Type 2 Diabetes - Spirituality and Depression in Diabetes

Depression is a frequent problem for many people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and their healthcare workers. In a study reported in March 2012 in the journal Diabetes Education, investigators looked at spirituality and depression in people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
Two hundred and one adults with diabetes were included in the study. Greater spirituality was associated with a lower measure of depression. It was concluded spiritual values and beliefs of people with a diagnosis of diabetes should be incorporated with diabetes care. Faith-based diabetes education could improve self-care and blood sugar control if patients felt less depressed and more confident.
The study was consistent with a different study reported on in the journal Nursing Research in the fall of 2008. Researchers in Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, United States, looked at religion and spirituality and blood sugar control in a population of American Black women.
The study included 109 Black women with type 2 diabetes...

• having a high level of religious belief and spirituality was associated with good blood sugar control.

From this again, it was suggested that religion and spirituality be included in diabetes care to improve blood sugar control.
Another study, reported in the journal Ethnic Disease in the winter of 2003, reported similar results with blood pressure control in Black women with Type 2 diabetes. Researchers at Yale University, in New Haven, United States, looked at 22 Black women with Type 2 diabetes...

• the diabetics who reported religious and spiritual well-being had lower diastolic blood pressures than those who reported lower religious and spiritual well-being.

The diastolic (lower number) blood pressure indicates the force of blood against the walls of the arteries when the heart is at rest. Having a high diastolic blood pressure indicates the heart is struggling. Heart and blood vessel disease is one of the worst complications of diabetes, so avoiding high blood pressure is important for preventing heart attacks and heart failure.
From this information, it was also concluded that spiritual and emotional health among Black women with Type 2 diabetes could potentially reduce their risk for complications of diabetes.
On the other hand, a study reported in 2004 in the International Journal of Psychiatry and Medicine reported that religious struggles could be associated with increased levels of depression. Investigators at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, United States, examined:

• 71 diabetics,
• 70 people with heart failure, and
• 97 people who had been diagnosed with cancer.

Fifteen per cent reported moderate or high levels of religious struggle, which was associated with higher levels of depression and emotional distress in patients in all three groups. In the end, the choice of religiosity and spirituality is a deeply personal one and one that must be decided by each individual.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6976652

Discover The Right Way to Wash Your Hair To Keep Your Hair Healthy

There are a lot of things we usually do in our life that we don't even realize that we're doing it incorrectly. Let's say washing your hair. This is something that seems incredibly easy. However, you may do it in the wrong way, and you may end up damaging your hair. Here you will see some tips on washing your hair in the correct way.
1. Brush your hair first.
There a few reasons why this is an important step to wash your hair. First, your hair is going to tangle naturally when it's wet. So if you already have a head full of tangles, you'll only exacerbate the problem when you wash your hair. You'll also be pulling on your tangles while washing and rinsing, causing damage to the hair and the follicles.
2. Take a warm and cold shower simultaneously.
Warm water is great for your hair, but the colder water is better for your follicles. For instance, if you're using only warm water the entire time, your hair follicles will remain open, and they can become damaged more easily. You could lose more hair at the root. However, by using cold water too, your follicles close and your hair is strengthened.
3. Wash Your Healthy Hair in Proper Way.
It should start from the scalp and extend out toward the tips of the hair. You should gently massage the shampoo over your scalp and throughout your hair. A solid 30 seconds of massaging is all that's required here. The idea is to ensure that the shampoo is covering every part of the scalp and the hair.
4. Rinse off your hair with water.
This is a simple step that doesn't need many explanations. You'll want to use warm water here, and the only real tip is to let the water naturally rinse the shampoo out of your hair. After you're finished, you should repeat the entire process just to ensure that your scalp and hair is thoroughly cleansed.
5. Avoid chemically based products.
A lot of shampoo and conditioner products out there today contain unwanted chemical s that m ay react badly with your scalp or with your hair type. It's always best to use a natural product and not a product that has any color enhancer or chemical thickener in it. Harsh shampoos can irritate the scalp, dam age your hair, and possibly even cause your hair to fall out. This is obviously something you want to avoid.
Only few people think that they need a guide to wash their hair in the shower, but there are millions people who are doing it the wrong way. These tips illustrate the proper way to do things so you're not causing any damage to your hair while washing it. If you can follow these simple tips, you should have no trouble keeping a great-looking head of hair.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6986492

Hair Care Tips - How to Achieve the Healthiest Looking Hair

Everyone, whether male or female, is judged by their hair. Is it messy and dirty or clean and well-kept? If you want to leave a good impression on others, the beautiful hair is definitely a vital part of that impression. People invest hundreds or even thousands of dollars to keep their hair looking great and pretty. Here you can find the cheapest way to keep your hair healthy. There are some simple steps that you can take to keep it beautiful!
1. Try to eat some protein-rich foods
If you are not eating enough nutrients to support your hair growth, your hair might not grow optimally. One of the best nutrients in foods which is essential for hair growth is the protein. It is needed to produce strong, healthy hair, a protein filled diet is essential for promoting hair growth. Try to eat a few protein-rich foods such as eggs, chicken, or cheese every day.
You might want to get a protein supplement, such as whey protein powder, or whey protein crisps to get enough protein easily for your body. However, you should always keep it natural. Your body won't be able to tolerate too much protein in your body. Excessive protein could lead you to some unwanted disease, especially in your urinary tract system.
2. Massage your scalp everyday
Give yourself a scalp massage every day. While this just plain feels good, it also goes a long way toward promoting healthy hair. A massage will increase the circulation to your scalp and bring the important nutrients to your hair follicles. This promotes hair growth and keeps your hair from falling out before your body is ready to grow new, healthy hair!
The easiest way to do it is by coming to your local hairdresser and ask them to massage your scalp. Ask them to use some natural and healthy oil to give your scalp more nutrient.
3. Stop washing your hair everyday
Don't wash your hair too much! The importance of this cannot be stressed enough in a culture that is obsessed with cleanliness. Probably, you might think that washing your hair every day is the best method to keep your them clean and healthy. However, that is not right.
Your scalp produces a natural oil called sebum that coats your hair, giving it a well shine. If you wash your hair every day, you are stripping this healthy oil from your hair, leaving it prone to dryness. How often you wash your hair should depend on how much oil your scalp produces. Generally, people with thin, straight hair should wash their hair more frequently than those with coarse, curly hair.
They are several simple things that you can do to grow your hair naturally and keep them healthy. Make sure that you consult with your doctor if your problem seems is getting more serious. Once you have a very severe hair-loss problem, it will be extremely difficult to cure it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6986446

Is Beauty Really More Than Skin Deep?

"Beauty is more than skin deep" - we hear it all the time. In this artificial world of botox, plastic surgery, Photoshop and auto-tuner for our celebrities, we sometimes forget this mantra and the fact that the health of our skins - our long-term beauty - really does go beyond the epidermis or surface layer of the skin.
The "garlic test" is commonly referred to; the test whereby you can rub garlic into your skin on your arm, cover it up, and within 15 minutes you will taste garlic in your mouth.
Regardless of whether this test works for you, the chemicals which are present in our cosmetics really do penetrate deep into our skins, blood streams and body systems. If we are not careful about the products we bombard our skin with, we may accelerate the ageing process significantly (the very thing that we are often applying these products to avoid).
Ageing is mainly caused and accelerated by a failure of the body to repair damage. If your skin is constantly being bombarded with unnatural chemicals, all of your body's attention is focused upon ridding the skin of these substances. Subsequently, the repair functions of the body are sacrificed as the skin as an organ simply struggles to keep ridding itself of unnatural substances.
If the skin is treated only with natural, paraben-free cosmetics and makeup which are free from harmful additives and artificial chemicals, this leaves a lot more energy for the day-to-day repair functions that SHOULD be going on. In this way, signs of ageing (such as damaging of the skin's collagen) are reduced and the skin stays young and healthy looking for longer.
The fact is, looking after your skin and long-term beauty is not difficult. While always eating "clean" can often be a challenge in today's environment, buying pure, natural cosmetics has never been easier. No longer confined to expensive eye rejuvenation creams, it is now even possible to find products such as organic spray tan solution. The range of products available to us on the internet (the UK's fastest-growing retail environment) means that sourcing natural products for your skin should be a no brainer.
In addition, some natural products even have extra vitamin complexes and skin nutrients to aid in the repair of previously damaged skin. Matrixyl-3000, for example, has been hailed as "the new botox" for its ability to actually reverse UV damage. This wonder complex is present in both professional and home-user natural spray tan products so that not only can one now tan safely without the risk of UV damage, but any pre-existing damage can now actually be reversed by this very same treatment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6954751

Pharmagel Anti Aging Skin Products Review

Since 1987, Pharmagel has been considered the innovator in professional skin care products and anti aging products. They have defined their line through intensive scientific research. Their products topically deliver vitamins and antioxidants to the skin. These specifically selected ingredients have been shown to slow down aging of skin and repair damage. People around the world, to include celebrities and dignitaries rely on the results that they see using Pharmagel anti-aging skin care products.
Pharmagel product line is extensive. They offer cleansers, toners, exfoliators, masks, moisturizers, serums, eye care, acne treatments, natural skin lightening, body moisturizers, hand care and slimming and body toning. No other line available is this varied and this advanced. They have looked for and found the answers to all over skin treatment in the anti-aging skin care industry.
For example in their cleanser line they offer, Hydra cleanse, Fleur-5 Plus Cleansing Bar and shower souffle. All 3 are highly rated and offer superior cleaning, but each has a different purpose and task. The hydra cleanser is mild and meant to cleanse the face. It contains marine based extracts and aloe vera. It can be used to revitalize and moisturize ever skin type, even sensitive skin. It cleanses the skin without stripping or drying. The cleansing bar also cleans. It can be used for the face and body. It has a low pH and is even gentle enough to be used for a baby. It has a pleasant white Hawaiian ginger fragrance. The souffl can be used in the shower or bath on the face or the body. It is filled with the plant essences of Chamomile, Calendula, Yarrow, Coneflower and Aloe Vera. It will pamper your skin in luxury. Each of these products have all the anti-aging ingredients that scientific test have shown to help.
The line of moisturizer from Pharmagel is even more extensive. DN-24 Hydracreme contains Vitamin A, C, B, D and E. It is said to reprogram the skin to help resist environmental impact and stresses. This greatly helps to slow down the aging process. Pharmagel offers a product called Frima Derm. This moisturizer is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin. You can apply it to the face and the body. It has ingredients that have firming qualities. We all have places that we would like to be a bit more firm. With aging comes those spots and uneven skin tone. Pharmagel offers a skin brightening regime. This includes enzyme excel, Beta-C and Derma Fade. All three of these steps will have your skin looking healthy and young in no time at all. Used together you will see results.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6966633

Go Creative! Be a Makeup Artist

There is barely any person who does not wish to apply makeup in this world of today. Everyone is on the look to try their hand at makeup in accordance to their wishes, however makeup application is that not easy as one thinks. Mostly you will need a specialist to help you get ready, especially for a special event. These days, with various new products and most recent methods that are adopted in the fashion industry, makeup artist has turned out to be a good career option. In reality, this profession is at its peak, mainly because of the launch of several fashion events, channels and magazines. Makeup artist has become the best career alternative for other reasons too. It is also because of the well-known brands that have stepped into producing cosmetic products in the recent times.
People who prefer this job are getting trained in various institutions and also from other professionals who are already experts in this particular field. Since there is heavy competition in this field, and also because the new methods and products are invented every single day, you must make sure to keep yourself aware of such most recent techniques and products by updating your flair for the job. There are numerous short term courses that are provided by private academies and also by trade organizations.
The career of makeup artists is relatively reliant on their skills and talent, and of course, their experience they obtain in this field. They can move to higher profile with the perfect talent and experience and can even become the chief makeup designer or artist. You need to have passion and devotion towards the work and with them both; you can easily become expert in any particular area or technique. Possessing more experience and adequate knowledge about the profession will inspire you to open your own institutions or academies to offer the best platforms for many other people who are willing to become makeup artists.
There are indeed various kinds of jobs for a makeup artist wherein you can showcase your skill and talent in the fashion industry. Such professionals are required by actors, models, stage performers, brides, film and TV stars, and also by other people who wish to have makeup applied for a special event. But to become a very good professional, you must have undergone extensive training and must put loads of hard work and devotion towards your job, since it is the job that is going to speak for your talent and not you. To be a successful makeup artist, you must have great passion towards the job and must also be able to deliver your best to stand out from the other regular crowd.
If you wish to work for private clients, then you might not require attending any kind of professional training. But if you wish to work in films or TV that involve you must attend a training program to help you step ahead in your career.

You must make sure to think about your end goals before you start to discover the path to select to turn out to be a makeup artist. You can get more information regarding this at http://www.beautypeople.co.uk/blog/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6969422

Growing Long Healthy Natural Hair By Effectively Controlling Dry Hair

Black women since the beginning of time have had to deal with dry hair and hair that they think does not grow. An important step in being able to grow long and healthy black hair is to deal effectively with the dryness of our curly, kinky tresses. Dry hair robs black women of length and it is important to look at what hair practices you have in place currently if you want to know how to grow long hair but have failed.
Why Is My Hair As Dry As the Sahara or the Kalahari Desert?
All hair is comprised of keratin which is a type of protein. It grows out of a follicle and the follicle is surrounded by sebaceous (oil) glands. In order to be healthy and grow, the hair needs to be moisturized and the sebum (oil) released by the sebaceous glands does this job. For people with straight tresses, the sebum travels from the root to the ends of the strand very easily which keeps it moisturized.
For black people with curly, kinky tresses, sebum has its work cut out for it because of the bends in the hair. In most cases the sebum cannot travel from the hair root to the ends of the hair to keep the hair moisturized. This leads to dry, brittle hair that snaps easily. The hair ends are the oldest and driest part of hair and chronic dryness causes the ends to snap off.
Hair is always growing but when the ends snap off, it may seem that hair does not grow which is a common complaint for black women trying to grow their hair long and healthy. Well moisturized hair is supple and does not break easily which makes it easier to grow and most important, keep the ends from snapping off.
The natural tendency for black hair to be dry and brittle is further worsened by the many habits and products that are ill suited for this hair type. Applying heat with flat irons, hot combs or blow dryers makes dryness worse.
Curly hair is the most fragile but you wouldn't know it by the way most black women treat their hair with he very drying hair tools or harsh chemicals applied to the hair. Black women can grow their hair long and healthy but only if they learn to be gentle with the hair and use methods and products that keep the hair moisturized and the first area to do this is the cleansing process.
To Shampoo or To Conditioner Wash
Shampoos usually contain harsh detergents in them that are used to lift the dirt and oil off hair. These harsh detergents will strip your hair making it very dry and brittle. Detergents found in shampoo are commonly sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS which is the harshest), ammonium laureth sulfate (ALS) and sodium laureth sulfate which are also harsh.
If you want to keep your hair moisturized which will help it grow long and healthy and if you have to use a shampoo to cleanse your curly hair, make sure that you read the ingredient list to ensure that none of them contain sulfates as they will dry out your hair and make it brittle and then it will snap off. This is an important fact if you want to know how to grow long hair and are battling dry hair
It is important to also note that some conditioners may also contain sulfates especially SLS so make sure that you avoid conditioners with this ingredient.
The "no-poo" method may take some getting used to but it will effectively cleanse your tresses while still keeping it moisturized. This involves using a conditioner to cleanse your hair and eliminating the need for a shampoo. Try to use a conditioner that does not contain sulfates as well as one that contains no silicones. This is any ingredient that ends with a "cone" when you peruse the product ingredient list.
Silicones are used in the manufacturing industry to repel water. For curly haired women, water is crucial to keep the hair moisturized. This will help to keep the hair healthy and will help it to grow long. Eliminating products with silicone will help your hair retain and attract moisture which is an essential step on how to grow long hair.
Silicone will provide a barrier around the hair cuticle keeping out water which is not something a curly haired woman wants. It will also weigh hair down changing the natural curl pattern of your hair.
When you use shampoo, you will have to reduce the amount of times you wash your tresses because excessive washing will further dry out your tresses. With a conditioner wash, you will be able to wash your tresses a lot more frequently while still keeping the hair moisturized.
Once a month or so, a clarifying shampoo will be used to get rid of product build up. This will still dry out your tresses since a clarifying shampoo is even stronger than regular shampoo as its job is to really strip hair of product buildup or hard water build up. If you want to remove the product build up without excessively drying out your hair, using an apple cider vinegar solution (apple cider vinegar mixed with water) is a better option.

These are only a few tips if you seek to grow long hair that is also healthy. The needs of curly hair will require you to discover what works on your hair and what doesn't to keep it moisturized. For more tips on how to grow long hair by following proper conditioning and deep treatment methods as well as other healthy hair practices, visit http://www.squidoo.com/grow-black-hair-long. You can grow your kinky curly hair. Learn how to starting today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6970823

Beauty And Confidence

A lot women think that they need to be beautiful to be confident but it's actually the other way around. The more confident you are, the more beautiful you become. You'd be surprised how being confident greatly changes how people see you and how you see yourself. If you're having trouble with being confident, you can follow these tips to get you walking down the street with your chin held up high:
· Forget what other people think - I'm sure you've all heard this before and I'm not going to kid you, it's not as easy as it sounds. But honey, it's your life. If you live your life to please everyone, you would only become unhappy with yourself because you can't really please everyone. Learn to do things because you want to do them and not because you want others to like you. If people do not like what you do, don't mind them because if you're happy then nothing else matters. Just make sure you are not hurting anyone, though.
· Forget your insecurities - We all have our insecurities and accepting them is no easy task. However, if you want to be confident, you should do your best to learn to accept and forget your insecurities. The most important thing everyone should realize is that everyone has insecurities. Even those seemingly perfect models in billboards and magazines have them. One of the things that make them beautiful is that they are confident and they set their insecurities aside and do what they want. Be proud of who you are. Be proud of everything about you-including your flaws. Improve if you must but be proud at whatever state you're in. There will be other people who will try to bring you down by targeting your insecurities. Just remember that people who try to bring you down are in a lower level than you in the first place. However, you should also learn to identify constructive criticism from purely negative criticism that doesn't aim to make you better. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. If you are given constructive criticism, accept it and work on areas of improvement
· Forget your past mistakes and failures - They say that the past will always be there to haunt you. Past mistakes and failures usually discourage people and even depress people. If you have committed mistakes in the past, don't let it prevent you from being happy in the present and the future. You must learn from your mistakes and make sure you will do better today and tomorrow.
Try your best and follow these three tips and you will be on your way to confidence and beauty. Not only will you see how beautiful you will become, other people will see it too! Chin up and live your life with confidence!

Confidence is a really important part of being beautiful. But it's hard to be confident when you have unwanted hair everywhere. Get rid of those unwanted hair and increase your confidence with no no hair removal. If you're a bit skeptical, check out no no hair removal reviews and I'm sure you will be convinced!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6966747

Easy Beauty Tips For Women

 Keeping yourself beautiful all the time should not always leave a whole in your pocket. Expensive beauty treatments in beauty salons are not always the answer. Sometimes, all you need to do is open your kitchen fridge to concoct some home-made facial cleanser. Most of the time, you can look fabulous by simply having adequate rest. Here are two very simple but important beauty tips that I'd like to share.

• Get enough sleep. If you are well-rested, you will look fresher and more energetic. Your eyes will be bright, your skin will glow, and you have an easy smile to give. However, if you don't get enough rest, you will look haggard and beat up, and your eyes will be puffy. Aside from that, if you are stressed, you're more likely to get an acne breakout.
• Always have a bottle of coconut oil. It's good for your hair and for your skin. Use it to moisturize your skin and to make your hair black and shiny.

The best acne treatment from your kitchen pantry
There are times when you just become strapped for cash and buying acne products or getting acne treatments isn't just in your list of priorities for the moment. You don't need to worry because it is possible to find the best acne treatment from inside your refrigerator or kitchen pantry. If you are already taking medications or applying ointments, you can still use these all-natural acne treatments to dry out your pimples and clear the breakout quickly.

• You can whip up an all-natural facial cleanser that will effectively remove the oil from your face. Mix together two tablespoons of organic yogurt and 1 1/2 teaspoons of lemon juice and use it on your face. If you want a scrub, you can mix the yogurt with 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Another recipe for a facial scrub is salt and a quarter of a lemon. Squeeze the lemon juice in your palm, add some salt, mix together with your finger, and slather all over your face. Keep your eyes closed!
• Have you heard about a honey mask? Honey actually produces hydrogen peroxide which can be good in disinfecting your pimples and stopping them from getting inflamed.
• Take vitamin A supplements or eat a lot of carrots to get your dose of beta carotene. Vitamin A strengthens skin tissues reduces the production of sebum, the oil secreted by the sebaceous glands. An increase in sebum production encourages the development of acne.
• Add zinc to your diet. Zinc has antibacterial properties and breaks down the oils in your face that aggravates your acne situation.

If you have severe acne, these home treatments may not suffice. They may help a little, but you still need to take medication or use medicated soaps or ointments.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6964396