Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Fitness~ what to eat before exercise!
article grabbed from here :)
Also see
What to Eat Before Exercise
Sports Nutrition Tip - energy food for exercise
By Elizabeth Quinn, About.com Guide
Updated February 15, 2011
Energy, Food and Exercise
The food an athlete eats before, during and after a workout is important for both comfort and performance during exercise. Energy foods including bars, drinks, gels and other easily digestible carbohydrates can help prevent the distracting symptoms of hunger during exercise and keep you from depleting your energy too quickly.
The major source of fuel for active muscles is carbohydrate which gets stored in the muscles as glycogen in the days before exercise. It takes time to completely fill glycogen stores, andwhat you eat after exercise can help or hinder this process. Eating the right foods at the right time after a workout is essential for recovery and being ready for the next workout.
What you eat before exercise often depends upon your unique needs and preferences, but should be designed according to the intensity, length and type of workout you plan to do.
When to Eat Before Exercise
Exercising on a full stomach is not ideal. Food that remains in your stomach during an event may cause stomach upset, nausea, and cramping. To make sure you have enough energy, yet reduce stomach discomfort, you should allow a meal to fully digest before the start of the event. This generally takes 1 to 4 hours, depending upon what and how much you've eaten. Everyone is a bit different, and you should experiment prior to workouts to determine what works best for you.
If you have an early morning race or workout, it's best to get up early enough to eat your pre-exercise meal. If not, you should try to eat or drink something easily digestible about 20 to 30 minutes before the event. The closer you are to the time of your event, the less you should eat. You can have a liquid meal closer to your event than a solid meal because your stomach digests liquids faster.
What to Eat Before Exercise
Because glucose is the preferred energy source for most exercise, a pre-exercise meal should include foods that are high in carbohydrates and easy to digest. This include foods such as pasta, fruits, breads, energy bars and drinks.Also see
Sports Nutrition Planning for All-day Events
Planning your nutrition and knowing what and when you will eat and drink is essential if you are competing in an all-day event, such as track meets or other tournaments. Consider the time of your event, the amount of your meal and the energy required. Also, be aware of the amount of fluid you consume. You should plan ahead and prepare meals and snacks that you have tried before and know will sit well with you. Do not experiment with something new on the event day.Suggested Foods for Exercise
Eating before exercise is something only the athlete can determine based upon experience, but some general guidelines include eating a solid meal 4 hours before exercise, a snack or a high carbohydrate energy drink 2 to 3 hours before exercise, and fluid replacement 1 hour before exercise.
1 hour or less before competition
- fresh fruit such as apples, watermelon, peaches, grapes, or oranges and/or
- Energy gels
- up to 1 1/2 cups of a sports drink.
2 to 3 hours before competition
- fresh fruits
- bread, bagels, pasta
- yogurt
- water
3 to 4 hours before competition
- fresh fruit
- bread, bagels
- pasta with tomato sauce
- baked potatoes
- energy bar
- cereal with milk
- yogurt
- toast/bread with a bit of peanut butter, lean meat, or cheese
- water
Glucose (Sugar) and Exercise Performance
If you are an endurance athlete, evidence suggests that eating some sugar (glucose) 35 to 40 minutes before an event may provide energy when your other energy stores have dropped to low levels. However, you should experiment with such strategies before competition because some people do not perform well after a blood glucose spike.Caffeine and Performance
Caffeine acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system. It had been thought to boost endurance by stimulating a greater use of fat for energy, and thereby reserving glycogen in the muscles. Research, however, doesn't seem to support that theory. When caffeine improves endurance, it does so by acting as a stimulant.
Caffeine can have serious side effects for some people. Those who are very sensitive to its effects may experience nausea, muscle tremors, and headaches. Too much caffeine is a diuretic, and can result in dehydration, which decreases performance.
Foods to Avoid Before Exercise
Foods with a lot of fat or fiber can be very difficult and slow to digest and remain in the stomach a long time. They also will pull blood into the stomach to aid in digestion, which can cause cramping and discomfort. Meats, doughnuts, fries, potato chips, and candy bars should be avoided in a pre-exercise meal.
Keep in mind that everyone is a bit different and what works for you may not work for you teammate or training partner. Factor in individual preferences and favorite foods, and an eating plan is a highly individualize thing.
Sources:
The Position Statement from the Dietitians of Canada, the American Dietetic Association, and the American College of Sports Medicine, Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research in the Winter of 2000, 61(4):176-192.
>Res, P., Ding, Z., Witzman, M.O., Sprague, R.C. and J. L. Ivy. The effect of carbohydrate-protein supplementation on endurance performance during exercise of varying intensity. International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism.
DK, Carr C, Carlson MG, Maron DJ, Borel MJ, Flakoll PJ. Post exercise protein intake enhances whole-body and leg protein accretion in human. Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise. 2002 May; 34(5): 828-37.
Fitness~ what to eat before running?
article grabbed from here :)
Photo: Michele Foley
When your hour-long runs are part of your routine, it's important to fuel your body in order to kick some butt during your workout. While exercising on an empty stomach is a big mistake, fueling up the wrong way before a run can cause stomach cramps, dizziness, and headaches. Check out the chart below to learn some good choices for noshing before you head out.
Photo: Michele Foley
| Time | Food Ideas | Foods to Avoid |
| 2 hours before | 300- to 400-calorie meal containing carbs, protein, and healthy fats:
| Tons of fibrous veggies:
High-fat foods that are hard to digest:
|
Keep reading to find out what to eat (and what to avoid) an hour or 15 minutes before a run.
| Time | Food Ideas | Foods to Avoid |
| 1 hour before | 150-calorie snack containing easily digestible carbs and a little protein:
| Gas-producing fruits:
|
| 15 to 30 minutes before | Small serving of easily digestible carbs:
| Large serving of protein and carbs, and high-saturated fat and high-fiber foods:
|
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
inspiration~ Unconditional Love by mum and daughter
article grabbed from here :)
__________________________________________________________________________
article grabbed from here.
Recently, reported the death of Madam Irene Ong Ai Sam, a woman who was stabbed to death while trying to protect her daughter as their family was jogging through the Bukit Gasing Hiking Trail for a charity run.
Ong Ai Sam pushed her daughter to safety but was sadly stabbed by the suspects.
During her final moment with her daughter, Chin Hui Wei, Madam Ong expressed her love for her daughter, and then passed due to blood loss.
Hui Wei took to her blog to share her side of her story and the fond memories she shared with her mother. It’s certainly a touching story and we hope that you will all go give your mom a telephone call and tell them just how much you love them!
picture source
__________________________________________________________________________
article grabbed from here.
I remember. I remember everything.
A few months ago in English class, my teacher asked us to write about the person who we admire. I wrote about my mum. A month ago for my English March Test paper, the topic I wrote about was "My Hero". I wrote about my mum. During my test, i had a writers block so I simply wrote out everything i knew about my mum: her childhood, achievements, etc. My mum is my hero. She always has been, she always will be.
20th April 2013.
Mama left early in the morning for some event her Kiwanis Club's K-Kids had planned. She came back home with lunch for me and milo ais. I remember grumbling to her because I didn't want to follow my parents jungle trekking. I did anyway. We had to set up a trail for my father's running group so mama was carrying a bag with just plain paper in it. I remember grumbling to my mum as we went up and down the hills of Gasing. She told me we'd be out soon. After 2 hours of trekking in the jungle, we finally hit the road. It was the road in Gasing leading up to the temple. We decided to walk back down to the car.
As we walked down the steep road, there was nobody there. No people, no cars. Just the two of us. As we nearly reached the first house, we heard a motorbike sound from behind. We turned around and saw two men on a motorbike. Mama said walk further in the pavement so we did. As the motorbike drove past us, they stopped. The man from behind jumped off. My mum pushed me to the back and told me to go. The man attacked my mum straight away, without saying any words. The knife he used was just a normal kitchen knife, the blade was about 10cm long. As my mum tried to protect herself, she turned to her left, only to be stabbed twice on the back of her right shoulder. She was struggling to escape. The attacker then proceeded to stab the back of her left shoulder. Mama tried so hard to escape. She fell on the ground and the attacker pulled her on the road and stabbed her thigh. I tried to help but the attacker thrusted the knife my way so i ran back further. I couldn't do anything but scream at the top of my lungs. I screamed and screamed. The attacker hopped on the bike and rode off.
I remember.
I remember watching my mums body lying on the road, all the blood oozing out. The attacker did not manage to get any of my mums belongings. She told me to call my dad. I ran down the hill looking for help. The first house i went to, the maid (who saw everything that happened) ran in and did not even try to help me. I ran further down and saw a car. They saw me and stopped. And I told them what happened. The driver, Mr Lai told me to get in and we drive up to my mum. Mr Lai called the ambulance and the police while i tried to keep my mum conscious. There was blood everywhere. My mum just kept saying "save me". Her voice was so week. My dad reached the site 10 minutes later, after running all the way. Mama kept telling us that she couldn't breathe. I prayed and prayed. She was slowly losing herself. We tried our best to keep her awake and conscious. The police arrived. We put her in the police car since the ambulance hadn't arrived. As we reached down the road, the ambulance was there so they transferred mum into the ambulance.
I remember.
I remember sitting in the ambulance, holding my mums hand and trying to talk to her but she didn't respond. I remember crying. The paramedics were doing all they could do at that point. I remember calling Eu Lim, who was at church to pray for my mum. We reached the hospital in 3 minutes. They rushed my mum to the emergency was. I wasn't allowed to enter and i was so so scared. My dad had followed Mr Lai's car and they hadn't reached yet. I had to settle my mums registration and then i had to talk to the police. My dad arrived. Then my friends arrived. I sat at the doorway of the hospital, praying and praying. 10 minutes later, my dad came out and told me my mum didn't make it. I dropped in the middle of the hospital floor, screaming. Everyone was looking at me, but i didn't care. A bunch of doctors came out to get me, they took me to a special room. They questioned me and they told me about how my mum was already gone when we were in the ambulance. They tried their best to revive her.
I remember.
I remember coming home. My friends just sat in silence. I just sat in silence. I was covered in blood, mama's blood. I had to get myself together. I had to bathe. We broke the news to my sister through Face Time and that was really hard to do. Slowly, people started coming. It was hard seeing my aunts and uncles cry, my parent's close friends, my close friends & to know i had to keep it all together. It was really hard, telling my story to everyone. It's really hard to even close my eyes for awhile because i see it replaying in my head over and over again. Watching my mum lying in her pool of blood and not being able to do anything. Not being able to save her.
People come, then people leave. All i hear are "I'm so sorry for your loss" or "my condolences". All i hear are people questioning me about what happened, since i was the sole witness. But i am so tired of telling this story over and over again. I am so tired of hearing other people tell this story. This is my story. This is the truth. Newspapers and reporters may twist it around and exaggerate to the whole world, but this story will remain the truth forever.
I am truly grateful and appreciative to everyone who came, whether it was for a short period, or a long time. Thank you to those who've brought a little bit more of hope and joy to me, even though you guys didn't try. Thank you to those who've brought food and drinks, and flowers. Thank you to everyone who called, texted, whatsapped, facebook-ed and tweeted me. I dont know how i became a trending topic overnight (#prayforhuiwei). I was mad at first, but then i realised how much my family had all of your love and support. Whether i know you or not, whether you knew my mum or not, all your kind words really helped. My mother was such an amazing and beautiful person.
I remember.
My mum's last words to me were "I love you so much" dying there, on the road. I watched it all. I watched it all slip out of my hands. Now my life feels so empty. I keep thinking to myself that this is all a dream. Maybe I'd wake up and be able to avoid this from happening. Maybe if someone pinched me I'd wake up from this nightmare. But this is reality, and I have to face the facts. I have to face the fact that I'm alone now. I have to face the sounds of crying and wailing from the other room. I have to face the facts that I'm going to grow up motherless, clueless and confused. It won't be easy, but I will get through this.
Ma,
I love you so much. And I am so sorry I had to watch you die. I am so sorry I couldn't save you. But you're with God now. Ma you're such a great person. Beautiful inside and out. And I thank you for teaching me your ways. Thank you for always teaching (scolding) me to be a better person. Even tho we've had our moments, and times we didn't see eye to eye, you'll always be my best friend. Who's going to pick me up from school now. Who am I going to say "HEY MA" to and tell them about my day. Who's going to cuddle up with me on the couch and be lazy for awhile.
Ma,
Remember how you used to come into my room while I was studying, and hug me then tickle me. Remember how you used to sing me to sleep when I was young. Or how you used sing when you're happy. You had a beautiful voice. Remember how we sat on the couch, looking for coloured beads to do arts & crafts. Remember every single day we spent together.
Ma,
I just saw your body, lying in the coffin. You look so beautiful, peaceful, just like you're sleeping. And I have the biggest urge to scream "wake up". Thank you,Ma. For giving me life, for giving me love. You taught me everything good in my life. You were always selfless, God-fearing. You were my strong pillar of hope and love. And even though you're no longer here with us, you're with God. And you're happy, just like how you appeared in Lissa's dream. And I do hope justice will be served. They're working on finding the criminals, ma. They will be caught.
We all miss you ma, we miss you so much. Goh Ee and Sar Ee has already appointed themselves as my 'mama' and I see you so much of you in them. And it's not going to be the same anymore. Nothing will be the same anymore. You're not going to watch me graduate, you're not going to watch me get married. You're not going to be there to take care of my children. But I know you are with us in spirit, and you're always watching over us. Please give me the strength and courage to move forward with my life. Please give me the motivation to be better. To be more like you. To spread the love and joy. Papa, Tache and I will always be grateful for you are the biggest blessing God has given. And maybe you've done too much good so The Lord called you home. And you are safe now, safe with God. He will watch over you (and us) and protect you. You are safe from all the evil now.
I will make you proud, mama. I will make everyone proud. I love you so much. I'll love you every single day of my life, and I'll never forget whatever you've done for me. Thank you so much. Rest In Peace, mama, I love you.
A few months ago in English class, my teacher asked us to write about the person who we admire. I wrote about my mum. A month ago for my English March Test paper, the topic I wrote about was "My Hero". I wrote about my mum. During my test, i had a writers block so I simply wrote out everything i knew about my mum: her childhood, achievements, etc. My mum is my hero. She always has been, she always will be.
20th April 2013.
Mama left early in the morning for some event her Kiwanis Club's K-Kids had planned. She came back home with lunch for me and milo ais. I remember grumbling to her because I didn't want to follow my parents jungle trekking. I did anyway. We had to set up a trail for my father's running group so mama was carrying a bag with just plain paper in it. I remember grumbling to my mum as we went up and down the hills of Gasing. She told me we'd be out soon. After 2 hours of trekking in the jungle, we finally hit the road. It was the road in Gasing leading up to the temple. We decided to walk back down to the car.
As we walked down the steep road, there was nobody there. No people, no cars. Just the two of us. As we nearly reached the first house, we heard a motorbike sound from behind. We turned around and saw two men on a motorbike. Mama said walk further in the pavement so we did. As the motorbike drove past us, they stopped. The man from behind jumped off. My mum pushed me to the back and told me to go. The man attacked my mum straight away, without saying any words. The knife he used was just a normal kitchen knife, the blade was about 10cm long. As my mum tried to protect herself, she turned to her left, only to be stabbed twice on the back of her right shoulder. She was struggling to escape. The attacker then proceeded to stab the back of her left shoulder. Mama tried so hard to escape. She fell on the ground and the attacker pulled her on the road and stabbed her thigh. I tried to help but the attacker thrusted the knife my way so i ran back further. I couldn't do anything but scream at the top of my lungs. I screamed and screamed. The attacker hopped on the bike and rode off.
I remember.
I remember watching my mums body lying on the road, all the blood oozing out. The attacker did not manage to get any of my mums belongings. She told me to call my dad. I ran down the hill looking for help. The first house i went to, the maid (who saw everything that happened) ran in and did not even try to help me. I ran further down and saw a car. They saw me and stopped. And I told them what happened. The driver, Mr Lai told me to get in and we drive up to my mum. Mr Lai called the ambulance and the police while i tried to keep my mum conscious. There was blood everywhere. My mum just kept saying "save me". Her voice was so week. My dad reached the site 10 minutes later, after running all the way. Mama kept telling us that she couldn't breathe. I prayed and prayed. She was slowly losing herself. We tried our best to keep her awake and conscious. The police arrived. We put her in the police car since the ambulance hadn't arrived. As we reached down the road, the ambulance was there so they transferred mum into the ambulance.
I remember.
I remember sitting in the ambulance, holding my mums hand and trying to talk to her but she didn't respond. I remember crying. The paramedics were doing all they could do at that point. I remember calling Eu Lim, who was at church to pray for my mum. We reached the hospital in 3 minutes. They rushed my mum to the emergency was. I wasn't allowed to enter and i was so so scared. My dad had followed Mr Lai's car and they hadn't reached yet. I had to settle my mums registration and then i had to talk to the police. My dad arrived. Then my friends arrived. I sat at the doorway of the hospital, praying and praying. 10 minutes later, my dad came out and told me my mum didn't make it. I dropped in the middle of the hospital floor, screaming. Everyone was looking at me, but i didn't care. A bunch of doctors came out to get me, they took me to a special room. They questioned me and they told me about how my mum was already gone when we were in the ambulance. They tried their best to revive her.
I remember.
I remember coming home. My friends just sat in silence. I just sat in silence. I was covered in blood, mama's blood. I had to get myself together. I had to bathe. We broke the news to my sister through Face Time and that was really hard to do. Slowly, people started coming. It was hard seeing my aunts and uncles cry, my parent's close friends, my close friends & to know i had to keep it all together. It was really hard, telling my story to everyone. It's really hard to even close my eyes for awhile because i see it replaying in my head over and over again. Watching my mum lying in her pool of blood and not being able to do anything. Not being able to save her.
People come, then people leave. All i hear are "I'm so sorry for your loss" or "my condolences". All i hear are people questioning me about what happened, since i was the sole witness. But i am so tired of telling this story over and over again. I am so tired of hearing other people tell this story. This is my story. This is the truth. Newspapers and reporters may twist it around and exaggerate to the whole world, but this story will remain the truth forever.
I am truly grateful and appreciative to everyone who came, whether it was for a short period, or a long time. Thank you to those who've brought a little bit more of hope and joy to me, even though you guys didn't try. Thank you to those who've brought food and drinks, and flowers. Thank you to everyone who called, texted, whatsapped, facebook-ed and tweeted me. I dont know how i became a trending topic overnight (#prayforhuiwei). I was mad at first, but then i realised how much my family had all of your love and support. Whether i know you or not, whether you knew my mum or not, all your kind words really helped. My mother was such an amazing and beautiful person.
I remember.
My mum's last words to me were "I love you so much" dying there, on the road. I watched it all. I watched it all slip out of my hands. Now my life feels so empty. I keep thinking to myself that this is all a dream. Maybe I'd wake up and be able to avoid this from happening. Maybe if someone pinched me I'd wake up from this nightmare. But this is reality, and I have to face the facts. I have to face the fact that I'm alone now. I have to face the sounds of crying and wailing from the other room. I have to face the facts that I'm going to grow up motherless, clueless and confused. It won't be easy, but I will get through this.
Ma,
I love you so much. And I am so sorry I had to watch you die. I am so sorry I couldn't save you. But you're with God now. Ma you're such a great person. Beautiful inside and out. And I thank you for teaching me your ways. Thank you for always teaching (scolding) me to be a better person. Even tho we've had our moments, and times we didn't see eye to eye, you'll always be my best friend. Who's going to pick me up from school now. Who am I going to say "HEY MA" to and tell them about my day. Who's going to cuddle up with me on the couch and be lazy for awhile.
Ma,
Remember how you used to come into my room while I was studying, and hug me then tickle me. Remember how you used to sing me to sleep when I was young. Or how you used sing when you're happy. You had a beautiful voice. Remember how we sat on the couch, looking for coloured beads to do arts & crafts. Remember every single day we spent together.
Ma,
I just saw your body, lying in the coffin. You look so beautiful, peaceful, just like you're sleeping. And I have the biggest urge to scream "wake up". Thank you,Ma. For giving me life, for giving me love. You taught me everything good in my life. You were always selfless, God-fearing. You were my strong pillar of hope and love. And even though you're no longer here with us, you're with God. And you're happy, just like how you appeared in Lissa's dream. And I do hope justice will be served. They're working on finding the criminals, ma. They will be caught.
We all miss you ma, we miss you so much. Goh Ee and Sar Ee has already appointed themselves as my 'mama' and I see you so much of you in them. And it's not going to be the same anymore. Nothing will be the same anymore. You're not going to watch me graduate, you're not going to watch me get married. You're not going to be there to take care of my children. But I know you are with us in spirit, and you're always watching over us. Please give me the strength and courage to move forward with my life. Please give me the motivation to be better. To be more like you. To spread the love and joy. Papa, Tache and I will always be grateful for you are the biggest blessing God has given. And maybe you've done too much good so The Lord called you home. And you are safe now, safe with God. He will watch over you (and us) and protect you. You are safe from all the evil now.
I will make you proud, mama. I will make everyone proud. I love you so much. I'll love you every single day of my life, and I'll never forget whatever you've done for me. Thank you so much. Rest In Peace, mama, I love you.
general knowledge~ World English day! 23 April !
English, along with French, is one of the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat, and one of the Organization's six official and working languages.
Because it is so widely spoken, English is often referred to as a "world language", or the lingua franca of the modern era.
Language Days at the UN
English Language Day at the UN is celebrated on 23 April, the date traditionally observed as the birthday ofWilliam Shakespeare. The Day is the result of a 2010initiative by the Department of Public Information, establishing language days for each of the Organization's six official languages. The purpose of the UN's language days is to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization.
Under the initiative, UN duty stations around the world celebrate six separate days, each dedicated to one of the Organization's six official languages.
The days are as follows:
- Arabic (18 December)
- Chinese (20 April)
- English (23 April)
- French (20 March)
- Russian (6 June)
- Spanish (12 October)
Language Days at the UN aim to entertain as well as inform, with the goal of increasing awareness and respect for the history, culture and achievements of each of the six working languages among the UN community
"All the world's a stage.And all the men and
women merely players."
From 'As You Like It'
by William Shakespeare.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Memorial~ Mr. Huang WenYong.
The public grew concerned about local veteran actor, Huang Wenyong's health condition when he appeared thin and haggard onstage at the 30th Drama Anniversary Show on Sunday.
Wenyong clarified over a phone interview last morning that he did not have any major health problems currently.
He suffered from stomach flu while filming for upcoming Ch8 drama, It's a Wonderful Life in September. Wenyong had visited both Western and Chinese doctors, but could not recover his health completely due to hectic work schedules and irregular meal times.
The actor had fever subsequently, his body temperature rising to 39 degrees Celsius almost every night, but it would return to normal the next morning.
Wenyong had lost an estimated of seven kilos after falling sick consecutively.
Wenyong had lost an estimated of seven kilos after falling sick consecutively.
Admitting that he had lost too much weight, Wenyong commented, "Even my daughter thinks that I look like her grandfather now."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huang_Wenyong
song dedicated to him
health~ contact lens solution
article grabbed from here :)
picture source
Ensuring Safe Use of Contact Lens Solution
Printer-friendly PDF (234 KB) |
On this page:
- Improving Guidance
- The Rub and Rinse Method
- About Eye Infections
- Dos and Don'ts for Contact Lens Wearers
Not emptying the solution out of your contact lens case after each use could cost you your sight. That's because solutions that are left over in the case after a disinfection cycle are essentially "dirty." Using fresh solution each time helps reduce the risk of problems.
"The solution no longer has the same effectiveness for disinfection as when it was freshly placed in the case," says Bernard Lepri, O.D., M.S., M.Ed., of the Division of Ophthalmic and Ear, Nose and Throat Devices in the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). "The leftover solution can have little disinfecting chemical left to kill bacteria and other micro-organisms that may contaminate your contact lenses and lead to serious eye infections."
"FDA regulations require that a manufacturer who wants to market a new contact lens solution demonstrate that it is just as safe and effective as an already marketed product," Lepri says.
In January 2009, FDA convened a workshop called "Microbiological Testing of Contact Lens Care Products," in collaboration with several eye care professional groups. Held at FDA's White Oak facility in Silver Spring, Md., the workshop aimed to gain consensus on test methods for evaluating contact lens solutions and the development of Acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare but serious eye infection that's caused by a parasite.
Improving Guidance
FDA also convened a meeting of its Ophthalmic Devices Panel on June 10, 2008, to consider ways to improve contact lens safety. This group of outside experts gave input on updating the existing guidance for multipurpose contact lens care products. Multipurpose products are those that can be used to clean, disinfect, and rinse contact lenses.
FDA is revising the guidance document that specifically addresses the labeling and directions for use of contact lens care products and solutions.
Among the panel's recommendations on labeling and directions for use:
- Contact lens solution manufacturers should include a discard date on their products, in addition to the usual expiration date. Consumers should never use expired products. The discard date is the date the solution should be thrown out after opening.
- Contact lens wearers should rub and rinse their lenses for added effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection. This recommendation is consistent with advice from the American Optometric Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The direction to "Rub and Rinse" your lenses, based on the advice of your eye care professional, has always been part of "No Rub" consumer labeling for multipurpose care products.
The Rub and Rinse Method
The rub and rinse method is similar to washing one’s hands. The multipurpose solution is placed on the lens in the palm of the hand. With the index finger of the opposite hand, the solution is rubbed over the surface of the contact lens for 5 to 10 seconds. The lens is turned over and the procedure is repeated.
Finally, a strong stream of the contact lens multipurpose solution is sprayed over both sides of the lens to remove any debris attached to the lens. Research has shown that this procedure helps remove more bacteria, protein, and other deposits from the surface of the lens.
This may contribute to better lens hygiene and safety. "The rub and rinse method is based on the same concept of hand washing," Lepri says. "You get more dirt off of your hands by rubbing them with soap and then rinsing, rather than merely just rinsing."
About Eye Infections
Failure to use contact lenses and solution correctly can result in eye infections. Both bacterial and fungal infections can lead to serious consequences such as permanent loss of sight if left untreated.
Bacterial infections are more common than fungal infections. Characterized by severe pain, fungal infections are much more difficult to diagnose and treat. "Fungal infections are much more dangerous because they slowly proliferate within the cornea and are highly resistant to treatment," Lepri says. "When a fungal infection occurs, it results in a corneal ulcer, which can lead to permanent blindness. Bacterial infections such as Pseudomonas are extremely rapid, result in corneal ulcers, and cause blindness--sometimes within as little as 24 hours if not diagnosed and treated promptly."
The symptoms of an eye infection are: discomfort, excess tearing or other discharge, unusual sensitivity to light, itching, burning, or gritty feelings, unusual redness of the eyes, blurred vision, swelling, and pain.
How can you tell if you have an infection or if you are suffering from allergies? Typically, the major difference between infection and allergy is that allergy is accompanied by itching and watery discharge and will affect both eyes relatively the same.
Infection presents with severe pain, redness, mucus discharge, and blurred vision, and often affects one eye only. The best way to determine whether your symptoms are due to an infection or allergies is to consult your eye care professional as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms.
Dos and Don'ts for Contact Lens Wearers
DO:
- Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses to reduce the chance of getting an infection.
- Remove the lenses immediately and consult your eye care professional if your eyes become red, irritated, or your vision changes.
- Always follow the directions of your eye care professional and all labeling instruction for proper use of contact lenses and lens care products.
- Use contact lens products and solutions recommended by your eye care professional.
- Rub and rinse your contact lenses as directed by your eye care professional.
- Clean and disinfect your lenses properly following all labeling instructions provided with your lens care products.
- Clean, rinse, and air dry your lens case each time lenses are removed. You may want to flip over your lens case while air drying so that excess solution can drain out of the case. Contact lens cases can be a source of bacterial growth.
- Replace your contact lens storage case every 3-6 months.
DON'T:
- Don't use contact lens solutions that have gone beyond the expiration or discard date.
- Don't "top-off" the solutions in your case. Always discard all of the leftover contact lens solution after each use. Never reuse any lens solution.
- Don't expose your contact lenses to any water: tap, bottled, distilled, lake, or ocean water. Never use non-sterile water (distilled water, tap water, or any homemade saline solution). Exposure of contact lenses to water has been associated with Acanthamoeba keratitis, a corneal infection that is resistant to treatment and cure.
- Don't put your lenses in your mouth to wet them. Saliva is not a sterile solution.
- Don't transfer contact lens solutions into smaller travel size containers. This can affect the sterility of the solution which can lead to an eye infection. Transferring solutions into smaller size containers may also leave consumers open to accidentally using a solution that is not intended for the eyes.
This article appears on FDA's Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.
Date Posted: June 16, 2009
.jpg)
Monday, April 15, 2013
health~ Love yourself
article grabbed from here :)
everyday
everyday
PERSONAL GROWTH
Do You Love Yourself?
Here are 12 ways to start!
Published: January 3, 2013
I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS only one thing that heals every problem, and that is: to love yourself. When people start to love themselves more each day, it’s amazing how their lives get better. They feel better. They get the jobs they want. They have the money they need. Their relationships either improve, or the negative ones dissolve and new ones begin.
Loving yourself is a wonderful adventure; it’s like learning to fly. Imagine if we all had the power to fly at will? How exciting it would be! Let’s begin to love ourselves now.
Here are 12 Commandments to help you learn how to love yourself:
Stop All Criticism.
Criticism never changes a thing. Refuse to criticize yourself. Accept yourself exactly as you are. Everybody changes. When you criticize yourself, your changes are negative. When you approve of yourself, your changes are positive.
Forgive Yourself.
Let the past go. You did the best you could at the time with the understanding, awareness, and knowledge that you had. Now you are growing and changing, and you will live life differently.
Don’t Scare Yourself.
Stop terrorizing yourself with your thoughts. It's a dreadful way to live. Find a mental image that gives you pleasure, and immediately switch your scary thought to a pleasure thought.
Be Gentle and Kind and Patient.
Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be patient with yourself as you learn the new ways of thinking. Treat yourself as you would someone you really loved.
Be Kind to Your Mind.
Self-hatred is only hating your own thoughts. Don't hate yourself for having the thoughts. Gently change your thoughts.
Praise Yourself.
Criticism breaks down the inner spirit. Praise builds it up. Praise yourself as much as you can. Tell yourself how well you are doing with every little thing.
Support Yourself.
Find ways to support yourself. Reach out to friends and allow them to help you. It is being strong to ask for help when you need it.
Be Loving to Your Negatives.
Acknowledge that you created them to fulfill a need. Now you are finding new, positive ways to fulfill those needs. So lovingly release the old negative patterns.
Take Care of Your Body.
Learn about nutrition. What kind of fuel does your body need in order to have optimum energy and vitality? Learn about exercise. What kind of exercise do you enjoy? Cherish and revere the temple you live in.
Do Mirror Work.
Look into your eyes often. Express this growing sense of love you have for yourself. Forgive yourself while looking into the mirror. Talk to your parents while looking into the mirror. Forgive them, too. At least once a day, say, "I love you, I really love you!"
Love Yourself . . . Do It Now.
Don't wait until you get well, or lose the weight, or get the new job, or find the new relationship. Begin now—and do the best you can.
Have Fun.
Remember the things that gave you joy as a child. Incorporate them into your life now. Find a way to have fun with everything you do. Let yourself express the joy of living. Smile. Laugh. Rejoice, and the Universe rejoices with you!
Louise L. Hay, the author of the international bestseller You Can Heal Your Life, is a metaphysical lecturer and teacher with more than 50 million books sold worldwide. For more than 30 years, she has helped people throughout the world discover and implement the full potential of their own creative powers for personal growth and self-healing. She has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and many other TV and radio programs both in the U.S. and abroad.
health~ Natural Eczema Treatment
article grabbed from here :)
If you or someone you love has eczema I have great news for you! Its time to say goodbye to all those prescription medications, This homemade eczema cream is a lifesaver, at least it was for me and my family and I bet it will be for you too!
Natural Eczema Treatment
If you or someone you love has eczema I have great news for you! Its time to say goodbye to all those prescription medications, This homemade eczema cream is a lifesaver, at least it was for me and my family and I bet it will be for you too!
All you need is:
¼ cup of oats, Oats contains healthy fats that help moisture to soften and repair your skin.
¾ cup of coconut oil, Coconut oil fat reduces the appearance of wrinkles without any irritation.
Few drops of rosemary oil, Tones your skin and removes dry.
1 tablespoon of olive oil, Olive oil contains linoleic acid, a compound that prevents water from evaporating.
¼ cup of oats, Oats contains healthy fats that help moisture to soften and repair your skin.
¾ cup of coconut oil, Coconut oil fat reduces the appearance of wrinkles without any irritation.
Few drops of rosemary oil, Tones your skin and removes dry.
1 tablespoon of olive oil, Olive oil contains linoleic acid, a compound that prevents water from evaporating.
It as simple as this, first grind the oats till they look like powder, meanwhile melt the coconut oil over low heat.
Add rosemary to the melted oil, then the oat powder and finally the olive oil, and stir all the ingredients together until the mixture blends, pour in a container and let it still for several hours. Apply to skin and let the magic begin!
Source: http://diyconfessions.com/2012/11/15/homemade-eczema-creamskin-moisturizer
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Good Idea~ How to clean leather
article grabbed from here :)
"Is that bearnaise sauce on my handbag?"
Leather is expensive, and we're conditioned to think of it as a
delicate material. So it's natural that an industry has developed to
service our fear of damaging a valuable piece of leather in the process
of cleaning it. But in fact, though leather can definitely be
mistreated, it's tougher than we usually give it credit for. After all,
most of its usefulness is based on its durability.
Most of the time when you clean leather, you simply need to avoid drying it out or changing its appearance. With these concerns in mind, you can spend a lot of money on leather cleaning products. But if you're working with finished leather, which has a slight sheen and is the type you see most often on jackets, boots, and furniture, you can use a couple of products you probably already have on hand. They'll do just as good of a job, cost you next to nothing, and free you from worrying about chemicals in commercial leather cleaners that you could be storing in your home, inhaling, or allowing to touch your skin. If the leather you want to clean is unfinished like a baseball glove, or has a soft nap like suede, you'll have more trouble cleaning it yourself; the method below may not work, and will probably damage the leather.
First, get your supplies together: you'll
need gentle hand soap (in the interest of keeping this project green, I
grabbed a bottle of Method Hand Wash out of my bathroom), olive oil,
and a few soft, clean rags. You'll need water, too, but you can get that
straight from the tap. Then, before you jump into cleaning your whole
couch or that stain on the front of your jacket, it's important to test
the cleaning method from start to finish in a small, hidden place, just
to make sure it won't lighten, darken, or dry your specific piece of
leather.
Once you're ready to get started, you'll need to prepare a rag by dampening it and applying a little soap.
Get the whole rag wet if you're cleaning a large area, but for small
stains it should be sufficient to run a corner of the rag under the tap.
Either way, remember that the rag should be just slightly damp, not
soaking wet; squeeze out any excess water before pumping a small amount
of hand soap onto the rag.
Rub the rag against itself a little to work the soap into the cloth
before you begin cleaning. You don't want to apply a glob of soap to a
piece of leather. Instead, gently rub a light lather onto the leather
until it appears clean.
Next, slightly dampen another rag to wipe any soap residue from the leather.
Because even finished leather is not completely water-repellant, you
should never rinse it with a very wet rag or by running water directly
over it. Using a rag with a minimal amount of water on it protects the
leather from absorbing enough water to become damaged.
Use a dry rag to remove the light film of excess water that may be on the surface of the leather after rinsing.
Before moving on to the next step, it's a good idea to also let the
item sit for a few minutes to air dry in case the leather has absorbed
water during cleaning.
Finally, you should always condition leather after cleaning, since the soap will have removed some of its natural oils.
This is where the olive oil comes in. Put a very small amount of olive
oil on a dry cloth and rub it into the leather. Using too much oil will
make the leather greasy or sticky and attract dirt, so it's crucial to
apply only a tiny amount; if the leather is darker or shinier after
oiling, you've used too much. I was very happy with this method of
cleaning leather; when I finished, my jacket looked exactly the
same—except, of course, it's clean now.
Fortunately, though, some leather companies are making an effort to limit their environmental impact. For most, that means using alternative energy sources, tracking their greenhouse gas emissions, recycling water needed for production, treating wastewater before releasing it into the environment, and using leather pieces that would otherwise be wasted. One company, Organic Leather, bases its entire business on being environmentally friendly. They only use recycled leather and hides from animals that were raised organically or on family farms for the meat industry, and instead of chemicals, they process the leather with smoke or natural tannins and oils. These processes are drawn from traditional leather making and provide a rare opportunity to use leather products guilt-free.
Montana Pitch-Blend
offers a range of products for various leather cleaning and
conditioning situations. I like this company because they divulge their
ingredients clearly and without hesitation, and those ingredients are
primarily pine pitch, mink oil, and beeswax.
Leather Mate
is a one-step leather cleaner and conditioner made from lanolin,
carnauba wax, and other natural compounds. It's a biodegradable product
with a 50-year history.
Oakwood Liquid Leather Cleaner and Leather Conditioning Cream
are Australian products containing an array of natural oils and waxes,
including tea tree oil, beeswax, eucalyptus and emu oil (who knew?).
These sound like they would make your leather both look and smell
pretty.
How to Clean Leather
Most of the time when you clean leather, you simply need to avoid drying it out or changing its appearance. With these concerns in mind, you can spend a lot of money on leather cleaning products. But if you're working with finished leather, which has a slight sheen and is the type you see most often on jackets, boots, and furniture, you can use a couple of products you probably already have on hand. They'll do just as good of a job, cost you next to nothing, and free you from worrying about chemicals in commercial leather cleaners that you could be storing in your home, inhaling, or allowing to touch your skin. If the leather you want to clean is unfinished like a baseball glove, or has a soft nap like suede, you'll have more trouble cleaning it yourself; the method below may not work, and will probably damage the leather.
Steps to Cleaning Leather
First, get your supplies together: you'll
need gentle hand soap (in the interest of keeping this project green, I
grabbed a bottle of Method Hand Wash out of my bathroom), olive oil,
and a few soft, clean rags. You'll need water, too, but you can get that
straight from the tap. Then, before you jump into cleaning your whole
couch or that stain on the front of your jacket, it's important to test
the cleaning method from start to finish in a small, hidden place, just
to make sure it won't lighten, darken, or dry your specific piece of
leather. Once you're ready to get started, you'll need to prepare a rag by dampening it and applying a little soap.
Get the whole rag wet if you're cleaning a large area, but for small
stains it should be sufficient to run a corner of the rag under the tap.
Either way, remember that the rag should be just slightly damp, not
soaking wet; squeeze out any excess water before pumping a small amount
of hand soap onto the rag. Rub the rag against itself a little to work the soap into the cloth
before you begin cleaning. You don't want to apply a glob of soap to a
piece of leather. Instead, gently rub a light lather onto the leather
until it appears clean. Next, slightly dampen another rag to wipe any soap residue from the leather.
Because even finished leather is not completely water-repellant, you
should never rinse it with a very wet rag or by running water directly
over it. Using a rag with a minimal amount of water on it protects the
leather from absorbing enough water to become damaged. Use a dry rag to remove the light film of excess water that may be on the surface of the leather after rinsing.
Before moving on to the next step, it's a good idea to also let the
item sit for a few minutes to air dry in case the leather has absorbed
water during cleaning. Finally, you should always condition leather after cleaning, since the soap will have removed some of its natural oils.
This is where the olive oil comes in. Put a very small amount of olive
oil on a dry cloth and rub it into the leather. Using too much oil will
make the leather greasy or sticky and attract dirt, so it's crucial to
apply only a tiny amount; if the leather is darker or shinier after
oiling, you've used too much. I was very happy with this method of
cleaning leather; when I finished, my jacket looked exactly the
same—except, of course, it's clean now. Buying Eco-Friendly Leather
Leather is a natural product, right? Well, not so much anymore. Animal hides provide the raw material for leather, but that's where "natural" ends and "environmental nightmare" usually begins. And "natural," unfortunately, is not synonymous with "cruelty-free." Animals raised for leather live in the same deplorable conditions as animals raised for meat—and they aren't necessarily the same animals. That means leather products are not simply a conscientious use of the skins of animals that were going to be eaten anyway. Then, once the hides enter the tanning and finishing process, they are bombarded with acids and decidedly unnatural chemicals. The leather-making process uses large quantities of fossil fuels, contributes heavily to greenhouse gas emissions, and creates wastewater full of sulfides, heavy metals, and carcinogens.Fortunately, though, some leather companies are making an effort to limit their environmental impact. For most, that means using alternative energy sources, tracking their greenhouse gas emissions, recycling water needed for production, treating wastewater before releasing it into the environment, and using leather pieces that would otherwise be wasted. One company, Organic Leather, bases its entire business on being environmentally friendly. They only use recycled leather and hides from animals that were raised organically or on family farms for the meat industry, and instead of chemicals, they process the leather with smoke or natural tannins and oils. These processes are drawn from traditional leather making and provide a rare opportunity to use leather products guilt-free.
Natural Leather Cleaners
Montana Pitch-Blend
offers a range of products for various leather cleaning and
conditioning situations. I like this company because they divulge their
ingredients clearly and without hesitation, and those ingredients are
primarily pine pitch, mink oil, and beeswax. Leather Mate
is a one-step leather cleaner and conditioner made from lanolin,
carnauba wax, and other natural compounds. It's a biodegradable product
with a 50-year history. Oakwood Liquid Leather Cleaner and Leather Conditioning Cream
are Australian products containing an array of natural oils and waxes,
including tea tree oil, beeswax, eucalyptus and emu oil (who knew?).
These sound like they would make your leather both look and smell
pretty.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)