Teplok Online Magazine | There's Only Good News For You

Role of Youth as Agricultural Squad in Food Security in South Kalimantan

2011-06-06T22:30:00.006+08:00

Summary
Role of Youth as Agricultural Squad in Food Security of South Kalimantan

By:
Buyung Al amin

Development of food security is a key factor in the development of a nation. Food security is a major subsystem with food availability, distribution, and consumption. Massive government commitment to the aspects of food security for nation building and national defense. That food security is a very complex system that includes the functions of supply, distribution and consumption, then it means that food security is a system that was built across sectors, stakeholders, and across regions.

Youth as agents of the nation are able to take an important role in strengthening food security. These functions enable a process, involving, and give authority to the community that can be a source of empowerment of youth to the wider community.

This modern, many aspects that involve youth in its movement with the underlying that the potential for youth empowerment is an effective and appropriate considering the role that not only stop the settlement problem in the present, but also far into the future so that the long term.

South Kalimantan is an agricultural area with potential for food production that is able to fulfill the needs of society and able to occupy the top 10 nationally in its food security in 2008. Food availability include the availability of staple food such as soybeans, cooking oil, sugar, flour, meat, rice and other basic foodstuffs.

On the availability of rice, South Kalimantan shows the number of surplus rather than public purposes. But the fact that high rice prices surged at the beginning of the year (growing season) so the total surplus for the availability is such a big question mark for the society.

Strategic issues in the development of food security can be viewed from three aspects (availability, distribution, and consumption), namely:

Production, especially the availability and adequacy at the household level, regional and national.
Distribution of food distribution among regions, over time, and between income groups of society, including standart food prices.
3. Consumption which includes improving the quality of nutrient intake, food diversification, and the vigilance of food and nutrition system.

Based on the problems of food security above, it can be taken a gap where the youth can play a role in solving the problem, they even can act as social partners to achieve goals of food security and farmers' welfare.

Youth can play a role in aspects of production with very good and beneficial activities directed to carry out the following:
1. Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology and Development
Conducting the study of agriculture by inviting experts, students, other students and the general public about the prevention of pest problems, problems of land use, new varieties as well as in other fields with the special guidance of experts in agriculture.
2. Doing Advocacy Efforts on Food Security Issues
Youth can join a group and then analize the problems so that they result some recommendations and assist advocacy efforts if necessary. For example in lands conversion cases.
3. Supervision of Government Policy
Some government policies on food security have already been set in law. But the reality on the ground often abusing or doing violation of these policies by the public. Youth are able to act as an independent oversight agency that is active on the issue.
4. Youth as Initiators of Innovations for the Motivation of The Farmer
Brilliant ideas are not limited to youth, it is included in the innovation system that allows to enhance the spirit of the farmers in its activities. For example, giving reward to the farmers who are able to develop and manufacture and successfully market their superior rice and attracted the attention of other farmers to take part in activities that closely related achievement by improving food security.

On the distribution aspect there are many things you can do the youth in order to maintain the stability of food security, these efforts include:
1. Economic Control for The Farmers
Farmer Economy Control is a system that analyzes the cash flow of farm households in order to get data on household micro-economy. Based on these datas later made a regular savings system which at times can be taken by farmers to meet their needs so that farmers do not need to sell quickly harvest to meet their household needs.
2. Grain Bank
Management of buffer stock of grain banks are attractive solutions to the aspects of this distribution. Setting sales period of grain is one system that is able to stabilize food prices and food availability in the market.
3. Routine Education of Agribusiness
Youth groups can play a role by facilitating agribusiness education by inviting experts in the field of agribusiness and then agribusiness sciences to the public.

In addition to production and distribution aspects, consumption aspect plays an important role because the public taste of local rice which can’t be replaced with superior rice. Efforts to do by youth group are:

Giving an understanding of the importance of food diversification to the public.
Doing consuming tests in cooperation with the government by distributing rice superior in a certain amount to the public on a regular basis so that people will get used.
Another way is with the dominance of superior rice on food stalls in the South Kalimantan using persuasive manner in order to gradually change consumption patterns.

How Sighing and Breathing Exercises Help to Relieve Inner Tension

2011-05-31T00:56:00.003+08:00

Sighing is something we do whenever we are bored, and to which we give little to no importance. But, actually, the act of sighing is more important than you may think.

Actually, and in spite of normally being an act done unconsciently, sighing has been recognized for having a positive impact on our mind and body, because it is a simple but effective way to release innter tensions and to normalize your breathing rate.

Besides doing it in times when you are not at your best shape, you should also sigh whenever you feel the need to.

And, to experience relaxation using, you sho sighing as an exercise for that effect, you should not matter about the sounds you may emit whilst air leaves your lungs towards the exterior.

We can compare sighing to opening a soda bottle: when you decide to energically shake the bottle and immediately remove the bottle cap, the tension inside the bottle will be released, and after that, the inside of the bottle will be in a state of normality.

And like as in opening a soda bottle, sighing as a conscientious act is a method of relief from negative thoughts "trapped" inside ourselves, a method to achieve relaxation.

By the way, have you ever questioned yourself on why you sigh whenever you fell tired or sad?

Well, surely that you do not do that just so that others can realise you are not on top of your game! Whilst this may be a consequence of sighing, the real cause of sighing lyes in the need of relief from the silent suffering that originates from tensions and bad feelings that we keep to ourselves.

Consequently, when tensions build one over the other, when we tend not to express these feelings with other people or to find alternative ways to "lose steam", we will be bound to reach saturation point some time soon, with the consequence being the release of these feelings suddenly and in violent fashion.

Sighing is a great counter to what may be at sometimes a psychiatric study case, by being a great anti-stress method, which is free of charge too!

As for breathing, we do it as an automatic act, and most of the times we don't take the time to access our breathing rate.

Note that by simply realizing this, you are instantly executing a relaxation exercise, thus being a relief from inner tensions as well, and maintaining your health - both physically and mentally.

The key to relaxation through breathing exercises is simply to breathe deeply.

Source: http://www.helium.com/items/1416988-how-sighing-and-breathing-exercises-help-to-relieve-inner-tension

Will Teplok Become A History...?

2011-05-30T22:07:00.003+08:00

So it's such as the sound towards the end of this blog or our group named Teplok, but I will never let it go and get ruined by the time... No, this is not a sand castle :) but before I activate this blog, I'll tell you the history at period back time....

Been long time ago I made this blog dedicated to my organization I had with friends in my campus. Firstly it designed with black background and so bright letter line, and absolutely used a lighting candle as its header so it had its philosophy meaning inside. But then I got inspired to put this greeny template just to follow the campaign of being green. Teplok might not look so fit between its new template and its name (name means : a traditional oily lamp) but it's ok because me and my friends here in teplok are agricultural students, so keeping this world green is our job!

And now... day by day... month by month... Teplok has been becoming an online magazine that presents good news only... because good news brings happiness, happiness brings smile, and smile brings you into a better life... so that with me as the writer... :) that's why this is one of 'masterpiece' I have...

As you see in my previous post about my promise to write again soon, I haven't done it so far cause the internet access is kinda hard to get for any reason... and now I promise again to soon activate this blog by writing good news next so you can read the good in life... and thanks for all your comments and honor, I really appreciate it all... and keep this blog being your favorite on good news... Teplok will never be a history, at least as long as I live.. hehe

Best regards,

Buyung A. S.

Teplok's Announcement!

2011-01-24T10:37:00.005+08:00

Hi there, Thanks all for visiting my unmanaged-for-a-year-blog. Though I didn't post anything this far but I used to keep my blog in my eyes and read all of your comments and chat messages you've filled.

I'm so happy to read all of your good responses in some posts of mine. I didn't really write those posts myself but I kept to not copy 'em then claimed as mine, I always put the sources there and sometimes cut those post so you could read the rest from the source I got. It's really fun to share good news to everyone.

Besides, if I'm gonna have much time, I'll live this blog and tell you again about good news we've never reached to get.......... That's all, thank you so much. I appreciate your comments and your honor....

Regards,

Teplok Crew

Toothache Relief: Oil of Cloves

2010-02-07T09:35:00.002+08:00

Need short-term relief for an unhappy tooth? A natural remedy is oil of cloves, which has antimicrobial, germicidal and antiseptic properties, and contains the pain-killing compound eugenol, making it very effective in relieving dental pain. Clove oil has long been used in dentistry, mixed with zinc oxide to create temporary fillings, and as an anaesthetic before those drugs were available. It is an ingredient in quite a number of dental products, including toothpastes and mouthwashes.

Clove oil is potent, and this is a case where a diluted “dab will do ya.” Undiluted clove oil can cause serious problems: burning, nerve and tissue damage, and pain. Excessive use can cause vomiting. This oil should not be ingested in large quantities nor applied to broken skin. Children, pregnant or nursing women, and people with bleeding disorders, diabetes, kidney or liver disease should not use clove oil.

Read the full summary here >>

10 Meals That Are Proven to Make You Happier

2010-02-01T16:26:00.004+08:00

I have a good news for you that I got suddenly from howstuffworks.com, it has such a nice tittle "10 Meals That Are Proven to Make You Happier". And here the summaries are:

1. Macaroni and Cheese

Although the boxed variety of macaroni and cheese is a childhood favorite, the homemade kind is really the best way to go when indulging in this comfort food. The dairy products standard in this recipe (milk and cheese) contain high levels of vitamin B, which has been shown to heavily impact the brain. In fact, studies indicate that depression can often be lessened when a deficiency of folic acid (a type of B vitamin) is corrected. Similarly, normal levels of riboflavin (B2), B6 and thiamine (B1) have been proven to boost mood in multiple studies [source: Carper]. Coupling the mood-enhancing effects of dairy with multigrain macaroni helps the meal pack a powerful punch.

If you've sworn off pasta, consider this: Carbohydrates increase serotonin and endorphin levels, cranking up good mood vibes and energy levels simultaneously. Experts recommend switching from regular pasta to the multigrain variety because it counts toward recommended daily servings of whole grains [source: Cohen].

2. Salmon and Brown Rice

Although most of us wouldn't consider salmon a comfort food, it's certainly one of the most nutritionally beneficial foods available. Experts agree that the numerous vitamins and minerals present in salmon qualify the fish as a superfood; furthermore, they recommend that everyone strive to consume two or three servings of salmon or other fish per week.

Multiple studies have linked depression to imbalances in omega-3 fatty acids, found abundantly in fish [source: Melone]. Scientists believe omega-3s are responsible for managing brain signals that regulate mood. In fact, studies have revealed that people in cultures who consume more omega-3 rich fatty fish suffer from depression less frequently than populations that eat fewer servings of fish. Because omega-3 can't be produced by the body, it's critical to incorporate fish, eggs or cod liver oil into your diet [source: China Daily]. Brown rice is an ideal dish to serve with salmon because it contains high amounts of selenium, low levels of which have been linked to poor moods [source: Magee].

3. Scrambled Eggs and Oatmeal
4. Spaghetti and Lean Meatballs
5. Mashed Potatoes and Turkey
6. Banana Split
7. Chili and Cornbread
8. Sweet Potato Souffle
9. Beef Stew with Veggies and Potatoes
10. Chocolate Anything

So, enjoy the meal! :)

Relax with Ocean Sounds

2010-01-23T16:32:00.002+08:00

The rhythmic sound of ocean waves has been shown to lower blood pressure and lead to feelings of deep peace. But if you can’t get away to the sea for a restorative break, here is the next best thing: this recording of sea sounds will transport you to a place of serenity and calm.

Take a two-minute spirit-break to restore your soul. Listen to the beautiful sounds of nature by the sea here.

Just click on the link below:

Sea Sounds from Global Journey

Clean Water Everywhere

2010-01-22T10:44:00.002+08:00

Clean drinking water has always been a major issue in many developing countries, but with the onset of climate change and droughts, this may become a problem for industrialized countries as well. There is a simple solution for clean water: clay. Tony Flynn with the World Vision charity and Potters for Peace have discovered people everywhere can drink clean water with the materials around us.

Tony Flynn, a master potter and scientist, has created a simple to create water purifier out of incredibly simple materials found almost anywhere in the world. The filter is created with clay, organic materials (coffee grinds or rice), water and manure. The straw and rice are mixed in with the clay and water and then fired over some burning manure. The organic materials are burned away during the firing process and create small passages in the filter that allow water, but not pathogens...Read Full Article Here....

Your Opinion

What do you think about this? we finally can drink clean water anywhere... is that a good news?

Futuristic Nets Protect Crops Without Pesticides

2010-01-21T11:04:00.001+08:00

Although their negative effects are now of great concern to conscious consumers all over the world, many people don't realize that commercial pesticides weren't even available to farmers until the 1920's.

Desperate for a way to effectively combat the attack of insects and other pests that were invading their fields and destroying millions of dollars worth of crops, farmers greeted the development of chemical pesticides with supportive enthusiasm.

Of course, they were told that drenching their fields with these posions would have no negative effects on human healthy, so who could really blame them?

Now pesticide manufacturers are desperately scrambling to create stronger pesticides, as insects quickly learn to adapt and develop resistances to the previous formula.

Realizing that this was a vicious cycle that was likely to end up with humans and the natural environment on the losing end, an Israeli man decided that there must be a non-toxic way to protect plants from bugs while still allowing them to receive sun, water, and air.

Read full summary....

Save Energy Using Replacement Windows

2010-01-13T10:22:00.004+08:00

Most of us may thing that windows are just practical object used for letting the lights in. Well, there is more reason why we should go with them; they are also responsible for calculating the way energy moves through your home. It further defines the design of a house and keeps it correctly ventilated. Replacing your old windows can be easier than you think and can be the most apparent kinds of saving energy. Single old glass windows are ordinary and common in house. Having a single glass window is just like having absorbent valve. Air is continually evading your home. Replacing windows could offer your house a stimulating fresh look along with saving energy and money for future.

Many aspects of a window must be measured before getting and installing them. Get into the new trend of double glass window. Double replacement windows would save you great bucks on the heating and cooling bills. They considerably decrease heat loss during winter and can extremely reduce heat gain in the time of summer. It is recommended that a double glass window be enclosed with an unusual low emissivity coating. Where to make use this coating usually relies up on your geographic site. Getting in touch with some of the window contractor personally could be great to perform such task.

Cover for Windows are important

Do not forget about how significant it is to cover your windows. Multiple layers of cover on your replacement windows could protect your home and maintain heat inside. Anyhow, new skills have come up and people are now concentrating not only on the cover, but as well on the width of airspace among the windows. Thicker space makes superior wadding. On the other hand, too much space is a ravage in addition. Anything beyond 1″ would have no result on your energy saving act.

When speaking about energy saving you must also check out multiple paned windows, which could be packed with argon and krypton gas to lessen heat loses and augments R-values. The high the R-value (fight to heat loss) the superior padding you would have. The U-Value is an additional significant thing to think when replacing old vinyl windows. The U-Value is a measurement to calculate heat transfer. The lesser the U-Value is the less heat transfers would be. With less U-value window replacements, running the homes heat loss and gain would turn extremely easy. Ensure when evaluating fresh windows that you are scrutiny U and R values measured for the total window. Some replacement windows produced provide morals for the middle of the glass.

Before buy vinyl replacement windows, pay cautious attention to your environmental location. Different windows are compatible for dissimilar climates. Cold climate windows are as well intended to maintain heat standards. It is significant to think the U-value on winter season windows. U-value is a gauge of windows wadding aptitude. The lesser the U-value is, the improved the insulation ability would be. So choose carefully as replacement window is directly related to getting charm to your house.

Source: Here

Quantum Touch : The Healing Power of Touch

2010-01-11T22:33:00.004+08:00

Quantum-Touch is a method of natural healing that works with the Life Force Energy (LFE) of the body to promote optimal wellness. Life Force Energy, also known as “chi” in Chinese and “prana” in Sanskrit, is the flow of energy that sustains all living beings. Quantum-Touch teaches us how to focus, amplify, and direct this energy, for a wide range of benefits with surprising and often extraordinary results.

How Does Quantum-Touch Energy Healing Work?

Using the Quantum-Touch techniques, we can create a high frequency of life-force energy. If we places this field of high energy around an area of pain, stress, inflammation, or disease, the body can entrain to the higher frequency, thus amplifying the body's ability to heal itself.

Is Quantum-Touch Effective?

The body has an extraordinary ability to heal itself. Quantum-Touch helps to maximize the body's own capacity to heal. Quantum-Touch addresses the root cause of disease and creates the space for true healing to occur. Rather than just working on symptoms, Quantum-Touch will address the underlying cause of disease. We teach the concept of "body intelligence": the body knows how to bring itself back to 100% wholeness given the proper conditions.

For complete explanation is here

Gucci Group Commits to Protecting Indonesia’s Rainforests

2010-01-10T21:57:00.004+08:00

Joining forces with Rainforest Action Network (RAN), the prestigious conglomerate of fashion and luxury brands Gucci Group has decided to eliminate all paper made from Indonesian rainforests and plantations and by controversial suppliers like Asia Pulp and Paper.

The move is a first step in implementing an industry-leading paper policy and a continuation of the Gucci Group’s interest in stemming climate change, about twenty percent of which stems from forest loss. RAN is delighted to count the Group among its partners in an ongoing effort to protect Indonesian and other endangered forests.

This is a very good news to the world because Indonesia has so large rain forests around the country and rain forests are the lungs of the world. Many big brands who use paper in their production should learn to this big company. And make this world better

Read the complete news here....

Lets's Go Green!

Teplok Goes Green! and Keep Shining :)

2010-01-10T11:45:00.006+08:00

Teplok goes green.

Didn't know but suddenly the thought crossed my mind to change Teplok's appearance to be green. But so far it's good. We have "Environmental" category that has many good posts about the world, and some involve green action.

Did you know that all the members of Teplok currently are the students of agriculture faculty? yes we are, and we always have subject to heal this world by green action in every semester. So why not we participate to campaign greening this earth. This can be a good addition into our mission and vision later in the future.

We also challenge you all to do the same, participate with us to campaign this good action. And don't forget to do something categorized as greening action, just a small thing you can do, such as using cotton bag, grow some plants around you, saving the energy and etc.

Believe me, it's gonna change this world into a better place to live. Let's go Green!!!

[Video] Google's Campaign to Save Worldwide Trees.

2010-01-09T17:10:00.003+08:00

Now, Google is campaigning to save trees at worldwide.

Recently, Google has released a tool which will aware the situation of world’s forests to the forest scientists across the world.

This tool will be sought through the satellite. So obtained satellite images and other information will be brought to the world.

In the tool, Google have also included the discussion on the conference on climate change, which was running in Copenhagen.

What a good news! I hope by this technology we can save our forests from the destruction.

What do you think about this good news?

Enabling Blind to See by Microchips

2010-01-09T13:34:00.002+08:00

Good news comes from Germany, the country of scientists. They said that they could enable blind to see by adding microchips into retinas. As far as I know, there's no way to enable blind to see unless they change their eyes with the healthy eyes from donors. I hope this is going to be a very good news to the world, here is the news I got from http://www.dw-world.de.

Scientists in southwestern Germany have made a breakthrough in restoring vision to the blind by successfully implanting special microchips under their retinas.

German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that a group of doctors at the University of Tuebingen under ophthalmologist Eberhart Zrenner had carried out the procedure.

The team implanted a chip under the retinas of eleven visually-impaired people, enabling them to regain rudimentary vision so they could recognize objects and read letters.

The procedure is designed for people who have lost their vision as a result of degenerative retinal disease which affects more than 4,000 people every year in Germany, according to the Web site of Retina Implant AG, the sponsor of the study.

'No longer legally blind'

One particular success story was the procedure on a 45-year-old Finnish man called Miika.

"Miika showed that with an aid we can give people enough sight so that they are no longer legally blind," the news magazine cited Zrenner.

The implant, comprising more than 1,500 photo cells housed on a three-by-three millimeter tiny microchip, was placed under the retina in a four-hour operation.

"The implant is well tolerated by the body," Zrenner told the magazine.

"None of the patients we have observed have had serious problems such as inflammation."

However, because of constraints of the ethics committee of the University of Tuebingen, the vision chip will be removed again after a few weeks. That's because too little was known about how the long-term compatibility of the implants at the beginning of the experiment.

The procedures are currently free for those undergoing the tests at Tuebingen. In future, Retinal Implant's Web site suggests that the chips would cost 25,000 euros plus the cost of the surgery.

Zrenner said he planned to implant the chip permanently in about two dozen blind people next year.

sjt/dpa/AP
Editor: Sonia Phalnikar

That's all, what do you think about this good news?

Do We Need Telling You More Good News in Global Categories?

2010-01-05T22:35:00.002+08:00

Hi readers! Nice to meet you today, Is today your greatest day? I hope so :) . Well, I'm gonna be asking you about how this Online Magazine should be to make it look better. So far, as you know, we only posted many good news about life and some maybe about simple activities that have a lots of advantages you never known before. We know by doing this, one day we'll have drought of sources and inspirations to make those posts.

So we try to find some ways out to solve this problem and gonna need to ask to you to make any changes of Teplok's good news style. We have an idea to not post only the good news about life universally, but also personally and some really good news we get around us, just like some previous posts, for example we're gonna post about newest good technology, newest good products, newest good news about humanity, environment, politics, and etc.

What do you think about this? Should we or no? We need your opinion on this... Thanks All!

Teplok is Soon Updated!

2010-01-03T03:19:00.002+08:00

Hello readers! it's been a long time I'm not posting any good news for you all. I'm sorry for this. I'm too busy lately for my study and gonna have some exams. I hope this is not going to make you lazy visiting Teplok to find the updates. Because we're gonna update some good news later, come back with the spirits of spreading good news.

Recently, for these couple of months, Teplok seems having low daily readers because me as the administrator not to be so active communicating with other bloggers. Teplok is not being announced to them anymore. But so far it's good. Some of our readers, just like you, keep visiting this blog to find some good news. It keeps making me motivated to post some articles.

I promise Teplok will be updated again next after I'll have passed my exams.

Thanks all for everything! :)

Which are The Points You Haven't Known From The Benefits of Standing?

2009-12-13T15:00:00.007+08:00

Have you ever asked about how beneficial all the simply things around us are? Today I will give you an information about a simple activity and its benefits. And it's about standing. Yes standing really has many benefits to our health and our psychology. This simple activity can be done anytime and anywhere.

For years physicians and therapists have recommended assisted standing for a variety of medical and health benefits that occur when maintaining a natural standing posture. However; in addition to the physiological health benefits, many people also experience significant psychological benefits from being in the upright standing position, such as improved self-esteem and social development.

and below are the list of standing's benefits, in medical and psychology way.

Medical Benefits of Standing
Passive standing has been demonstrated to prevent, reverse, or improve many of the adverse effects of prolonged immobilization.

The most widely accepted medical benefits of standing include:

Prevention of contractures (ankles, knees, and hips)
Improvement of range of motion (spine, hips, knees and ankles)
Reduction in spasticity
Prevention or reversal of osteoporosis and resultant hypercalciuria
Improvement of renal function, drainage of the urinary tract, and reduction in urinary calculi
Prevention of pressure ulcers through changing positions
Improvement in circulation as it related to orthostatic hypotension
Improvement in bowel function
Normalization of respiratory function
Improve Hip Integrity
Develop or improve motor skills
Maintain or re-gain bone density

Other specific reasons that people stand include:

Facilitation of a natural symmetrical standing posture
Development & improvement of upper body balance & strength
Alleviation of pain caused by prolonged or inappropriate position
Development of standing tolerance & endurance
Lessening progressive scoliosis
Assisting with skeletal development (in children)

Psychological Benefits of Standing
Although funding sources rarely recognize the psychological benefits of standing, they can be some of the most important reasons to stand, especially for kids. Clinicians, parents, and EasyStand users also recommend standing for the psychological benefits, including:

Stimulate play
Increase independence & self-image
Being active and mobile while standing
Be more alert
Increase cognition
Enhance social development & interactions with peers
Participate in activities that are meant to do standing up
Increase activities of daily living
Be more vocal & responsive
Look peers in the eye
Give & get hugs easier
Encourage inclusion in school
Decrease fatigue from inactivity
Help prevent depression

Source: http://www.easystand.com/health-benefits/index.cfm

Do You Always Have Early Sleep at Night? it's good!

2009-12-11T23:01:00.004+08:00

Now-a-days every one of us is very busy with our jobs. Most of us gets up early in the morning, do the work in the home and then go to the job, work there and comes back home with frustrations and tiredness. The only solution by which we can get relaxation and can be free from stress, tiredness and frustrations, is sleeping early.

Sleep is only one natural restorative process that helps the body to take rest which in turn helps in doing the works properly by energizing us again after we get tired and helps in continuing all the functions perfectly and appropriately. The habit of sleeping early is always good to health. Six to seven hours of sleep for adults and eight to nine hours of sleep for children is always necessary which helps a lot in terms of health and obviously helps to improve our beauty too. Early sleeping habit provides many great physical and psychological benefits in regard to health and beauty. The real and great benefits of early sleep includes,

Stress reduction
Increase in stress leads to many health problems like heart strokes. Sleep is the best natural way by which stress can be reduced. Sleep can repair the physical and mental damage that caused in your body due to stress and fights against diseases.

Controls and prevent diseases
The people who sleep late at night will definitely suffer from many long term diseases especially cancer and heart problems due to increase in blood pressure and cholesterol level in the body. A habit of sleeping early helps to control and maintain blood pressure and prevent such long term diseases.

Improves memory
Early sleep helps the mind to store the information in an organized way so that it can be retrieved later easily.

Enhances quality of life
Sleep will improve the quality of your life and makes you experience the joy that present in doing your work.

Increase energy level
Better and early sleep makes you more energized by increasing the energy levels and makes you feel fresh the next day you get up which helps in doing the work perfectly and in time.

Weight can be maintained
Improper sleep that is sleeping too early or sleeping too late leads to obesity problems or leads to weight loss. These problems can be prevented and weight can be maintained by paying attention to good sleep at night.

Source: http://www.beautynhealthytips4u.com/2009/02/healthy-benefits-of-sleeping-early_23.html

Eating Meat? Why Not?

2009-11-30T21:12:00.004+08:00

Last Friday was a holy day for moslem all around the world which is called Idul Adha, the day that the moslem are going hajj into mecca. One of the interesting thing you may find in Idul Adha is some moslem sacrifice some animals such as cows, goats, sheeps and etc. Their meat will be given to the people. So, for these several days all the moslem will eat meat from those sacrifices.

And Now I will let you know what are the benefits of eating meat.

There are innumerable health benefits of eating meat, to say, for example, it serves as a fabulous source of high quality proteins, which a single vegetarian food is not able to provide. It contains all the essential amino acids that the body requires.

The red meat contains very high quantities of iron, when compared with plant origin foods. 100 grams of Liver contains 6000 mcgm of iron as against 325 mcgm in 100-gram carrots. Read further to explore information about the advantages of eating meat…

The phosphorus content present in meat gets much more easily absorbed than that present in cereals and legumes. This is owing to the fact that cereals and legumes contain phosphorus, usually in the form of phytic acid that must be hydrolyzed before absorption. Meat also serves as the main source for the intake of vitamin B12.

Those are what you can get by eating meat, so let's make this moment brings health to our body!

What You Will Get by Doing Morning Strecthing

2009-11-23T16:05:00.006+08:00

After a good night sleep, we all feel the need in the morning to stretch, just a little bit.
Maybe some of us don't really think why we experience this sudden need.

Well, the truth is that morning stretching is a great way to loosen up your muscles and get them ready for the day, as it relaxes your body while increasing blood flow.

You should really consider daily morning stretching, especially if you're sleeping all curled up or in other odd positions.

There are many chances that are you wake up feeling like your spine has been compressed, and pain isn't exactly your thing, right?

So, before getting out of bed in the morning, turn face down propped gently on elbows, hold for a brief period of time, and then try to get out of bed without sitting up.Don't minimize the benefits of morning stretching.Done correctly, morning stretching prevents every day injuries and allows our muscles to perform at their maximum potential.

Plus, stretching is a very simple technique, one that does not require additional equipment or physical skills, demanding only a little bit of time.

Here are some morning stretching tips:

Sitting on the edge of your bed with your feet on the floor, you bend over, reaching your hands toward your feet.
Don't forget to arch your back, and hold for a count of ten.
Also, in the same position, try to rotate your head in a circle, touching your ears to your shoulders. Rotate clockwise and counter clockwise for 5 times.
With a good program of daily morning stretching you can reduce your mental and physical tension, anxiety, your blood pressure will be stabilized, you can also avoid muscle and back pain, and you'll have a more fresh start for your day.

Ebook: The Modern Books Form Those Are Good For You

2009-11-17T10:54:00.005+08:00

Which is easier for you, ebooks or physical books? I prefer ebooks than physical books. It's easier to get, to read, and it's easier to save. Some people believe that ebooks are also good for environment. As I thought the better things about ebooks than physical books. I found some interesting things. It's benefits listed untill the 30th point, Wow it's great. Do you wanna know? here are the copy from the source:

Ebooks promote reading. People are spending more time in front of screens and less time in front of printed books.
Ebooks are good for the environment. Ebooks save trees. Ebooks eliminate the need for filling up landfills with old books. Ebooks save transportation costs and the pollution associated with shipping books across the country and the world.
Ebooks preserve books. (The library of Alexandria was burned and the collection ruined. Richard Burton's wife, after his death and against his wishes, destroyed a book he had been working on for ten years. The original manuscript of Carlyle's The French Revolution was lost when a friend's servant tossed it into the fire.) Ebooks are ageless: they do not burn, mildew, crumble, rot, or fall apart. Ebooks ensure that literature will endure.
Ebooks, faster to produce than paper books, allow readers to read books about current issues and events.
Ebooks are easily updateable, for correcting errors and adding information.
Ebooks are searchable. Quickly you can find anything inside the book. Ebooks are globally searchable: you can find information in many ebooks.
Ebooks are portable. You can carry an entire library on one DVD.
Ebooks (in the form of digital audio books) free you to do other activities while you are listening.
Ebooks can be printable: and thereby give a reader most or all of the advantages of a paper-based book.
Ebooks defy time: they can be delivered almost instantly. Ebooks are transported to you faster than overnight shipping: in minutes or in seconds.
Ebooks defy space: ebooks online can be read simultaneously by thousands of people at once.
Ebooks are cheaper to produce. Thus, small presses can attempt to compete with media giants.
Ebooks are cheaper to buy.
Ebooks are free. The magnificent work of Project Gutenberg, and other online public libraries, allow readers to read the classics at no cost.
Ebooks can be annotated without harming the original work.
Ebooks make reading accessible to persons with disabilities. Text can be re-sized for the visually impaired. Screens can be lit for reading in the dark.
Ebooks can be hyper-linked, for easier access to additional information.
Ebooks -- with additional software and hardware -- can read aloud to you.
Ebooks let you tweak the style. Many ebooks allow readers to change the font style, font size, page size, margin size, colors, and more.
Ebooks may allow the option for the addition of multimedia: still images, moving images, and sound.
Ebooks, with their capacity for storage, encourage the publishing of books with many pages, books that might be too expensive to produce (and purchase) in paperback.
Ebooks -- without outrageous DRM schemes -- are made for sharing. Ebooks can be quickly duplicated, and then distributed to strangers or given to your friends. Worry no more about your loaned books that will never be returned.
Ebooks empower individuals to write and to publish, and in this way help to challenge "the crushing power of big publishing", that excludes so many authors from the New York City publishing circus. Publishing can move from the impersonal and profitable, to the personal and pleasurable.
Ebooks -- thanks to the simplicity and speed of publication and feedback -- allow authors to experiment in many themes and styles.
Ebooks posted online encourage comments, corrections, and feedback -- which eliminates mistakes and improves accuracy -- especially important when dealing with scientific and technological issues.
Ebooks allow publishers to publish (and readers to read) works by a larger number of authors, and works on a wider variety of topics. Critics of traditional book publishing (such as Jason Epstein and Andre Schriffin) state that economic pressures have reduced and limited the number of authors and topics that traditional publishers will now produce.
Ebooks defeat attempts at censorship. All these works were banned: Analects by Confucius. Lysistrata by Aristophanes. Ars Amorata by Ovid. Pro Populo Anglicano Defensio by John Milton. The Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne. Wonder Stories by H.C. Andersen. Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. The Kreutzer Sonata by Leo Tolstoy. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Ulysses by James Joyce. ... Many of these books were confiscated, burned, or denied availability in libraries, bookstores and schools. Ebooks guarantee that readers maintain their right to read.
Ebooks help paperbook publishers to sell paperbooks. Cory Doctorow has explained that the giving away of ebooks, for free, has helped to sell the paperback editions of his stories and novels.
Ebooks are evolving. As technology develops, ebooks may contain new features. For example, a book of recipes may contain a recipe calculator to figure how much maple syrup is needed to bake 200 cookies. An ebook that prepares you for the GRE could include an interactive test. An ebook about politics might allow you to click a link and register to vote, or send an email to a Congressman that tells him he is not a good environmental steward.
Ebooks are good for paperbook publishing. By setting an example for diversity and freedom of expression, ebooks may motivate the stagnant book publishing industry towards the renewal of small presses, the end of the blockbuster-bestseller publishing mentality, and a healthier balance between the needs of commerce and culture.

Teplok's Twitter is Launched!

2009-11-15T00:00:00.004+08:00

Hi all! We have a very good news for you, do you use twitter? We do! Teplok has launched a new innovation by spreading good news using twitter. Twitter is one of the best social bookmarking website that will help us to see the world just by some tweets of the one you follow. We don't want to not use this chance to spread good news.

On twitter, Teplok will tweet for its recent posts and some information you should know such as download links for Teplok's ebook or newspaper or just our short reviews about some good songs, movies, books and etc. So Follow us on twitter!

Teplok Good NewsPaper Update: 13th November, The 2nd Edition

2009-11-13T11:08:00.007+08:00

As previous, we had ever made the 1st edition of Teplok Good Newspaper. Now we launch the 2nd Edition with 11 pages and contain so many good news those are recently posted and still fresh. Download Now! I Hope you'll enjoy it! Thanks.

Reading or Writing Poetry? Don't You Know That It's Good?

2009-11-12T13:16:00.005+08:00

Do you love to read any poetry? I do love it. Most of people love it, no matter if it's men or women, young or old, kid or adults, the poetry is so universal. But do you know what you can get by reading or writing any poetry? You should know it. Its beautiful words can affect us so much good things to our mind.

Here they are:

Poetry helps you to know things more fully. When I turn things over to put them into verse, I often find that I have to shift my perspective, usually to see more closely. In a poem of gratitude, Amen, I was thinking about how happy the spring had arrived. I sat by the lake thinking of all that was going on. I passed beyond the big things moving closer and wider to see a broader picture than had originally come to mind.
Poetry commands your attention. There’s reading and then there’s reading. You can’t skim a poem and get what the writer sets forth for you, which is not the whole of it. The rest is filled in with a big part of who you are. Really, when you think about it, anything you can comprehend is understood from the context or frame of reference you have. Poems leave a little more room for you in the verses.
Poetry can sustain good conversation. Two people can read the same poem and get very different things out of it. I’ve had some really interesting conversations around poetry. In fact, one of the poems I wrote called What Could I Lose brought a woman to tears, whereas it made me smile when I wrote it. After the reading she spoke with me and made me understand where the poem transported her.
Poetry writing asks you to dig deeper. It feels like Twitter sometimes. Poetry makes no restrictions on the number of characters you use, or the words. However, you work to tell your story, to convey your thoughts and emotions, reflections and opinions. And you do this in verse form instead of prose. One of the shortest poems in my book Partly Cloudy didn’t make it the the table of contents and yet it got a lot of feedback, both commiseration and query of What led you to feel that way?

That's all what I know! So you have known that behind the beautiful words there are so many beautiful advantages.

Do You Use Pillows When You Sleep? Keep Using It!

2009-11-11T15:31:00.003+08:00

It is a very comforting feeling to have just the right pillow to rest an achy, tired body on. In addition to providing comfort, the right pillows can also provide the necessary support for the neck and spine—alleviating or preventing many common forms of back pain and neck pain.

Main benefits of pillows

Use of a pillow while sleeping has two main functions:

Support: From a physical perspective, pillows prop up the head, neck and shoulders - keeping them in alignment, relieving pressure and counterbalancing the points in the body.
Comfort: From a more subjective perspective, pillows create a feeling of comfort, which aids in getting a good night’s sleep and feeling well rested.

Healthier by Swimming

2009-11-10T10:25:00.004+08:00

Swimming is a fabulous workout, which has been found to be not only beneficial for the human body, but also perfect for relaxing the mind of the person undertaking it. In summer time, it serves as an excellent exercising choice, which helps you burn off calories, while cooling down your body.

Swimming provides you the best of both worlds. On one hand, it provides the cardio benefits of running and on the other hand, it paves way for you to achieve weight training strength building benefits. The reservoir of swimming health benefits is really comprehensive, making the aerobic exercise in demand these days. let us explore more on the health benefits of swimming.

Swimming Health Benefits

Swimming helps maintain the blood pressure and cholesterol of a person, thus ensuring the well being of his/her heart.
It is good for the health of your lungs and also reduces the risk of stroke, heart attack and diabetes.
Swimming enhances the flexibility of your joints and provides the scope for boosting your physical activity workout level. In other words, it helps a great deal in your weight loss program.
It is perfect for those people who have a hard time carrying out weight-bearing, land-based physical activities. This is because your weight in water is about 1/10 of your weight on land.
For pregnant women as well as for people who are suffering from arthritis and back pain problem, there can be no better workout choice than swimming.
Swimming minimizes the risk of injuries from physical activity. So, you can easily try out the delightful exercise and enjoy the health fitness benefits it offers, without any attached risk.
If indulged in on a regular basis, swimming can help build the endurance, muscle strength and cardio-vascular fitness of a person.
You can indulge in swimming before as well as after a strenuous workout on ground, as a warm-up and cool-down activity, respectively.
It helps a person exercise almost all the muscles of his/her body, with the main focus being on arms and legs.
The people suffering from injuries, back pain, arthritis and disabilities, who cannot indulge in a normal workout, can undertake swimming.
Swimming has been associated with relieving the joint pains, high blood pressure and discomfort that are often experienced during pregnancy.
Indulging in swimming can help post-surgery patients, who adopt an otherwise sedentary lifestyle, avoid muscular atrophy.
It is found to have soothing effect on the mind as well as the body of a person, mainly by regulating breathing and stimulating circulation.

Source: http://www.iloveindia.com/fitness/swimming/index.html

Benefits of Knowing Good News

2009-11-09T09:37:00.009+08:00

Good news is one of the good thing that can make us better. It's too late for me to inform you about Good News: Benefits of Knowing Good News. Early in the morning we used to read newspaper or another electronic news on internet, but those usually put some bad news as headlines. And it's true that bad news will always be booming and so many people are interested to it because it's often an actual phenomenon on society.

But does it make you better by reading those bad news? Who's gonna be happy? I'm not. And I'm sure that you will be agree that it's not something to make you feel okay. So that Teplok dedicates to you as a good news magazine, and we hope you're gonna get things in this list when you're reading Teplok's good news.

We're gonna feel better of life
it will turn our mood into a happier mood
we'll know and get the hidden good use of stuff around us
Make us more grateful of this life
Erase some of our worries
We're gonna have something good to talk to friends, family and etc.

So are you included to feel the same things on the lists? If yes, that's really a good news for you!
That's all, have a nice day and stay tune on Teplok everyday!

Morning Breakfast, It's Good to Do!

2009-11-04T20:05:00.005+08:00

Everyone has heard the familiar cliché, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," but how seriously do you actually consider it when planning your morning routine?

Most teens and adults find a variety of excuses for skimping on breakfast or skipping it entirely each morning. "I'm not hungry in the morning." "I don't like breakfast foods." "I'm trying to lose weight." "I don't have time," or "I'd rather sleep those extra few minutes each day." The list could go on.

However, recent studies suggest more strongly than ever that the benefits of eating breakfast far outweigh the excuses that most of us give for skipping it.

For example, how often do you find it hard to get to school on time and then, once there, to concentrate for the first few hours? Well, a recent Boston study examining the effects of breakfast on 100 elementary students found that eating breakfast improves academic performance, punctuality and attendance. In addition, children who skipped breakfast on a regular basis experienced more behavioral problems than those who did not.

Another similar study found that children who do eat breakfast are more likely to meet the rest of their nutritional needs throughout the day; therefore, they have a healthier diet overall than those who skip breakfast.

Some may think that not eating breakfast will help them watch their weight or cut out a few "extra calories" in their diet. However, studies prove that eating breakfast can actually help maintain or even lose weight. Eating breakfast in the morning stimulates your metabolism for the day, and it also stabilizes blood sugar levels, which regulate appetite control.

With all these benefits, one finding is common throughout the studies:A healthy, nutritional breakfast is the most important thing!

Some ideas for making your own quick and nutritious breakfast before heading to school include:

• Yogurt mixed with granola and fresh fruit

• Whole-grain cereal topped with low-fat milk and a sliced banana

• Frozen whole-grain waffles with fresh berries and a scoop of cottage cheese on the side

• Whole-grain toast or bagel with peanut butter or cream cheese and a piece of fruit

• Toast with jam, a fried egg and a small bowl of fruit salad

In addition, keep the following pointers in mind while planning your morning menus:

Try to include fruit, grains and protein each morning.
Find whole-grain cereals, breads, muffins and waffles that include little or no refined sugars.
Fresh fruit is nutritionally superior to canned fruit, and apples and bananas are available all year.
If you do not like typical "breakfast foods," then be creative! Have a peanut butter and banana sandwich, a homemade smoothie or even leftovers from last night's dinner!

Remember, tomorrow morning you may not feel like taking the time for breakfast before you leave for the day. However, if you take just a few minutes to eat something nutritious and filling, you might do better on that test in first-period Algebra, you probably will not be ravenously hungry long before your lunch period comes, and your diet for the day may very well be healthier overall!

Want to be healthier? Let's Dance!

2009-10-30T19:35:00.006+08:00

If you secretly sashay across your living room when you're home alone or long to cha-cha with your significant other, you're in luck. Not only is dancing an exceptional way to let loose and have fun, but it also provides some terrific benefits for your health.

In fact, Mayo Clinic researchers reported that social dancing helps to:

Reduce stress
Increase energy
Improve strength
Increase muscle tone and coordination

And whether you like to kick up your heals to hip hop, classical or country, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) says that dancing can:

Lower your risk of coronary heart disease
Decrease blood pressure
Help you manage your weight
Strengthen the bones of your legs and hips

Dancing is a unique form of exercise because it provides the heart-healthy benefits of an aerobic exercise while also allowing you to engage in a social activity. This is especially stimulating to the mind, and one 21-year study published in the New England Journal of Medicine even found dancing can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia in the elderly.

In the study, participants over the age of 75 who engaged in reading, dancing and playing musical instruments and board games once a week had a 7 percent lower risk of dementia compared to those who did not. Those who engaged in these activities at least 11 days a month had a 63 percent lower risk!

Interestingly, dancing was the only physical activity out of 11 in the study that was associated with a lower risk of dementia. Said Joe Verghese, a neurologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a lead researcher of the study, "This is perhaps because dance music engages the dancer's mind."

Verghese says dancing may be a triple benefit for the brain. Not only does the physical aspect of dancing increase blood flow to the brain, but also the social aspect of the activity leads to less stress, depression and loneliness. Further, dancing requires memorizing steps and working with a partner, both of which provide mental challenges that are crucial for brain health.

How Good of a Workout is Dancing, Really?

The amount of benefit you get from dancing depends on, like most exercises, the type of dancing you're doing, how strenuous it is, the duration and your skill level.

Says exercise physiologist Catherine Cram, MS, of Comprehensive Fitness Consulting in Middleton, Wisconsin, "Once someone gets to the point where they're getting their heart rate up, they're actually getting a terrific workout. Dance is a weight-bearing activity, which builds bones. It's also "wonderful" for your upper body and strength."

"If you're dancing the foxtrot, you're taking long, sweeping steps backwards. That's very different than walking forward on a treadmill or taking a jog around the neighborhood ... Ballroom dancing works the backs of the thighs and buttock muscles differently from many other types of exercise," says Ken Richards, professional dancer and spokesman for USA Dance, the national governing body of DanceSport (competitive ballroom dancing).

Specific Benefits of Different Dances

If you're looking for specific health results, here's a breakdown of the benefits of some popular dances. Just remember that any type of dancing is better than no dancing at all!

Belly Dancing

Improved posture and muscle toning
Maintains flexibility
Helps prevent lower back problems
Tones and firms arms and shoulders
Helps with weight loss
Helps prepare women for childbirth
Reduces stress

Ballroom Dancing

Conditions the body
Helps keep the heart in shape
Builds and increases stamina
Develops the circulatory system
Strengthens and tones legs and body
Increases flexibility and balance
Helps with weight loss
Relieves stress

Salsa Dancing

Builds endurance and stamina
Helps with weight loss
Relieves stress
Helps you release toxins via sweating
May help lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels
Can lead to a reduced heart rate over time

Square Dancing

Provides cardiovascular conditioning
May lead to a slower heart rate, lower blood pressure and an improved cholesterol profile
Strengthens bones
Helps you develop strong social ties
Loosens and tones muscles

Physical benefits aside, dancing has a way of brightening up a person's day, says ballroom owner and operator Karen Tebeau.

"A lot of times, when people come into the studio, it's because there's been a change in their life: a divorce or they've been through a period of depression. They (continue) coming in, and you see a big change. After a while, they're walking in with a sunny expression. You know it's the dancing that's doing that," she says.

Source: http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/11/02/the-health-benefits-of-dancing----including-specific-benefits-of-different-dances.htm

Notice: Teplok Can Be Translated over 52 Languages

2009-10-26T22:00:00.005+08:00

Hi readers, How are you today? I hope you're fine as well. I just want to inform you today that Teplok is available in over 52 languages by using the latest Google Translator. I'm posting this notice because there are so many readers who comments to Teplok said that they don't understand in english. And this is the way out!

Above is the appearance of Google Translator that is located at top right of the blog.

Just click on it and you can find the options of the languages, try Indonesian as example.

This feature will not jump you into a new tab, it's processed in the same tab and done just in a minute. So, you shouldn't complain that you don't understand the contents. Google translator is the best translator ever which will translate to the nearest meaning though it can't perfectly set the words as well. But so far, it's so helpful!

Try it!

What You can learn from Poverty

2009-10-25T21:18:00.004+08:00

Who likes poverty to come to us? No one I think. But being in a poverty doesn't look bad at all. There are so many lessons of life you can take from it. This is how we see poverty in different perspective that gives a lot of lessons to our lives.

I've been trying to find its benefits, and I found many things. Here they are:

Guidance from one's Higher Self is most appreciated.
Addictive behaviors become evident and reveal energy blocks.
Humility and Reverence can be frequently experienced.
Meal planning can become personalized and more healthful.
Innovation and creativity can provide unique solutions.
Assertiveness is easier to learn and practice for fear of loss and coerciveness of power have little to threaten against.
Meditation can be a low cost anxiety relief with no adverse side effects.
Self-sufficiency adds to one's self-esteem and provides independence, security; and freedom.
Challenges provide opportunities to improve one's coping skills.
Time management skills can be more easily developed with less distraction.
Experience facilitates empathy with the many with similar incomes.
Healthful exercise (walking) often goes with low cost forms of transportation.
Mass media is less available and less distracting -- TV, radio, movies, papers ....
Friends who are sincere are recognized apart from friends-of-convenience.
Planning and organization skills help one conserve and better utilize space.
Foods are less costly if freshly prepared, not overprocessed, nor requiring toxic chemicals for preservation and artificial flavoring and color.
Persons who manipulate and deceive in order to personally gain, avoid you.
Freedom from debt, and credit, reduces your obligations to others.
One can choose to spend more time with family members and friends.
Changes in career, educational level, skill expertise and choice of relationships become less resisted by relatives, friends and associates --- and often receive encouragement.

Yes You Need to Know The Benefits of Smoking

2009-10-24T01:40:00.003+08:00

This may seem very strange, but we feel that smoking is actually good for you. There has to be a good side to smoking, otherwise nobody would be doing it. Here is a list of some of the benefits of smoking:

Enjoyable
Cope with stressful situations
Relaxing
Combats boredom
Keeps weight down
Helps focus
Fights loneliness and depression

Smoking is one of the main ways people handle stressful situations. Just the simple act of smoking allows you to go outside to smoke. Think about it. Going outside:

Allows you leave the stress
Puts you in a different environment
Allows you to clear your head

Also, the way you smoke can be relaxing. Taking a deep puff and holding it in for a few seconds is very similar to what’s called relaxation breathing. In relaxation breathing, you take a deep breath, hold it in for a few seconds, and then exhale slowly.

Another benefit of smoking is that is lessens feeling of depression or anxiety. It’s the nicotine in your cigarettes that is responsible for making these feelings go away. Think of the nicotine as a medication, and your cigarette as a medication delivery device.

After taking a puff, the nicotine in the smoke travels to your brain where is causes a chemical reaction. This reaction is what picks up your mood or lessens anxiety.

The nicotine travels to your brain in less than seven seconds. That’s faster than if you were to inject it into your veins, and it’s one of the reasons why nicotine is such an addictive drug.

The anti-depressant and anti-anxiety properties of nicotine explain why so many people who smoke suffer from depression and anxiety. The cigarettes are treating those conditions with every puff!

If you smoke as a way of dealing with depression, then quitting may make you feel depressed. The quit smoking medication Zyban helps in two ways:

Wards off withdrawal symptoms
Fights depression

Another beneficial aspect of smoking is that it keeps the weight down. Cigarettes do this by:

Keeping food in your stomach longer
Suppressing your appetite
Artificially speeding up your metabolism

Not everyone gains weight. The typical amount gained is 5 pounds, but some people gain more. There are many effective weight control methods designed to keeps the pounds off when you quit.

Focusing on the benefits of smoking is a good first step because:

better prepares you to quit
allows you replace the good side of smoking with things that are safer and healthier for you, while achieving similar results

Free and Healthy, it's Sunlight!

2009-10-22T21:26:00.004+08:00

What about to feel the warmth of the sunlight in the morning? Is it good for us? It's absolutely yes. This easy activity has so many benefits to us, not only it provides vitamin D, but it really can cure insomnia and many more.

Here are the lists:

Sunlight can be useful for certain kinds of depression, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Exposure to early morning sun can help properly set the body's biological clock, and help with certain kinds of insomnia. Early morning sunlight can help naturally awaken your body.
Solar UVB radiation (290-315nm) is needed by the body to make Vitamin D. Vitamin D must be made by the body because dietary sources are inadequate, and supplements must be used carefully.
Mid-day summer sun is the best source of UVB. 10-15 minutes of exposut without sunscreen is enough to generate the daily requirement of Vitamin D.

Teplok is Coming Back!

2009-10-22T18:56:00.003+08:00

It's been 2 weeks Teplok was off from blogging activity. It's because the only one of Teplok's administrator was suffering from some illness. So automatically Teplok wasn't managed for those 2 weeks.

Now we're coming back to you and serve you as well. We'll give you daily good news again and hope everything's gonna be fine and fun! :)

It's Better to Drink Warm Water

2009-10-10T23:58:00.004+08:00

Healthy drinking water is a vital commodity in life. It is needed daily, and is needed in sufficient quantity to replenish our bodies and keep us healthy.

Usually, we drink our water cold, but some believe there are benefits to drinking hot water. True, it does not cool us on hot summer days, but there may be other benefits.

Purification

Some believe that drinking hot water is much like going to a sauna. It purifies the body. How? Their reasoning goes like this.

* As you are drinking hot water, your body temperature rises slightly.
* To maintain its average 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, your body begins to perspire. Perspiration is its method of cooling itself.
* Perspiration induced by drinking hot water flushes toxins from your body, helping to purify your bloodstream.
* Additionally, drinking hot water helps remove deposits in the nervous system. These deposits are believed to have a negative effect on thoughts and emotional responses.
* By drinking hot water, you can thus purify mind and body.

To purify yourself, try drinking hot water once or twice a week. The water should be very warm so you will begin to perspire, but it should not burn your mouth. You should begin to sweat as your body tries to lower its temperature. When you stop sweating, try drinking hot water again to balance your temperature.

Nasal Cavity Clearance

Drinking hot water can also be effective in clearing nasal cavities. If you are ill, drinking hot water can make you feel less congested. The water vapor causes the buildup in nasal cavities to loosen.

Why not coffee or tea? Drinking hot water gives you the warmth without dehydrating you as a caffeine drink will.

If drinking hot water plain is unappetizing to you, add a slice of lemon.

Good News: Teplok Ebook is Ready To Download! Yaaayyy!

2009-10-09T01:03:00.006+08:00

Who has not dream to make a blog to be a book? and we do.We try to serve you more and more and now we launch our newest feature.

Once again we innovate ourselves by making Teplok pdf ebook. This Ebook is different than the newspaper form we made several days ago, this is designed to be real ebook with whole contents in Teplok Blog.

Completed with pictures it seems to be so interesting to read. All 138 pages in this ebook contains so many good news and some music tracklist (this is because we serve on music download we posted months ago, some is followed by download link). It will let you read more previous good news with 138 total pages than the Teplok good newspaper that will let you read only for about 12 pages.

Up is the appearance you'll look in the ebook, is it so nice, isn't it? We made it for you, so download it and have fun!

Good News: Why Don't We Write Handwritten Letters to our Friends! It's Great!

2009-10-07T20:38:00.007+08:00

When the last time you make handwritten letters to your family, friends, or business partner? For me it was about 4 years ago. This art is being vanished slowly by rapid increase of email using and greater cell phone technology. But it still has superiority and so meaningful.

On an handwritten letter, you have not only the forms of the letters used, but the texture, the color, the size, the smell, the noise from the paper, you have also the envelop you need to open, you have the stamps, in fact, many many small details who can't be compared to a perfect screen of a computer.

No handwriting font or font technology could replace the warmth and human quality of handwriting. It's the direct, physical act of writing that makes it so unique, so human.

Nonetheless, nothing expresses respect for another like a handwritten letter, and no love e-mail, text message or cell phone call will ever be carefully bundled into a memory box and savored for years to come. In a world that thrives on acceleration, the handwritten letter calls us to a time more deliberate, elegant, and gracious.

So, Why don't we write handwritten letters to our friends. It's great!

Written By: Buyung Al amin

Good News: Why don't you use your spare time to do some crossword?

2009-10-06T19:12:00.003+08:00

What do you do usually in spending your spare time? some people usually use it to read newspaper, listening to the music, or even just stare alone on the desk. But how about to do crossword? Is it a good activity to spend your leisure, isn't it?

There are more benefits we get by doing crossword than others activities, and here they are:

1. Great for vocabulary

Whether you are learning a new language or trying to improve your own, crosswords are a great source of new words. The clues tell you much about how the word is to be used, too.

2. Great for spelling

Particularly for children but for adults as well, crosswords force you to get the spelling right. If it isn’t, the word won’t fit into the squares or won’t let the connecting words make sense.

3. Reduces tension

There is nothing like time out to do a crossword to let you totally relax. Do a crossword and feel the peace descend.

4. Eases anxiety

Focusing your attention on a crossword puzzle can help you to keep anxiety at bay or at least to take the edge off it. Concentrating on fact and data will help keep your emotional side under control.

5. Pure fun

What else do I need to say? Do them alone or do them in groups. Run competitions. Have crossword clubs. Just enjoy yourself.

6. Wards off dementia

Doing crosswords and other puzzles on a regular basis is known to have an effect on warding off dementia. An active brain is much healthier and less likely to be affected by the disease.

7. Improves perfomance at work

A brain that is active and stimulated by puzzles is a brain that will function well at work. The better your brain works in one area the more likely it is to spill over into different areas of your life. Your thinking will be more clear and much faster than it was.

8. Uses different forms of thinking for different types of crossword

There are different types of crossword and they each require you to think differently. A standard crossword makes you think of a word and how it is spelt. Cryptic crosswords require you to use your logical thinking skills to decrypt the clue before you can think about how to spell it!

9. Gives you a success experience

Doesn’t it feel fantastic when you complete a crossword? It gives me a good feeling for the whole day. I am ready to challenge myself again in the next puzzle. Puzzlers who can see that they are getting better with each attempt will be more likely to keep at it until they complete the whole puzzle.

10. Lets you monitor your brain function.

Regular puzzlers will tell you that they can see how their brain is working over a period of time. They can see improvements by looking at the level of crossword they are doing, the rate of success they are having and the speed at which they can work. They can see the patterns of their progress in a way that they couldn’t in day to day life.

So, Why don't you use your spare time o do crossword?

Good News: You Don't Need to be Online to Read Good News!

2009-10-05T23:24:00.007+08:00

Do you not have much time to read Teplok Good News Magazine by online? or you want to print it out so you can read it anywhere and anytime? or you are feeling lazy to open Teplok Blog page by page? We know what you need.

Teplok is launching pdf ebook in newspaper form and design. This feature is powered by free pdf newspaper maker fivefilters.org. By Downloading Teplok as pdf in unique newspaper design it can make you easier to read all the good news offline. You don't need to open page by page to read all the previous good news you haven't read and by printing it out it can be as good as newspaper that you can read anytime and anywhere.

So, You won't have any reason to not read good news. Below is the link to download it. Have Fun Friends!

Good News: It's simple.. Just Lie Down...

2009-10-04T20:45:00.012+08:00

What is the first thing most people think of when they think of lying down? Sleep, rest, relax, nap or even take a load off is what usually comes to mind. Most people equate lying down with some form of relaxation because of how it makes them feel.

But what is actually happening in the body to make us “FEEL” this way?

1. Blood pressure lowers.

2. Heart rate slows down.

3. Breathing slows down.

4. Muscles and bones have an opportunity to relax.

5. Gravitational forces are more equally distributed.

6. A mental sense of “It is ok to relax”.

“Lying down gives the body a chance to recuperate from a busy stressful day. A fully supportive horizontal position provides a necessary reprieve from gravitational forces so that all physiological systems, including musculoskeletal and cardiovascular activity, metabolic and heart rate, and circulation, can slow down. When this occurs, the body is able to replenish the vital resources that have been naturally depleted throughout the day.” (Dr. Joseph Weisberg, Heidi Shink)

So, it's better to have a minute time to lie down at work, it can increase your productivity after doing it. Just lie down, if you don't have the time to nap...

Good News: Go and Hug Someone You Love!

2009-10-03T20:08:00.008+08:00

Do you like to get a hug from the ones you love? I do believe that no one denies that when we get hugged we'll feel better of relationship, feel more comfortable and keep us in better mood to face the day. This simple act accomplishes many things that you may have never considered. Hugging is a natural activity of nurturing and the sign of care to others.

According to family therapist Virginia Satir:

“We need 4 hugs a day for survival.

We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance.

We need 12 hugs a day for growth.”

Is it so great, isn't it? and Here are some benefits of hugging I've concluded from some articles.

It feels good.
It dispels loneliness.
It overcomes fear.
It opens doors to feelings.
It builds self-esteem.
It fosters altruism.
It slows down aging (huggers stay young longer).
It helps curb appetite (we eat less when we are nourished by hugs and when our arms are busy wrapped around others).
It eases tension.
It fights insomnia.
It keeps arms and shoulder muscles in condition.
It provides stretching exercise if you are short.
It provides stooping exercise if you are tall.
It offers a wholesome alternative to promiscuity.
It offers a healthy, safe alternative to alcohol and other drug abuse (better hugs than drugs!).
It affirms physical being.
It is democratic (anyone is eligible for a hug).
It is ecologically sound (it does not upset the environment).
It is energy-efficient (saves heat).
It is portable (you can take it with you).
It requires no special equipment.
It demands no special setting (a fine place for a hug is any place from a doorstep to an executive conference room … from a church parlor to a football field).
It makes happy days happier.
It imparts feelings of belonging.
It fills up empty places in our lives.
It keeps on working to dispense benefits even after the hug is released.
Reduces heart disease
Diminishes stress
Promotes longevity
Strengthens social ties
Lowers blood pressure
Lowers heart rate
Benefits the hugger and the huggee equally

Look, we list it so much, still not enough? Go and huge someone you love, your family, your best friend, your child and all the ones who have less of it and then add good things you get by hugging them into the list.

Good News: "Have a nice Dream" could be meant "Have a Nice Life"

2009-10-02T22:18:00.002+08:00

Sometimes dreams make a lot of sense — like when we’ve been working hard and we end up dreaming, alas, that we’re still at work. Other times the meaning of dreams is less clear. That doesn’t mean the dream isn’t important to our well-being, however. Retired teacher Barbara Kern can vividly recall the details of a dream she had nearly four decades ago, for instance.

“I’m lying on my back, holding the bottom rungs of a fireman’s ladder that has been extended to its full height,” she explains. “A boy is at the top of the ladder, swaying it back and forth, while I try to control it, but I can’t and I’m afraid he’s going to fall.”
For Kern, 79, who now lives in Lakewood, N.J., the dream was a symbolic expression of real-life concerns about her ability to reach a boy with severe learning problems whom she remembers as “one of the most challenging students I ever taught.” She characterizes the dream as a nightmare, recalling that it kept her up half the night.

Dreams, memories, and emotions
The dream — likely a means of coping with a major life stress — helped Kern, explains researcher Rosalind Cartwright, Ph.D., professor emeritus of psychology at Rush University in Chicago. “It’s almost like having an internal therapist, because you associate [through dreams] to previous similar feelings, and you work through the emotion related to it so that it is reduced by morning.”

Although some researchers believe dreams are just a byproduct of sleep, others think dreams are important for memory consolidation or conflict resolution. Cartwright has found clues to suggest that dreams may help with mood regulation.

Dreams occur during both REM (rapid-eye-movement) and non-R.EM sleep, but sleep studies show that brain activity is heightened during REM periods. When sleep-study participants are wakened during the first non-REM period, those who recall their dreams tend to report thinking about a piece of emotional unfinished business. The dreamer may then restate or reshape the problem in a different form during the next REM cycle, and so on, through the night.

Dreaming may help depression
Sleep is without a doubt beneficial. According to the National Sleep Foundation, humans spend more than two hours dreaming each night (with the most vivid dreams occurring during REM sleep). Rats deprived of that precious REM sleep for four days produce fewer nerve cells in the hippocampus, the brain’s memory center.

Among humans, dreaming may also help alleviate depression. In sleep studies of recently divorced women with untreated clinical depression, Cartwright and colleagues found that patients who recalled dreams and incorporated the ex-spouse or relationship into their dreams scored better on tests of mood in the morning. And they were much more likely to recover from depression than others who either did not dream about the marriage or could not recall their dreams.

“It really shows that there was an ongoing working through the night in the dream material, and eventually that the depression lifted in those people,” Cartwright says.
Looking back now, Kern says she was highly stressed at the time and the dream helped her realize how much the boy had been controlling her life. “It didn’t solve the problem,” she says, “but it helped put it in perspective.”

Good News: Leave your shoes away and Walk barefoot!

2009-10-01T19:37:00.007+08:00

Everyone agrees that by using shoes we can cover our feet from any hurt and dangerous things to them. But have we ever wondered if it's health to do or not? Ancient people used no shoes, they walked with bare feet from place to place. Some modern humans in some places in the world are also still walking with bare feet and seldom to use any shoes. Researchers found that these bare feet are healthiest feet among others.

Last year, researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, published a study titled “Shod Versus Unshod: The Emergence of Forefoot Pathology in Modern Humans?” in the podiatry journal The Foot. The study examined 180 modern humans from three different population groups (Sotho, Zulu, and European), comparing their feet to one another’s, as well as to the feet of 2,000-year-old skeletons. The researchers concluded that, prior to the invention of shoes, people had healthier feet. Among the modern subjects, the Zulu population, which often goes barefoot, had the healthiest feet while the Europeans—i.e., the habitual shoe-wearers—had the unhealthiest. One of the lead researchers, Dr. Bernhard Zipfel, when commenting on his findings, lamented that the American Podiatric Medical Association does not “actively encourage outdoor barefoot walking for healthy individuals. This flies in the face of the increasing scientific evidence, including our study, that most of the commercially available footwear is not good for the feet.”

So, why don't we walk barefoot? not always but often, it's gonna be great to have good and health feet.

For More Information you can find here, it's a long article to read.

Good News: There's nothing like deep breathing, You should try!

2009-09-30T20:24:00.003+08:00

Deep breathing involves flexing your diaphragm while taking deep, even breathes. When done correctly deep breathing can be therapeutic and have noticeable health benefits. With enough practice it can even become your standard way of breathing. Deep breathing is very often used as therapy for problems like hyperventilation and anxiety disorders. By simply adding a few minutes of deep breathing here and there through your day you can greatly increase your health while decreasing your stress.

How does deep breathing help your general health? Well first off it can reduce stress. When stressed people have the tendency to take shallow breathes. Some studies can shown that a fast breathing rate is linked to high blood pressure To relax you do the opposite. In the same vein of thought it can help to clear and focus your mind. Deep breathing can increase your energy level and helps turn off racing thoughts.

Deep breathing also releases endorphines into the system. These are our bodies natural painkillers. This can help relieve general aches and pains, as well as help ease problems with sleeplessness. Deep breathing also relaxes muscles, a major cause of neck, back and stomach pains. Some studies have shown that deep breathing can also benefit asthma sufferers. This is partly because deep breathing can strengthen weak abdominal and intestinal muscles, and who doesn’t want that?

To try deep breathing you must draw air into the lungs while expanding the stomach rather than your chest. Sit or lie down somewhere quiet and get comfortable. To be able to feel the difference between your regular breathing and the deep breathing you can place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest. This will let you feel when you are breathing correctly.

Take breathes that are long and slow. This gives the body the ability to absorb more of the inhaled oxygen. Breath in through your nose, nice and slow. Exhale through pursed lips just as slowly. As you breath feel the motion of your stomach. If your rib cage is expanding, keep trying and focus on breathing with your diaphragm. Relax and repeat until you are comfortable. If you don’t get it right away, don’t worry. This is supposed to relax you, so do not let it cause stress. Try again later if you become frustrated.

After you become comfortable with the exercises, take them on the road. Try to make deep breathing a habit. You can do it while driving to work, sitting at your desk working, waiting in line sitting, while watching television, just about anytime. at the computer, standing in line at the grocery store, sitting in traffic. It can help deal with the stress of daily life.

Good News: Contagious and Healthy? It's Yawning!

2009-09-29T20:02:00.006+08:00

Though it is said that Yawning is often connected to sleepiness.Yawning is not just a human response. Most animals yawn as it provides relaxation too.Technically, a yawning is a reflex widening of the mouth which is followed by the the process of deep inhalation and slow exhalation of oxygen .

It is an involuntary reflex action controlled by the spinal and nerve centers of our body.A yawn lasts about six seconds.One should very well know about the physical benefits of yawning,it is generally seen on a plane, as it aids to balance the air pressure between your middle ear and cabin air during take off and landing of the airplane.thus we notice that we yawn because oxygen levels in our lungs is ow.A wide prolonged yawn has some benefits. It helps in exercising our jaw and facial muscles and stretches our lungs too. It also increases blood flow to the brain, raises our heart rate and helps with breathing. The out come is that we feel a little more awake after wards.

Researchers has also found out that our brain burns up to 33% of the calories we consume and generate heat.yawning cools our brain cells as it is involved in a process of long inhaling of oxygen and thus make them more efficient as it is known fact by know that oxygen activates the cells ,It has also been found that the process of yawning increases the blood flow and helps maintaining the optimum level of functioning ,They say we are hard wired to yawning .It helps us to stay alert and protect our self from danger.

Finding show that fetuses have been observed yawning in the womb,even though they don't inhale oxygen in through their lungs.Moreover it is also observed that we yawn when we get up in the morning, even after a good night's rest.May be we start a day with a long yawning because inhaling plenty of oxygen help us to activate our mind for a day's work.

Studies have shown that during our normal, at-rest breathing position, we often don't use our lung to their full capacity and breathe enough air,our body typically just use the air sacs at the bottom of the lungs, these air sacs called alveoli,when do not get enough fresh air, they partially collapse and our lungs stiffen a bit. As a result,our brain send message to our body to take a yawn to get more air into the lungs by deep breathing.

Good News: Teplok Good Words was being launched! Join with us now!

2009-09-28T18:09:00.009+08:00

Today we tried to spread our wings by launching Facebook Page of Teplok called Teplok Good Words. This kind is different from Teplok Good News Blog. Teplok Good Words will be more touching to life by giving some words that will make you feel better of yourself. It's a kind of self-improvement program. We try to make everyone proud of themselves and start the day with huge smile on their face.

Is it a happiness to you when you see someone you love smiles and being proud of his/herself, isn't it? And sure it's a happiness for her/him to see you smile and being proud of yourself.

We'll try our best to serve you on this, and we really need your help to do the same by submitting your great words to us through email (the address is below every posts) or wall post.

Teplok Good Words also serves you to promote your blog post to all members, and the terms quietly simple: your post must be a good news to everyone. Just email us or contact to the administrator.

In addition, to make easier and more understandable, we'll write words with 2 laguages, Indonesian and english.

So this is the time for becoming happy!!! Join with Us! and light everyone!

Good News: Express yourself by Painting! Get the relaxation!

2009-09-27T20:06:00.007+08:00

Painting is a good expressive activity. It has good benefits to our mind. And Quite literally, painting will change your life. You will gain self-esteem and a confidence you never knew you possessed. Painting provides an excellent source of personal relaxation and even physical therapy.

It allows you to associate creativity with every aspect of your life, not just on the canvas. Many have been led to find pleasure in music, reading, writing, sewing, gardening and much, much more as a result of painting. Through painting you will discover in yourself a greater awareness of the beauty of nature.

Good News : Screaming as loud as you can! and your stress will go away!

2009-09-26T20:41:00.008+08:00

It's not a secret how highlights screaming can be so effective to reduce our stress. So many people agree of this statement because everyone can do it themselves. Some studies find that highlights screaming is one of the most effective and cheapest ways to reduce stress and increase your chances of passion between the sheets.

And The research assessed the physiological and physical benefits of having a good scream and the results were very positive for both domestic and work scenarios. All 10 of the volunteers in the study had their stress levels fall sharply following a brief scream and couples reported feeling more loving and passionate towards one another afterwards.

Other key benefits from screaming highlighted in the report include:

Increasing strength and stamina
Reducing tensions
Feeling less inhibited
Burning off calories
Drawing couples together
Feeling more energetic and exhilarated

The problem is, in today's society, there are very few acceptable opportunities for letting out a full-throated scream. However, you still can freely do this such as going to a beach, mountain or even in your bed room. Screaming whether at home, at work or in the car will leave a you in a better frame of mind to cope with life's unavoidable stresses and strains and could even put the passion back into an uninspiring sex life.

Good News: And Now It's necessary to have a Pet in Your Home!

2009-09-25T21:20:00.006+08:00

The companionship of a pet is something man-kind has done for thousands of years. Dogs have worked by our sides, and provided us with endless affection and love. There is an incredible bond between human and furry companion that can't always be explained. Most of the time it can only be felt with the heart.

Not only do animals provide us with physical and social benefits, they also work on an emotional level that enriches our lives. The following are just some of the ways a pet will help provide more meaning, balance and structure to your daily life.

Nurturing a pet makes you feel needed. It gives you a reason to get up on days you may not feel like it. The dog needs to be fed and let out. Having this responsibility gives you a sense of accomplishment. The wonderful thing about a pet is they are always so happy you care for them and they ask for nothing in return. For senior citizens, having an animal can help take away their loneliness and give them a reason for living.

You feel safer when a pet, especially a dog, is with you at home. If you tend to not like to be alone when your spouse is gone, having a dog may help you feel less anxious because you feel safe knowing your dog will protect you.

The stress of your day will just melt away when you open your front door to a wagging tail. You can't help but smile when your dog is happy to see you. Petting your dog can melt away your problems and worries and possibly help you put all your challenges into perspective.

Animals can help you if you are grieving the death of someone close to you. If you don't have the emotional support you need, a pet can help you feel less depressed. Just the mere presence of your pet will give you hope. They will motivate you to look for the good in all situations.

A pet provides the much needed importance of touch. Having a cat to stroke, or dog to pet, nurtures you physically and emotionally to the powerful healing a touch has. They help you feel connected to something bigger than yourself.

Walking your dog daily not only has a positive effect on your physical health, it gets you out and meeting others in your neighborhood. Dogs are natural at making friends, furry or human. This can help you feel less lonely and also feel connected to others around you.

Even though we may not want to admit it, we all crave structure in our lives. Pets help keep our lives in order and keep us on a routine.

Acceptance of others and not judging is something animals teach us all the time. Also animals accept death as part of life, and that can help us with not fearing death and taking our queue from them.

Pets don't ever judge, they make us laugh with their funny antics, always trust and love us unconditionally, make us feel needed and are always willing to just sit and listen. With all these qualities, I think you can see why they have such a powerful and positive impact on our lives.

Good News: Recycling started from your Home, it's so easy!

2009-09-24T17:03:00.002+08:00

Studies show that the more we consume the more trash we generate. Landfills and incineration are two major ways of trash disposal. However, landfills take up space and can create health risks for the communities by which they are located. Incineration burns waste however, it also can create air pollution. An alternative to generating tons of trash every year is recycling. Recycling reduces trash and is economical.

Many things people discard as refuse can be reused in many different ways. Reusing things makes it unnecessary to use valuable resources to create new product. The number of post consumer products on store shelves is increasing. You can do your part by starting it in the home. Recycling is easy, will save you money, and can even be fun for the whole family.

There are different kinds of recycling. There is recycling of paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, and even car oil. Bleached paper and newsprint recycling reduces the amount of trees that are cut down. Plastic can be recycled into other plastics. Glass can be melted down and made into many different forms from drinking glasses to glass fiber. Aluminum can be recycled into other cans, foil, and even wrapping paper. Most do not realize that even car oil can be burned for energy recovery and/or recycled and re-used.

In the home it is easy to recycle your used plastics, cans, paper, and glass. It is not necessary to buy expensive multi-sectioned containers or take up an entire room or garage. Recycling can be done in a corner of a kitchen. A couple of boxes in a corner or a couple of regular kitchen trashcans are sufficient.

To recycle aluminum cans, simply rinse them out after use, and toss into the container you set aside for aluminum. The same can be done with your daily newspaper after you read it—just toss it aside into your designated area.

Newspaper does not require any preparation. With glass, it is imperative that you clean it before setting it aside. Remove any wrappings and thoroughly wash any glass that has food remnants. Also thoroughly wash any glass that has held any sort of cleansing product or otherwise noxious substance. For plastic it is helpful to look on the bottom of containers to make sure they are indeed recyclable plastics. The recycling symbol is a triangle made with three arrows going clockwise. Many times there is a number in the middle that is used by recycling plants.

Car oil takes a little more preparation. If you change your own car oil at home, be sure to store it in an appropriate container. A suitable and safe container can be purchased at an auto parts store, gas station, or the automotive sections of stores like Wal-Mart and K-mart. Be sure that the oil is not spilled and never pour it down a sink or drain. The easiest thing to do is to take it to a service station unless you have an oil recycling center near you. For the things other than oil, locate recycling centers in your phone book or you can check with local chain stores. If you are near a university or college, you can usually find recycling bins around and near campus. Moreover some cities have recycling as part of the weekly trash pick-up and even provide containers. Find out if that may be the case in your neighborhood. A special perk of aluminum can recycling is that many times you can get a small amount of money for the cans. Some states have set amounts per can and some areas pay by the weight of the aluminum.

By recycling you are helping the environment and helping yourself. Recycling helps reduce cost that companies pass on to the consumer, reduces the number of trash bags you purchase for your home, and even puts you in a creative mindset to reuse your refuse. For example, instead of washing out a bottle for recycling you may decide to turn it into a lamp. Recycling will change your life in a good way. See how creative you can be.

Good News : Forgiving, Why not?

2009-09-23T10:34:00.003+08:00

Betrayal, aggression, and just plain insensitivity: People can hurt us in a million ways, and forgiveness isn’t always easy. Whether you’ve been cut off in traffic, slighted by your mother-in-law, betrayed by a spouse, or badmouthed by a co-worker, most of us are faced with a variety of situations that we can choose to ruminate over or forgive. But forgiveness, like so many things in life, is easier said than done.

Forgiveness can be a challenge for several reasons. Sometimes forgiveness can be confused with condoning what someone has done to us: “That’s OK. Why not do it again?” Forgiveness can be difficult when the person who wronged us doesn’t seem to deserve our forgiveness -- it’s hard to remember that forgiveness benefits the forgiver more than the one who is forgiven. Ultimately, forgiveness is especially challenging because it’s hard to let go of what’s happened. However, it’s important to let go and forgive. Here are some reasons why:

* Forgiveness is good for your heart -- literally. One study from the Journal of Behavioral Medicine found forgiveness to be associated with lower heart rate and blood pressure as well as stress relief. This can bring long-term health benefits for your heart and overall health.

* A later study found forgiveness to be positively associated with five measures of health: physical symptoms, medications used, sleep quality, fatigue, and somatic complaints. It seems that the reduction in negative affect (depressive symptoms), strengthened spirituality, conflict management and stress relief one finds through forgiveness all have a significant impact on overall health.

* A third study, published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, found that forgiveness not only restores positive thoughts, feelings and behaviors toward the offending party (in other words, forgiveness restores the relationship to its previous positive state), but the benefits of forgiveness spill over to positive behaviors toward others outside of the relationship. Forgiveness is associated with more volunteerism, donating to charity, and other altruistic behaviors. (And the converse is true of non-forgiveness.)

So, to sum it up, forgiveness is good for your body, your relationships, and your place in the world. That’s reason enough to convince virtually anyone to do the work of letting go of anger and working on forgiveness.

See this article for some simple strategies on how to forgive, or scroll down for more resources.

Sources:

http://stress.about.com/od/relationships/a/forgiveness.htm

Karremans JC, Van Lange PA, Holland RW. Forgiveness and its associations with prosocial thinking, feeling, and doing beyond the relationship with the offender. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, October 2005.

Lawler KA, Younger JW, Piferi RL, Billington E, Jobe R, Edmondson K, Jones WH. A change of heart: cardiovascular correlates of forgiveness in response to interpersonal conflict. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, Octover 2003.

Lawler KA, Younger JW, Piferi RL, Jobe RL, Edmondson KA, Jones WH. The unique effects of forgiveness on health: an exploration of pathways. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, April 2005.

Good News : I Have Forgiven You All, Hahahaha (Just Kidding Friends :)

2009-09-17T19:32:00.007+08:00

Tonight is the last night of my online activity before getting 5 days off for holiday. This is a special holiday I've been waiting for, the most happiest day in each year, and the day I'd never try to forget though I could never truly keep those moments in mind. And it's so meaningless if we're not forgiving each other for our mistakes, that is it!

So, I hope you all forgive me and all the Teplok crew for our mistakes, for being late of giving good news, for the articles that may hurt you, and for all the administrator has done to you all.

Thanks for sharing together with us, adore each others, lift up each others, laugh together. For me as an administrator of this blog, I've found a new world, new friends and everything so meaningful to me. Thanks all, forgive me please :D.

And sure you don't need to knee to me that you become forgiven by me because I'll never forgive you if you do that (LOL). I just need to pray you that God forgives you and clear yourself just like a new born baby because YOU NEVER DID ANY MISTAKE TO ME! Amiiiin

Good News: Complaining? Yes You Need

2009-09-16T19:20:00.005+08:00

It's really hard when we try to resist complaining about anything bad around us. Sometimes it's just like hiding a ready-to-blast bomb inside our head and make bad feelings. This is a natural thing.

Humans have a capability to see the right and the wrong. When we see anything disorder, our brain immediately knows it and then show image of correction inside our head and force us to do it, then if we can't correct it and being disturbed, it gets us irritated. This is one of the reason why we need to complain.

When does complaining become a good thing?

Complaining is not resemble to the anger. Complaining becomes so useful if we do it creatively. Creative complaining isn't attached by anger, it's just to show how to do something well and point the wrong then being corrected. That's it!

Creative complaining is healthy for individuals and groups. It exposes problems, generates actions to correct them, and keeps people’s energy high. As the process continues, people get honest about their resistance. It lets them hold new and unfamiliar changes at arm’s length until they realize it won’t hurt them. As we deal with new things, our actions become more positive, and defenses aren’t needed.

By way of summary, creative complaining means:

Be brief
Be clear
Be honest
Be humble and use humor
Avoid hurtful words.

What are the benefits of complaining?

One benefit is venting bad feelings. It really works for me, when everything gets right it feels like that the God loves us because we do it well!

Another benefit of complaining is that it highlights what’s wrong. If we don’t know something is broken, we can’t fix it. So complaining airs the problem. When I complain about something at home or work, I’ve developed a habit of stating the complaint once and then shutting up. Next I determine what I can do and take steps to correct it. Even if I can’t completely fix the problem, doing small things helps me feel better. Eventually, whatever I complained about is no longer broken; I’ve done what I can. If I can’t fix it, I think about something else.

Complaining brings people together in a common cause. And that is usually good because of the energy it generates. But gathering chronic complainers spreads negativity. Breaking the cycle means limiting the amount of time spent complaining. Keep time, and allow five minutes for complaints. When time expires, complaining stops; focus on what you can do. It’s been shown that when people act on a small part of a problem, they improve their well being and lower stress.

And that's all! So, if you want to complain, become smart on doing it and it won't take you into along bad feelings but satisfaction.

Good News : You Bloggers Should Read This Good News!

2009-09-15T19:18:00.004+08:00

Today I try to find a good news that is directly pointed to the most readers here because It's important to me to give you a good information and make you happy of what you do now, and sure you're doing this good thing now!

Yes, It's about the benefits of blogging! I've decided to write this because about 90% visitors here are bloggers. I've been googling and searching through some articles and surprisingly I found many information about this.

What's blogging? is it a beneficial activity?

Blogging is an activity about writing our experiences, thoughts, ideas or knowledge and most of bloggers do it just to share to others. Scientists have long known about the therapeutic benefits of writing about personal experiences, thoughts and feelings. But besides serving as a stress-coping mechanism, expressive writing produces many physiological benefits. Research shows that it improves memory and sleep, boosts immune cell activity and reduces viral load in AIDS patients, and even speeds healing after surgery. A study in the February issue of the Oncologist reports that cancer patients who engaged in expressive writing just before treatment felt markedly better, mentally and physically, as compared with patients who did not.

Some scientists believe that blogging can be a placebo effect of getting satisfied and it reduces mind stress. This argument is supported by fact that humans are a social creatures that need to communicate and share to others.

Besides, blogging can build friendships. By visiting each other, commenting or just doing a small talk to others, it will raise our happiness by making friends. For business blogging can make it easier to advertise and meet the consumers or business partners in global chances.

Those are small benefits of blogging I concluded from many articles. You could find more its benefits here :

Health benefits of Blogging
Benefits of Blogging for business
Benefits of Blogging in practitioner's perspective (This is interesting)

Good News : "I'm not A Plastic Bag!"

2009-09-14T19:37:00.007+08:00

"I am not a plastic bag" those words that I saw written on a student's bag. Those words declare to us to fight against Global warming because plastic can be a big threat to our environment.

Nowadays the using of plastic bag is substituted to other various alternatives and hopefully becomes trend to our society. There's so many alternatives such as using cotton bag or even doing a charity by giving our used and useless paper to a factory which will use it to produce paper bag.

Here are the various alternatives of that:

Use biodegradable bags made from fabrics.
Ladies can fold a cotton bag or two in to their purses which can be used to quench their sudden urge for shopping.
Nylon bags can be used and reused several times.
Donate old news papers and magazines to small scale institutes that cut these old papers in to paper bags and packets.
Use a wicker basket. (They can make a fashion statement today.)
Educate the local retailers on the ill effects of use of plastics.
Insist your local retailers to use plastic bags of thicker variety if at all he has to use.
Offices can distribute canvas bags as New Year gifts instead of diaries and other sweet nothings.
Better still buy a foldable shopping trolley. When you can buy a stroller for your new born this is not impossible you see.
The common man is already burdened with spiraling prices, so I don’t wish to suggest to the government to impose a plast-tax. Mere ban will fail, as it has in the previous.

Good News : Anger is Not Always Destined to Go Wrong

2009-09-14T01:49:00.006+08:00

Although uncontrolled anger can be quite costly, when channeled properly anger can also be very positive. Among other things, anger can motivate us to work harder to accomplish our goals. This could mean playing harder on the defensive end in a basketball game, studying longer for an exam, or putting in more time when learning to play an instrument.

Anger can sometimes lead to newer, higher level goals, possibly fueled by the desire to prove others wrong. Perhaps anger and frustration due to getting cut from his high school basketball team are what inspired Michael Jordan to achieve such greatness in his sport.

Anger can also alert us that something is wrong and that we need to respond. When we defend ourselves or defend someone else, it is often our anger that spurs us into action. This can be the love of a mother protecting her child, a classmate or colleague standing up to a bully, or an innocent bystander intervening on behalf of a victimized stranger.

Generally speaking, anger is what prevents us from passively accepting societal wrongdoings and ignites us to take action. Many of society’s most important changes have come about because people got angry with the way things were and set out to correct those injustices. Some examples include the Women’s Rights Movement, the abolishment of slavery, and the Civil Rights Movement.

Over the years, many groups and organizations have formed in an effort to channel their anger in a positive, constructive manner. Among them are Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and the numerous anti-hate groups that exist today.

Outraged by the mistreatment of others, many have pushed for new laws over the years including those to protect children, the mentally ill and mentally challenged, people of different religions and ethnic backgrounds, the handicapped and disabled, and many other groups. Countless people have been helped by the actions of those who experienced anger and decided to do something positive to make things better.

So the next time that you lose your cool and say or do something that you regret, just remember that anger does not have to be your downfall. Instead of blaming someone else or wallowing in self-pity, take responsibility for your actions and get to work on improving your anger management skills. After all, look at all the great things that can be accomplished when anger is channeled properly.

Source: http://www.angermanagementgroups.com/AngerCanBePositive.html

Good News : Happy Birthday me!!!!

2009-09-13T01:34:00.006+08:00

Today is the 20th birthday of Teplok's member named Buyung Al amin, and fortunatelly it's me myself mine (hmmmm...). My mom said that I was born in september, but in my identity card written october, sooo this is an uncertainity, LOL!.

But I've decided to follow what my mom said, and now it's time to make a wish, but wait... I seem not to make just a wish, I wanna make wisheeessss!! yaaaaayyyyy!!!

Firstly Thanks to Allah, My All, my everything, he's given me one-fifth time of a century to live freely on this earth. And Then my mom and dad, I wish you both proud to have me ^_^. And the ten brothers, thanks for being born from the same womb and live together passing all the troubles through anger, laugh and even love!

And All my friends, especially in Teplok where we grow up our mind together and help each others.

The last I wanna give thanks to the reader of this blog, thanks for appreciating, sighing, adoring, commenting, jeering (have u? lol) and everything. Thank youuuuu!!!!

Good News : Eat Using Hand? No problem!

2009-09-12T21:49:00.004+08:00

Have you ever eaten using your hand? I do it in each meal time. Traditional society in Indonesia prefer to eat using hand than using spoons or forks. I try to find it myself why I do it too and get some reasons and benefits of eating with hand. Here they are:

1. It's so simple, using hand makes us easier to take some foods or mix the flavors.
2. Make food more delicious, it's because we can mix the flavor completely.
3. It's healthier, I had ever read that upon our fingers there's an important chemical compound that affect to our health. So when we're using hand to eat we put that chemical compound inside the body.
4. It builds good solidarity, why? it's a natural things, it's fun, it's the sign of freedom of yourself. When you eat by spoon it looks more formal, too much rules, and not making free at all.

So try this! it's fun especially when you eat together with friends in one big plate using your hand!

Note: Absolutely you have to wash your hand to do this :)

Good News : Organic Food: Not Dangerous, Healthy and it's even Delicious

2009-09-12T00:51:00.013+08:00

With so many food choices available at the supermarket these days, it can be overwhelming to try to choose quality foods. The dizzying array of labels also adds to the confusion stating things like “organic”, “all natural”, and “hormone free”.

While many of the foods containing these labels can often be a bit more expensive, the question of “is it really better for me?” is bound to arise. The answer is a resounding yes. Not only is organic food better for your body, it is also better for the environment.

Toxins
While significant numbers of research studies have not been conducted comparing organic foods and conventionally grown foods, the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Organic foods do not contain large amounts of harmful herbicides and pesticides. A single strawberry contains over 27 different chemicals, many which do not disappear upon washing. This means your body has the job of trying to break down the chemicals and excrete them. Unfortunately, our bodies have a tough enough time trying to identify these harmful substance let alone be able metabolize them. Studies have linked pesticides to cancers, birth defects, damage to the brain, nervous system disorders, and Parkinson’s disease. Children absorb far more pesticides than adults do when compared with similar exposure because children have more skin per surface size, take in more breaths per minute than adults, and have yet to be developed detoxification pathways. A study conducted in 2006 analyzed the urine of children aged 3 to 11 who ate only organic foods. Upon commencement of the study, researchers found no pesticide metabolites in the children’s urine. However, when the children resumed eating a non-organic diet, metabolites of 2 toxic pesticides, malathion and chlorpyrifos, were found in their urine in concentrations as high as 263 parts per billion.

Nutrient Density and Flavor
When comparing organic produce with conventionally grown, studies have shown organic foods are significantly higher in many vital nutrients. A 2003 study found that organic produce was about 50% in cancer-fighting antioxidants than conventional produce. An independent review found that organic produce had higher amounts of 21 nutrients, including vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and phosphorous; as well as greater amounts of trace minerals. Organic food also tastes better, try a home taste test with your family and see which foods they like better. A main reason for the better taste is that organic food is close to how you would find the food in nature, as it doesn’t have anything added, or anything taken away.

Environment
Organic farmers practice sustainable agriculture, meaning they optimize farming methods that will preserve the land for generations to come. In addition, organic farming practices do not produce chemicals that remain in our soil, spread through the environment via air, or end up poisoning our waters. Organic animal products also ensure the animal was treated humanely and was allowed to graze in open pastures.

Value
Organic food does tend to be slightly higher priced than conventional foods but it important to look a little closer. The price difference, on average, ranges from 22 – 65 cents higher. That results in only pennies a day, a small price to pay for better health. Considering organic fruits and vegetables can contain as high as 50% greater nutrient content, you would have to eat double the amount of produce you currently eat and that would certainly add up. Current US statistics reveal Americans spend 90% of their food budget on unhealthy and fast foods.

In the long run, choosing organic is the better choice for you and your family. Review our Organic Baby Food – Know the Facts post for additional information on organic baby foods.

References:

* EC Multicentre Study on Antioxidants, 1997
* Committee on Toxicity (2002) Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment: Risk assessment of mixtures of pesticides and similar substances, Crown Copyright, September 2002
* Worthington V (2001) Nutritional quality of organic versus conventional fruits, vegetables, and grains. The Journal of Complimentary Medicine, vol. 7, No. 2, p. 161 - 173.
* Carbonaro et al M (2003) Modulation of Antioxidant Compounds in Organic vs Conventional Fruit (Peach, Prunus persica L., and Pear, Pyrus communis L.). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2002, 50, p. 5458 - 5462).
* http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/16/dining/16WELL.html
* Davis D. et al. "changes in USDA food composition data for 43 garden crops 1950 to 1999" J of the Am College of Nutr. vol 23, no. 6; pp.669-682

Source : http://www.mummums.com/2008/03/Organic-Food--The-Benefits-of-Eating-Organic

Good News : Walking, walking, and walking!

2009-09-11T23:32:00.006+08:00

When the last time you walk by foot? Scientists agree that walking is one of the healthy thing we should do daily. They suggest 30 minutes a day of walking or at least 10.000 steps. Nowadays we are eased by modern technology on transportation. Cars help us to go anywhere easily.

This easy of going anywhere makes us getting lazy ourselves to walk by foot even just to near place. Here are some benefits of walking you should know :

* Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke
* Lower blood pressure
* Reduce high cholesterol and improve blood lipid profile
* Reduce body fat
* Enhance mental well being
* Increase bone density, hence helping to prevent osteoporosis
* Reduce the risk of cancer of the colon
* Reduce the risk of non insulin dependant diabetes
* Help to control body weight
* Help osteoarthritis
* Help flexibility and co-ordination hence reducing the risk of falls

So, this kind of exercise is necessary to us. At least do it 30 minutes a day, just walk to the near place you could reach and making friends on the way, it's cool!

Good News: No Tar, No Ignition, and No carcinogenic : What kind of cigarettes are they?

2009-09-11T03:05:00.006+08:00

It's Electronic Cigarettes!

About Electronic Cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes is a none-igniting substitute of the cigarette, it has some characteristics with the traditional cigarettes, such ad making you refresh, fulfilling the smokers' needs; But it has much more different with the traditional cigarettes substantially, such as no tar, no ignition, no 460 kinds of chemical substances that can lead to respiratory and cardiac system diseases, no the carcinogenic in the traditional cigarettes.

Since the using of tobacco of the history of human, people started to know the know the bad effects of tobacco to the health of human, who has gotten through
The Framework convention on tobacco control (FCTC)(on 21 may 2003) ,it called on every country should take into account that the threats of tobacco to the health of the health of people.
As a result, the technology of getting rid of tar and finding a substitute of cigarette has been developed. In the last few years, because of the technological barriers and microelectronic immaturity, scientists can not develop the product that can approach the taste and flavor of cigarette.

Although German, U.S, Japan had been developed some substitutes of cigars, the uncertain conceptions and coarse technology destroyed the market of the substitutes. Everyone should remember this year.2003, a team that consisted of Chinese scientists bread through many difficult and invented ANI that has nearly same flavor and taste but has no risk as traditional cigars. Electronic cigarettes a product that applied microelectronic control technology and supercritical atomizing method, can be inhaled by smokers without tar. So the smokers who use electronic cigarettes will avoid tar and many dangerous substances to get into their lungs and bodies.

The structure of Electronic Cigarettes
Electronic Cigarette consists of some micro-electronic components such as airflow sensor, control circuit, executive circuit, high-power integrated circuit, high-frequency ultrasonic sounder, atomizing chamber mask, built-in lithium ion battery, by which it can carry out such high-tech humanized functions as airflow sensing, smoke simulation, smoke temperature simulation, standby at any moment. Meanwhile, as far as the biological technology is concerned, it can make smokers enjoy the same pleasure as that of traditional cigarette when inhaling the nicotine smog droplet, imitating the whole process of smoking. Electronic Cigarette creates a healthy smoking cultural atmosphere, and has been eulogized by authoritative experts as the perfect combination of modern micro-electronic technology, biological technology and the conception of healthy life.

How does Electronic Cigarettes work
In the body of electronic cigarette, low thickness nicotine liquid enters atomizing cell after ultramicro atomizing pump pressurizing and is supercritically atomized into about 0.5-1.5um fog drops in the high-frequency untrasonic vibration field. Then the smog droplets will be dispersed into aerosols by the inhaled airflow and finally the aerosol will be formed into vapour which simulates the cigarette smoke. Before supercritical atomizing, the liquid should be heated up to reduce its surface tension to the extent of easiest atomizing. Electronic cigarette not only simulates cigarette smoke but also the temperature of common cigarette smoke (50-60 °C), which is similar to common cigarette and can refresh and satisfy the joviality and long-term psychological habit of smokers so as to achieve humanized healthy smoking; and at the same time, it simulates cigarette and does not contain such hazardous substance as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocyanic acid, acrolein arsenic, lead, hydragyrum, perishing the harm of second-hand smoking to surrounding crowd so as to achieve the authentic humanized smoking.

Good News : What's the most economical-healthy-safe activity in the world? it's absolutely biking!

2009-09-10T23:17:00.006+08:00

Okay, we all know bikes are one of the few methods of getting there that doesn’t produce carbon dioxide emissions. But biking also offers far-reaching benefits to you.

Find out what biking can do for you and the planet:

Easy on the Earth
Rather than adding to the pollution problem, biking is a completely clean form of transportation. The only fuel it burns is your own calories!

Biking is also quiet, a huge plus for all of us suffering from the ill effects of noise pollution.

Fitness
Not only good for the atmosphere, biking is good for your derriere, and lots of other body-parts as well. Firming, toning, calorie-burning: Biking has it beat over driving any day of the week.

How many calories will you burn in a hour of moderate biking? Or 30 minutes? Find out with this handy biking calorie-calculator.

Boosting Your Mood
Even moderate exercise, like a leisurely bike ride, will boost levels of euphoria-producing hormones called endorphins. Translation: You can bike away your blues.

Enjoying the Scene
When we whiz past scenery in a car, we miss so much. The slower pace of biking enables ups to experience the beauty of locale. Avid bikers report the satisfaction of smelling newly mown grass, or flowering trees, or the fertile damp earth as one of the added bonuses of cycling.

Meeting Like-Minded Others
You can bet that fellow cyclers are probably health-and-environmentally-minded. Many bikers say that deep friendships often form among cycling enthusiasts because of their common ground.

Source: here

Good News: When does Television become so beneficial?

2009-09-10T19:36:00.004+08:00

Television is an inescapable part of modern culture. We depend on TV for entertainment, news, education, culture, weather, sports—and even music, since the advent of music videos.

With the recent explosion in satellite and digital speciality channels, we now have access to a plethora of both good quality and inappropriate TV content. In this crowded television environment, the key for parents is to search out high quality TV programs for their kids, and whenever possible, enjoy them together as a family.

Television offers lots of benefits to kids, including:

1. Because of its ability to create powerful touchstones, TV enables young people to share cultural experiences with others.

2. Shared viewing gives family members of all ages an opportunity to spend time together.

3. Parents can use TV as a catalyst to get kids reading—following up on TV programs by getting books on the same subjects or reading authors whose work was adapted for the programs.

4. Great television can teach kids important values and life lessons.

5. TV programs often explores controversial or sensitive issues, which can make it easier for parents and kids to discuss them.

6. Educational programming can develop young children's socialization and learning skills.

7. News, current events and historical programming can help make young people more aware of other cultures and people.

8. Documentaries can help develop critical thinking about society and the world.

9. Cultural programming can open up the world of music and art for young people.

How to choose good TV

How can you select viewing that is good for your children? David Kleeman, Director of the American Center for Children and Media, says ask yourself the following questions:

* Does the program actively engage my child, physically or intellectually?
Television watching doesn't have to be passive. It can prompt questions, kindle curiosity, or teach activities to pursue when the set is off.

* Do I respect this program?
Parents don't have to like every show their children choose—in fact young people need their own district culture. But parents should trust that a program's creators understand and respect how children grow and learn.

* Does my child see others like himself or herself on television?
Young children believe that television reflects the real world. To not see people like themselves—in race, ethnicity, or physical ability, for example—may diminish their self worth. A lack of role models should spark discussion about how TV portrays different types of people.

* How do makers of this program regard my child?
Some program creators see young people as consumers to be sold to. Others see them as students to be educated, as future citizens to be engaged in the community, or simply as children, whose work is play.

Use the resources on the side bar to help you find good quality television for your kids.

Source : http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/television/good_things_tv.cfm

Good News : Advantages of Solar Power - Why Not Use it in Your Home?

2009-09-09T21:30:00.004+08:00

With the increasing awareness that fossil fuels are quickly becoming depleted, we need to start focusing on renewable sources of energy. Solar power is one of the most viable options. Of course, this is no surprise. Using the power of the sun has been around in some form since the dawn of time and there are many advantages of solar power for homes.

The sun's energy is renewable. This means that no matter how much we use, we will never deplete this resource. This is in sharp contrast to the dwindling supply of fossil fuels we use.

Also, unlike fossil fuels, energy from the sun does not harm the environment. There are no byproducts of solar power that leach into the air and create pollution or contribute to greenhouse gasses. In addition, acquiring the power is not intrusive to the environment like some other forms of energy. About the most intrusive part would be the solar panels which are well suited in most areas to fit snugly on the roof.

When generating energy from the sun to power your home, you can be a self contained unit. While it might not be practical in some areas to rely solely on the sun for power, other, less developed, areas might benefit immensely by being able to power homes with the sun without having to install power plants and run electrical cables. In areas where there is not enough sunlight for household needs, systems can be setup so that you can hook into the electrical grid during those times when more energy is needed.

While installing a solar power system for your home can be expensive at first, you will eventually see a savings because as time goes on you will reduce or eliminate your monthly power bill. And with readily accessible solar power home kits on the market, the barriers to entry are minimal. One particularly well put together step-by-step guide is Earth4Energy.

After the initial costs, generating power from the sun is free. So, once you have your collection and storage systems set up, you will reap the benefits not only in monthly savings but also in the benefits to our planet. These advantages of solar power make a commitment to using solar power the most sensible decision you can make to minimize your dependence on fossil fuels.

With a little bit of time and no specialized expertise, you can reduce your dependency on fossil fuels with a cost-efficient residential solar power system. Sign up for a free six-part mini-course and learn more at http://solarpowerhomekit.info

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

Good News : How much will you pay for alternative energy? it's cheap!

2009-09-09T20:04:00.005+08:00

Many people don't realize that there are cheap alternative energy solutions for your home that you can implement and thus free yourself from the ever increasing energy costs. This is definitely the time to look into cheap alternative energy solutions as prices will continue to rise in the coming weeks and months. Saving hundreds of dollars every month is in everyone's interest, and it's time we sought ways to harness are energy for free.

1. Solar panels.

You are likely aware of using solar panels to power your home and the amazing way this energy solutions can eliminate huge bills. But, you have probably also been led to believe that solar panels are "too expensive". This isn't always the case and there are definitely cheap ways you can make your own panels. Even if you go online and dig a little you will find some of the big, discount stores sell very affordable and complete systems for a lot less than the you'd imagine. And of course the panels will have paid for themselves over a short time.
2. Solar Cooker.

This is basically a small box which requires no fuel to cook food in. You can buy solar cookers or you can make them yourself. You can boil, roast and bake your food in a solar cooker. You'll be saving a ton of power and money cooking your meals from the sun in an energy efficient manner.

3. Solar Home Heating

Home heating can be a huge cost to fork out every month, but fortunately there are cheap alternative energy solutions. There are different methods for solar home heating, depending on the design of your house, as well as your wants, needs, and how much you want to spend as an upfront cost. There are also several do it yourself projects which are very cheap. For example people have been running pvc pipe through their yards as the sun easily heats it up and it runs into their home for hot water.

Want to make your own power at home for cheap with solar and wind energy and eliminate your power bill completely? Check out this step by step instruction manual - http://energyrenewables.blogspot.com

With this set up you can get your energy for free and save literally thousands of dollars which would otherwise go towards energy bills - http://energyrenewables.blogspot.com

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

Good News : And Now You Should Sleep in Complete Darkness!

2009-09-09T00:06:00.002+08:00

We were designed to sleep at night, when it is totally dark. One part of the human body’s cycle is melatonin production. Melatonin is a hormone that helps us to sleep. The pineal gland, which produces melatonin is very sensitive to light, and shuts down production if there is any light.

Melatonin has benefits to reduce insomnia and improve REM sleep cycle.

Even if you get up in the night and turn on the bathroom light, you will shut down production, probably for the rest of the night, because the pineal gland assumes that once it sees light, that it will be light for many more hours. Melatonin is only one part of the wake/sleep cycle that depends on light. The more time you spend in full daylight, during the day, and the more complete the darkness at night, the better you will sleep.

Do we have to fear to sleep in the dark? It's healthy indeed.

Good News : Let's have a glass of plain water in the morning

2009-09-08T22:48:00.011+08:00

Some people say that by drinking a glass of plain water after waking up in the morning may help us healthier.

Early in the morning, there are some enzymes inside our mouth that when flushed down together with the water into our bodies, will benefit our general health.Also, plain (good quality) water will aid in the detoxification process that takes place in the morning.

And drinking plain water in the morning is to begin digestion/metabolism which in turn burn calories, which, decreases glucose levels even not have use to cure diabetic.Though it doesn't have many supports but some claim that drinking plain water regularly can lose their body weight.

Good News : 8 Ways to Instantly Calm Yourself

2009-09-08T00:50:00.005+08:00

We all have felt anxiety before. No matter how confident and relaxed you are, you know what it’s like to be nervous before an interview, trembling before a speech, or cold and clammy over the pending results of your graded quiz.

The point of this article is to provide you with eight different ways to release this tension. There are more powerful ways in which you can relax (as we will provide in our products) however this article provides eight ways you can use anywhere. Hardly anyone will actually notice that you are using them. You will not have to sit in a meditation position on the floor, or chant mantras to relax yourself… so no worries.

Also, notice the title of this article is not “…Calm Yourself Down”. We don’t calm down. We calm up.

Calming yourself involves not detaching yourself from your environment, but integrating yourself with it while you mentally move inward to obtain steadiness. You should not feel tired or detached. You should simply become “in the zone”: Alert, focused and relaxed.

Chair Press-Up

This one’s great for if you are waiting to give a speech or if you are nervous in a group setting. Simply put your feet flat on the floor. Put your hands on the arms of your chair. If your chair doesn’t have arms, place them on the edges of the seat. Brace yourself. Now, take a deep breath, and push up with your arms and feet as you exhale. Lock your arms – let your torso hang from your locked arms for a moment while you finish exhaling… long and deep. Go limp, but remain locked in the up position. Now sit back down. You feel like a noodle, and everything is cool.

Breathing

Breathing is absolutely crucial to calming yourself. I recommend you do some in-depth research on Eastern styles of breathing, and how to breathe powerfully with your diaphragm. Breathe in strongly and slowly through your nose as you expand your diaphragm. Your stomach should rise, not your chest. Now, blow it out strongly and steadily through your mouth. Repeat this a few times. You can feel the tension leaving your body.

Spread Legs

This one may not seem like much, but it has serious subconscious value. When most people are relaxed (particularly us guys) we have a tendency to spread our legs slightly and take up more space. By consciously spreading your legs while sitting (or standing) you will take up more space, which is what we generally do when we are comfortable in a setting. Perform the action, and the feeling of comfort will follow.

Slouch Slightly

Yes, slouching is bad for your posture. Slouching for years will curve your spine. Slouching for a few minutes will not. This is another habit most people demonstrate when they are relaxed and comfortable: They slouch. So, next time you feel antsy about a situation, allow yourself to lean back your head and slouch slightly in your chair. Once again, the feeling will follow the action.

Power Hands

Powerful people are often calm, relaxed and comfortable in their actions. When they sit around a table, they often do one of two things with their hands: Steepling, or the hands-behind-the-head. To steeple, put your elbows on the table, and steeple your hands in front of your face – like the bad guy does in the movie when he’s going “M’yesss…. Muwahaha…. I can see it all coming together so perfectly…” Think of yourself as the bad guy when you steeple your hands. You know you are going to win. You steeple your hands as you turn over your master plan inside your head. Everything is falling into place so perfectly. Muwhaha. For more of a “corporate” power / relaxation effect, lean back in your chair and put your hands behind your head, lacing your fingers together. This is how bosses sit when they are talking to people who work for them. It has profound effects in making you feel more powerful and relaxed.

Anchoring

This is an incredible psychological tool we will cover in more depth in our products. Your subconscious mind anchors certain actions / stimuli with certain feelings and responses. Psychological anchors and triggers are used everywhere. It is the reason behind many strong emotional connections. If you had a song played at your wedding, hearing the song played at a later date may make you cry. The emotional event was your wedding, and you heard a song during it (the anchor). Thus, the song became tied to the feelings you felt during your wedding. Upon hearing the song again (the trigger) you feel the same feelings again.

Another example is if you became very ill once from a certain drink, you may become sick simply from smelling the drink in the future. The emotional event was becoming very ill, and the anchor was the drink. Therefore, smelling the drink in the future could make you sick very quickly. Anchors are used everywhere, in positive and negative emotions. To use them to calm yourself, develop a specific anchor every time you are calm. My anchor is to place my hand palm-down on my thigh. Every time I am relaxed, I do this, to reinforce the anchor. Then when I need to be calm, I simply fire the trigger (palm on the thigh) and my mind recreates the emotion tied to that anchor – which is relaxation. Pick an anchor you don’t use that much, such as touching your ear, or putting your hand on your knee. Do it whenever you are relaxed, and when you need to become relaxed, doing it will help to put you in that mental state.

Kill Internal Dialogue

There are many ways to do this, but here’s one good technique: If you are talking yourself into a worrisome state, or worrying while talking to someone during a conversation, do this immediately. Defocus your eyes, and open your peripheral vision. Look at two areas ahead of you, to each side. Picture your conscious thoughts in those areas. Now, draw your gaze up from both points at 45 degree angles until they meet in the high-center of your vision. Next bring the gaze straight down, so it is directly in front of you (a person’s face if you are talking to them). Now, picture your gaze coming straight back to your own head, as you return your consciousness to your own mind. Not only does it help increase focus, but the simple effort required to perform the exercise will often stop any distracting internal dialogue you are having at the time.

Centering

If you feel a general anxiety of your whole body, such as being self-conscious of your hands, feet, or body position, this exercise can work wonders. Close your eyes. Take a few deep, long breaths: in through your nose and out through your mouth. Place your tongue on your front pallet, directly above the backside of your upper teeth- this is effective in stimulating cross-lobe integration (and relaxation) in the brain. Picture a point far in front of you. Project your thoughts there in your mind. Continue breathing, and keep your thoughts there, until you are fully relaxed and have forgotten about clammy hands, sweaty feet, or mismatched socks. Once you are relaxed, slowly bring the point in front of you closer as you return to a fully aware state.

Source: Free Article

Good News : Noon Nap, put it into your must list!

2009-09-08T00:23:00.003+08:00

It's not even noon, but you can't keep your eyes open another second. Now the hard, polished surface of the conference table looks like the perfect resting place. In fact, you'd trade anything for a short nap.

If you feel sleepy during your busy work day, you're not alone. According to a 1992 report by the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, which was created by Congress in 1989, Americans in general are grossly sleep-deprived. Most of them get 20 percent less sleep than people did 100 years ago, the commission's report says.

The cost of this national need for shut-eye is staggering. The commission estimated that in 1990 the cost of accidents, lost productivity, and poor decision making related to sleepiness was $15.9 billion.

In a January 1994 survey conducted by the Better Sleep Council, a nonprofit organization supported by the bedding industry, one in five adults surveyed said they have at some time called in sick or have showed up late for work because they didn't sleep well the night before.

This national sleep deficit could be easily reduced if exhausted employees and employers alike simply napped once a day. But napping still bears a heavy social stigma in our highly productive, fast-paced society.

"It's associated with laziness because we don't put a very high value on sleep," explains Andrea Herman, director of the Better Sleep Council, based in Alexandria, Va. The group wants to restore sleep to its rightful place in what it calls the triumvirate of health--eating properly, exercising regularly, and sleeping well.

Nightly sleep requirements vary among adults, but 7 to 10 hours is the norm. During that time, the body moves in and out of physically healing NREM (nonrapid eye movement) sleep in cycles of about 90 minutes. This is when the body's metabolism slows down enough to permit repair of the daily wear and tear on the whole system.

Roughly a fifth of slumber time is spent in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, or dreamland, where a lot of psychological healing is accomplished. Interruption or shortening of either sleep cycle intensifies the midday sleepiness already determined by the body's circadian rhythms, which set sleep and other physiological patterns.

The midday slump, say researchers at the Institute for Circadian Physiology, in Cambridge, Mass., is totally natural and has virtually nothing to do with lunchtime dietary indiscretions. People who rise and shine around 7 o'clock usually conk out between 2 and 4 in the afternoon. Earlier risers start dragging at noon and don't perk up until 2 o'clock. But because the slump is exacerbated by sleep debt, some doctors are becoming strong advocates of napping.

Dr. Jeffrey Migdow, who practices holistic medicine and directs yoga programs at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, in Lenox, Mass., says napping has a venerable tradition. Ancient yogis, having discovered how napping relieved stress on the nervous and immune systems, built 20 to 30 minutes of it into their daily practices.

"In 10 to 15 minutes, today's business person can get the same benefits," Migdow says. "The body is a very resilient system that to rejuvenate. If you take time to turn the nervous system off, the whole system recharges."

Dr. Karl Doghramji, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, in Philadelphia, recommends naps only for people who suffer sleep deprivation, not for sufferers of sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, in which breathing stops temporarily, or narcolepsy, a frequent and uncontrollable desire for sleep. "I do not recommend napping, in fact I forbid it, for people who are insomniacs, or who have a weak sleep drive," he cautions. "If you're getting eight hours of sleep at night and still need a daily nap, then something else might be going on in your sleep that needs medical attention."

If you're not getting eight hours of sleep and suspect a daytime snooze might boost your creativity, productivity, and mood, here's how to make it work:

1. To avoid disrupting your circadian rhythms, schedule your nap about eight hours after waking and eight hours before bedding down for the night.

2. Create a routine that includes napping even on days you don't feel particularly tired.

3. Lie down to nap if possible--it's the optimal position.

4. Close your office door and turn off your phone so you don't subliminally worry about being disturbed.

5. Take a minute for some slow, deep breaths before hunkering down. These will help your body relax into sleep.

6. After you wake up, take a minute to reorient yourself by taking a few more deep breaths and stretching. Don't kick into gear too abruptly. Such a shock to the nervous system undermines the wonderful benefits of napping.

Meredith Gould "Power napping - benefits of middday sleeping". Nation's Business. FindArticles.com. 07 Sep, 2009. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1154/is_n2_v83/ai_16420323/

Good News: Cholesterol, Friend or Foe? Let's Make Friend with it...

2009-09-07T01:08:00.002+08:00

High cholesterol has been linked to causing heart disease, but are there any benefits of cholesterol? News stories about cholesterol may lead you to believe that all cholesterol is bad. The truth is, though, that cholesterol is essential for good health. In fact, your body makes cholesterol in order to carry out important bodily functions.

Yet few people know about its benefits, and even medical experts are still discovering the many roles that it plays.

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol -- a waxy compound that some have likened to soft candle wax -- is a kind of sterol, which is found naturally in the tissues of both plants and animals, though only animals have cholesterol. Your body manufactures much of the cholesterol it needs in the liver, with much smaller amounts produced in the small intestine and in individual cells throughout your body.

Of course, whenever we eat chicken, fish, beef, eggs, dairy or other animal products, we add to our cholesterol levels. We manufacture, though, most of our cholesterol -- about 85%, though estimates vary. Only about 15% comes from food.

The liver packages cholesterol into so-called lipoproteins, which are combinations of lipids (fats) and proteins. Lipoproteins operate like commuter buses that carry cholesterol, other lipids like triglycerides, fat-soluble vitamins and other substances through the bloodstream to the cells that need them.

What's Cholesterol Doing in There?

Cholesterol performs several important functions in the body. Perhaps the most important of these is its role in forming and maintaining cell walls and structures. Cells also need cholesterol to help them adjust to changes in temperature, and it's used by nerve cells for insulation.

Additionally, cholesterol is essential for synthesizing a number of critical hormones, including the sex hormones testosterone, progesterone and estrogen.

Bile, a fluid produced by the liver, plays a vital role in the processing and digestion of fats. To make bile, the liver uses cholesterol. Your body also needs cholesterol to make vitamin D; in the presence of sunlight, cholesterol is converted into vitamin D.

When Good Fats Go Bad

If cholesterol is so necessary, why is it sometimes described as "bad cholesterol," and at other times as "good"? Because, like oil and water, cholesterol and blood don't mix. Cholesterol is an oily, fatty compound that won't dissolve or mix in to blood, which is water-based.

When there's too much cholesterol in the blood, it collects on the inside linings of blood vessels, similar to the way grease and fats poured down the sink collect inside drain pipes. When plaques of cholesterol form inside arteries, it's known as atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries," which can lead to strokes and heart disease.

The main culprit in this dangerous process is cholesterol that's packaged into lipoproteins that are less dense with protein and have more fats. These low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, are the "bad" cholesterol that collects in plaques on artery walls.

There's a hero in this tale, though -- and it's also cholesterol. More specifically, cholesterol that's packaged by the liver into lipoproteins that are dense with proteins and have less fat. These high-density lipoproteins, or HDL, are the "good" cholesterol. What's good about HDL is the way it seems to remove plaques of LDL inside arteries, "cleaning" the arteries as it moves through the bloodstream.

Sources:

"Cholesterol." americanheart.org. 2007. American Heart Association. 23 Sep. 2008 .

"Cholesterol is necessary for the body to function properly." uihealthcare.com. 19 Oct. 2006. University of Iowa Health Care. 22 Sep. 2008 .

Isaacsohn, Jonathan, M.D., et al. Heart Book. Yale University School of Medicine, 2002.

"What Is Cholesterol?" nhlbi.nih.gov. Sep. 2008. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health. 23 Sep. 2008 .

"Cholesterol: What Your Level Means." familydoctor.org. Oct. 2007. American Academy of Family Physicians. 23 Sep. 2008 .

"Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D." Office of Dietary Supplements. 9 Sep. 2008. National Institutes of Health. 23 Sep. 2008 .

Good News : Suffering from depression?? Try tasting salt

2009-09-06T00:02:00.004+08:00

Most people consume far too much salt and a University of Iowa (UI) researcher thinks we might crave it because it puts us in a better mood. UI psychologist Kim Johnson and colleagues found in their research that when rats are deficient in sodium chloride they shy away from activities they normally enjoy, like drinking a sugary substance or pressing a bar that stimulates a pleasant sensation in their brains.

"Things that normally would be pleasurable for rats didn't elicit the same degree of relish, which leads us to believe that a salt deficit and the craving associated with it can induce one of the key symptoms associated with depression," Johnson explained.

The UI researchers can't say it is full-blown depression but a loss of pleasure in normally pleasing activities is one of the most important features of psychological depression. And, the idea that salt is a natural mood-elevating substance could help explain why we're so tempted to over-ingest it, even though it's known to contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease and other health problems.

Past research has shown that the worldwide average for salt intake per individual is about 10 grams per day, which is greater than the FDA recommended intake by about 4 grams, and may exceed what the body actually needs by more than 8 grams.

Writing about their findings in the journal Physiology & Behavior, the Iowa researchers also reviewed others' research on the reasons behind salt appetite.

High levels of salt are contained in everything from pancakes to pasta these days, but once upon a time, it was hard to come by. Salt consumption and its price skyrocketed around 2000 B.C. when it was discovered as a food preservative. Roman soldiers were paid in salt; the word salary is derived from the Latin for salt. Even when mechanical refrigeration lessened the need for salt in the 19th century, consumption continued in excess because people liked the taste and it had become fairly inexpensive. Today, 77 percent of our salt intake comes from processed and restaurant foods, like frozen dinners and fast food.

Evolution might have played an important part in the human hankering for salt. Humans evolved from creatures that lived in salty ocean water. Once on land, the body continued to need sodium and chloride because minerals play key roles in allowing fluids to pass in and out of cells, and in helping nerve cells transfer information throughout the brain and body. But as man evolved in the hot climate of Africa, perspiration robbed the body of sodium. Salt was scarce because our early ancestors ate a veggie-rich diet and lived far from the ocean.

"Most of our biological systems require sodium to function properly, but as a species that didn't have ready access to it, our kidneys evolved to become salt misers," Johnson said.

Behavior also came to play a key role in making sure we have enough salt on board. Animals like us come equipped with a taste system designed to detect salt and a brain that remembers the location of salt sources -- like salt licks in a pasture. A pleasure mechanism in the brain is activated when salt is consumed.

So the body needs salt and knows how to find it and how to conserve it. But today scientists are finding evidence that it's an abused, addictive substance - almost like a drug. One sign of addiction is using a substance even when it's known to be harmful. Many people are told to reduce sodium due to health concerns, but they have trouble doing so because they like the taste and find low-sodium foods bland.

Another strong aspect of addiction is the development of intense cravings when drugs are withheld. Experiments by Johnson and colleagues indicate similar changes in brain activity whether rats are exposed to drugs or salt deficiency. "This suggests that salt need and cravings may be linked to the same brain pathways as those related to drug addiction and abuse," Johnson said.

Source : http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20090211024757data_trunc_sys.shtml

Good News : Spicy Food??? It's Ok!

2009-09-05T01:36:00.006+08:00

Many cultures around the world embrace spicy foods-chilies are actually the second most popular spice in the world next to salt. Spicy foods may be better for you than you even realize-recent research shows that adding some spice to your meal can provide more health benefits than was ever thought. Here are five benefits to adding some spice to your meals.

1. Weight loss. Spicy foods are said to help rev up your metabolism and the faster your metabolism, the more weight you will lose. Furthermore, studies have shown that people who eat spicy foods eat smaller portions which can cut your calories way back.

2. Cancer Prevention: Scientists have discovered that capsaicin (found in jalepeno peppers) attacks and kills cancer cells. The way it does this is by attacking the mitochondria which are the powerhouses of cells.

3. Improved digestion. Even though spicy food has a bad reputation for causing heart burn, it has been shown that the spiciness stimulates stomach secretions. This in turn will increase blood flow to the stomach and even increase the mucous lining and combat ulcers. If you do find you get heartburn from spicy foods, try taking an antacid relief tablet which will neutralize acids in the stomach.

4. Improved circulation. The spicier the food, the more it increases your blood flow, gets your heart pumping, and raises the body’s temperature. If you live in a hot climate this can actually make you feel cooler by making you sweat which cools the body.

5. Improved sleep patterns. Australian researchers have found that people who regularly consumed spicy meals fell asleep more easily, had healthier sleep patterns, and even woke up easier and had more energy throughout the day.

Peppery hot foods have been in the human diet for more than 8000 years, and are becoming more and more popular due to increased health benefits. Almost any recipe can be spiced up with the addition of chili peppers, hot sauce, peppers, or other spices.

Source: http://astronutrition.com/blog/5_benefits_spicy_foods

Good News : 5 Things That Become Easier When You Wake Up Early

2009-08-29T23:35:00.006+08:00

Now, there’s nothing wrong with being a night owl if you’re doing it for all the right reasons, but when you focus on getting better sleep and waking up early you tap into a number of benefits that most people don’t get by staying up late. Busy workdays often lead to weary evenings, and in the rush to keep up important things can fall by the wayside. It’s not easy for anyone to keep it all balanced, but waking up early can give you a definite advantage when it comes to getting more of what you want out of life. Let’s look at 5 things that get easier when you give waking up early a chance.

#1 – It’s Easier To Feel Good About Your Day

Most of us live lives that are pretty damned busy. Sometimes way, way too busy. Because of that, it’s easy to be frazzled, hurried and stressed when you wake up after hitting the snooze button and realize that you have to hit the ground running if you hope to get going in time. That rushed feeling doesn’t go away easily for most of us, and we carry that stress throughout the day (and night). But when you wake up early, you get to start the day on your own terms. You get time to “warm up,” to let your thoughts settle, and relax before it’s time to spring into action. You get to be proactive – rather than reactive, which gives you a greater feeling of control (and cuts your stress during the day).
#2 – It’s Easier To Keep Your Life Balanced

The greatest thing about waking up early is that almost nobody else does. :-) This means you have a chunk of time where you’re likely to be free of interruptions and demands – and you can finally do some things for yourself (for a change!). The things you’ve been putting off – exercise, journaling, reading, relaxing, attending to your personal or spiritual growth – these are all things that you can start making time for “under the radar” of a day that crouches in wait with infinite urgencies and demands. By setting aside a slice of your day for you, a more balanced life becomes something you’re actually working for, rather than hoping for.

#3 – It’s Easier To Sleep Well At Night

When you know that the next morning will give you a chance to meet the day on your own terms, and that you’ll have an opportunity to bring more balance to your life, you’ll feel a lot better when you put your head down on the pillow. You won’t feel so rushed, so overwhelmed, so running behind … and you’ll be able to relax more at the end of the day, knowing progress awaits in the morning. And while that’s not a guaranteed cure for insomnia or other sleep disorders, it certainly can’t hurt.

#4 – It’s Easier to Stay Focused And Productive

This is a given (and that’s why it’s towards the bottom of the list). Tasks tend to expand to meet whatever time limits we set for them, and that can be dangerous late at night, when you’re geared up to “just work a little longer ’till it’s done.” But when you block out time in the morning to do something, the deadline becomes more real. You’ve got to get a task done before the kids get up, or before it’s time to go to work, and you hustle more to get it done. You resist distraction and stay more focused. And that’s a good thing to have going for you.

#5 – It’s Easier to … (you fill in the blank)

The “teaser” post for the Better Sleep series received a lot of great comments from all of you, and I’d love to hear more. If you’re an early riser already, add to the list via the comments below. If you’re an early riser-in-training, comment on what you’re planning to “make easier” when you start meeting the day on your own terms. And if you need some help waking up early, click here to get it.

Waking up early isn’t as grueling as most people think – but there are some very real obstacles, which I’ll discuss in the next post, Why Waking Up Early Can Be So Hard. Sign up for RSS or email updates and don’t miss a post in the Better Sleep series.

Good News : Did you know how much Natural Parenting has benefits?

2009-08-29T02:52:00.010+08:00

Natural parenting has many benefits, not simply for the children, but for many areas of family life.

Natural parenting proponents advocate a simple, natural lifestyle for raising children. Natural parenting believes in natural childbirth, breastfeeding, close attachment parenting and bonding, stay-at-home parenting, co-sleeping, positive discipline, natural and organic foods, home schooling, natural health, and disallowing vaccinations, circumcisions and other intervention from medical and technological advances.

The Benefits of Natural Parenting
Research from natural parenting advocates suggests that children raised in an old-fashioned, more natural way produce healthier, more secure children with fewer problems.

* “We turned out OK.” Natural parenting advocates claim that children of past generations have been raised naturally and had far fewer medical and social problems, as compared to children today, who are raised in a world where technology intervenes at every turn. Natural parenting experts say the incidences of attention deficit disorders, mental illness, behavior problems, health problems and food reactions are far more prevalent today.
* More bang for the buck. Natural parenting and family living is far less expensive than trying to keep up with the plethora of toys, gadgets and gear that seem to crop up continuously. Parents of young children are bombarded by “must-haves,” which can be a strain on family finances.
* More secure children. Natural parenting proponents say they’ve debunked newer parenting theories suggesting that babies need to “cry it out” at night and that parents who pick up a baby every time he cries are “spoiling” him. Their research suggests that babies whose cries get an immediate response from parents grow up to be more secure, more confident and more independent.
* Health reasons. Most doctors would agree that breast milk is healthier for an infant than formula. Breastfeeding passes on immunities from the mother to baby and greatly reduces sickness in babies. Generally, a more natural lifestyle is healthier for a child, natural parenting proponents say. Returning to a more natural life eliminates some of the problems that have appeared since modern parenting practices, such as colic, rashes, sleep problems, attention deficit problems, diabetes, obesity, hyperactivity, and behavior issues.
* It’s simply more natural. Just as parents in the animal kingdom instinctively know how to raise their young, humans have natural instincts on how to give birth, treat childhood illnesses, feed and care for their children.

Criticisms of Natural Parenting
Critics of natural parenting claim there is no evidence that it is superior to more modern, mainstream parenting methods. Natural parenting means a lot of work for parents and the demands can be exhausting, critics say.

Natural parenting opponents condemn its refusal to take advantage of modern advances, particularly in the medical arena. By refusing to allow their children to be vaccinated against disease, natural parents are putting their children at risk, as well as public health, critics say. While there are perceived adverse effects of immunization, medical opinion is that the benefits of immunization greatly outweigh the risks. Some diseases have been cut to negligible rates and others eradicated altogether because of immunizations.

Co-sleeping, in which parents and children share a bed, can be dangerous for infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have both warned against co-sleeping, saying it increases a baby’s risk for suffocation and strangulation.

Source : http://www.life123.com/parenting/young-children/child-discipline/the-benefits-of-natural-parenting.shtml

Good News : Boredom truly has benefits to us...

2009-08-29T02:42:00.005+08:00

Over the centuries, many religions and philosophers (not to mention mothers!) have feared and even damned boredom. Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard called it “the root of all evil”. Wordsworth described it as a “savage torpor”. Early Christians classified it as one of the seven deadly sins. We talk about being “bored to death”, “bored stiff”, “bored to tears” and “bored silly”. Crime waves are often blamed on disaffected youths who claim they cannot find anything else to do.

However, in addition to negatively numbed minds, there are also constructively bored minds. If one is brave enough to hang out with boredom for awhile (in oneself or one’s children), boredom can be the great motivator, a push to develop one’s inner resources and a tool for creativity.

Here’s what writer F. Scott Fitzgerald had to say on the topic: “Boredom is not an end product; it is, comparatively, rather an early stage in life and art. You’ve got to go by or past or through boredom, as through a filter, before the clear product emerges.”

Many times while writing I have found myself lingering over the keyboard, considering some new procrastination tactic, feeling bored and uninspired with my work and unable to write another word. But I pushed on through those feelings, past that situation, because I am a writer...and thus motivated to write (partly because I love the very process as much as the rewards that come with the product). Actually, as I think about it, I did more than push through boredom; it pushed me.

Boredom seems to have been the mechanism that prompted me to clear my mind and refocus. Sometimes I’d go for a walk or clean the kitchen. But I didn’t stay bored for long, because I began to look around and notice things I hadn’t seen before – including new thoughts. Maybe the unfocused time had allowed my mind to rest and my subconscious to scan the horizon for a new perspective, which was followed by new interest in the task at hand. For whatever reason, soon I would be back engrossed in productive work. And inevitably, that work would be better than what I was producing earlier.

Psychologist and author Mihaly Csikszentmihaly would say I was back into the flow. Csikszentmihalyi is chiefly known as the architect of the notion of flow in creativity. He describes flow as “being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.”

So maybe, when we’re bored, we seek to feel those good feelings associated with flow. In his book Beyond Boredom and Anxiety: Experiencing Flow in Work and Play Csikszentmihaly examines motivation based on a study of a half-dozen groups of people involved in pursuits like rock climbing, composing, dancing and playing chess. He chose these groups in an effort to understand more fully what motivates people to stop watching boring television shows and instead, engage in activities that are extremely challenging or offer few external rewards (like writing a poem or pondering a chess move). He found, simply (and these are my words – he seldom writes simply), that the answer is in the high they get from experiencing flow.

I remember as an only child feeling bored sometimes (at least that is how it was labeled at the time), especially during summer vacation when my time wasn’t programmed by somebody else. If my mother noticed, she would nag at me to “do something”, then she might create some busy work to try and alleviate my boredom. It seldom worked, possibly because I was stubborn enough to reject her suggestions on general principle, probably because she confused solitude with idleness, maybe because you can’t alleviate somebody else’s boredom for them, and often because I wasn’t really bored, but tinkering, messing about, just looking like I was doing nothing. And sometimes, my cries of boredom were really cries for my mother’s attention, rather than for one of her projects designed to keep me out of her way. Eventually my down time would end and I would find something new and more challenging to do than the busy work she provided. If left alone long enough, boredom motivated me, forced me to lean on my own inner resources, to develop my imagination and to envision wonderful possibilities. Maybe I was subconsciously looking for things that would let me experience flow! And probably there was lots going on in my subconscious while I was bored, which surfaced at some later time.

At other times, I remember being bored because I was disinterested in what the adults around me were chatting about. Bored with the conversation, I would become enthralled with people’s voices and with the sounds of their words and their accents. Later, in the safety of my own room, I would try to replicate those accents, an activity which no doubt increased my vocabulary and trained my ear for future writing projects. In the same way, I once watched my young daughter lying on a blanket under a tree. As she grew weary with observing the passing clouds and gently blowing branches, she suddenly sat up and began to point out faces, animals and other objects that she was seeing above her. Soon, she had picked up a pencil and was feverishly drawing what she was imagining. Boredom turned quickly to creativity; doing nothing had allowed her to “see” things in a new way and inspired her to “do something” as her grandmother would have worriedly urged if she had been there.

At any rate, and contrary to my mother’s concerns, boredom got neither me nor my daughter into trouble. Nor, as is so often a concern, did it turn either of us into passive people waiting to be entertained or taught. My life learning daughter was already fully engaged in the world, eagerly entertaining herself and others, and actively learning from life. As for me, I already was a bit inclined toward passivity, as a result of being trained in school to accept the prospect of repetitive tasks, rote learning and intellectual conformity. I like to think it was the boredom of school, combined with my comfort in being alone born of the solitude of being an only child, in an era of little or no influence from television, that allowed me to become a prolific creator.

If that is true, I was lucky. One of the main things I wanted to avoid for my daughters by allowing them to learn outside of the school system was the numbing lack of imagination that has created the repetitive and monotonous way we deal with learning in the school setting.

Given that most of us experienced that type of schooling, it is no wonder a distaste for boredom and drive for diversion is embedded in our culture. Ironically, work, education and even many of our leisure pursuits often involve what seem like difficult, unpleasant and boring chores. For too many people, making a living is something one does not out of joy, but in order to earn enough money to stay home on weekends and a couple of weeks in the summer, and on which to retire early. Learning skills like reading and multiplying is thought to be difficult and painful, and has to be forced on children. Keeping fit often involves forcing ourselves to eat things we don’t like and pound the pavement or pedal to nowhere on a stationary bike once a day. And even our attempts at entertaining ourselves involve brief diversions through watching the latest pseudo-reality television show or banal hit song rather than a joyful flexing of our own creative powers.

Knowing the way life learning challenges the schooling mentality, just think what would happen if everyone started to act on the motivation of boredom and look for ways to live totally in the flow! I am willing to bet that besides a lot of happy and creative people, we would also have fewer bored, antisocially behaving young people, but that’s another article.

We certainly would, I believe, be a calmer group of people. This morning, as I sat writing at a sidewalk café, I wondered whether all the people speeding by me were really fruitfully engaged in the world, or if their rushing to and fro was mostly an effort to avoid boredom, to keep their minds active and engaged.

What if, I wondered, as I enjoyed the sites and smells of the early morning, more people paid attention to the journey of life, not just the destination? What if they paid more attention to their experiences moment by moment? I suspect they would find that boredom is, as F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, a filter through which emotions, experiences and, yes, solitude can pass, resulting in a soaring of creativity and imagination – not to mention less stress. They might also find that it can be an alarm bell, motivating us to alter the way we are thinking, living and learning. Unlike caged animals whose neural pathways are altered by their boredom to the point that all they can do is pace, we humans have the potential to break through anything that limits our happiness and creativity, boredom included.

Source : http://www.naturallifemagazine.com/lifelearning/boredom.htm

Good News : The Family who Eats Together, Stays Together

2009-08-28T02:20:00.007+08:00

"Come and get it!" It may be dinnertime, but when was the last time your family sat down and enjoyed a mealtogether? With music lessons, ball practice, play rehearsal, and work schedules, it can be tough. Rounding up the troops for an evening meal can be almost impossible! However, research is beginning to show that eating as a family has great benefits for your children and teenagers. Here are 8 more reasons why you should try to sit down together 5-6 times a week, whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Reason #1: Communication and Well-Being
Conversations during the meal provide opportunities for the family to bond, plan, connect, and learn from one another. It’s a chance to share information and news of the day, as well as give extra attention to your children and teens. Family meals foster warmth, security and love, as well as feelings of belonging. It can be a unifying experience for all.

Reason #2: Model Manners (and more)
Family mealtime is the perfect opportunity to display appropriate table manners, meal etiquette, and social skills. Keep the mood light, relaxed, and loving. Try not to instruct or criticize—lead by example.
Reason # 3: Expand Their World…One Food at a Time
Encourage your children to try new foods, without forcing, coercing, or bribing. Introduce a new food along with some of the stand-by favorites. Remember that it can take 8-10 exposures to a new food before it is accepted, so be patient. Trying a new food is like starting a new hobby. It expands your child’s knowledge, experience, and skill.
* Include foods from other cultures and countries.
* Select a new vegetable from a local farmer’s market.
* Have your child select a new recipe from a cookbook, web site, newspaper, magazine or check out the recipes on SparkPeople.

Reason #4: Nourish
Meals prepared and eaten at home are usually more nutritious and healthy. They contain more fruits, vegetables, and dairy products along with additional nutrients such as fiber, calcium, vitamins A and C, and folate. Home cooked meals are usually not fried or highly salted, plus soda and sweetened beverage consumption is usually lower at the dinner table.

Reason #5: Become Self-Sufficient
Children today are missing out on the importance of knowing how to plan and prepare meals. Basic cooking, baking, and food preparation are necessities for being self-sufficient. Involve your family in menu planning, grocery shopping, and food preparation. Preschoolers can tear lettuce, cut bananas, and set the table. Older children can pour milk, peel vegetables, and mix batter. Teenagers can dice, chop, bake, and grill. Working as a team puts the meal on the table faster, as well as makes everyone more responsible and accepting of the outcome. Improved eating habits come with "ownership" of a meal.

Reason #6: Prevent Destructive Behaviors
Research shows that frequent family dinners (five or more a week), are associated with lower rates of smoking, drinking, and illegal drug use in pre-teens and teenagers when compared to families that eat together two or fewer times per week. Even as older children’s schedules get more complicated, it is important to make an effort to eat meals together. Scheduling is a must.

Reason #7: Improve Grades
Children do better in school when they eat more meals with their parents and family. Teenagers who eat dinner four or more times per week with their families have higher academic performance compared with teenagers who eat with their families two or fewer times per week.

Reason # 8: Save Money
Meals purchased away from home cost two to four times more than meals prepared at home. At present time the restaurant industry’s share of the total food dollar is more than 46%. Due to scheduling, commitments, and activities, families eat out several times each week.

It is time to bring the "family" back to the dinner table. Sharing dinner together gives everyone a sense of identity. It can help ease day-to-day conflicts, as well as establish traditions and memories that can last a lifetime.

Good News : Chewing Gum, Do You know how good it is ?

2009-08-27T03:06:00.005+08:00

A new study has proved that chewing gum after abdominal surgery may help in recovery. Researchers have collected information from several different studies and are publishing the final results in the August issue of The Archives of Surgery.

Chewing gum reduces the time for the gut to become active, lowering the incidence of obstruction of the bowel and stimulating the release of gastrointestinal hormones.

Furthermore, gum chewers have better chances of avoiding nausea and vomiting, often caused by eating too soon after the operation.

Chewing gum may be bad for your teeth as the dentist will always remind you. However, natural chewing gum contains ingredients that will not damage your teeth.

In fact, ingredients such as Xylitol and Peelu may help cleaning your teeth, decreasing tooth decay and dental plaque acid production.

Scientific research has showed that regular use of xylitol may reduce dental cavities by as much as 80% and may prevent gingivitis as well. Most of xylitol sugar-free products will help keeping a fresh breath, and it will actually work whitening and protecting your teeth as you chew.

Buying the right chewing gum can make the difference. Tell your kids about the importance of chewing the healthy gum, promoting good oral health and keeping a beautiful smile.

Good News : How Good Green Color is

2009-08-27T02:57:00.003+08:00

Green as a color is known to have a shooting effect on humans. In ancient India the gurus used to surround themselves by greenery to help in meditation. It is also a known superstition in south india that if you feel frightened you should immediately see something green. Maybe the scientific reasoning behind this superstition maybe that the color green usually soothes the nerves. If you are prone to stress attacks and anxiety, I would suggest that you surround yourself with green as much as possible. In fact you should try to place plug plants at your workstations, at your cubicle, in you study room and even in the rest room. It gives immense relaxation. Try it for a few weeks and you will start noticing the difference on your own.

If you have a house which faces towards a lawn you can ask for anything better. Make sure you start everyday by taking in all the green around you for a few moments. There is nothing which will be refresh you mind better. You can even have your bedroom painted as thick green (instead of light green), I know its not a very commonly found color in bedrooms but give it a try. You will immediately start noticing that you feel very rested when you get up. Infact if you are prone to anger bouts you should make green color you companion. Green is known to reduce the levels of anger and frustration within more than any other color. The reason why you feel attracted to green grass is because of your body's affinity to this color.

As a practice try adding a new plant to your garden every month. Usually a lush green plant should be ideal. Flowering plants are good, but even a non flowering plant which is lush green is great for viewing pleasure. Make your garden look as flushed with green as possible, ensure that there are no traces of artifical materials like bricks, paint and concrete visible in you garden. Basically cover it up with green. Your garden would then be your ultimate medidation ground, infact you dont need to medidate just be present watching the green around you to feel completely relaxed.

Good News: Natural Light for Better Day

2009-08-27T02:49:00.003+08:00

People love natural light. Subconsciously, unknowingly, we seek out sunlit places and enjoy spending time in natural light. Beyond this desire, however, are some tangible benefits to adding natural daylighting into buildings.

Studies have proven daylighting makes employees more comfortable and productive. Reduced absenteeism, employee satisfaction and higher productivity are all bottom line benefits from the use of natural daylighting. An increase of just 1% in productivity provides enough financial savings to a company to pay their entire energy bill.

In a jointly published study, Greening the Building and the Bottom Line: Increasing Productivity Through Energy-Efficient Design, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Rocky Mountain Institute describes these benefits in greater detail. This study provides numerous case studies of documented proof of the effects of natural light.

Wal-Mart (to your surprise) has discovered great value in natural daylight. Beyond the energy savings, Wal-Mart discovered an additional benefit. In their Lawrence, Kansas store, they found (possibly by accident) sales in the daylit portion were twice that of the artificially lit portion. They also found the cash registers that extended under the daylit portion rang in twice as many sales as the artificially lit ones. More information is available on the Wal-Mart Web site.

Of course, simply adding windows to a building is not enough, light brings with it potential heat and glare. A good architect knows how to control, diffuse and use light to create a healthy and comfortable indoor environment.

Good News : 8 Healthiest Drink

2009-08-26T16:36:00.007+08:00

When you think of good-for-you beverages, water immediately comes to mind, but there are others worth adding to your diet. "Some drinks have tremendous health benefits, from relieving minor ailments like indigestion to protecting against serious ones like osteoporosis," says Dan Nadeau, M.D., medical director of Exeter Hospital's HealthReach Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition Center in Exeter, New Hampshire. Here, eight choices that are packed with disease-fighting nutrients. Now that's easy to swallow.

1. Green Tea
The Benefit: Helps reduce risk of osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease and cavities. Green tea contains a rich concentration of flavonoids and polyphenols, natural antioxidants that may protect cells from carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) and inhibit tumor growth by helping to neutralize free radicals in the body. The tea's antioxidants may also guard against heart disease by relaxing blood vessels, inhibiting the formation of blood clots that trigger heart attacks and strokes. Green tea also contains fluoride, which strengthens teeth; the flavonoids may build up bones as well, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and tooth decay.
Calories: 0

2. Mint Tea
The Benefit: Eases cramps and helps ward off indigestion. "Mint is an antispasmodic, so it can relax muscles, which combats stiffness and aches," says Susan Lark, M.D., author of The Chemistry of Success (Bay Books, 1999). It also aids in digestion by promoting the movement of food through the digestive tract.
Calories: 0

3. One Percent Reduced-Fat Milk
The Benefit: Curbs cravings and helps protect against osteoporosis. Because it has the components of a healthy meal-carbohydrates, protein and a little fat-you absorb it slowly and stay full longer, says Molly Pelzer, R.D., a nutrition educator in Tipton, Iowa. It also stabilizes blood sugar, so you're less susceptible to cravings. Milk is the ideal source of calcium, because it contains vitamin D, which is needed for maximum calcium absorption. It may also help your body stop storing fat. In a recent study, women who consumed three to four servings of low-fat dairy foods (milk being one) lost nearly twice as much weight as those who took in lower amounts. 'The calcium causes your body's cells to burn the fat instead of holding on to it," says Pelzer. "This makes it easier to reach and maintain your goal weight."
Calories: 120 for eight ounces

4. Soy Milk
The Benefit: Lowers risk of heart disease. Soy milk contains soluble fiber and soy protein, which lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and triglycerides, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. If you're drinking it instead of cow's milk, buy soy milk fortified with calcium and vitamins A and D. One caveat: Soy contains phytoestrogens, which may be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Talk to your doctor about drinking soy milk if you have a family history of the disease or have had it yourself.
Calories: 81 for eight ounces

5. Hot Chocolate
The Benefit: Improves mood and may help protect against heart disease. Chocolate increases the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is responsible for regulating mood. (Low levels of serotonin have been associated with depression.) Cocoa is also rich in polyphenols, plant-derived antioxidants that may protect cells against oxidative damage that can lower HDL (good) cholesterol levels, possibly putting you at higher risk for a heart attack.
Calories: 195 for eight ounces homemade cocoa; 115 for a powdered mix

6. Low-Sodium Tomato Juice
The Benefit: May protect against numerous cancers. Processed tomato products are the richest source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been associated with a reduced risk of lung and stomach cancer, as well as pancreatic, colorectal, esophageal, oral, breast and cervical cancers. Lycopene also appears to protect the lungs and heart against oxidative damage, helping to ward off cardiovascular disease.
Calories: 31 for six ounces

7. Cranberry Juice
The Benefit: Helps prevent gum disease. Research suggests that the same anti-bacterial properties present in cranberry juice that fight off urinary tract infections may also protect against periodontal disease. Experts theorize that a component of the juice called nondialysable material (NDM) inhibits bacteria from sticking to the gums. Many nutritionists are wary of fruit juices because of their sugar content, so limit your intake to no more than one glass (six to eight ounces) daily. "Make sure the label says 100 percent juice, not 'juice drink' or 'cocktail,'" suggests Heidi Reichenberger, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. You can find this type of juice in health-food stores and some supermarkets.
Calories: 140 for eight ounces

8. Orange Juice
The Benefit: May ward off cataracts, cancers and birth defects and boost immunity. An excellent source of vitamin C, orange juice is also a potent antioxidant that may protect against a variety of diseases including cataracts (a clouding of the eye's lens that can lead to blindness) and lung cancer. Vitamin C may prevent oxidative damage that can cause cells to become cancerous, and it improves immune-cell functioning, enabling your body to fight off infections more efficiently. And it's a good source of folate, which protects against neural-tube defects in fetuses. To get the extra benefit of bone protection, try some calcium-fortified orange juice.
Calories: 115 for eight ounces

Source : http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/drinks/healthy-choices/healthiest-drinks/

Good News : 10 Good Reasons Why we need to smile

2009-08-26T01:00:00.006+08:00

Smiling is the easiest great thing to do. We could get much benefits by smiling and it makes you happy every time. Smiling also can make us healthier, it's according to some reasons and results of research and they concluded it. These are the reasons why we need to smile if we can

1. Smiling Makes Us Attractive

We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away -- but a smile draws them in.

2. Smiling Changes Our Mood

Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There's a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

3. Smiling Is Contagious

When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.

4. Smiling Relieves Stress

Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you'll be better able to take action.

5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System

Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.

6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure

When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

7. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin

Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug.

8. Smiling Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger

The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day -- you'll look younger and feel better.

9. Smiling Makes You Seem Successful

Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently.

10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive

Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It's hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that "Life is Good!" Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling.

Good News : The Benefits of Crying: Go Ahead and Cry

2009-08-26T00:43:00.004+08:00

When was the last time you cried? While crying has always been associated with weakness, hurt, and emotional injury, it is never really embarrassing to cry. What most people do not know is that crying is just another form of expression of feelings, just like laughing, smiling, or being angry.

As some people would attest to, shedding a few tears, now and then, has been found to be quite beneficial to the ordinary fellow. It may seem hard to believe at first. But some swear it to be true. When it all boils down to it though, one realizes that there's no apparent need for such attestations when the purported benefits are right there before our very eyes to bear witness to.

Crying, for one thing, does seem to serve as a nice way of getting those heavy feelings off our chests - all those failures and heartbreaks, just to name a few. We go through them over and over again, throughout our entire lives. And all this time, what has been the best way we've come to find insofar as dealing with them is concerned? Why through crying, of course. There are just not enough words to describe that sensation we get after one big bawling out session. The release. All those tension gone. It's but a small price to pay, really, for such a rewarding opportunity.

Then again, there's no need to limit its uses only to negative sentiments. After all, it's no secret that tears are by no means a rarity in those happier episodes of our lives. At these times, the effect intended and created is not so much as to put away a burdensome feeling, but rather to make the moment all the more special. That much more memorable. What with the puffy eyes. The upside is just that too overwhelming.

These are just some of the things we have to take into consideration the next time we feel a vulnerable moment coming along. We need to remember that it's probably not all that bad. Quite the opposite, it's more likely that it'll help us cope with the situation rather than make it worse than it already is. If anything, it'll at least pave the way for us to express ourselves to those people around us. Something we ought to be doing, in the first place, crying or not.

Source : http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1806344/the_benefits_of_crying_go_ahead_and.html

Good News : Let's Laugh!

2009-08-26T00:33:00.004+08:00

Laughing is not just related to facial expressions, but it causes a number of chemical changes within the body. Good hearty laughter helps release enzymes and hormones that are helpful for normal functioning of various organs. This is due to a connection between laughing and stimulation of brain and different glands. Laughter enhances the body to release natural antihistamines. It also activates T-cells, a natural anti-biotic produced in the body. It helps boost the immune system and fight infections. It prevents numerous diseases by strengthening the immune system.

Laughter reduces the levels of certain hormones, namely cortisol, growth hormone, epinephrine and dopac, which are associated with stress response. Thus it helps relieve stress, depression, anxiety, grief, anger and irritation. Laughing also decreases pain by releasing a hormone, endorphins. It improves our attentiveness, pulse and heart rate.

Laughing is proven to be very beneficial for the people suffering from hypertension. It helps lower the blood pressure to normal. Laughing causes deeper breathing and increase in blood flow, due to which oxygen and essential nutrients are supplied to all body parts.

Laughter is a good workout for respiratory, abdominal, leg, back and facial muscles. It tones intestinal functioning, massages abdominal organs and strengthens abdominal muscles. This activity is advantageous for digestion as well as absorption. Laughter also helps burn calories and is beneficial for weight loss.

In addition to physical health benefits, laughing offers several psychological health benefits. It boosts self-confidence and gives mental strength to cope with conflicts and challenges in life. It also helps us come out of anxiety and depression. It improves out mental health and makes us forget all the tensions in our daily busy lives.

Laughing enhances our ability to connect with others. It also causes a number of behavioral changes. It makes us energized and increases our interest in daily activities.

Laughing also offers many social benefits. A person with a smiling face is always popular amongst a group. It lessens the distance between two individuals and brings them together. It increases healthy communication with others.

Laughter positively affects many aspects of your life, including your health, well-being and energy, leading to a healthy, quality life. So always smile, it improves your face value too.

Good News : Breastfeeding in modern time? Its Benefits are more than just time!

2009-08-25T00:26:00.002+08:00

Breastfeeding is more than a lifestyle choice — it's an important health choice. Any amount of time that you can do it will help both you and your baby. There are many benefits of breast milk for mothers, babies, and others.

Benefits for Babies, Moms, and Families

Breastfeeding is normal and healthy for infants and moms.

Breast milk has disease-fighting cells called antibodies that help protect infants from germs, illness, and even SIDS. Infant formula cannot match the exact chemical makeup of human milk, especially the cells, hormones, and antibodies that fight disease.

Breast milk is different from infant formula. Colostrum, the thick yellow first breast milk that you make during pregnancy and just after birth, will give your baby the best start at life.
It is known as "liquid gold." It is very rich in nutrients and antibodies to protect your baby as he or she first enters the world. Although your baby only gets a small amount of colostrum at each feeding, it matches the amount his or her tiny stomach can hold. A newborn stomach is only the size of a large marble at first!

Your milk changes over time to meet your baby's needs. Your breast milk that begins to be made by the third to fifth day after birth has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby's growth. It will be a thinner type of milk, but just as full of all of the nutrients and antibodies for your baby.

For most babies, breast milk is easier to digest than formula. It takes time for their stomachs to adjust to digesting the proteins in formula because they are made from cow's milk.

Premature babies do better when breastfed compared to premature babies who are fed formula.

When you breastfeed, there are no bottles and nipples to sterilize. Unlike human milk straight from the breast, infant formula has a chance of being contaminated.

Breastfeeding makes your life easier. You do not have to purchase, measure, and mix formula. There are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night!

Breastfeeding can save you between $1,160 and $3,915 per year, depending on the brand of formula.

A mother can satisfy her baby's hunger right away with breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding requires a mother to take some quiet relaxed time for herself and her baby, helping them bond. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm, and comforted. Breastfeeding mothers may have increased self-confidence and feelings of closeness and bonding with their infants.

Breastfeeding during an emergency can save lives.

Good News : Zivanna Letisha Siregar got 1st rank in Miss Universe Competition

2009-08-23T20:31:00.007+08:00

A good news comes from miss universe that will be held today in Paradise Island, Bahamas. As an Indonesian we are so proud of our native to be the 1st rank in miss universe voted online through missuniverse.com. Zivanna Letisha Siregar is a contestant from Indonesia to compete getting title as miss universe. She said that she's so confidence to compete in this contest taking her beauty, her intelegence and her personality.

Today we can see the result of this contest, Hope Zizi could win and be the first miss universe from Indonesia in Indonesia's history.

Here is a litle part of the Identity of Zivanna Letisha Siregar:

Name : Zivanna Letisha Siregar
Nick Name : Zizi
Birth Date and Place : Jakarta, 16 February 1989
Achievement:

Putri Indonesia 2008
The Winner of Asian Elite Model look in Shanghai (2007)
High School Ambassador in Singapore
The Ambassador of Osteoporosis and Indonesian Healty Bone Society.

Good News : New study: Smoke Pot to keep Alzheimer’s Away!?

2009-08-23T20:22:00.003+08:00

A marijuana puff a day keeps Alzheimer’s away! A new research has found out that marijuana may actually fight memory loss if taken in small doses amounting to just one puff a day. Researchers have tested a chemical compound on rats and found out that the chemical reduces inflammation in the brain and promotes the growth of new brain cells.

The chemical compound is similar to THC, the main psychoactive substance found in marijuana. Elderly rats that were given the compound performed better on learning and memory tasks. This raises an interesting question. “Could people smoke marijuana to prevent Alzheimer’s disease if the disease is in their family?” Researcher Gary Wenk said, “We’re not saying that, but it might actually work.”

This THC mimicking drug, called WIN-55212-2, was also injected into young rats with inflammation in their brains. The drug reduced inflammation. In another part of the study, WIN was injected in to older rats that were then put into a swimming tank with hidden resting spots. It was observed that the medicated rats were better able to find and remember the hidden spots.

A dissection of the rat brains by researchers revealed that the drug not only reduced inflammation in the brain but it also promoted the growth of new neurons. These results were presented at a meeting of Society of Neuroscience last week. Although the research is far from human trials, it was suggested by researchers to use a legal drug similar to WIN to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, which causes chronic inflammation in the brain.

The new synthetic drug appears o activate three types of neuro-receptors that are also targeted in the similar manner by THC. However, there are some clear differences between WIN and marijuana. Most notable one is that WIN lacks other ingredients that are present in marijuana due to which it does not produce the same high.

On the differentiation standpoint, psychologist Yannick Marchalant pointed out; “While marijuana might also promote the growth of new brain cells, it doesn’t have WIN’s ability to block another brain receptor that appears to cause inflammation, a key difference between the two compounds.”

Countering the new research study, the National Institute on Drug Abuse said that heavy use of marijuana impairs short-term memory recall and quickens the age-related memory loss. Their argument is that, “Everyone is aware that smoking too much marijuana impairs memory.” Defending their research, Marchalant said, “Our work stays on the safe side – doses that we know are not going to impair memory, but improved it.”

He further explained that the drug will not be effective on young people whose brains are still forming, or on the old, who have already been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. For them it is too late as those diagnosed with the disease have already lost neurons. It could however, be used as a preventive strategy in the early years.

So, are you ready to roll another one to smoke away Alzheimer’s disease!?

Source : http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/1879317-new-study-states-smoke-pot-to-keep-alzheimers-away

Good News : Quitting smoking can be easier during Ramazan

2009-08-21T03:22:00.003+08:00

Fasting allows smokers to abstain from smoking during the day, making Ramazan the perfect period to kick the potentially fatal habit altogether.

This was the view point of health professionals and religious scholars at a seminar at Aga Khan University (AKU) on the occasion of National Quit Smoking Day.

Chair, National Alliance for Tobacco Control (NATC) and Head, Section of Pulmonary Diseases, AKU, Dr. Javaid A. Khan, shared strategies to help smokers quit their habit.

"Just as the will power helps us give up food and drink during the day to fulfil our religious obligations, the same can help smokers quit for life," said Dr. Khan, adding that smoking urges are usually short, lasting only five minutes.

If smokers can resist for those few minutes, they may be able to quit, he said.

He pointed out that physical withdrawal symptoms after giving up smoking include irritability, anger, restlessness, impatience, insomnia and difficulty in concentrating, peaking for three to 10 days, but with the intensity decreasing over the time.

Dr. Khan said the most vulnerable time for smokers is after meals, especially after breaking the fast. He suggested keeping physically and mentally busy as a strategy for escaping smoking urges.

Stressing the importance of will power, Engineer Naveed Ahmed, a religious scholar from the Quran Academy, Karachi said, one of the important benefits of fasting is that one develops a sense of discipline, which can be useful in helping people break other bad habits also.

Consultant Chest Physician, AKU, Dr Muhammad Irfan, explained that most people quit smoking after there is permanent damage to their health.

A person who continues to smoke after 40 loses three months of their life for every year that one smokes, he said, adding that that medication is available to curb the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

According to research, over 100,000 people in Pakistan die every year due to tobacco related diseases and almost 50 per cent from cancer-related deaths from tobacco use.

In men, lung cancer is the number one cause of death from cancer, while mouth cancer is a close second for both men and women.

In Pakistan, in 2002, over 40 per cent of men and 8 per cent of women smoked. Over time, while smoking prevalence in the West is falling, it is increasing in developing countries like Pakistan, said Dr. Khan.

Dr. Khan said that smoking is on the rise among women in Pakistan, citing research that shows that of schoolgirls in Karachi, 16 per cent were smokers.

Speakers at the conference also warned against the increasing trend of smoking shishas, or water pipes.

"People have the misconception that water dilutes the effect of tobacco, when in fact, one session of shisha is equivalent to 100 cigarettes, according to WHO", said Dr. Khan.

He pointed out that according to the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, over 64 per cent male and 37 per cent female university students in Karachi have tried shisha at least once, while over half the total number of students surveyed smoke shisha regularly.

The seminar closed with a video message from Dr. Zakir Naik, a scholar from the Islamic Research Foundation, who said that the use of tobacco is strictly prohibited in Islam.

The National Quit Smoking Day is commemorated annually by NATC, in collaboration with AKU, WHO, Pakistan Chest Society, Pakistan Medical Association, Pakistan Islamic Medical Association and the Quran Academy Karachi.

Source : http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/3958371-quitting-smoking-can-be-easier-during-ramazan

Good News : "Active Cloaking" : A New Technology to decrease the destructions by Earthquakes

2009-08-21T03:05:00.007+08:00

A good news came from a new technology called "Active Cloaking" that may provide a side effect that will keep earthquakes from destroying buildings…

The technology was originally being researched to provide a better way to make fighter jets more stealthy. The concept is much the same as noise cancelling systems used in headphones and aircraft noise reduction systems.

It’s long been known that waves can be reduced or eliminated by sending a reverse of the wave against it – noise cancelling headphones work by sending a “counter" frequency to neutralize the unwanted sounds.

Earthquakes are very large waves that travel through the earth and when they strike a building, cause it to move, which causes the building to collapse – the idea is to use wave generators that will counter those waves and keep the building from moving…

The same concept is also being researched to see if generators could counter ocean waves that create tsunamies.

Good News : One million Environmental cleaner cars coming on the streets.

2009-08-21T02:47:00.005+08:00

In 2020,we can see one million electricity-driven cars from running on the streets in Germany.
There comes good news for the companies like BMW and Folkswagon, that the environment is happy with this product.

The German Cabinet on Wednesday gave green signal to the plan of electric cars.

As per the plan,in Germany,there we can see one million electric cars running on the streets, just by 2020 .

Now the German Government is making resesrch in this area ,so in this case, the German companies can come ahead than the Asian companies.

Germany's Transport Ministers Tifensi Volfgang said, We have full confidence that we will reach to the better environmental condition in the German.
As soon as possible,We are trying to make power-driven vehicles,as the common part of life.

By this news we'll find not only in German these cars will be on the street, but they will be in whole world. Nowadays, using an electric car is included in a way out of keeping this earth fine because it won't produce pollution parts and make the air healthier without the dangerous carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide.

Source : http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/3961072-one-million-environmental-cleaner-cars-coming-on-the-streets

Good News : Need a heart? Try this artificial heart that works as good as real!

2009-08-18T22:31:00.004+08:00

Scientists have been working on designing a fully implantable artificial heart since early 1960’s.The first clinical application of a permanent fully implantable total artificial heart AbioCor was implanted in a patient during 2001. Some limitations of AbioCor were that because of its size it could be implanted in only 50% of the male population and it has life of 1 to 2 years.

On 27th October 2008, French professor and a leading heart transplant specialist Alain F. Carpentier announced that a fully implantable heart will be ready for clinical trials by 2011. It was developed by him and will be manufactured by Biomedical firm Carmat, and venture capital firm Truffle.

The prototype uses electronic sensors and is made from chemically treated animal tissues, called “biomaterials”, or “pseudo-skin” of biosynthetic, microporous materials. In order to resolve the power issue two options are under study that do not require wires crossing the skin because these pose an infection risk.

"The aim of this heart is to allow patients to go from an impossible life where they can do just a few steps from their bed to an armchair to a normal social life. They will even be able to run - although naturally not a marathon," he said.

Assuming French medical authorities give the go-ahead, it will be tested on around 20 volunteer heart patients within the next two and a half years. Given the materials and technology involved, it is estimated that each heart will cost around £120,000.

Source : http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/1644844-worlds-most-advanced-artificial-heart-as-good-as-real

Good News : 1st of it's kind: H1N1 flu vaccine

2009-08-18T22:19:00.003+08:00

Those paranoid by the H1N1 flu outbreak now have reasons to rejoice.

Swiss drug-maker Novartis AG has successfully created the first batch of H1N1 flu vaccine, the 1st in the world, to counter the Influenza A (H1N1) virus, a day after the World Health Organisation(WHO) raised the alert level and declared a pandemic.

After much research and testing with wild type H1N1 strains, they discovered a quicker way to make vaccine, through cell-based rather than egg-based production. The company hopes to produce millions of doses per week, to meet the urgent demand for the maintenance and stability of the virulent outbreak. A spokesman for the Swiss drug specialist announced that the vaccine will be ready for use by late September to early October this year.

Though the virus seems mild at this stage, health experts fear the current flu outbreak could cause deaths through complications and become deadly as mutation of the H1N1 strains are imminent.

For the record, according to the WHO's latest tally, the statistics stands at: 28,700 confirmed infections in 74 countries to date with 144 deaths in total worldwide.

Good News : Time Travel may be true...

2009-08-18T22:01:00.003+08:00

A Physicist at the University of Connecticut by the name of Dr. Ronald Mallett is now closer than anyone has ever gotten to making time travel a real thing. Although still in the development stages, he has shown using undeniable scientific equations based on Einstein's Theory of Relativity, that it is more than the Sci-Fi based fantasy we have known it to be.

The first step involves building a machine. Based on Einstein's theory once he can create a machine that spins fast enough to cause a vortex in space (and we know lasers can do just that) he will be able to manipulate time and space in such a way that we will be able to pass through it. He is going to start by sending subatomic particles and information, but even that alone would obviously be a huge breakthrough.

But there are some limitations. This isn't a miracle machine that will allow us to teleport back and forth between any time we choose. Time travel will be limited to when the machine was made because we need a door on both sides to pass through. So say he made the time machine today and kept it on for a year. Then we would be able to travel in between the time of that year. No more no less.

So although this birth is still in it's infancy, Dr. Ronald Mallett has given us some actual logical reasoning on how time travel is now more than just a fantasy. I personally will be keeping an eye on his studies and following the progress of what could be a world changing event.

Something else to keep an eye out for is the new Spike Lee Joint 'Time Traveler' that will be chronicling Ronald's Story

Source : http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/3435376-time-travel

Good News : Maybe We're not Alone in this Universe (Mars comes alive)

2009-08-18T21:43:00.005+08:00

NASA scientists are now at the threshold of what may be a start of new Era in Human life history.According to the scientists working on the mission of finding life on our Earth's neighbour Mars"The red planet" they have got very close to discovering alien life in Mars.

Scientists are now planning an expedition to Mars to find alien life who are now believed to live under the planet's surface.

"We will have to drill the rock to bring up water or sample of rock" geology expert LIsa Pratt has said.

The long-going mission was refuelled after NASA scientists confirmed the report published in THE SUN magazine that the methane gas propelled at the surface of Mars was by microbes.

At a live press conference professor MIchael Mumma told"We are entering a new era.There wa life at Mars or still there is.There is a lot to find out and discover".

Huge plumes of methane gas was found on Mars,the gas which is produce by food breakdown and metabolism from animals.The methane gas may be produced by living organisms or from the decaying body of dead organisms.

This is the closest man has come to prove that extra-terrestial life exists.But unfortunately the ultimate discovery won't happen anytime soon as scientists now have to drill several meters down the surface of Mars to see the possibility of living organism.

Many people have neglected the report saying that the gas may be produced by some volcanic activity but scientists claim that its cannot be due to volcanic activity as other gases like Sulphurdioxide which is most prominent product of volcano was not found in Mars.

Scientists say that the Mission wil take till 2011 to come to a conclusion and solve the mysteries of The REd Planet which has beeen a major subject of study for scientists for many years now.

Hope we can soon meet our friends from Mars.My hello to all u MARSIANS.

Good News : Breast Cancer; Now A Thing of the Past

2009-08-16T01:13:00.003+08:00

There has been a gradual paradigm shift in the way we respond to diseases. Modern technology has made great strides in changing our medical perspective.

Cancer has ceased to be as invincible as it is used to be perceived. The key here is information. The following special feature is meant to inform, empower and inspire. It is backed up by painstaking research and triple checks using the most authoritative and up-dated sources.

Everyone knows Evita Peron of Argentina but not the secret that she died of breast cancer.

Things are different now. Recent medical breakthroughs in breast cancer treatment are virtually erasing this scourge. Here are some pink news.

1. Survival rates are at an all-time high. The England Journal of Medicine attributes this to improved treatments and regular mammograms.

A study from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas reported that women whose breast cancer is found through mammograms have a 53% better survival rate compared to women whose cancer is found another way.

“Nearly 98% of women with early-stage breast cancer today will survive,” wrote Dr. Sanjay Gupta, neurosurgeon and CNN medical correspondent, in his Time column.

2. The effectiveness of Herceptin and aromatase inhibitors are proving very consistent for both early-stage and advanced breast cancers.

Herceptin is a monoclonal antibody (an artificial solution of one antibody with millions of copies that destroys one specific target) that effectively neutralizes HER-2/neu – the protein that fuels malignant tumor growths in about 20% of breast cancer cases.

This revolutionary study was initiated by Dr. Dennis Slamon, an American oncologist and director for clinical research at the Jonsson Cancer Center in the University of California Los Angeles; and Dr. Axel Ullrich, a German molecular biologist from the biotechnology firm Genentech Inc. of San Francisco.

Herceptin was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in Sept. 1998.

3. Women at risk should avoid long-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT) during menopause.

Taking estrogen and progestin for 5 years increases the risk of getting breast cancer by 40%.

“Fear of breast cancer shouldn’t deter women from hormones for the short-term – 2 to 3 years – to alleviate menopause symptoms,” says Catherine Schairer of the U.S. National Cancer Institute. “But longer term raises more concerns.”

“Since we know that estrogen fuels these tumors,” says Gupta, “women at risk for breast cancer should consider alternatives to hormone therapy.”

Estrogen is estimated to be the cause of 2/3 of breast cancer cases.

4. Being overweight increases the risks of breast cancer recurrence.

A 2006 Nurses’ Health Study reports that risks of death or recurrence for women who gained an average of 17 pounds increase by more thab 50%.

Obese women are twice as likely to die from breast cancer,” according to Gupta.

A healthy weight helps reduce circulating estrogen and lowers the odds of developing heart disease, many cancers, stroke, diabetes and other health problems,” says Dr. Carolyn M. Kaelin of Harvard Medical School and co-author of Living Through Breast Cancer (McGraw-Hill).

5. Women whose breast cancers are not triggered by estrogen benefit most from chemotherapy.

This was the finding of an analysis of three randomized studies on chemotherapy published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

6. A groundbreaking ultrasound method called elasticity imaging can now determine whether a lump in the breast is benign or malignant.

Here’s how it works: The scanner has two monitor scans. A radiologist would move the ultrasound piece over the suspected area. The first screen shows the regular ultrasound image.

The second image is the elastogram. A malignant tumor will appear larger and darker as compared to the ultrasound image.

This is because the body attempts to wall off a malignant tumor “so it builds up a fibrous area around the lesion,” explains Dr. Richard Barr, director of ultrasound breast imaging at Southwoods X-Ray and Open MRI in Boardman, Ohio and lead author of the 2006 study.

Conversely, benign tumors appear smaller and whiter compared to the ultrasound image.

Elasticity imaging is painless, convenient and results can be obtained immediately.

7. “More than 60 breast cancer drug trials are underway, with more potential treatments in the pipeline,” according to Dr. Arlan Fuller Jr., faculty member of Harvard Medical School.

(This story orginally appeared in Philippine Panorama)

Good News : A MAJOR Discovery that will produce Oxygen on the Moon

2009-08-14T20:34:00.004+08:00

Oxygen is included in main factors to indicate that a place has a living. As far as I know the only planet has oxygen to build life is our earth because we can find so many being produces oxygen here such as plants, bacterias and etc. But some people believe that we need a new place to have living, this opinion based on the decline of our earth because of climate change, pollutions, disaster and others reasons.

So researchers tried to find the new place where we can build lives or at least a thing which can produce breathable oxygen. Some opinions choose mars as a new place. But the moon is the nearest places that researchers have been decided. And that may be true.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom have built a small reactor (1 meter in height) that will produce BREATHABLE Oxygen from lunar rocks.

This reactor has an electrochemical process that extracts metals and alloys from metal oxides found in the lunar rocks has been developed.

The oxygen produced will provide not only breathable oxygen, but can be used as fuel for power generation or propulsion systems.

So this would be the way out of starting living in a new place.

Good News : Green Tea, A Beverage You must love!

2009-08-14T20:05:00.007+08:00

We've heard of the benefits of green tea but what about the evidence. The scientific community has shown strong interest in uncovering just what the benefits might be. Some have been cautious and say that there is limited long term evidence that green tea can combat certain diseases (1).

However, a recent study (reported on the ScienceDaily site) has found green tea improves the risk factors involved in heart disease (2). Drinking green tea improves the way cells in the lining of the circulatory system work. These cells are called endothelial and if they are not working well, then atherosclerosis may take hold. So the function of the endothelial cells are an indicator of cardiovascular risk.

A team of researchers at the Athens Medical School (Greece) led by Dr. Nikolaos Alexopoulos conducted a trail where volunteers had their brachial artery measured after consuming green tea, caffeine and hot water. The brachial artery was measured for the amount it had dilated. Dilation occurs when there is an increase in blood flow, and increased blood flow is good news.

Dilation was significant after drinking green tea, while it wasn't after drinking hot water or caffeine. It is known that black tea also impacts positively on endothelial function, but green tea is likely to have stronger antioxidants as it undergoes less oxidisation during processing.

What is positive for us is that antioxidants reverse the effect of oxidisation in the human body. This has to be good for many diseases. In fact another study mentioned in the ScienceDaily report (ibid) showed that damage to the endothelial cells caused by smoking can be reversed by green tea. Overall tea drinking is linked to reduced cardiovascular problems and mortality rates.

Another study, whose researchers were motivated by the value of green tea in oral hygiene, has looked at antibacterial activity in inhibiting bacteria (2). A bacteria called DNA gyrase locates a site or binds itself to a location. Drugs cannot be used to remove the bacteria because of serious side effects.

A team of researchers at the National Institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana (Slovenia) found that green tea catechins, in particular one known as EGCG (short for epigallocatechin), are able to target the DNA gyrase. The benefit of green tea, according to the lead researcher Roman Jerala, is its safety record as opposed to toxicity associated with drugs (3).

Further related research has found that green tea helps overcome the resistance of certain bacteria to antibiotics. Dr. Mervat Kassem from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Alexandria University in Egypt found that drinking green tea at the same time as taking the antibiotics improved the efficiency of the drugs to kill the bacteria including the strain of superbugs (4).

The antioxidant levels of green tea is reported to be a hundred times that of vitamin C and 25 times that of vitamin E. It is the catechins that are the most effective antioxidants in the tea. If these have the potency to reverse damage to cells, what other effects does green tea have? The cautions showed by some are valid; but they are a little behind given the conclusions of the recent research which has positive news about the benefits of green tea.

References:

1. (www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/...)

2. (www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/...)

3. (www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/...)

4. (www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/...)

5. (www.naturalnews.com)

Good News : Our First Blogger Award

2009-08-13T22:36:00.007+08:00

Someone I just knew this afternoon suddenly gave me a blogger award, Oh My God I am included in 10 bloggers who received this award. Thanks to mas doyok for the award. As we can see all that this award named International Bloggers Community which has classification for the blog having these criteria :
1.Character blog is International
2.This award can be given again to friend blogger without limitation.
3.Regulation not strict (Not required for the PR)
4.This award can be a backlink because friend of the award must include your name, blog name, URL of our blog.
5.With this award we can blog listed in BLoGGiSTa iNFO CORNER origin tells us award post.

And sure it has rules for the awarded blogger, the rules are :
1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Copy the image above, the rules and the questionnaire in this post.
3. Post this in one or all of your blogs .
4. Answer the four questions following these Rules .
5. Recruit at least seven (7) friends on your Blog Roll by sharing this with them.
6. Come back to BLoGGiSTa iNFo CoRNeR (PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THIS LINK) at http://bloggistame.blogspot.com and leave the URL of your Post in order for you/your Blog to be added to the Master List (visit BloGGiST INFo CoRNeR at http://bloggistame.blogspot.com and leave your blog URL to be added to the Master List).
7. Have Fun.

And the questionnaire are:
Questions & Your Answers:
1. The person who tagged you: Mas Doyok
2. His/her site's title and url: Mas Doyok, http://www.masdoyok.co.cc
3. Date when you were tagged: today, 13th August 2009
4. Persons you tagged: mayamaya, brovanz, tour, and the left I'm still thinking to decide... Congratulations for the recipient!

Hope this first award makes me going crazy on blogging, LOL.... thanks all!