Students Of Success

My mother used to tell me, “There are two things in life for which you should spare no expense, your bed and your shoes.” Her reasoning was that if you are not in your bed, then you must be in your shoes, and your health and quality of life is greatly affected by either one. In this article I will discuss the first half of this equation, the health of your bed, which affects all aspects of your physical and mental performance.

I have written other articles on the importance of using an organic mattress, but it is equally important to use organic sheets, pillowcases and blankets on top of your bed because your bedding makes direct contact with your body for 8 hours every night. Just as using a natural mattress protects you from the toxic effects of petrochemical foams and polyester in conventional mattresses, organic bedding protects you from harmful chemicals present in most commercial bedding.

I am sure you are thinking, “My current bedding is fine, it can’t harm me, especially if I would wash it and change it more often.” While I can’t help you wash and change your bed more often, you need to know that most commercially available sheets and pillowcases are made from a 50/50 blend of conventionally grown cotton and polyester, which is not safe. Let me explain why:

Cotton is a very useful fiber that has many good qualities: It is hypoallergenic, it wicks away moisture well for a nice dry feel, it is relatively soft, and it washes and dries well. But cotton is also the most heavily sprayed crop on earth and 25% of the world’s pesticides are used for cotton production. These pesticide residues build up in cotton as it grows, and they can be transferred directly to your bedding when it is made from non-organic cotton. Once you sleep on this contaminated cotton, pesticide residue can pass through your skin and into your body.

Non-organic cotton is bad enough, but the polyester, which comprises the other 50% of your 50/50 blend bedding, is made from petrochemicals that shouldn’t be anywhere near your body. Polyester contains chemicals caused phthalates, which are used to make the fibers more flexible, and these chemicals mimic the female hormone estrogen in the human body. Constant exposure to phthalates and other plasticizers in food containers, dinnerware, polyester upholstery and other sources, has been linked to cancers and the dramatic drop in male fertility that has happened during the last 60 years. Polyester also traps water vapor, which causes night sweats, jock itch and athlete’s foot. It is included in sheets because it is inexpensive and makes sheets more durable and wrinkle-free. But is this worth the potential health consequences?

The solution to this problem is to use organic cotton sheets and pillowcases on your bed. As the concern has grown over the pesticides in conventionally grown cotton and the phthalates in polyester, organic cotton bedding has become more widely available. Organic grown cotton is now being produced worldwide, from Texas to India. The organic cotton is woven into sheets and pillowcases that look and feel like commercially available bedding, without the pesticides and the polyester. I also find these sheets to be much more comfortable for sleeping because they don’t trap moisture like 50/50 cotton/polyester blends.

Better organic sheets are pre-shrunk using steam and are totally machine washable and dryable. They have just a few more wrinkles out of the dryer than the 50/50 blends, but that is a small price to pay for a healthy bed. We can all live with some wrinkles, but we may not be able to live with cancer.

Manufacturers of organic cotton bedding include:

-Coyuchi, located in Point Reyes Station, California, which imports organic cotton bedding and bath linens from India.
-EcoDownUnder, which is located in Sydney, Australia, which imports organic cotton bedding and bath linens to the United States.
-Native Organic, located in El Segundo, California, which makes organic cotton bedding and bath linens from Texas-grown organic cotton.
-Under the Canopy, located in Boca Raton, Florida, which makes organic cotton sheets and towels that are imported from Brazil, as well as organic cotton clothing.

Organic cotton sheets, pillowcases, mattress pads, and blankets from these manufacturers are now being sold across the United States through local retailers that specialize in natural fiber bedding. There are also a number of nationwide Internet retailers for organic cotton sheets and bedding, and one of the largest is Dax Stores.

Organic cotton sheets and bedding cost a little more than conventional bedding, but, like my mother said, you shouldn’t be afraid to spare some expense your bedding because it will repay you with better health. I think your health is worth that extra expense, and so would my Mom, bless her heart.

About the Author

Mark Sweiger is a freelance reporter on home and garden topics and ecological news. He is a definite believer in the value of using flannel sheets and organic bedding .

Systemic treatments are applied severe psoriasis cases. When topical treatments can no longer treat the affected areas, medical attention has to go beyond skin-deep. These medications affect the whole body and are often taken by mouth or by injection. These treatments are more complicated and more expensive as well.

The term biologics was coined from the word “bio” which pertains to living sources such as cells. These types of medicines are unlike traditional drugs which are derived from chemical. Their function is to block or eliminate several immune system cells which contribute to the worsening of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Another systemic treatment is cyclosporine. Originally, it was used on transplant patients in order to avoid organ rejection.

Methotrexate was initially used to treat cancer. During the 1950’s, though, it was discovered to be effective when it comes to treating psoriasis as well. Soriatane, meanwhile, is an oral retinoid which is currently the only one approved in its league. It is a synthetic form of vitamin A.

While treatments like these have already been discovered and developed, it is also crucial to know what triggers psoriasis. After all, prevention is indeed better than cure. One common and usually ignored trigger is stress. It can either cause psoriasis to appear or to aggravate an existing one.

While relaxation and stress prevention may not be the be-all and end-all cure for psoriasis, it is a great help for affected people both physically and emotionally. Keeping a relaxed disposition can prevent the further worsening of the disease. Also, it can make the affected person remain in control of the situation. One of the best and advanced relaxation methods is hypnosis. While this discipline requires patience, it will help a great deal in improving the disposition of the psoriasis patient.

These are the most recognized systemic psoriasis treatments available.

Psoriasis facts in plain English by Jason H the webmaster of
Vitiligo
Info. http://www.vitiligoinfo.com/

Many people are experiencing the effects of employers cutting
back on benefits to save money. One of the first benefits to be
cut is the dental plan; this leaves many people without a means
to pay for a dental visit. For these people the purchase of a
discount dental plan is the only way they can afford to get a
cleaning, not to mention any other major dental work. Following
are a few tips to help you choose the right dental plan for your
situation.

1- When you are searching for a discount dental plan it is
important to establish that you are dealing with a reputable
company. You want a company that has a good reputation with
agencies such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB); you can check
the BBB website or call your local office. You will also want to
do a general search for frauds involving the plans that you are
looking at, if they are involved in any kind of a fraud, you
will be able to find the information you will need to avoid it.

2- Be sure that your dentist participates in the plan. Do not
trust what the plan is telling you are participating dentists,
it is best to call your dentist personally to ask. You will want
to ask your dentist the costs with and with out the plan to
accurately compare prices between the two.

3- Most discount dental plans boast a 60-80% cost savings over
regional prices for dental work. However, you will want to check
into any fees that may be charged, such as memberships and
deductibles for dental work and office visits. Depending upon
the fees charged, the plan may or may not be a good deal.

4- A big advantage for discount dental plans is that everyone is
accepted into the program. It does not matter if there is
unfinished work that needs to be done or if the patient has had
problem with other dental plans in the past.

5- However, there are disadvantages to these types of programs
also. For example, the choices of dentists that participate in
discount dental plans can be minimal. In many parts of the
country, this is a concept that is just starting to catch on.
Depending upon where you live, you may or may not find a dentist
in your area that participates, the chance that you will find
your dentist on the list is even smaller.

Did you ever feel like your “get-up-and-go” got up and deserted you? Has a stressful situation left you feeling drained and unmotivated to perform the simplest tasks?

Most of us have experienced times of stress followed by fatigue. The resiliency to work, play, and enjoy life after stressful times requires enough reserve energy to bounce back.

Bruce Lee said that “… the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.” Flexibility is indeed one key to resiliency.

Those bamboo trees, in bending one direction, build potential energy to bounce back. However, human minds and bodies are not made of bamboo. We might expend more energy while bending under stress than we have in reserve. We can easily break before we bounce.

Depleted energy results in career burn out, depression, and physical illness. Relationships suffer. Periods of intense apathy can steal much of the joy in living. Springing back after a stressful time requires a storehouse of reserve energy.

How can we generate and conserve enough energy to keep us resilient in times of crisis or stress?

Choose Equanimity

Webster defines equanimity as a habit of mind that is only rarely disturbed under great strain. Equanimity is the practice of right disposition, stability, and balance.

Energy reserves can be replenished daily through the discipline of balance. Balance provides flexibility, a quality essential for responding in positive ways to events in all of the major life areas. How can we begin achieving equanimity and balance?

Do Something Enjoyable Every Day

Balance includes taking time daily for relaxation and participation in activities that we enjoy. What do you like to do? Take a sheet of paper or open a text file on your computer now, and write ten things that you love most. Then pick one of those things and do it today.

A wise friend once told me that she kept a happy book. It contained hundreds of things she loved most — things that made her smile, laugh and daydream. Each day, she made sure she did a few of the things in her happy book. This became a great way to replenish the energy consumed during daily living.

Maintain Total Wellness

Wellness is an actively sought state of health. It includes spiritual, mental and physical well-being. We can perform better under pressure, recover from setbacks, and minimize resiliency fatigue by strengthening our spirits, minds and bodies.

If you feel chronically fatigued, see your physician. Regular health care checkups can help to prevent illness and maintain wellness. Physical fitness, meditation, and gratitude-focused prayer increase energy levels tremendously. Always check with a physician before beginning any exercise or nutritional program.

It is easy to resist making necessary changes in our lifestyle. We would rather not acknowledge habits and tolerations that work against us. Change is uncomfortable.

However, it is an unbreakable spiritual law that whatever we resist will persist and thrive by consuming our energy. What are you resisting that could be stealing your energy now?

Discard Time Excuses

“I don’t have time,” usually means one of two things. It either means the person doesn’t manage time, or it means that they have other priorities.

Your priorities are completely under your control. They will either give energy to you or take energy away from you. If your priorities are not in harmony with your values, they will consume your energy. If you blame lack of time for low energy or neglect of your personal welfare, you are only fooling yourself.

We are completely responsible for how much time we dedicate to various activities. We either control our schedules or our schedules control us.

If we choose to work ourselves to the bone without investing a few minutes in personal growth, it’s not because there is a lack of time. Rather, it’s simply our choice. We must live with its consequences.

Keep Nourishing Your Storehouse of Energy

The ideas I’ve mentioned will help you to create more reserve energy and resiliency. I work from early morning until late afternoon on weekdays, then exercise, read, and relax or socialize during the remaining hours.

One of my biggest joys is writing Ezine issues and web pages on Sunday afternoons. The computer plays peaceful, uplifting music as I work. Doing things that we love in compelling ways naturally builds reserve energy.

God created us with the ability to be very resilient. However, we must nourish that resiliency. So, He also provided ways to laugh, relax, and enjoy improving our lives.

How will you increase your energy reserve and resiliency today?

We can choose to restore our internal energy reserves and become resilient. We can create equilibrium and flexibility by engaging in enjoyable activities, maintaining wellness, and taking responsibility for our time expenditures. Perhaps we can even become as resilient as those bamboo trees!

(C) 2004 by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve is a professional life success coach, and the creator of Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, a popular mini-zine bringing great stories, motivational nuggets, and inspiring thoughts to help you achieve more in your career and personal life. Subscribe today by visiting Steve’s site at http://www.AchieveEzine.com

Making healthy choices when eating out can be difficult but with
a little thought and planning ahead you can maintain your goals!

Chinese restaurants offer a wide variety of broth-based soups,
stir-fried specialties (with seafood , tofu, vegetables and lean
meat ), steamed fish and vegetable dishes , steamed rice , hot
mustard sauce , chow mein , and other menu items that you are
free to enjoy for low-fat , low-calorie , choices. Dishes to
avoid include anything fried, for example spring rolls and fried
wontons, most dishes that include duck, egg foo yung, and fried
crisp-skin chicken. Fried rice should be replaced by steamed
rice. The all-you-can-eat buffet should always be avoided.

Most Japanese food is healthy and low fat. Sushi and sashimi,
nori rolls, udon noodles in broth, yakitori and all suitable
healthy meals. Just avoid anything fried like tempura.

Thai food is another low-fat and healthy choice. Their hot and
spicy soups are satisfying and extremely low in fat. Thai
stir-fries are another excellent choice. Avoid dishes that are
simmered in coconut - delicious but high in fat.

Indian cuisine offers a number of delicious and healthy, low-fat
choices. Chicken, fish, veggies, steamed rice and dhal are
included in a healthy menu. Bean soups are delicious and
healthy. You can opt for chapatti or roti if you want a bread
substitute although you should avoid fried naan bread.
Generally, Indian and Thai cuisines are a healthy dining option
when you are watching what you eat.

Many of the most fattening dishes are found in Italian
restaurants. Fried mozzarella sticks, lasagna, any pasta dish
with a cream-based sauce like Alfredo or carbonara and many more
have a high fat content and should be avoided. However, you will
also find many healthy dishes that will make your mouth water.
Thin crust pizza with vegetable toppings, pasta with
tomato-based sauces, chicken cacciatore, chicken Marsala, and
biscotti are a few items that will keep you at the Italian table
without having to give up your commitment to cut calories and
watch your fat intake. Salads and soup choices are also
something to consider but order your salad without dressing.
Avoid most desserts in Italian restaurants - many are
cream-based and very rich.

Mexican cuisine need not be avoided just you just because you
are choosing to slim your waistline and count calories. Black
bean soup, grilled chicken or shrimp dishes, chicken soft tacos,
chicken or shrimp fajitas, salsa, and chicken quesadillas are
all good healthy choices. You are probably aware of the foods to
avoid here: nachos, refried beans, enchiladas, and fried choices
such as chimichangas.

Dining out offers many opportunities to try new cuisines and
most menus offer healthy food choices. Put some thought into
what you order and you won’t need to limit your dining out
experiences!

Webster’s dictionary defines stress as: “a physical, chemical,
or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may
be a factor in disease causation”.

It’s important to realize that this “physical, chemical, or
emotional” tension is a part of life, and is essential to the
workings of the human body.

Stress occurs whenever we encounter something in our lives to
which we must react. This may be a small event, like swatting at
a fly that has landed on our arm, or something more significant,
like dealing with the death of a loved one.

When we run into stress, our body reacts by producing adrenaline
and cortisol. These hormones do good things for our body:
cortisol by improving our memory, and adrenaline by enhancing
our immune system and supplying us with energy. It’s when we
allow this stress to remain with us for extended periods of time
that bad things begin happening. When cortisone builds up it can
actually cause our brain cells to shrink and hinder our short
term memory. Unused adrenaline can eventually lower our immune
system and cause depression.

The healthy way to deal with stress is to allow it to take its
course the way nature intended. The adrenaline that your body
produces needs to be used-up, and the best way to do this is by
exercising. These hormones are meant to help out with short term
situations, so we need to find stress reducing activities to
deal with ongoing stress (like work or finances). Some ideal
relaxation and stress-reduction activities are yoga, tai-chi,
and meditation.

The family home is definitely where most people want to remain as long as possible as they age.

The memories, familiar surroundings and the fact that it is probably paid for, make it ideal.

However, each year brings unsettling decisions closer and closer. Your parent’s health will probably deteriorate.

Hopefully, the decline will be gradual and graceful, because an acute need for admission to a nursing home could mean the loss of their home because of the Federal Medicare spend-down requirements.

A discussion of the ins and outs of this dilemma is beyond the scope of this article. If you are facing that situation you should seek a competent elder care attorney immediately.

Over time, you will become aware that your parent’s days in the home are numbered.

They may become confused, unable to maintain a large house or become accident prone.

Or the reason could be financial. Rising taxes, the costs of maintenance and fuel could make staying in the house economically impossible, especially if they are living on a fixed income.

Now you are faced with the problem. What to do with the house?

The house may have been lived in continuously for 20, 30, 40 years or more. The roof and major mechanical systems such as the plumbing and electrical may not have been upgraded and may be in need of expensive repairs.

The kitchen could be hopelessly out of date and homes of a certain age do not have the number and types of baths that today’s buyers demand.

It is very likely that extensive and expensive repairs and/or remodeling would be required before the house can be sold for current market value.

This may be possible for some families but for others, especially where the younger members are in different cities or even states, it is not practical.

You could therefore be faced with the challenge of trying to sell an older, outdated home to today’s demanding buyers.

My wife is a real estate agent and hates to waste time and money trying to convince today’s finicky buyers, who are looking for homes with as many bathrooms as there are occupants in the house; to settle for outdated and possibly rundown homes.

Even if a buyer could be found, the lender would insist that code violations and certain mandatory repairs be performed before they would issue a mortgage to a new buyer.

Your best bet in this situation is to sell the home to a wholesaler or rehabber, as-is.

This person or company is in the business of dealing with older properties in need of renovation and repair. They will buy the property from you, invest the money, time and effort to remodel it and then will sell it for the full market price, hopefully. But that risk is theirs, not yours.

You can find these rehabbers easily. They usually advertise in local papers with ads that say something like, “We Buy Houses, Anywhere, Any Condition!”

Check with a couple of them to make sure you will get a fair price and a quick, no hassle sale. We suggest you give preference to those who will buy the house now and will also give you or your parents a percentage of the after sale profit or will pay small monthly payments for some years after the sale in recognition of the wholesale purchase price of the property. I am sure your parents would not object.

Copyright 2005 Bill Young.

Bill is a former bank mortgage officer and is now a real estate investor and personal financial adviser. His company, Metropolitan Business Council, pioneered the concept of residual payments to homeowners the purchase properties from. To receive a fast, fair quote on your property, click here: http://FastSaleTopPrice.Com If you or someone you know are facing the loss of your home foreclosure, you may qualify for government help! http://SaveYourHomeLLC.Com

The facts about Bitter Orange are out. More research is being called for, but for the most part this is what we know so far:

1. Bitter Orange has been shown in some studies to be associated with weight loss, increased thermogenesis, metabolism and loss of fat mass. The results of some of these studies are questioned by some authorities;

2. Documented reports are starting to come in of cardiovascular events occurring associated with the use of products containing bitter orange (citrus aurantium, zhi-shi or whatever you want to call it);

3. The two major components of bitter orange are synephrine and octopomine. Synephrine is structurally similar to the ephedra extract which is now banned in many countries due to its adverse side effects and synephrine has been shown to cause cardiovascular events in animals.

So why are people still using it. It is easy to make the conclusion that they are unaware of it’s ingredients and their effects, however, this is perhaps naive. Some people that take these types of fat burners are aware of the possible adverse effects that they may have on their bodies, however, sometimes go from one fat burner to the other, trying the different concoctions of herbs - hoping that it will cause rapid weight loss.

While the motivation for purchasing fat burning herbal products is obviously to lose weight - there is an extra pressure to lose weight fast, which is what these fat burners offer to their customers who may in some cases be grossly overweight and in risk categories for heart problems in the first place due to obesity issues. Fast weight loss is hardly ever permanent weight loss and never healthy weight loss.

There seems to be a common misconception that it is not as bad as ephedra. Over the past six years Health Canada received 16 reports of serious side effects involving tachycardia, cardiac arrest and black outs after products containing bitter orange were taken. Two of the patients concerned in these reports had died and had taken a combination of herbal supplements containing bitter orange, caffeine and ephedra. While 16 reports over six years does not sound like a whole heck of alot - these are only those from Canada, and are only those that were able to be linked to the herbal supplements.

It is plain that this perceived “need” for herbal preparations containing either bitter orange or ephedra is an emotional one. In some cases some people are so desperate to get rid of their excess weight, and have tried just about every diet under the sun and have battled with it for years, with no good success and then finally found these products that quite obviously do have an effect - but unfortunately do have significant side effects, even if it is just jitteriness.

So what’s the answer, well, there is no easy answer. The truth is that no fat burner should make you jittery. Weight loss, can be achieved without products containing bitter orange and those with persistent weight issues need to be consulting a doctor or dietition. In the end, it will probably end up costing less in the long run.

1. Preuss HG, DiFerdinando D, Bagchi M, Bagchi D. Citrus Aurantium as a thermogenic, weight-reduction replacement for ephedra: an overview J Med. 2002;33(1-4):247-64.

2. Fugh-Berman A, Myers A. Citrus aurantium, an ingredient of dietary supplements marketed for weight loss: current status of clinical and basic research. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2004 Sep;229(8):698-704.

3. Nykamp DL, Fackih MN, Compton AL. Possible association of acute lateral-wall myocardial infarction and bitter orange supplement. Ann Pharmacother. 2004 May;38(5):812-6. Epub 2004 Mar 16.

4. Penzak, S R : Jann, M W : Cold, J A : Hon, Y Y : Desai, H D : Gurley, B J Seville (sour) orange juice: synephrine content and cardiovascular effects in normotensive adults J-nat-prod. Washington, D.C. : American Society of Pharmacognosy. Jan 2001. v. 64 (1) p. 111-113.

5. Healthboards.com Feel jittery - Xenadrine EFX http://www.healthboards.com/boards/archive/index.php/t-111077.html

Copyright © 2004 Jenny Mathers All Rights Reserved.

Research resource for fat burning foods and supplements. Fat burning food research and information allowing you to take the guess work out of fat burning.

jennymathers@optusnet.com.au

Why do we always seem to look for a more complicated way of doing things? Take your health for example; nearly everyday there’s a new product or book that is going to make a big difference to our health and we fall for it! The more complicated the better, if its complicated it has to just has to work!

Yeah, right! For example we all know that if you eat more and exercise less you’re going to put on weight.. It’s a simple fact so if you just cut back on the nachos, exercise more and hey presto the weight starts to fall off.

Take your general health as an example we’re always looking for more energy, we look for this product to give us a boost and that energy bar but why look for the complicated ways again and just improve your breathing technique, break it down to the basics if you took more oxygen in, with every breath do you think it would make a difference? Of course it would, what we’re doing every day is the equivalent of driving around with the handbrake on, we’re using more energy (by using poor breathing technique) and getting less back, but what if you turned it around? Imagine the difference of breathing in more oxygen with less exertion, think of the stockpile of energy that can now be used in other activities. Some people are walking around today and only using a third of their lung capacity, (so they have to breathe in 3 times as much as someone who takes in 100% every time) can you imagine how their bodies suffering because of this and not performing to its best.

So before you go looking for complicated way to improve your health and energy. If we all just worked on the basics first before moving on we may just find that the less complicated ways sometimes are the best!

$299.00, Financing available, Limited time offer etc etc. LASIK eye surgery is rapidly becoming just another commodity like shoes or cars. Every where we look there are LASIK ads with discounts, specials and financing offered by “doctors” that are vying for a percentage of the 3 million Americans rushing to have LASIK every year. Don’t be surprised if one day you can visit your local Wal-Mart and leave an hour later having had LASIK by a “professional who has done millions” We may even start seeing signs akin to McDonald’s 3,456,000 served!! There doesn’t seem much difference between the ads and techniques used to sell LASIK and those used to sell used cars.

What has happened to the great American medical standards and ethics touted for years? It is amazing to read that eye surgeons in the United States are still offering regular LASIK and for only $1,000 more “you too can have wavefront Technology.” For those who aren’t LASIK savvy, wavefront is a better diagnostic tool that maps your cornea. In South America, where eye surgery technology has always been at the forefront, surgeons will only use wavefront. There is no option because it is just better for the patient period!! American eye surgeons are also still performing PRK on those patients who don’t qualify for LASIK rather than using multifocal Intraocular Lens which was only approved 1 year ago in the States but has been used for over ten years by South American surgeons.

So if you are considering having LASIK remember this is a surgery on the cornea of your eye so be sure to educate yourself about all the possible risks and complications. Find the best possible doctor you can, not just the least expensive and make sure you are really a good candidate for the surgery and not just another number on the billboard and finally if cost is an issue you may need to resolve yourself to wearing glasses or do what thousands of people do and go to South America and have it done by some of the best eye surgeons in the world, spend half and have a vacation.

Robert Strong writes about medical tourism and runs the popular medical tourism web site www.surgicalservicesinternational.com