Health and Home Pages' New Badge

I've decided to take a pause from my school projects and fix this blog's 125x125 badge. I guess this is my third time to change it, not sure though.

Anyway, since I've changed this blog's title, header and title, I might as well change the 125x125 banner (I thought). So here's my new banner now:

Hmm.. I believe I did a good job with this one. Could have been a lot better but my tiny brain can only come up with this design.

Have a great day everyone!

Stretch Marks

Many women (and men as well) suffer from stretch mark problems. So, if you have this annoying presence in your skin, you are not alone. Most try everything to eradicate them. They buy products which they believe can help them eliminate the issue.

There are many preparations in the market today promising positive and effective results against stretch marks. But are these products real? The truth is, most are ineffective and are even costly.

Let's first know a little about stretch marks.

Our normal skin is made up of collagen and elastin fiber. The protein in our skin which allows it to stretch and recoil back is what we call elastin. When the skin is stretched beyond it's elasticity, elastin fibers are destroyed thus resulting to the "scars" or stretch marks.

Stretch marks commonly occur on the breasts, butt, hips, thighs and the abdomen and are mostly due to pregnancy.

Many physicians and midwives suggest the use of cocoa butter to avoid having these scars. However, in recent scientific studies, applying cocoa butter during pregnancy does not stop the development of stretch marks.

Moisturizing creams can help in keeping the skin soft but can not prevent stretch marks.

There are some complementary therapists who are suggesting that rubbing vitamin E oil onto the stretch marks will eliminate them. Truth is, it can only minimize the size of the "scar" but not eliminate it.
There are those who believe that tanning their skins with tanning sprays and lotions will solve their problems by covering the stretch marks. These rarely helps because "scars" are less likely to tan.

The best way in getting rid of these annoying marks is through the help of dermatologists or a plastic surgeon. These doctors have proven methods in taking away the "scar" effectively. Two most common technical approaches are microdermabrasion and laser treatment. These methods help to minimize stretch marks but are not recommended to teenagers due to the fact that their skin is still growing and that the "scar" they have have a greater percentage of diminishing through the years.

The above choice is truly expensive. So if you can't afford it, try buying Retin-A creams (or other brands available in your area). Retin-A is generically known as tretinoin (or retinoic acid). This product is able to reduce the inflammation and improve skin texture. It helps in remodeling the collagen and elastin in our skin therefore, minimizing the appearance of stretch marks. Research says that after 2 years of continued use, the abnormal cells mostly return to normal.

One more thing, remember that too much sun exposure destroys the collagen which makes it more difficult for the skin to get rid of stretch marks. So, as much as possible, avoid sun exposure or atleast use lotions with a high level of SPF (sun protection factor).

Dental Implants

I don't have a perfect smile and I am not proud of it. I have problems with my two front teeth. The one on the right is just a jacket while the other one on the left is retained by a filling.

I am pondering about some probable solutions which might help me smile confidently again. When I left the Philippines in June 2007, I've heard a lot about dental implants mostly from celebrities who had undergone the procedure. So, I decided that one day, when I finally can afford to have dental implants, I will then be looking for a great dental surgeon to conduct the operation and reconstruction of my teeth.

Anyway, a dental implant is an artificial tooth root replacement. It can provide a person a permanent solution for his/her tooth (or teeth) problems. The most common implant is consist of custom made titanium screws that is placed into the jaw bone. The screw helps to firmly hold the new tooth in place. After the implant restoration, the tooth will look completely natural.

The healing process of the implant takes several months. Most people who went through the process say that the treatment process is tiresome and long but is worth it (moneywise, too).

As of the present, it is said that dental implant is the most recommended and best treatment choice in replacing a missing tooth. It is more comfortable for the patients knowing that the new tooth is stable and strong which can be immediately used for chewing.

Prices differ from country to country. As of now, a single tooth or crown costs between 2,000 to 2,800 british pounds and around 1,500 US dollars.

So, before I am able to have my smile perfected, I need to work more and save more. No matter what the cost maybe, my decision's fixed. I will be having dental implants one day.

Eat More Without the Guilt

Trying to eat less to lose a few pounds? It's not always the name of the game. Sometimes, one can eat more without the guilt.

Let's start by swapping our favorite drinks. You can have a creamy frozen capuccino which contains 439 calories. But you can choose to have a glass of dry white wine, 10 pieces of tortilla chips and 2 tbsp of salsa. All these combined only contains 315 calories.

Why? Frozen coffees and even other shakes are mostly packed with sugar and calories.

In love with salad? T.G.I. Friday's Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad is a common favorite and contains 750grms calorie and 50grms of fat. Instead of having this, you can choose to have 5oz of lean grilled fillet steak, spinach, a medium baked potato with 1tbsp of butter and 5 large prawns (yummy!) with cocktail sauce. Contains 560 calories and 16grms fat in total.

Why? Most of the time, salads are covered with a fatty, creamy dressing.

Cakes... who does not want to have a slice of it? A regular sized-chocolate cupcake contains 780 calories and 36grms fat. Forget about it. Instead, have a regular slice of lemon sponge cake, a smoothie, two scoops of low fat frozen yogurt and a banana with a total calorie of 609 and a total fat of 18grms.

Why? It's okey to have a sweet tooth but choose a low-fat piece of cake so you can enjoy in additional treats for almost the same amount of calories.

Pizza. I consider this as one of the most irresistible dine-in and take-away favorites. 2 slices of a regular-crust pepperoni pizza contains 700 calories and 29grms fat. If you trade this with 2 slices of thin-crust cheese pizza topped with vegetables, a side salad with low-fat balsamic or vinegar dressing, 2 medium sized chocolate chip cookies plus a glass of diet soda, you'll just be taking in 685 calories and 29grms fat.

Why? Right toppings for pizzas are important. A thin crust pizza will give your stomach more room for a drink and dessert.

So, go eat without the guilt!

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)

Everyday, we tend to eat anything that crosses our minds... or could be... eat that's anything available in the kitchen. I am like that most of the time (and that's my confession for today).

Thinking about it, I should start really thinking about what's necessary for me to feed my whole system. In order to do this, I need to know about my essential daily food fuel (RDA).

Here are are the stuffs I should be eating everyday... without the guilt:

1. Fat Yes, I typed it right... fat. - Even if fats have a negative reputation for causing weight gain, there are still some fats which are considered necessary for our daily survival. According to experts, it is recommended for us to reduce fat to no more than 30% of total calories. It is said to be more or less 70grms of fat (does include unsaturated, saturated and trans fats).

2. Saturated fat. One should have a maximum of 20grams of saturated fat per day. This includes no more than 4.5grms of trans fats.

3. Salt. Salt aides in maintaining the fluid in our blood cells. It also helps in the transmission of information in our nerves and muscles. Our body cannot manufacture salt on it's own so we should ensure to get the required intake. RDA of salt 6grms and maximum of 9.5grms.

4. Iron. Iron is important in transporting oxygen in our tissues. It is recommended for women to take 15mg of iron per day and 11mg per day for men.

5. Calcium. Calcium's purpose in our body is to work with magnesium and phosphorus for building for building bones and maintaining them strong. It is also important in the metabolism of vitamin D. For women aged 19 to 24, it is recommended to to take 1,200mg of Calcium per day and for women above 24, it's 800mg per day.

6. Protein. As most of us know, protein is one of the basic building blocks of our body. It influences our strength due to the fact that our muscles are built with protein. RDA of protein is 50grms in a day.

7. Calories. Scared of calories? Me, too. But here's something we should know about it: calories are equivalent to the amount of energy unit present in the food that we take in our body. The energy we get from it allows us to perform better in our daily activities. RDA for women between 23 to 50 years old should be 2,200 per day.

8. Fibre. Fibre does not provide us with energy but helps a lot in our body's digestion process. Recommended daily intake is 20grms to 30grms. An apple is said to give us approximately 3.6grms of fibre. This means that we should eat lots of it in a day.

Just eat right! No guilt needed.

Garnier Skin Naturals Fresh

Living in the Philippines for 28 years, I already had my specific brand for my skin care products. Products that won't cause me side effects... brands which were already compatible for my skin type.

Realizing that my favorite moisturizing facial cream isn't available here in Sweden, I decided to try products which might suite my skin type.

I started with two well known brands (I used one after the other which I decided not to mention here). Acne started sprouting out my skin after a few weeks. Both gave me those skin inflammations on my skin which is reason enough to stop patronizing the products.

I one day flipped through a page in a magazine showing a pretty face promoting a moisturizing cream that wasn't so familiar to me (the brand's not available in my native land). So, I started googling about it. My boyfriend actually helped me read the reviews about the product. After a short talk, we decided to go out and buy one for me.

The product that I am talking about by the way is Garnier Naturals Fresh (24 hour daily moisturizer).Skeptical at first, I tried the product on the skin abound my ears. Days later, I noticed that my skin became smoother and moisturized without the greasy after feel and irritations.

It has a fruity aroma which I truly love.

It is affordable and are widely contributed in health markets these days.

The product contains 50mL of the cream and last for 2 to 3 months with the morning and night daily routine application.

Say: Highly recommended.

My Five Simple Steps for a Healthier Skin

We all want to have great skin but have difficulties reaching our goals.

I am not an expert and I don't have a perfect skin. But I can say, I am happy to have a healthy skin that shows!

Anyway, here are my five rules into achieving a healthy glowing skin:

1. Eat a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables. You will surely feel pretty inside out. It is said that a healthy diet is low in fructose with a balanced consumption of protein and carbohydrates. You can of course eat pork but at least lessen it's presence in your daily meals.

2. Don't smoke (if you are, at least try to quit or lessen the number of sticks per day) and please don't drink too much. It was proven long time ago in studies that smoking damages the skin resulting to wrinkle, especially those around the mouth and eyes. It impairs wound healing, collagen formation and it causes damage to the small blood vessels in the skin.
Too much alcohol intake increases formation of small red facial veins thus contributing to the negative changes in the skin. So, just try to drink occasionally.

3. It might be greasy but sunscreen (sunblock lotions) really help a lot in keeping the skin younger. We all know that exposure to the sun ages the skin. So, if you cannot avoid going out in the sun, atleast, put on your favorite sunscreen. I use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30. I do apply it on my face, too. Do wear sunglasses as well to prevent developing wrinkles along the eyes later on.

4. To improve blood circulation, help maintain muscle mass (or improve them) and boost metabolism, try exercising. If you feel bored doing it at home, enroll yourself to a gym. They have really good and tested steps for you to meet your goal. If you can't afford it, take a walk everyday for at least half an hour. It is time consuming but it is one effective way in boosting a healthy appearance.

5... and not the least, always make it a habit to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to promote hydration. This is really vital for your overall health.

Of course, don't forget to get enough sleep. Study says that one should atleast get 8 hours a day of sleep at night. One more tip: when sleeping, avoid sleeping on your belly to keep sleep lines away from your face.

Not so difficult, huh? But are really effective ways of improving the glow and health of your skin.

Try them!

Wax Miracle by Veet

It is obvious that most women these days want to have silky smooth legs everyday. We go crazy thinking about which methods are best for us - we can shave, wax or even have them lasered away.

I personally don't have much problems about my legs. I don't have thick long hair but still I wanna have a silky and gorgeous pair of legs.

So, I gave it a go with the help of Veet.

I admit, I wasn't really prepared to choose the waxing procedure because I know the pain I am expected to go through. But I did give it a go anyway.

I did not have much problems using the product at all. It's so easy (but a bit painful), quick and really effective. I simply warmed the strips in the palm of my hands then smoothed the strips onto my skin. I then quickly pulled the strip back against the direction of hair growth. As a beginner, it was painful. I did this not smiling (unlike those girls you see in Veet commercials), I was in tears!

I did not regret using it. In fact, I will be doing it again when needed. I noticed that my skin stays smoother and softer than before. It exfoliates beautifully ensuring that the skin is gorgeous after the procedure.

Say: Recommended! There's also Veet for men in stores today. Have a happy time "velveting" your skin!

Reduce Sweet Cravings with Chromium (Prochrome)

I usually cannot say no to chocolates, ice cream, colas, cakes. I mean, why avoid them? They really are delicious and are supposed to be eaten in the first place anyway.

There are days when I just sit infront of the telly (or this laptop) enjoying my favorites "sweets" without realizing that i've eaten so much already. I don't care at all really. I don't get fat (and I am thankful about that). So, why bother?

It's actually my dad who reminds me all the time to cut down my intake of sugar. Reason to this is, most of our relatives (on my father side) suffer from diabetes. Which means, I am supposed to really slow down in eating my favorite sweet stuffs starting now (?) or else I will end up having this very expensive disease in the future as well.

So, what I did was, I looked for a certain product which would help me lessen my cravings for the sweet treats. I was able to find one which was really cheap in a health store and so, I did not hesitate to buy the preparation at once.

I am talking about Chromium. Yup. You've read it right. Anyway, the brand name for this preparation which is available here in Sweden is "Prochrome". It contains 90 tablets which contains 200 mcg of chrome (per tab) and costs 82 Swedish kronor (around 11 US dollars). Recommended intake is only a tablet per day. Which means, that a box lasts up to 3 months of continued use. So, I believe that the price is just right.

Chromium is a natural substance in our bodies. Studies showed that we only have around 30mch or chromium present in our systems per day. The daily dose required is not fixed or established but it's supposed to be between 50 to 200 mcg for us to be not so "sweet" dependent.

In medicine, chromium is used as a dietary supplement or as a slimming aid. Chrome can aid in stabilizing our blood sugar percentage. Blood sugar won't sink that much and that quick by using this product. It will just keep it in the normal range while helping us lessen our cravings for sweets. Therefore, less sweets-better weight, better health.

Say: I highly recommended this product to those who want to minimize their sweet cravings. I did not really stop eating chocolates, cakes, ice creams or drinking colas. But I am not as crazy now with those stuffs just like before. I can now survive a day without eating chocolates and other sweet delicacies. Really worth it!

Sleep Pillow Mist By Boots

Having problems sleeping? Tried lots of sleeping pills but still you find yourself just rolling on your bed? Scared to try those sleeping pills because of their possible side effects? You already feel sleepy and tired and still fully awake until 1, 2 or 3 in the morning?

If you have these problems just like me (before), why not try this Sleep Pillow Mist Spray?

The product is consist of a specially formulated blend of esssential oils which encourages natural sleep patterns. It contains lavender, basil and orange blossom. In studies (especially studies conducted on lavender effects on our body), the combination of these three helps calm the mind and helps you to fall asleep naturally.

It is so easy to use. Just spray the mist on your pillow or even into the air inside your bedroom just before going to bed. The product's aroma will help you to relax and aids a peaceful night's sleep.

The product just like any others should be used with precaution. It's not supposed to be used by people who suffer from epilepsy, skin allergies or to those who are pregnant. If in case you really are interested in trying the product, try to seek professional help from your doctors first.

Product Contents: Alcohol, Aqua, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, Lavandula angustifolia (contains Linaloon, Geraniol and Limonene), Ocimum basilicum, Citrus amara and BHT.

This product is developed and produced by Boots Healthcare specialists.

Priced at around 15 to 18 US dollars in 100mL bottles.

This product really worked great for me. Highly recommended!

Living In YoVille

If you enjoy interacting with people (off- or online), you better join Facebook's YoVille. I am now one of the residents of this village since yesterday. Although I am still trying to learn everything to get around day after day, I am having a real good time in YoVille.

YoVille is a virtual community where you can live in your own apartment or later, own a house right next to the pretty beach of the village. You can design and decorate your own place, meet with up with your neighbors and spend some time with them. You can do fun stuff together such as send each other messages, dance, have a fun fight and many more.

This is YoVille

My Apartment's Living Room

My BedroomMy Kitchen

YoVille is complete with everything you need. You can find a beach resort, coffee shop, restaurant, shopping mall, gym, casino, nightclub, bank, realtor's office, speedway, a depot and many more just in your small vicinity. If you are interested to join the fun, come and be one of YoVille's residents!

If ever you are in town, don't forget to pay me a visit!

Organized Closet

We love fashion and clothing. We love to shop for these items which makes our bedrooms so chaotic. One way to solve this issue is to create a walk-in closet in your apartment or your house just right next to your bedroom. If you don't have enough space (like in the apartment we live in) you can either buy or build such wardrobes with inner shelving and compartments to help you organize your closet items.

See Through Shoe Boxes

Don't you just find it difficult and usually stressful to go through your shoes' boxes one by one until you find the pair you are looking for? I've been living here in Sweden since 29 June 2007 and since then, my pairs of shoes just keep on increasing in number. I guess (haven't counted them really recently) I already have 60 or more pairs and each are housed in their own boxes. Whenever I need to find a pair of shoes to wear for a certain day, I find my patience so little that I sometimes pick whatever box I first touch. It's nice to know that there are now see through shoe boxes which I can purchase either off- or online. This makes my everyday shoe search so much easier. My shoe racks (yes, I have many) now look a lot tidier than ever.

These see through boxes either come in sets of three or four and may cost from $15-25 (or more) per set. Reasonable, right?

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