7 shocking things that shorten your life span

7 shocking things that shorten your life span

RealBuzz – Mon, 17 Dec, 2012

No sense of humor

You know how people always say “laughter is the best medicine?” Turns out they’re telling the truth. A study carried out by Sven Svebak at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, which covered 54,000 subjects, found that people with a high capacity for humor were 35 per cent more likely to be live longer than people who ranked at the bottom of the humor scale. If you are planning to go through life keeping laughter to a minimum, you’ll be missing out on health benefits such as stress reduction, immune system improvement, and increased blood flow, which could reduce your life expectancy when compared to your chuckling peers.

Flying

It’s been proven that taking regular holidays is a stress busting health booster, but it seems the way we travel to those holidays isn’t quite as healthy. In fact, flying can be downright bad for you. It’s already been proven by the Association of Flight Attendants that people who have careers in the aviation industry are more at risk of dying from cancer, and now it’s become apparent why. According to physicist Robert Parish, when you reach the average cruising altitude of 39,000 feet in a plane you are subject to 64 times more radiation than at sea level due to cosmic rays, which over time can seriously affect your wellbeing.  

Nasty co-workers

You know that person who you can’t stand at work? As if things weren’t bad enough already, they’re actually shortening your lifespan. Researchers at Tel Aviv University found that a person’s colleagues have a significant bearing on their wellbeing, with friendly and supportive co-workers leading to lowered stress levels and a reduction in blood pressure and cholesterol. People at work who cause arguments and don’t share the workload equally have the opposite effect, causing stress and subsequently a higher risk of dying amongst their colleagues. These negative effects were most obvious in subjects between the ages of 38 and 43, so if you fall into that bracket it might be time to bury the hatchet with your work enemies.

Retiring

Retiring is often the light at the end of the tunnel for stressed workers, especially for those who have saved all of their life so that they can do it earlier. Sadly, that lifetime of financial sacrifice is leading to a shorter lifespan according to research carried out by Shell Health Services. The study discovered that people who retire at 55 on average died younger than those who waited until they were 65. John Rother, chief lobbyist of the American Association of Retired Persons, explained it rather bluntly by saying “you use it or you lose it” – by retiring early, your body misses out on its daily dose of activity and you gradually become more unhealthy.

Not drinking alcohol

We’re always told to cut back on how much alcohol we drink, and rightly so – excessive alcohol consumption can severely damage your health. However, go to the opposite end of the drinking spectrum and you could be in even more trouble than heavy drinkers. A study at the University of Texas found that non-drinkers have a lower life expectancy than people who drink a moderate amount, and in some cases even lower than heavy drinkers. This is partly due to missing out on the health benefits associated with alcohol. Alcohol (in sensible amounts) helps to protect against heart disease, and decreases the likelihood of Alzheimer’s and dementia through improved neuron function in the brain.

Sleeping too much

Getting enough sleep is important when it comes to good health, so surely the more shut-eye you get the better, right? Wrong. Consistently going too far over the recommended eight hours can negatively affect your health according to a study conducted by RealAge.com. The findings showed that participants who slept for more than nine and a half hours a night suffered from a staggering 60 per cent increase in heart disease, and a higher mortality rate when compared to people who stick to the recommended amount. As well as heart disease, over-sleeping has also been linked with a whole host of health issues, including obesity, diabetes, headaches and depression.

Not having sex

Sex is good for you. Is anyone still here? For those of you who haven’t frantically run off to tell a significant other the good news, we’ll explain why. The British Medical Journal conducted a sex survey and found that men who didn’t have sex at least once a month experienced twice the mortality rate of those who were getting lucky once a week. It’s not hard to see why this is the case – having sex burns kilojoules, lowers blood pressure, boosts the immune system, and much, much more. A study at Duke University also backed this up, finding that women who had enjoyable sex lives lived eight years longer than those who didn’t. 

Read more on realbuzz.com...
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Men and women also have their own set of dietary requirements as well as their own unique health concerns

Top 10 foods all women should eat

10 of the best: Tomatoes, butternut squash and salmon are just some of the foods women should have in their diet

While there are some foods we should all be eating more of, men and women also have their own set of dietary requirements as well as their own unique health concerns.

Here are the top 10 foods that women should be eating....

Tomato are one food that women should eat

Female-friendly food 1: Tomatoes

Another vibrant carotenoid beneficial for women's health is lycopene, a pigment found in tomatoes. Studies have suggested that lycopene may be effective in preventing breast cancer. Furthermore, there has been considerable evidence to suggest that the powerful antioxidant can help reduce risk of heart disease — the leading cause of death in women in the US, Australia, England and Wales.

[Related: Winter warmer recipes that won't have you piling on the pounds]

Female-friendly food 2: Butternut squash

Butternut squash — like many other yellow/orange fruit and vegetables — is packed with carotenoids such as alpha-carotene and beta-carotene and thefore ranks highly in the list of foods that women should eat. While carotenes should be included in everybody's diet for optimum health, they may prove essential to women's health as a high-carotenoid diet has been linked to lowered risks of both breast and ovarian cancer.

Female-friendly food 3: Flax Seeds

Flax seeds are a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids and have been linked to reduced risk of breast cancer and heart disease. The seeds' anti-inflammatory properties are also good for preventing arthritis, while their digestive benefits can help irritable bowel syndrome; two painful conditions which are more prevalent in women than men.

Female-friendly food 4: Salmon

Salmon has a multitude of positive health benefits for women. Not only is it rich in iron — which is integral to the diets of premenopausal women — but it is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, known for their mood-enhancing effects. Studies have suggested that omega-3 can help beat depression (something that affects twice as many women as men) and prevent mood swings, while salmon can also boost babies' intelligence when eaten during pregnancy.

Female-friendly food 5: Cranberries

Various studies have suggested strong links between consuming cranberries and reduced risks of breast cancer and heart disease. However, the most notorious benefit of cranberries is their ability to prevent and cure urinary tract infections such as cystitis, which is eight times more likely to occur in women than men. One study suggests that drinking two glasses of cranberry juice a day can prevent the symptoms of common UTIs in women, making cranberries a food that women should consume.

[Related: Top 10 winter soup recipes]

Female-friendly food 6: Spinach

Spinach is rich in many different vitamins and minerals, but one thing that makes it great for women is its high content of magnesium. Research has shown that magnesium may be beneficial in reducing many of the physical symptoms of PMS which plague women, including reduction of swelling, breast tenderness, bloating and weight gain.

Female-friendly food 7: Figs

Figs are a great health food, containing many vital minerals and vitamins as well as contributing to your daily portions of fruit and veg. Two minerals found in figs that are particularly beneficial to women's health are iron, which is often deficient in menstruating women, and calcium, which is important for post-menopausal women, who are more prone to osteoporosis.

Female-friendly food 8: Milk

Milk is a great source of calcium, which is extremely beneficial to women's health, particularly when combined with vitamin D (found in some varieties of milk and many fortified milk products). Consumption of the combined nutrients is not only good for warding off osteoporosis, but a study has suggested that a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D could ease, or even prevent, symptoms of PMS.

Female-friendly food 9: Oats

Oats are literally packed with health-boosting nutrients, many of which have great impacts on female health. Oats are not only great for heart health, digestion and blood pressure levels (with hypertension affecting many women over 50), but they contain vitamin B6, which can help prevent PMS and mood swings, and folic acid, which is important for women to consume before and during pregnancy to prevent birth defects in babies.

Female-friendly food 10: Walnuts

While all nuts are great for our health, walnuts have many great individual benefits for women. A study has recently found that walnuts, which are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and phytosterols, may help to reduce women's risk of developing breast cancer, while their high omega-3 content may also help bone health, arthritis pain and depression. Walnuts also contain many nutrients essential for female health, such as calcium, magnesium and folic acid. 

from RealBuzz – Mon, 3 Dec, 2012
Read more on realbuzz.com...


http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/10-foods-women-eat-081017033.html

Take a break from sitting

The Major Health Risk You Take Every Day

By The Editors at Sharecare | Healthy Living – Mon, 3 Dec, 2012 3:39 PM EST

Sitting all day may be the worst thing you can do for your health. These tricks will get you moving.
By Rachael Anderson
Most people think smoking is the worst thing they can possibly do for their health. But in reality, perhaps the worst thing of all is something most of us do every day: sit. We sit when we drive, work, eat, use the computer, watch TV and read. In fact, before you read any further, you should probably stand up. It turns out that the more time you stay planted on your rear, the less time you're destined to live on this planet.
Take a break from sitting
Here's what we know:
Eye-opening research shows that keeping your butt in a chair (or on the couch) for hours at a time can lead to cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and premature death. One study by the American Cancer Society found that women who sat six hours a day were 37 percent more likely to die by the end of the 13-year study period; men who sat were 18 percent more likely to die. Another study tied 49,000 U.S. cases of breast cancer and 43,000 of colon cancer to prolonged sitting.
Sitting isn't dangerous just because it means you're not exercising. It's dangerous all by itself.
Prolonged time spent on your bum has significant metabolic consequences. It negatively affects your blood sugar, triglycerides, good cholesterol, resting blood pressure and levels of the "appetite hormone" leptin, all of which are biomarkers of obesity and cardiovascular disease.
Sitting also sabotages the lymph system, which helps the body fend off infections. Lymph vessels, which drain waste materials created by an infection, don't have a pump like the heart; they're controlled by rhythmic contractions of the muscles in your legs. So when you sit, the lymph system can't do its job.
If you sit all day but make sure to get to the gym or go for a walk after work, isn't that enough?
Unfortunately, no.
"Bursts of exercise is not the answer; two hours of exercise per day will not compensate for 22 hours of sitting," says cancer specialist and author David Agus, MD. In fact, sitting for five or six hours a day, even if you spend an hour a day at the gym, is the equivalent of smoking an entire pack of cigarettes.

How to sit less during the day
Moving more is tough, especially since most people's jobs revolve around sitting. But breaking up endless time on your bum, even for a few minutes, can make a huge difference. Key enzymes move, blood flows, mind and muscles flex. Here is what you can do to sit less:

• Get up and move at least every 30 minutes. Get water or coffee. Pace up and down the hall or just stand when you're on a phone call. Even fidgeting helps.
• Go ahead, watch your favorite TV shows-but don't just sit there. Cook, fold laundry, empty the dishwasher or ride a stationary bike.
• If you have to spend all day at your computer, consider investing in a treadmill desk like Michael Roizen, MD. That way you can keep moving even while you work.
• Make sure you exercise. Even though working out won't completely rid you of the negative effects of sitting, a study found that active people who sat for long periods lived longer than inactive people who sat for long periods.   

http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/blogs/healthy-living/major-health-risk-every-day-203900418.html

How to Clean Up Your Online Reputation

By Becky Worley | Upgrade Your Life – Wed, 14 Nov, 2012

The Internet knows a lot about you, maybe too much. So how do you clean up your online reputation and get control of your image to reflect who you are now — or how you want a prospective employer to perceive you?

A study from Microsoft Research indicates that 70% of online recruiters have nixed candidates because of search results that come up around their names. So your identity online is vital. We'll start with the tried and true ways to clean your rep and then move on to my sneakier methods.

Hide and Delete
First the basics: Delete questionable posts on all social networks — Twitter, old-school Myspace entries, and of course Facebook. And about Facebook — get your privacy settings locked down. To access the settings, click the drop down arrow in the top-right corner of your main Facebook page, then click Privacy Settings. At minimum, make sure your posts are only shared with friends. Then scroll down through all the settings and make sure what you watch, read, and listen to aren't publically searchable. If you've been tagged in anyone else's dicey pictures — untag, untag, untag. Click the picture, choose options and click "I want to untag myself."



Bury the Bad Stuff
That's all the stuff you can control, but what if there's info sprayed across the Internet that you can't remove, maybe you were busted for graffiti back in high school and it made the town paper? Or worse, what if someone went on a rant about you and it shows up when your name is entered into a search? There are certainly advocates who say you should write letters asking individuals or organizations to remove those postings, but in real life it's pretty useless. Instead, take solace from the fact that 97% of searchers never look beyond the first 3 pages of search results. If you can push the negative results down by posting positive or neutral information that's more current or has more appeal to search engines, you'll win the battle 97% of the time.

[Related: How (and Why) to Turn Off Socialcam]

Claim your Name
To create material that search engines will find, the first step is putting your name out there on high-traffic sites:

• Google: Google ranks its own sites higher than others, so create a Google Plus account, use the Google Dashboard to manage your profile, and create a Youtube channel all using your real name.
• LinkedIn: Create a LinkedIn profile, this is one of the most powerful tools you have in establishing your work reputation. LinkedIn is the de facto resume and job networking site for professionals these days.
• Yourrealname.com: This is the big one: buy the domain name for your real name. Then start a blog using one of the simple blog tools like WordPress or Blogger. You can either host your blog at that URL or build an independent site. I own beckyworley.com, and I have a site that reflects my current work, links to my social media pages, and houses my resume. I used Squarespace to build the site and it took me about a day to get it looking the way I wanted it to.

The Sneaky Stuff
Tweak your name. Any chance you can apply for a job using a slightly different form of your name? If you are Bob Smith with a slightly murky online reputation, applying for jobs as Robert Smith and representing yourself online as Robert going forward could help you distance yourself from that rascal "Bob."
Flood social sites. Go over to namechk.com, type in your real name (or your new professional name) and sign up for every social site you can, all those sites will boost the appearance of your name in search sites.
Use images to your advantage. Start a Flickr photo sharing site and write your name on all the (appropriate) pictures you post. Do the same with Instagram, Tumblr and photobucket.
Don't forget about the real world. Everything you do these days is archived online — volunteering for charities, PTA boards, 5K runs, seminars you attend.  If your college or high school has class notes, submit info. Write a well thought out letter to the editor, do an online genealogy for your family, attend county meetings where the names of attendants are published online. All these well-established sites get lots of search engine love.
Link Link Link. Once any of the above listings of your name appear online, link to them from your blog or website. It's the interlinking that gives you real search engine power.
You can of course hire a reputation service to do all of this for you, but if you have the time and want to save a few thousand dollars, these techniques can really help.
If you have successful tips about how you've sculpted your online reputation, head over to our Facebook page and share your ideas.

[Related: Are You Being Monitored at Work?



http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/blogs/upgrade-your-life/clean-online-reputation-135856619.html

How Much Does Adoption Really Cost?

Looking to adopt?

The number one answer back to me was, "How much does it really cost to adopt?" So I'm going to tell you; from popular international programs to domestic. These aren't exact figures, because every agency/attorney/situation is different, but they are close enough to give you a good idea.


Keep in mind these numbers are before tax credits, employer benefits, or grants. You may have a small heart attack while looking at these, but thousands of regular people (like us) adopt every year. It can be done. There are many programs out there that help with costs.


While it seems like a small fortune, these costs keep things legal, legit, and according to Holt International, include but are not limited to: "costs for personnel, administrative overhead, training, education, legal services and communications, working with government and agency authorities, legal fees, and passport and U.S. visa fees in the child's country. The fees also cover costs related to the care of your child prior to adoption, including - but not limited to - costs for food, clothing, shelter, medical care, foster care, orphanage care, and any other services provided directly to your child. It also includes any mandatory donations required by child welfare authorities. This fee may also cover child welfare projects in your child's country of origin."


Each country varies in fees, but this should give you a good idea. Whether you're preparing to adopt or just curious about how the process works, here are some facts to get you started:



Photo by: The Adoption Guide
India $20,000-$35,000
It takes 2-3 years to bring a child home. Couples must be married for at least 5 years.

Related: 12 questions to ask before adopting a child



Photo by: Holt International
China $20,000-$40,000

China has a very long wait time of around 4-6 years, with strict income guidelines and a law of one parent being 35 or older.



Photo by: The Adoption Guide
Bulgaria $25,000-$35,000

Most children are over the age of 5.
Married couples and singles can adopt.

Related: 10 tips on choosing an international adoption agency



Photo by: The Adoption Guide
U.S. Foster Adoption Up to $5,000

The costs depend on who you work with for the adoption (agency, social services, attorney). In 2009, the average wait of a child from foster care to adoption was 30 months.



Photo by: The Adoption Guide
U.S. Domestic Infant Adoption $25,000-$40,000 or more

Usually a short wait time, but costs vary depending on agency or private attorney.

Related: 5 questions you should NEVER ask a woman



Photo by: The Adoption Guide
Russia $40,000-$60,000 
Parents must make 2-3 trips over.

Russian government focuses on the mental and physical health of prospective parents



Photo by: The Adoption Guide
Haiti $15,000-$30,000

Mostly older children, one parent must be 35 or older to adopt.




Photo by: The Adoption Guide
Poland $25,000-$35,000

Parents must take two trips. First trip approximately two weeks, second trip one week.


Related: 20 things ALL women do but hate to admit
A few weeks ago I asked on Facebook what questions my friends and followers had about adoption.





- By Diana Stone

http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/much-does-adoption-really-cost-205600886.html

Is the Carrie Bradshaw Effect over? Female TV characters start taking responsibility for themselves

By Anne T. Donahue | omg! TV – Tue, 6 Nov, 2012


Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw on "Sex and the City." (HBO)


The past year has seen a new type of female character emerge. Unlike the Carrie Bradshaw effect of the late '90s and early 2000s, TV's fictional women are no longer glamorizing dysfunctional relationships or using retail therapy to numb emotional pain. True, characters like Mindy Lahiri ("The Mindy Project"), Ann Perkins ("Parks and Recreation"), and Jess Day ("New Girl") make their share of mistakes and poor decisions, but they don't shy away from their behaviour.


Unlike Carrie, these female characters take responsibility for their actions and handle distressing situations like adults. In this decade, the women on television control their own lives.


While "Sex and the City's" Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) made waves in the '90s for embracing an active sex life -- a trait Mindy, Ann, and Jess all share -- her irresponsible spending, penchant for labels, and relationship with Mr. Big (a man who mistreated her for years, yet whom she ended up marrying), made her the victim of her own actions. Yes, at some point, some people overspend, and some people find themselves with a partner who doesn't respect them, but unlike today's fictional women, Carrie was defined by those situations. By the second "Sex and the City" movie, Carrie kissed another man, and in response to the news, Mr. Big buys her a diamond ring to solve the problem.



Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins on "Parks and Recreation." (NBC)


On "Parks and Recreation," however, Ann (Rashida Jones) doesn't have this luxury. In the fourth episode of the current season, Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) confronts Ann after noticing she adopts the personality and hobbies of any man she has a relationship with. Instead of a snide remark said at brunch (à la "Sex and the City"), the two friends actually discuss the problem, prompting Ann to re-evaluate her approach to boyfriends, and how important it is to be yourself.



Zooey Deschanel as Jess on "New Girl," and Mindy Kaling as Mindy on "The Mindy Project." (Fox)


The same can be said for "The Mindy Project's" Mindy (Mindy Kaling) and "New Girl's" Jess (Zooey Deschanel). Mindy's decision to keep up a one-sided relationship with her coworker is immediately called out by her best friend, so she instead begins pursuing men who treat her better. Meanwhile, Jess' go-to pal may be her roommate, Nick (Jake Johnson), but the two have countless confrontations about relationship choices and self-destructive behaviour. Case in point: now that Jess is unemployed, her friends have been consistently supporting her job search and keeping her motivated when she begins to feel down.




AnnaSophia Robb as a young Carrie Bradshaw on "The Carrie Diaries." (The CW)


However, this shift might not be permanent. With the premiere of "The Carrie Diaries" -- a "Sex and the City" prequel -- set for early 2013 on The CW, another generation of girls will be subjected to the franchise's "labels and love" ethos. Yes, some women like designers and others prioritize dating, but to define women by those things is limiting and dangerous, especially to young women. Shows like "Parks and Recreation," "The Mindy Project," and "New Girl" portray women as interesting and three-dimensional -- as actual human beings. They have real relationships with their friends, where bad behaviour is called out, and successes are celebrated. And while they aren't perfect, these women strive to fix their problems as opposed to shopping them away.


"The Carrie Diaries" may work to portray their characters as more than just PG-13 rated versions of their adult selves, but it might also perpetuate those dangerous traits that audiences are only now starting to tire of.


http://ca.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/omg-tv/carrie-bradshaw-effect-over-female-tv-characters-start-193247543.html

Why you wake up in a bad mood (sometimes)

Bad mood trigger 1: Food intolerance

Food intolerances are responsible for a wide range of physical conditions including nausea and abdominal pain, but they can also affect your mood, causing irritability, mood swings, lack of focus, aggression, nervousness or hyperactivity. If you suffer from regular mood swings, try keeping a food diary – noting what you eat as well as any changes in mood – to see if you can identify a link.

Home decor can affect your mood

Bad mood trigger 2: Your home decor

If you want to give your mood a boost, try changing your home decor as your surroundings can heavily influence your mood. While red can make some people feel irritable or hostile, yellow communicates happiness and blue aids relaxation, so try accessorising your home with colours that enhance your mood. Research has also suggested that hanging up soothing pictures — such as beautiful landscape paintings —can positively affect a person’s mood and reduce stress and anxiety.

Bad mood trigger 3: Getting promoted

While many of us dream of getting a promotion in work, the reality may not be as rosy as you think. A study by researchers at the University of Warwick has found that rather than improving quality of life for workers, following a job promotion employees suffered from increased mental strain and there was on average a 10 per cent decrease in people’s mental health.

Bad mood trigger 4: Your bedside lamp

If you regularly fall asleep reading or watching TV, this can have repercussions on your mood the next day. Research has shown that night time light can suppress the production of melatonin; a mood-regulating hormone which is only produced during darkness. So, try investing in some heavy curtains and make sure you turn off all lights at night to give yourself a happiness boost.

Bad mood trigger 5: Nutrient deficiencies

While depression can be caused by a number of things, symptoms can be worsened or improved by your diet. Deficiencies in vitamin D, the B vitamins (particularly B6, B12 and folate) and omega-3 fatty acids can all lead to feelings of depression and anxiety. Try introducing more foods rich in these nutrients into your diet to see if symptoms improve.

Bad mood trigger 6: Your friends

You might think that spending time with your friends is a great mood booster; however, that could all depend on their mood. Research has found that emotions – both positive and negative – are contagious and easily passed from person to person, often without you being aware of it. Furthermore, you don’t even need to see your friends to catch their mood, as a study suggests that the emotions of Facebook users directly affect the emotions of their friends for up to three days.

Bad mood trigger 7: Late nights

Many of us are aware that lack of sleep can contribute to a low mood; however, research suggests that when you go to sleep could be almost as important as how much sleep you get. According to a study published in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, night owls are almost three times as likely as early birds to experience severe symptoms of depression, so try getting some early nights to boost your mood.

Being a night owl can increase your risk of depression

Bad mood trigger 8: The pill

A study by researchers from Monash University has found that women who take birth control pills are twice as likely to be depressed as those who don’t. For some, certain birth control pills can also lead to mood swings, increased anger and loss of libido. If you think that your mood has changed for the worse since you began taking the pill, visit your GP to discuss the alternatives.

Bad mood trigger 9: Smoking

We all know that smoking causes cancer, heart disease and premature ageing, but it is less well known that cigarettes can also affect your mental health. According to the results of a large study conducted by New Zealand researchers, people who smoke cigarettes may increase their risk of developing depression, and those who are addicted to nicotine may be more than twice as likely to have depressive symptoms than those who are not.

Bad mood trigger 10: Sunlight

Most of us have heard of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) caused by dark winter days, but did you know that sunlight can also bring on the blues? While summer SAD is thought to affect less than one per cent of the population (compared to the five per cent affected by the winter version) it can be a serious condition for those it affects, bringing on insomnia, decreased appetite and depression. Read more on realbuzz.com...


http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/why-you-wake-up-in-a-bad-mood--sometimes-.html

The best juices for your health problems

The Best Juice for All Your Health Woes

By SHAPE magazine | Healthy Living – Mon, 27 Aug, 2012 9:41 AM EDT

by Faye Masterson for SHAPE.com

Bad skin? Always tired? No matter what your health problems, we have the juice recipe for you!

The best juice for healthy skin: cucumber
"Fruit and vegetable juices, prepared in the right combinations, can help you to remove crud from your blood and tissues and restore alkalinity and balance to your system," says Noelle Swatland of GreenLemonade.com. "You see the benefits of this crud removal in younger looking skin and greater energy."

Swatland's favorite skin booster? Cucumber. "Consisting of over 90-percent water, cucumbers are a naturally cooling and hydrating food," she says. Plus, they're rich in minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and silica, which is believed to improve complexion and youthful radiance of your skin .
Ingredients:
1-2 Cucumbers
For a touch of sweetness, add a small piece of apple.

RELATED: 6 Protein-Packed Vegan Meals

2. The best juice for anti-aging: blueberries, strawberries, and kale
When stress, free-radicals, and lack of exercise and sleep attempt to age your skin, Patty James, certified natural chef and author of More Vegetables Please!, recommends fighting off Mother Nature with antioxidant -packed fruits and veggies that can easily be juiced.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups liquid of your choice (water or any kind of milk)
1 cup blueberries
1/2 cup strawberries
1 large leaf kale (thick stem removed)
1/2 medium beet

3. The best juice to boost your sex drive: celery
While oysters and chocolate are a delicious way to get you and your partner in the mood, they're not so appealing juiced. Thankfully, James' top libido-boosting foods are also delicious in liquid form. "Celery contains an ingredient that increases those well-known pheromones in men that send out signals to women saying 'here I am'," James says. "Watermelon helps to relax the blood vessels that increase sex drive, and avocados contain a B vitamin said to boost male hormone production."

Ingredients:
2 cups coconut water
2 stalks celery
1/2 banana
Ginger (a small piece)
1/2 Avocado
Basil (a handful)
3 figs

4. The best juice to boost your immune system: Broccoli
Sip on this to stay well all year! "Broccoli is very high in vitamin C , which increases the production of infection-fighting white blood cells," Judita Wignall, author of Going Raw says. "Garlic contains sulfur-containing compounds that have powerful immune-boosting antimicrobial properties."

Ingredients:
1 small beet
3 carrots
8 stalks celery
1 stalk broccoli
2 cloves garlic

RELATED: 8 Skinny Summer Cocktails

5. The best juice for stress relief: carrots
When Eat Naked author Margaret Floyd needs to wind down after a long day, she turns to spinach . "Spinach is high in the amino acid tryptophan, which helps elevate your mood and promotes better sleep," Floyd says. "It's also high in magnesium, which helps to relax nerves and muscles."

Ingredients:
2 big handfuls Spinach
3-4 stalks Broccoli
3-4 stalks Celery
1 large or 2 small carrots 

http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/blogs/healthy-living/best-juice-health-woes-134100046.html

Your Toothbrush—The Grossest Thing in the Bathroom

By Sarah B. Weir, Yahoo! blogger | Healthy Living – Mon, Jul 16, 2012

"If you have your toothbrush too close to the toilet," microbiologist Charles Gerba, PhD, tells WebMD, "you are brushing your teeth withwhat's in your toilet." He explains that when you flush with the lid open, contaminated water vapor settles on surfaces in your bathroom. And that's not the only way germs pollute your toothbrush.

Health Tip: Don't Spread Germs at Work

Brushing your teeth removes bacteria, food debris, and blood and saliva that might be infected with a virus. If you don't rinse the bristles properly, you will be putting these contaminants right back into your mouth the next time you brush. Many families store their toothbrushes jammed together in a cup or holder, which can also cause cross contamination.

The average toothbrush harbors 10 million microbes, including germs like influenza viruses, herpes simplex I, streptococcus, staphylococcus, as well as bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities. Because of the sheer variety of germs, they can harbor more pathogens than the average toilet seat. Some of these microscopic creepy crawlies can survive for days. "Your toothbrush is the perfect breeding ground for these bugs," Dr. R. Tom Glass, professor emeritus of oral pathology at the University of Oklahoma tells USA Today. "There is food and water, and the brush itself provides the portal of entry into your body." Basically, he says, "Your toothbrush is an enriched Petri dish on a stick."

It's important to brush your teeth twice a day to prevent decay. These tips will help keep your toothbrush-and mouth-free of harmful bacteria.

• Don't share toothbrushes and store different family members' toothbrushes at least an inch apart.
• Rinse thoroughly after using.
• Allow toothbrush to air dry after each use, preferably in an upright position. This will keep bacteria from breeding. Don't store in a small, moist, closed container.
• Replace your toothbrush after having a cold or the flu.
• If you have a compromised immune system, rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwashbefore you clean your teeth. This can reduce the germs passed to your toothbrush.
• Get a new toothbrush every 3 to 4 months or more frequently if you notice the bristles breaking down. While this won't reduce bacteria, it will ensure the best cleaning power.

What about sanitizers? The American Dental Association (ADA) says there is no evidence to show that commercial sanitizers completely sterilize toothbrushes although soaking in an antibacterial mouthwash can reduce the prevalence of microorganisms. They also recommend against trying to disinfect your toothbrush by putting it in the dishwasher or microwave which can damage the plastic.

<http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/grossest-thing-bathroom-toothbrush-194000217.html?_sr=1>

Child Bride Has Marriage Annulled -- Laxmi Sargara is Our Hero of the Day

At an age when most kids are learning to walk, Laxmi Sargara was already married. Her husband, Rakesh, was just three-years-old when family sealed the deal on their fate. She was one.

Now seventeen years later the couple have set a history-making precedent by having their marriage annulled. But the real hero of this story is Laxmi, now 18, who took remarkably brave steps to reverse the archaic tradition and opened the door for more child brides to follow. 

Though technically illegal in India, poor families living in rural areas often rely on these types of partnerships, using kids as pawns in order to provide more financial stability to those who can't afford to feed their children long-term. The fall-out is hardest felt for child brides, plucked from their parents' homes in their teens and forced to live with the husband they wed as a toddler and his family. The girls are expected to play the role of obedient wife and daughter-in-law, and in some instances, are beaten into submission by members of their new family.  

Just days ago, Laxmi's was informed of her own marriage obligations, promised almost two decades before by her Rajasthani elders, and given a move-in deadline of April 24 from her in-laws.

"I was unhappy about the marriage. I told my parents who did not agree with me, then I sought help," Sargara told AFP.

She reached to a social worker in Jodhpur who advocates for children's rights through an organization called the Sarathi Trust. The social worker contacted the groom, who was prepared to go through with family arrangement. After some persuading, he finally changed his mind and agreed to an annulment, influenced by the fact that he'd be marrying a woman risking everything to live without him.

"It is the first example we know of a couple wed in childhood wanting the marriage to be annulled, and we hope that others take inspiration from it," Kriti Bharti, the social worker who orchestrated the annulment, told AFP. 

A joint legal document signed by both Rakesh and Laxmi made it official and provided a road map for other young brides to do the same.

"Now I am mentally relaxed and my family members are also with me," said Laxmi, who beamed as she held up the document for photographers. She plans to continue her education in hopes of landing a job so she can maintain her independence. But Laxmi's newfound freedom comes with risk.

In India, where an estimated 50 percent of girls are married before they're 18, opponents of arranged child marriages can face serious threats, including gang rape, beatings and maiming. On the same day as Laxmi's annulment became official, protesters trying to stop a mass child wedding in Rajasthan were attacked and injured by villagers. When a 13-year-old refused to wed her arranged husband in 2009, her parents withheld her food for two weeks. Amazingly, the young girl prevailed and gained international attention and support for her stance. This week Laxmi moved the needle even further; hers is the first legally-binding child marriage annulment in India's history. 

Child marriages are a worldwide phenomenon, particularly in rural areas with high poverty rates and closely-guarded ancient traditions. In parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, The Middle East and even the U.S. underage children are forced into marriages at the behest of their families. In recent years, American officials have cracked down on fundamentalist polygamist sects in Utah and Texasknown to pair adult grooms with child brides. Other countries provide less legal clout needed to protect young girls. In Yemen where, there is no punishment for families who marry off an underage daughter, about half the country's brides are under 15. In Saudi Arabia, there is no minimum age for marriage at all. An 8-year old girl found this out in 2009, when the Saudi courts denied her annulment request. At the time, her husband was 58.


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Warning: "Comfortable " Spring Shoes Can Be Bad for Your Feet

By The Editors at RealAge | Healthy Living – Sat, 21 Apr, 2012 

By Deborah Wilburn

Those fancy flip-flops might be hurting your feet.

Spring is here, and so are chic ballet flats, flip-flops, and sky-high platform sandals. They're comfortable shoes, and trendy, too, but are they good for your feet?
Not so much, says Dawn Olsen Figlo, MD, a certified foot surgeon in New York City. Even though many women think flats are a foot-friendly alternative, "ballet slippers are the worst shoe anyone can wear," she says. "There's no support whatsoever and the ankle can turn in too much or turn out."

Easy fix for foot pain

Does that rule out flip-flops, too? "It's not great to be in a super-flat shoe," says Figlo. "It overstretches the plantar fascia -- the tissue that covers the bottom of the foot -- and can cause plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of that tissue." In terms of flip-flops, "the cheap ones with a flimsy strap and no support throw your body off [balance]," she says. Your toes need to grip the shoe in order to keep it on, which strains your foot.
Her recommendation for footwear that won't hurt your feet? Anything with a heel no higher than 2 inches. "If you must wear heels, alternate them each day with a lower shoe with a little arch that provides support," says Figlo.

Destress with a soothing foot massage
Trendy shoes that Figlo does like? Platforms. "You do lose some stability, but as far as the foot biomechanics go, they're not so bad because the front of the foot is lifted as well."
Shoes on her forever thumbs-down list? "Pointy-toed shoes are horrible," Figlo declares. Whether they're high-heeled or low, pointy-toed shoes cause toes to curl in, which leads to painful (and unattractive) bunions and hammertoes.

Find the best walking shoe
One final footwear tip: Spray your shoes daily with antifungal spray. "There's a high incidence of athlete's foot infections in the summer since you're sweating in your shoes and not wearing socks," Figlo says. "Fungus thrives in dark, moist environments. " And for the pedicure-obsessed: "Don't fool with the cuticle. It's the seal that protects the toes from fungus and bacteria. If you break that seal you expose your feet to toe nail fungus and other problems." 

The Most Overlooked Foods for Weight Loss

http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/the-most-overlooked-foods-for-weight-loss.html
Shape – Thu, 19 Apr, 2012 11:56 AM EDT

These high-fiber foods are packed with nutrients and bursting with flavor. Add them to your diet today!

Artichokes
1. Artichokes: 8 g fiber | 87 calories

Frozen artichokes have nearly as much fiber as fresh ones.

Love stuffed artichokes? Slim them down with this recipe for skinny stuffed artichokes.
RELATED: The 10 Best Ways to Eat Your Leftovers

Raspberries

2. Raspberries: 
8 g fiber | 64 calories
These berries are high in cancer-fighting ellagic acid.
Add some fiber to dessert with these nectarine and raspberry sundaes.
Pumpkin


3. Pumpkin: 7 g fiber | 116 calories


Pumpkin is a rich source of alpha and beta carotene.
Don't know what to do with pumpkin besides carve it?
Try these tasty ideas for cooking with fresh pumpkin.

brussels sprouts

4. Brussels sprouts: 6 g fiber | 65 calories

Brussels sprouts have more protein than most veggies .

Don't think you like them? Think again-this recipe for braised Brussels sprouts in mustard sauce is flavorful and not at all bitter.

Kiwi


5. Kiwi: 5 g fiber | 110 calories

One kiwi provides 273 percent of your daily vitamin C needs.

Find out more reasons why kiwis are a better healthy snack than oranges.

RELATED: The Best Healthy Recipes from Around the World



Pears

6. Pears: 6 g fiber | 103 calories

Pears are high in soluble fiber , which lowers cholesterol.

Transgender man fights $3,400 hysterectomy bill

CBC – Mon, 23 Apr, 2012 

A transgender man in Nova Scotia has filed a human rights complaint after he was handed a $3,400 bill for a hysterectomy that he claims was medically necessary.

In an exclusive interview with the CBC, Jessiah MacDonald said the province's Medical Services Insurance is charging him for sexual reassignment surgery because it doesn't cover that operation.

MacDonald, 24, had the surgery in 2010. He insists in the time leading up to the operation that he was never told he would have to pay.

"I felt it was wrong because despite my gender, I still have pieces of my body and if a piece of my body gets sick, I expect it to be treated as any other piece."
Born Jessica MacDonald, Jessiah always felt different growing up. At 18, he told his family he wanted to be a man and started taking testosterone pills.
Medical problems began. MacDonald went to a gynecologist after experiencing abdominal pain.

"The gynecologist had mentioned during the consult that I had a small uterus and she could feel multiple polyps during the internal exam, and that was sufficient enough for her to suggest a hysterectomy. But there was no mention then that it was only if I was female. There was no mention in the nine months between that and the surgery date."
Several other women in his family, including his mother, had hysterectomies before they turned 30, MacDonald said.

"The gynecologist said I had two options to deal with the symptoms I was having. The first would be to take birth control to raise my estrogen levels but she ruled that out as an option because I take testosterone. I'm a man. And the second option was the abdominal hysterectomy, which was her suggestion."
In October 2010, MacDonald went to the IWK Health Centre in Halifax and had the operation.

He said after he woke up, his doctor gave him a bill for $3,400. He said he was stunned.
"I was fairly angry and I'm sure that was apparent as it was on my face. I'm fairly certain I started crying before they left the room and they couldn't have been in my room for more than 10 minutes tops. It was more like, 'Here's your bill, we'll help you pack your stuff … please get out.'"

A week later, MacDonald said he discovered that MSI considered his operation sexual reassignment surgery.

"Once I got back home, I ended up having to take the staples out myself because no one could guarantee that the followup care would be covered as well," he said.
MacDonald said it was never his intention to have a hysterectomy for sexual reassignment. Full reassignment involves a series of reconstructive surgeries.
MacDonald hired lawyer Kathryn Dumke, who is transgender herself, and filed a human rights complaint against MSI.

"I have never heard and I don't think anybody has ever heard of a case where a condition needed treatment and the treatment was denied because MSI questioned that it wasn't medically necessary," Dumke said.

MacDonald and Dumke want MSI to cover the surgery and change its policy so transgender people can have a hysterectomy if medically necessary.
"Someone's got to talk about it because if I don't stand up and say this is what happened to me and this is why it was wrong, then what if it happens to somebody else?" MacDonald said.
The case could be heard by a human rights tribunal if no agreement is reached. The two sides have communicated, Dumke said, but at this point it looks like the case will go to a hearing.
The Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness would not comment because the case is before the commission.

However, the department confirmed that this is the first time that a transgender person has complained about not being covered for a hysterectomy.
MacDonald's doctor is out of the country and was unavailable to comment.

http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/transgender-man-fights-hysterectomy-bill-103059137.html