Healthy Living Ministries

Black Soap is the key to radiant skin. Never before was having soft, clear skin this simple! We carry over 20 types of black soaps, each is filled with beneficial skin-enriching vitamins and elements such as cocoa butter to create an almost miracle-like cleanser. Black soap and shea butter both soothes and moisturizes, leaving your skin soft and smooth. It also helps clear marks and blemishes, and helps to reduce acne. Excellent for your face, hands, and the whole body.

Many people are scared to become bald, both male and female. Many of them worry when they see
an amount of hair in their basin after shampooing. But as a matter of fact, our hair naturally loses about 50-100 hairs. The hairs removed often stays on our head. So when we take a shower we see a lot of hair in the basin, truth is this hair had been shed earlier.

It is really hard to tell if your hair is starting to get thin. Bald spots may be one of the signs but there is no assurance for it. There is a way to find out if your hair is starting to thin. The so-called “Tug test”, using your thumb and index finger, hold about 15-20 strands of hair. Pull it firmly and slowly. If more than 6 hairs were removed, you can say it is starting to get thin.

Hair loss can be caused by heredity and such major illness. Hair loss is generally a major problem for adults (elderly). But in some cases, teens start to loss their hair too. It is a great sign that there is something going wrong. Hair loss in adolescence stage is caused by illness or improper diet. Some caused by medical treatments, like chemotherapy. Wearing hairstyles that pulls hair also causes it, like braids, because there is tension on it.

Losing hair is really a great worry especially for teenagers that are concern with their appearance. The good news is, in adolescence stage it is really often happening. Once the causes of it were corrected, hair usually grows back.

Here are common mistakes of people about hair loss. It is not true that when you brush your hair about 100 times it will be stimulated. It might only cause you hair injury. Hairs really don’t breath. They get their oxygen from our blood in our scalps. Our hair will be damaged only because of wig or caps if it is too tight. Frequent cleansing and shampooing of hair is really not one cause of hair falling. Most hairs that are being removed by shampoo are the hairs that are already fallen out. Protein-containing conditioners and shampoos help our hair grow and nourished? False. It only fills the surface of the hair shaft. Making it thicker and much smoother.

We must take care of our hair to prevent hair loss, avoid too much style that would put tension on it. Avoid unnecessary gadgets for our hair to maintain its natural beauty.

There are different types of hair loss among women. One of the most common kinds of hair loss is called Androgenetic Alopecia, otherwise known as Female Pattern Alopecia. Alopecia, which mean being bald, does not necessarily mean total loss of hair. To be precise, it is simply the receding of the hairline mostly above and in front of your head. Most of those affected are only one third of the prone population, but it is usually happening after menopause.

The pattern for hair loss in women may be noted with excess loss, but what brings women to professionals is the continuous thinning of the hair. It is an average of 100-150 hair strands per day that a person shed and people who already have thin hair have lower number of shedding. There is a pattern on hair loss in women. When the hair is being shed, roots grow shorter hair afterwards. After a while, it appears to be fuzzy. The genetic relations of both parents are also a factor on hair loss.

Women should remember that they may start losing hair after they give birth or an unbalanced use of birth control pills. Sudden mood swings and physical stress may also occur. Telogen Effluvium, a kind of hair loss, may only be temporary. Take note that Telogen Effluvium may be delayed for a few months. Usually three.

Luckily, there are innovations to help women deal with this kind of problem. There are treatments available to overcome this situation, and it usually starts with a Rogaine. Rogaine is currently the only available FDA approved medication for hair loss on women. Propecia, another well-known solution, does not work on the female gender at all. There are also follicular units and minigraft methods that transplant doctors use to deliver great results to their female clients. But you have to be qualified for the treatment first.

If sometimes the effort is still not enough, you may want to seek professional counseling. There are still a few options such as dyes and other cosmetic selections to enhance the appearance. You may find specialists to help you deal with your hair loss problem.

All smokers are aware that smoking is injurious to health. Yet, many continue to smoke even when they know that this habit actually kills. Is that not enough a reason to quit smoking? Of course, there are many, many other reasons – but this one is the most critical, i.e. your life. Smoking is such an irony – you pay money to buy yourself a slow and extremely painful (not to mention expensive) death.

Some Reasons Why You Should Stop Smoking - Today

If you look for one reason to quit smoking, you will find many. Some are very well known and some not so popular. Check out the following list and get motivated to stop this habit before it stops your life.

1. Repair your looks – did you know that smoking is ‘stealing’ oxygen from your blood? The under-oxygenated blood in turn affects most of the organs in the body – negatively. One of the organs thus attacked and very obvious to the naked eye, is the skin. The skin of a smoker would have an unhealthy pallor and would suffer from dryness. Very often the skin would look like parchment paper and it is easily wrinkled at a very young age. A good reason to quit smoking is hence, to look better and prevent premature wrinkling of your skin.

2. Protecting those who live around you – these obviously would be your family and friends. A good number of reports point to the fact that passive smoking is much more harmful than smoking itself. In this case you would be guilty of poisoning your children, spouse, parents and friends. Is that not a sufficient reason to quit smoking?

3. Prevent lung cancer – more than 80 percent of smokers would suffer from some or other respiratory related diseases; a very high percentage of this number would be of cancer; lung cancer. This is a horrendous, torturously slow and extremely painful death. You would literally suffocate over 6-36 months dying a lingering death that you would not wish on your worst enemy. Don’t you think this is an excellent reason to quit smoking?

4. You do not smell so terrible – a smoker smells of cigarettes; all the time. No matter what deodorant you use, you would still smell of cigarette smoke. It is often that your breath too, would be invaded by this smell, which is definitely not at all pleasant. Are you still searching for a reason to quit smoking?

Because people fail a lot, it doesn’t mean that they should stop trying. There are many ways, and available products to help you quit trying. There are many ways, and many available products to help you quit this bad habit.

Although people who are highly stressed turn to cigarette and find it very effective, they should still change their lifestyle. Merely 5% are the number of smokers who have successfully quit the habit without any assistance.

There are many ways you can actually include in your options, and one of them are Nicotine replacement Programs. On your first month, symptoms already start going down. It is a good thing to say that this method have shown 20% of success rate according to studies. So, quitting will be easier for you. Some Nicotine replacement programs even have a high success rate of 40% when they give their best to the program. There programs also use special methods like Nicotine patches or Nicotine gums for more effective quitting.

There are also smoking cessation programs that you can enroll in to help you quit smoking. If you would like to seek counseling according to your smoking habits, many health care plans and hospitals are available to your assistance. Companies do have their own programs as well. An example of a renowned organization is the American Cancer Society.

You should at least get involved in a program with a minimum of a month time to get the most of programs like the American Cancer Society. A good program is one that encourages their patients to have a one-on-one talk with their needs. If you have relatives or friends who have successfully left their smoking habits behind, you may want to ask them which program they have enrolled in. A good program not only helps you quit the unhealthy lifestyle, but they also inform and educate you about stress, dealing with the stress, and same events that may result to a relapse.

Medications are also available, but they are all prescribed by those authorized. One of those drugs is Nicocure –available at www.nicocure.com, a medicine that helps you control the craving for Nicotine.

If you have problems with razor bumps we have a razor bump treatment system that is guaranteed to bring relief. Contrary to the conventional understanding that shaving bumps are primarily caused by ingrown hairs, shaving bumps are primarily due to other factors. In fact, men with recent shaves sometimes have shaving or razor bumps before the re-growth of the shaved hair -- making it difficult to attribute their bumps to "ingrown hair".

At Breej Technologies, their assessment is that shaving or razor bumps are caused by the shaving method and the inflammation resulting from the trauma of shaving. They have developed a unique line of products that are guaranteed to bring relief to the millions of men suffering from razor bumps or pseuodofolliculitis barbae.

We have three razor bump treatment kits. The one you should use depends on the severity of your razor bump problem:

1. Mild Razor Bump Treatment Kit - for those with mild problems and only a few razor bumps

2. Severe Razor Bump Treatment Kit - for more severe problems and bumps covering most of the neck and face

3. Repair of Damaged and Blemished Skin Treatment Kit  - for the most severe razor bump problems that have resulted in damaged skin and blemishes

Acne is not a simple condition to treat. It is a skin disease that affects each individual that has it differently. Every case of serious acne has to be looked at as an individual case in order to be properly treated. There is no catch-all treatment that can be used for every case. Furthermore, a lot of trial and error is usually needed in order to find an effective treatment individual by individual.

There are many acne products that are mass-marketed as the best cure for acne. It is very important to realize that products that are marketed towards acne sufferers and that can be bought off the shelf in the supermarket, do not cure acne. They manage, mask or suppress the symptoms of acne. It is important to recognize this as well as to realize that acne is not a result of bad hygiene. If your acne is progressively getting worse do not think that it is enough to wash your skin often and to use an over the counter product. If your acne is getting worse, seek medical advice for stronger products that might only be available with a prescription.

Acne treatments vary from being off the shelf, over-the-counter creams, prescribed and surgical. Over the counter acne products are usually topical medicines that contain Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic Acid. These are usually used to treat mild cases of acne where an individual is attempting to halt the progression of acne and clear up some troublesome pimples. They can also be used during severe stages of acne in combination with another treatment. Doctors usually recommend that the acne-infected area be washed very gently with warm water and a mild soap and then the topical treatment applied.

When acne progresses to the moderate or severe stage, doctors and dermatologists will usually use a combination of treatments in order for maximum effectiveness in halting any further development of the skin disease. Light therapy and extraction are often used at the moderate stage, in combination with an oral antibiotic or a retinoid cream, depending on the observations and recommendations of your doctor.

Since acne is such a complex condition to properly treat, it is not advisable to attempt to self-medicate. If you try over the counter products and they do not work. Do not give up thinking that you have an incurable case of acne. Seek further professional medical advice. A doctor or a dermatologist will try to stop your acne from getting out of hand and will make an aggressive attempt at using a combination of products to prevent the possibility of acne scarring.

If you are serious about putting a halt to your acne, learn about the latest acne fighting products and how they can possibly work for your type of acne from your doctor. Do not make off the shelf products the extent of your fight against acne. Be as aggressive about fighting acne as acne is about progressing step by step into a serious skin condition.

There are many medical treatments for acne, although unfortunately, it can not be said that there is any one, single treatment to cure acne. Rather than having a single treatment for acne, doctors generally have to try several different products for each individual before finding the treatment or combination of treatments that will clear up the problem.

Every case of acne is different and will do different things to the skin depending on the individual. This makes acne quite a difficult condition to treat. A lot of experimentation and trial and error with various medications is usually needed before a successful treatment is found. This can be very frustrating for the person that wants a quick-fix solution to their problem or even for those individuals that have a stubborn strain of acne that takes a long time to clear up. It always helps to see a doctor or dermatologist that has plenty of experience in treating acne, this way they can draw on their professional experience.

There are some absolute ‘no nos’ when it comes to dealing with acne. You should never scrub skin that is affected by acne. This irritates and inflames the acne, causing more pimples and making the healing process longer and more drawn out. Never attempt to self-treat or self-medicate. Pimple removal is something that should always be left up to a trained doctor in an antiseptic environment.

In most cases, the first treatment that a doctor will recommend is a topical cream. These creams, like all acne treatments, do not cure acne, but rather help manage the symptoms of the acne. The treatment that you receive will depend on the type of symptoms that you are experiencing. It will either be aimed at unplugging pores, killing bacteria (antibiotics), reducing the amount of oils (such as Accutane) or altering the hormones that stimulate the sebaceous glands (such as oral contraceptives).

If topical creams alone prove ineffective, doctors will usually combine them with an oral antibiotic. The topical creams usually contain benzoyl peroxide which although effective, should be used in small doses. It was originally thought to be harmless, however studies show that prolonged use or overuse can lead to premature aging of the skin.

The most important thing to remember when attempting to rid yourself of acne is to work with a trained medical professional that you trust. Secondly, be patient. Even in the best of cases, acne does not clear up overnight. In fact, even when you have found a treatment that works, your skin will usually get worse before it gets better. Doctors usually recommend continuing a treatment for at least four to six weeks before expecting to see results. Do not be disappointed if the first treatment that you try does not work. Expect to try several different treatments before finally finding success.

Time is ticking on the miracle diets, the untested, the untrue. Now you can look at weight loss differently.

alli™ is the only FDA approved, over-the-counter weight loss product. But it’s more than just a pill. It’s an innovative weight loss program. The pill works by preventing your body from absorbing some of the fat you eat. And the program includes an individually tailored, online action plan to help you lose weight safely and gradually.

What makes alli different?

FDA approval makes alli different. And the customized plan was designed for use with alli capsules to give you the support you need to succeed with weight loss.

With your hard work and alli, you can lose about 50% more weight than with just dieting alone. That means if you could lose 10 pounds through dieting, you could lose 15 with alli.

So what’s myalliplan™?

Losing weight is easier with support. That’s why the alli program includes an individually tailored action plan called myalliplan. When you purchase alli and register online, you’ll get a free customized action plan.

When you check in online, you’ll receive immediate feedback and specific guidance, developed by weight management experts.

When you’re not online, you can still partner with alli when you use the portable reference guides inside the alli starter pack. They include the “Read Me First” Guide, Welcome Guide, Companion Guide, Calorie & Fat Counter, Healthy Eating Guide, Daily Journal, and Quick Facts Cards — the tools you need to be successful with alli.

Can I do this?

Absolutely. If you’re willing to challenge yourself, to do things differently, then you can experience weight loss success. But if you aren’t committed to limiting your fat intake and calories as part of the program, then you shouldn’t buy alli. Not right now. If the timing isn’t right for you, come back to gotalli.com in the future to learn more about alli.

They My Alli Weight Loss Plan was created by nationally recognized nutrition and weight management experts who understand the challenges of losing weight. Read more about one of those experts who has joined the alli team, Dr. Gary Foster.

Gary Foster, Ph.D. is a renowned leader in the field of weight management and behavior change. Dr. Foster is a Professor of Medicine and Public Health and Director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University in Philadelphia. He has previously served as Clinical Director of the Weight and Eating Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Foster is a frequent presenter at national and international meetings and has treated overweight patients in individual and group settings for over 20 years.

Begin with meal planning

Life is tempting. Fast-food advertising encourages you to grab and go — often at a good price that could cost you in the long run. If you know what to expect from the outside influences, you can avoid the setbacks that lead to weight gain. In this section, you'll find resources including meal planning, articles, and information that can help you:

fight cravings

survive slip-ups

control portion size

You can also discover which popular low-fat diets work with the alli™ program. Just view alli-friendly diets. Some diets are not a good fit with alli, because they allow high-fat foods that can cause treatment effects while using alli capsules. With alli, you need to stick with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet. Find out more about the debate on low-fat choices.

How many daily fat grams and calories are right for you? Check out the target fat & calories charts.

Four ways to fight cravings

Has this happened to you? You see a chocolate bar in a magazine, so you take a walk to the nearest vending machine. Or you're in a movie theater, and the smell of popcorn drives you to the concession stand. These triggers are hard to handle. What can you do?

Get moving. Physical activity can boost your mood just like food can — and it uses up calories, rather than adds them

Swap foods. If you crave a salty snack, have some salted celery or a lettuce salad with lemon juice and a sprinkling of salt. If you want something sweet, try sugar-free hard candy or a fruit-and-ice smoothie with no-calorie sweetener

Distract yourself. If you can do something else for just a few minutes, the craving may pass

Drink water. Sometimes thirst disguises itself as hunger. But make sure you're not substituting water for food; you still need nutrients as part of a healthy diet

Survive the occasional slip-ups

Weight control is not like walking a tightrope — one misstep and you're done. If you slip, don't fall overboard with bad choices. Here are a few tips for recovering:

Accept that mistakes happen. Forgive yourself and focus on what to do differently next time

Persevere with your goals. Avoid "all-or-nothing" thoughts of giving up

Identify triggers. Try to understand what events or circumstances led to overeating. Anger, stress, loneliness, or the blues are common. Be ready for them

Turn your back. When you sense a trigger, change direction. If you're in the kitchen, or near food, go somewhere else. Just walk away

Do the math. If you want to be sure you have a low-fat diet, count the grams of fat in your daily food choices and compare them to the number of grams of fat suggested for your calorie level. For more on daily fat and calorie targets, check out the target fat and calories charts

Watch portion size

One of the easiest weight loss strategies is to control portion size. Get to know the amount of food you eat. Often, we get in the habit of eating a certain amount of food to feel satisfied. And if we're served more food, we'll eat more.

Studies have shown that the more food people were given to eat, the more they ate, regardless of their feeling of satiety.

If the full plate is important to you, try using a smaller plate. Or keep portion sizes the same, but cut calories by lowering the fat in your dishes and adding more low-calorie ingredients like crunchy vegetables and leafy salads. Pay attention to the "energy density" in foods.

All foods have a specific number of calories within a given amount (volume). Foods such as desserts, candies, and processed foods are high in energy density. A small volume of these foods has a large number of calories. But some foods such as fruits and vegetables have low energy density. So you can have a larger portion size with a fewer number of calories — and that can fill you up without the downside of calorie overload.

10 quick tips for portion control

Leave a portion of what you're served on your plate. Ask for a "to go" container so you can have the leftovers for another meal.

Don't be fooled into thinking if you skip the bread, you're free to have a larger portion of steak.

Cut back wherever you can. Ask for salad dressing on the side, and use one fewer tablespoon of dressing whenever you have salad.

Make gradual changes in portion size for lasting results.

If you want larger portions, add more fruits, vegetables, and beans into your meals.

A deck of cards is about the size of 3 ounces of cooked meat. A baseball is about the size of one cup. Use these visual cues when looking at portions.

Don't let deprivation lead to a splurge. If you have a smaller entrée portion, fill up the rest of your plate with vegetables and a green salad.

Measure foods at home so when you eat out, you'll know how much pasta or rice you may be eating in a restaurant.

Read food labels to get familiar with the calories and nutrients you're getting in each serving.

Value meals may be good for the wallet but bad for the waist. You may be better off choosing individual items in smaller portion sizes.