How To Keep Cool In Summer

Cooling Vests will keep you cool, but different vests are suitable for different situations.

1.    Evaporative Cooling Vests are best suited for use outdoors, and on days when humidity is not too high. These vests work on accelerating your body's natural evaporative cooling. The vests are soaked in water. As the water evaporates your body temperature is reduced.

These vests are relatively effective. They are cheaper than other vests. Prices start at about $30.

On the downside, they are not suited to be worn underneath other clothing. This will slow down the evaporative effects. Your clothes will be wet after wearing these vests. Evaporative vests available at http://www.silvereagleoutfitters.com

2.    Phase change vests these vests use packs that you freeze. The pack is filled with a gel made of Hexadecane. The pack melts at 18 degrees. The high melting point is very effective at keeping your body temperature at a natural level. These vests are very effective indoors and outdoors. They do not really on evaporation to keep you cool so are fine to wear under clothes. You will stay dry.

The only problems with these vests are that they are expensive $180 plus. In addition to this, you will need two or three sets of packs to get you through the day costing around $100 plus per set. Phase change vests available at http://www.coolsport.net

3.    Personal Ice Cooling System (PICS) are the most effective by far. They are also the most expensive about $1800. They work by pumping iced water around a vest using a small pump. The pump is powered by rechargeable batteries. The water is cooled by ice packs. One of the advantages is that it uses regular ice in packs and as long as you can find a freezer or ice your in business.

These vests will keep you cool in any conditions. They are even used by the military. They are suited mainly for working environments in the heat. They require a type of back pack of tobe worn. This system weighs of approx 8lb. They are very effective though at keeping you cool in the heat. (PICS) available at http://www.technicalproductsinc.us/cool_system.html

4.    Cooling bandanas and neck ties use highly absorptive polymers that are sewn inside neckties and bandanas. When soaked in water they absorb water and swell up. They are then worn and help a little to keep you cool. They use evaporative cooling. They can also be placed in the refrigerator before use for added cooling. These products available at http://www.imcoolnow.com

5.    Lastly guys as simple as it may seem to try to have plenty of cold water handy. If you drink water before you start to become dehydrated you feel much better.

Nail Biting Basics

Nail biting in all its various forms is problematic behavior beset by peculiarity and contradiction. Technically speaking, the correct word for nail biting is ONYCHOPHAGIA.

Nail biting typically begins between the ages of five and 10 and is common among children as well as adults. As many as one in three Americans bite their nails.

One of the more noteworthy and generally surprising things about nail biting is its high instance. It crosses every social and economic barrier. Prevalence figures for children are much higher than for adults.

Results of nail biting can result in short, ragged nails. It may also lead to damaged cuticles as well as bleeding around the edges of the nails. Infections can also develop if nails are not properly attended to.

Most relevant studies have found that nail biting tends to peak out around puberty.

A study by Malon and Messmer studied the behavior in the Chicago school systems and reported that nail biting is prevalent in about 60 percent of children age eight to eleven.

Most people agree it is a learned habit, perhaps picked up by watching a parent or someone else biting their nails.

Nail biting is an extremely tough habit to break and treatment for it varies.

One possible solution is identifying the reason for nail biting. Avoidance or modification of these situations can be beneficial to the eventual elimination of the habit.

Improving self-esteem is also helpful when attempting to break the habit.

Products such as CONTROL-IT are available on the market and are designed to aid nail biters in breaking their habit. According to www.stopbitingnails.com, CONTROL-IT is a gentle and natural alternative to help prevent biting. A mild unpleasant taste helps to remind users to stop biting their nails.

A host of research efforts both in America and Europe sought to ascertain if in fact nail biting was linked to mental illness in one form or another. Most people would have anticipated they found a high prevalence of nail-biting among the mentally disordered; however, they found that nail biting, in and of itself, is not systematic of any form of mental disorder or maladjustment.

Nail biting crosses all national borders, genders, and both social and economic lines and may also originate from a primal need for self-grooming. It affects both the nails and the cuticles; with greater potential harm caused via infection to the cuticle and nail biting tends to be a private affair, and is a relatively isolated form of self-indulgence.

Nail biting may be treated addressing the symptom rather than the cause; it is a habit, not a disease.

20 Easy Ways to Beat Fatigue At the time of the Winter

AS Autumn with its breathless colors of flames and gold’s comes to an end, we await the arrival of Winter and its own definitive beauty.

Yes, there is no point kidding ourselves, it will be pretty damp and, at times, downright. It will be cold and chilly and for some, the task of dragging ourselves out of bed in the dark mornings will get more and more difficult. The glare of oncoming headlamps will play havoc with your eyes as you head homeward bound during the dark evenings in manic traffic. And as you reluctantly adjust to the shorter days and lack of natural daylight and sunlight, you are also faced with the fact that Christmas, and it's inevitable rush, is heading this way, as it always does, at full speed!

All the ingredients to ensure a good dose of winter fatigue I'm sure you'll agree - but help is at hand! It doesn't have to be unbearable. If you are feeling a little lackluster, yawning at a ferocious rate and basically have just about enough energy in the evenings to slump down on the sofa in front of the box, you'll be tickled pink you opened this page! You can bring back that 'joie de vivre' and add a little peppering of genuine verve back into your life by trying some (or indeed all) of these 20 simple ways to boost your energy levels this winter!

1.        SLEEP - Get as much sleep as you need to and remember your body really needs it at this time of year.

2.        VITAMINS - Supplements such as Vitamins A, B, and E are all important for well-being. If you want to avoid supplements, however, you can ensure that you eat the necessary foods containing these essentials. Try using 1 teaspoon of Brewers Yeast in a glass of milk or water, it's full of Vitamin B and good for digestion too.

3.        LAUGHTER - Bring on the laughter and smiles, it's the most natural way to help depression, anxiety and, believe it or not, it lowers blood pressure too!

4.        STRETCH - One really effective way to beat fatigue is to try a Yoga pose known as the 'Standing Stretch'. Stand in the correct posture, that is, with your toes pointed out in front of you, your knees relaxed and your feet at the hip distance. Ensure the weight is balanced evenly between the ball and the heel of your foot. Interlace your thumbs and stretch your hands up above your head while keeping your arms against your ears - and stretch upwards from the lumbar area of your lower back. Keeping your breath even throughout, now slowly release the arms down in front of you. Tuck your chin into your chest bone and gently lower yourself down, vertebrae by vertebrae keeping arms hanging loosely and then just hang from the waist. This position encourages the blood flow to the head and is a real winner when you need to energize yourself. After one minute slowly bring yourself back up into a standing position, imagining as you do so that each vertebra is stacking itself upon the next until you are eventually upright and repeat three times.

5.        DIET - Check your Diet and be sure over the winter months to include at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day.

6.        AROMATHERAPY - Use pure Essential Oils as often as you need them. Burning Peppermint or Rosemary oils is excellent for alertness and both also aid concentration. As these oils are energizing oils it is best not to use them in the evening if you are planning to have a good nights sleep.

7.        THE MAGIC OF WATER - Don't forget the recommended amount is approximately two liters per day.

8.        AVOID - toxic people because, quiet simply, they can completely drain you of energy.

9.        EXERCISE - Get plenty of exercises - There's no escaping it. The health gurus recommend that we all need to include at least 15 minutes exercise, three or four times a week.

10.    LEARN TO SAY 'NO' more often. As the old saying goes 'those that matter won't mind and those that mind doesn't matter'. You'll be amazed at how much energy you can recoup and even more amazed to discover that if you say 'no' the world will keep on turning.

11.    COMBAT PARTY NIGHTS - If you've had a late night on the Town try drinking at least two glasses of water before crawling up to bed, it will make the following day far more bearable.

12.    BREAKFAST - We've known from a very early age that we should never miss Breakfast. No matter how tight you are for time try not to skip it. For a quick energy-inducing breakfast grab a mug of hot water with honey and lemon and a quick bowl of cereal, ideally with fiber.

13.    REDUCE your intake of Caffeine. While it may give a quick boost, a lot of caffeine daily actually ends up having a negative effect on your energy level. You might even try substituting a couple of cups a day with a herbal tea, such as sage to raise spirits, peppermint to aid digestion or chamomile to enable you to unwind.

14.    LEARN - Meditation and Relaxation techniques - they'll be invaluable not just today but for life.

15.    MOTHER NATURE - Get out there and make the most of the short daylight hours. Overdose on fresh air. There is nothing more revitalizing than taking the time, even if it's only 15 minutes a day, to soak in our beautiful scenery and breathe in the fabulous scents of the season.

16.    MASSAGE - It's a wonderful way of keeping the immune system in ship shape order and the body supple and healthy. So go to invest in your health and schedule a massage once a month for optimum results.

17.    DIGESTION - Be kind to your digestive system. Eat slowly and avoid late night eating as much as possible.

18.    STRESS - Manage your stress levels and become aware of your react to stress. Remember stress is infectious!

19.    MANAGE TIME EFFECTIVELY - Avoid using up your lovely energy by rushing to every appointment. Aim to leave about fifteen minutes earlier, not only will you arrive in plenty of time - you'll be completely unfrazzled.

20.    CONSCIOUS BREATHING - Believe it or not most of us don't breathe properly. With the speed of modern day life, most adults are chest breathers which mean the breath doesn't make it right down into the abdomen. Become conscious of your breath each day by taking a little time to become aware of your breathing habits. The following short exercise will benefit you in many ways as well as help to re-energise your mind, body, and soul...Firstly r-e-l-a-x your entire body by taking a deep breath into your stomach. As you slowly release it imagine it traveling up along your spine, relaxing all the muscles as you go and bringing attention to the shoulders by consciously dropping them into a relaxed position. Follow your breath and think about bringing the breath down into the bottom of the lungs and really feel the tummy rising and then exhale fully and slowly. After just a few minutes resume your regular activities and feel the difference.

Now you'll be ready to welcome the coming months with open arms and revel in the wonderful delights this season has to offer to leave you invigorated and ready to enjoy this Winter. You won't know yourself - I promise!

Say Not to Smoking

Is there any adventure or fun in smoking? Absolutely not! Don't be fooled by the fun packed advertisements of the cigarette making companies. There is no "taste", no "fun" and no "adventure" in smoking cigarettes. These are just the slogans of the cigarette making companies which are multiplying their profits at the cost of the precious human lives.

The greedy multi-national multi-billion dollar cigarette manufacturers are killing people quietly without being noticed by anyone. According to the WHO report, every 6.5 seconds a person in the world dies prematurely due to cancer, heart attack, respiratory or some other kind of tobacco-related diseases. No doubt, the tobacco is the fourth most common risk factor for diseases worldwide.

If you are a smoker then think seriously for a moment and decide whether you are mentally OK. I very much doubt because you are spending money on the purchase of an item which is not only risking your life by unintentionally inviting numerous diseases to attack your body but also risking the lives of other people who are forced to inhale second-hand smoke, which is more dangerous than smoking. If you smoke inside your house then you also risk the life of your spouse and children. Is it a wise decision to keep on smoking?

Say no to smoking, if you want to live a normal healthy life free from diseases. Why not take a bold decision NOW and quit smoking immediately! Are you prepared to do so?

Tobacco use is going to kill nearly 10 million people each year, mostly in their productive middle ages. It is estimated that 75% of these deaths will occur in the developing countries mainly due to the high number of smokers and lack of medical facilities available there.

Due to lack of knowledge and education, the number of smokers in the developing countries and poor households is increasing at an alarming rate. The warning written on the cigarette packets is mostly ignored by the illiterate smokers. It is sad that the average amount spent by poor households on tobacco is nearly the same as the amount spent on education. A recent study in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has proved that the more people are educated, the less they smoke.

Your health is your best asset. Protect your life from painful tobacco-related diseases. Live a healthy and happy life and just say no to smoking.

Achieving Optimum Health

"Optimum health is not just the absence of disease but the presence of wellness in mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and social areas. Some would also include financial health."

Introduction

Optimum health is essential at all levels, from the individual to the society we live in the environment around us. We have to start thinking of wealth not just in terms of possession of money and properties but also the possession of mental, emotional, physical, social and spiritual well-being.

Mental Health

The truth is mind is the forerunner of all states.

With a proper mindset, a poor man can still be happy. Conversely, if the mindset is not right, no matter how much material possessions you may have, you may still be a very unhappy person. Thus, Gandhi said, "The world has enough for everyone's needs, but not enough for even a single person's greed."

So a healthy mind is one that possesses a mindset that can lead to happiness and contentment with self and the world around us. It provides clarity of thoughts, good insight and the ability to see things through an unbiased mind.

To be able to see things through an unbiased mind is no small feat. It is extremely difficult to note or observe the unfolding of events and phenomena without judging. We habitually associate emotions or feelings to events and allow such emotions to direct our actions. Our likes for certain things and dislikes for others are closely associated with our emotions.

Emotional Health

It is our emotions that lead us to act impulsively at times. Thus a high level of self-awareness in this area is extremely useful. In fact, it is essential to our well-being. After all, things and relationships that may take us years to build can be destroyed in a moment of anger.

There are positive and negative emotions. Positive emotions such as love, compassion and joy should be cultivated, while negative emotions such as fear, anger, and hate need to be eradicated.

When asked about this, a wise sage of India once illustrated with a story:

An old man said to his grandson, "Boy, I have two tigers caged within me. One is love and compassion. The other is fear and anger."

The young boy asked, "Which one will win, grandfather?"

The old man replied, "The one I feed."

At times, it may seem that we have no control over our emotions. This is not true. The truth is how well we manage our emotions depends on how aware we are of our emotions, particularly on the arising of our emotions. The earlier we are able to note the arising of our emotions, we better we can manage them.

More and more researchers are showing that our well-being is closely linked to our emotional and mental health. Our body's immune system is generally enhanced by positive mental outlook and emotion. Conversely, it is depressed by negative mental and emotional states. Thus, stress, worry, anger, and fear are some states that may lead to physical illnesses such as hypertension, cardiac diseases, peptic ulcers, depression and a host of other ailments.

Physical Health

To maintain an optimum physical well-being, therefore, requires us to focus not only on our body but also our mind and emotions.

On a physical level, our body can be kept healthy through adequate sleep and rest, proper nutrition, regular exercises and a healthy environment that is free from pollution.

Spiritual Health

Throughout the ages, wise men have consistently informed and taught us that we are essentially spiritual beings.

Although medical science has not been able to reveal to us our spiritual nature, there are much indirect evidence that we would be foolish to ignore. Stories from people who had gone through a near death experience (NDE), or dying people with heightened nearing death awareness, or simply a cure from an 'incurable' disease all suggest that there is more to life than just the physical state.

Major religions of the world all based their teachings on the belief that we are essentially spiritual beings. According to these teachings, our physical existence is secondary.

While it may be true that we should focus our life more on our spiritual nature than our physical nature, it would be difficult for the majority of people to do so, at least not immediately. Things cannot change overnight. Mindset, however, can, and that is perhaps the best place to start.

Financial Health

However, on a more mundane level, most people are still stuck on how to survive from day to day, where to get the next cheque to pay for the house installment, so on and so forth.

Practically, therefore, we need to look into ways to achieve a financial state that would theoretically free us from the constrain of 'forced' work. This is where the concept of financial freedom is so attractive. According to this concept, one should strive for a state where we have one or more than one source of income that can be generated passively, that is, even when we don't work.

This is what Robert Kiyosaki termed as 'passive income'.

According to him, passive income can only be achieved by becoming an investor or a business owner, not a sole proprietor or an employee. To become an investor or a business owner, you must spend the time and money to acquire financial intelligence. Unlike IQ or EQ, you can acquire financial intelligence through self-education.

To get a financial health check-up, consult an accountant, a banker or a financial planner you can trust.

Healthy Relationship

"No man is an island, entire by itself."

As a medical doctor, I am in a unique position to confront and comfort dying patients. One of the most important thing that I have observed is that dying people do not ask about their money or possessions. Instead, they focus their remaining energy and strength on trying to heal wounded relationships. It is as though there is an inherent need to get a proper closure to a relationship.

Thus, forming and cultivating a healthy relationship is important for our well-being. Unfortunately, this is something we often ignored until it is too late. If there is any forgiving to be done, or the need to be forgiven, leaving things to the last minutes may end up with an unfulfilled desire for a closure.

Knowing this now, shouldn't we spend more time and effort in improving our relationship with our loved ones, especially with our parents, spouse, children and siblings.