe over night,never go to bed with your make-up on. Make-up that is left on overnight clogs the pores & prevents the skin cells from shedding, which may cause blemishes &/or blackheads.

More Tips for Facial Care
- Drink lots of water.
- Wash your face at least twice a day.
- Don't smoke.
- Consume alcoholic beverages in moderation.
- Do facial exercises & get facials.
- Eat plenty of fruits & vegetables.
- Steam yourself. It's not only good for the skin but also reduces stress.
- Never scrub your skin. Gently massage it.
- Take adequate sleep.
- Exercise.

Source: lasscosmetics.com

Banana Medicine

How fruits and vegetables can be turned into edible vaccines.

Think about it - the ideal vaccine: needle-free and it includes one of your five-a-day.

But what are the motivations for edible vaccines, and could they one day become standard practise?

GM controversy

Consumers everywhere are clamouring for natural foods free from genetic modification (GM), but what about a GM potato that could save your life? Altering the properties of crops is not a new phenomenon. Our ancestors chose the best crops with the best yields to breed the "super crops" which we rely on for foods today but now biotech companies are taking things a step further by using genetic modification (manipulating the genetic make-up of a plant) to short-circuit the breeding process and add desirable traits that can even turn plants into "vaccine factories".

Several approaches have been taken. In some cases the DNA sequences encoding antibodies (a molecule which is able to recognise a disease-causing agent) have been inserted into the genomes of plants, enabling the plants to produce the antibodies in their cells. These can then be harvested and purified for therapeutic use, or even just consumed alongside the rest of the plant, releasing the antibodies in the process.

Dirt Cheap

In 2002 it was estimated that as little as $0.005 could grow enough antigen for one dose of hepatitis B vaccine in an unprocessed form. Such cheapness would benefit vaccine programmes for rarer diseases or diseases which are not so financially rewarding for pharmaceutical companies (i.e. diseases which do not affect developed countries). There is also the potential to "grow" several vaccines simultaneously, producing the edible plant-equivalent of MMR, the combined measles, mumps and rubella jab.

There are other advantages too. Oral vaccines have the benefit of providing what is termed "mucosal immunity". This is the means by which the immune system defends sites such as the mouth, eyes, intestines and urogenital tract, usually through the production of secreted IgA antibodies. Some needle-administered vaccines produce only very weak protection at these sites, so this can be a major attraction.

Mass production is another bonus of oral vaccines - if we run out, we can simply plant more. The efficiency of these crops is also very high. According to Arizona State University researchers Charles Arntzen and Richard Mahoney "enough hepatitis B antigen to vaccinate all [the] babies in the world each year could be grown on roughly 200 acres of land". Plant-derived vaccines also have no requirements for energy-hungry refrigerators, the provision and maintenance of which can also hamper vaccination efforts in developing countries.

Feed the world

Undeniably, parts of the third world could use a cheap vaccine. Many thousands of children will die before their 5th birthday due to hunger and disease. Already some GM food crops are being trialled in these countries, modified in such a way to deal with difficult conditions such as drought. An oral vaccine given in these countries would not only protect the individual, but would also guarantee some form of nutrition for these infants. Importantly, such oral vaccines do not require refrigeration, cutting down on high distribution costs incurred by other vaccines. It also enables the vaccine to be carried safely to rural areas with limited access.

The lack of needles is not only important for the needle phobic. Needle administered vaccines are plagued with problems of re-use, mis-use and an occasional lack of sterilisation. With oral vaccines, infection risks would be very small. Giving an oral vaccine would require little or no training at all, which reduces the significant cost of vaccination programmes which require trained professionals.

Vaccines on a plate?

Before you get your recipe book out, there is a small restriction to the use of these truly ‘super-foods’. Antibodies are sensitive to temperature, and so the material would have to be eaten raw. Dr Julian Marr (one of the leading scientists in this field) produces his vaccine against oral bacteria in a potato- one that must not be cooked! However, this crunchy vegetable is not the only option; there are potential vaccine candidates in bananas, maize, tomato and tobacco plants.

Another problem is ensuring the vaccine survives the digestive processes of the gut. One possible method would be to use attenuated (i.e. rendered harmless) strains of gut bacteria such as Salmonella. However, as with any attenuated organism, this could carry some risk. An alternative method would be to encapsulate the antibodies so that they are protected from the digestive chemicals in the gut. One option would be to naturally encapsulate the antibody within seeds- which are slowly digested.

One aspect that biotechnology companies would also need to consider would be how effective these vaccines actually are. Currently, most experimental vaccines do not provide adequate protection with just one dose, and biotech companies are looking at ways to boost this immune response. The immune response could be increased by adding an adjuvant (i.e. another chemical which boots the immune response).

The forbidden fruit?

However, these wonder-plants are not without their critics. Dr. Joe Cummins, Emeritus Professor of Genetics at the University of Western Ontario warns against the problem of horizontal gene transfer (where genes can transfer from one species to another) in these plants. Could we end up making the problem worse or cause resistance to the vaccine? "People subject to persistent exposure to the [HPV] crop vaccine are likely to develop oral tolerance, rendering them susceptible to virus infection," he says.

Progress in developing the vaccine has also been slow with many biotech companies holding back due to doubts over whether they will achieve a significant return and concerns over the regulatory process and licensing. In addition, there is, at best, limited human clinical trial data, which will be needed establish the correct dosage, timing and possible side effects of these vaccines.

Not quite 5-a-day?

So what does the future hold for the vaccine that doubles as a snack? Certainly the day when we all reach for a mouthful of a fruity lifesaver is probably still some way off, but the initial research has provided a tantalising taste of the potential of this technology. Could you be getting your next vaccine in the fruit and veg aisle at Tesco’s? Watch this space.

About the Author

Harriet Dickinson is currently studying for a biosciences PhD at the University of Cambridge having done her undergraduate degree at Oxford. She specialises in infectious diseases (especially the scary ones), and spends most of her time in the lab pipetting. When she does manage finally to escape the lab, she takes vents her scientific frustrations as the captain of the "cutthroats" – a Cambridge University ladies’ fencing team - and also by doing taekwondo.

Article Source : thenakedscientists.com

How To Find The Female Hair Loss Treatment That Is Right For You

No one likes losing their hair and this is especially true for women.

When you think of hair loss most people think of men, but women do suffer from hair loss as well.

It can be difficult for a woman to go through losing her hair and do something to treat the condition is important. This article will tell you how to find the female hair loss treatment that is right for you!

The first thing you must do is understand why you are losing your hair in the first place. It is easier to treat hair loss when you know why you are losing your hair. Many medical conditions are some of the leading causes of hair loss in women.

You need to go to your doctor and talk to them about your hair loss. In some cases you may have a greater undiagnosed medical condition such as Diabetes that is causing you to lose your hair. Going to your doctor will help you better understand why you are losing your hair so you can begin treating the problem.

While talking to your doctor you should ask them if the prescription medicine you are taking could be causing the loss of hair. Some of the side effects of prescription medicine are hair loss. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you if the medicine you are taking could be causing your hair loss.

Next, you need to understand the two major types of hair loss in women. The first is androgenetic alopecia. This is a genetic condition where the hormone dihydrotestosterone is causing hair follicles to shrink and hair stops growing on them. The second is alopecia areata. This is an immune disease that affects many women around the world.

Now, what are your treatment options? If you suffer from androgenetic alopecia it is best to talk to your doctor and they can recommend prescription medicine that will help. If you suffer from alopecia areata you need to talk to your doctor because there are a variety of different medical options and variables like age and the extent of your hair loss come in to play.

You may not even need to treat your hair loss at all. Pregnancy, stress, and surgery can cause temporary hair loss in women and will usually reverse themselves over time. It does not matter what hair loss you are suffering from or what treatment you need, going to your doctor is the best thing you can do!

Hair loss can be embarrassing for many people, especially women. Follow the information provide in this article on how to find the female hair loss treatment that is right for you and you can be on your way to treating your hair loss in no time!

If you enjoyed this article by Jeff Schuman on hair loss please visit our Denver hair loss solutions website today. We help people with Denver hair loss services using Micro Point Link work. This involves taking one strand of a customer’s real hair and knotting four synthetic hairs (Cyberhair) to the real hair. http://www.DenverHairLossSolutions.com

Article Source: ranamarketing.com

How To Choose Low Fat Frozen Foods

You always want the best in life, particularly with what you ingest every single day of your existence. You prefer having fresh ingredients for your daily treats but your busy schedule won’t allow you to cook up smoking gourmet foods off the stove.

But having the drive to be the best doesn’t mean you have to compromise the nutritive values of your food. There are high quality low fat frozen foods scattered all over the market waiting for you. Take a look at how you can pick the right stuff.

1. Here’s a little bit of appetizer. The method of freezing food dates back to the earliest times of farmers, fisher folks, and hunters. They used unheated buildings to house their harvest during the winter. This technique turns water into ice thus preventing bacterial growth that contributes to the decomposition of food. Clarence Birdseye is an American inventor responsible for developing the quick-freeze system. His design has faced countless innovations through the years including the addition of liquid nitrogen.

2. Watch out. In general frozen foods were created to provide a healthy alternative for people who are always on the move but you have to realize that not all of them were manufactured under the same conditions and processes. You have to look out for those that contain preservatives. Take extra time in marking sodium and fat contents. The American Heart Association recommends that you limit your sodium intake to around 2,400 milligrams per day, which means that you should choose frozen preparations that have 200 milligrams of sodium for every hundred calories. There are products that you will find containing too much grease when you compare fat in grams with total calorie. Daily fat intake should be less than thirty percent of daily calorie count.

3. Make sure you get it complete. There are low fat dinners that contain 250 to 300 calories so if you consider this meal as a third of what you have to get for a single day it’s less than 1,000 calories. This is not even sufficient to provide the energy needs of an individual under a weight reduction program. The ideal number to hit in terms of calories is 300. This would give you enough strength to overcome temptations of heating up a round of high-calorie snack on the latter portion of your day.

4. Veggies should not be taken for granted. A significant kink on a frozen product’s armor is the small space allotted for vegetables and fruits. Even though you’re pretty much sure that your reliable frozen food brand can provide the needed greenery you can still pump up the vitamins and minerals in your meal by reserving a spot for salad or steamed veggie on your plate.

5. Take your time and read. When buying frozen food products you have to meticulously scrutinize the label area. There are government mandated nutritional labels that can give you gem-like information regarding the product you’re about to ingest. This includes portion size, number of calories, amount of sodium, and number of fat in grams. You have to give extra attention to portion size as there are products that are packed to dish out two servings. This is particularly important when you desire to trim those pounds and inches.

The frozen food industry has widened its network. It can match the demand of any diet. From low fat to vegetarian you’re assured that your daily nutritive needs are taken cared of.

Author: atherine Watson
Article Source: howtodothings.com

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What you should expect in a Hospital Birth

Individuals expecting a baby for the first time generally question what a hospital birth is going for getting like for them.

Nevertheless few ladies give birth at home, that number is going up. Often, women nevertheless mainly decide on to opt for a hospital setting to provide birth.

If you might have any sort of complications or you happen to be considered higher chance, this can be the very best alternative for you. Otherwise, explore your alternatives. Should you opt for the hospital, you may discover it is not like you see on tv or in the motion pictures. Actually, it can be generally far from it.

You'll find planning for staying lots of strangers close to you if you go for your hospital birth. You have already chosen who you would like to get with you whenever you give birth like your husband or wife, mom, friend, or sister, and you know your doctor. Even so, you'll find intending for being other men and women present for at the very least some aspect of your hospital birth.

In case you decide on to obtain an epidural for discomfort relief, someone will probably be there especially to administer that for you and are going to be back time and time again to check on you. That is certainly just the starting.

You'll also have one nurse for the hospital birth, but some instances, you may possibly have two nurses. They may possibly transform as well, as shift modifications will bring new nurses. If that you are in labor for very a whilst, you may well see many diverse nurses.

Other hospital employees may well come and go as well. If you might be offering birth to some preemie, you've got to add additional doctors and nurses from your NICU that may be there waiting to care for the baby, and perhaps nevertheless another nurse to aid.

As you possibly can imagine, you could have to leave your modesty along at the door if you go for a hospital birth. You might perhaps be concerned about getting your legs shaved or even if you've got showered recently, but individuals issues will be the furthest issues out of your thoughts while you happen to be in labor.

A variety of strangers are going currently being searching at you and components of one's body that you simply usually keep to yourself in a hospital birth. This may well irk you somewhat, but you can also forget about that as well. The only point you may be concentrating on is managing your pain and supplying birth for your baby. It really is absolutely nothing new to them.

A hospital birth and almost every other birth is much messier than you think. Fluids go everywhere. It is not as clean cut as you may well have observed on television. You may even wet yourself or possess a bowel movements. Don't be embarrassed by this, as they are expecting you to do it. They may possibly even let you know when it is going to happen from their personal expertise.

It really is all aspect of providing birth. If you want to have some control over any of these components of the hospital birth or something else, possess a program in place with your doctor just before your due date. You definitely will likely not have time to worry about it once the celebration starts. Just remember, in some cases, you will not have much manage if complications arise and you will just have to go with the flow.

Author: kayla
Article Source: articlealley.com

The Amazing Cucumber

This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home"

series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explorers for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finished a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside o f the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

Muscle Building Secrets

Weight Training Routine Tips for Explosive Muscle Mass Growth

Muscle building secrets do exist.They aren't really secrets but they get lost in all the misinformation available on building muscle mass so most bodybuilders either forget about them or never learned them in the first place.

If muscle building is your current goal with your bodybuilding program you'll want to pay attention to these muscle building secrets.

You want to be able to train each body part with as much resistance as possible, with the basic exercises, and with a high level of intensity.

When it comes to building muscle mass, the longer you've been weight training, the more muscle mass you've built and the stronger you are, the more rest and recovery time you are going to need.

When you're just starting out and trying to build muscle mass you can train more often. With your lack of strength relative to more advanced bodybuilders, your body doesn't need as much time to recover from each workout.

All things being equal when trying to build muscle, it takes a pair of muscular legs a lot longer to recover from a workout of high intensity squatting with 450 pounds than a workout of squatting with 135 pounds.

This is why you see more advanced bodybuilders training each body part only once every five, six or seven days, depending on their training split, training volume, and intensity levels.

Getting back to the muscle building tips as far as your routine goes you want to target the following

• Basic Exercises

• Sets of 8 to 12 reps

• Low Training Volume (3 - 6 working sets per body part

• Train Intensely - take most work sets to positive failure

• Recover - this one is crucial and is the most overlooked component of building muscle mass

So what are these basic exercises?

• Squats or Leg Presses

• Barbell or Dumbbell Bench Presses

• Barbell or Dumbbell Shoudler Presses and Dumbbell Upright Rows

• Barbell and Dumbbell Curls

• Dips and Lying Tricep Extensions

• Standing Calf Raises

• Deadlifts and Pull Ups

Stick with those basic exercises for 3 to 6 high intensity sets, get some quality nutrition, lots of protein, get enough rest and you'll start seeing some explosive muscle building for your efforts.

Let's take a look at a solid training split for an intermediate bodybuilder that would fit with this routine and help you build muscle quickly.

A solid training split is one of the key muscle building secrets. Without it you're guaranteed to over train and build little, if any, muscle mass.

• Chest and Delt

• Legs and Abs

• Rest

• Back

• Rest

• Arms

• Rest

Depending on such muscle growth factors as recovery ability genetics, strength, training volume and intensity, you may be getting too much recovery on a routine like this and will need to adjust accordingly. Maybe you only need 5 days of rest between body parts.

Your body is always in flux and the variables are always changing. While the muscle building secrets and principles are solid, you always need to make tweaks to a given routine so that it works best for you.

Article Source : buildleanmuscle.com

Ending the Struggle with Depression

Medical experts claim that one of the many ingredients to a healthy lifestyle is to be happy.

A person who is free from negative vibes and thoughts are the ones who rarely get depressed and stressed out.

Although it is normal for anyone to experience depression at some point in his or her life, extreme condition of anxiety depression may be detrimental to a person's perspective and approach towards life.

As defined in medical terminology, manic depression is a psychological condition that changes how a person thinks and feels in a negative way. This condition is far from the aspect of just being sad, moody, or unhappy. Serious cases of depression, when not consulted, can eventually affect a person's behavior and sense of well-being.

Generally, a person who is beginning to experience or develop a serious case of depression shows or exhibits symptoms that basically prove that they have problems. Normally, some people do not want to admit that they are suffering from manic depression. However, they later on realized that their condition requires immediate medical attention.

The most common anxiety depression symptom is the frequent loss or lack of appetite. Some also report sleep problems as well as a negative perception or regard to almost everything around them. As cases of depression continue to increase each year, it is essential for every sufferer to be aware of the treatments that are available for them.

The following are effective treatments that can totally free an individual from depression:

1. Support and love from family and friends.

Suffering from extreme case of depression is hard for a person who doesn't have a close relative or friend to confide with. Once the condition is confirmed, it is best to seek help and support from a person who will understand and assist you through this said illness. Having someone listen to your problems, thoughts, and worries is surely one of the most recommended natural treatments of most doctors.

2. Effective and prescribed anti-depression medication.

Anti-depression medications are widely available in the worldwide market today. However, it is important not to take any medicine that is not recommended or prescribed by a doctor. Remember that there are some medications that can give adverse side-effects when not taken correctly as prescribed by a doctor.

3. Meditation and exercise.

It is proven in a number of studies that meditation and exercise have beneficial effects on depression. When a person undergoes a meditation treatment, he or she experiences complete relaxation, thus, helping him or her to view troubles and worries in a more positive way. On the other hand, exercise is a perfect treatment to help one's body and mind more focused.

4. Natural foods

Apart from taking prescribed medications by doctors, eating natural foods is also known to be an effective natural treatment for depression. Examples of natural foods are asparagus, cardamom, cashew nut, and lemon balm. These natural goodies help bring down the acidity level in the body, thus, keeping the mind relaxed and calm.

Author : Dane Pearson

Article Source : a1articles.com

Diabetes And Strength Training!

Diabetes is a chronic life disease which has affected people all over the world.

It's more important in view of the fact that the incidence and prevalence of Diabetes is increasing in endemic proportions and in another 10 years the number of diabetic patients in world will just be double.

It has affected my life too as both my parents are diabetics as are millions of other persons. However still, regular exercise combined with good nutrition can help in controlling Diabetes to a great extent. I'm specifically writing this article to give tips to the diabetics on how to improve their fitness after a lot of research I have done on the net.

Strength Training

Strength training when done correctly has been shown to provide a safe and effective way to control blood glucose, increase strength, and improve the quality of life in individuals with diabetes.

Strength training (in the form of weight lifting) is also an effective form of exercise for the vast majority of diabetic patients. It helps improve muscle tone and in some cases increases muscle size. Larger muscles burn more calories even when you are resting, therefore regular resistance training can help lose fat and control blood glucose 24 hours a day. It may also help reduce the risk of heart disease. Before starting any weight lifting routine see your doctor as lifting weights for some diabetics may worsen their diabetic complications.

Caution!

DO NOT do strength training if you have type 1 diabetes and your blood glucose level is greater than 250mg/dl or if you have high levels of ketones in your urine. High urinary ketones means that your insulin is too low and your body is breaking down fats for fuel. Don't exercise until you've got your glucose down near normal and your ketones down to just traces.

And please, Don't do resistance training with either type of diabetes if your blood glucose is greater than 300mg/dl.

How Hard To Exercise

The intensity at which you should start exercising, depends on your physical condition, age and previous exercise background. What is light exercise to one individual, may be hard for another.

Therefore your starting level will depend on your exercise background, physical status and the duration of the exercise to be performed.

There are several ways to monitor how hard you are exercising. One is to work between 60 - 80% of your heart rate. For those people who are starting back into exercise after a very long time, levels of 40 - 60% may be recommended until fitness improves.

Strength Training Guidelines for People With Diabetes

Number of sets and repetitions. 1-2 sets per exercise is a good starting point for you. Repetitions can be established in the same manner as you would for an individual without diabetes. Base your individual goals on your exercise tolerance. In general, use lower repetitions/higher resistance for strength and higher repetitions/lower resistance for endurance.

Rest time between sets. Using 30-60 seconds for the rest period is appropriate in most situations. With greater intensity bouts a slightly longer (up to 2 minutes) rest period may be necessary.

Frequency of strength training. Having strength train at least two days per week is appropriate in order to see beneficial results from the type of exercise.

Duration of Your Workout

If you are just starting or returning to exercise after a long time off you should begin by slowly building up to a target of around 30 - 60 minutes per exercise session. Always make sure that you do enough warm up for around 5 minutes, this includes stretching taking deep breaths.

A good way to start back into physical activity is by increasing your general every day activity.

For example:
Taking the stairs instead of the elevator at the office.
Regular morning walks for 30 minutes at a brisk pace.

Clinical Considerations Regarding Weight Training for Diabetics

Some considerations regarding exercise prescription involve lessening the risks involved with exercising people with diabetes. In cases where you have cardiovascular problems and high blood pressure, you need to consult your physician before progressing. Also, use lighter weights , as they will not increase blood pressure as much as the higher loads. It is also important to attempt to minimize the risk of you developing hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) during exercise. Regular meals such as eating 2 hours before exercise, having a light meal just before exercise, checking your blood glucose before and during exercising, and knowing the warning signs of hypoglycemia will help exercise tolerance. Knowing when to stop exercise and seek emergency care is a point that cannot be overstated. You should consult your dietitian on what foods are appropriate to eat before, during, and after workout. Also follow general exercise guidelines such as proper warming up and cool-down, safe footwear, adequate hydration, and avoid exercising in extreme conditions.

THE DO's Regarding Strength Training.

• Try to get into a good routine by exercising at the same time each day whether this be in the morning or afternoon, evening or maybe midnight!

• Take special care of your feet. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes.

• Get a workout partner in the gymnasium. This will help motivate you and protect you in case an emergency situation should develop.

• Drink plenty of water and other fluids before, during and after activity. By the time you're aware of being thirsty you're already significantly dehydrated.

• Be sure to carry identification including diabetes medical identification.

• Forget "no pain, no gain" on this one. If something hurts or you feel to hard to do a particular exercise immediately stop that. It's no fun to workout in pain and doing so risks injury.

• Forget intensity here. Focus on regularity. Slow and steady wins the race to fitness and better health for diabetics. Workout everyday with light workloads for best results.

I hope after reading this article you will certainly make an effort to improve fitness through strength training and be able to prevent any future complications. Diabetes is no curse. You must learn how to live with it and still enjoy this wonderful world while having a healthy lifestyle.

Author : Rockie S.

Article Source : teenbodybuilding.com

Life Happiness Is Depends On Your Life Goal

There are a lot of books talking about how to be happy. It seems like everybody is looking for happiness.

Somebody reads a lot of books just to look for happiness in their life. It is hardly to find a book which relates your happiness with your life goal.

Somebody does not know which education course is good for them. Somebody does not know which shirt or dress to choose. Somebody even does not know what to choose for lunch. Somebody likes to ask for other opinion on their own problem. And their life keeps repeating all these kind of things without thinking of solving them. Why people feel difficult to make a simple decision? People thought that this suppose to be a life for an ordinary human being?

Life is actually very simple. It is all depends on your life goal. If you don’t have a life goal or not clear about your life goal, your life will be not simple anymore, always facing some difficulties and unhappy things. If you don’t know which course is suitable for you, you are not clear about your life goal. If you ask for advice( not referring to knowledge ) from others on your own life, you are not clear about your life goal.

I strongly believe that, when you don’t know which shirt should be worn today, you should ask yourselves what is your life goal. When you feel angry with somebody, you should ask yourselves what is your life goal. When you worry about what will be your examination result, you should ask yourselves what is your life goal. We should be responsible on our own emotion. If you think you are in some kind of emotion which you don’t like, then you should ask yourselves what is wrong with you. Your life goal is not OK? Or even worst, you don’t have one clear goal.

Why we may allow one same problem to be happened again? Why don’t we try to solve it once for our life? We thought problem is normal for an ordinary human being? We thought life suppose to be filled by many unhappy events/things? We seems like not responsible on our emotion.

If we have set up our life goal, we should be responsible on all the consequences of it, including our emotion. If we can’t accept such consequences, then we suppose to adjust the goal. The goal could makes our life full of excitement. The goal could makes us always in trouble. The goal could makes our life simple and happy. What kind of life you want all depends on your goal. Please don’t blaim that unhappy is normal for human being. Asking for advice for our own life is really ridiculous. How people may helps if people does not know about your life goal and only you are clear about your own life goal. Somebody even supplies advice base on their own life goal, instead of yours. They thought if they solve the problem using this way you should also use the same way.

Let say you are going to select an education course for your university, and there are course A and course B infront of you. Please ask yourselves, if you choose course A, are you going towards your goal? If you choose course B, are you going towards your goal? If both courses allowing you to achieve your goal, then simply choose one. If only course A allowing you to achieve your goal, then choose course A. If both courses are not allowing you to achieve your goal, then looks for the course which allows you to achieve your goal. What is so difficult? The difficult part is, if we don’t have a life goal. If so, nobody can helps you. You can’t ask somebody on how to solve your problem.

The existence of the problem is coming from you. It is not coming from the environment. Of course there are a lot of people solving the course problem through another method. They try to find out which course is more popular or which course may makes them earn more money in future. These kind of consideration is no longer coming from yourselves( internal factor ). It is an external factor. If you got a wrong information, found it after joining the course and feel angry on it, what is the cause of your anger? It is caused by yourselves, not caused by the person who gave you the information. At the time you use this kind of method in choosing your course, you should be aware of this kind of risk and accept all the consequences.

Happiness is a personal thing. So in doing whatever job, making whartever decision, we should do it ourselves and not letting other to do it for us. We have to make the decision base on what we want for our life. We can’t( just my suggestion ) let other to decide our happiness. If you allow other to decide it for you, then you have to accept the consequences and be happy with whatever you will be facing. It is hardly to find a person who let other to control their life and still feel very happy on their life.

The main factor to differentiate adults with kids is, adults could take responsibility and knowing very well about the consequences but kids could not. If we look around, we may find a lot of people with an adult body who can’t take responsibility and don’t know or don’t care about the consequences. Especially of they can’t responsible on their own emotion. Our emotion is actually the result of our choice.

Our life goal is our choice. We should think deeply to find a best goal for ourselves. We are having 100% of the power to choose our own life goal base on our interest and what we want for our life. After decided the goal, we live according to our goal. Whatever happened after that are affecting our emotion. So the emotion is the result of our life goal. The emotion is the result of our own choice.

About Author : This article is written by composer of http://www.doublemelodies.com who is also a credit card system consultant for a local bank. Please visit http://www.doublemelodies.com/PublishedArticles.html for other composer?s articles.n

Article Source : 1888articles.com

Wash the Mind Through Meditation

As the physical body is washed with water, Washed mind is through meditation.

Urinated as the child's clothing is purified by applying soapy water, impurities in the mind are eliminated by the application of meditation in the mind

Physical body is an extension of the subtle mind, which is consciousness and reflection. The physical body is merely acting on the orders of consciousness as fate or the idea of knowledge through thought process of mind.

Consciousness acts in the spirit with the eternal spiritual inner knowledge that are unrelated to any form and language spoken in the world. Thoughts processes in mind also acts with subtle thought forms of scholarly knowledge and language. Thoughts to process the subtle mind can not act at the same time as eternal spiritual inside knowledge of consciousness and thought forms of knowledge and learned the language of civilization.

While acting with various evil desires, attachments and hatreds and fears with knowledge of forms of thought and language, the subtle thought process become unclean. The unclean thought process is a source of stress and sadness to the mind and disease in the physical body. The unclean thought process can be washed with spiritual meditation as we wash physical body with water.

Working knowledge with the thought of pure mind or inside knowledge of the eternal spiritual consciousness is always pleasant, even in the worst situation of the physical body. Physical body is an extension of the subtle mind. It is simply the record of the subtle mind to be connected with the physical world. All actions of the physical body are controlled by actions of the thought processes of the subtle mind. Shares of the thought processes of the subtle mind. can be controlled by actions of the physical body.

Physical Life is an extension of the subtle mind, which is consciousness and reflection. Physical life is merely acting under the orders of consciousness as the fate or the idea of knowledge through the thought process of mind. Acts of conscience in the spirit with the eternal inner spiritual knowledge are free from any form and language spoken in the world. The processes of thought in the mind also acts with subtle thought forms of academic knowledge and language. Thoughts to mind subtle process can not act at the same time, as eternal spiritual knowledge and awareness within the thought forms of knowledge and learned the language of civilization.

While acting with various evil desires, attachments and hatreds and fears with knowledge of the forms of thought and language, the subtle thought process become impure. The thought process is a dirty source of stress and sadness to the mind and disease in the physical body. The impure thought process can be washed with spiritual meditation like physical body is washed with water.

Working knowledge with the thought of the pure mind or knowledge in the eternal spiritual consciousness is always welcome, even in the worst of the physical body. Physical body is an extension of the subtle mind. It is simply to register the subtle mind to be connected with the physical world. All actions of the physical body are controlled by the actions of the thought processes of the subtle mind. Shares of the thought processes of the subtle mind. can be controlled by the actions of the physical body.

Speaking for the life of the organism depends on the order in mind. Without having thought in mind, the physical acts are not considered. The living body, just follow the orders of the thought process in mind. The power of the life of the body can not create ideas to speak at the thought processes of the subtle mind.

The silencing of the life of the organism depends on the order of thought to the subtle mind. Without thinking silently in the mind subtle physical acts can not be silent..

Physical body is just following the orders of thought to the subtle mind to be silent. The power of the life of the body can not create silence in the mind of the subtle mind. It requires something in the life of the organism depends on the order of thought to the subtle mind. Without thinking to demand something in mind subtle physical acts asks nothing. Power of the Physical body can create an application or something in the thoughts of the subtle mind..

Power of Physical life can not prolong life or to kill. Physical life became a long-lived or died on the order of consciousness in the subtle mind. Power of the material life can not silence the idea of wealth in the spirit of life. The idea of wealth in the mind is created by the awareness that the fate of the moment. physical body has no direct connection to consciousness in the subtle mind. Get all the connection process through the thought in mind. Before the physical life, supporting the birth of the thought process in mind. Thought processes persist for some time, even in the lives of dead bodies.

Power of the material life can not follow the orders of knowledge without wisdom or the Interior in mind. Power of the material life can not continue at the same time the spiritual knowledge of the inner voice of conscience and thought forms of knowledge and understanding of language thought process in mind. Power of the material life under command of the unconscious in the intuitive mind. Power of the material life can not acquire the skills needed to escape the world. All actions of material life, just follow the orders of the mind in the consciousness of life, called life karma, which is happiness in all types and stages of life.

All our happiness in the mind and physical stress in life is still worrying is due to the creation of impurity in thought processes and do not wash.

Who said that the material power of life to achieve this in the hands of a living body, sees his own saturation. There is a higher class and lower-class types of physical body. Upper class and lower class are related to the thoughts of humans. He said Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion and venerated by Hindus and Muslims.

Author's Bio
GS Virk is fully dedicated to the practice and experience of spirituality and nothing else.
Has personal meditation retreat for spiritual practice and spiritual experience, known as Heavenly Gardens - organization nonprofit. He likes spiritual paintings and sculptures and larger spiritual life of God in their gardens, and everything that is on display at the website. For now, GS Virk has studied yoga, meditation and spirituality on the basis of Patanjali, Guru Nanak and Ashtavakra and has written many spiritual books, in reverence to God in yoga, meditation, spirituality for the welfare of your browser. Spiritual books: Spiritual Union, Meditation Practice , Gita Astavakra and True name of God, by GS Virk known author on the Internet and are readily available and complete on Heavenly Gardens .

Article Source : selfgrowth.com