The only one!!!

6 Flower Petals: Going Out Of

2012-11-17T11:06:00.000-08:00

It depends on what your plans for the future are when the diet comes to the end. If you plan to continue loosing weight you may stick to a long-term balanced diet. If you just want to fix the results eat mainly the same food increasing gradually food energy up to 1400-1800.

I myself tried this diet. There certainly were pluses like easily going-away kilo grams (I lost 3,5 kg in a week), the diet was really easy to follow. But as soon as I started eating normally I gained some 5 kg within three weeks.

At the moment I am planning to start the diet again but I will carefully think my menu after the diet out!!!

Taking Care Of Your Child`s Ears

2012-11-12T10:44:00.001-08:00

Not long ago I came across a problem concerning my younger daughter`s ears, cleaning them to be exact. Every time I tried to use a cotton swab to clean her ears she burst into tears and as soon as she started talking Sophiko kept shouting, "It hurts, it hurts!!!". The situation has not changed so far, thus I have decided to look this question up in the Net. Here is what I `ve found:

The Facts on Earwax

You might wonder about earwax and whether it needs to be cleaned out. Actually, even though earwax seems yucky, it serves a purpose. Your ear canal makes earwax to protect the ear. After it is produced, it slowly makes its way to the opening of the ear. Then it either falls out or is removed when you wash. If you want, you can clean the opening of your ear gently with a washcloth.

There's an old saying that you shouldn't put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear. Not all old sayings are true, but this one is! You can hurt your ear by poking around in there. It's not even a good idea to use a cotton swab. This can push wax deeper in your ear, where it can get stuck. Irritating the ear canal with a cotton swab can even lead to an ear canal infection.

How to take care of your child`s ears: Rules to follow

Regularly wipe your kid`s ear with a wet napkin.
Give the ears a rub-down each time your kid takes a bath or a shower.
Use a cotton-wool turunda to clean the ears.
Never use cotton swabs.

Hope these things will help me cope with the problem.

P. S. Certainly we saw our pediatrician to check if Sophiko`s ears are all right. She assured us that there was nothing to worry about. So I came to a conclusion that it was my fault to use the cotton swabs which led to such a problem.

My Elder Daughter Singing!

2012-11-02T09:26:00.001-07:00

My Daughter Singing!

2012-11-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

6 Flower Petals: Menu

2012-11-02T08:40:00.001-07:00

This diet as has already been mentioned is based upon the alternation of protein and carbohydrate days. At that you should strictly follow the scheme of petals alternation, otherwise the diet is no use. You should compose the menu for each day following the below-mentioned principles:

On the first day you eat only fish, you may choose any dietic way to cook the fish. You shouldn`t roast the fish, it is better to cook it in a steamer or just to stew it or use a grill. The salt is not prohibited but you should remember that it holds water in your body. It is allowed to eat clear fish soups adding spice and greenery.
The. second day is the carbohydrate one. All vegetables you like are good. Eat them stewed or raw, even potato can be eaten but it`s better to mix it with other vegetables. You may drink vegetable juice, add salt, greenery or spice.
Next comes the protein day again. Now you should eat only chicken breast without skin. Boil, stew or bake it. Proteins are easily digested. Chicken broth with greenery, salt and spices is also good.
The fourth diet day is the cereal one. You may choose any cereals but use only water when cooking, you may add some greenery and salt. Besides, seeds, multigrain crisps and bran are also allowed. Complex carbohydrates need additional energy to be digested and they also supply the body with glycogen. Drink water.
The fifth day suggests that you eat curd which restores the mineral supply. If fat doesn`t accede 5% the curd is considered to be low-fat. Thus to go on our body has to digest its own fat supplies. Milk is allowed.
And finally the sixth day! The fruit one! Fruit are the source of vitamins and minerals, you may choose any fruit you like. Eat them raw or baked, drink fruit juice, you may also add cinnamon and vanilla.

On the seventh day you may either start the diet from the very beginning or have a cheeting day.
During the diet you may drink green or black tea, 1-2 cups of coffee a day. Do not add sugar.

The tecommended amount of food:
1. fish - 300-500 gr;
2. vegetables – 1-1,5 kg;
3. chicken breast – 500 gr;
4. cereals - 200 gr;
5. curd – 500 gr;
6. fruit -1-1,5 kg.

Diets: 6 Flower Petals (Psychological basics)

2012-10-20T11:39:00.002-07:00

The diet "6 flower petals" owes its name to the idea proposed by its author. Anna Yuhanson believes that even the most efficient weight loss program will be no use if it depresses the woman and causes her considerable discomfort. She suggests drawing a flower of six petals to those who want to go on this diet and fixing it at a visible place like a fridge in the kitchen. As you proceed just put down the number of grammes you have lost onto the petal and tear it off with pleasure. That is going to be an additional stimulus and turn an ordinarily dull and hard process into a kind of a game.

Development of a one-year-old!

2012-10-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

Your little one is growing up. It happens so quickly that I for one beg the time to slow down a bit so that I could enjoy every moment with that pretty laughing girl of mine! There are lots of activities we do together every day, some of them have already been described earlier. However each day I look for something new to entertain and develop my younger daughter. Here are some hints given by a psychologist.

1. Learning colours and shapes

Show your toddler some things similar in shape and surface and different in colour. Take for instance some differently-coloured tennis balls. Do not overload your kid, the number of NEW things to learn at a time is THREE!!!

Now as for the shapes. Again, take some objects similar in colour but different in shape, a red ball and a red block, for example. Do not just name the shapes, colours or objects... Tell your toddler more about them. A ball, for instance, is round so it can roll. A block, on the contrary, won`t roll, those corners won`t let it.

2. Learning the letters

There are lots of books teaching ABC. It is better to name the sound (or sounds) but not the letter. It was my mistake when teaching my elder daughter to read. Now I know how to teach them alphabets.

Mind it is better not to hurry. If your toddler seems not to like these activities it is better to wait until he or she is three. By the way, three is the best way to learn the letters!

3. Learning to count

Show your kid pictures with dots in and say their number.First practise counting from one to ten, later increase the number of dots.

4. Reading books

It is important to read expressively. Do not forget to watch the pictures, comment on them. Ask your little one some questions like "Where is a frog?" or just ask him to point at a certain animal or object.

5. Dancing to music
The music you choose should be nice and not very loud. Simple movements to the music will be of a great pleasure for your little one.
6. Developing fine motor skills
You may play a finger game, play with small objects like pebbles, nuts.
Here is a sample game. You may wrap some small toys into sheets of paper. Make some 4-5 parcels. After that unwrap one of the parcel, take your little one`s hands and unwrap the second one together, finally leave the rest for your toddler to unwrap.
7. Learning parts of the body
Show and name different parts of the body. Ask your little one to show the parts he or she knows.
8. Drawing, painting and application
You will need crayons, felt pencils (specially for babies), paints and some dough may be of a help)))
9. Learning different materials
When playing do not forget to name the materials a toy or any other object is made of just like this - 'it`s wooden, it`s glass, that is rough, this is smooth, etc.'
10. Increasing the toddler`s vocabulary in a passive way
It is important to speak out the names of the objects surrounding the little one.
11. Learning about the world outside
Draw your toddler`s attention towards the weather, the nature, the trees and the animals when going for a walk.
Remember it is you who develops your baby`s attitude towards the world now, he or she sees it with your eyes now, do not waist your time.

When the Kid Is Ill: Urticaria (Pink Rash)

2012-10-11T06:18:00.000-07:00

The kid`s health... Can there be anything more important than that? - Nothing. So, every mom tends to be overconcerned about each small sign that might seem not normal. Some four or five years ago when my elder daughter was sick there appeared lots of pink spots all over her body. The first idea that came to my mind was that it was chickenpox since the spots were quite a lot. I phoned our pediatrician who recommended watching the spots and the girl`s condition carefully within an hour. Very soon I realised I`d been wrong about Chickenpox, for the spots were too vast. I considered everything that had been happening earlier that day and found that an hour earlier I had given my daughter a new syrup against fever. Immediately I applied an antihistamine gel onto the large pink spots. By the time our pediatrician arrived the spots had nearly disappeared. I was explained that it was Urticaria.

Urticaria (from the Latin urtica, nettle, commonly referred to as hives) is a kind of skin rash notable for pale red, raised, itchy bumps. Hives are frequently caused by allergic reactions; however, there are many nonallergic causes. Most cases of hives lasting less than six weeks (acute urticaria) are the result of an allergic trigger. Chronic urticaria (hives lasting longer than six weeks) is rarely due to an allergy.

The majority of chronic hives cases have an unknown (idiopathic) cause. In perhaps as many as 30 to 40% of patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria, it is caused by an autoimmune reaction. Acute viral infection is another common cause of acute urticaria (viral exanthem). Less common causes of hives include friction, pressure, temperature extremes, exercise, and sunlight.

Wheals (raised areas surrounded by a red base) from urticaria can appear anywhere on the surface of the skin. Whether the trigger is allergic or not, a complex release of inflammatory mediators, including histamine from cutaneous mast cells, results in fluid leakage from superficial blood vessels. Wheals may be pinpoint in size, or several inches in diameter.

Angioedema is a related condition (also from allergic and nonallergic causes), though fluid leakage is from much deeper blood vessels. Individual hives that are painful, last more than 24 hours, or leave a bruise as they heal are more likely to be a more serious condition called urticarial vasculitis. Hives caused by stroking the skin (often linear in appearance) are due to a benign condition called dermatographic urticaria.

Acute urticaria is defined as the presence of evanescent wheals which completely resolve within six weeks. Acute urticaria becomes evident a few minutes after the person has been exposed to an allergen. The outbreak may last several weeks, but usually the hives are gone in six weeks. Typically, the hives are a reaction to food, but in about half the cases, the trigger is unknown. Common foods may be the cause, as well as bee or wasp stings, or skin contact with certain fragrances.

Chronic urticaria (ordinary urticaria) is defined as the presence of evanescent wheals which persist for greater than six weeks. Some of the more severe chronic cases have lasted more than 20 years. A survey indicated chronic urticaria lasted a year or more in more than 50% of sufferers and 20 years or more in 20% of them.

Acute and chronic urticaria are visually indistinguishable.

Diets: 6 Flower Petals

2012-10-11T03:10:00.001-07:00

A Sweden nutritionist Anna Uhanson developed this diet system. It is based on the main principles of the so-called monodiets. According to those on the diet it takes away some 0.5-0.8 kg a day.
The diet spans 6 days - 6 monodiets - 6 flower petals. During these days you should stick to 6 monodiets following each other in a certain order:
Day One - a fish diet;
Day Two - a vegetable diet;
Day Three - a chicken diet;
Day Four - a cereal diet;
Day Five - a curd diet;
Day Six - a fruit diet.
This scheme works due to the fact that during the diet proteins do not mix with carbohydrates thus allowing fats to be split. The diet monotonicity fosters the process of losing weight because our stomach awaiting the new food has to work idly and so that to get the energy it has to make use of its own fat reserves. At the same time our body cannot get used to the food and switch on the energy-storing mode, that is common in the long term monodiets. So you loose weight every day.
According to the studies held by the European Weight Loss Centre, a monodiet lasting for less than 25 hours helps burn fat most actively. You do not feel hungry, so it is much easier to stand it.

Words that touch so deeply: Adam at Eve`s Grave

2012-10-07T13:21:00.001-07:00

Wheresoever she was, THERE was Eden.

Words that touch so deeply: Eve`s Prayer (by Mark Twain)

2012-08-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

It is my prayer, it is my longing, that we may pass from this life together--a longing which shall never perish from the earth, but shall have place in the heart of every wife that loves, until the end of time; and it shall be called by my name.
But if one of us must go first, it is my prayer that it shall be I; for he is strong, I am weak, I am not so necessary to him as he is to me--life without him would not be life; now could I endure it? This prayer is also immortal, and will not cease from being offered up while my race continues. I am the first wife; and in the last wife I shall be repeated.

Words that touch so deeply...

2012-02-23T11:10:00.000-08:00

HE and SHE
By Mandy Howard

He laid quietly, softly breathing, warm and safe.
He lay close enough to her to feel the warmth of her breath.
With his eyes closed he thought of her, and tried to understand her. She was like the whole world.
When he came from the darkness she was the only one he knew.
He recognized her smell, and her voice, and even the way she moved, he was safe with her. She was always nearby, all he ever had to do was call, and she would come, she would hold him close, and kiss him she would make the world feel right.
She rarely went away, for very long, and always came back, so glad to see him.
He lay there quietly and she was so close just the way he liked it. She began to roll away, he called for her, and she smiled.
She rolled back and kissed his forehead softly, "I'll be right back," she promised.
He laid and watched for her return, after a moment he got frightened and almost called for her. Then she returned, and leaned over him, She again kissed his forehead, and smiling she whispered, "It's ok baby boy, Mommy is
here, and she loves you"
He wanted to answer, to tell her his feeling, but he couldn't make himself
understood. He softly curled the corners of his lips and smiled as he struggled for the words. He wanted to make them as sweet and soft as her words, but all that came out was a tiny noise that meant nothing. He wanted to cry out; no matter how he tried he couldn't tell her his feelings.
How would she ever know how he loved her, he tried once more in vain to make the words come out. It was only then that he noticed her smile, at each soft noise he failed to make into a word and each tiny smile he gave her she smiled.
His heart grew warm, and he slowly drifted off to sleep knowing that she
knew what he meant.

Children: Speech Development

2012-02-19T12:21:00.000-08:00

From the moment of birth a baby is getting prepared both mentally and physically to produce speech. Either they suck, scream, cry, babble, coo or giggle, they are preparing to speak. All sorts of games intended to imitate different sounds or just to make a noise help them to get ready to start speaking some day.

But the preparation of the organs isn`t sufficient. The development of speaking abilities is closely connected with mental development and communication with the environment and people surrounding a baby. From their birth babies need to be immersed into a language. Words fascinate babies. Speaking to the baby from the very birth is the best way to prepare him to speak. Talk to him, sing him songs, read him fairy tales, play with words, it doesn`t matter if your baby understands you or not!

Being born a baby has got an ability to speak any language with no exception, but as time goes by they "specialise" in speaking one or several languages he hears.

Initially learning to speak comprises immersion and imitation.

Language acquisition can vary in children, the below mentioned stages shouldn`t be considered as indicative points, some babies "burn" the stages while others take their time. Some children can progress quickly but later even regress for a couple of days. There is nothing to worry about if the vocabulary of a two-year-old is limited to just a dozen of words.

Anyway if you find the speech development in your child tough or you have noticed some regress or stagnation which you estimate as too long-lasting, do not hesitate to consult your pediatrician. It is better to visit your doctor because of nothing than to miss some disorder in your kid.

THE STAGES OF SPEECH DEVELOPMENT

The moment of birth

From the moment of their birth babies express themselves by crying. Very quickly every cry (intensity and accent) indicate either some pain or need.

At the age of three months

Being three months old a baby starts to babble, warble, gurgle ... all the sounds of throat and mouth are good.Chain simple vocalisations and you will see that your baby tries to imitate you. Gradually you can have fun babbling and gurgling together.Between 6 and 12 months of age

From the age of 6 months a baby starts to produce simple syllables such as "ma", "pa","da". At first they do not indicate anything special but you may help your child to give sense to his babbling by naming and showing her the objects surrounding her.

Within this age babies are going to move from syllables meaning nothing to the "baby form" of language. The syllables and a chain of syllables will finally get to indicate the relatives taking care of them.

1-year-olds

At the age of 1 a toddler can say a few meaningful words. Generally comprehension precedes formulation. A toddler understands what you tell him or her or what they are asked to do (if the instructions given are simple) before they can express themselves by means of words. You may test your toddler in a very simple way. The test consists of asking him or her to find a certain object in an accessible place (for instance a big red car on a carpet). After that tell him to give you that " big red car" which is on the carpet.

At the age of 18 months

On average a toddler at this age has a vocabulary consisting of some 10-20 words. Starting from this age an infant tries to learn as many new words as possible. They are interested in everything surrounding them and ask you to name all the objects. Answer each question and try to answer it by a phrase. For example if a pear draws your toddler`s attention do not just say "a pear". Make a phrase, in this way your toddler will also understands that the language doesn`t consists just of separate words. Responding to every demand you`ll prepare you kid to the following important stage.

Complete the words started by your infant.You will help your toddler to develop his thinking ability, comprehension of the world and the language.

At the age of 2

By the end of the second year of his living a child`s vocabulary comprises 100-200 words.

Your efforts should be focused on both new words acquisition and on the pronunciation.

Repeat systematically the words you child mispronounces.

Pretend you do not understand the things he says thus making him pronounce the words correctly.

Until you infant has a large vocabulary it is important to prepare him to make phrases. Make it a habit to comment on and explain everything you do.

Tips to create the best LOOK ever!

2012-02-16T04:09:00.002-08:00

1. Spend some money on the tools
Tools and products are equally as important as the makeup skills that you have. For example, let's say you were using mediocre brushes, mediocre products, and had average skill. Just by improving the quality of your brushes and using richer pigmented products, the application would immediately be better, even without improving your technique. So if you really want to apply your makeup like a pro, do what the professionals do: Use the proper brushes for application.
Here are the eight basic brushes you need:
1. Foundation brush
2. Concealer brush
3. Fluffy powder brush
4. Blush brush
5. Small blending brush
6. Flat eyeshadow brush
7. Precision angle brush
8. Lip brush
Once you have your tools, you need to know how to hold them. Where you hold a brush on the handle affects your control. The closer your fingers are to the barrel (the silver section beneath the brush head), the more pressure you put on the brush head and vice versa. In general, if you want to apply color evenly, place your fingers on the center of the brush handle. Another tip: You can easily turn a fluffy brush into a flat, angled brush by wrapping your hand around the bristles and flattening them.

2. Mix primer with the foundation
You can wear cream foundation as is for opaque, full coverage, or you can break it down to be more translucent by mixing it with some primer. You get to reap the long-lasting durability that cream foundation has over liquids and powders. This also helps the makeup blend seamlessly with the first layer of primer on your skin.
Everyone can use cream foundation, but those with oily skin should use a damp sponge to apply it. Most foundations have oil in its formula to give the coverage blend-ability. Using the sponge will "pick up the pigment, but not the oil in the foundation." You'll still get great coverage, but not the shine.
For dry or combination skin types, use your foundation brush and buff the foundation onto the skin, concentrating on the center of your face, which is typically where your skin has the most discoloration. The further you get from the center, the less coverage you want.

3. Love your flaws - then conseal them
The key to being a successful makeup artist is being able to identify someone's undertones and know how to manipulate the color wheel to get rid of unwanted color.
Opposite colors cancel each other out, so green-pigmented concealer covers redness, and orangey concealer removes blue. If you use your beige concealer, it'll only make those areas look muddy.
Practicing on each other is key because you quickly learn how to deal with all types of skin tones and facial features, which you will have to become comfortable with if you want to be a professional.

4. Fix your face shape

Learn how to contour properly so you can alter your face shape and features. Contouring is the art of highlighting and shading. Anything that is lighter than the skin tone will make an area more prominent, anything darker will make that area recede. Here's how you can easily alter your face:
If you have a round face and want to make it look more oval: Apply a bronzer a shade or two darker than your skin tone in a "3" shape alongside your face: on your temples, the hollow of your cheeks, and your chin.
If you have a prominent forehead: Shade around the outer edge of your forehead along your hairline to minimize the area with bronzer.
If you have a flat or wide nose: Shade alongside your bridge starting from your inner brows. Then highlight right on the center of your nose.
If gravity is taking a toll and your cheeks are sagging: Apply a highlighter just above your cheekbone all the way to your temple. Use a blush directly on the cheekbone, then use a bronzer in the hollow of the cheek, underneath your bone.
And if you really want to make your contouring stand out, use a sparkly highlighter, which will reflect the most light. Then for your bronzer, go for a matte finish, which will absorb light and create a stark contrast.

5. Make your eyes pop by changing their shape
Whether you have drooping lids, narrow-set eyes, or they're simply too small, you can use your knowledge of light and shadow to change them.
If you want to add definition: Sweep a light bronzer through the crease of the eye, which is halfway between the lashline and the eyebrow. As you age, the eye area loses elasticity, and things aren't as shapely as they used to be. This technique is great for mature skin, to give the face more definition. A tip for you blue-eyed girls: An orange-y bronzer in your crease will make your eyes even bluer.
If you have narrow-set eyes: To elongate your eye width, apply a black liner to the outer half of both your upper and lower lashlines, connecting at the outer corner.
If you have drooping, heavy lids: Use what you just learned about highlights and shadows to lift your eye. Apply highlighter above your crease, from the inner to outer lid. Then blend a shadow to the area that you want to push back, which would be the heavy fold. Make sure to blend the edges from the shadow to the highlight.
If you have small eyes: Apply a beige-colored eyeliner to your lower inner rim, which will help make eyes look more open. Then use a black pencil liner along your entire upper and lower lashlines, connecting the lines at the outer corner. The key is to blend the liner with shadow, going outwards. Wherever you place the darkness is where your eye will go, so by smudging the lines, it gives the allusion that your eyes are taking up more real estate on your face.
And the tip for natural definition: Apply a black pencil to your upper inner rim. It lengthens the eye and it also sharpens the appearance of the eye, giving more fullness to the natural lashline without seeing the hard edge of a liner.

6. Think opposites when it comes to color
Remember how opposite colors on top of each other cancel each other out? OK, well if you place them side by side, they help each other stand out. Simple, but super important when you're trying to pick the most flattering eyeshadow colors. Here's a cheat sheet:
For blue eyes: Since orange is the opposite color of blue, anything with orange in it will make blue eyes stand out more. It doesn't have to be a blazing sun color -- it just has to have orangey undertones like gold, apricot, or peach.
For green eyes: Red is the opposite color of green, which isn't to say you should apply a cherry red-colored eyeshadow to your lids. But you'll help your green eyes pop if you use colors that have red undertones, like deep plums and wine.
For brown eyes: Brown is a neutral color, so any color will work well. But the most standout colors are blue and purple.

7. Stop applying eyeliner the wrong way
You're actually not supposed to draw your liner all the way across your lashline in one motion. You'll get bumps in your line with your brush catching on loose skin. Instead, you're supposed to go from the inner corner to the center of your lid, then reload the brush (if you're using one) and start from the outside corner until you meet the existing liner.
Start with eyeliner on the lower lashline, because it goes up at the outer corner, which gives you the angle that you should follow on your top lashline. Usually when you do your top liner first you end up in no-man's-land, because you don't know how far to take the line or how curved it should be.

8. Get Angelina Jolie`s lips without injections

Your lips are most balanced when the upper and lower lips are equal in size, or thickness. If they're not, you can use your knowledge of highlights and shadows to re-contour them.
Step 1: Apply foundation to your entire lip. Not only does this help remove the natural pigments of your lips for truer lipstick colors, but it can also help you realize where your liplines actually are.
Step 2: Using a white eyeliner pencil, very softly feather the pencil over the natural contour of the lip. Or use the pencil to make lips fuller or thinner by drawing it past your natural lipline or within it.
Step 3: Redo the line with a lip pencil in the color of your lipstick.
Step 4: Apply lipstick with a lip brush in a downward motion. So, from your cupid's bow to each outer corner, then from your outer corner to the center of your lower lip. This ensures an even application of the product.
Step 5: Apply a light shade of base foundation around the new lip line, blending to a soft edge with a lip brush.
Remember, light colors reflect light, so using lighter lip colors will give a fuller appearance. Dark colors absorb light, so they will make lips look smaller/thinner. Finally, try this popular trick used on Victoria's Secret Angels to give the illusion of a fuller pout: Apply a dab of gloss to the top part of your Cupid's bow and to the center of the bottom of your lip.

9. Make fake brow hairs look real
Your inner brow should line up with your eye's inner corner, your brow's arch should be above the outer edge of your iris. The biggest mistake women make with brows is choosing a color that's too dark. Dark brows can make you look older, so pick a color that's a couple shades lighter than your hair.
If you're using a pencil: For a realistic look, apply more pressure at the bottom of the stroke where the root would be. Ease off on the pressure as you flick your stroke upward, using small strokes to make it most look like hair.
If you're using a powder: Brush the powder starting from the outer corner of your brow and work against the direction of your hair growth. This ensures a more natural finish by allowing the brow hair to sit over the powder, so that your brows don't look drawn in, says Prior. Make sure to emphasize the arch with your color, and taper off at the inner corners so you don't look angry.

10. Know how to conceal those under-eye circles
Since dark circles are such a sore spot for most of us, we took a lot of time mixing just the right blend of orange-tinted concealer with a beige-colored concealer that matched our skin tones. With your concealer brush, swipe the color-correcting concealer under your eye in a "V" shape from your outer to inner corner. Then, buff the concealer into your skin, until you get to the center of your lower lid, where you'll want to feather the concealer for a lighter application.
While it seems like a lot of work, customizing a color-correcting mixture made especially for your skin tone can actually erase stubborn bags instead of highlighting them.

When the Kid Is Ill: Cough

2012-02-09T09:34:00.000-08:00

Today is a week since my younger one-year-old daughter started caughing and it gets worse and worse. We have already started taking in antibiotics for our pediatrician heard some weeze inside. But there are some general rules about cough and its treatment in children.

Coughing is a healthy and important reflex that helps protect the airways in the throat and chest.
Coughs are one of the most common symptoms of childhood illness. Although a cough can sound awful, it's not usually a sign of a serious condition.
there are different types of cough, among which are

"Barky" Cough
Whooping Cough
Cough With Wheezing
Nighttime Cough
Daytime Cough
Cough With a Fever
Cough With Vomiting
Persistent Cough

Barky coughs are usually caused by a swelling in the upper part of the airway. Most of the time, a barky cough comes from croup, a swelling of the larynx (voice box) and trachea (windpipe).
Croup usually is the result of a virus, but can also come from allergies or a change in temperature at night. Younger children have smaller airways that, if swollen, can make it hard to breathe. Kids younger than 3 years old are at the most risk for croup because their airways are so narrow.
A cough from croup can start suddenly and in the middle of the night. Often a kid with croup will also have stridor, which is a noisy, harsh breathing (often described as a coarse, musical sound) that occurs when a child inhales.
Whooping cough is another name for pertussis, an infection of the airways caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. Kids with pertussis will have spells of back-to-back coughs without breathing in between. At the end of the coughing, they'll take a deep breath in that makes a "whooping" sound. Other symptoms of pertussis are a runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, and a low-grade fever.
Although pertussis can happen at any age, it's most severe in infants under 1 year old who did not get the pertussis vaccine. Pertussis is very contagious, so your child should get the pertussis shot at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 months, and 4-6 years of age. This shot is given as part of the DTaP vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis).
The Tdap vaccine (which is similar to DTaP but with lower concentrations of diphtheria and tetanus toxoid for adults) is given to children at 11-12 years and once again in adulthood as a part of one of the tetanus boosters. Adults are recommended to receive this pertussis vaccine since immunity to pertussis lessens over time. By protecting yourself against pertussis, you are also protecting your kids from getting it.
Since pertussis is very contagious, it can spread from person to person through tiny drops of fluid in the air coming from the nose or mouth when people sneeze, cough, or laugh. Others can become infected by inhaling the drops or getting the drops on their hands and then touching their mouths or noses.
Cough With Wheezing
If your child makes a wheezing (whistling) sound when breathing out, this could mean that the lower airways in the lungs are swollen. This can happen with asthma or with a viral infection (bronchiolitis). Also, wheezing can happen if the lower airway is blocked by a foreign object.
Nighttime Cough
Lots of coughs get worse at night. When your child has a cold, the mucus from the nose and sinuses can drain down the throat and trigger a cough during sleep. This is only a problem if the cough won't let your child sleep.
Asthma also can trigger nighttime coughs because the airways tend to be more sensitive and irritable at night.
Daytime Cough
Cold air or activity can make coughs worse during the daytime. Try to make sure that nothing in your house — like air freshener, pets, or smoke (especially tobacco smoke) — is making your child cough.
Cough With a Fever
A child who has a cough, mild fever, and runny nose probably has a common cold. But coughs with a fever of 102° F (39° C) or higher can sometimes be due to pneumonia, especially if a child is weak and breathing fast. In this case, call your doctor immediately.
Cough With Vomiting
Kids often cough so much that it triggers their gag reflex, making them vomit. Also, a child who has a cough with a cold or an asthma flare-up might throw up if lots of mucus drains into the stomach and causes nausea. Usually, this is not cause for alarm unless the vomiting doesn't stop.
Persistent Cough
Coughs caused by colds due to viruses can last weeks, especially if your child has one cold right after another. Asthma, allergies, or a chronic infection in the sinuses or airways also might cause persistent coughs. If the cough lasts for 3 weeks, call your doctor.

In my opinion it is relevant to consult the doctor every time it concerns your kid`s health just to be on the safe side. But there some signs which indicate that you cannot wait longer and should see the pediatrician right away. So, call your doctor if your child:
1. has trouble breathing or is working hard to breathe
2. is breathing more quickly than usual
3. has a blue or dusky color to the lips, face, or tongue
4. has a high fever (especially if your child is coughing but does NOT have a runny or stuffy nose)
5. has any fever and is less than 3 months old
6. is an infant (3 months old or younger) who has been coughing for more than a few hours
7. makes a "whooping" sound when breathing in after coughing
8. is coughing up blood
9. has stridor (a noisy or musical sound) when breathing in
10. has wheezing when breathing out (unless you already have a home asthma care plan from your doctor)
11. is weak, cranky, or irritable
12. is dehydrated

Here are some ways to help your child feel better:
For a "barky" or "croupy" cough, turn on the hot water in the shower in your bathroom and close the door so the room will steam up. Then, sit in the bathroom with your child for about 20 minutes. The steam should help your child breathe more easily. Try reading a book together to pass the time.
!A cool-mist humidifier! in your child's bedroom might help with sleep. Remember that the most comfortable temperature in a babt`s room is 21 degrees C and humidity should be about 65%.
Sometimes a brief exposure to the cool air of the outdoors can relieve the cough. Make sure to dress your child appropriately for the outdoor weather and try this for 10-15 minutes.
Cool beverages like juice can be soothing and it is important to keep your child hydrated. But do not give soda or orange juice, as these can hurt a throat that is sore from coughing.
You should not give your child (especially a baby or toddler) OTC cough medicine without first checking with your doctor.
Cough drops are OK for older kids, but kids younger than 3 years old can choke on them. It's better to avoid cough drops unless your doctor says that they're safe for your child.
P.S.
Zinc supplementsPrevious research studies suggest that a mineral called zinc appears to reduce the severity of cold symptoms in healthy children. A recent review of the research on zinc supplements and the common cold found that zinc supplements may reduce the length and severity of cold symptoms, when taken within 24 hours of the first symptoms of a cold. However, there were possible side-effects such as unpleasant taste and nausea. The review concluded that it is not yet clear whether zinc should be recommended as treatment for colds. See the reference at the end for details.

Vitamin C
There has also been research looking at vitamin C for preventing or treating colds. A recent review found that taking vitamin C regularly did not seem to prevent colds in the ordinary population. However, it did seem to reduce the length and severity of symptoms. Also, in trials where people were exposed to short periods of extreme physical stress (for example, marathon runners and skiers) vitamin C halved the risk of developing a cold. More research is needed to answer the question of whether vitamin C can help once the cold symptoms have already started.

Other treatments
Echinacea (a herbal treatment) and garlic have traditionally been used for treating colds. However, recent reviews of research could not find any clear evidence about whether or not they are helpful.

Paronychia or An infection of the tissue at the side or base of the nail

2012-02-08T12:20:00.000-08:00

Some days ago when cutting the cuticle off my fingers I damaged the skin around the nail and carelessly paid no attention to it. Now I understand that I should have at least washed the wound with some antiseptic liquid, unfortunately I hadn`t. And two days later I noticed an abscess at the nail which hurt me much. To tell you the truth I still haven`t seen the doctor. Hope I will not have to.
Here is what I found out and have already done to my finger.
An infection of the tissue at the side or base of the nail is called paronychia. It is quite common in children. Since it is a purulent infection it is better to consult the doctor as soon as possible for only a doctor can assess the situation and prescribe proper medicine.

You can try to cure paronychia on your own only if you will not be able to get to the doctor soon.
1. Do not dissect the abscess. The infection can spread so quickly that noone willl be able to help you later on (I didn`t follow this one. I made a small cut with a sterile needle as soon as there was a big yellow-coloured surface on the side of the nail and after I had soared my finger in salty water).

2. Prepare a lukewarm solution of a tablespoon of salt and soda. Add ten drops of iodine. Keep your finger in the solution for 15-20 minutes. The water will soften the skin, and the salt will draw pus out. (That really helps.)
3. If you are somewhere in the countryside look for a leaf of a foalfoot. Bind it around the finger. 12 hours later take the bandage off. You will see the pus on the leaf. Apply one more leaf. Carry on till the wound disappears. (I applied a piece of aloe leaf. A night was enough to draw the pus out and to stop the infection).
4. Antiseptic and resolvent ointments also help.
5. See to the fact that the situation doesn`t get worse. If it does go to the doctor immediately.
6. Take care of your fingernails and cuticles. Be careful when manicuring. Cleanse and disinfect any even the smallest wounds or cuts.

When the Kid Is Ill: Otitis

2012-02-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

Earache is a common symptom in kids. It can easily be treated by correctly prescribed antibiotics. Here are some tips to help cure and prevent otitis given by a French pediatrician Dr Martine François.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
The first sign is earache which is often followed by fever (38.5 - 39 °C). Sometimes the child moans and lacks appetite. He or she can cry at night.
Each time the disease restarts, the same symptoms appear. Thus a mom can easily determine what happens to the kid and take quick action to prevent it. So, coming to the doctor for a consultation she states that her child suffers from otitis.
At what age are children most vulnerable to otitis?
My experience shows that most often babies over 1 month and under 2 years are affected by the disease, but it also rather common in all ages. It is nit a surprise to see a 5-year-old suffering from otitis.
55 % of those fallen ill are boys.
Can the earache be prevented?

Generally otitis often follows cold. But not always. It is difficult to say if the cold is going to turn into otitis or not.
What`s more, there are certain factors fostering the disease. The majority of babies who are being brought among other babies and those who are not breast-fed (at least up to the age of three months) are at risk. One more factor is the cold. It is highly recommended to protect the ears of little ones in winter.
Does the treatment always consist of taking some antibiotics in?
France consume five times more antibiotics than other European countries. Such addiction to antibiotics causes bacterial resistance. Antibiotics do not help in some cases for instance in some respiratory infections caused by a virus.
As far as otitis is concerned the rules are the following: the antibiotic therapy remains necessary for the kids between a month and two years old. The antibiotics to use are amoxicillines. The latest researches shows that the germs responsible for otitis have developed resistance to the last generation antibiotics and they are no more efficient. But in fact the proscriptions are not followed properly.
In case of recidivating otitis, paracentesis remains one more way of treatment.
Are there any vaccines to prevent from otitis?
In most cases the germs responsible for otitis are Haemophilus influenzae, streptococcus and pneumococcus. The Prévenar, a vaccine against pneumococcus, proved to be effective.
The vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae and the flu are also permitted but in a smaller amount in case of otitis.
Otitis : useful tips

• Ask your child to blow his nose if he can. It can help to get rid of the bacteria also responsible for otitis.

• Do not use ear drops. They are not only useless but can do harm to the eardrum.

• Do not expose your kid to the cigarette smoke. Passive smoking puts your kid at risk.

Wedding Anniversaries: the 2nd!

2012-02-01T05:41:00.000-08:00

The second wedding anniversary is paper in UK and Russia, cotton in the USA and leather in France.
Although the symbols differ, the most common one is paper in most of the countries. Paper is easy to tear and burn thus the meaning of the second anniversary symbol is rather clear - the family life is still very unstable.
This can be easily explained from the psychological point of view. The first two years full of positive emotions and passionate love however reveals lots of unexpected things about the spouses` character and habits. Besides the spouses get around trying to fulfil the plans the have made in their first year together. This process can be crucial for if the hopes and dreams of the first year do not come true than the arguments are inescapable. But if you love each other and do want to overcome all those difficulties you won`t blame your spouse for every fault, just on the contrary you will discuss everything and come to a compromise!
A baby birth is always a happy and one of the most precious moments in every family. In most families the first baby is born in their second year bringing lots of problems and fears. Elder relatives and friends should understand that it is important to support the family, calm them down if it is necessary and help them if is needed.
So, two years together is a Rubicon of stability not only between the spouses but between the family and their relatives, the family and their friends. A young family doesn`t live in a closed space but among lots of different people. If they manage to overcome the difficulties of the second year, they are sure to make a great and close family further on.
The wedding day is only two years away... The big day is still in memory! Say the words of love to each other just like you did on that day!
The traditions to give certain names to wedding anniversaries appeared long ago. The names usually had a symbolic meaning.
Thus paper wedding is the symbol of insecurity of family relationships giving a hint to the couple that it is important to take care of each other. There are lots of traditions connected with the paper anniversary still alive.
In the East one may watch Chinese ritual dances in some paper clothes. On the anniversary eve some red paper clothes symbolising a hen and a rooster are made for the spouses. Red is the colour of love and happiness. Besides the wife and the husband put on paper masks. In the evening the guests gather round a fire. The spouses dressed in their paper costumes start their dance. Suddenly one more rooster dressed in black turns up. He is one of the invited guests. The black rooster tries to defeat the red one which never happens since the black rooster symbolises the hardships and difficulties the family can face. The red rooster always win. After all the black clothes are burnt in the fire and the guests are invited inside to enjoy a delicious feast the main dish of which is the rice with chicken.
In Byzantium the wife and the husband made paper dolls. They filled them with the notes about the spouse`s good and bad traits. It was considered that after two years of marriage the spouses can objectively assess each other. The young spouses exchanged their dolls and at the end of the celebration they took out the notes and read them aloud. The guests then discussed what had been right and what had been exaggerated. After the guests were to give a good piece of advice. It is interesting that the spouses` parents couldn`t take part in the discussion.
In Greece the wedding money dance is danced on the second wedding anniversary. While dancing the guests fix the banknotes onto the spouses` clothes.
On the anniversary table there should be paper napkins. Besides it can be a good idea to put a pencil and a piece of paper next to every guest`s plate. During the celebration the guests could write their wishes to the family down and draws a picture on the other side of the sheet pf paper given. The spouses could decorate a home tree with them!
So, the guests can present the family with some paper things or banknotes while the spouses can exchange love letters!!!
Happy anniversary!!!

Like a rugged lighthouse on the rocks

Withstanding stormy weather

Your love has shone throughout the years

Stronger now than ever

Happy Anniversary

Keep on keeping on

Teaching playing! (Neatness)

2012-01-28T02:03:00.000-08:00

It`s about bedtime, feeling a bit sleepy I look around and as always realise that the kids` room is in a terrible mess - toys, blocks, dolls and balls are all around. Slightly irritated I start picking them up and putting everything into order. Some 10 minutes after almost angry I undress my girls and take them to the bathroom to take a bath, then comes the bed... at last ... for my daughters ... And I still have got lots of things to do before going to bed with my beloved husband. I am angry, tired and sleepy...
The same thing happens over and over again and being fed up with my mood I dicide that it won`t happen any longer! Want to be happy? - then be happy! What can be better than being a young caring Mom and a nice loving Wife??? Nothing.
Next evening the same about bedtime))) Looking around I understand that the room is still messy... but I am not!!!
'Hey Sweeties, want to play a game?'
'Suuuuure!!!' come my girls laughing.
'Let`s call the game "the Best Detective!"'
'OK. What are we doing???'
'See how many blocks and parts of your pyramids are all around! Lets find each of them to fill every box from the blocks and all the pyramids!!! but to do that it is important to pick up every toy since a block can be under...'
Some two-three minutes later all the boxes and pyramids are at their places and there are some toys left on the floor, but they are also put where they should be in no time. It is time to announce the winner! Certainly, my elder daughter is for the younger is just a year old))) Happy we go to the bathroom.
Next time we will play a game called "the Best Cleaner" or will make up a fairy tale about the sleepy and tired toys which need to be taken "home"))) Cleaning can be a fun!

New Principles To Cure Food Allergy

2012-01-27T05:19:00.000-08:00

Today doctors no more recommend to follow strict diet excluding components which cause allergy in children. Instead they suggest that the amount of allergic food should be reduced to its tolerable minimum.
Strict diet is no more appropriate:
For a long time the only way to treat the food allergy had been the diet excluding the food to which a child was allergic.Nowadays the method has been replaced by the one according to which a child is allowed to consume very small amounts of allergic food.

According to the recent reseaches the effect of the strict diet could worsen allergy and in certain cases cause complete intolerance.Besides complete restriction put the child at risk of accidental allergen reintroduction, which causes food phobia and affects the life of the whole family.
Partial restriction?

The principle is common to the one of pollen allergy treatment when a small amount of pollen is injected to lessen the allergy. The minimal tolerable doze of the allergic component is to be determined by the doctor and it is also recommended to stay in hospital for a day so that to be taken some medical tests.

(According to Stéphanie Letellier, www.enfant.com)

Mother`s Love...

2012-01-26T22:31:00.000-08:00

After the earthquake in Japan having reached the ruins of a young woman`s house the rescuers saw the young woman`s body through a crack. Her posture was very strange - she had knelt down just as if praying, her body bent forward arms embracing something. The destroyed house damaged her spine and head.
With the great difficulty one of the rescuers reached the woman`s body with his arm. He hoped she was still alive. Although the cold body proved she had died. Together with the rest of the rescue team the man left the house to inspect the next one. But some unknown force drew him back to the young woman`s house. Again he knelt down and pushed his head through a crack to examine the space under the woman.Suddenly excited he shouted: "A baby! A baby in here!"
The whole rescue team cleared the ruins around the woman`s body. There was a three-month-old baby boy under her. He was wrapped in a blanket. Obviously, the woman had sacrificed herself for the sake of her son. She covered him with her body when the house was falling down. The baby boy had still been sleeping tight when one of the rescuers held him in his arms. The doctor came immediately to examine the baby. Having unwrapped the blanket he found a mobile phone inside. On the screen there was a text message: "If you survive remember that I love you. Everyone in the rescue team read the message and everyone cried...
"If you survive, remember that I love you." "That is what a mother`s love is!

Diets: in accordance with the menstrual cycle

2012-01-26T05:02:00.000-08:00

A woman body is a complex unity demanding and grateful. If we take care of ourselves then everything comes out just right and no problems appear but as soon as we forget about our body it pays us back in no time. So, answer one question what your menstrual cycle day is it today? It is certainly great if you can answer but there are lots of women who have no idea about the cycle day or what phase they are in.

If you had started reading this article you must have been interested in loosing weight but you may probably ask how our menstrual cycle can influence out weight. If you are an experienced 'dieter' you probable have noticed that our weight tends to increase in the end of the cycle and it reduces after menses. The matter is that our metabolism and appetite depend upon lots of different things among which are: the age, season, time of the day and menstrual cycle day.

Menstrual cycle usually takes about 28 days starting with the first day of menses and can be divided into three phases: follicular phase, ovulation and literal phase. The first phase is characterised by the growth of estrogen which will reach its top in the middle of the cycle. The middle of the cycle is known as ovulation. This is the time when a woman can get pregnant. Progesterone will grow slowly and reach its maximum in the end of the third cycle week. It will remain at its peak up to the menses thus every woman feels slightly pregnant being hungry, irritable and sleepy.

So, we can also divide our cycle into three phases. Phase A is the estrogen growth period. That is the best time to go on a diet. Let`s call it "time to loose weight" phase. Phase B is the progesterone growth phase, which can be called "time to keep weight". Phase C is the time when most women experience premenstrual syndrome. Let`s call it "time not to get fatter".

Why is it so important? Premenstrual syndrome is very common, though the severity degree might vary. A week before menses each of us has an increased appetite, being especially attracted to something sweet: chocolate, cakes and other fats and carbohydrates. That is the reason for why so many women put on weight during this phase. But that happens not only because of the food we consume but also because of the water which detains in our body at this period.

It is normal to gain and loose about 900 grams. But if you put on some three kilogrammes and loose just 2.700 those 300 grams will remain inside. Some women put on up to 6 kilogrammes! These women can get 3-10 kilogrammes fatter annually! That is why it is important to weigh as soon as the regulars end (this weight is considered to be your best result). If your weight remains the same month after month that you are able to keep your weight. If it reduces, you are able to get thinner. Such measurement will allow you to make sure that your weight doesn`t increase unnoticed.

Phase A
This is the best time to start a diet. The body will easily get rid of those extra kilogrammes. The phase starts on the third menses day and lasts for about 10 days. Why is it the best time to go on a diet? First of all, metabolic processes are much more intensive. So, the diet and sport effects will be much more visible. Secondly, a woman feels well and is positive due to the growth of estrogenes stimulating oxidation processes in the fat tissue.

Phase B

It lasts for 7-10 days and if you want to keep the results of the Phase A you should go on eating properly and do some sports. It is better to exercise in a gym at the pulse rate within 120 - 150 beats per minute.

Phase C
The main reason for the fact that most women put on weight during this phase lies in the lack of estrogens in our blood.

It is important to control our menu. Make sure you do not eat too much fat, oils, sweets, alcohol, bananas, grapes.

It is relevant to eat frequently but in small amounts so that to control your hunger. Choose the food containing a lot of cellular tissue like apples, yogurt, pears.

What to eat? It is better to eat the products that can "feed" your blood: low-fat meat, liver, fish, eggs, nuts, beans, broccoli and plums. All these things contain ferrum the main hemoglobin component.

Besides, as water tends to detain in our tissues, it is good to reduce the amount of water we drink per day. Do not drink more than1.5 litres a day.Food containing potassium can help ridding extra water of the body.

The main rules for Phase C:

1. Do not exceed the normal calorific value.

2. Eat frequently but in small amounts.

3. If you are hungry drink a glass of water or a cup of green tea!

Children: Toddlers. Let`s Play Together!

2012-01-25T11:51:00.000-08:00

Let`s go travelling!!

You will need: a big towel or a blanket, pictures of different means of transport and toys.
Take a big towel or a blanket and spread it on the floor. Put your toddler onto it. Carefully and slowly pull the blanket with your kid on. Tell him he has gone travelling. Choose a vehicle you like - a car, a train, a boat, a plain... Explain that you are travelling by train (for instance) and imitate the sounds of a train

You may show a picture of the chosen means of transport beforehand or when playing. Even if your toddler seems not to understand you he will certainly love the game and will soon start pronouncing the same sounds which is a good exercise to develop his speech.
Toys will also be of a great help and fun in this game. Sure you have got a toy car, a toy train, etc among the toys. Use them to make your child understand better what this all is about. This game teaches a toddler to balance, imitate and widens his or her horizon.

Diets: Fasting (Part I)

2012-01-24T22:19:00.000-08:00

This circle of articles is dedicated to fasting. Nowadays most doctors insist that fasting cannot be good for our health since it is a great stress to our body and vital processes. Still lots of people try fasting and find it extremely positive. So, who is right?
The first question to ask is: What is fasting?
Fasting is a period of abstinence from all food or specific items. Fluids are consumed in sufficient quantity to satisfy thirst and physiologic requirements. During the absence of food, the body will systematically cleanse itself of everything except vital tissue. Starvation will occur only when the body is forced to use vital tissue to survive. Although protein is being used by the body during the fast, a person fasting even 40 days on water will not suffer a deficiency of protein, vitamins, minerals or fatty acids. In the breakdown of unhealthy cells, all essential substances are used and conserved in a most extraordinary manner. There is an unwarranted fear of fasting that strength diminishes from the catabolism of proteins from muscle fibers. Even during long fasts, the number of muscle fibers remains the same. Although the healthy cells may be reduced in size and strength for a time, they remain perfectly sound.
A. J. Carlson, Professor of Physiology, University of Chicago, states that a healthy, well-nourished man can live from 50 to 75 days without food, provided he is not exposed to harsh elements or emotional stress. Human fat is valued at 3,500 calories per pound. Each extra pound of fat will supply enough calories for one day of hard physical labor. Ten pounds of fat are equal to 35,000 calories! Most of us have sufficient reserves, capable of sustaining us for many weeks.
Rest is understood to be a big factor in enhancing recovery, as it is when the body is at rest that it is able to direct the most energy towards the various chemical and mechanical processes of detoxification. When fasting, a person experiences recovery at a rate that is swifter than normal. He is ridding his body of toxins and excesses; allowing the body to use its own wisdom to healthfully reorganize itself from the atomic level. As the toxic load is reduced, the functioning of every cell is enhanced. In the same way that vital nerve energy is accumulated during a night's sleep, the faster builds nerve energy through rest, sleep, and detoxification.
The human body has many ordinary modes of achieving elimination: the liver, lungs, kidneys, colon, etc. When these are overloaded, the body will resort to "extra ordinary" methods of elimination: boils, mucous and other discharges, sweats, vomiting, diarrhea, and many others. Should elimination be impossible or uneconomical of body energy, the toxic overload will go into storage forms in the joints, vessels, muscles, organs; almost any tissue in the body. While fasting, the body is highly conservative of its energy and resources. During this deep and profound rest, toxin intake and production are reduced to a minimum while autolysins and elimination proceed unchecked. Anabolic processes such as tissue and bone healing also proceed at a maximal rate during the fast.
In the body, the first stage of cleansing removes large quantities of waste matter and digestive residues. The first few days of a fast can be rough due to the quantity of waste passing into the blood stream. The tongue becomes coated and the breath foul as the body excretes waste through every opening. After the third day of the fast, there is little desire for food. The second stage is the cleansing of mucous, fat, diseased and dying cells, and the more easily removed toxins. As the fast continues, the cleansing process becomes more thorough. The last stage is the cleansing of toxins that have been accumulating in your cellular tissue from birth, and the microscopic tubes that carry vital elements to the brain. Cleansing of the last layer is only possible through a combination of juice fasting, water fasting, and a healthy diet high in raw foods. To overcome a severe disease like cancer, it is important to continue through a series of fasts, to the point where the full scouring action of catabolism removes the disease from the tissue.
During extended fasts the body removes: dead, dying and diseased cells; unwanted fatty tissue, trans-fatty acids, hardened coating of mucus on the intestinal wall; toxic waste matter in the lymphatic system and bloodstream; toxins in the spleen, liver and kidney; mucus from the lungs and sinuses, imbedded toxins in the cellular fibers and deeper organ tissues; deposits in the microscopic tubes responsible for nourishing brain cells and excess cholesterol.
Nearly everyone who fasts, discovers the same thing, that when they fast they actually have no hunger and more energy than they normally have. It is indeed liberating to find out that if we let go and trust that we will be taken care of. Fasting is the simplest, easiest and most effective way to find out that we do indeed have the power and freedom to heal and take control of our bodies.

(http://falconblanco.com)

Diets: Days of Limited Calories Intake (General Info)

2012-01-24T03:37:00.000-08:00

The first probable question concerning LCI days may be:

Are these days good or bad for our health?

Most dietologists will answer that they are certainly good. It is obvious that you won`t be able to loose the extra-weight you have gained in the last weeks or months but there are some benefits proving that it is very good for nearly each of us to have such days once or twice a week. Among them are:

1. These days stimulate metabolism.

2. They quicken the processing of fat stored in one`s body.

3. The help remove dead, dying and diseased cells and toxic waste matter out of one`s organism.

There are three main aims of LCI days.

The first is to let our organisms have a rest from a huge amount of extra food we consume each usual day taking no care of how it affects our body.

Secondly, LCI days are aimed at removing dead cells and toxins from our bodies.

The third aim is to facilitate the process of switching to rational eating rather than swallowing everything we see.

The rules to follow during these days:

1. You should avoid intensive physical or emotional tension during these days. Try to spend them in calm and peaceful atmosphere.

2. After such days do not hurry to a restaurant. The situation 'nothing or everything' may "puzzle" your stomach and it will pay you back making you pay frequent visits the WC.

3. In any cases of food limitation and especially during LCI days the bile stagnates in the liver thus it is good to take in a tablespoon of vegetable oil fasting. Besides a cup or two of cholagogic herbs tea would be desirable.

4. Though the recommended amounts of food are approximate since they depend upon the weight and energy consumption, the general figures are: not more than 1.5-2 kilogrammes of vegetables and 400-700 grammes of protein products per day.

5. It is much easier to live through a LCI day when you are very busy course this will distract you from thinking abut food. If you are going to spend such a day indoors, beware of the first enemy inside your house - the fridge. As soon as you feel intolerable hunger - drink a glass of water or fat-free yogurt.

6. Drink at least 2.5 litres of still water a day!

7. Body cleansing procedures will be much effective during these days. Attend a bathhouse or sauna, swim in a pool or take some massage.

Are there any contradictions?

LCI days are forbidden for the following groups of people:

- pregnant and breastfeeding women,

- people suffering from any disease.

Mind that if you suffer from any chronic illness consult your doctor before you start dieting.

There are lots of types of LCI days, but they will be touched upon in the nest article.

Hope you find this article helpful.