Eat oily fish 'to protect eyesight in old age'

If one wants to protect his eyesight in old age, a study suggests that eating oily fish at least once a week, would be one good way to go about it.

A team of researchers in Europe has found evidence, that eating oily fish once a week reduces age-related muscular degeneration (AMD), which is the major cause of blindness and poor vision in many people.

According to the researchers, there are two types of AMD, wet and dry. Of the two, wet AMD is the main cause of vision loss and fish fat could prevent it.

"This is the first study in Europeans to show a beneficial association on wet AMD from the consumption of oily fish, and is consistent with results from studies in the USA and Australia.

"Two servings a week of oily fish, such as salmon, tuna or mackerel, provides about 500 mg of docosahexaenoicacid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) per day," the 'American Journal of Clinical Nutrition' quoted lead researcher Astrid Fletcher of London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

In their study, the researchers analysed the association between fish intake and omega 3 fatty acids with wet AMD, comparing people with wet AMD with controls. Participants were interviewed about their dietary habits, including how much fish they ate and what type.

Information on the main omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, was obtained by linking dietary data with food composition tables.

The findings show that people, who habitually consume oily fish at least once a week compared to less than once a week, are 50 per cent less likely to have wet AMD. There was no benefit from consumption of non-oily white fish.

The researchers also found a strong inverse association between levels of DHA and EPA and wet AMD. People in the top 25 per cent of DHA and EPA levels (300 mg per day and above), were 70 per cent less likely to have wet AMD.

Proper Brushing of teeth

Proper brushing is essential for cleaning teeth and gums effectively. Use a toothbrush with soft, nylon, round-ended bristles that will not scratch and irritate teeth or damage gums.


Place bristles along the gumline at a 45-degree angle. Bristles should contact both the tooth surface and the gumline.

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Gently brush the outer tooth surfaces of 2-3 teeth using a vibrating back & forth rolling motion. Move brush to the next group of 2-3 teeth and repeat.

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Maintain a 45-degree angle with bristles contacting the tooth surface and gumline. Gently brush using back, forth, and rolling motion along all of the inner tooth surfaces.

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Tilt brush vertically behind the front teeth. Make several up & down strokes using the front half of the brush.

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Place the brush against the biting surface of the teeth & use a gentle back & forth scrubbing motion. Brush the tongue from back to front to remove odor-producing bacteria.

Winter Beauty Tips

Changing temperatures mean a change of routine, no matter which part of the world you live in. Knowing a little about how skin functions in the winter, and tweaking a few habits, can make all the difference between a dull winter complexion and glowing radiance.

Moisturise Your Skin
During winter, always keep the skin moisturised. Even oily skins need moisture, as the outer layer can get very dry.

Those with oily skins should use light moisturising lotions, especially after cleansing. After a bath, apply a body lotion while the skin is still damp. It helps to seal off moisture.

Look after your Lips
And don't forget about your lips. Chapped lips are often the most noticeable problem for a lady in the winter. Use a highly moisturizing lip balm which provides a protective barrier against the elements.

Exfoliate
At least once a week. This will remove dead cells and allow the skin to absorb extra moisture. The oil which we all complain about in the summer is no longer being produced because of cooler winter temperatures and central heating.

Therefore the skin looses the water which should be retained in the lower dermis of the skin. This can lead to premature aging of the skin and fine lines.

Beauty sleep!
Money can't buy the benefits of a good nights' rest. Your oxygen levels will drop if you don't get enough sleep, meaning that your cells will not be renewed as quickly.

This is when degenerative skin aging sets in. Try to get seven, if not eight hours of rest a night to achieve absolutely gorgeous benefits!

Anti-aging Tactics

Do you want your life story to be a long and joyous one,without having every line written on your face?

Yes, we all do!Is there anyone who doesn't want to look as good as they can,for as long as they can?

While there are some very quick fixes such as, minor to majorcosmetic surgeries, there are some less extreme measuresthat you can use to look and feel younger on a daily basis.

(1) Check your attitude! How do you feel about life?Is your life going the way you want it to?Do you take responsibility for what you have created,good or bad?How about accepting who you are?Be grateful for what you have, family, friends, a job etc.Then do an assessment of the things you want to change, ifany.Watch your self-talk, if you wouldn't say those things to others, don't say them to yourself!Be aware of why you want to make any change in your life.It must be something you have committed to, else you willmost likely fail and add one more reason to criticize yourself.

(2)Know your nutritional needs! What you eat has a huge impact on how you look and feel.The foods you eat help make and maintain soft, smooth,glowing skin.Wrinkle free skin is important in any anti-aging effort. The recommended daily food requirements are good guidelins, butyou must know how to balance your food intake to keep yourbody performing at its best.At any given age, we might need to boost specific nutrientsor hormones.Get regular checkups!Eat fresh fruits and vegetables as snacks, instead ofover-processed manufactured "fast foods".Try not to rush your meals.When food is not given enough time to be digested properly,it becomes a burden on your body, causing un-neccessary wearand tear and premature aging!

(3)Take timeouts! When was the last time you had some fun?A good laugh?If you cannot remember, it's been too long!Even if you must laugh at yourself, find something to laugh about.Old photos, old clothes you've kept that you will neverwear again, find something, anything.What about pampering?Done anything special for yourself lately?A facial, or manicure?In -home or at a salon, it doesn't really matter.It's the time you spend just focusing on yourself that willmake you feel special and cared for.We all need that!

(4)Be interested and interesting! Yes, we are all short on time, we are busy people, but you mustmake time to be interested in others, your community, the world.You will find that is the only way to be interesting yourself.Learn something new, a language, a new style of cooking or dance.Learn about a culture that's different than your own.Ageless, interesting individuals always seem to want to know moreabout life.Try not to pry or judge, just be open to sharing opinions andknowledge.

(5)Groomimg is ageless! When did you last update your looks?A new hair style or wardrobe is a very effective anti-agingtactic.Today there are so many flattering styles of dressing, everyoneof us can find one that works perfectly for us.Subtle changes in hair coloring can make you look years younger.Lose a few pounds if you need to.There is a diet that will work for you.Find skin care that's right for your skin type.Take care of your nails and teeth.Beautiful well cared for hands is a must for you, if you wantto appear younger!

Anti-aging is more a matter of making the most of what you have,than the sporadic and temporary results gained by invasive andexpensive surgeries.Agelessness is more about maintenance over the long-term thanany qick fixes.

Meaningful beauty is not just smooth skin (which is nice) but it isalso an outlook on life, your life.Treat yourself and others with respect.Balance your physical, emotional and spiritual life.No one else can or will do it for you!Get rest when you need it, play when you have the opportunity.Own your emotions, accept responsiblity for your actions,apologise for your mistakes, give and accept praise gracefully.One of the best ways to anti-age yourself is to not only lookgood, but to be pleasant and interesting to be around!

The Truth About Acne Skin Care

Let's face it, you are engaged in an ongoing battle when you are afflicted with acne. While acne treatments for a mild case of acne are usually successful, moderate acne is a greater problem. Even dermatologists cannot cure a severe case of acne but can only provide an acne treatment regimen.

However, you can support your acne treatment efforts with proper acne skin care in order to reduce the recurrence of acne flare-ups and not aggravate existing acne.

Knowing What You're Doing

One of the first pieces of advice is to make sure that you understand and follow the directions for any acne remedy that you are using. If you are taking a prescription acne medicine, read the patient leaflet that accompanies the medication carefully. Typically for moderate to severe acne a dermatologist may prescribe several acne medicines, each with its own treatment protocol and directions.

In order to achieve the acne free skin that you desire, it is important to use all the acne treatments properly and in the correct order. Consider bringing a tablet of paper, a pen, and a friend or relative with you to your appointment with your dermatologist. Simply jot down some notes about the order and time of day for applying each acne medicine and what its purpose is.

Remember, just because the acne clears with the use of your acne medicines doesn’t necessarily mean that you have succeeded in curing acne. Most people with moderate to severe acne must continue to use their acne medicine long-term to prevent any recurrence of their acne problem. Using the acne treatments properly should translate to clear skin and freedom from acne scars.

What About Over-the-Counter Remedies?

Besides using medications prescribed by a doctor, there are a large number of products on the market labeled as skin cleansers, facial cleansers, pore cleansers, and facial pore cleaners that can be used in curing acne.

When cleansing skin that is afflicted with acne, an important point to remember is not to scrub the skin; never scrub your face with a washcloth. It is a misconception that acne is caused by dirt clogging the pores of the skin. You don’t scrub away the offending dirt; you can’t scrub away the offensive acne and achieve acne free skin.

Over-washing or scrubbing skin afflicted with acne only serves to aggravate the condition. Rather use only a gentle skin cleanser, lukewarm water, and a gentle motion with your fingertips as your primary acne skin care regime. When you wash your face with your hands, be sure to first thoroughly wash your hands.

Do Natural Treatments Really Work?

Look for gentle cleansers that are sold as acne solutions. When you're evaluating skin cleansers for acne, include natural acne treatments in your search as well. For example, a soap made from Echinacea and other herbal ingredients is an effective antibiotic facial cleanser that helps fight acne and restore clear skin. Tea tree oil also has known antibiotic properties and serves as a mild anesthetic that will soothe the irritated skin.

Oily skin is implicated as a one of the causes of acne. It doesn’t necessarily make sense to use a moisturizer on oily skin as a means of achieving clear skin. But many of the acne treatments, whether they are prescribed or available as over-the-counter products, have a tendency to irritate the skin while curing acne.

A moisturizer is a boost to irritated skin and keeps skin from becoming overly dry due to the acne treatments that have been applied. Look for a moisturizer with the following properties:

- oil-free
- won’t clog pores (non-comodogenic)
- containing a sun-screen

Besides a great desire to just scrub away the acne, many people try to remove the acne pimples by hand as a way to get clear skin. People who are afflicted with acne should avoid touching their face except to gently wash it with mild cleanser as already discussed.

By trying to remove pimples by hand you run the risk of creating acne scars that will last for a lifetime. Instead, have patience and rely on your prescription or over-the-counter acne treatment to work. Acne remedies usually take 6 to 8 weeks before curing acne.

For male acne sufferers, the daily ritual of shaving can be a problem. One acne sufferer has recommended the Gillette Sensor Excel as a gentle and effective razor to use. Other males prefer to try an electric razor. The advice is to shave delicately to avoid nicking the skin and to shave only as often as necessary. Finding a moisturizing shave gel may be one way to enhance your acne skin care program.

Female acne sufferers have their unique problems too, in finding the right cosmetic products to use. Females who are accustomed to using a foundation product may find that the foundation is difficult to apply smoothly if the facial skin becomes irritated due to the acne treatments being applied.

You may have to abandon the use of some cosmetics during the acne treatment period. Be sure to select only oil-free cosmetics and ones that are labeled as non-comodogenic (won’t clog pores) to use on your road to clear skin.

Proper acne skin care is a necessary addition to your arsenal for fighting your battle with acne and achieving clear skin once again.

3 Tips For Body Acne Treatment

Body acne treatment options are available to help you. If you are like one of the millions of people that suffer from one form of body acne or the other, you can benefit from some of the treatments that are available. While no method of treatment is 100% guaranteed, some of them can definitely help most individuals.Here are some body acne treatment tips that you can do on your own from home:
* Body acne is often the result of irritation from clothing mixed with perspiration. When your body perspires, the sweat gets into your pores. When you do not take a shower to remove it, it can worsen to a very bad level. If there is constant irritation from your clothing, this can make it even worse. To remedy this situation, make sure that after a workout or other intense workload that you properly bathe and wash areas that are likely to be effected (the back and the chest).

* Body acne treatment options that work for the face often work for other areas of the body as well. For example, if you have purchased pads that contain a certain acid or alcohol on them to use on your acne that happens on your face, you can benefit from this for other areas as well. Acne in all areas of the body is basically the same. So, it can all be treated somewhat the same way.

* One of the most effective treatments for acne at home is exfoliating. You can purchase the right type of brush, manual or mechanical, and use it on virtually every area of the body. By removing the dead skin cells of the body, you can help to prevent acne from occurring or help it to go away.At other times, body acne treatment may not work. You may need to seek out the help of a professional. Hormonal imbalances and even stress can cause acne and may keep you from treating it. When these body acne treatment options do not work, seek out more advanced solutions through your doctor.