Open facial pores and solutions

Physiology of skin pores
The skin has a very intricate microanatomical structure. Structurally the skin is basically divided into two layers, the epidermis (outer skin) and the dermis (skin below the surface). The epidermis is the epithelial tissue layer of the skin and contains hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands, which originate in the dermis and protrude to the surface of the skin. And these form the skin pores. There are literally millions of pores and associated glands covering the surface of our skin. They represent a route of entry into skin for certain chemicals compounds; and also a route for certain bio-chemicals to excrete from the skin.
Sebaceous Glands
Sebaceous glands are part of the pilosebaceous apparatus, which consists of the sebaceous gland, the hair follicle and the hair shaft. Unlike all other glands, sebaceous glands are holocrine glands, which mean they secrete whole cells. The secreted cells are dead by the time they reach the surface of the skin but whilst alive and on their way to the surface, they absorb lipids (triglycerides and free fatty acids, wax esters, squalene, and cholesterol) which are then secreted to the skin's surface via the lumen (opening/pore) of the hair shaft. The secretion of sebaceous glands is referred to as sebum. This provides a way for the sebaceous glands underneath to lubricate and protect the surface of the skin.
Sebum secretion is under hormonal control and sebaceous gland development occurs during puberty. Pores enlarge during puberty, when oil glands in your skin begin to increase the amount of oil that they pump through your pores. The pores get bigger to handle the increased output. Most likely enlarged pores noticed around nose area as that area has more oil glands per square inch than any other part of your body. Excessive build up of sebum can lead to acne which is of primary concern to many teenagers and can reoccur during mid-life as 'adult acne'.
Functions of Sebum secreted:
As mentioned earlier, sebum is composed of triglycerides and free fatty acids, wax esters, squalene, and cholesterol. The secretion of sebum performs several functions. Firstly, the water-holding power of cornified epithelium depends on the presence of these lipids to prevent skin from dehydration. And secondly, sebum protects the skin against fungal and bacterial infections. This is sometimes referred to as the 'Acid Mantel' of the skin. The 'Acid Mantel' for example is a key immune defense of the body protecting the inside from the external environment and thus reducing the chance of infection.

Causes of enlarged pores:
Genetics determine pore size, as do skin type and age. Barely visible on those prone to drier skin, individuals with oily, thicker (glabrous) skin tend to have larger looking, more noticeable pores. This is often hereditary.
For people with oily skin, there is higher possibility for them to have enlarged pores. The excessive oiliness of the skin is in turn triggered by the hormonal changes in the body. It happens when the male hormones (testosterone) in the body become overly dominant during puberty. The activity of oil glands which is controlled and regulated by the male hormones increases fervently. And this causes over activity of the sebaceous glands and excessive oil secretion by the glands. As the traffic of the oil effusion increases, the mouth of the pore enlarges. Besides, the excessive secretion of sebum thicken the pores. All these results the facial pores become bigger and more obvious.
Blackheads medically termed "open comedones" - are an all too common outcome. Dead skin cells, oils and bacteria choke the follicular opening, thus stretched to accommodate the hardened sebum and hence expanding the diameter of the pore and lose their natural resilience. Contact with air allows oxygenation to take place, turning the plugs black, further heightening visibility of pores.
Acne problems usually come along with oily skin. And this also contributes to enlarged pores. Deliberate Picking and Touching of Acne - The worst scarring and pits are a direct result of this. Artificial openings made in the skin to release the effusion from the whiteheads, pustules by squeezing, turn into pits and uneven indentations. Repeated squeezing of blackheads and pimples may also lead to permanently widened pores, some of which may actually be tiny, pitted scars.
Other than that, improper skin care regime and products can lead to enlarged pores. Proper cleansing is foremost in every kind of skin-care routine. Unless the dead skin surface, make-up and grease are removed, they tend to deposit in the skin pores and restrain the flow of oil. The oil deposits attract grime and grease and apply pressure on the mouth of the pores to widen it. Besides, beauty soaps enriched in oil, make-up products that are oil based, and creams worsen the oily skin condition and therefore their use is prohibited. Acne and enlarged facial skin pore conditions are aggravated with the use of such cosmetics.And age factors into the equation because this is a natural biological processes to lose the supporting framework composed of collagen and elastin protein fibers. Collagen and elastin protein fibers are two main components of the dermis, acts as structural support system for the nerve fibers, hair follicles, blood vessels, and oil and sweat glands located in this layer, and also provide the skin with strength and elasticity. A decreasing of procollagen content during aging may be related to the increase dryness and elasticity, as do enlarged pores as skin is losing its support to shrink the pores. They begin to stretch and sag around the edges, which can make the pores look bigger.
Sun damage is another cause. As we age, one of the ways sun damage affects the skin is through the enlargement of the pores. Sun damage and aging cause the epidermis to thicken and a rim of cells are more likely to collect around individual pores. While microscopic, these rings exaggerate pore diameter.
Other than aging, other reasons to cause the depletion of collagen and elastin including frequent skin inflammation, and improper diet and lifestyle such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
Treatments of enlarged pores:
Targeting the key factors that cause exaggerated pore diameter and providing the key solutions can quickly minimize visibility of pores. An inordinate amount of time seems to be devoted to facials and physical extractions to cleanse cellular matter caught beneath the surface to prevent the formation of enlarged pores and also further enlargement of facial pores. The treatment has to be followed with ingredients that targeted to stimulate the biosynthesis and secretion of the collagen and elastin. In this way, skin has its supporting matrix and enables the shrinking of the pores. Sometimes a strategic combination produces the best results.
Below are ingredients that can help to refine the pores by controlling oiliness and oil-related skin problems:
Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) has many qualities that make it useful for acne medications. It has properties that make it effective for: anti-inflammatory, oil control, skin lightening, skin brightening, to increase ceramide levels, to prevent water loss in skin. Fewer studies exist to examine niacinamide's anti-acne properties. An older study compared a gel containing 4% niacinamide with the prescription acne medicine Clindamycin and found it works just as well as the prescription, but without the risk of antibiotic resistance. Topical application of niacinamide also has been shown to increase ceramide and free fatty acid levels in skin, prevent skin from losing water content, as well as stimulate micro-circulation in the dermis and help in barrier repair.


Oleanolic Acid
Oleanolic acid is a naturally occurring triterpenoid, related to betulinic acid. Oleanolic acid is applied to open pores product as it is powerful inhibitor of cellular inflammatory processes. It can be found in American pokeweedand and garlic, etc. They work by the induction by IFN- of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and of cyclooxygenase 2 in mouse macrophages. They are extremely potent inducers of the phase 2 response (e.g., elevation of NADH-quinone oxidoreductase and heme oxygenase 1), which is a major protector of cells against oxidative and electrophile stress. It is relatively antitumor, and hepatoprotective, as well as exhibiting antiviral properties.

Topical Vitamin A Treatments
Topical Vitamin A (retinoid acid) treatments work by normalizing the keratinization process. It also works as potent pore minimizers. They help prevent the cells lining the gland from sticking together, promoting more effective exfoliation. Used on blackheads, they work to loosen the plug as well as chemically "peel" the rim of the pore ideally all without seeing flaking skin or irritation.
Retinol is an OTC form of Vitamin A. While not as potent as it's prescription counterpart, it still offers help in reducing pore visibility and improving skin texture. However, it’s still as potentially irritating, so use any of these treatments sparingly, every other night and wait 30 minutes after washing before application. All increase sun sensitivity and none should be used while pregnant or nursing.
Retinyl palmitate is another OTC form of topical Vitamin A used in skin care and is less potent than retinol.

AHAs & BHA
Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) is a blanket term for a variety of fruit acids including Glycolic, Citric, Lactic, Malic and Tartaric. AHAs help disintegrate the "glue" that hold dead, dry skin cells to the surface of the skin. By doing so, the epidermis is exfoliated leaving a silky texture. Removal of this external barrier enables easier, deeper penetration of other skin treatments as well.
BHA (beta hydroxy acid) is the trendy term for salicylic acid, a natural acid derived from willow bark, wintergreen leaves, and sweet birch bark. It also works to exfoliate cellular debris and unplug pores. It's a golden oldie effective ingredient often used in dermatology for acne therapy.
Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA)
NDGA is a naturally occurring bi-phenolic compound that is a component of the resinous exudates of many plants. It is a potent antioxidant and a potent inhibitor of lipooxygenase that reduces cell damage by free radicals. It is useful as an anti-irritant, an anti-inflammatory agent and for the prevention of UV- and inflammation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in human skin where inflammation may cause breakdown of collagen and thus enlarge the pores.

Peony Extract
Peony is a thousand-year-old remedy used as an anti-inflammatory ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine because of its exceptional soothing power.
Oleanolic Acid, Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana) Extract, Zinc PCA, Meadowsweet (Spiraea Ulmaria) Extract, Peony Extract, Arginine, Allantoin, Beta-Carotene,Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate)

Meadowsweet Extract
Meadowsweet with its anti-inflammatory, astringent and analgesic properties to invigorate the skin and tighten body tissues thus promotes pore shrinking. The main constituents of the extract include salicylic acid, flavone-glycosides, essential oils and tannins.
Witch hazel Extract
Witch Hazel Extract is an astringent and strong anti-oxidant produced from the leaves and bark of the North American Witch Hazel shrub and it tends to shrink or constrict body tissues to fight acne, facial pores and swelling. The main constituents of the extract include tannin, gallic acid, catechins, proanthocyanins, flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin), essential oil (carvacrol, eugenol, hexenol), choline, saponins, and bitters.

Zinc PCA
It is an anti bacterial, infection fighting amino acid that is derived from zinc, to prevent infections and other germ related problems. Zinc PCA is truly a breakthrough for many different skin conditions that include acne, blackheads, whiteheads, pimple, zits, blemishes, oily skin, severely oily skin, and seborrheic dermatitis which can further lead to facial pores problems. Over 21% of skin is made up of zinc and this ingredient inhibits the dihydratestosterone enzyme which controls the sebum production. Zinc is needed by the body to beef up the immune system and is an essential trace mineral and micro element mineral.

Physical Exfoliation
Physical exfoliation has its place in minimizing pore appearance. But this has to be performed gently. If aggressive exfoliation is patient passion, consider investing in a series of medical microdermabrasions or medically performed chemical peels.

Instead of oil-controlling agents, Patient can combine the treatment with collagen and elastin synthesis-stimulating agents as below to enhance the efficiency of the treatment:
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3
It can activate Collagen I, III and fibronectin synthesis and promote new cells migration to encourage the supporting system of sebaceous glands, more exactly to shrink the enlarged pores. It can also thicken the skin, reveals the skin elasticity and tension.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid is an essential nutrient where ascorbate (an ion of ascorbic acid) is a cofactor in several vital enzymatic reactions. In living organisms, ascorbate is an anti-oxidant, since it protects the body against oxidative stress and free radicals damage on skin collagen and elastin fibers.
The synthesis of collagen, for which vitamin C is essential, proceeds in the body. A precursor form of collagen called procollagen is produced initially. These nonhelical portions of the procollagen molecule make it very soluble and therefore easy to move within the cell as it undergoes further modifications, post-translational modifications in Golgi compartment of the ER.
One of the first modifications to take place is the very critical step of hydroxylation of selected proline and lysine amino acids in the newly synthesized procollagen protein by hydroxylases to form hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine. The hydroxylase enzymes require Vitamin C and Iron as cofactors. Then glycosylation process takes place. The intact procollagen is very soluble and transports easily within the cell where it is secreted into extracellular spaces.
As the procollagen is secreted from the cell, it is acted upon by specialized enzymes called procollagen proteinases that remove both of the extension peptides from the ends of the molecule. Portions of these digested end pieces are thought to re-enter the cell and regulate the amount of collagen synthesis by a feed-back type of mechanism. The processed molecule is referred to as collagen and now begins to be involved in the important process of fiber formation.
With gain of sufficient amount of collagen and elastin fibers also indicates the structural support system for the sebaceous glands with strength and elasticity. Thus, the facial pores will shrink and become obvious-less.

Asian 8 common types of skin problems and solution

Top 8 types of skin problems
And skin conditions keep vary according to skin types, regions and age. Flawless skin is the result of inherited genes and appropriate skin care routines. The skin is vulnerable to skin problems, and the 8 types of skin problems as below.

Acne is a common skin care problem for many individuals of all ages and all skin types. It is caused by blockage in hair follicle due to excess sebum secretion by sebaceous gland via testosterone stimulation and hyperkeratinization. This forms a plug of keratin and sebum, namely comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) to be the first level of acnes. While occurrence of bacteria can cause inflammatory lesions, they are pastules, pustules, cysts and nodules. Using bactericidal products containing benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid (AHA), salicylic acid (BHA) and tea tree oil may be usefull in mild to moderate acne, combined with non-comedogenic moisturizer to prevent over-drying.

Congested skin also refers as comedones or first level of acne problems. There are 2 types of comedones, closed comedone (white heads) and open comedone (blackheads). Both are non-inflammatory acne which forms due to the blockage of sebum and dead skin cells inside the hair follicle. Closed comedone remain beneath the skin surface and been de-oxygenated and hence remain whitish or yellowish colour. While open comedone occurs in open pores. The sebum has been oxidized and turned into brown or black colour. Products with AHA and BHA can help to dissolves the congested material. Regular exfoliation and product with oil control properties may help to prevent and improve congestion and clogged pores.

There are 2 distinct types of aging contribute to aging skin. Aging caused by inherited genes is called intrinsic (internal) aging while extrinsic (external) aging is caused by environmental factors including photo-aging, smoking, facial expression, gravity etc. Aging skin can be categorized by the loss of collagen and elastin and decrease of skin turn-over rate. The signs of aging skin including fine wrinkles, thin skin, freckles, age spots and spider veins. Aging process cannot be stopped but the signs of aging can be reduced by products with active anti-aging ingredients such as Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3, polypeptide, Acetyl hexapeptide, Hyaluronic Acid, and silk peptides. For visible signs of aging, a number of treatments are available, for instances, injectable filler, radiofrequency, dermabrasion, and botulium toxin.

Skin Discolouration is referred as skin pigmentation abnormality where large portions of skin turn unusual shade, lighter or darker. It affects patches of skin or entire body. This results from several factors. Some are natural, such as birthmarks. Others are related to factors such as hormone, medication, and sun exposure which causes melanin (pigment substances) becomes damaged or unhealthy. Types of pigmentation problems are age spots, solar lentigines, freckles and Melasma spots. Products contain glycolic acid, bearberry extract, kojic acid, L-ascorbic acid, and licorice extract may help lighten the pigmentation by interrupting melanogenesis; and preventing erythema indued by UVB.

Sensitive skin can be caused by a genetic predisposition or by a lifestyle that lacks minerals and antioxidants. And these lead to reduced barrier function, heightened neurosensory function or increased immune responsiveness. Sensitive skin is thin and fine textured. It often feels tingly, tight, or uncomfortable without any visible signs of stress. Meanwhile it reacts quickly temperature changes, and become red and blotchy after contact with some detergents, fragrances, or alcohols that are used on the skin. Hence, people with sensitive and dry skin can be treated by avoidance of all soap or detergents. And many AHA products should be treated with caution, particularly glycolic acid products, as these will also aggravate skin dryness. While a moisturiser containing skin’s physiological fatty acids, cholesterol and ceramides may increase skin barrier repair and functions.

Enlarged pores are concern for many women of all ages and skin types, especially for those with oily and combination skin. This is due to the hormonal changes, previous acnes, skin congestion, dehydration and improper diet. UV exposure causes the skin cells to collect around the pores, meanwhile causes the breakdown of collagen and elastin. Hence, the pores begin to enlarge. Further ignorance will cause the pores become larger and larger and may be easily clogged which usually leads to congestion, acne and skin discolorations. Active ingredient such as L-ascorbic acid is very effective in refining open pores and improving skin resilience. As high concentration of L-ascorbic acid can cause dehydration, good moisturizing agents should be followed after the usage.

Scars, also called cicatrices, are area of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin tissue after injury and is natural part of wound healing process. The body cannot re-build the tissue exactly as it was, so scar formed and have a different texture and quality than the surrounding normal tissue. Acne scar is form when wound healing takes place in the area of injured tissue due to inflamed acne. The greater the inflammation, the more likely scarring is to occur. There are treatments to expedite the fading process of acne scar from the skin such as Vitamin E, dermabrasion and collagen injection.

Dry skin, also referred as xerosis, is a condition of rough, dehydrated skin with fine scaling of skin and, occasionally, with small cracks in the skin. Often itchy, dry skin is caused by environmental factors, such as sun exposure and frequent bathing, and by medical conditions, such as atopic dermatitis and malnutrition. Dry skin develops due to a decrease in the natural oils (ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids) in the outer layer of skin, which makes the skin lose water. Products with high concentration of hyluronic acid and essential amino acids can help bind moisture in the dermal connective tissue.

Different kinds of skin problems developed due to different causes and different products with specified ingredients which are specially designed for that particular problems should be use accordingly to solve the base of your problems.

Quinoa: One of Nature's Healthiest Protein-Rich Foods

If you're looking for a truly healthy food that is rich in protein that your body can easily digest and use, look no further than quinoa. Called the "mother of grains" by the Incan empire, quinoa is native to South America, and is naturally rich in all nine essential amino acids - these are amino acids that we humans can't make from other nutrients, and must obtain from our diet.

Quinoa is particularly rich in lysine, an amino acid that is needed for growth and repair of our tissues. In some individuals, lysine is especially helpful in preventing cold sores, especially when combined with intake of natural vitamin C and avoidance of foods that are rich in arginine.

When cooked, quinoa has a slightly nutty flavor that goes well with its fluffy texture. It's gluten-free, and is a good source of a number of micronutrients, most notably iron, magnesium, copper, and phosphorus.

Which is healthiest oil for cooking??

If you're not sure how to choose healthy oils for cooking, it's important that you understand the essential differences between saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Once you understand, you'll know which commonly available oils are good for your health.

Here's a look at the basic differences between the three types of fatty acids that are found in all commonly available oils:
Saturated fatty acids pack together tightly, making oils that contain a large percentage of them extremely stable when exposed to heat and light. Oils that have a high percentage of saturated fatty acids are your best choice for cooking.
Monounsaturated fatty acids do not pack together as tightly as saturated fatty acids do. They are relatively stable when exposed to heat, so oils that contain a high percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids are a fair choice for cooking.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids do not pack together very well. They are unstable when extracted out of whole foods, so oils that have a high percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids tend to produce significant amounts of free radicals when exposed to heat. These oils should never be used for cooking.

So for cooking, it should be clear that oils that contain a high percentage of saturated fatty acids are more stable. Let's look at coconut oil (% Saturated 91.9; % Monounsaturated 6.2;% Polyunsaturated 1.9 ) is by far the healthiest cooking oil. And Palm oil (% Saturated 51.6; % Monounsaturated 38.7;% Polyunsaturated 9.7) is second only to coconut oil in its ability to remain stable when exposed to heat. Next would be Olive Oil: (% Saturated 13.8; % Monounsaturated 75.9;% Polyunsaturated 10.3) Its high percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids makes olive oil relatively stable when exposed to heat. If you have difficulty maintaining your ideal weight, use olive oil sparingly, as its monounsaturated fatty acids are quite long in structure, which makes them more prone to being stored as fat than short or medium chain fatty acids. Believe it or not, butter is less likely to cause weight gain than olive oil because it contains a high percentage of short and medium chain fatty acids!

Peanut oil? Because it has slightly more monounsaturated fatty acids than polyunsaturated fatty acids, peanut oil is relatively stable when exposed to heat. If you use peanut oil, I recommend that you limit use to just a few times per month. While Sesame Oil has almost equal percentages of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (41.5% & 43.6%) . It shouldn't be used for cooking on a regular basis, and should be used raw only on occasion.

Although Canola Oil contains a high percentage of relatively stable monounsaturated fatty acids, canola oil goes rancid quite easily, and relative to olive oil, forms high concentrations of trans fatty acids. Canola oil consumption has also been linked to vitamin E deficiency and heart disease, especially when a person is not getting enough saturated fatty acids in his or her diet. I recommend staying away from canola oil whenever possible. Same thing happens to Corn, Sunflower, Safflower, and Cottonseed Oils! I recommend staying away from these oils completely. All of them contain large percentages of polyunsaturated fatty acids. They also have high concentrations of omega-6 fatty acids, which can cause a variety of health problems Hemp and Flaxseed Oil: I don't recommend cooking with these oils because of their high concentrations of unstable polyunsaturated fatty acids. If their manufacturers have minimized exposure to heat and light with their processing and bottling techniques, a small amount of these oils in their raw forms can be a part of a healthy diet. But it's healthier to eat their seeds freshly ground. Grape seed oil should also be avoided when cooking. As with most other vegetable oils, it contains a high percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids which produce significant amounts of free radicals when exposed to heat.

Based on the information above, I generally recommend using mainly coconut oil and/or olive oil for cooking.

Hydroquinone~the cure worse than the cause

Consumers should be alarmed to read about recent research relating to hydroquinone, the whitening agent in whitening cream causing cancer. Although hydroquinone creams are banned for use in cosmetics you may be still be giving hydroquinone to your cosmetic table without being aware.

Hydroquinone has been used for many years to reduce pigmentation by acting on melanin producing cells. This action can destroy the pigment making cells (melanocytes) and alter the structure of melanosomes (packets of pigment which are made by the melanocytes and passed to new skin cells as they are formed).

Hydroquinone was banned in January 2001 in cosmetics because of the potential damage it can do to the skin in terms of irritating the skin and creating white areas where no pigment can be made or in some cases turning the skin black. It is still prescribed by dermatologists in hospital but they are gradually switching to alternatives as new safety data comes to light. Recent studies have shown the potential of hydroquinone to cause cancer.

Significant importation of hydroquinone creams still occurs from countries where it is yet to be banned and a strong black market trade exists in the Malaysia (26 products). This is bad enough but more concerning is that companies can still sell products containing arbutin and bearberry legally. Arbutin is the glycopyranoside of hydroquinone, may carry similar cancer risks, although there are also claims that arbutin reduces cancer risk. The German Institute of Food Research found that intestinal bacteria can transform arbutin into hydroquinone, which creates an environment favourable for intestinal cancer. It is known that the body excretes 64-75% of arbutin in urine, and arbutin converted to hydroquinone has an antibacterial effect in the urinary tract, hence the use of bearberry in herbal medicine, but it is not known why this substance plays a role in cancer development.This mouthful means that when this molecule is in the skin it breaks down and releases hydroquinone. Bearberry is a natural source of arbutin. So in fact many people are still effectively getting hydroquinone albeit by a different method. This issue of substitute sources of hydroquinone has been raised with the EEC but they have yet to respond; although they have classified hydroquinone as a potential cancer agent.

Hydroquinone has been shown to cause blood cancers such as leukaemia and kidney damage in animal studies. When applied to the skin it is absorbed into the blood stream and excreted via the kidneys but at a slower rate. This tells us that hydroquinone accumulates in the body. It is broken down in the bone marrow to p-benzoquinone and this is where long term damage may originate.

Hydroquinone creams are routinely used for four to six weeks minimum and many people use it for social lightening of a dark complexion over many years. There is strong evidence now that safer alternatives should be used which are as effective in many cases but without the long term risks.

This information has been brought to light by a recent review by Dr W Westerhof and T J Kooyers of the Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders and the Department of
Dermatology at the University on the health risks of hydroquinone and its analogues. They are pleading with the authorities to ban all sources of hydroquinone immediately.

Skin Care ingredient glossary

Looking for most effective skin care? most suitable for your skin needs? oh..you have to know what actually inside your miracle skin care!
Aloe Vera -Helps moisturize, soothe and regenerate healthy skin cells. Effective with acne and wrinkle skin.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids -Are natural, non-toxin substance found in foods and plants. In many skin conditions there is too much thickening of the stratum corneum which is the outer dead layer of skin. Alpha Hydroxy works as fruit acid that soften the "physiological glue" that holds the skin dead cells surface together. Without a build-up of this unused skin surface, the skin can become healthier, youthful, and damage skin can diminished.
Allantoin -A derivative of the herb Comfrey, which is known for its soothing and smoothing properties. This vital "anti-aging" attribute of Kinetin also appears to extend to our skin cells.
Antioxidant- Free-Radical particles cause our bodies to produce nasty-by-products when exposed to the sun, air pollution, smoking or even alcohol and foods. Antioxidants help stop the damage caused by this and also help the skin fight against wrinkles, bad complexion and signs of skin aging. Among the best are: Beta Carotene, Vitamin A, C, E and herbals: Ginkgo Biloba, Rose Hips, Garlic, Grape seed, Bilberry, Green TEA, Pycnogenol and Seaweed.
Buffer AHAs -The first of its kind in AHAs, so advanced that there is a patent pending on this formulation. Buffer is designed especially for maximum results with minimum irritation.
Caprille/Caprie Triglyceride Caprille moisturize the skin, these natural fatty acids are needed to maintain the skins moisture without clogging the pores.
Cocoa Butter -Cocoa Butter is absorbed quickly into the skin to soften, lubricated, moisten and nutrients the skin. Works great to prevent and treat scars, stretch marks, and damage skin
Collagen (protein) -The primary beauty nutrients in the body. Collagen is needed for the strength and support your skin requires to fight wrinkles and retain its youthful resiliency. Chamomile -Chamomile is effective in soothing and healing the surface of the skin. Promotes the regeneration of skin cells

Clove/ Cinnamon- Improves circulation and helps stimulate blood flow.
Comfrey -encourages the growth of new cells and repair of the skin. Helps protect the skin against aging.
Ginkgo Biloba -stimulates circulation, also a powerful antioxidant.
Glycerin -Derived mainly from vegetable fats, it is used as a moisturizer and emollient.
Horsetail -A rich organic ingredient that gives the skin a firmer, youthful and smoother look. Horsetail improves elasticity, giving skin the ability to spring back into shape.
Hydroquinone -is the most effective lightening compound on the market today. Because this is a highly concentrated ingredient can cause irritation on sensitive skin and should be use with caution.
Kojic Acids -This is a natural herb, known for its lightening effects. Because the FDA only allows the use of 2% Hydroquinone in a cosmetic product, Kojic Acid is use to boots the lightenineffects.
Jojoba Oil -Jojoba oil is called "liquid gold" An extraordinary balancing oil, which helps regulate under-active and overactive oil glands.
Liposome -Liposome are advanced natural fatty acids that hold the skins natural moisture in the skin. This is especially important for hydrating dry and aging skin. The lack of moisture is the number one cause of wrinkles and dry skin damage. These fatty acids can come from Lecithin.
Mint-Mint is used for cleansing and stimulating the skin tissue.
Safflower /Sunflower Oil -These natural oils are rich in fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Works as natural lubrication to moisturizer the skin.
Sage -Sage is an astringent stimulating herb, good for circulation to skin tissues. It contains an estrogen-like active ingredient with a tautening effects on aging skin.
Shea Butter -Shea Butter is deep penetrating and long acting. Is needed to restore the skin's moisture balance and prevent visible signs of aging and wrinkles.
Squalane -Derived from olives, uses to keep skin soft and supple.
TEA -Tea is excellent for putting oxygen into the skin tissue. This herb also fights Free-Radicals that are aging and destructive to the skin.
Micellized Vitamins-These patent skin vitamins are small molecules vitamins that were specifically developed for topical application. Smaller molecules vitamins results in greater absorption into the skin than any other vitamins.
Vitamin A -Helps increase skin elasticity to decrease fine lines and bring about healthier, supple skin.
Vitamin C -Vitamin C and/or Rose Hips helps neutralize free radical activity and promotes collagen synthesis.
Vitamin E -Known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant properties. Vitamin E helps trap free - radicals before they can damage skin cells

Eat Collagen supplement or foods promote collagen?

If you wish to know more about the collagen, collagen supplement and more facts regarding collagen, please go to my previous post: Collagen supplement,must or waste?!

Collagen fibers are made from protein, and they are somewhat unusual in having large amounts of two amino acids, called hydroxylysine and hydroxyproline. Unfortunately, we haven't seen any research studies to support the addition of high lysine or high proline foods as a way of promoting collagen formation. Nonetheless, it would seem logical for consumption of foods high in lysine and proline to be potentially helpful in collagen support. Animal foods are the primary source of both amino acids. With respect to proline, egg whites appear to be an especially good source of proline from amongst the animal foods. And we've found one important exception to the animal versus plant proline rule - wheat germ. This plant-based component has much more proline than would normally be expected from a plant food.
All of the lean meats, the low-fat dairy products, and the fish would be especially concentrated sources of lysine. One plant food category would be an exception to the animal versus plant lysine rule - that category is legumes (and particularly peanuts). One final note about lysine, proline, and collagen would involve the importance of vitamin C. This vitamin is required to change proline into hydroxyproline (the collagen form) and lysine into hydroxylysine (once again, the collagen form). While you are trying to support your collagen tissue, you should remember that overall protein intake - both quality and quantity - is important. You may need to go beyond the RDA protein level of 46 grams (for adult women) and 56 grams (for adult men) to achieve this goal. You may also need to include a variety of foods that provide protein. Nuts, seeds, and legumes would all be food categories to consider.
Some of the diseases involving collagen damage have been found to improve with the addition of certain foods or food components to the diet. However, the research in this area tends to involve animals versus humans, and the experiments have often used food extracts or nutrient supplements instead of foods themselves. In this category, however, garlic has been a standout food, and two sulfur-containing nutrients - the amino acid taurine and the organic acid lipoid acid - have also shown the ability to support damaged collagen fibers.
Finally, you may want to consider two categories of phytonutrients as particularly important in a collagen-building meal plan. Those phytonutrients are catechins and anthocyanidins. In the research literature, the catechins found in green tea have been shown to help prevent breakdown of collagen, and for this reason we would definitely recommend that you consider green tea as a potential collagen support food. The anthocyanidins found in deep-colored, red-blue berries and fruits (including cherries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries) have been shown to work in a somewhat different way. These phytonutrients help the collagen fibers link together in a way that strengthens the connective tissue matrix.

We understand that you have no time to read through the bla..bla bla...so the very short list of collagen building fruit would be: Proline: egg white, wheat germ; Lysine: lean meat, fish, legume-peanut; Vitamin C;garlic; catechin:green tea; anthocyanidins:cherries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.

Osteoporosis~misunderstood health condition

Purpose:To help you identify the essential choices that we must make on a regular basis to minimize your risk of developing osteoporosis. First, get yourself of clear picture of the physical structure and functions of your bones. Well, you can also skept this part and directly go to the ways to maintain the healthy bone....

Physical structure of Bones:
are active organs that are filled with a number of different tissues, the main ones being bone tissue (hardened minerals), bone marrow, specialized tissues that line different sections of your bones (endosteum and periosteum), cartilage, blood vessels, and nerves.

Functions Of bones:Production of blood cells (hematopoiesis).Maintenance of delicate acid-alkaline(pH approximately 7.35 to 7.45) balance within your blood by providing a buffering mechanism. Provision of structural framework and protection. A few to be listed.

Re-modeling of bone:This remodeling process is mainly carried out by two types of cells that exist within your bones according to your needs and circumstances. :
Osteoblasts - Responsible for new bone production.
Osteoclasts - Responsible for removing damaged or unneeded cells.

Hormones that have some effects to bones:

Growth hormone
Testosterone
Estrogen
Progesterone
Thyroid hormones (T4, T3 and their derivatives)
Cortisol
Erythropoietin
At this point, it should be clear that primarily focusing on how much calcium you need to take each day is not likely to ensure that you build and maintain healthy bones.

How to Build and Maintain Healthy Bones
1. Be physically active.
No other facet of your life has greater impact on the health of your bones.
Your body is designed to adapt all of your organs -- your bones included -- to your specific needs. If you are physically active, your body will work to make your bones as strong and flexible as possible with its resources. If you lead a relatively sedentary lifestyle, your body will not work to produce and maintain strong bones since your lifestyle is not signaling a need for such bones.
2. Eat mineral-rich foods on a regular basis.
Your body needs much more than calcium supplements to build and maintain healthy bones. When you consider that your bones are comprised of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, manganese, zinc, iron, silica, and many other trace minerals, it should be clear that eating mineral-rich foods is far superior to taking calcium-based supplements when it comes to providing real nourishment for your bones. Examples are green vegetables and herbs.
3. Consider drinking mineral-rich broths on a regular basis.
Broths that are made by simmering bones and a variety of vegetables for an hour or longer are a fantastic source of calcium and other minerals that can be used to keep your bones strong and flexible.
4. Ensure adequate vitamin D status.
Adequate amounts of vitamin D must be present in your body for calcium in your foods to be optimally absorbed and used.
5. Eat high quality fats and cholesterol.
Consumption of high quality fats optimizes the absorption of vitamins A and D into your bloodstream. And vitamin A is needed to keep your intestinal lining healthy and readily able to absorb minerals in the foods that you eat. For these reasons, it's virtually impossible to have optimally healthy bones and teeth without including healthy fats in your diet.
Here are some examples of foods that are rich in healthy fats:
Extra virgin olive oil
Avocados
Organic eggs from cage-free birds
Soaked nuts and seeds (about a handful per day at most)
Cold-water fish and high quality fish oils
Coconuts and coconut oil
Bone broths
Organically raised red and white meats (should be eaten sparingly if eaten at all - with proper planning, there is no physiological requirement for red and white meats)
6. Learn how to effectively manage emotional stress.
Chronic emotional stress can elevate the level of cortisol in your blood. Cortisol is useful for combating stress, but if it remains elevated in your system over the long term, it can cause the matrix of your bones to weaken. Corticosteroid drugs can also weaken your bones and cause osteoporosis if used in large quantities and/or over the long term.
7. Avoid regular consumption of foods that may cause your bones to lose calcium.
Acid-forming foods are foods that bring the pH of your blood down. Because you cannot survive if the pH of your blood moves outside a very narrow range (7.35 to 7.45), your body must buffer the effects of acid-forming foods to maintain a healthy blood pH level. One of the main ways in which your body buffers acid-forming foods is to take calcium from your bones and use it to neutralize the remnants of acid-forming foods. If your body is repeatedly forced to do this, your bones may be weakened.
Foods that are strongly acid-forming in your blood and should not be staples in your diet include:
Artificial sweeteners
Soft drinks (pop)
Sugar
Cookies, cakes, and pastries made with white flour
Table salt
Alcohol
8. Regularly eat foods that are rich in vitamin C.
Collagen is a long, fibrous protein that is critical to providing your bones with tensile strength. In short, the more quality collagen that you have in your bones, the more physical stress that your bones can tolerate before breaking.
Your body needs vitamin C to synthesize collagen. Please note that there is a big difference between the full vitamin C complex found in real foods and synthetic forms of vitamin C found in many nutritional supplements.

I hope that this article makes it clear that your bones are active organs that are slowly supported or eroded by every food and lifestyle choice that you make. Addressing osteoporosis with a calcium supplement or drug without regard for your overall health will not allow you to build and maintain the healthiest bones that your genetics and upbringing will allow.

Art - The naked Women

The naked women~~my second drawing, i am not specially keen to draw the naked women but i don't how to draw the clothes when they putting on, i meant the natural lines, shadow of the fabric....hai..the facial contour is weird, dont know how to improve. Somebody can teach? or any opinion?

Understanding the skin care product's ingredient list

The vast majority of skin care products have a complete list of ingredients on the label, whether active or inactive, lumped together without any distinction because the law called "The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act," requires all ingredients to be listed with the listing guidelines.

First, you need to figurout the active ingredients that you needed from the list (i will post the active ingredients list later in this blog later).Once you are satisfied with active ingredients in the list, you need to figure out if they are present in sufficient amounts. If you are in luck, the concentration may be stated on the label, but typically it isn't. As per The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, the listing begins with the ingredient present in the largest concentration (typically water, oil and other vehicles) and moves downward, often ending with trace elements. You shouldn't expect an active ingredient to be in the first or second spot, but if it is near the end of a long list, it is most likely present in a very small amount. Admittedly, some active ingredients, such as estrogens, work in trace amounts, but many require a reasonably high concentration to be effective. The position of the ingredient on the list can give you at least a rough idea if its concentration is sufficient.
There are some exceptions to the rule of descending concentrations in the listing. If one of the ingredients is classified as a drug, then the drug is listed prior to all other ingredients regardless of its concentration. A well known example is Retin A, whose active ingredient tretinoin is classified as a drug.
Patented or otherwise "secret" formulas do not need to disclose the combination of active ingredients but the company must submit an application to the FDA in order to list the alias instead of disclosing the ingredients on the label.
Colors and fragrance are typically listed last, regardless of concentration (although typically their concentration is low anyway).
Sometimes active ingredients are listed separately. For example, this is typical for UV blocking ingredients in sunscreens.
Your final step in investigating the ingredient list is to look at all (or at least the most concentrated) ingredients and make sure they are compatible with your skin. Avoid the ones to which you know you are sensitive, allergic or otherwise individually reactive. If you are prone to acne, take particular care to avoid comedogenic ingredients. Also, some ingredients have significant potential to be harmful to the skin and should be avoided even if you do not have particular sensitivity to them. Look for them at potential harmful chemicals.

my 1st artwork(drawing)

Normally, i meant in our mindset, only the children or teenager willl join the drawing class...well, i joined the drawing class at this old age,at the age people suppose to work hard for their "career"..to fulfill what i wanted when i was still a child. So how do you think about my very first art work? I make them into different colour to represent different mood and character. Life is bored, at least for me, less of determination to complete various pieces of stuffs. Drawing, perhaps can fill some colours into my life, and concentration, to temporarily forget about the soreness in my life. Do peace and cheer re-gain!

炒作保养品 便宜也不能买!

现在市面上的保养产品众多，加之各商家的大肆炒作，我们在选保养品的时候，往往只看广告宣传语，而忽略了很多细节方面的东西。今天我就总结了几条常见的购买误区，希望对大家都有用哦。
陷阱一：声称添加了植物萃取精华，价格又便宜的让人心动
破解：一般植物萃取精华的价格都很贵，如果保养品的价格在30、40元，那么有两种可能，一种是根本没有添加，另一种是一大桶里添加了1滴。如某婴儿品牌产品，也声称加了植物精华，售价却在10-20元之间，加之巨额的广告费用，想的出产品成本有多少，那么添加的东西真的如他所宣传的吗？
陷阱二：声称不含矿物油，价格也便宜的让人心动
破解：大家要先清楚一个概念：矿物油不是含有矿物质的油，而是从石油里提炼出来的油。因为长期使用含有矿物油的产品会让肌肤老化，所以现在皮肤医师都在倡导使用植物油。另外oil-free，不是不含油，而是指不含植物油。无论哪种保养品都要含油，只是含油的好坏、多少有分别。同上，植物油的成本远高于矿物油的成本，如果价格十分便宜，那么购买的时候也要留心了。

陷阱三：标榜纯天然、不含防腐剂，保质期却有3-5年
破解：不含防腐剂？可以做到吗？可以的！自己在家DIY保养品，一般可保存1-3天。此处仍然要清楚一个概念：不含防腐剂，是指不含化学防腐剂。一般含有化学防腐剂的产品保质期相对较长，含量多也可以使保质期延长。保质期在3-5年的产品，基本上都多多少少添加了化学防腐剂。而现在倡导的不含防腐剂，其实是在产品里添加了植物防腐剂，大家都知道有些汉方植物是天然的防腐高手，现在好的保养品就是利用植物萃取来做防腐。这样就不会对皮肤造成伤害了。一般含有天然植物防腐剂的产品保质期在2年以内。
陷阱四：声称不添加香料，可以闻到很浓的水果香味
破解：大家可以想想哦，平时吃的水果，能闻到多浓的味道呢？虽然现在很多厂商很厉害，可以用香料调配出真正水果的味道，但味道太浓就不像是真的了吧。我们即使是把水果榨成汁，也不会闻到很浓的味道。也许加入植物萃取精油会闻的出一些味道吧。
因此，在选择保养品时一定要睁大眼睛哦！不要被表面现象欺骗了！从观察细节入手，选择一款真正好品质的保养品！

Collagen supplement, Must Or WASTE?!!(beauty purpose)

Recently..er...i meant this few years,due to the celebrities effects, many girls are hooked to collagen supplement(pills,drink,or powder), believed can restore elasticity and health of aging skin, reduce the signs of wrinkles and fine lines, help in weight lose bla...bla..bla..., to list a few. Well, is this miracle supplement really miracle? Let's look at the factssss now and wake up girls!

What happens to our body as we age?

-Our teen's /early 20's: abundance of growth hormone; collagen is used as the building protein for this growth. -mid twenties: growth hormone diminishes; collagen (produced by the liver) is used to promote healthy muscles and build existing muscles. -age of 25 above: the amount of collagen produced by our bodies reduces at a rate of between 1 to 1.5% per annum.

What is collagen & why we need it?

Collagen is a fibrous protein found in vertebrates, the major element of skin, bone, tendon, cartilage, blood vessels and teeth. It forms insoluble fibers of high tensile strength and which contains the unusual amino acids hyroxyproline and hydroxylysine. Collagen supports the skin, which is why the loss of collagen results in sagging skin and wrinkles. Collagen also supports the body's natural movements.

Sources of collagen in collagen supplement?

Up until now the most common sources of Collagen have been derived from sharks, chickens and bovine. Plant collagen is very different to animal collagen and therefore has an extremely low absorption rate (sorry for vegetarian~~~i think white fungus will help).

Before further discussing about the effectiveness of each sources of collagen, we have to understanding that there are 3 types of collagen: type I, type II, and type III. Type II is for joint relief while type I and type II are believed to be assist in skin aging.

Shark collagen from shark cartilage tends to be very expensive and although has some merit in cancer prevention, the absorbency rate for humans is still quite low. Collagen from chickens is quite a good source and this type is particularly suited to joint relief. Bovine collagen is the most potent and closest in type to our own. Even though bovine source is the most potent producing capsules by this method, it still only ends up with a product that is 15% bio available (amount absorbed into the body).

OH NO, the facts?

For those who do not have a medical background, it may make sense that If collagen loss leads to skin sagging and wrinkles, then replenishing collagen either orally or through creams should restore elasticity and health of aging skin. But, it doesn't work this way. There's no scientific proof that collagen, applied topically, can penetrate the epidermis. The collagen molecules are very complex and large and would not penetrate, and even if collagen did penetrate, it would not be able to incorporate itself within the complex collagen structure in the skin. There is no evidence at this time that collagen supplements lead to weight loss. The good side is, there is believe no adverse effect on consuming collagen supplement though it may be no beneficial effects on you nor your skin. More research results.

Consumers' review~~~how they said?

90% of consumers said they see no changes in their skin after consuming collagen for 3 months.

10% of consumers said their skin texture improved and looked smooth after taking collagen for 3 months. No doubt, how many percentage are placebo effects or due to other factors.... And there is one joke, stated that you may take gelatin powder and mix with water and drink...they are collagen too and cost RM1 plus....

If you insist to give it a go....Determine accompanying supplements!

Vitamin C's prime function is to make collagen, and Lysine aids in collagen formation. If you cannot tolerate Vitamin C supplements due to gout or other medications, consider the C Ester form of Vitamin C that is known as Ascorbyl Palmatate, it is readily available and is less acidic so the body tolerates it better. If you cannot take Vitamin C as a supplement, look to increase your Vitamin C food intake, as collagen must have Vitamin C to work.

Good luck all.....

Really? increased SPF = better protection?

I stay in Malaysia, well known for its sunny wheather, "Hot! very hot!" are the words we used to shout and complaint about the good wheather. As we, girls, wanted to whiter (skin tone) and brighter skin, sun is our biggest enermy! Dont tell me about the skin cancer, pre-mature skin, ageing bla-bla, we usually seek for sun protecter just because we scare of getting darken skin due to donno what effects. heh! here are some facts you have to know(From The Times, New York)!

Everyone knows that an SPF rating of 60 provides double the protection of SPF 30 — or does it?
Studies over the years have shown that sunscreen with an SPF, or sun protection factor, of 30 blocks about 97 percent of ultraviolet rays. A rating of 15 means 93 percent of UV rays are blocked, and anything higher than 30 remains in the 97 or 98 percent range.
What many people do not realize is that the amount of sunscreen applied plays an enormous role. A study in The British Journal of Dermatology this year found that applying less than two ounces over the entire body at one time can leave people with an SPF rating far lower than what is on the bottle. Some studies have shown that people typically apply just 10 percent of the amount recommended.
It is also important to look for sunscreens that protect against UVA and UVB radiation. SPF ratings apply only to UVB rays, and some sunscreens provide no protection at all against UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply. For broad protection, look for sunscreens with avobenzone, zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, all of which block UVA.

THE BOTTOM LINE
Above SPF 30, the increased protection is minimal.

So, dont invest your money for higher SPF anymore (higher SPF usually costs you more) but pay attention to the quantity and frequency you apply, and is recommended to apply the sunscreen 30 minutes before you go under the sun. And it is better for you to re-apply after hours.

The Sunny Side of Egg~Sharing

The original articles is from Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times and i would like to share some of the points there and also my opinions. The Times’s new “Recipes for Health” feature focuses on eggs, a topic sure to cause confusion for those of us who have been told for years that eggs aren’t a health food.
But most medical experts agree eggs have a healthful place in a balanced diet. As the Berkeley Wellness Letter, from the University of California at Berkeley, reported in March, eggs have an undeserved bad reputation because of their high cholesterol content. Although there are 210 miligrams in the yolk of a large egg, the newsletter notes that for most people eggs don’t raise blood cholesterol. “They may even be good for your heart in some ways,'’ the newsletter reports, noting that eggs have unsaturated fat, B vitamins and other nutrients. In addition, there is some evidence that people feel fuller after eating eggs and that regular egg consumption may boost eye health.

And, as shown in some egg studies, dietary cholesterol causes the body to produce HDL (“good”) cholesterol along with LDL (“bad”) cholesterol in these “hyper-responders,” thus helping offset potential adverse effects. Moreover, the LDL particles that form are larger in size — and larger LDL particles are thought to be less dangerous than small ones. In studies at the University of Connecticut, for example, eating three eggs a day for 30 days increased cholesterol in susceptible people, but their LDL particles were larger, and there was no change in the ratio between LDL and HDL, which suggests no major change in coronary risk.

Converse opinion, or research results on the fact that whether egg is friend or fraud to us, or on anything. As for me, i will not simply believe on one or two research/journals anymore as after years facts will not be the facts anymore, in fact, they might be totally different from what you learnt earlier. Go moderate!

Toxics in Skin Care~~~

Compared to my previous post regarding the paraben in the skin care product, now i would like to share a brief on other ingredients found in everyday skin cara product...and they are toxins...

Methyl Paraben (Preservative)
Risk - may cause allergic skin reactions; possible increase in the risk of breast cancer; irritation to eyes; skin and respiratory tract

Propylene Glycol (PG)
Risk - skin rashes; dry skin; respiratory; immuno and neurotoxicity; delayed contact allergy

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
Risk - skin, eye and mucous irritation; dry skin; eczema; mouth ulcers; liver and gastrointestinal toxicity

Triethanolamine (TEA)
Risk - allergic contact dermitits; skin irritation; may react with nitrites to form nitrosamines which are carcinegenic corrosive to the eyes .

The list might go on.

So after go through so many journals/acticles about the negative side of those ingredient, though the theory have not been confirmed, it is clear for me that i would rather go for organic or at least natural products without burning my pocket. However, sad to say so, many minimal choice of organic skin care products available in Malaysia market or those high-end products which we need to share their advertisement budget...

Best Vitamins for weight loss?!

Here are the vitamins for people who wish to lose some weight more effectively and maintain their body weight after weight-loss. they are not slimming pills to "slim" you but providing help.

The most important vitamins and minerals for weight loss are: Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Choline (part of B-complex), Inositol (part of B-complex), and Vitamin C.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): for normal thyroid function and metabolism. Good food sources of vitamin B2 include: Milk, liver and kidney, almonds, hard cheese, eggs, wheatgerm, leafy green vegetables, Marmite.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin): Like B2, vitamin B3 is essential for normal thyroid hormone production. Vitamin B3 is also part of the glucose tolerance factor (GTF) which is released every time blood sugar rises. Good food sources of Vitamin B3 include: Wheat bran, liver, tuna, turkey, chicken, meat, eggs, mackerel, salmon, oats, barley, wheatflakes, cheese, dried fruit, brown rice.
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) :Any deficiency of Vitamin B5 interferes with our capacity to utilise fat. Vitamin B5 also plays an important role in energy production and assists adrenal function. Good food sources of Vitamin B5 include: liver and kidney, meat, poultry, nuts, wheatflakes, wheat bran, wheatgerm, eggs, molasses, oats, barley, beans, wholegrain bread, green vegetables.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) : Vitamin B6 regulates the production of thyroid hormone and metabolism. Also assist in premenstrual water retention / edema. Good food sources of Vitamin B6, brewer's yeast, wheat bran, wheatgerm, oats, sardines, mackerel, poultry, beef, avocado, bananas, brown rice, cabbage, dried fruit, molasses, eggs.
Choline :A member of the Vitamin B complex, choline is not a real vitamin as it is made in the liver. Choline is needed for efficient fat metabolism. Choline deficiency leads to fats becoming trapped in the liver. Good sources of choline include: lecithin, beef liver, beef heart, egg yolks, wheatgerm, cauliflower, cucumber, peanuts.
Inositol : Like choline, inositol is a member of the vitamin B complex and is also manufactured inside the body. Inositol combines with choline to assist in fat metabolism. Good sources of inositol include: lecithin, beef heart, beef liver, wheatgerm, soy, eggs, citrus fruits, wholegrains, nuts.
Vitamin C : provides a range of health benefits including proper conversion of glucose to energy in the cells. Good food sources of vitamin C include: blackcurrants, broccoli, green peppers, kiwi fruits, Brussels Sprouts, lemons, oranges, strawberries, cabbage.

The information is for myself as well.

legal cheating activity (2) - slimming

I am the member of Hai-O, and so glad that i received the birthday greeting from Hai-O . Inside, there was voucher from Bizzy Body, so called slimming expert, for e-intense body detox slimming treatment worth RMY520, is totaly free!

I went Puchong branch for the treatment , , the consultant cum therapist is May. She checked my body weight, height, % water content, % body fat. BMI is 18, is normal , but she just telling me that i have to lose another few kiloes, bear in mind that my body fat is only 18.9%! ohhh....the problem is my % water content is toooo high, 58% compared to normal 30-40%. So water retention is major problem especially lower part of body. From there i need to reduce that but not the fat. And then she started to explain to body treatment, the detox, to activate my lymph system?! However she is more emphasize on Radio frequency for the partial body treatment, this is charged. RM460 per treatment, per 30 mins, to reduce the cellulite on my thigh. Kept on persuing....

Not to cure the major but go to the monor first, not to meet the customer's need but money first policy, will never success the business.

i rejected to try the radio frequency treatment and then she told me that she will only do the half of the treatment for me? half of the treatment! never heard of such thing before and book for another time for the least. And asked me to try together for Radio frequency treatment the another half! Aha...the purpose...

And what is radio frequency?
Radio frequency (RF) is a frequency or rate of oscillation within the range of about 3 Hz to 300 GHz. This range corresponds to frequency of alternating current electrical signals used to produce and detect radio waves. And normally the frequency in slimming center is 500 Hz.

Principles of Radio Frequency?
By applying high frequency into the tissues of human body, the vibration current energy will be changed into bio-thermal energy without ion movement as the range of vibration is very short. RF has a deep thermal effect that can heat a particular part of the body without any stimulation of nerves, therefore it does not cause pain or any down-time. The biothermal energy increases the tissue temperature and enhance the energy at the cellular level, thus stimulating lipolysis and fibroblast(can you imagine? does it make sense?)

The health risk?
RF fields may affect biological systems. General health effects reviews explore possible carcinogenic, reproductive and neurological effects.

Lastly, you may try if you are rich and dare to take risk!

burnt money to be pretty

I will only spend money for only 2 stuffs--------pretty and healthy! Yet they are linked.
Of course pretty the no. 1 :

Eat to be pretty in the sence of beauty skin and slim + fit body, so i am sooooo choocy about the foods, sacrified myself from my favorite ice-cream, cheesy stuffs, noodles ....and go for tasteless tofo, steamed salmon/fish, mountain of organic vegges, untoasted + unsweeten muesli and cereals, unsweeten yogurt, brewer yeast flakes, flax seed, black sesame...(oopss, i must be crazy..)

Drink to be pretty in terms of antiaging, detox, anti-oxidation, combat the free radicals etc,
wonder what i had drink? yes, i drink sugarless soy drink with wheatgrass juice, spirulina with lemon, fruit and flowers tea, chamolie tea to sooth, green tea for anticancer, ginseng tea for?, natural phyto fibers, pysylium husk, apple vinegar with honey, herbal tong shui with mollasses sugar etc...everything can put into the mouth which believe to be beneficial to pretty then i will get a try...

definitely i will take food supplement such as evening primirose oil, vit. E, Calsium and multi vit and minerals, recently heard about the natural made vit B and i will give it a try as Vit B complex can increase your metabolism rate, means that will burn your energy faster and you will not get fat easily..i tried to take pynocare, collagen and co-enzyme Q10 before but seem no result, how about you guys?

Skin care to be pretty in terms of whiter, more even skin tone, smooth , firmer, silky skin, to lighten up my face, i try alpha arbutin serum + massage, and also the L-ascorbic acids serum alternately. Arbutin is more effective but it is sunlight sensitive/ cause you to be sensitive to the sunlight(the bad thing). Rosehip oil to moisture and smoothe my skin... Hyaluronic acid for hydrating(it can absorb environmental water up to 500 x), i make the mask myself, hyaluronic acid with Avene spring water to hydrate and soothe your skin, soak the mask sheet in the solution will do. And also co-enzyme Q10 moisturiser for firmer skin.

Body? scrub once or twice a week at least, sea salt is believe to smoothen your skin...i mix it with olive oil...Yes, virgin coconut oil is hot, but its due to mid-chain fatty acids body health and is too much to use them in skin care, then lotion them after bath...foot spa, to be cheaper, DIY at home, too much to say...to be women, i take care of myself from hair to toe.

Exercise/work-out to be pretty in terms of toning my body, keep my metabolism rate high, sweating, and to be fit, and fit... haha, these do not need to spend money, emh, at least pair of shoe.

I also do some ridiculous so-called exercise to contour my body and reduce the water retention..
also money saving...

Conclusion, i live for pretty! i work for pretty (to earn money to buy those stuffs!) i burn the money for pretty, i am mentally sick for pretty...who can help me?

亲人因為乳癌過世(胸部保健)

說到女性胸部的保健，
乳癌一直在女性的前十大死因中居高不下。

也有亲人因為乳癌在去年過世，
完全瞒着我们，至到末期， 因為癌細胞擴散，
接受化療两次后，
沒多久日子便過世了。

一个很错误的观念，为何生病了就要瞒着亲人，
觉得不要拖援时间，不要让自己受更多的苦，
别这样，
请让我们知道，请让我们支持你，
请为自己，为我们活下去！

在這裡POST一下乳癌自我檢查的步驟：
乳房自我檢測的最佳時機為月經完3-5天內，停經者則自選每月固定一日檢查。
檢測方式：站立時，雙手自然下垂，站在鏡子前面觀察乳房皮膚、
外觀、形狀、大小，之後雙手往後放在臀部，讓胸部突出，及雙手向上舉起，
觀察乳房皮膚、外觀、形狀、大小。
平躺時，胸後墊小枕頭，讓乳腺撐平，使用指腹以順時鐘，
或從乳頭以放射狀的方向觸摸有無硬塊及異樣。
胸部有硬塊，合併有乳頭分泌物時，惡性乳癌的可能性非常高，

每位女性應對自己的乳房有完整的保健概念，
-(1)減少酒精(one drink a day or avoid alcohol completely)，-(2)维持正常体重，尤其在更年期后(Excess fatty tissue is a source of circulating estrogen in your body. And breast cancer risk is linked to how much estrogen you're exposed to during your lifetime.)，-(3) 让身体保持活跃，常运动。-(4)減少高脂肪、高熱量食物的攝取(Results from study of dietary fat and breast cancer risk suggest a slight decrease in risk of invasive breast cancer for women who eat a low-fat diet. )-(5)更你的医生讨论停止长期服用HORMONE。-(6)每月應-定-期自我檢測之外，
超過40歲以上女性宜每年定期至醫院檢查。特別對於乳癌高危險群的人而言，
建議每半年至醫院作乳房檢查，以確保健康。

另外，除了自我檢查外，強烈建議姊姊妹妹們定期去做檢查，
其實自我檢查真的不夠，當你摸的出硬塊，看的到異狀時，
往往早已是很後期，很嚴重的時候了，希望大家都要注意自己的健康，
沒有健康，不管有多少理想都會只剩下空想跟遺憾的。