Age of Child

If your child is a newborn, you may only need a decent crib and changing table. Of course, there are many other pieces you can add to your child’s room, but you may want to consider whether or not your baby can grow with these units or if you will have to move them and add more appropriate pieces later on. A practical idea is to either only purchase what you actually need at the time of your newborn’s birth or to select furniture that either converts as your child grows older or that is made to accommodate children of various ages. A 4 in 1 crib is one item that many parents love because it will not only accommodate an infant but can be converted into a toddler bed later on and be used for several years before having to upgrade to an youth sized bed.

Quality of Furniture

Some parents are reticent to spend a lot of money when purchasing baby furniture simply because they know their child will outgrow it soon. Others want the very best quality no matter the cost even if it won’t be used for very long. Of course, to each his own, but practically speaking, it’s usually best to select furniture that is good quality and durable if you are purchasing pieces that are convertible or will serve your child for many years. Dressers, chests, bookshelves and other standard pieces are worth investing in a better quality since most of these pieces may be used for a long time.

Types of Furniture Pieces

When purchasing for an infant or young child, there are certain furniture pieces that are necessary and some that will be grown into by the user. As mentioned earlier, cribs and changing tables are commonly purchased for most babies while additional items such as dressers, tables, bookshelves, chests, mirrors and other novelty pieces of furniture are optional as the child grows older. Your budget will obviously be a determining factor in what pieces you add to the necessary crib.

If you are smart, you can also find discount deals among various companies that may make it worth your while to purchase several pieces at once. You can also choose to purchase a line of furniture that can be added to when you have need of a piece when you can afford it later. When choosing your baby’s first furniture, be sure to compare prices, best options, convertibility, brands and quality before purchasing. Good baby furniture is an important addition to a home and can provide safety, beauty and comfort for your child for years to come.

Well, count me in! I’m your regular caffeine addict with doses averaging somewhere from 3 to 4 cups in a day. And because of my delicious addiction, I sport yellow teeth as a punishment.

However, we can’t simply function without our daily caffeine fix, right?

So don’t worry too much…there’s a way to recover your lost self-esteem by giving you a brighter smile! And that’s the exact reason why tooth whiteners were created!

Tooth whiteners are great remedies for stained or yellowish teeth that just won’t whiten no matter how many times you brush.

Have you heard about Ortho white? If you haven’t, then it’s a good thing you are reading this article! It’s the ultimate expert in tooth whitening.

I’ve tried it and I’m using it to maintain my now obviously whiter teeth. How about trying it out too…?

Below are 2 reasons why you ought to click on this limited offer!

Ortho white tooth whiteners actually make you get that brighter smile without the expensive dentist’s bill. That’s right! Compared to your standard clinic whitening procedures, this offer won’t cost an arm and a leg!

In addition to that, Ortho white tooth whiteners actually use the same ingredient that is trusted by all the leading people in the world of dentistry! You can be assured that it’s made of the best, high-quality substance!

As a friendly reminder: be sure you follow the instructions found together with the product kit, OK? You don’t want to end up having white gums instead!

When looking for a new bed mattress, one of the most common concerns is comfort. If the bed is not comfortable for an individual sleeper’s needs, they will not get the rest they were looking for when they set out to the mattress store in the first place. Going to a local store gives a purchaser the chance to mimic their sleep habits on the products available. It is most ideal in this case to try to recline on the bed in a way that is that person’s most common sleep positions. How the bed mattress feels while the potential buyer is on their side or stomach can be completely unique to how it would feel if the person were to simply lie on their back. Some people, however, find this can be an uncomfortable experience, to lie down in a public place. This makes an online mattress store a good option for many. Online, a buyer cannot physically try out the product, but can read customer reviews of others who have purchased particular brands of mattresses.

A bed mattress concern many have is the durability of the item. As people like to get good value for their money, looking at a mattress store can indicate the quality control that has gone into creating each type of mattress and determine which best fits their needs. In local establishments, there is once again the benefit of looking at the item in person and being able to inspect the craftsmanship that has gone into creating the bed. Knowledgeable salespeople in either environment should be able to help in making this factor more clear.

Both avenues can provide valuable sources of information to a customer. The purchase of a bed mattress can be a stressful experience, but the reward of a good night’s sleep pay off for years to come.

Here’s what it said:

“Epidemiologic studies have revealed an association between occupational exposure to hair dyes and incidence of cancers. Several cohort and case-studies have shown increased risk of bladder cancer among hairdressers and barbers who are occupationally exposed to hair dyes. It has been reported that there is a statistically significant and a dose-dependent association between hair dyeing and risk of ovarian cancer.

Women with prolonged use of dark, particularly black, hair dyes may have increased risk of fatal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma (Murata, et al., 2006)”.

[The above are the first two paragraphs of the study by Murata and colleagues, which provides an alarming set of information that every one who uses non-natural hair dyes should be aware of.]

The chemicals associated with these non-natural hair care products are dangerous and potentially life threatening. This study has many implications and should be distributed as widely as possible, because many men and women use these types of products without the knowledge that they may be causing themselves long-term health problems.

Natural hair care products used to dye hair do not contain these toxic chemicals and while natural hair dyes may not be as easy to use and may not last as long as some of their toxic counter-parts, the reduction in risk to one’s health has to be worth the extra effort – if indeed there is extra effort involved.

The warnings however, should not stop there. Hair shampoos and conditioners manufactured by many leading cosmetic companies still contain ingredients such as SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and other potentially harmful ingredients, yet there are no warnings on the packets or labels to make consumers aware of any potential dangers. These types of chemicals, SLS, Parabens, Formaldehydes, MIT’s, etc., should be avoided at all cost.

It is true, that in some cases, for example parabens, the scientist still do not agree whether these are indeed carcinogenic or not, but as I am not a gambler, my suggestion is, better not to use them in the first place, then find out later that they are…

Similarly, although there is a shift toward using natural, safe ingredients in skin care products, there are still manufactures that will use non-natural ingredients which have not been sufficiently tested for their safety. Here too, it is wise to be cautious and err on the side of ‘rather safe, then sorry’, by choosing truly natural skin care products over others.

Let’s have a look at a typical body moisturizing lotion. The following ingredients are contained in a well known brand of skin care products:

Water – fine

Isopropyl Myristate – non-toxic

Glycerin – non-toxic

Stearic Acid – may cause eye irritation

Cetyl Esters – Effects of Exposure: Immediate effects: Eye, skin and mucous membrane; Irritation may occur. Delayed effects: irritation of skin/eyes, burning, dryness, acne, hypopigmentation and dermatitis have been experienced.

PEG-100 – Effects of Exposure: Skin: Dermatitis, Sensitisation/Allergic Reaction; Material is a photosensitiser; May irritate the eyes and skin.

Glyceryl Stearate – non-toxic

Triethanolamine – Skin/Eyes: Irritation, Redness, Pain, and Damage. Ingestion: Burns mouth, Pharynx and Esophagus; Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Stearamide DEA – Effects of Exposure: Eyes: Mild eye irritation. Skin: Mild skin irritation (after prolonged or repeated contact). Inhalation: Irritation (upper respiratory tract). Prolonged or repeated overexposure may cause central nervous system depression. If swallowed: Irritation to gastrointestinal tissue; Central nervous system depression.

Allantoin – non-toxic

Methyl paraben – Inhalation: Very dangerous. Eyes: Irritant. Skin: Irritant. Ingestion: Irritant. Substance is toxic to Lungs. Repeated/prolonged exposure to the substance can produce organ damage.

Imidazolidinyl Urea – Possible allergic reaction. Irritant reaction will occur at the test sites of patents suffering with suspected contact dermatitis.

Carbomer – Effects of Exposure: Eyes: Irritation, corneal injury. Skin: Irritation/burns. Inhalation: upper respiratory irritation, anaesthesia. Ingestion: cardiac rate changes (persons with liver/kidney problems should avoid contact).

Propyl paraben – Eyes/Skin: irritant. Inhalation/Ingestion: Dangerous. Substance is toxic to lungs.

Honey – great

Fragrance – not specified, but is synthetic – possibly toxic.

[The information on the ingredients in the above list comes from a great service provided by Cornell University (web site provided later in this article).]

This is a simple moisturising lotion, intended to moisturise your body’s skin – I don’t know about you, but I would not put this anywhere near my skin. There is mounting evidence that many ingredients used in our hair care, personal care and skin care products are potentially hazardous to our health, yet despite these dangers, little of this evidence is presented or easily available to the general public.

There is a great web site that provides information on ingredients: http://ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca/msds/search.html all you have to do is type the name of the ingredient you want to know about into the first search box. You will then get a results page. Usually the first one on the list is the one you’d click. Then select Section 3 – Hazards Identification Including Emergency Overview, to see the potential hazards the ingredient may cause you. These data sheets are by no means a complete record of all the possible health implications that a particular ingredient may cause, but they will give you a good idea as to whether you’d be better off to avoid the particular ingredient.

Reference:

Murata, M. Nishimura, T. Chen, F. and Kawanishi, S. (2006) Oxidative DNA damage induced by hair dye components ortho-phenylenediamines and the enhancment by superoxide dismutase. Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, 607 (2006) 184-191.

During the last 27 years of active chiropractic practice I have utilized a variety of treatment techniques that have consistently proven effective in treating the majority of spinal conditions that have entered my office. Always looking for better and more efficient ways to help patients led me to direct my attention to support the spine AFTER the patient had received their treatment.

In the past I had seen orthotics and knew that there was a benefit to supporting a patient’s arches. Unfortunately, after using orthotics occasionally over the years the technology to make these supports didn’t seem to be as consistent as I would have liked.

Let’s go over a bit of anatomy to understand the benefits of orthotics. Your foot has not one, but three arches. There are two arches that travel the length of your foot, one on this inside of the bottom of your foot, and the other on the outside of the bottom of your foot. The third arch is called the transverse arch. It is located across the bottom of your toes, sometimes called the ball of your foot. All three of these arches work together to support the foot. In turn the foot supports the ankles, knees, and eventually the spine.

As we get older or if we continue to wear shoes that are not very supportive, the arches have a tendency to drop. As the arch drops the support required diminishes and affects the entire structure. Typically, the outside arch is the first to start dropping.

I have noticed some patients wearing over the counter arch supports. While these may feel comfortable, they certainly are not made to specifically help YOUR condition. Many professionials that make customized orthotics still use old technology to make the support. The patient steps into a foam cast which is then sent to the orthotic company for production of the orthotic. The problem that I have seen is that it is difficult if not impossible to make a perfect cast using this old technology.

Thankfully, technology has developed that digitizes the process. Use of an electronic digital scanner takes multiple measurements to give the most accurate casting procedure possible. In my office this has allowed patients who previously had chronic lower back pain, to finally get the support their conditions required. This meant less pain, less treatment, and more consistent results.

If you are interested in learning more about chiropractic treatment and the use of orthotics for your particular spinal condition feel free to visit the link in the resource box below.

DHEA, or Dehydroepiandrosterone, is a naturally produced steroid often supplemented by athletes to improve their testosterone levels, allowing for fat loss, muscle gain, heightened energy, and increased libido. DHEA gained massive public appeal when average people looking to become more athletic, lose weight, or gain muscle discovered that it could do the same things for them.

Many fitness supplements throughout the 1990’s and early 2000’s used DHEA as part of their selling point. Numerous studies had come out detailing the effects of DHEA on all the athletic pursuits mentioned above, as well as a number of surprising positive benefits. Some of these included increased insulin production, better sex drive, improved mood, better memory, heightened levels of HDL “good” cholesterol, and various immune system benefits. Indeed, you can still see many DHEA supplements on the shelves in your local vitamin store – however, in recent years studies have surfaced showing the potential harm of DHEA.

DHEA has been shown to increase levels of certain sex hormones in the body – various powerful androgens and estrogens. These sex hormones regulate a number of important processes in the body, and their over supplementation has caused all sorts of unwanted side effects like excess facial hair (for both men and women), mood swings, hypergycemia, or even cancerous growth within the body.

Why is 7 Keto DHEA better?

Luckily, scientists have developed a molecule nearly identical to DHEA, without its propensity for throwing off the body’s natural hormone balance. Known as 7 Keto DHEA, it is a natural metabolite (breakdown product) of DHEA. This means that when you ingest DHEA, it isn’t actually DHEA that causes a lot of the desirable benefits you want. The body metabolizes DHEA into 7 Keto DHEA and various hormone enhancing compounds. By pre-metabolizing DHEA into 7 Keto DHEA and throwing out the unnecessary compounds, scientists can produce the exact same effects as DHEA, with none of the unwanted side effects.

What are some of the proven benefits of 7 Keto DHEA?

* Fat reduction

* Increased energy production

* Immune benefits – increase in anti-viral antibodies

* Effective treatment for muscle and weight loss for sufferers of HIV or wasting disease

* Improves HDL cholesterol, reduces risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke

There are a few important details regarding these benefits. First of all, fat reduction requires at least 200 mg per day to get weight loss results. This is only the minimum – some people take up to 1400 mg per day depending on their weight loss goals. Many supplement companies sell 7 Keto DHEA in capsules that only contain 50 to 100 mg each, requiring a daily minimum of two or four pills. The companies do not tell you this, because it is quite expensive to take 7 Keto DHEA at the required daily dosage. 7 Keto DHEA is actually exponentially higher in cost than pure DHEA as a supplement.

Also, the increased energy production can come at a cost. The reason energy production is increased is tied into 7 Keto DHEA’s use as a weight loss product. DHEA does two things related to energy production: makes it easier for the body to metabolize fats into energy, and it makes the body less efficient at burning fat. This makes the body produce more energy by burning an exponentially greater amount of fat. This is great if you have a lot of fat you need to burn off, but if you do not have any fat on your body, 7 Keto DHEA can actually be a dangerous product. By making the body less efficient, you can actually experience an energy reduction.

Regardless of these details, the studies proving 7 Keto DHEA’s effectiveness in these areas are unassailable.

Some other benefits of DHEA

This list comprises a number of benefits of DHEA that have been proven, but for which studies of 7 Keto DHEA have not yet been done:

* Decreases lupus symptoms like rashes, anemia, arthritis, and heart, lung, or kidney problems

* Better mood

* Increases libido, better sex drive

* Normalizes blood sugar, prevents diabetes

* Anti-aging – reverses tissue deterioration

While there aren’t any studies specifically on 7 Keto DHEA, these have been proven benefits of DHEA, its “mother” molecule. While it only makes sense that it would have similar benefits, one should be wary of websites or products that advertise it making claims of these benefits. Especially the heightened libido/sex drive claim is somewhat dubious, because it isn’t supposed to increase sex hormone levels.

Dangers of 7 Keto DHEA?

As mentioned above, if you don’t have any fat to burn, DHEA can actually decrease your energy levels.

Also, studies have shown that it may actually decrease levels of sex hormone in the blood. This result is believable, because it doesn’t increase them like pure DHEA does.

Regardless of these dangers, it is a powerful weight loss product that can be useful in a number of other areas in your life. Be sure to consult with your doctor or health professional before taking this or any other supplement. Research says if you supplement with 7 Keto DHEA you should consume 200mg per day.

So How Low can I go with the dose of hormone ingredients to still be effective at preventing pregnancy?

Good question, as not all birth control pills contain exactly the same amount of estrogen and progestin. I thought a useful reference for you would be a list of low dose and ultra low dose pills so that you can at least discuss the pros and cons with your doctor and see if you are a good candidate to move from say, a low dose 0.035mg estrogen pill down to an ultra low dose 0.020mg estrogen pill. You may find you experience fewer or reduced side effects. Generic brands in low dose birth control pills are also available.

Birth control pills with the very lowest amount of estrogen, that is 0.02mg of estrogen (usually ethinyl estradiol) are classed as ‘ultra low dose’ contraceptive pills. 0.020mg of estrogen is sufficient for contraception but the side effects of spotting and breakthrough bleeding are more common with these types of ultra low dose birth control pills than with low dose pills containing 0.030mg or 0.035mg of estrogen.

Here are some brand names of the “ultra low dose” birth control pills on the market , you may find a generic version on line now that you know what amount of estrogen to look for. The estrogen component is listed first and the progestin component second.

Alesse (Aviane,Lessina,Lutera,Sronyx) contains 0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.1 mg levonorgestrel
Mircette contains 0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg desogestrel

Pills containing 0.02mg- 0.035mg.of estrogen are classed as ‘low dose’ pills. Here are some brand names of “low dose” birth control pills :

LoOvral contains 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and and 0.3 mg nogestrel
Nordette contains 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg levognorgestrel
Ortho-Cept (Reclipsen, Solia) contains 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg desogestrel
Desogen contains 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg desogestrel
Levlen21 contains 0.03 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg of levonorgestrel
Seasonale/Seasonique contain 0.03mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg of levonorgestrel

If you are a fan of triphasic pills, here are some low dose ones: Cyclessa

Phase 1: ethinyl estradiol 0.025 mg and desogestrel 0.1 mg

Phase 2: ethinyl estradiol 0.025 mg and desogestrel 0.125 mg

Phase 3: ethinyl estradiol 0.025 mg and desogestrel 0.15 mg

In a study of 5,654 women, over six menstrual cycles, some used the popular triphasic Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 and others used Cyclessa. It was found that women who used Cyclessa had significantly less breakthrough bleeding or spotting and experienced an average weight loss of 4lbs. versus an average weight gain of 2lbs. with those who took Ortho-Novum 7/7/7.

Ortho Tricyclen Lo : 3 types of pill in the pack

each white tablet contains 0.025 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.180 mg of norgestimate
each light blue tablet contains 0.025 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.215 mg norgestimate
each dark blue tablet contains 0.025 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.250 mg of norgestimate

(Ortho Tricyclen and Ortho-Cyclen, each with 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol, contain slightly higher amounts of estrogen in each type of pill than Ortho Tricyclen Lo)

YASMIN and YAZ are two more low dose birth control pills containing 0.03 mg and 0.02 mg respectively

of estrogen but they have a different type of progestin from the other pills called drospirenone (3.0 mg). On the down side, since Yasmin/Yaz can increase levels of potassium, it is not recommended for women with liver, adrenal or kidney problems but on the up side, Yasmin/Yaz appear to reduce water retention and therefore bloating and in some women gives a sense of well being. These pills also have a following among acne sufferers as they seem to improve this skin condition in a lot of cases.As with many other types of birth control pills, Yasmin may not be suitable for you if you also take other over-the-counter pain relievers, potassium sparing diuretics, potassium supplements or specific medications so you MUST check this out with a physician first.

Nursing Moms

You will have heard of the ‘mini’ pill (progestin only pill or POP) which is usually prescribed for women who are breastfeeding or who have an intolerance to estrogen. A ‘Mini pill’ can be started immediately after childbirth or abortion. There is no 7-day break or dummy pills as there are with the combined pill and it must be taken at the same time every day. Micronor contains 0.35 mg norethindrone and NO estrogen whatsoever. In other countries some brand names include: Microlut 28, Microval 28, Locilan 28 and Noriday.

Pills that contain high amounts of estrogen or progestin are used for emergency contraception and are known as ‘the morning after pill’ or Plan B. One common pill is Preven -each blue film-coated pill contains 0.25 mg levonorgestrel and 0.05 mg (that’s MILLIGRAMS not micrograms) of estrogen – usually you take 2 doses, 12 hours apart. Plan B is a ‘morning-after’ pill that contains only one hormone, progestin (Levonorgestrel) Tablets, 0.75 mg.

DHT decides how many life cycles a hair follicle has before it dies. Therefore a lower DHT level means longer lasting hair. This is also true for hereditary baldness. DHT levels can raise when you under stress for example. Or they also go up when you do weight lifting as this type of exercise increases testosterone levels. Testosterone gets converted into DHT.

There is no normal or healthy way to change the testosterone level. Every men has testosterone and also the two enzymes that are involved in the process of converting the hormone into DHT. Therefore DHT blockers are the only choice nowadays.

It is still unknown how exactly hair loss works. At some point the growing cycle ends and then it is all over. As long there is no treatment that stops this process, reducing DHT levels is the best and only option.

Propecia works well for men but not in all men. Propecia can stop hair loss or at least reduce it. But you must take Propecia every day without exception and you must take it for at least 6-12 months before you see clear results. If you stop taking Propecia then you loose your hair again.

For women there are other products like Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Spironolactone that block DHT. Women should get tested for their ferritin levels. A value lower than 70 can be the reason for hair loss or hair thinning.

Dr. Renaud and other scientists believe that red grapes and red wine have an ingredient that explains this remarkably lower rate of cardio vascular disease and even cancer in not just France, but Italy and Spain, all of which are countries that produce and consume a lot of red wine. This ingredient is called resveratrol and it is a compound that is the natural by-product of the grape skins during the fermentation process. Resveratrol is also found in peanuts and blueberries. It is an antioxidant that grapes produce naturally as a protective mechanism against the ravages of the environment like damage from the sun and fungi. That is why wine has higher levels of resveratrol than most other natural foods.

Red wine has more resveratrol than white wine because the grape skins are left in during fermentation longer than with white grapes. This causes the antioxidants to be transferred to the wine. Grapes that are grown in dry climates do not have as much resveratrol as do grapes grown where it is humid because of the antioxidants they require to fight off fungal diseases.

It is widely known that in humans, antioxidants stop the effects of free radicals, which are damaging cells that cause aging. The antioxidants in resveratrol prevent damage to the DNA of cells by these free radicals that come from pollution, the sun, and our bodies natural process. When enough damage is done by free radicals, it can speed up aging, cause cancer, and weaken brain function.

It is for this reason that the consumption of red wine and, therefore of resveratrol, is given the credit for keeping cases of heart disease at such a low rate in the people of France, even though their diet is so high in fat and that a large portion of the French population smokes.

All this has brought about a proliferation of resveratrol supplements using the extracts of grape seeds and Japanese knotweed. In fact Japanese knotweed has the largest natural concentrations of resveratrol but very little research to support how safe it is. The fact it comes from China puts doubts into raw goods suppliers because it falls below GMP standards used in the United States. Researchers prefer reveratrol taken from French red wine grape extract and it is in complaince with FDA GMP standards. There are many benefits to taking these supplements. For instance, some studies have shown that resveratrol can reduce the chance of blood clots and even lower blood sugar level in type 2 diabetics.

The reality is that acne is just one of the side effects contribute to these hormonal changes. Acne often is often targeted because it is the most visible manifestation of side effects.Other side effects include:

Weight gain
Nausea
Moodiness
Lighter periods
Small amounts of blood, or spotting, between periods
Sore or swollen breasts
Furthermore, there is a group of side effects such as "pain" does not occur more frequently in the list above, note, but more severe in their effects. These include:

Abdominal pain (stomach ache)
Chest pain
Headache (severe)
Eye problems (blurred vision)
Swelling and / or pain in the legs and thighs
InCase that there will be pain, apply immediately to your doctor. Since they can be symptoms of wider problems, including heart disease, hypertension, blood clotting, or gallbladder disease, go to the emergency room if they are unable to make contact with your doctor.

They are the best experts for your body and you know when things are not right. You need to be responsible for your own care. There is no such thing as acne birth control is able to eliminate the effect of birth acnePills and gives you the protection you need for family planning. There are three products currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for this purpose. Six Ortho Tri Cyclen, Estrostep, and Yaz. Yaz was not with the product Yasmin that a class action lawsuits will be confused in the process.

Birth Control Acne is relatively new, but shows real potential. They must work together to continue with their doctor to find the right solution for youSituation.