Owner: A Better Living URL:http://selfobliged.com Join Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2007 11:27:12 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: A self improvement blog for a healthier and informative choice. Site statistics:Click here
Podcast 2007-09-18 00:31:14 Podcasting simply means, a way of sharing audio and video files through the Internet. Especially with the availability of YouTube or other downloadable video sites, you can simply download them to play on your iPod, MP4 player, or computer at your own leisure time. The variety of podcasts available is mind-blowing. Do you need an iPod?Your computer has always been your iPod. But if you want portable ones, and listen to your favourite programme during long journeys, you can always purchase an iPod or MP4 players.Podcast directoriesTo use the podcast directories in iTune, go to podcastalley.com or podcastingnews.com. You can also visit your preferred radio station's website to find out what they offer. For Singapore, you can check out Mediacorp Radio.Software applications to downloadDownload free“podcatcher” software applications, such as iPodderX, or Juice. Read more:Podcast
How To Avoid Feet Deformity In Children? 2007-09-17 08:34:12 According to the New Zealand Podiatry Society, constriction of the toes is one of the chief causes of deformity in children. It starts from the moment when babies are put into stretch socks. This deformity can be self-correct up to the age of 7. However, beyond that is irreversible.So what are the ways to prevent them? Fashion shoes seldom come in a range of widths. Therefore, put kids in "sensible" shoes during the day save fashion shoes for special occasion. Prevent the temptation to let kids squeeze into expensive soccer boots or other shoes they have outgrown. Encourage babies or toddlers to go barefoot on soft ground, or in sandals. Make sure there is a thumb width gap at the front. The sole should flex with the toes' natural blend.Other shoe related post:How To Choose The Correct Shoes Read more:Avoid
, Children
Facts About Smoking 2007-09-15 08:31:09 70%, in fact more smokers have tried to quit, but failed.Effects of nicotineWhen nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream, it travels to the brain, causing smokers to get "high".The nicotine vaccineThe vaccine NicQb creates antibodies that bind to nicotine in the blood. Thus, they are too large to reach the area of the brain stimulated by nicotine. Hence, with no pleasure derived from nicotine, cravings are reduced. That explains why most smokers are skinny.In a study of the vaccine, 57% of those who achieved high levels of antibodies stopped smoking for at least 4 months.Now companies are developing vaccines that could help smokers kick the habit for good. The two drugs such as rimonabant and varenicline work by blocking brain receptors that give us the reward response.However, many addicts still need counseling to break their habit. Read more:Smoking
Queries About Fitness...True Or False 2007-09-14 03:21:00 To lose weight I must eat less...FALSE.Increasing your activity level is actually a better way to balance the equation than eating less. On a very low fat diet, your body goes into survival mode and thus slowing your metabolism and leads to burning of lean muscle.You can lose weight/fat in the sauna...FALSE.What you lose is just water through perspiration, and this must be replaced quickly.Muscle turns to fat when you stop exercising...FALSE. Fats and muscles are different types of tissue, and they can't form into the other. However, muscles consume more kilojoules even when you are not exercising. Therefore, if you allow your muscle mass to drop but eat the same amount, the excess kilojoules in the muscles would be stored as fat.I'm too busy too exercise...FALSE. There are other options other than the gym, such as going up the stairs instead of taking the lift, brisk walking, or even gardening. If it gets you warmed up and breathing more heavily, it is definitely working.Men can't Read more:Queries
Weightlifting Cause Blindness? 2007-09-13 07:53:15 According to Dr Geraldo Vieira,"If you are thinking of taking up weights, get an eye check first, and rememberto breathe."It has been researched by Catholic University of Brasilia, that weightlifting may risk development of glaucoma. It is an eye disease that can lead to blindness.How? A group of men (18-40 years old) were told to perform a test, by lifting weights on a bench press. The first test, they did 4 repetitions, exhaling when lifting, and inhaling when lowering. But they held their breath instead of exhaling on the last repetition.For the 2nd test, they exhaled per normal at the last repetition.Results90% of the men increased in Intraocular Pressure (IOP, pressure in the eye) from the 1st test, whereas the 2nd test occurred to only 62% of them. The extra pressure created when air is held in the lungs may trigger the increase in IOP during the first repetition.Therefore, when you are lifting weights, remember to BREATHE. Read more:Cause
Useful Fact About A....Straw 2007-09-11 06:29:12 Do you know that 7-10 year olds drink nearly ten cans of gassy drinks a week? Also according to Science Daily, Americans drink roughly 576 soft drinks every year, that is about one and a half cans a day for everyone in the United States. This causes serious havoc to their teeth due to sugars and acids attack the enamel.The exact damage depends on how you drink. If you drink from the can as shown below,then your molars get it. If you sip from your front teeth, they they suffer.Therefore, the safest way to drink those fizzy drinks is through a straw, into the back of your mouth. This minimise the length of time it is in contact with your teeth. But it is always encouraged to rinse your mouth afterwards. Read more:Useful
, Straw
How To Choose The Correct Shoes 2007-09-10 02:44:07 Did you ever get a blister from a new pair of shoes? Not only women has aching feet, but men too. Foot trouble is caused mostly by ill-fitting shoes. Some people care more about how a shoe makes them look than how it makes their body feel. According to American Podiatric Medical Association, 42% of women says they would wear shoes that are uncomfortable in order to look more stylish.So how to choose shoes that could keep you moving all night long...Foot size changes as we age, gain or lose weight, and sometimes one foot tend to be larger than the other. Therefore, buy shoes to fit the larger foot. Sizes vary between different styles and designers. Try the shoes on and walk around to see if you are comfortable in it. Replace the sports shoes that you had used for 300 hours of aerobics or running for 500-800 km. Make sure there's one centimetre of space between your longest toe and the end of the toe. Do not buy shoes that are too tight, and assume that they will stretch. There's no su Read more:Correct
Freshen Your Breath 2007-09-07 22:23:31 Here are some food to keep your mouth clean with a clean diet that will reduce the bacteria and plague that cause bad breath. Forget fancy mouthwash or mints.Pineapple contains bromelain. It is a digestive enzyme that acts as a natural cleanser.Yogurt reduces plague and gingivitis and also stinky hydrogen sulphide. It's best to choose sugar free ones.Cranberries prevent plague and bacteria from sticking to the surface of your teeth.Chewing on raw vegetables increases saliva production. This aids in washing of food particles and acid from teeth. Read more:Breath
Examination Stress & Studying Smart 2007-09-06 21:48:34 Previously, I had a very high fever one day before my exam week. I'm not sure if it's due to stress or the brownie which I bought from the school's cafeteria, which caused my body to be extremely heaty. But I also took every opportunity of free time during work to revise the lecture notes. I realised that this can't go on everytime there's an examination. Do not let examination stress stop you from making your mark. Psychologists have found the scientifically based strategies that could improve the students' scores if they are practised in the final examinations. However, revision has no substitute. Here are the guidelines to the science of studying smart. Be Healthy!I'd to admit I'm putting myself at risk of getting a terrible cold or fever in the middle or before the exam period. Those night owls whose study sessions fuelled by caffeiene may seem a great way of achieving lots in a short time. But, it destroys your sleep cycle, wreck eating patterns and even your immune system Read more:Smart
Secrets Of Your Body Parts 2007-09-06 06:17:44 These are the secrets of the body parts that reveal about you!University of Alberta had conducted a study, and found that the shorter a man's index finger compared to his ring finger, the more likely he'll be physically aggressive. There's a relation correlation between the finger length and the amount of testosterone you are exposed to in the womb. Higher testosterone level might mean a shorter index finger.Studies also showed that a long ring finger and symmetrical hands, are related to fertility. Women are more likely to be fertile if their ring finger is shorter than the index finger.Let's go back to ancient time. During the time of Confucius, Chinese doctors used face reading as a diagnostic aid. This includes people's eyebrows. The thicker is it, the more they are driven and can be more aggressive. Those with thin lips tend to be workaholics. So, start measuring your fingers! Read more:Secrets
, Parts
Are You An Aquaholic? 2007-09-05 07:48:06 Are you addicted to water? Do you drink over 5 litres of water per day and gets irritated when you can't get a glass of H2O? I know some of my friends who carry a water bottle everywhere they go, especially to school. Drinking after every lesson/lectures and ended up going to the loo often. If you are going to the toilet every hour, you're probably drinking too much. The aim is to drink around 2 litres of liquid daily, and pass urine 3-4 times a day.The term for drinking too much water is called overhydration. It is a condition in which the body contains too much water. According to dietitian, Catherine Coilins, aquaholics do exist. Someone will typically increase their intake of water claiming to "cleanse" their body, or to avoid increasing of body heat. However, drinking too much can cause harm. With time, you tend to be obsessed with drinking water to offset your hunger. This causes potential harm, especially if combined with a low-salt diet and excessive exercise.So what harms ca
Effects Of Sudoku 2007-09-03 19:41:35 Sudoku became popular in Japan, in 1986. After it was published in Nikoli, it became a worldwide hit in 2005. The objective is to fill the other empty cells with numbers between 1 and 9 (1 number only in each cell). Sudoku is played over a 9x9 grid, divided to 3x3 sub grids called "regions". It begins with some of the grid cells already filled with numbers, such as the puzzle below.The rapid rise of Sudoku in Britain from relative obscurity to a front-page feature in national newspapers attracted commentary in the media. Even in Singapore, Sudoku puzzles are published in the Today newspaper.Do you know that Sudoku makes your memory sharp even at old age? According to Philip Goffaux, a PhD graduate from University of deSherbrooke, “Crossword puzzles, sudoku— these are all good, but even physical exercisehelps. It seems that what is good for the heart is ultimately good for thebrain.”Not only the body, but the brain too needs to exercise in old age. With this mentality function, ou Read more:Effects
, Sudoku
The Nocebo Effect 2007-09-02 04:58:30 A nurse rarely tells you when a needle will be painful. This is because research shows that when you are told something may hurt, you imagine the discomfort. If you overreact, your body may actually create symptoms. One the symptoms is called the "nocebo" effect. What is nocebo effect?According to skepdic.com, nocebo (Latin for "I will harm") is something that should be ineffective but which causes symptoms of ill health. A nocebo effect is an ill effect caused by the suggestion or belief that something is harmful. Therefore, don't stress yourself out before taking a new drug or test. Dr Doris K. Cope says, if possible, ask your doctor about the realistic risks, and also if it is recommended.
Mercury Rising? Drink This 2007-09-01 06:35:39 Just want to share this thirst quencher called Ayran. According to allaboutturkey.com, Ayran (yoghurt drink) has been one of the most popular drinks of the Turks since the discovery of Yogurt among the Turkish tribes in Central Asia.You can also order this tangy, healthy drink with a McTurco burger in any McDonald's in Turkey or make it with the Felder's recipe below.Ingredients2 tbs. mint, chopped2 tbs. sugar3 cups whole yogurt, plain1 cup or more waterPreparation (Serves for 6)Combine mint and sugar in mortar.Crush with pestle until they form a syrupy paste (use a blender if you don't have a mortar and a pestle).Combine yogurt and water until smooth and milky.Stir in mixture and pour ice. Read more:Mercury
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Plastic Surgery 2007-09-28 23:59:46 The number of teens who choose to get plastic surgery is on the rise. According to the ASPS, over 333,000 people 18 years and younger had plastic surgery in 2005, up from about 306,000 in 2000. However, they forgot that a plastic surgery is still a SURGERY.As said by Norman Waterhouse, head of Cranio-Facial Unit at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in UK, there are risks and facts that some practitioners won't tell you. Here are some of the facts... No such thing as scarless surgery - It can be limited in discreet areas, but some can still be seen. Liposuction cannot get rid of cellulite - Liposuction removes fat and improve body contour, but it actually makes cellulite worse.Payment tells - Practitioners who charge less are usually less qualified or experienced; the hospital could also be poorly equipped.Doctors who advertise - Usually they are not the good ones. The good ones don't need to.For more information on plastic surgery, go to kidshealth.org. Read more:Plastic
, Surgery
Are You And Your Partner Compatible? 2007-09-27 19:37:09 Do you agree that most men would prefer to go for petite and curvy women? They prefer women with an ideal hip-to-waist ratio of 36 inch hip and 23 inch waist. For women, they prefer men who are tall, with strong jaw lines, and a plus to look affluent.However, psychologist Glenn Wilson of London's Institute of Psychiatry believes that these attractions won't last. Glenn Wilson has developed the Compatibility Quotient (CQ) Test. The test will test you based on 25 factors including Food, Religion, Occupation, etc.To find out if you and your partner are compatible, go to http://www.matchology.com/, register for free to take the test. If you and partner obtain a CQ test score of 100, it is considered averagely compatible. Read more:Partner
5 "Excuses" Why You Should Sleep More 2007-09-26 09:27:37 Sleeping makes you thinnerA research was done in Virginia regarding this topic. They found out that, the lesser you spend sleeping, the higher your body mass index gets. A Bristol study was done to provide this explanation.People who sleep 5 hours per night, found to have 15% more ghrelin (hormone that boost hunger) in their bodies, and 15% less leptin (which suppresses it) than those who sleep for 8 hours. Sleeping boost your memoryA Harvard experiment showed that working into the night slowed the thinking skills, compared to working in the day. This also occurs to studying or doing late night revisions.Sleeping slows down ageing Lack of beauty sleep shows that, it affect carbohydrate metabolism and hormone function. Somehow, this increases age-related chronic disorders. Do you know that those who sleep 6-7 hours per day live longer than those sleeping less than 4.5 hours? Sleeping boost immune systemWhen you sleep, melatonin is produced. Melatonin is a cancer -fighting antioxidant. F Read more:Excuses
, Sleep
Hair Myths 2007-09-25 09:56:13 After posting about fitness myths, I would like to post about hair myths, since there are a lot of issues about hair loss, etc.Once hair falls out, it won't grow back...SOMETIMESHair loss can be corrected by changing your diet. If there's a medical cause to it (such as anaemia), use medications prescribed to treat them. For crash dieting, insufficient consumption of fats, protein, or iron, can also contribute to hair loss. Therefore, correct them before you start balding.How my hair is cut affects the growth...WRONGHair growth starts from the follicles under the surface of the scalp. No matter what style you cut your hair, layered, etc, it has no effect on re-growth.Dyeing my hair will cause hair fall...DEPENDSAccording to Sharon Mintz, family medicine at University of Toronto, "Hair dyes don't cause hair loss, they cause breakage."Therefore, dye in moderation. Read more:Myths
Are You A Safe Headphone User? 2007-09-23 23:39:18 In this modern era, the headphones are getting smaller and smaller. Furthermore, there's a trend in teenagers who listen to their MP3 players at full blast. But is the ear piece you have worse than the original ones that sit over your ears? They can be if your music is too loud.According to Kelvin Wakeham, deputy head of audiology services at Mid Devon Primary Care,"Earphones deliver a greater sound pressure level compared with normal ones. And this could increase the risk of damage." After sometime and you hear ringing in your ears or buzzing sound after listening to your MP3 players, you are actually risking your ear drums. Avoid listening to loud music regularly with any type of headset, as this could lead to permanent hearing loss. Otherwise, the problem will subsides.It's hard to recommend a particular earpiece as every set is different.With reference from mayoclinic.com, limit the usage to an hour or less per day at no more than 60% volume for the traditional headphones and ear Read more:Headphone
Plastic Surgery II 2007-10-03 00:44:21 Liposuction gets rid of fat permanently...FALSEIt is true that liposuction removes a certain percentage of fats from an area permanently. However, there will still be some fat leftovers. They are sensitive to our bad eating habits and may increase if the diet is not taken care of properly. Therefore, you will still need to exercise, and you can't run away from it. Those who had breast implants can't breastfeed...FALSEIt depends on the surgeon. To avoid complications, some surgeons do not make incisions at the nipple area, in order to prevent damage to the milk ducts. Overall, it doesn't create an impact on ability to breastfeed.Only men go for hair transplants...FALSE Women too undergo hair transplants, but men performed more frequently. The hair starts thinning or fall off due to age, or some illness. You can read the post on Hair Myths for more information. Read more:Plastic
, Surgery
Are You On Autopilot? 2007-10-02 10:48:08 No I’m not talking about manoeuvring the plane, till you reach your destination. But the concept is still similar.Have you ever seen yourself on what you will be doing in the future, and feeling dreadful about it? However, you are not the one leading it, but others and external factors.A trend to proceed from College to University Some students or friends I know entered University just for the sake of being a University undergraduate, without even having a career plan. Some even study not because of interest. They ended up being unhappy with the subject/course they are taking, and caused their grades to flop. Parent’s plan Have you heard of parents telling their kids, “When you grow up, I want you to be a Doctor.” So the sentence is registered in the child’s head, eventually went to medical school to please his parents. Perhaps that explains why some doctors nowadays do not show much concern to his patients. I worked in a hospital before, so I roughly know the condition ther Read more:Autopilot
Tummy Control Pants 2007-10-01 08:19:40 According to Professor Hunter, from University of Cranfield, high-waist control pants or tummy control pants may increase the pressure of the abdomen. This leads to reflux of acid from the stomach, into the lower esophagus. Thus, this causes inflammation.Increase pressure in the abdomen also blocks the diaphragm, making it harder to breathe. This results in wind and bloating."If women want to wear control pants, they should ensure they can breathe freelywhile wearing them. And they shouldn't wear them on a daily basis." - Prof HunterSo ladies, if you want to buy them, pick the correct size. Read more:Tummy
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What Nurses Know 2007-09-30 02:02:33 Nurse Pat Carroll, an author for What Nurses Know and Doctors Don't Have Time To Tell You, provide us with tips on common illnesses. Here are some of the information:Got headache?Take one uncoated single-ingredient painkiller, along with a cup of tea. Caffeine actually speeds up relief.Do you have allergies? Take a shower at night. Hair is a pollen magnet. So after you shampoo your hair, you don't breathe in sneeze-triggering particles as you sleep.How to take body temperature?Placing the thermometers at the ear, may miss up to 35% of fevers. Therefore, it's better if you use oral or rectal types.Are you having colds?Take an expectorant, as it helps you cough up mucus. A decongestant helps to clear nasal passages. Thus, breathing is easier. Avoid multi-symptom remedies.For more information on how to nurse your health, go to whatnursesknow.com
Slow Down For A Sexier Waistline 2007-10-14 23:59:22 Have you ever sometimes gobble up your meal and yet still feel hungry? In the end up you end eating 3 servings per meal.A study was done by University of Rhode Island. 30 women were told to eat a huge plate of food as fast as possible till they feel full, and without stopping.The next test, they were told to eat in smaller bites, chew each mouthful about 15-20 times. This time, pause was allowed.The results showed that when they ate furiously, they consumed 2705kJ in 9 min, and without the feeling of satisfaction. Whereas the 2nd test, they consume only 2324kJ in 29 min, with a greater feeling of satisfaction.Therefore, enjoy the food that you are served by eating slowly. Take the opportunity to experience the taste of the ingredients involved to have a full satisfaction and earn that slim waistline.
Spending On Holidays 2007-10-14 01:57:37 The holiday season is coming and that includes Halloween, Christmas and the New Year. Have you ever make a list on what items to buy for your loved ones? Or there’s simply no budget? Here’s how to keep your expenses checked during the festive season.Try not to delay the payment. If you are on credit, try to purchase the items within 3 months. Keeping the debts for long period is unhealthy.Make a shopping list. From there, you could scan and compare the price of the items of different outlets. Perhaps you could earn yourself a good deal.Shop online. If you are spending the holiday season overseas, you could purchase the items online since you would have to mail those gifts anyway. But you are required to pay for the delivery cost.For those who are away from family and friends, and you are on a tight budget to call them, sign up for Pingo, and you will receive 5 hours of FREE international calling.Pingo has extremely low rates. In addition, when readers sign up for Pingo, you will re Read more:Spending
, Holidays
Happy Holidays 2007-10-11 09:41:20 To all my Muslim friends out there, have a happy Hari Raya! Saturday will mark the day of victory after fasting for one month. Congratulations for those who did.Since the holidays are coming, I'm going to take a break from blogging too. School starts on Monday, and I'm going to be busy again.For those who need to earn extra cash, feel free to click the review button at the end of this post. In the meantime, do check out other posts of your interest. Now my back starts to ache after the spring cleaning. Read more:Holidays
, Happy
, Happy Holidays
How Can Men Live Longer 2007-10-10 10:30:40 Who doesn't agree with me that most women do the household chores, while men submerged most of their free time watching their favourite sport on TV, playing computer games, and other plain activities?A study conducted in Iowa showed that, the more activity women engaged in, the greater the reduction in risk of dying. This includes diabetes and obesity.So men out there, pick up a broom! Or there's an even better idea to fill up your free time.Do you have too many things piled up in your garage that you are unable to categorize them, or too messy to search for those items? Simply visit CarGuyGarage.com and have your garage redecorated with over 1000 products available, and transform it as another room in your house. Feel free to contact them and seek advice on the types of garage organization that you require.
Get Paid By Blogging 2007-10-10 00:53:34 To tell you truth, I don't think my earnings this year are accumulated enough if I am to study a degree course next year. Otherwise, I would have to resort to plan B, which is taking study loan.I've been blogging for a couple of years now. It has been a very popular tool to convey messages or even expressing your feelings. You will get to know what's happening in your surroundings, or even get to meet new people all over the world. Or even read what's happening in your friend's life. I've not come across this question till recently. Why not spend many hours in front of your computer and get paid by Blogging
? I stumbled upon my friend's site and noticed the PayPerPost (PPP) advert.The sum she received through PPP allows her to lessen her burden of having to pay the school fees, and even buy her own necessities. That's what motivates me to sign up for PPP and decided to give it a shot. Hopefully with the pay I received, I need not apply much loan or even none at all.I am sure you
My Eczema Journey 2007-10-09 19:42:55 I have Eczema
since I was a kid. You can click here for more information on Eczema. I researched on the internet regarding the treatment using Western Medicine. Unfortunately, there's no cure for it. Although there is medicine available, the rashes would flare again after every 3-4 months. Therefore I resort to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and visited Eu Yan Sang clinic. I'm glad I did that.The physician told me that there's a very high amount of body heat. Perhaps that explains why there's always a sensation to scratch the itchy area. Throughout 1 month of medication, I managed to find out what triggers this itchiness and here are the things that I'm trying to avoid.Being in a Malay family, my mom tends to cook some spicy dishes. I guess I've to go Chinese, eat soupy stuff...healthier too. So no chilies and curry for me.Anger. I had some family problem few years back, and those flash backs sparked anger in me, and my heart would beat faster. Therefore, I've to remain cal Read more:Journey
My Job Is A Headache 2007-10-09 02:00:01 Actually, it's not the workload, but my colleague.I'm taking over Ms Chang as she's going to retire end of this November (jumps for joy!). Luckily for another colleague, who came in the same time as me, which I have someone to talk to regarding work.I feel like I'm trapped in a cage, whereby someone is constantly tracking my movement. I discovered that Ms Chang noted down the days that I'm on leave, sick leave, even the day that I was late. Regarding the day that I was late, it was really raining cats and dogs. In addition, the bus was very late and it was moving at a tortoise's pace. I wish that she could be more understanding and have a heart. The time that I tapped my card indicated 7:35 am, but the time she wrote down on her notebook was 7:50am! The details that she wrote down were only for self-reference, no other purposes.If she's on leave, she knew what time I left the workplace as she lives just opposite the street. I feel so restricted. Although the special one kept tel Read more:Headache
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