Beauty and Health

Have you ever wondered where and when this needlework hobby started? According to the September 1997 newsletter of the Crochet Guild of America, a researcher theorized that the art of crochet could be traced as far back as 1500s in Italy. However, there is no solid evidence for this statement.

But even so, we can only imagine that this craft has been around for the longest time. And it has evolved from making only home décor works to stitching clothes and other fashion accessories as well.

Reminiscing Crocheting can let you do a lot of things. From small purses to jackets and sweaters, there are a lot of options to choose from. But there are probably some hobbyists that are looking for those old, classic patterns that can usually be seen during the early 1900s or even earlier. To help you in finding those hard-to-look for patterns, here are some resources that you can check out in the World Wide Web.

- Vintage Crochet Patterns. Tabitha Gibbons, the owner of this web site, offers several volumes of crochet patterns books. She sells a wide selection of vintage crochet patterns, from little doilies, rugs, afghans to bed covers and table cloths. By visiting her web site, one can fill out the name and email form to receive a free pattern book.

- Crochet Treasures. “Patterns from the past; Creating heirlooms for tomorrow…” This is the slogan of this web site with a collection of classic patterns. It is a member-based site that offers over 950 vintage patterns to its subscribers. For visitors, it also offers about 25 free vintage crochet patterns for personal use. However, it is not accepting new members at the moment until further notice by the owner.

- Celt’s Vintage Crochet. Yet another vintage crochet patterns site, this really has a wide variety of vintage patterns to choose from. And the best thing about this site is that all of these patterns are for free! It also showcases the owner’s finished projects, most of which are doilies and other table accessories.

- Soft Memories. This site brings you back to the past with its collection of more than a thousand vintage crochet patterns. The patterns are grouped in different categories – doilies, bed jackets and slippers, hanky edgings, potholders, ruffles and flowers, doll clothes, and other home décor pieces. All of these patterns can be viewed and printed out by subscribing to the site. There are also a few free patterns available for visitors to get a peak of what the site has to offer.

– Vintage Crochet Patterns e-book. This sort-of e-book contains 20 wonderful vintage patterns that are easy to crochet and can be hits in fairs and bazaars. Some examples of the patterns available are the crochet work bag, beaded doily, and the wedding ring bedspread. This is a portable document file (pdf) that can be downloaded for free from Crochet and Knitting web site.

- 1800’s to Early 1900’s Vintage Pattern Links. This site, authored by a lady named Martha who is also known as StarGazer, has several links to patterns that were designed way back 1800s up to 1930s. These patterns can be accessed for free. The site also has links to other web sites that offer vintage crochet patterns.

- Antique Crochet Patterns. This section in the web site Knitting-Crochet has almost a hundred of vintage patterns categorized into baby pieces, men’s or ladies’ wear, slippers, tablecloth, doily, and many others. It also offers to convert your knitting patterns to crochet and vice versa. Best of all, these patterns are free to access and print for personal use!

- Antique Crochet Patterns. This one is different from the site above as this is the web site name itself, not just a section. This site offers vintage crochet patterns from 1850s to 1950s and all of these are baby items such as bonnet, booties, hat, jumper, afghan, and a lot more. It also provides free lesson for the wannabes and beginners of this needlecraft.

These are just a few of the tons of resources you can find online that offers hard-to-find vintage patterns. Whether free or fee-based, these sites and resources can surely take you back in time with the wonderful, classical patterns that they offer.

(ArticlesBase ID #1259627)

View dog pictures and pictures of dogs at the Dog Trainer site.

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We all know that America is facing an “obesity epidemic” and most of us want to lose weight at some point or another.  The fact is that weight loss is difficult, and keeping it off can be just as challenging.  There are a number of things you can do to achieve a healthier lifestyle that will help promote weight loss.

Understand Portion Control
There is no way to ignore it; we eat too much.  Even healthy foods become problematic if overeaten.  Fortunately it is harder to eat huge quantities of broccoli than potato chips, but still, understanding how much to eat of each food is critical.  It is easy to find numerous dietary sites online that can help you understand proper portions, but here are a few basics.

For meat, a card deck is the right size.  If you don’t have a deck handy, 3 ounces, the recommended size, is about the size of your palm, no fingers.  Vegetables, you get about 1 cup, which is the size of a baseball.  Fruit, ½ a cup is the right size, and that is half a baseball.  The same is true for pastas and rice.  One serving of cheese is the size of 4 dice.  Oils, and they should be heart healthy, think of the size of a poker chip, and peanut butter, which is great to fill you up, the size of a golf ball is one serving.  Waffles and pancakes should be no larger than a CD, and one is a serving.

As you can see, most of us eat way too much in any given meal.  Most places serve three pancakes, and they are considerably larger than a CD.  If you go out to eat a lot, the best way to control portions is to share with a companion or, before you begin to eat, ask for a box and put half of your meal away.  It is harder to be tempted by food that is already out of sight.  Where possible ask for whole grain products and substitute starches for vegetables.  Choose steamed or broiled over fried and sautéed.

The Role of Exercise
Not everyone has the time to set aside an hour to exercise every day.  Still, there are ways to sneak exercise into your day that takes only a few minutes here and there, and still add up.  We all know the tricks like taking the stairs, or parking your car further from the entrance, but did you know that just 30 minutes of walking a day can help you keep your weight in check and even encourage weight loss?  Of course if you are serious about wanting to add regular exercise to your lifestyle, the place to start is the doctor’s office.

If you are already quite overweight you want to have your doctor give you the once over before starting a regular exercise program.  Once you have the green light you have some choices to make.  Joining a gym is a great way to incorporate exercise into your life, IF YOU GO.  For many people it is very intimidating to step into a gym where so many of the people already look fit.  If you are one of those, check out a variety of local gyms before you sign up.  The closer a gym is to your home the more likely you are to use it.  Most gyms have personal trainers, and purchasing a few sessions with one, especially if you are not familiar with the equipment, is a good investment.  Getting a work out buddy who holds you accountable also increases your compliance with an exercise program.

(ArticlesBase ID #1263151)

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For more info, go to www.Arizona.HealthSourceChiro.com/City/Glendale

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/chiropractor-glendale-az-choosing-a-lifestyle-that-promote-weight-loss-1263151.html

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The benefits of fish oil are tremendous. All refined omega-3 fish oil have been shown to help with a myriad of different ailments, such as diabetes, allergies, brain function, skin problems, stomach problems, cancer, and eye problems.

There are many more benefits of fish oil that I can even mention here. All of these benefits have been proven by proper scientific research to be true. Refined fish oil is also an excellent memory booster and helps improve your cognitive abilities today and in the future.

Even pregnant women are being recommended to take fish oil capsules, because it helps babies develop and grow better. Omega-3’s are essential for brain development. Studies have shown that women experience lower and lower DHA’s levels with each pregnancy that they have, which is why they should be supplementing with a high-quality product to ensure their baby’s health.

I personally have been using an fish oil supplements for many years and the benefits for me have been tremendous. The thing you have to remember is to look for products that have been proven to be pure, high quality and effective.

There are a lot of products out there that aren’t the best, but I don’t want that to scare you away, because the benefits of fish oil are so huge that anyone who doesn’t take them is crazy. The two biggest impacts on my health (excluding diet and exercise) have been taking a high-quality multivitamin and an omega-3 supplement.

It is no wonder that more and more people are looking for the benefits of fish oil and high quality, pure nutritional supplements. Finding the best fish oil products is easy when you know what to look for, I spent many years researching and using natural supplements, and I know firsthand the positive effects it can have on the human body.

(ArticlesBase ID #1236842)

Henri K. Junttila is a health researcher, and believer of using the best natural options to stay healthy and young. Visit his website http://www.fish-oil-advice.com/ today to learn more about the powerful benefits of fish oil.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/the-powerful-benefits-of-fish-oil-learn-how-omega3-fats-can-change-your-life-for-the-better-1236842.html

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From dermabrasion, chemical peels to photofacial, microdermabrasion skin care has become one of the best and popular cosmetic skin  rejuvenation procedure. Sometimes known as microderm in short, this procedure gently peel off our top layer of dead skin cells by blasting microcrystals on our skin. Next, the crystals and dead skin debris are then removed off from the skin with the microdermabrasion machine vacuuming effect. Once the top layer of dull and dry skin are removed, our new skin underneath has beautiful skin tone and smooth texture. In fact, microdermabrasion skin care has been proven effective in reducing fine lines, wrinkles and in promoting collagen production and new skin cells regeneration.

So do I still need to take care of my skin after the treatment?
The answer is “YES”! Our skin is the largest living and breathing organ of our body. Besides, it protects the “inside” of our body from external environment and eliminates toxins from our body in the form of perspiration. Another function of the skin is that it regulates our body temperature. Of course, there are many other functions performed by our skin on a daily and continuous basis. Hence, even microdermabrasion skin care can help eliminate some of your skin problems, it does not meant to be a form of elixir for your skin.

Usually the first few days after the microdermabrasion skin care treatments, your skin becomes very sensitive to the external environment and you may even experience dryness and itchiness at the same time. Therefore, it is very important to have a sound and basic skin care regime to protect your new skin. Besides, if on-going skin care is done along with microdermabrasion, the results will be even more fantastic!

To many women, microdermabrasion skin care means time consuming and complicated. However, this is not true! The daily 4-step skin care regime tips provides a step by step guide to proper skin care. It is also very important to know your skin type as this will dictate how you should care for your skin.

Cleansing Tips

Make sure you removes your makeup with a proper makeup remover. You have to determine your skin type and get a good cleanser that your skin reacts well. Besides, you have to find the correct oil mix so as not to clog or dry your skin. Only cleanse your skin at night and splash your skin in the morning with lukewarm water to remove excess oils. Avoid washing your face with hot or cold water as this can cause broken capillaries.

To loosen the dirt or clogged pores, the best way is to wash your face with warm water. Just apply a amount of the cleanser before rinsing with lukewarm water.

Exfoliating Tips

An important step in skin care but yet most women will skip this step in their skin care routine. Get a microdermabrasion cream or kit and exfoliate your skin at least once a week. Scrubbing helps to remove the top layer of dead skin cells and keeps your skin smooth and glowing. Always use a gentle scrub for application so as to avoid tearing of the skin.

Moisturizing Tips

Moisturizing is a basic principle of beauty. No matter which skin types you belong to, you must moisturize your skin. However, try not to overdo it as this can clog pores.

Applying Sunscreen Tips

Sunscreen is the last and most important step in your skin care routine. When you are going outdoor, you want to make sure that you use sunscreen to block the harmful rays of the sun from destroying your skin. Apply anti-aging sunscreen to your skin every morning. Ensure that the sunscreen that you used contains one of the following active ingredients – zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or Parsol 1789 (avobenzene). Avoid using moisturizers with sunscreen at night and you should use sunscreen even on cloudy days.

Additional Tips For Healthy Skin
You should take Vitamin C on a regular basis as it enhances the rate of collagen production. Besides, Vitamin C regenerates Vitamin E in the skin that provides sustained antioxidant protection in the skin’s elastic fibers. Lastly, try to avoid smoke-filled rooms as much as possible because smoke can damaged your healthy skin too.

(ArticlesBase ID #1234919)

Are you troubled over your adult acne or rough skin just like many other women? Find out how microdermabrasion chemical peel has helped many women in eliminating these problems. If you are unsure of this treatment, arrange for a professional consultation. With the professional expertise,they will be able to offer you the best advice and ultimate microdermabrasion treatments experience based on your skin care needs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/microdermabrasion-skin-care-tips-on-beauty-skin-care-1234919.html

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A  Breakthrough in Natural and Safe Menopause Management

By Dr Nyjon Eccles BSc MBBS MRCP PhD

Menopause indicates the end of reproductive capacity of women and arises from the cessation of ovary function. Menopause is a gradual process that occurs for most women between the ages of 47 and 55 years. It is confirmed by absence of menstrual periods for 12 consecutive months.

The period of hormonal change lasts about 6 years. Menopause may be accompanied by hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, fatigue, poor concentration and memory, weight gain, irritability, mood disturbances, dry skin and vaginal dryness leading to painful sexual intercourse. There may be a lowering of self esteem which leads to poor psychological health.  In the region of 10% to 15% of women have severe symptoms. Menopause occurs at a challenging time for many women – when they may need to consider elder care, increasing job responsibility, chronic illness, teenage children, ‘empty nest’ syndrome. Menopause often attracts stereotypical, largely negative responses and is not well understood. Women are often reluctant to disclose this problem to colleagues. Menopause is not an illness and perhaps this is the reason why menopause symptoms are not taken so seriously  by a Medical profession trained and focussed on treating diseases.  Sufferers are often criticised, ridiculed and suffer harassment when the subject is broached.

The specific symptoms associated with menopause vary among cultures, race/ethnicity, social groups, and persons. Symptoms, such as hot flashes, are known to be associated with variable and lower estrogen levels as women go through the menopause although the decreased estrogen theory fails to explain why some regularly menstruating women experience hot flashes or why hot flashes are not experienced by all peri-menopausal or post-menopausal women. Menopause can be a challenging stage of life. Hot flashes are associated with a decreased quality of life and are a primary reason that midlife women seek medical care. According to a recent Gallup Poll, 80 percent of menopausal, post menopausal or surgically-induced menopausal women reported having some symptoms of menopause. Among the women who had symptoms, the most common were: hot flashes (72%), irregular periods (50%), emotional responses (49%), changes in sexual relationship (31%)

There is strong evidence from randomized controlled trials that estrogen therapy is highly effective in controlling vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and also urinary symptoms. The benefits of HRT to prevent osteoporosis appear to be confined to current or recent users, and it is unlikely that taking estrogen therapy in the first decade after the menopause protects against fractures later in life (median age of hip fracture is 80 years). The use of HRT to control menopause symptoms is not without risk. There are definite increased risks of venous thrombosis and endometrial cancer and probable increased risks of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Contrary to earlier belief, it is uncertain whether HRT has any protective effects against cardiovascular disease or cognitive decline.

It is understandable given the reported side effects and less-proven benefits than previously reported, that there has been more reluctance recently on the part of women to take HRT and more caution on the part of doctors to issue it as freely.

A previous double blind placebo-controlled study reported that the static magnetic device called LadyCare, that is attached to the under garment over the pelvic region, significantly reduced dysmenorrhoea (period pain) in women (Eccles, 2005). Anecdotal reports from women wearing the LadyCare device also suggested that their menopause symptoms were significantly improved without any side effects.  A large survey of 508 women, to more formally assess this reported effect in a wider population of women who had menopause symptoms demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in most of 23 menopause symptoms that were assessed. No side effects whatsoever were reported. A summary of these findings is shown in the figures below.

“Results were significant – up to 67% less”

Bloating

Mood swings

Marked fatigue

Trouble sleeping

Muscle soreness

Loss of libido

Lapses in memory

Hot flashes

Indigestion

“ Faced with the potential dangers associated with taking HRT and particularly when there is little in the way of alternative options for treatment of menopause symptoms available from the doctor, I believe, on the basis of the results observed so far with LadyCare, that this may represent a breakthrough in menopause management. It is certainly makes sense to try a simple inexpensive device like this as a natural and non-invasive form of symptom relief. Not least important….it appears to be completely safe and free from untoward effects”

For more information please see: http://www.ladycareusa.com

Dr Nyjon Eccles BSc MBBS MRCP PhD

(ArticlesBase ID #1234198)

http://www.ladycareusa.com
1-800-771-1392

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/a-breakthrough-in-natural-and-safe-menopause-management-1234198.html

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While insomnia is extremely frustrating for people affected by it, the deep consequences are often less obvious until properties experience reached chronic stages. Not going to get a sufficient amount of sleep is a good deal more as opposed to easily an annoyance, it could be very risky for your health.

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Insomnia is caused by many things, some of them potentially dangerous to your health on their own. Some of the more common factors contributing to insomnia are stress and anxiety, caffeine, cigarettes or alcohol, or physical disturbances such as too much noise or light. Pregnancy, menopause or sleep apnea are also potential causes.

Sleep is very important, because during the deep stages is when our body heals and maintains itself. If we are not well rested, we can experience a lot of problems functioning properly the next day. This can lead to problems at work or in relationships, because the insomnia sufferer may find themselves unable to keep their emotions in check or focus on the task at hand.

In addition, it has been determined that driving while tired is potentially more dangerous than driving while drunk! On the topic of health, the lack of deep sleep caused by insomnia also lowers the immune system, making us more likely to get sick. Without being able to relax at night, individuals with insomnia can also experience high blood pressure. Along with making it even more difficult to calm down and reduce anxiety, this could end up in a heart attack or stroke further down the line.

These are only some of the ways in which insomnia is destroying your health, and these are along with the usual headaches and other aches and pains that you’ll be experiencing.

When faced with trying to cure their insomnia, many people turn to sleeping pills before they’ve given more natural approaches a try. This is because medication is a quick, easy fix with a promise of immediate results. However, taking these medications can lead to more health problems, so it is highly recommended that you try more natural methods first, and only use sleeping pills under the supervision of a health professional.

Sleep is so important, and insomnia is a devastating ailment that can destroy the sufferer’s health and quality of life.

By: Apple Lim

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Apple is a Health Advisor, passionate about solving people’s daily sleeping problems. You can get your
FREE Insomnia Cure Tips now.

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