Hinata's Blog

Warga AS dan Perancis Positif H1N1

2009-07-16T18:15:00.000-07:00

Laporan wartawan KOMPAS Ambrosius Harto

BALIKPAPAN, KOMPAS.com — Hasil tes Balitbangkes menyimpulkan dua warga Amerika Serikat dan Perancis positif terkena flu A-H1N1 di Kota Balikpapan, Kalimantan Timur. Selain mereka, seorang warga Norwegia di Kota Samarinda dan dua warga Kota Balikpapan dinyatakan terduga terjangkit flu A-H1N1.

Warga AS diisolasi di RSUD Kanujoso Djatiwibowo dan warga Perancis diisolasi di rumahnya yang keduanya ada di Balikpapan. Hal itu dikatakan Kepala Dinas Kesehatan Balikpapan Dyah Wuryani saat dihubungi dari Samarinda, Jumat (10/7). Warga AS itu berinisial RH (26), sedangkan warga Perancis berinisial FC (41).

Warga Norwegia berinisial K (30) diisolasi di Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah (RSUD) Abdoel Wahab Sjahranie, Samarinda. Dua warga Balikpapan berinisial S (30) dan K (8) diisolasi di rumahnya di Kelurahan Manggar, Balikpapan.

Dyah mengatakan, biarpun RH dan FC positif flu A-H1N1, kondisi kesehatan keduanya membaik. Suhu tubuh keduanya normal, yakni 36-37 derajat celsius. Sakit kepala, batuk, dan pilek yang sempat mereka derita sudah sirna.

RH diketahui sudah berada di Balikpapan sejak Jumat minggu lalu, setiba dari Jakarta dan sebelumnya dari luar negeri. Pada Senin, RH datang ke RSUD Kanujoso Djatiwibowo karena demam tinggi, batuk, pilek, dan sakit kepala. Karena datang dari negara tempat terjangkitnya flu A-H1N1, RH dinyatakan terduga terkena virus tersebut.

Menurut Dyah, FC yang bekerja pada perusahaan minyak dan gas bumi di Balikpapan juga datang ke RSUD Kanujoso Djatiwibowo pada Senin lalu dengan keluhan seperti RH. Namun, seminggu sebelum ke rumah sakit, FC tidak pergi ke mana-mana. FC terkena virus flu dari lingkungan sehingga bisa dikatakan di Balikpapan ada kasus H1N1. Demikian dikatakannya.

Kepala Bidang Pemberantasan Penyakit Dinas Kesehatan Kaltim Jurnanto mengatakan, pemerintah kabupaten dan kota diminta meningkatkan kewaspadaan. Dirikanlah posko infokomdal (informasi, komunikasi, dan pengendalian). Ia juga mengatakan, sesama kantor kesehatan pelabuhan dan bandara juga kian intensif saling tukar informasi mengenai penumpang yang dicurigai membawa H1N1.

Dinas Kesehatan Kaltim, lanjut Jurnanto, meminta pengelola bandara dan pelabuhan meningkatkan kewaspadaan. Namun, hal itu jangan berlebihan, seperti menjustifikasi semua orang asing yang ke Kaltim kena flu A-H1N1.

Selain itu, RSUD Kanujowo Djatiwibowo, RSUD AWS, dan RSUD Tarakan di Kota Tarakan diminta mempersiapkan ruang tambahan guna pasien flu A-H1N1, apabila serangan virus itu meluas. "Kalau nantinya mewabah, dimungkinkan didirikan tenda-tenda khusus pasien flu A-H1N1 di sekitar rumah sakit," kata Jurnanto.

Dinas Kesehatan Kaltim, ujar Jurnanto, telah membagikan 900 tablet Tamiflu untuk 14 kabupaten dan kota di Kaltim. "Persediaan masih ada sekitar 7.500 tablet. Obat-obatan cukup aman," katanya.

Kompas.com

Healthy Nutrition

2009-06-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

Healthy Eating

Having a healthy diet is sometimes easier said than done. It is tempting to turn to less healthy food choices because they might be easy to get or prepare, or they satisfy a craving. Between family and work or school, you are probably balancing a hundred things at once. Taking time to buy the ingredients for and cooking a healthy meal sometimes falls last on your list. But you should know that it isn't hard to make simple changes to improve your diet. And you can make sense of the mounds of nutrition information out there. A little learning and planning can help you find a diet to fit your lifestyle, and maybe you can have some fun in the process!

Why Choose a Healthy Diet?

Obesity in women is on the rise. Overall, about one third of all women are obese. But some groups of women suffer more. Half of African American women and 40 percent of Mexican American women are obese. Native Hawaiian and Samoan women are among the most obese in the world. Obesity is measured with a body mass index (BMI), which shows the relationship of weight to height. As a woman's body mass increases, so does her risk for serious health problems. Some of these problems include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and some cancers. A woman's weight is affected by how much physical activity she does, her diet, and her genes. So having a healthy diet is one of the most important things you can do to help your overall health. If you burn as many calories as you take in, your weight remains the same. If you take in fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight. So make sure the foods you eat are healthy ones that will work hard for your body.

The Food Pyramid-Putting Together a Healthy Diet

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) release Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Food Guide Pyramid shows how different food groups can come together to form your total diet. Eating is one of life's greatest pleasures. Because there are many foods and many ways to build a healthy diet, there is lots of room for smart, healthy choices. You can use the pyramid as a starting point. Choose the recommended number of daily servings from each of the five major food groups.

You might have seen some of the other food pyramids by other groups of health care providers, or pyramids for different ethnic groups, like the Puerto Rican, "Soul Food," Vegetarian style, or Latin American style pyramids. You could use any one of them for healthy eating, depending on what kinds of food are available to you and your culture's traditions. For more, please read the "2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Key Recommendations for the General Population" article.

Basic Steps to a Healthy Diet

Although there are different food pyramids for you to choose from, the challenge is to pick one, then create an eating plan that embraces healthy food. No matter which specific diet or pyramid you choose, the basic steps to good nutrition come from a diet that:

* helps you either lose weight or keeps your BMI in the "healthy" range (For more, please read the "How to Calculate Your Body Mass Index (BMI)" article.)
* is balanced overall, with foods from all groups, with lots of delicious fruits, vegetables, and grains
* is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fat intake (less than 10 percent of your daily calories should come from saturated fat, and less than 30 percent of your daily calories should come from total fat)
* includes a variety of grains daily, especially whole grains, a good source of fiber
* includes enough fruits and vegetables (a variety of each, five to nine servings each day)
* has a small number of calories from added sugars (like in candy, cookies, and cakes)
* has foods prepared with less sodium or salt (aim for no more than 2,400 milligrams of sodium per day, or about one teaspoon of salt per day for a healthy heart)
* if you drink alcoholic beverages, does not include more than one drink per day (two drinks per day for men)

Know Your Fats

There are different kinds of fats in our foods. Some can hurt our health, while others aren't so bad! Some are even good for you! Here's what you need to know:

* Monounsaturated fats (canola, olive and peanut oils, and avocados) and polyunsaturated fats (safflower, sesame, sunflower seeds, and many other nuts and seeds) don't raise your LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels but can raise your HDL ("good") cholesterol levels. To keep healthy, it is best to choose foods with these fats.

* Saturated fat, trans fatty acids, and dietary cholesterol raise your LDL ("bad") blood cholesterol levels, which can lead to heart disease. Saturated fat is found mostly in food from animals, like beef, veal, lamb, pork, lard, poultry fat, butter, cream, whole milk dairy products, cheeses, and from some plants, such as tropical oils. Tropical oils include coconut, palm kernel, and palm oils that are found in commercial cakes, cookies, and salty snack foods. Unlike other plant oils, these oils have a lot of saturated fatty acids. Some processed foods (such as frozen dinners and canned foods) can be quite high in saturated fat-it' s best to check package labels before purchasing these types of foods.

* Trans fatty acids (TFAs) are formed during the process of making cooking oils, margarine, and shortening and are in commercially fried foods, baked goods, cookies, and crackers. Some are naturally found in small amounts in some animal products, such as beef, pork, lamb, and the butterfat in butter and milk. In studies, TFAs tend to raise our total blood cholesterol. TFAs also tend to raise LDL ("bad") cholesterol and lower HDL ("good") cholesterol. One study found that the four main sources of trans fatty acids in women's diets come from margarine, meat (beef, pork, or lamb), cookies, and white bread. At this time, TFAs are not listed on nutrition labels, but that will soon change. Although it might take a couple of years to begin seeing it, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now asking food manufacturers to begin labeling TFA content. And some food manufacturers are announcing they are taking TFAs out of their food. For more, please read the "Trans Fat...The Deadly Fat" article.

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=62966

Natural Face Lift

2009-06-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

By Anna Lynn Sibal

Aging - turn back the clock - is a fact of life. It is an inevitable process that we cannot really escape from as the years take their toll on our bodies. But despite this inescapable fact, there are a lot of women who spend a great deal of time, effort and money to keep themselves looking young regardless of their real, chronological age. It is largely due to our youth-oriented culture, where beauty always translates to youth.

Trying to look young is not really bad at all. After all, who does not want to look young for as long as she can? It is just that most of the methods available right now to keep those wrinkles and sags at bay are too expensive and too effort-intensive. Anti-aging creams and lotions are good for keeping the skin looking young, healthy and wrinkle-free, but what about the sags? It seems that the only way to get rid of those sags is to go under the knife and have a face lift.

A surgical face lift is expensive and scary. A lot of times, it also looks unnatural. There are not a few cases where one glance at a woman's face immediately tells the beholder that the woman has had a face lift. What is the use of undergoing that procedure if it looks so crassly obvious?

Thankfully, there are ways of having a face lift that looks natural and is inexpensive. Most of all, we do not have to have a surgical procedure done on our face to have that youthful-looking visage - get glowing. It only involves a few minutes of our time on a day-to-day basis, and it could be done while we are driving and waiting for the red light to turn green, while watching TV, or while putting on our face creams in the morning or at night. It is called facial fitness.

Facial fitness is an exercise regimen that involves working out the muscles of the face to prevent them from sagging. It works on the same principle that if we exercise the muscles of our body, then the muscles will become toned and the skin will visibly improve.

The muscles of the face also need to be exercised. If they are let alone, they just sit there on our faces, lengthening and thinning as the years come upon us, giving us that sagging and tired look as we age. With the facial fitness regimen, the facial muscles undergo resistance training, and the skin is pulled and pushed so the muscles are contracted. Eventually, the skin is lifted with all the pushing and pulling, taking away the sags and smoothing out the wrinkles from our faces.

Another benefit of undergoing a facial fitness regimen is that making the muscles of the face contract increases blood circulation to the face. With improved blood circulation to the face, more oxygen and nutrients are brought to the cells and tissues of the facial muscles and skin. Therefore, it would look healthier and whatever damages that our facial tissues have sustained are more easily repaired.

Having a regular facial fitness routine brings us a natural face lift. With a natural face lift, we do not have to undergo surgery just to keep ourselves looking young. The power to look young has become literally in our hands.

http://free-beauty-tips.glam.com/natural-face-lift.html

Natural Ways to Lighten Your Skin

2009-06-08T18:57:00.000-07:00

Dark spots, and freckles, and skin-damage - oh my! Looking to lighten your complexion? Every shade of skin is beautiful, but as we grow older our skin tone can change. Freckles may appear, dark spots can arise, and skin may not be as light as it once was. So, if you're still not ready to embrace your dark side, read on for a few natural whitening tips and tricks.

Use Sunblock
One of the easiest ways to stay fair is to use sunblock on a daily basis. Find a moisturizer that includes an SPF of 15 or higher and use it every morning after washing your face. Sunblock not only prevents your skin from getting darker, but also blocks harmful UV rays that can cause cancer and premature aging. Remember your hands when applying sunblock, as they are a prime area for age spots.

Exfoliate
Exfoliating once a week will remove dead skin cells to lighten and brighten your skin. Mix two tablespoons oatmeal and two tablespoons brown sugar with a quarter cup of milk, and stir until a paste forms. Gently scrub your face, rinse, and moisturize.

Make a Mask
A homemade mask is a great way to lighten your skin and a good excuse to kick back on the couch. Try using one once a week. Use one tablespoon of each of the following: sandalwood paste, lemon juice, tomato juice, and cucumber juice. Mix them all together to form a paste. Spread the mixture on your face and wait until it dries. Rinse and moisturize for a natural glow.

Licorice Extract
Licorice extract contains glabridin, a component that acts as a natural skin whitener. Apply a thin layer of the extract morning and evening, after you wash your face and before you moisturize. Licorice extract can be found at any health food store or ordered online. Be sure to store the bottle in a cool, dark place to maintain freshness. Note: test a small amount on the back of your arm before using on your face to be sure you do not have an allergic reaction.

Remember to love your skin no matter what color it is. It's a part of who you are and that's what makes you beautiful and unique.

http://free-beauty-tips.glam.com/natural_ways_to_lighten_your_skin.html

Will Mars rover roll again?

2009-06-08T08:05:00.000-07:00

NASA experts are taking fuzzy pictures and trying out different recipes for Red Planet dirt as they continue their weeks-long effort to get a stuck Mars rover moving again.

It's been more than three weeks since the Spirit rover became mired in loose dirt on the west side of the Martian feature known as "Home Plate." During that time, the mission team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has fielded scores of suggestions for freeing up Spirit, rover project manager John Callas told me today.

Callas said he and his colleagues have heard from "farmers who have had tractors stuck in the mud and figured out how to get them out," as well as a 7-year-old boy named Julian who suggested having Spirit push itself out with its robotic arm.

The ideas are much appreciated, Callas said, but "we still have many arrows in our quiver before we have to consider more drastic operations."

Right now, Spirit is using its arm for subtler purposes: The microscopic imager on the end of the arm is being pointed under the rover's belly to size up the situation. "The images are out of focus, but they exhibit enough detail that we can tell quite a bit," Callas said.

The latest images suggest that Spirit might be high-centered on an obstruction - sort of like a car whose undercarriage is hung up on a rock. "We see something underneath the rover," Callas said. "It's hard to tell in the image whether the object is under the rover or in front of it, or if it's one object or two. ... It's rather pointy. It's pyramid-like."

That's the bad news. The good news is that Martian winds have swept the dust off Spirit's solar panels, easing mission planners' worries that they would soon have to hustle the rover to a sun-facing safe haven. "With this dust cleaning that we've had, that has greatly relieved the urgency to get the rover going anywhere," Callas said.
In addition to taking pictures, engineers at the Jet Propulsion Lab are working on a test bed where they can try out maneuvers to free the rover. So far, they've figured out that the soft soil where Spirit is stuck contains ferric sulfate. "There may be some sort of surface crust, and this may have been what got us into trouble," Callas said. The rover might have been like a hiker walking over hard-packed snow: If you break through the crust to the softer stuff below, pulling yourself out can be a tough job.

NASA / JPL
A worker at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory digs simulated Martian soil in an effort to replicate the Spirit rover's situation on the Red Planet.

Experts have been trying to mix up simulated soil that duplicates the properties of Spirit's sand trap, but so far they haven't found the right formula. Once they find it, "we'll order up tons of this material and essentially do some landscaping, and shovel it into this test bed," Callas said.

"It's likely we'll want to just drive forward with the rover, but we want to make sure we don't make things worse," he said.

Figuring out the best course and giving it a try will almost certainly take weeks longer. When Opportunity got caught in a sand trap four years ago, the wheels had to spin for the equivalent of 200 meters (yards) before the rover popped out of the trench it had dug for itself, Callas said. The current situation is even more challenging, in part because one of Spirit's six wheels has been out of commission for years and must be dragged along wherever the rover goes.

"This is probably the most serious embedding that either rover has experienced," Callas said. "There is a very real risk of Spirit being permanently stuck. If that were the case, then we become a fixed lander. But we have a lot of options still, a lot of techniques to apply to this problem."

While the engineers work all that out, the scientists are using Spirit's instruments to make a detailed survey of its surroundings. They're analyzing the soil, creating a 360-degree panorama of the area, and seeing a side of Home Plate they've never had the chance to explore before.

"We've never taken the time to smell the roses, so to speak," Callas said.

Nothing has come easy for Spirit: Just days after the rover landed, it suffered a serious reset that took two weeks to repair. Losing the wheel was a big setback. And there was a time when it looked as if the rover would run out of power. More recently, Spirit suffered a worrying series of senior moments, but the faulty memory has apparently been fixed.

"None of that has returned," Callas said. "We still don't know the origin of it."

If Spirit manages to work its way out of its current fix, it could rank as the rover's greatest escape yet. And even if Spirit remains stuck, it will still be sending back valuable science data until it slowly fades into the Martian sunset. That's not a bad way to go ... particularly when you consider that NASA expected the rover to last just 90 days rather than the current 1,925-and-counting.

Each day makes the Mars missions more of a bargain: The price tag for the twin rovers' original primary mission was $820 million. Five years and five extensions later, the cost still hasn't come up to the $1 billion ballpark figure for a single space shuttle mission.

Update for 1:10 p.m. ET June 5: I've added the panorama showing Spirit's underbelly, which was released after this item was first published.

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/06/03/1952340.aspx

Want younger-looking skin? Here’s the catch

2009-06-08T00:50:00.000-07:00

Anti-aging can be more about the expensive packaging than the product

In her book “The Mind-Beauty Connection,” Dr. Amy Wechsler, who is board-certified in both dermatology and psychiatry, writes about what contributes to aging skin and how to fight it. In this excerpt, she discusses stress and lack of sleep, the most common causes of aging skin. She also explains why many anti-aging potions are more about packaging than product. An excerpt.

Getting started with revitalizing your looks: Skin-care essentials
Meet Clarissa, a 35-year-old mother with a skin age of at least 39. On some days, it’s more like 42. Like so many other working moms trying to have — and do — it all, Clarissa doesn’t get enough sleep at night (between five and six hours). The product manager for a large company in San Diego sets her alarm for 6:15 every morning so she can get her two young twins dressed and fed before dropping them off at preschool on her way to work. She’s at her desk by 9:00 a.m. to do a job that has become even more demanding due to a recent promotion. She’s usually back home around 7:00 p.m.

Her husband — whose workday starts and ends much earlier than hers — is the family chef. He’s fed the twins by the time Clarissa walks in, and while he pulls together some food for her, Clarissa does bath time with the kids. After that, the parents usually grab a half hour together while the kids wind down. They head to bed around nine and Dad’s close behind them, as he’s up at four. After they gone to bed Clarissa starts the Internet part of her night, catching up with friends via e-mail, checking the news, surfing her fave sites, and often doing some work. It pushes her bedtime into the wee hours.

The sleep deficit, caused in part by her stimulating, late-night Internet addiction as she catches up with friends on e-mail and surfs the net, has begun to show up on her face in the form of crinkles and a dullish skin tone, making her look older than her 35 years. “No one calls me, even by mistake, ‘young lady’ anymore,” she says, laughing. She also has dry white patches on her cheeks, a few horizontal lines on her forehead, and some sun spots that, she emphasizes, are not from the recent past. “Whenever I go for a half-hour run, I always wear a hat to cover my face and big sunglasses. Living in San Diego, I see a lot of sun damage, and I’m terrified of it.” To prove it, she brandishes a bottle of Shiseido sunscreen with an SPF of 55. “I love this and use it every morning, rain or shine,” she says.

I gave Clarissa a big thumbs-up to this healthy habit during her first appointment. Like most of my patients, she asked for a low-maintenance skin regimen, explaining, “I barely have time to brush my hair in the morning.” After taking her history (no blistering sunburns as a child but some secondhand smoke from her dad), I decided that topical tretinoin (under the trade name Renova .02) would be an easy fix for Clarissa’s fine lines, wrinkles, and brown spots, if she used it regularly every night. To treat the dry white patches, I gave her a product sample of hydrocortisone, which cleared them immediately.

Filling a prescription for Renova was the easiest of the antiaging tasks. I wanted Clarissa to go much further in addressing underlying stress. Clarissa’s life had become a treadmill of working and taking care of the kids, and I knew that from being a mom myself, having 3-year-old twins wasn’t easy. I encouraged her to sleep more, and take more time-outs without the kids so she could focus more on the happiness factor with her husband. I recommended that she hire a babysitter and go out at least every other weekend.

Six months later, Clarissa reported great results. Her skin, and her lifestyle, had improved measurably. Her skin tone evened out, and her sun spots faded. “My skin feels firmer, and the texture is so smooth that it looks like I’m wearing powder, though I’m not. I haven’t needed it since about a month or so after I started on the Renova.” She did have a few trouble spots — dry areas around her chin and jawline — but I instructed her to avoid applying the Renova to that area for about a week and it worked brilliantly.

Through trial and error, Clarissa also found a doable nightly skin routine she likes and has down pat: washing her face during her evening shower with her favorite Kiehl’s cleanser, then applying Renova, and last a hydrating moisturizer from Lancôme. (Mornings involve just a quick cleanse and a slathering of Shiseido sunscreen.) The evening self-care adds a bit of constancy to her busy life, a bit of me time that she finds therapeutic. “By being more diligent about my skin-care regimen, I feel proactive, like I’m actually helping improve the health of my skin. And knowing that I’m making my skin look and act younger makes me feel better.”

Getting more help has been good, too. Clarissa’s sister-in-law babysits for the couple two weekends a month so they can have some quality time together. This self-described workaholic known to bring her job home has also managed to shave a few hours off her workweek. While she is trying to go to bed earlier — for her, that means 11 — Clarissa admits to falling off the wagon at times. “I’m probably averaging about six and one-half to seven hours of sleep a night, which is more than I used to get,” she says. “But sometimes I toss and turn. Some people can just go to sleep when their head hits the pillow — my husband, for one; he’s lucky that way, but not me. My mind starts to race.”

Clarissa is not alone with her sleep issues. The same tips I gave her for achieving better, more restful sleep at night I’ll be giving you a bit later. One fact that Clarissa’s story points out is that skin care doesn’t have to be an expensive, time-consuming proposition. Whatever your age, and no matter how many kids or daily dramas you juggle, you can look younger — now and later — if you adopt a few stress-busters that really work for you, know which skin products actually do something (and which aren’t worth a dime), develop healthy sun habits, and learn how to deal with adult acne if that’s a problem for you. Sure, starting early and being consistent are ideal but it’s never too late to trade so-so habits for super ones.

Many women overdo it with their skin: overclean, overtreat, overeverything. So we’re going to go all the way back to basics during this program. Give your skin a rest by doing the absolute minimum. Imagine doing less, but seeing greater results.

In this chapter I’m going to cover beauty basics — what I think every woman should do regularly no matter what kind of skin she has. I’ll also share my own personal everyday skin-care routine, which can set the foundation for your new skin-care regimen. To start, let’s explore some of the general products currently available on the market — virtually all of them touting something related to youth, beauty, and antiaging. I’m going to show you how to save yourself money, headaches, wrinkles, and regrets.

The must-haves for optimum skin beauty

A gentle daily cleanser
Two good moisturizers — one for day use with sunscreen (SPF 30+) and another for night use
If necessary: antiacne washes and formulas, exfoliants, antioxidant serums, retinoid/retinol formulas.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/27051811/

6 Tips to Get Rid of Dry Skin in the Winter

2009-06-08T00:33:00.000-07:00

Get Rid of Dry Skin Caused by Winter

Dry skin is very common in the cold winter months, but with a little TLC, your skin doesn't have to itch and flake.

First, take a moment to read 5 Skin-Saving Tips for Your Shower or Bath to see if you're making a major skin mistake and then come back to read some additional skin-soothing tips. Following these tips will help you get rid of dry skin.

1. Put Hand Lotion by Each Sink (and One in Your Handbag!)

With as many times as you wash your hands during the day, no wonder they are parched, dry and possibly cracking. Luckily for you, this is an easy fix.

Every time you wash your hands, dry them off and apply a pump of hand lotion. It may take a little while to get used to the added step, but your hands will thank you for it. And don't forget to add a travel-size bottle in your handbag for on-the-go washings out in the public.

2. Wear Gloves

Cold weather is simply a recipe for dry, cracked hands. This is easy to avoid by simply wearing gloves. The elements are so harsh on your skin, but by wearing your gloves each time you head out, you'll limit the exposure your hands have to the cold weather.

Look for gloves to go on sale and pick up an extra pair or two so that when the inevitable glove goes missing, you'll have an extra set.

3. Moisturize Your Lips

If you've ever had horribly chapped lips, chances are good you've got a constant supply of lip balm in every location possible. If you haven't experienced super chapped lips, do yourself a favor and avoid it at all costs.

Your lips need extra-special care all of the time, but especially in the winter. Stay away from the lip glosses which can cause a sticky mess if rubbed on your scarf. Go with a nice chap stick or lip balm that simply provides moisture. And don't forget sun protection. The snow reflects the sun's rays, and you always want to be protected.

4. Itchy Scalp? Massage it.

Dry scalp leads to flakes and itching, something that most people want to avoid. If you're dealing with itchy scalp, get a conditioner made for dry hair and massage it onto your scalp with your fingertips while in the shower. This will not only buff off built up flakes, it will moisturize and soothe your itchy scalp.

Another good way to encourage extra oils in your scalp is to brush your hair at night with a gentle brush. Concentrate on the scalp. It not only feels good, it's good for your scalp as well.

5. Add Moisture into the Air

With furnaces running, doors and windows closed and air being recirculated constantly, dry air is all around. A humidifier will immensely help add moisture to your home's air. I remember my Grandmother simply filling a big bowl and setting it in front of her heat vents, so if your vents are off floor level, give that a try before purchasing a new piece of equipment.

6. Vaseline Works Wonders

I know, Vaseline isn't really the high-end pampering product you might want to buy, but Vaseline can be a skin-saver in the winter months. And there are so many uses for Vaseline as well. Here are some ways Vaseline can work for you.

For extremely cracked hands and feet, apply and then put on cotton socks and gloves. Doing this will give immediate results.(If you can't sleep like this, find an hour or so during the day.)
Apply to cracked cuticles
Apply to small areas after exfoliating. (dry spots like elbows, knees and heels)
Put over windburned cheeks before heading back outdoors. It will seal and protect. (Especially good for children.)
This is amazing lip balm. You'll notice instant, yet long lasting hydration. (No SPF though.)

http://skincare.about.com/od/facialcleansers/tp/WinterDrySkin.htm

Obama: ‘History ... has always been up to us’

2009-06-08T00:11:00.000-07:00

President urges allies and rivals to work now to resolve world conflicts

COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France - President Obama urged the world Saturday to live up to the sacrifice made by thousands of Allied soldiers who struggled to shore here 65 years ago on D-Day, telling a hushed audience that "the selflessness of a few was able to change the course of an entire century."

"For you remind us that in the end, human destiny is not determined by forces beyond our control," Obama said during a ceremony commemorating the invasion. "Our history has always been the sum total of the choices made and the actions taken by each individual man and woman. It has always been up to us."

Obama's speech at the bluff-top cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach served to underscore the message he has sought to deliver throughout his trip to the Middle East and Europe. Using a mix of criticism and understanding, he has urged rivals and allies to work now to resolve conflicts based on his view of how their national interests coincide with those of the United States.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31150343/

Think these 8 foods are healthy? Wrong!

2009-06-07T23:47:00.000-07:00

Skip the diet soda and potato chips and have seltzer and popcorn instead

Even if you haven't bought full-fat mayo or sugary soda since blue eye shadow was in style (the first time), you may be getting duped into less-than-stellar food choices at the supermarket. The culprit? The "health halo." "From a distance, some foods seem like healthful choices because of the way they're packaged or labeled," says Janel Ovrut, MS, RD, a Boston-based dietitian. "But just because a product's marketing gives it an aura of health doesn't necessarily mean it's good for you." Here, eight notorious health food impostors, plus smarter swaps that up the nutritional ante and still give you the flavor you crave.

Baked potato chips
Yes, they're lower in fat. But they're still high in calories and low in nutrients, with little fiber to fill you up.

Smarter sub: Popcorn. You'll get the salt and crunch of chips plus fiber, and around 65 percent fewer calories per cup. Look for oil-free microwave popcorn or brands that are air-popped or popped in healthful oils such as olive or canola.

Health bonus: Heart-healthy whole grains. Adults who eat popcorn take in as much as 2 1/2 times more whole grains than people who do not, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Try: Good Health HalfNaked pre-popped popcorn, made with olive oil. One serving (4 cups) has 120 calories, 0 g sat fat, 4 g fiber.

Gummy fruit snacks
Although these products may contain some juice, they're usually nothing more than candy infused with vitamins. They also contain high fructose corn syrup, which is linked with obesity, and heart-unhealthy partially hydrogenated oils.

Smarter sub: Fresh or dried fruit. Both are packed with filling fiber, which you'll miss if you opt for gummy snacks.

Health bonus: Cancer-fighting antioxidants. Real fruit is loaded with immune-boosting nutrients that fruit-flavored snacks could never mimic. A recent Greek study found that women who ate the most fruits and veggies were the least likely to develop any type of cancer.

Try: Peeled Snacks Fruit Picks dried fruit (peeledsnacks.com). One serving (one bag) of Go-Mango-Man-Go has 120 calories, 0 g sat fat, 2 g fiber.

Light ice cream
Light ice cream can have fewer calories than regular, but there's no guarantee. Take Häagen-Dazs Dulce de Leche light ice cream: With 220 calories per 1/2 cup serving, it's still higher in calories than the average full-fat ice cream, which has around 140 calories per serving. What's more, some light ice creams can lack the rich taste you crave, so you're less satisfied and may be inclined to eat more than one serving.

Smarter sub: Dairy-free ice cream. Soy and coconut milk ice creams may save you a few calories, and they have a creamy, satisfying texture.

Health bonus: Digestion-friendly fiber. Some dairy-free ice creams are made with chicory root, a natural source of inulin, a prebiotic fiber that can increase healthy bacteria in the gut and help the body absorb calcium and iron.

Try: Turtle Mountain Purely Decadent, made with coconut milk. One serving (1/2 cup) of vanilla has 150 calories, 7 g sat fat, and 6 g fiber. (Studies show that the saturated fat in coconut may not raise cholesterol like the saturated fat in butter and meat.)

Diet soda
In a 2008 study, researchers linked drinking just one diet soda a day with metabolic syndrome — the collection of symptoms including belly fat that puts you at high risk of heart disease. Researchers aren't sure if it's an ingredient in diet soda or the drinkers' eating habits that caused the association.

Smarter sub: Flavored seltzer water. It has zero calories and is free of artificial sweeteners but provides fizz and flavor. Beware of clear sparkling beverages that look like seltzer yet contain artificial sweeteners — they're no better than diet soda. Or try a sparkling juice; we recommend watering it down with seltzer to stretch your calories even further.

Health bonus: Hydration (without chemicals). Water is essential for nearly every body process.

Try: Your supermarket's low-cost seltzer brand. The taste is the same as the bigger name brands.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28118024/

Healthy Pleasures

2009-06-07T23:12:00.000-07:00

Patient: I'm not feeling any better.
Doctor: Are you sure you have given up everything you enjoy?

Imagine the world without pleasure. Life would appear colorless and humorless. A baby's smile would go unappreciated. Foods would be tasteless. The beauty of a Bach concerto would fall on deaf ears. Feelings like joy, thrills, delights, ecstasy, elation and happiness would disappear. The company of others would not bring comfort and joy. The touch of a mother would not soothe, and a lover could not arouse. Interest in sex and procreation would dry up. The next generation would wait unborn.

Human beings evolved to seek enjoyment to enhance survival. What better way to assure that healthy, life-saving behaviors occur than to make them pleasurable? From eating to reproduction, from attending to the environment to caring for others, pleasure guides us to better health. Doing what feels right and feeling good are usually beneficial for health and the survival of the species.

Yet, at nearly every turn pleasure has gotten a bad name. People are almost phobic about having fun, increasingly viewing themselves as fragile, vulnerable, ready to develop cancer or heart disease at the slightest provocation. In the name of health people give up many of their life enjoyments. Compulsion, disruption, and disease lurk if we lapse. Research and thinking in medicine and psychology reflect this pathological focus on the causes and treatment of disease, while virtually ignoring acts that build health. There is a strong anti-pleasure bias in medical research with a great amount of information about health hazards of pleasure and a scarcity of details about its health-promoting effects.

There are many more studies of the disastrous repercussions of life-long alcoholism than researches about the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. There are myriad studies about noise exposure but hardly a score on the therapeutic benefits of music. Researchers dwell on sexual dysfunction, the lethal dangers of sexually transmitted diseases, and catalogue thousands of sexual aberrations. However, they spell out little as to how a pleasurable sexual life contributes to well-being. We have to move beyond "Just Say No" to some positive messages about satisfying ways to improve health.

Don't get us wrong. We recognize that exercising, not smoking or drinking to excess, wearing seat belts, avoiding extreme sunburn, all contribute to a long, healthy life. Even so, the sum total of all the "good health habits" still doesn't add up to as much as we might believe and doesn't explain the essential vitality of some people.

We have no quarrel with the evidence that some pleasures, like cigarette smoking, high alcohol consumption, addictive drugs, driving much too fast, are unhealthy and should be knocked off, whether you fancy them or not. Clearly some pleasures and some conditions are injurious to health. And some pleasures can become addictive compulsions, destroying lives, relationships, and pleasure itself.

The important point is that worrying too much about anything-including calories, salt, cancer, and cholesterol-can rob your life of vitality, and that living optimistically, with pleasure, zest, and commitment enriches if not lengthens life.

Self-Care Tips
Some healthy pleasures:

If the thought of surgery, hospitalization, or the dentist's drill sends chills up your spine, you can try transcend-dental medication with sound. When music is played for patients before, during, or after surgery, it has been found to reduce anxiety, lessen pain, and speed recovery.
A whiff of spiced apple seems to modify the stress response: lower blood pressure, slower breathing, more relaxed muscles, and slower heart rate.
An afternoon nap may help us by-pass heart disease. One study found that those who routinely took a 30-minute afternoon nap were 30% less likely to suffer a heart attack.

David S. Sobel, MD

For More Information
Ornstein R, Sobel D: Healthy Pleasures, Addison-Wesley, 1989

http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?Id=199

Really, I do like you, Obama tells French and Germans

2009-06-07T22:13:00.000-07:00

PARIS (Reuters) – Barack Obama's trip to Europe this weekend revealed deep anxieties among the French and Germans that the U.S. president, hugely popular in both countries, doesn't really like them.

After years in which France and Germany happily distanced themselves from the unpopular policies of former President George W. Bush, Obama appeared bemused as he tried to reassure French and German journalists at a press conference they should not read anything into the brevity of his 2-1/2-day trip.

But he learnt, like the most popular kid in school who everyone wants to befriend, that the slightest gesture can seem like a snub to those anxious to be liked.

The president spent less than a day on Friday in Germany, where he held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and visited the Buchenwald concentration camp that his great uncle helped to liberate in World War Two.

"Most of the speculation around my schedule here in Germany doesn't take into account simple logistics, traveling, trying to get from one place to the other ... there are only 24 hours in a day."

"So stop it, all of you," Obama, with a smile, told journalists.

"I know you have to have something to report on but we have more than enough problems out there without manufacturing problems."

The shortness of Obama's stay in Germany and his decision not to go to Berlin led to German media speculation of a rift, but the president dismissed this as "wild speculation."

Relations between Washington and Berlin have been less than smooth since Obama took office in January. Facing an election in September, Merkel has resisted U.S. pressure to take inmates from Guantanamo and send more troops to Afghanistan.

Obama traveled to Europe earlier this year to attend G-20 and NATO summits in a trip aimed at repairing ties with European allies alienated by Bush's war on terror, invasion of Iraq and climate change policies.

"BEST FRIENDS"

Arriving in France on Saturday to attend commemorations marking the 65th anniversary of the World War Two D-Day landings, Obama again found himself on the defensive after holding only brief talks and a working lunch with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

French officials had expressed surprise, in private, that he could not find the time for an official reception at Sarkozy's Elysee Palace. Obama dined with his wife Michelle at a restaurant near the Eiffel tower in Paris instead.

"I think it's important to understand that good friends don't worry about the symbols and the conventions and the protocols," Obama told reporters with Sarkozy by his side, dismissing the suggestion he was snubbing his French host.

In translated remarks, Sarkozy was heard to say: "Do people think we should be hand in hand looking into each other's eyes?"

"Don't tell them they aren't the best friends in the world," the daily Le Parisien said on Sunday in an article accompanied by a photograph of the two men shaking hands.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090607/pl_nm/us_obama_europe_snub

Best Anti Ageing Creams

2009-06-07T21:38:00.000-07:00

How do you take years off your age? Some individuals know that the most fundamental and basic methods for taking the years off one’s age is to maintain a feeling of contentment inside our own selves. This can be achieved through mental and physical training, and also by a combination of both. A more common option is to go for extensive beauty treatment or cosmetic surgical procedures, which could possibly make the lines vanish, and the age-related fat to disappear. Few of the other integral ways to remain satisfied with oneself are mentioned below so read on and know how to regain your youthfulness with out having to go through cost-prohibitive beauty interventions.

An easy way to feel content is to uplift the life force, which lies inside each of us, and begin to feel positive about ourselves. This can be achieved through natural ways, like going for a pedicure or facials, which improve your overall appearance. These ways of adorning oneself, nevertheless, are mainly the means of getting society to accept our appearance before we can accept them ourselves.

But when you feel good about yourself both mentally and intellectually, the feeling of contentment, which you get, can never be substituted by methods like uplifting your looks, etc. When you are friends with your head and feel spiritually happy, it is then that you are living in total harmony with nature, which allows you to live a stress-free life. This person is less burdened by life and with living and trying to battle with nature, and therefore ages more naturally than most.

individuals who are at peace with themselves and the world age naturally and this it self takes many years off their physical age, in contrast to others who fight to remain youngish and thereby bringing more harm to their bodies and head. You surely would have observed the serenity and spirit of youth in the face of the woman who practices yoga or the sprightliness of the sport’s person when he walks? When you are friendly with your mind it would show in your conduct resulting in a more young, sprightly and exuberant visual aspect.

There are indeed some treatments which magically works on the head and body both soothing and energizing them, like spa and acupressure interventions. These are, therefore, good ways to feel good about oneself which would in turn bring out a youthful ‘aura’ about an individual which has the effect of taking years of the age (as opposed to tension which adds the age). While there are options of choosing both emotional physical ways by which one can feel self-satisfied, which of these you opt, is your personal choice. So long as your aims are good and clear, you can achieve same results, irrespective of the system used.

Carol provides more free and extremely helpful information in her contentrich garnier beauty products blog as well as her equally content-rich garnier beauty products Site. For More Information About best anti aging moisturizer click the link above.

http://thinkhealthylifestyle.com/archives/category/beauty

Public Asked to Help Monitor Life on Earth

2009-06-07T20:02:00.000-07:00

Scientific Organizations Linking Up Thousands of Databases

OSLO (Reuters) - Scientists asked people around the world on Monday to help compile an Internet-based observatory of life on earth as a guide to everything from the impact of climate change on wildlife to pests that can damage crops.

"I would hope that ... we might even have millions of people providing data" in the long term, James Edwards, head of the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) based at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, told Reuters of the 10-year project.

He said scientific organizations were already working to link up thousands of computer databases of animals and plants into a one-stop "virtual observatory" that could be similar to global systems for monitoring the weather or earthquakes.

People in many countries already log observations on the Internet, ranging from sightings of rare birds in Canada to the dates on which flowers bloom in spring in Australia. The new system, when up and running, would link up the disparate sites.

bout 400 biology and technology experts from 50 countries will meet in London from June 1-3 at an "e-Biosphere" conference organized by the EOL to discuss the plans. The EOL is separately trying to describe the world's species online.

"This would be a free system that everyone can access and contribute to," said Norman MacLeod, keeper of paleontology at the Natural History Museum in London which is hosting the talks.

Edwards said a biodiversity overview could have big economic benefits, for instance an unusual insect found in a garden might be an insect pest brought unwittingly in a grain shipment that could disrupt local agriculture.

Among health benefits could be understanding any shifts in the ranges of malaria-carrying mosquitoes linked to global warming, Edwards said.

"Within 10 years, scientists say they could have an efficient and effective way of tracking changes over time in the range and abundance of plants and animals as worldwide temperature and precipitation patterns shift," a statement said.

And plane accidents might be averted by studying DNA genetic samples of birds sucked into jet engines and the timing, altitude and routes of bird migrations.

The observatory could give a benchmark for monitoring the rate of extinctions, for instance, to threats led by loss of habitats to farms, cities and roads.

It could also help people in their everyday lives -- anyone planning to visit a local forest could study trees, flowers, animals or insects that might be seen on a hike.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Science/wireStory?id=7722656&page=2

Clinton Appealed Directly to North Korea for Journalists' Release

2009-06-07T17:46:00.000-07:00

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has appealed directly to North Korea to release two American journalists accused of illegally entering the country and committing unspecified "hostile acts."

It's the highest level contact known between any member of the Obama administration and North Korea, and comes in the midst of an international standoff over North Korea's recent nuclear tests.

"I have been involved directly in working with our team as they have made approaches and requests for information through the channels we use with North Korea," Clinton said during an exclusive Sunday show interview on "This Week."

ABC News learned Clinton sent a letter to North Korea apologizing on behalf of the journalists for crossing into North Korean territory and appealing for their release.

When I asked if she sent the letter to North Korea, Clinton nodded and said, "I have taken every action that we thought would produce the result we're looking for."

However the secretary of state said it isn't clear who has the power to release the women. And, she said she's concerned the women could become political pawns in the international debate over North Korea's nuclear weapons tests.

On trial this week in North Korea, journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee face perhaps 10 years in a labor camp.

"We have gotten some responses but we’re not sure exactly who’s going to be making this decision and what the reasons for the eventual decision are," Clinton said, "So, we’ve been very careful in what we’ve said because clearly we don’t want this pulled into the political issues that we have with North Korea, or the concerns that are being expressed in the United Nations Security Council. This is separate. It is a humanitarian issue and the girls should be let go."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2009/06/clinton-appealed-directly-to-north-korea-for-journalists-release.html

Scientists Eye Glowing Volcano Crater in Hawaii

2009-06-07T16:22:00.000-07:00

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano glows at summit as lava nears surface; unclear whether eruption near VOLCANO,

The summit of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano is glowing brightly as molten lava swirls 300 feet below its crater's floor, bubbling near the surface after years of spewing from the volcano's side.

The expanding vent of Halemaumau crater helps confirm scientists' belief that the lava is close to the surface of the summit, said Janet Babb, a geologist and spokeswoman for the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Park rangers have begun keeping the overlook at the Jaggar Museum open later at night to accommodate the growing number of visitors arriving at dusk or after dark to view the glow.

Kilauea has been erupting for more than 25 years, with its lava creating a plume of steam as it spills into the Pacific Ocean.

But this recent activity is coming from the top of the volcano, not its sea-level side. This is the strongest glow coming from the crater since October, but scientists don't know if lava will ever erupt in a fountain from within the crater, Babb said.

"There's no way to know if that will ever materialize," she said. "It would be grand to see some fountaining here."

The changes in the crater have not created any increased risk to visitors or park staff, she said.

Volcanic smog — known as vog — regularly emits from the crater, spreading a haze of toxic sulfur dioxide over the island. Sometimes, it has been thick enough to cause illnesses, kill crops and force school closures.

Measurements taken earlier this week showed that sulfur dioxide emissions remain similar to recent elevated levels, Babb said.

A non-lava eruption from the summit in March 2008 rained gravel-sized rocks onto a lookout, road and trail, forcing parts of the park to close.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=7774406

Notebook - The Impressive Mobile Computer

2009-06-06T21:01:00.000-07:00

The laptops and notebooks have emerged as the new face of computers. However, the traditional desktop still remains the most sought after machines due to their powerful processor and better storage options.

Just when the world had started relishing the discovery of the desktop computers, stepped in the very stylish and easy to use notebooks! A completely fresh and innovative discovery of the 1990’s, the notebook was the perfect competitor for the existing giants in the world of PCs. A notebook in its initial phase was called a ‘laptop’ probably because of its portable nature and the ability to be used on the lap. However, with the passage of time, the laptop kept on reducing in size while adding on to the functionality front. This led to the birth of ‘notebook’, though both the terms are still used interchangeably and are basically the desktop replacement computers.

Notebooks are preferably ultra-light with the slimmest possible profile to match the look and feel of the ‘Gen Next’. However, on the technical side, they are as useful and productive as the desktop computers. They provide approximately four hours of battery life and also possess a low power consumption processor. The notebooks also feature integrated modems/network connections and are available with the smallest possible keyboard. There is no internal floppy drive to the notebook and the graphics subsystem is also minimal. The flaw in the notebook is the fact that it supports a maximum of 14" TFT screen, also known as thin film transistor screen or active-matrix LCD, and are quite expensive compared to the desktop PCs.

The notebooks usually win an edge over the traditional computers due to their portability and also the capability to access wireless networking in odd places. However, the huge cost of these sleek laptops that are majorly reflections of their high specifications make them a little out of reach for the commoners. Also an interesting piece of information here is the fact that the notebooks (more popularly the laptops) are preferably not to be used on the lap. The reason being the presence of the cooling air fan inlet at the bottom of the laptop. It is therefore, suggested to use a board or a tray underneath it while using it on the lap or the knees.

These days most people are of the view that the laptops and notebooks have actually replaced the desktop machines and that the desktop PCs are now obsolete. On the contrary, the truth remains that the desktop computers are still more powerful and durable than any of the notebooks so far. They have a higher storage capacity and are less prone to any kind of component failure.

The notebooks are more limited in their functions and usage. Being small sized machines, they offer lesser space to put components and also get heated up much faster than the desk machines. Another major problem with these fancy machines is their proprietary nature. In simpler words, the components of laptops and notebooks cannot be interchanged easily.

On a more positive front, the fact also states that these days the notebooks are quite well equipped with the VGA-out port and at times even with a DVI-I port for connection to LCD monitors in order to increase the productivity of the machine. Not only these, the HDMI ports for television as well as the FireWire ports for external hard disks and digital video cameras are also quite common.

The latest technology has also given us something called the ultraportable notebooks that offer great performance (though at a huge price!). Their most interesting feature is their ability to swap between functionality and portability according to the situation. Thus, the bottom line remains that the laptop or a notebook should be bought only if the situation demands it. If you desperately need your computer to be mobile, the notebook is the best choice for you.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/notebook-the-impressive-mobile-computer.html

The Palm Pre: iPhone Killer?

2009-06-06T08:59:00.000-07:00

Why the new smart phone may be better at luring technophobes into the market than Apple or BlackBerry.

Apple fanboys can breathe easy. The new Palm Pre smart phone has arrived, and while it's a terrific phone, it's no iPhone killer. But it does have some things that the iPhone lacks, like a physical keyboard. Its software and user interface are magical. And its multitouch screen is arguably better than the multitouch screen on the iPhone, which pioneered this technology. Despite all this, and despite what Palm's sugar-daddy investor, Roger McNamee, said a few months ago, not many people are going to race out and dump their iPhones in favor of the Pre. I know I won't.

But that whole question about being an iPhone killer is beside the point. Because the real audience that Palm is targeting is not people who already use an iPhone or a BlackBerry. Palm is targeting people who have never used a smart phone before, the holdouts who have shunned smart phones because they're too big or bulky or intimidating. On that front Palm, may score bigtime, at least based on my own highly informal market research—which is to say, I showed the Pre to my technophobic wife, who still defiantly carries a Motorola feature phone despite my many offers to get her something cooler. Her response surprised me. Instead of grumbling, she held the Pre adoringly in her hand and made that sound women make when they like something. "Hmmm," she said. "It's nice. I like it."

The Pre is the brainchild of Jon Rubinstein, a former top Apple engineer (he led development of the iPod) who joined Palm last year. Officially his title at Palm is "executive chairman," and you could think of him as the Steve Jobs of Palm, the somewhat benevolent dictator whose vision gets expressed in the product. Ruby, as he's known, has brought in loads of new talent to Palm, including a bunch of Apple veterans. And they're handling the rollout of the Pre much the way Apple does these things—loads of secrecy, limited access, everything designed to build as much hype and suspense as possible.

The Pre goes on sale this Saturday, June 6. Palm started giving out review units to reporters in the last few weeks, but everyone was forced to sign nondisclosure agreements and to agree not to write a word until today, June 4. Which means that today, right on plan, Palm gets a blitz of coverage. Gadget godfather Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journalsays the Pre is "beautiful, innovative and versatile" and "potentially the strongest rival to the iPhone."

Mossberg's big rival, the always-chipper David Pogue of The New York Times, says "the Pre will be a hit, but the iPhone isn't going away," and he predicts Palm's recovery from a death spiral will have a "happy ending."

Henry Blodget, editor of Silicon Alley Insider, says the Pre will bomb, but may turn Palm into an "attractive acquisition candidate," perhaps for Nokia.

Gizmodo, the leading gadget blog, employs a painful poker metaphor and says the Pre is, "Respectable. Decent. Impressive even. But not the highest hand."

The biggest gripe from Gizmodo seems to be that when you slide open the Pre to use the keyboard, the plastic edges of the phone's body are too sharp—in fact the Gizmodo reviewer, Jason Chen, calls the plastic "irresponsibly sharp" and warns you: "prepare to get sliced." I can only tell you that I've been using the Pre for nearly a week and have yet to suffer any blood loss or severe slashes on my fingertips. Conclusion: Jason Chen is a whiny, girly handed wussboy. Sorry, dude. But it's true.

One thing everybody likes is that the Pre can sync up with iTunes running on a PC. The Pre does this by tricking iTunes into thinking the Pre is an iPod. I'm pretty sure Apple will find a way to mess this up by putting some Pre-breaker code into the next version of iTunes. (These two companies hate each other.) But still, it's a neat feature, and if Palm can keep it alive, it will be a big selling point. One of the biggest hassles of using anything other than an iPhone is that it's a real pain to get music onto the device.

Another cool thing is that the Pre comes with Sprint TV, which lets you watch live and on-demand television on your phone. It's fantastic. There are even premium channels, which you pay for, and which include soft-core porn. Yes, I looked. Why not? It's a review unit, so the premium channels were paid for. And it's all in the name of research. Sadly, the porn was not so great. But the video quality is stunning.

So in some ways Palm has leapt ahead of Apple. Bad news is, Apple is just about to introduce a new iPhone device plus an upgrade to its iPhone operating-system software. That could come as early as next week. And today's little hype explosion about the Pre will get buried beneath the Apple publicity steamroller. Which is too bad, because if this thing had been introduced two years ago, it would have been huge.

Sumber: http://www.newsweek.com/id/200507

Obama remembers bravery of D-Day vets

2009-06-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

Thousands of U.S. service members died 65 years ago during Allied invasion

CAEN, France - Recalling the "unimaginable hell" of D-Day suffering, President Barack Obama paid tribute Saturday to the against-all-odds Allied landings that broke Nazi Germany's grip on France and turned the tide of history.

"The sheer improbability of this victory is part of what makes D-Day so memorable," Obama said.

He spoke under a sunny sky at the American Cemetery on cliffs overlooking Omaha Beach and other landings sites where American, British and Canadian soldiers established a beachhead 65 years ago under the withering fire of Nazi troops awaiting the Allies' cross-channel gamble.

Obama visited an American battlefield museum with his wife, Michelle; laid a wreath in honor of the fallen; greeted U.S. military members; and mingled with uniformed World War II veterans.

Normandy's cliffs, still pocked with gun emplacements and other remnants of the war, including the white headstones of thousands of buried American troops, provided sure footing for a new U.S. commander in chief.

Obama noted that the site has been visited by many U.S. presidents and predicted that "Long after our time on this Earth has passed, one word will still bring forth the pride and awe of men and women who will never meet the heroes who sit before us: D-Day."

He said the lessons of that pivotal effort are eternal.

"Friends and veterans, what we cannot forget — what we must not forget — is that D-Day was a time and a place where the bravery and selflessness of a few was able to change the course of an entire century," he said.

'Many never made it out'
Speaking at a time when he is directing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — both of which have lasted longer than the U.S. involvement in World War II — Obama described in stark terms the harsh conditions the Allied invaders faced at Normandy. He noted that in many ways the seaborne invasion plan went awry, leaving the assaulting forces vulnerable to Nazi guns in their path.

"When the ships landed here at Omaha, an unimaginable hell rained down on the men inside," he said. "Many never made it out of the boats."

But the Allies prevailed, gathering strength for a breakout from Normandy in July that opened a path toward Paris and eventually took the Allies all the way to Germany and victory over the Nazis. Obama paid tribute to the Allies — the British, the Canadian, the French as well as the Russians, "who sustained some of the war's heaviest casualties on the Eastern front."

"At an hour of maximum danger, amid the bleakest of circumstances, men who thought themselves ordinary found it within themselves to do the extraordinary," Obama said. "They fought out of a simple sense of duty — a duty sustained by the same ideals for which their countrymen had fought and bled for over two centuries."

Earlier, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown each recalled the sacrifices of the Allies.

Obama noted that his grandfather, Stanley Dunham, arrived at Normandy six weeks after D-Day and marched across France in Lt. Gen. George S. Patton's army. Attending with Obama was his great uncle, Charles Payne, who was part of the first American division to reach and liberate a Nazi concentration camp that Obama and his great uncle visited in Germany on Friday.

Obama saluted the contributions of individual veterans of the Normandy landings, including one veteran, Jim Norene, who fought as a member of the 101st Airborne Division.

"Last night, after visiting this cemetery for one last time, he passed away in his sleep," the president said. "Jim was gravely ill when he left his home, and he knew that he might not return. But just as he did 65 years ago, he came anyway. May he now rest in peace with the boys he once bled with, and may his family always find solace in the heroism he showed here."

Obama and Sarkozy
Earlier in the day, French police and U.S. military helicopters circled above the Normandy city of Caen, where Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met. Skies were overcast but showed no signs of the rough winds and rain that marked June 6, 1944.

The global recession, Afghanistan, Iran and Mideast peace topped the agenda of talks between Obama and Sarkozy.

While France and the United States clearly have their differences, the relationship that turned frosty under George W. Bush largely because of the Iraq war has seemed to thaw some with Sarkozy and Obama at the helm of their respective countries. Both have expressed fondness for each other.

The first couples of each country — Obama and his wife Michelle and Sarkozy and model-turned-singer Carla Bruni-Sarkozy — greeted each other warmly with grins, hugs and, for the women, double kisses on the cheeks outside of the French Prefecture, as several hundred people cheered, shrieked and waved small French and American flags from behind security barriers around the regional headquarters. Police surrounded the crowd from all sides.

Obama and Sarkozy shook a few of the onlookers' hands and listened to each country's national anthem in the gravel palace courtyard before heading down the red carpeted walkway to retreat inside for private talks over lunch.

Their wives — dueling style icons — were to meet separately. They wore competing outfits: Michelle Obama was in a white dress topped by a matching white coat and a wide gold belt, while Carla Bruni-Sarkozy donned a cream dress with a thin brown belt.

Sumber: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31136494/

Osteoporosis

2009-06-06T07:57:00.000-07:00

Stand tall against osteoporosis. No matter what your age, it’s never too late to stop bone loss now for better posture and fewer fractures down the road. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful:

Pump it up
Make weight-bearing exercise a regular habit to increase bone density and prevent osteoporosis

Cut the caffeine
Avoid excessive calcium loss in the urine from by switching to healthier beverages

Aim for lifelong calcium and vitamin D nutrition
An extra 800 mg of calcium and 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D a day can help protect the bones of people at any age

Get your soy
Make tofu, soy milk, soy protein, and other sources of beneficial isoflavones a regular part of your diet

Watch the salt
Avoid excessive salt intake and high-salt processed and restaurant foods that may contribute to calcium and bone loss

Talk to your doctor
Ask your doctor about bisphosphonates like alendronate (Fosamax) and risedronate (Actonel) which prevent calcium loss from bone

These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Continue reading the full osteoporosis article for more in-depth, fully-referenced information on medicines, vitamins, herbs, and dietary and lifestyle changes that may be helpful.

About osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition in which the normal amount of bone mass has decreased.

People with osteoporosis have brittle bones, which increases the risk of bone fracture, particularly in the hip, spine, and wrist. Osteoporosis is most common in postmenopausal Asian and Caucasian women. Premenopausal women are partially protected against bone loss by the hormone called estrogen. Black women often have slightly greater bone mass than do other women, which helps protect against bone fractures. In men, testosterone partially protects against bone loss even after middle age. Beyond issues of race, age, and gender, incidence varies widely from society to society, suggesting that osteoporosis is largely preventable.

What are the symptoms?

Osteoporosis is a silent disease that may not be noticed until a broken bone occurs. Signs may include diminished height, rounded shoulders, dowager’s hump, and evidence of bone loss from diagnostic tests. Symptoms may include neck or back pain.

Dietary changes that may be helpful

Studies attempting to uncover the effects of high animal protein intake on the risk of osteoporosis have produced confusing and contradictory results.¹ ² ³ ⁴ ⁵ The same is true of studies attempting to find out whether vegetarians are protected against osteoporosis.⁶ ⁷ ⁸ ⁹ ¹⁰ ¹¹ ¹² ¹³ Moreover, while some studies report that protein supplementation lowers death rates and shortens hospital stays¹⁴ or reduces bone loss among people with osteoporosis,¹⁵ others have found that such supplementation is of little value.¹⁶

These conflicting findings may occur in part because dietary protein produces opposing effects on bone. On one hand, dietary protein increases the loss of calcium in urine,¹⁷ ¹⁸ which should increase the risk of osteoporosis. On the other hand, normal bone formation requires adequate dietary protein, and low dietary protein intake has been associated with low bone mineral density.¹⁹ Current research shows that finding the line between too much protein and too little protein remains elusive, though extremes in protein intake—either high or low—might possibly increase the risk of osteoporosis.

Short-term increases in dietary salt result in increased urinary calcium loss, which suggests that over time, salt intake may cause bone loss.²⁰ Increasing dietary salt has increased markers of bone loss in postmenopausal (though not premenopausal) women.²¹ ²² ²³ Although a definitive link between salt intake and osteoporosis has not yet been proven, many doctors recommend that people wishing to protect themselves against bone loss use less salt and eat fewer processed and restaurant foods, which tend to be highly salted.

Like salt, caffeine increases urinary loss of calcium.²⁴ Caffeine intake has been linked to increased risk of hip fractures²⁵ and to a lower bone mass in women who consumed inadequate calcium.²⁶ Many doctors recommend decreasing caffeinated coffee, black tea, and caffeine-containing soft drinks as a way to improve bone mass.

Curiously, while caffeine-containing tea consumption has been linked to osteoporosis in some studies,²⁷ others have reported that tea drinkers have a lower risk of osteoporosis than do people who do not drink tea.²⁸ ²⁹ Possibly, the calcium-losing effect of caffeine in tea is overridden by other constituents of tea, such as flavonoids.

People who consume soft drinks have been reported to have an increased incidence of bone fractures,³⁰ although short-term consumption of carbonated beverages has not affected markers of bone health.³¹ The problem, if one exists, may be linked to phosphoric acid, a substance found in many soft drinks, particularly colas. In one study, children consuming at least six glasses (1.5 liters) per week of soft drinks containing phosphoric acid had more than five times the risk of developing low blood levels of calcium compared with other children.³² In a study in adults, higher consumption of cola beverages was associated with more bone loss in women, but not in men. Consumption of non-cola carbonated drinks, on the other hand, was not associated with bone loss.³³ Although a few studies have not linked soft drinks to bone loss,³⁴ the preponderance of evidence now suggests that a problem may exist.

Soy foods, such as tofu, soy milk, roasted soy beans, and soy protein powders, may be beneficial in preventing osteoporosis. Isoflavones from soy have protected against bone loss in animal studies.³⁵ In a double-blind trial, postmenopausal women who supplemented with 40 grams of soy protein powder (containing 90 mg of isoflavones) per day were protected against bone mineral loss in the spine, although lower amounts were not protective.³⁶ In a double-blind study, administration of the soy isoflavone genistein (54 mg per day) to postmenopausal women for one year reduced bone breakdown, increased bone formation, and increased bone mineral density of the hip and spine.³⁷ The effect on bone density was similar to that of conventional hormone-replacement therapy. The same amount of genistein also prevented bone loss in a two-year double-blind study.³⁸

The effect of dairy products on the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures is subject to controversy. According to a review of 46 studies,³⁹ different dairy products appear to have different effects on bone density and fracture rates. Milk, especially nonfat milk, probably does more good than harm because of its relatively lower protein and salt content, as well as its higher level of calcium. Cottage cheese and American cheese, on the other hand, probably do more harm than good. Cottage cheese is high in protein and salt but low in calcium, factors which could contribute to bone loss. American cheese is extremely high in salt and high in protein. These foods are not recommended as calcium sources for the prevention of osteoporotic fractures. Although there may be better ways of getting calcium, younger women who wish to prevent osteoporosis might consider nonfat milk and nonfat yogurt to be reasonable dietary calcium sources.

Lifestyle changes that may be helpful

Smoking leads to increased bone loss.⁴⁰ For this and many other health reasons, smoking should be avoided.

Exercise is known to help protect against bone loss.⁴¹ The more weight-bearing exercise done by men and postmenopausal women, the greater their bone mass and the lower their risk of osteoporosis. Walking is a perfect weight-bearing exercise. For premenopausal women, exercise is also important, but taken to extreme, it may lead to cessation of the menstrual cycle, which contributes to osteoporosis.⁴²

Excess body mass helps protect against osteoporosis. As a result, researchers have been able to show that people who successfully lose weight have greater bone loss compared with those who do not lose weight.⁴³ Therefore, people who lose weight need to be particularly vigilant about preventing osteoporotic fractures.

Other therapies

Healthcare providers also recommend adequate dietary calcium intake and weight-bearing exercise.

Vitamins that may be helpful

Although insufficient when used as the only intervention, calcium supplements help prevent osteoporosis.⁴⁴ Though some of the research remains controversial, the protective effect of calcium on bone mass is one of very few health claims permitted on supplement labels by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In some studies, higher calcium intake has not correlated with a reduced risk of osteoporosis—for example, in women shortly after becoming menopausal⁴⁵ or in men.⁴⁶ However, after about three years of menopause, calcium supplementation does appear to take on a protective effect for women.⁴⁷ Even the most positive trials using isolated calcium supplementation show only minor effects on bone mass. Nonetheless, a review of the research shows that calcium supplementation plus hormone replacement therapy is much more effective than hormone replacement therapy without calcium.⁴⁸ Double-blind research has found that increasing calcium intake results in greater bone mass in girls.⁴⁹ An analysis of many trials investigating the effects of calcium supplementation in premenopausal women has also shown a significant positive effect.⁵⁰ Most doctors recommend calcium supplementation as a way to partially reduce the risk of osteoporosis and to help people already diagnosed with the condition. In order to achieve the 1,500 mg per day calcium intake many researchers deem optimal, 800 to 1,000 mg of supplemental calcium are generally added to the 500 to 700 mg readily obtainable from the diet.

While phosphorus is essential for bone formation, most people do not require phosphorus supplementation, because the typical western diet provides ample or even excessive amounts of phosphorus. One study, however, has shown that taking calcium can interfere with the absorption of phosphorus, potentially leading to phosphorus deficiency in elderly people, whose diets may contain less phosphorus.⁵¹ . The authors of this study recommend that, for elderly people, at least some of the supplemental calcium be taken in the form of tricalcium phosphate or some other phosphorus-containing preparation.

Ipriflavone is a synthetic flavonoid derived from the soy isoflavone called daidzein. It promotes the incorporation of calcium into bone and inhibits bone breakdown, thus preventing and reversing osteoporosis. Many clinical trials, including numerous double-blind trials, have consistently shown that long-term treatment with 600 mg of ipriflavone per day, along with 1,000 mg supplemental calcium, is both safe and effective in halting bone loss in postmenopausal women or in women who have had their ovaries removed. Ipriflavone has also been found to improve bone density in established cases of osteoporosis in most,⁵² ⁵³ ⁵⁴ ⁵⁵ ⁵⁶ ⁵⁷ ⁵⁸ ⁵⁹ ⁶⁰ ⁶¹ ⁶² but not all,⁶³ clinical trials. Some studies have shown that ipriflavone therapy not only stops bone loss, it also actually increases bone density and significantly reduces the number of vertebral fractures and amount of bone pain.

However, one double-blind study has failed to confirm the beneficial effect of ipriflavone. In that study, ipriflavone was no more effective than a placebo for preventing bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.⁶⁴ The women in this negative study were older (average age, 63.3 years) than those in most other ipriflavone studies and had relatively severe osteoporosis. It is possible that ipriflavone works only in younger women or in those with less severe osteoporosis.

Vitamin D increases calcium absorption, and blood levels of vitamin D are directly related to the strength of bones.⁶⁵ Mild deficiency of vitamin D is common in the fit, active elderly population and leads to an acceleration of age-related loss of bone mass and an increased risk of fracture.⁶⁶ In double-blind research, vitamin D supplementation has reduced bone loss in women who consume insufficient vitamin D from food⁶⁷ and slowed bone loss in people with osteoporosis.⁶⁸ However, the effect of vitamin D supplementation on osteoporosis risk remains surprisingly unclear,⁶⁹ ⁷⁰ with some trials reporting little if any benefit.⁷¹ Moreover, trials reporting reduced risk of fracture have usually combined vitamin D with calcium supplementation,⁷² making it difficult to assess how much benefit is caused by supplementation with vitamin D alone.⁷³

Impaired balance and increased body sway are important causes of falls in elderly people with osteoporosis.⁷⁴ Vitamin D works with calcium to prevent some musculoskeletal causes of falls.⁷⁵ In a double-blind trial, elderly women who were given 800 IU per day of vitamin D and 1,200 mg per day of calcium had a significantly lower rate of falls and subsequent fractures than did women given the same amount of calcium alone.⁷⁶ Vitamin D in the amount of 800 IU per day effectively prevented falls in a double-blind study of elderly nursing home residents, but lower amounts were ineffective.⁷⁷

Despite inconsistency in the research, many doctors recommend 400 to 800 IU per day of supplemental vitamin D, depending upon dietary intake and exposure to sunlight.

A preliminary trial found that elderly women with osteoporosis who were given 4 grams of fish oil per day for four months had improved calcium absorption and evidence of new bone formation.⁷⁸ Fish oil combined with evening primrose oil (EPO) may confer added benefits. In a controlled trial, women received 6 grams of a combination of EPO and fish oil, or a matching placebo, plus 600 mg of calcium per day for three years.⁷⁹ The EPO/fish oil group experienced no spinal bone loss in the first 18 months and a significant 3.1% increase in spinal bone mineral density during the last 18 months.

Vitamin K is needed for bone formation. People with osteoporosis have been reported to have low blood levels⁸⁰ ⁸¹ and low dietary intake of vitamin K.⁸² ⁸³ One study found that postmenopausal (though not premenopausal) women may reduce urinary loss of calcium by taking 1 mg of vitamin K per day.⁸⁴ People with osteoporosis given large amounts of vitamin K2 (45 mg per day) have shown an increase in bone density after six months⁸⁵ and decreased bone loss after one⁸⁶ or two⁸⁷ years.

Other preliminary studies have reported that vitamin K supplementation increases bone formation in some women⁸⁸ and that higher vitamin K intake correlates with greater bone mineral density.⁸⁹ However, a double-blind study found that supplementing with 500 mcg of vitamin K per day for three years had no effect on bone mineral density, when compared with a placebo.⁹⁰ Some doctors recommend 1 mg vitamin K1 to postmenopausal women as a way to help maintain bone mass, though optimal intake remains unknown.

In a preliminary study, people with osteoporosis were reported to be at high risk for magnesium malabsorption.⁹¹ Both bone⁹² and blood⁹³ levels of magnesium have been reported to be low in people with osteoporosis. Supplemental magnesium has reduced markers of bone loss in men.⁹⁴ Supplementing with 250 mg up to 750 mg per day of magnesium arrested bone loss or increased bone mass in 87% of people with osteoporosis in a two-year, preliminary trial.⁹⁵ Supplementing with magnesium (150 mg per day for one year) also increased bone mass in pre-adolescent and adolescent girls in a double-blind study.⁹⁶ Some doctors recommend that people with osteoporosis supplement with 350 mg of magnesium per day.

One trial studying postmenopausal women combined hormone replacement therapy with magnesium (600 mg per day), calcium (500 mg per day), vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin D, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, and other nutrients for an eight- to nine-month period.⁹⁷ In addition, participants were told to avoid processed foods, limit protein intake, emphasize vegetable over animal protein, and limit consumption of salt, sugar, alcohol, coffee, tea, chocolate, and tobacco. Bone density increased a remarkable 11%, compared to only 0.7% in women receiving hormone replacement alone.

Levels of zinc in both blood and bone have been reported to be low in people with osteoporosis,⁹⁸ and urinary loss of zinc has been reported to be high.⁹⁹ In one trial, men consuming only 10 mg of zinc per day from food had almost twice the risk of osteoporotic fractures compared with those eating significantly higher levels of zinc in their diets.¹⁰⁰ Whether zinc supplementation protects against bone loss has not yet been proven, though in one trial, supplementation with several minerals including zinc and calcium was more effective than calcium by itself.¹⁰¹ Many doctors recommend that people with osteoporosis, as well as those trying to protect themselves from this disease, supplement with 10 to 30 mg of zinc per day.

Copper is needed for normal bone synthesis. Recently, a two-year, controlled trial reported that 3 mg of copper per day reduced bone loss.¹⁰² When taken over a shorter period of time (six weeks), the same level of copper supplementation had no effect on biochemical markers of bone loss.¹⁰³ Some doctors recommend 2 to 3 mg of copper per day, particularly if zinc is also being taken, in order to prevent a deficiency. Supplemental zinc significantly depletes copper stores, so people taking zinc supplements for more than a few weeks generally need to supplement with copper also. All minerals discussed so far—calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper—are sometimes found at appropriate levels in high-potency multivitamin-mineral supplements.

Boron supplementation has been reported to reduce urinary loss of calcium and magnesium in some,¹⁰⁴ but not all,¹⁰⁵ preliminary research. However, those who are already supplementing with magnesium appear to achieve no additional calcium-sparing benefit when boron is added.¹⁰⁶ Finally, in the original report claiming that boron reduced loss of calcium,¹⁰⁷ the effect was achieved by significantly increasing estrogen and testosterone levels, hormones that have been linked to cancer risks. Therefore, it makes sense for people with osteoporosis to supplement with magnesium instead of, rather than in addition to, boron.

Interest in the effect of manganese and bone health began when famed basketball player Bill Walton’s repeated fractures were halted with manganese supplementation.¹⁰⁸ A subsequent, unpublished study reported manganese deficiency in a small group of osteoporotic women.¹⁰⁹ Since then, a combination of minerals including manganese was reported to halt bone loss.¹¹⁰ However, no human trial has investigated the effect of manganese supplementation alone on bone mass. Nonetheless, some doctors recommend 10 to 20 mg of manganese per day to people concerned with maintenance of bone mass.

Silicon is required in trace amounts for normal bone formation,¹¹¹ and supplementation with silicon has increased bone formation in animals.¹¹² In preliminary human research, supplementation with silicon increased bone mineral density in a small group of people with osteoporosis.¹¹³ Optimal supplemental levels remain unknown, though some multivitamin-mineral supplements now contain small amounts of this trace mineral.

Strontium may play a role in bone formation, and also may inhibit bone breakdown.¹¹⁴ Preliminary evidence suggests that women with osteoporosis may have reduced absorption of strontium.¹¹⁵ The first medical use of strontium was described in 1884. (Strontium supplements do not contain the radioactive form of strontium that is a component of nuclear fallout.) Years ago in a preliminary trial, people with osteoporosis were given 1.7 grams of strontium for a period of time ranging between three months and three years; afterward, they reported a significant reduction in bone pain, and there was evidence suggesting their bone mass had increased.¹¹⁶ More recently, in a three-year double-blind study of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, supplementing with strontium, in the form of strontium ranelate, significantly increased bone mineral density in the hip and spine, and significantly reduced the risk of vertebral fractures by 41%, compared with a placebo.¹¹⁷ The amount of strontium used in that study was 680 mg per day, which is approximately 300 times the amount found in a typical diet. Increased bone formation and decreased bone pain were also reported in six people with osteoporosis given 600 to 700 mg of stable strontium per day.¹¹⁸ Although the amounts of strontium used in these studies studies was very high, the optimal intake remains unknown. Some doctors recommend only 1 to 3 mg per day—less than many people currently consume from their diets, but an amount that has begun to appear in some mineral formulas geared toward bone health. Strontium preparations, providing 200 to 400 mg per day, were used for decades during the first half of the twentieth century without any apparent toxicity.¹¹⁹ No significant side effects were observed in people taking large amounts of strontium; however, animal studies have demonstrated defects in bone mineralization, when strontium was administered in large amounts in combination with a low-calcium diet. People interested in taking large amounts of strontium should be supervised by a doctor, and should make sure to take adequate amounts of calcium. It should be noted that, although supplementing with strontium increases bone mineral density, only part of the increase is real. The rest is a laboratory error that results from the fact that strontium blocks X-rays to a greater extent than does calcium.¹²⁰ People taking large amounts of strontium should mention that fact to the radiologist when they are having their bone mineral density measured, so that the results will be interpreted correctly.

Folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 are known to reduce blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine, and homocystinuria, a condition associated with high homocysteine levels, frequently causes osteoporosis. Therefore, some researchers have suggested that these vitamins might help prevent osteoporosis by lowering homocysteine levels.¹²¹ In a double-blind study of people who had suffered a stroke and had high homocysteine levels, daily supplementation with 5 mg of folic acid and 1,500 mcg of vitamin B12 for two years reduced the incidence of fractures by 78%, compared with a placebo.¹²² The reduction in fracture risk appeared to be due to an improvement in bone quality, rather than to a change in bone mineral density. However, supplementation with these vitamins did not reduce fracture risk in people who had only mildly elevated homocysteine levels and relatively high pretreatment folic acid levels.¹²³ For the purpose of lowering homocysteine, amounts of folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 found in high-potency B-complex supplements and multivitamins should be adequate.

Preliminary evidence suggests that progesterone might reduce the risk of osteoporosis.¹²⁴ A preliminary trial using topically applied natural progesterone cream in combination with dietary changes, exercise, vitamin and calcium supplementation, and estrogen therapy reported large gains in bone density over a three-year period in a small group of postmenopausal women, but no comparison was made to examine the effect of using the same protocol without progesterone.¹²⁵ Other trials have reported that adding natural progesterone to estrogen therapy did not improve the bone-sparing effects of estrogen when taken alone¹²⁶ and that progesterone applied topically every day for a year did not reduce bone loss.¹²⁷ In a more recent double-blind study, however, progesterone had a modest bone-sparing effect in post-menopausal women.¹²⁸

In a preliminary trial, bone mineral density increased among healthy elderly women and men who were given 50 mg per day of DHEA as a supplement.¹²⁹ Similar results were found in a one-year double-blind trial that used 50 mg of DHEA per day.¹³⁰ It is not known if supplementation would have the same effect in people with established osteoporosis.

Some whey proteins may reduce bone loss.¹³¹ Milk basic protein (MBP) is a mixture of some of the proteins found in whey protein. A preliminary trial found that 300 mg per day of MBP improved blood measures of bone metabolism in men, suggesting more bone formation was occurring than bone loss.¹³² A double-blind trial found that women taking 40 mg per day of MBP for six months had greater gains in bone density compared with those taking a placebo.¹³³ No osteoporosis-related research has been done using complete whey protein mixtures.

Sumber: http://www.healthylife.net.au/HEALTHYLIFEHN.ASP?org=healthylife&ContentID=1050006

Tips Awet Muda

2009-05-31T00:34:00.000-07:00

Setiap wanita pasti ingin terlihat cantik dan awet muda. Tetapi, kesalahan dalam pola hidup, makan ataupun penyebab lain dapat membuat kita stress dan membuat wajah kita tidak cerah. Maka, agar Anda dapat terus terlihat awet muda dan segar, berikut tips-tips yang dapat Anda terapkan.

Berpikir positif

Pikiran memang merupakan bagian yang sangat mempengaruhi kondisi tubuh kita. Stress dapat menimbulkan penyakit. Demikian pula pada wajah Anda, terlalu banyak pikiran dapat membuat wajah Anda terlihat lebih tua. Maka, berpikirlah positif dan selalu menerima apapun masalah Anda sebagai sesuatu yang baik.

Pilih produk kosmetik yang sesuai

Salah memilih produk kecantikan, dapat berpengaruh buruk pada wajah Anda. Maka, kenalilah jenis kulit Anda dan gunakan produk yang sesuai. Jangan terpengaruh harga atau merk tertentu, tetapi gunakan yang benar-benar sesuai dengan kulit Anda.

Gunakan tabir surya

Sinar UV pada matahari dapat menyebabkan flek dan kerutan pada wajah. Lindungi wajah Anda dengan menggunakan tabir surya bila Anda harus keluar rumah. Sehingga wajah Anda akan tetap terlihat bersih.

Perbanyak konsumsi buah dan sayur

Kandungan vitamin dan mineral yang terdapat dalam buah dan sayur merupakan hal yang sangat berguna bagi kesegaran wajah. Kesehatan Anda pun akan semakin baik dengan mengkonsumsinya.

Cukup tidur setiap hari

Tidur yang cukup membantu tubuh untuk memperbaiki sel-sel yang rusak. Maka, usahakan agar Anda tidur minimal 8 jam sehari agar kebutuhan ini tercukupi.

Olahraga secara teratur

Walaupun terkadang sulit untuk menyediakan waktu untuk berolahraga karena merasa lelah setelah melakukan aktivitas seharian, tapi usahakan agar Anda meluangkan waktu untuk berolahraga minimal 2 kali seminggu, agar kesehatan Anda tetap terjaga.

Make Up secara tepat

Dengan beberapa trik make up yang tepat, Anda juga dapat tampil muda dan cantik.

http://kumpulan.info/cantik/tips-kecantikan/37-tips/84-tips-awet-muda.html

Tips memilih produk kosmetik yang aman :

2009-05-30T22:18:00.000-07:00

Alami dari tumbuh-tumbuhan
Diolah di laboratorium canggih di bawah pengawasan mutu dan lingkungan yang ketat.
Sebelum diluncurkan, produk telah diujicobakan pada manusia
Menjamin keamanan, kecocokan, efektifitas, bahkan untuk kulit yang sensitif.
Jaminan uang kembali
Ada label sah Depkes BPOM , ada label expired-date-nya
Ramah lingkungan : kemasan bisa didaurulang, ozon friendly
Produknya sudah dipakai di lebih dari 50 negara di dunia selama lebih dari 40 tahun

Sumber: http://tipscantik.blogspot.com/2009/03/cantik-dan-sehat-sekarang-dan-50-tahun.html

Manfaat Buah Apel

2009-05-30T21:45:00.000-07:00

Buah merupakan salah satu makanan yang saat ini banyak digemari, terutama bagi remaja putri yang hidup di perkotaan. Namun, kegemaran ini memang patut diikuti oleh semua, tidak hanya dilakukan oleh remaja putri yang hidup di perkotaan saja. Salah satu buah yang paling digemari yaitu Apel. Apel adalah jenis buah-buahan yang memiliki banyak varietas. Apel yang dimasak cenderung berkadar gula rendah, dibanding jenis yang dimakan langsung. Buah ini banyak diimpor dari Selandia Baru, Australia, dan Amerika Serikat, walaupun produk lokal sendiri tidak kalah bersaing dengan produk import tersebut.

Dibalik bentuknya yang unik, warnanya yang menarik, merah atau hijau, serta rasanya yang menyegarkan, ternyata buah ini banyak mengandung zat yang bersifat mencegah atau menyembuhkan sejumlah penyakit, terutama bagian dalam organ tubuh. Menurut para ilmuwan, Apel diyakini mampu mengendalikan kolesterol, karena di dalam kandungan buah tersebut ternyata terdapat zat antioksidan (zat pencegah radikal bebas yang menimbulkan kerusakan pada sel-sel tubuh) yang tinggi di dalamnya, yang dinilai efektif melawan “kolesterol jahat” atau LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) dalam tubuh. Selain itu, pada waktu yang bersamaan juga dapat meningkatkan “kolesterol baik” atau HDL (High Density Lipoprotein).

Sepotong Apel dipercaya dapat menurunkan risiko kanker paru-paru dan kanker usus berkat zat flavonoid yang ada didalamnya. Flavonoid ini dinilai dapat melindungi tubuh dari kerusakan akibat radikal bebas atau molekul tidak stabil yang timbul karena proses kimia normal tubuh dan pengaruh lingkungan lain, seperti polusi udara.

Berdasarkan penelitian yang dilakukan di Cornell Univesity bahwa Apel yang masih segar mampu mencegah munculnya neurodegeneratif, seperti alzheimer dan parkinson. Dugaan sementara bahwa hal ini dipengaruhi berkat zat antioksidan di dalam Apel. Selain itu, pada Apel terdapat kandungan serat yang tinggi, yang menjadikan buah ini sangat baik untuk membantu pencernaan. Serat yang tinggi ini dapat juga menghindari munculnya rasa lapar lebih cepat, sehingga Apel dapat membantu saat hendak menurunkan berat badan.

Selain manfaat di atas, ternyata buah Apel dapat bermanfaat untuk mengendalikan kadar gula darah, menurunkan tekanan darah, memperkuat jantung, mengurangi nafsu makan, memperkuat ginjal, serta mengatasi insomia.

Untuk itu, dilihat dari sederet manfaat Apel di atas, Apel bisa menjadi bahan pertimbangan kita agar Apel dapat masuk ke dalam daftar menu kita, karena dibalik bentuknya yang unik dan warnanya yang menarik Apel memiliki banyak manfaat yang menguntungkan dari segi kesehatan.
Selamat mencoba ....

Disalin dari: http://id.88db.com/id/Knowledge/Knowledge_Detail.page?kid=2279&lang=en-us

Jurus Menuju Kulit Sehat

2009-05-30T21:16:00.000-07:00

Rambut adalah mahkota bagi setiap wanita. Sedangkan pria seringkali bermasalah dengan kebotakan. Rambut rontok adalah salah satu masalah yang kerap terjadi pada kita. Untuk mengatasinya, coba beberapa tips berikut ini:

1. Hindari menyisir saat rambut dalam keadaan basah. Biarkan saja rambut anda kering secara alami. Rambut yang basah lebih mudah lepas jika tertarik sedikit saja. Kebiasaan menyisir rambut ketika basah harus anda hentikan mulailah merawat dan menyayangi rambut anda.

2. Pilihlah sisir dengan gerigi yang jarang. Jika anda menggunakan kerudung atau akan memakai topi, sebaiknya sisir rambut anda terlebih dahulu. Cara ini akan membuat rambut anda lebih terjaga dengan rapih sekaligus dapat melancarkan peredaran darah di kepala.

3. Jangan terlalu sering menggunakan pengering rambut atau hairdryer. Jika anda terpaksa menggunakannya sebaiknya pakai suhu yang rendah. Perhatikan juga jarak rambut dengan pengering. Usahakan jaraknya sekitar 10 - 15 cm dari batang rambut. Keseringan mengeringkan rambut akan membuat kelembaban rambut anda rusak.

4. Sering-seringlah menggerai atau mengurai rambut anda. Apalagi saat anda tidur. Hilangkan kebiasaan mengikat atau menjepit rambut dengan kencang. Hal itu dapat membuat rambut anda mudah patah dan rontok. Selain itu kebiasan mengikat rambut bisa membuat pertumbuhan rambutmu tidak bagus.

5. Untuk menjaga kelembaban rambut, sebaiknya gunakan pelindung kepala seperti scarf, topi atau payung ketika anda berada di bawah sinar matahari.

6. Agar rambut lebih sehat dan juga terlihat modis, seringlah mengubah garis belahan dan gaya rambut anda. Mengubah belahan menghindari kulit kepala yang sama terkena matahari dalam waktu panjang. Hal ini dapat mencegah kerontokan secara perlahan.

7. Lakukan perawatan pada rambut secara khusus setidaknya minimal 2 minggu sekali. Lakukan kegiatan creambat, masker dan hair spa untuk memperindah dan menyehatkan rambut anda.

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