The human body needs vitamins to function properly. Each of the 13 essential vitamins (A, C, D, E, K, B12, and the 7 B-complex vitamins) provides the regulation of a crucial function. We acquire a majority of the vitamins our body needs from food. When there is a deficiency, we are in danger of becoming seriously ill or even dying. Vitamin supplementation can reverse illness caused by vitamin deficiency, sometimes miraculously. Nowadays, it is very rare to find someone who isn’t taking a daily multivitamin. Since there is a good chance that most of the individuals who take a daily multivitamin are eating a variety of foods, is it really necessary that they take a multivitamin? It may not be necessary, but everyone can benefit from taking a multivitamin.

The obvious benefit of taking a multivitamin is to prevent deficiency. In some situations your dietary needs may increase. Pregnant women, for example, are generally advised to start taking multivitamins in their first trimester. This is to ensure that they receive the proper nutrition and pass it on to their unborn child. By taking a multivitamin every day a pregnant woman can decrease her risk of passing malnutrition on to her baby. However, the benefits of taking a multivitamin every day go beyond replenishing nutrient stores.

With so many advancements, the world is moving at a pace that just gets faster and faster. People often feel like they can’t keep up. They try to do too much and wind up in a stressful condition. Another benefit of taking multivitamins is that it combats stress. There are numerous stress formulations that can keep you mental healthy as well as energize you. In addition to these short-term benefits, taking a multivitamin every day can also reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

While taking a multivitamin on a daily basis makes good nutritional sense, it is not a magic bullet. It is often the case that people who suffer symptoms of illness attempt to cure themselves by taking multivitamins. This can be a serious problem. Some health conditions require special attention. If you have symptoms of illness you should seek medical attention.

John Gibb manages http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com

The site dedicated to nutrition.

If you’ve visited a nutrition center you’ve probably come across liquid multivitamins. It may seem odd to you to be able to drink your vitamins, but it is becoming a more acceptable practice. With the number of multivitamins available, you would probably find it difficult to accept the fact that one is more superior to another. However, when you compare the benefits associated with taking liquid multivitamins you may discover that the benefits they provide slightly exceed those of multivitamins in pill form (tablets, softgels, and capsules).

When you take vitamins, do you feel confident that your body is getting the nutrients it needs? While you probably are, it may be possible that you are not. Before your body can use the nutrients found in vitamins, it has to be able to absorb them. Multivitamins in pill form are cold pressed. This process involves extracting the nutrients from fruit, seeds, and nuts with a limited amount of heat. This process is supposed to result in more of the vitamin’s value being retained, however, many of the nutrients (as much as 80%!) are lost. This should catch your attention if you are on a budget (and who isn’t these days), since taking a pill multivitamin can be like throwing your money away.

In contrast, liquid multivitamins retain much higher nutrient content when they are processed. In addition, it takes longer for your digestive system to digest pill multivitamins. Liquid multivitamins don’t have to be digested so they are absorbed within the system a lot quicker than pills. The nutrient content in multivitamins in pill form can rival those of liquid multivitamins when they are produced using quality nutrients. These multivitamins unfortunately are very expensive to produce and are often overlooked by individuals interested in purchasing vitamins.

In addition to the method in which they are processed and how quickly they enter the bloodstream, liquid multivitamins also have a wider appeal. Many people have difficulty swallowing pills, sometimes to the point of gagging. Liquid multivitamins naturally go down easy and are available in a variety of flavors (children enjoy this aspect).

If you are completely sold on the idea of using multivitamins in pill form, you should continue to do so. Just make sure you search for those multivitamins that are made with the best quality nutrients.

John Gibb manages http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com

The site dedicated to nutrition.

Who will not like to have a soft, glowing, clear skin? And what not have you tried to get at it? You may have tried several cleansers, moisturizers, proactivs®, skin guides etc. You must have noticed by now, that clear skin is something which is not permanent and one has to continuously and passionately work towards keeping her skin clear. Here is a free clear skin guide for you.

First things first. Cultivating a good health regimen is of foremost importance. Get up in the early morning after a sound good sleep. This is essential from the psychotherapeutic point of view. A clear mind is the first thing that paves the way for you in your search for a clear skin. Your facial muscles will have relaxed for sufficient time and the skin stiff.

Use a facial cleanser to wash your face. Do not go for soaps as they are alkaline in nature. There are many choices of cleansers available in the market with varying proportions of benzoyl peroxide and moisturizers. Choose yours that best suits your skin type. Rinse it with water. Do not rub hard to dry, but pat gently with a soft towel. If you are of dry skin type , use a moisturizer otherwise you can directly go for a light makeup (only if you should). Once in a while you can use water melon and cucumber juice alternatively to wash face. A sunscreen (SPF15) may be used if you are going outside.

• Avoid too much of exposure to sun and pollutants.
• Wash your face at least twice a day.
• Practice a well balanced diet emphasizing more on vitamins A, C and E. Drink lots of water (one and a half to two liters a day).
• Go for a morning and evening stroll when the sun rays are tender. Tender sun rays have concentrations of vitamin E and lower UV rays.
• Apply turmeric and milk cream mixture on your face much before going to bed and leave it over night.
• Use an orange peel face pack. It will have an astringent effect on your skin.
• When you go to sleep in the night, cover your eye socket with pumpkin or cucumber grating for curing the black ring under the eyes.
• Always consult doctors on acne matters. Self medication is the worst service you can do to your skin and body. (some of the medicines have serious implications)
• Exercise regularly in morning fresh air. (You can gobble in abundant oxygen while your skin sweats a lot)

The author Rajgopal had been writing on technical matters and in this avtar he gave up tags that confine to particular genre of writing. Rajgopal is a mechanical engineer and served the pharmaceutical industry. Oflate he has been putting his efforts in to creative art and healthcare writing. Here he looks up at options available to put life back on track. He can be contacted at http://alevoorrajgopal.blogspot.com/

Of late home remedy for just about anything is gaining importance for obvious reasons. And home remedy for skin care coming to the center stage is nothing astonishing. People who do not want to try or who are tired of using chemical therapy for skin care are turning to home remedy. After all your skin is the only organ of your body that shows predominantly in the public if you forget your hairdo for a while.

Well, let us come to the point straight away. Keeping your body hygienic assumes utmost importance in skin care regimen. Take bath twice in a day if your routine permits you. (Oh… I hate bathing in a tub as you will have to immerse your body in that dirty water till you get out of the tub. A shower is better). Use mild bath soap without caring for its fragrance. (Fragrances are by additional chemicals).

For washing you face, neck and shoulders you can make yourself a skin cleanser. You will need following herbs.

• Bael tree leaves (Aegle Marmelos)
• Java plum or Black plum leaves (Syzygium Cuminii)
• Betal leaves
• Sandal wood
• Cloves
• Lemon peel
• Tur Daal
• Acacia Sinnata
• Turmeric
• Camphor

Procedure:

1. Take about a kilogram of each of bael tree leaves, black plum leaves, betal leaves. Thoroughly clean them and boil them in twice the volume of water till you get a thick fluid.

2. Beat cloves (about 8-10), powder finely, the sun dried lemon peels (about 25), acacia sinnata, tur daal(2 table spoons), turmeric(1 inch pod) all of them and filter.

3. Okay. But what will you do with the sandal wood? Grind it manually on a grinding stone with a very little water so as to make a paste of it.

4. Mix all these together thoroughly and add to the now cold fluid made above.

Presto! Your own home made skin cleanser is ready for all skin ailment remedy. The liquid can be stored in a convenient, air tight jar or a bottle.

Your brand of this skin cleanser helps you get an odorless, glowing skin. You can literally throw your body deodorant through the window. The betal leaves and cloves help cure acne while bael and black plum leaves keep itches, eczema away. The turmeric and sandal wood will shine your body. The sandal wood and camphor will give a beautiful fragrance to you.

Are you game for this?!

The author Rajgopal had been writing on technical matters and in this avtar he gave up tags that confine to particular genre of writing. Rajgopal is a mechanical engineer and served the pharmaceutical industry. Oflate he has been putting his efforts in to creative art and healthcare writing. Here he looks up at options available to put life back on track. He can be contacted at http://alevoorrajgopal.blogspot.com/

He is also writing on vitamins

There’s nothing like coloring your hair to make you feel and look new. A new hair color can do wonders to your confidence level, though not always. Sometimes, it can spell disaster. A color might look really good on the packet cover, but once you’ve used it the reactions might vary from "oh my God" to major depression. So, if you fall into this category, then we can suggest you some solutions to remove hair color.

Okay, so somehow the hair color you have been dreaming about went wrong. It may be too bright, too dark, or simply is not the color you wanted. And, laying the blame on the colorist’s door or the product company will not help. What you need is damage control-you need to remove hair color.

However, this is easier said than done. Hair color is not like furniture paint that can easily be removed with paint remover. One option to remove hair color is to go to a color correction specialist. The only way to remove hair color is with a color removal product. But only professionals should use products designed to remove hair color. These products are not recommended for consumers unless they know exactly what they’re doing.

But what you can do on your own to remove hair color is to cover up. And depending on the color you selected, you may be able to cover the permanent color with a semi or demi-color. But before you decide to re-color your hair with another color, seek the advice of the color manufacturer, because mixing colors can result in bigger disasters than before.

If the hair color used was a light to medium shade, you may be able to cover it with a semi-permanent hair color after a few days. If you used a very dark shade, then it’s very difficult to remove hair color and you might as well live with it. Dark hair colors are hard to correct because the pigments in the dye are very strong. If your hair has been colored a shade of green, you could try a chlorine removal shampoo, or, if all else fails, tomato juice soak.

Mistakes do happen, but learn from the mistakes and take care not to repeat them. And before you set out to repair the damage, call the manufacturer of the product first. They’ll be able to suggest you ways to remove hair color. Still, if you’re unable to correct the problem, remember it’s just hair. The color will eventually grow out or fade on its own.

You can also make the best of the situation by visiting a stylist and getting a new flattering hairstyle that’ll draw attention away from the ghastly color. You can also use this time to accessorize your hair and try out different styles. Anything that’ll draw the attention from the hair color should help. Also, remember to use hair-coloring products that are safe, because a head full of orange hair is better than a head without hair.

If you are interested in your health and well being then you will find some great health related articles at: Find Health Articles

People are unclear (including me) how to fight against blackheads and whiteheads. Every product claims they eliminate blackheads and whiteheads. The truth is blackheads and whiteheads are hard to accept they are hard to get rid of. It is hard to win the battle against our clogged pores.

Normal working pores produce a normal amount of oil (sebum) that is easily distributed through the pore to the surface of the skin forming a protective barrier. When a regular amount of oil is produced, it effortlessly moves through the pore and out onto the surface of skin, where it melts into a film that forms a protective barrier over the face.

Teens really should only use a water-based moisture lotion labeled ‘non-comedogenic’ which means it does not clog pores, says Dr. Barry Leshin, M.D., associate professor of dermatology at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. Heavier oil-based moisturizers can cause an acne-like skin condition directly attributed to the use of cosmetics; (www.fda.gov).When dead skin cells block the path of the oil, you can get blackheads or whiteheads.

Cosmetics, creams and lotions can build up in the pore, along with dead skin cells that can get trapped in the sticky oil. When oil and skin cells are sitting in a pore that is open and exposed to the air, the cells turn black. When the oil and skin cells are sitting in a pore that is covered by skin, they are not exposed to air and therefore stay clear, but form a slight white bump under the skin. AHA exfoliants can both remove the excess dead skin cells on the face and exfoliate inside the pore (to improve the shape of the pore, allowing a more even flow of oil through it).

Keep in mind that the pore itself is lined with skin cells that can build up, creating a narrowed shape that does not allow for natural oil flow. But don’t get carried away with this step. Overdoing it (removing too many skin cells)can cause problems and hurt skin. Exfoliation is essential for both dry and oily skin to eliminate blackheads or whiteheads

Cyndi Katel lives in Tempe, Arizona with her two daughters. She majored in pre-med. She loves skin care and cosmetics and is thrilled to have developed Five Star Nights Anti-Aging Skin Care Line using only botanical,organic,natural, vegan and cruelty-free skin care ingredients in their natural products. No man made synthetic, coal based chemicals, chemicalor petroleum choices are in our products. We do not use animal testing or purchase ingredient products that are animal tested. If you would not put it in your mouth, why put it on your skin!

Each ingredient varies in its smell as well as in its “staying power” on the skin. Fragrance gets absorbed into the skin faster when the skin is dry and flaky. To make the scent last longer, you might look into body lotions in the same scent. You can even use unscented body lotion, but the scented ones obviously will give you more lasting power.

For the greatest lasting power, start in the shower. Use a buffing cream to buff away dry, dead skin. Use a cleansing gel, in a complimentary scent. Very often spa scents are produced with a variety of products-cleansing gel, sugar scrubs, lotions and a body mist sprays.

Next, apply the lotion to the areas where you generally apply your body spray to prevent the fragrance from being totally absorbed into the skin. This absorption is normal and in fact, perfumers distinguish between the various stages of the fragrance in the following way:

Top Note – is the first impression of the fragrance, the initial impact right from the bottle.

Middle Note – develops over a period of a few minutes after the perfume is applied to the skin.

Base Note – is the final impression of the fragrance. This is the stage in which we refer to as the “lasting power” of the fragrance.

Perfume (sometimes spelled parfum) is the longest lasting and strongest form of fragrance containing the highest concentration of essential oil. It is the fragrant oils that give a perfume a particular scent.

Eau de Parfum is the next in line according to the strength or the concentration of essential oils.

Eau de Toilette is a lighter version of a fragrance with less concentrated essential oils. Hence the reason it is generally more affordable.

Lastly, scented bath and body products have a hint of the fragrant essential oils. Layering the fragrance will make it last longer. Bath yourself in head to toe fragrance for a totally spa like experience.

Have a great day!

Dawn Hull
Professional Skin Care Consultant
http://www.MaryKay.com/ShopOnline

Sign up to receive a FREE monthly beauty newsletter: Beaut-e-News - Discover what’s new, what’s now — what’s changing the face of makeup and skin care! You’ll find beauty secrets revealed and tips and techniques that will help you look your beautiful best. Click here to register: http://www.marykay.com/PWS/MyMK/Login.aspx?Moniker=SHOPONLINE

It is safer to have a golden tan using commercial tanning beds. Just ask the more than one million Americans visiting tanning salons each day, bronzing their skins with these beds.

Or is it?

More and more research studies have shown that while the $2 billion-a-year tanning industry promotes that tanning indoors are safer than sunbathing, ultraviolet exposure from these commercial tanning beds is just as dangerous as direct tanning from lying in the sun.

These findings add credibility to the assertion of most skin experts that tanning is not safe, no matter how it is done.

No Such Thing as a Safe Tan

According to findings published in the May 2001 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, tanning using commercial beds does not mean one’s skin is safe from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation as opposed to direct exposure to the sun.

"When the skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation, either through direct sun exposure or at a tanning salon, it produces a tan to prevent further damage. There can be no tan without the DNA damage," said dermatologist James M. Spencer, MD, tells WebMD Medical News in an online report.

The study found out that after a single tanning session, molecular changes linked to melanoma, a deadly skin cancer, are routinely triggered. As a result of these biologic changes from tanning bed use, one could get skin cancer, according to the findings.

Many tanners seem privy to this information. In a study made by two researchers at the Brownman Gray School of Medicine in Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina, those who regularly go use tanning beds may be aware of the harmful effects of the sun to the skin, but may not be aware that tanning beds can also do the same.

Even teens know the risks associated with tanning, including tanning bed use. Surprisingly, many teenagers still do it anyway, visiting tanning salons and tan themselves using tanning beds. The Associated Press (AP) on May 2, 2005 reported that the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) conducted a nationwide survey of 505 respondents aged between 12 and 17 on their views about tanning, including commercial tanning bed use. The AAD found out that most teens preferred having a tan. Almost 80 percent said they knew tanning can be dangerous, but 66 percent said it looks better to have a tan.

Skin-related ailments, therefore, come not as a surprise. In 2001, over 50,000 Americans are diagnosed of melanoma, with 8,000 people dying of the disease. Eighty percent of those who died of skin cancer are caused by melanoma. Findings also show that one in five American will develop skin cancer at some point. Worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, there are between two to three million people diagnosed with various skin cancer ailments.

That is why medical experts warn tanners of indoor tanning claims that it has no harmful side effects or that it will not skin cancer or skin aging. Even the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said that tanning using commercial tanning beds damages your skin. One gets a tan because the skin produces coloring or an additional pigment to protect itself against burn from UV radiation. Too much UV exposure can cause you skin cancer, not to mention, eye injury and early skin aging.

You can use and publish this article in your ezine, on your website or any other online publication free of charge, as long as you provide it for free, give credit to the original author Nora P. Dyson and provide a link using the phrase tanning beds to this website: http://www.tanningbedsecrets.com

Copyright Nora P. Dyson, tanningbedsecrets.com

Our eyes are one of the most important features on our face. Our eyes not only allow us to see, they show emotion…joy, love, fear and even anger. It is said that when we address one another we should look directly into the eyes of the speaker. A baby’s eyes get noticed for being so large and round, a man’s eyes get noticed for their color and expressiveness. A woman’s eyes should get noticed for the same intrinsic qualities, not for the amount of makeup she has adorned them with.

I like to start with the eyeliner. No matter which type of liner you prefer, (liquid, pencil or even powder) get as close to the lashes as possible, staying on the outside of the eye. Do not apply liner inside the lash line, as this could cause the transfer of bacteria into the eyes. Keep this line of color subtle. Gently smudge it a little with the end of an eye shadow applicator or a brush for a softer, more natural look.

It is always a good idea to apply your eye shadow prior to your cheek color. This way, if the product finds its way onto your cheeks, you can simply brush it away. You may want to dust a little translucent powder on your cheeks and under your eyes to make for an easy clean-up. For a simple, natural look, stick to the neutrals.

Choose a midtone shade for over the entire eye lid. Gently blend a darker color into and slightly above the crease. Blend with a soft crease brush, using gentle strokes up and down so that the crease color fades seamlessly onto the brow bone and the lower lid. Use the midtone again on the lower lid and blend up into the crease. If you are feeling daring, choose a third, lighter color to highlight the brow bone. Blending is the key operation here. No heavy lines of color please. For evening, use the same technique but try more shimmery eye colors.

Lastly, let’s not forget our trusty friend, mascara. Apply your mascara last to avoid smudging it when applying your liner and shadow. Also, any loose shadow particles will stick to your freshly applied mascara…not a good look. Waterproof mascara is great for sports or for going to a tear-jerking movie, however, it is difficult to remove. This can cause product build-up on the lashes, creating a cakey look. Worse yet, continuous use of waterproof mascara and product build-up can cause your precious lashes to break, thus causing you to use even more mascara. A better solution would be a water-resistant mascara. It is much easier to remove. So just remember, what goes on, must come off.

The windows to your soul now sparkle with subtle color, making your eyes and you, yourself, impossible to ignore. Those around you won’t be able to take their bulging spheres off of your beautiful eyes.

Have a great day!

Dawn Hull
Professional Skin Care Consultant
http://www.MaryKay.com/ShopOnline

Sign up to receive a FREE monthly beauty newsletter: Beaut-e-News - Discover what’s new, what’s now — what’s changing the face of makeup and skin care! You’ll find beauty secrets revealed and tips and techniques that will help you look your beautiful best. Click here to register: http://www.marykay.com/PWS/MyMK/Login.aspx?Moniker=SHOPONLINE

Although concealer is one of those “optional” products, I personally would never leave the house unless well concealed. (Shades will work if you’re in a pinch, but on a cloudy day, it’s a dead giveaway.)

Foundation, what is the purpose of foundation? Simple, the purpose of foundation is to even out your skin tone (not to make it darker, we have bronzing products for that). There are oh, so many types to choose from out there. The sheerest of all looks would be a loose powder. However, you have many more options and today’s formulas are mostly all non-comedogenic (will not clog pores) and safe for sensitive skin. Some even have SPF built right in for extra added protection. Whether you choose cream, liquid, oil-free, powder or cream-to-powder foundation, always choose a color that completely disappears or is a very close match to your natural skin tone. Most cosmetic companies have formulas in a wide range of shades for a perfect match. (You can always look for a 100% satisfaction guarantee to ensure you don’t accumulate several mismatched and unusable foundation products. Mary Kay offers such a guarantee.)

Concealer and foundation lay the groundwork for a well made face. Hide those dark circles that make you look tired, stressed and drawn out. Even out your skin tone for a polished, put together look and a radiant glow. Take pride in your appearance and those around you will begin to take notice. Because, when you know you look fabulous, you feel great about yourself.

Have a great day!

Dawn Hull Professional Skin Care Consultant http://www.MaryKay.com/ShopOnline

Sign up to receive a FREE monthly beauty newsletter: Beaut-e-News - Discover what’s new, what’s now — what’s changing the face of makeup and skin care! You’ll find beauty secrets revealed and tips and techniques that will help you look your beautiful best. Click here to register: http://www.marykay.com/PWS/MyMK/Login.aspx?Moniker=SHOPONLINE