Vegan Uncensored: Playing Nice Online

Vegan Uncensored: Playing Nice Online
� The online vegan community is one of the strongest vegan communities—the Internet has given us a way to cross countries and cultures and come together to talk animals, activism, food, passion, and the like. The Internet has done amazing things for the movement. It has given us a place to speak our minds — [...]

�

Photo by Ambro

The online vegan community is one of the strongest vegan communities—the Internet has given us a way to cross countries and cultures and come together to talk animals, activism, food, passion, and the like. The Internet has done amazing things for the movement. It has given us a place to speak our minds — but unfortunately we don’t always speak our minds nicely. What can make this bad situation worse is that the Internet provides a mask to hide behind—we don’t necessarily have to put a name or a face to our words.

Vegans are, in general, a group of passionate people. It’s often our passion, and our compassion – for our bodies, for our planet, for animals – that brings us to the lifestyle in the first place. This is why it is so upsetting when we get into nasty, heated quarrels on blogs, forums and comment sections. All kinds of people do this—not just vegans—but when a group so dedicated to compassion turns, well, uncompassionate, it’s a bummer. I know sometimes things make us angry. How can we not stir up a piss pot when we see things promoting animal cruelty – or just blatant hypocrisy – on the Internet?! If we pick a fight about something, aren’t we fighting for our cause? No. Not when our cause is compassion.

Ranting and raving does not support our cause. It will turn people off, damage our credibility, and make us look a bit loony! Getting nasty online, regardless of what we are arguing for or against, only further supports the stereotype that vegans are a bunch of angry activists up on their high horses. And it makes our fight for compassion look a wee bit hypocritical.

When we see something we disagree with online, why not state the point—but in a calm, collected, well-thought-out manner? If you’re so mad you can’t see straight, take a breather, do something else, and then come back and respond. Don’t take advantage of the fact that you can say what you want on the Internet without repercussion, or even identification. Would you say the same thing, using the same language, if your face was attached? What if your children were listening?

The next time you stumble on something that makes you furious, like Starbucks using beetles in their beverage mix, or that man from Georgia, Kirby Campbell, getting less jail time despite his cruel behavior toward animals, state your opinion, and do it with dignity, good research and strength. Compassion is the word, people! Live it.

Source: feedproxy.google.com

Martha Ringer: A Complete Night's Sleep (Try This)

Martha Ringer: A Complete Night's Sleep (Try This)

For many years I have tried to capture the essence of what being "tucked in" at night meant to me as a child. I once gathered stories from friends about how they go to sleep at night and how they were tucked in as children. I was convinced that how we finish the day impacts us in many other ways.

My original vision was to write a children's book. The actual finished product that will be released later this summer is a book for adults. I was touched to hear first lady Michelle Obama, in an interview this week, speak about their own family ritual of being tucked in at night by Barack, a ritual that includes herself.

As a child I remember the comfort I experienced being tucked in at night with great tenderness and loving by my mother. As an adult, I have created a way to tuck myself in with the same sweetness and loving.

Consciously taking ourselves to sleep at night is also the best way I know to complete the day and let go of what doesn't need to be dragged into tomorrow. In my experience, completing the day allows our bodies to rest deeply and begin the next day refreshed.

My current ritual of tucking myself in takes about 10-15 minutes. I do it once I have turned off the computer, plugged in my iPhone to charge in another room, brushed my teeth, etc. There are many nights when I think I'm too tired and I will skip this process altogether, just like I imagine my mother thinking years ago, "Honey just tuck yourself in." But my mother would always tuck me in, no matter how tired she was. That's what parents do. So I figure I deserve the same commitment to myself.

In my consulting practice, I work with executives to transform the backlog of unfinished projects and actions into completion. I often hear my clients talk about their challenges with sleeping and waking up in the night worrying with things on their minds. Completing is freedom, in my experience, and results in clarity, relaxation and peace of mind. I remember a number of years ago, a client exclaiming: "I slept for the first time in a year" after our first day of gathering and processing the incompletes in her life. I know from this and many other client experiences that completing directly impacts our quality of sleep, rest and our wellbeing.

The finishing of today allows for the newness of tomorrow. And it is a way to love and honor who we are. Take time before bed to quiet the mind and review the day; see what worked, what did not, what we might have judged that needs forgiving, what still needs completing and write it down. Include time for out loud or written statements of gratitude and appreciation for yourself and others. I also track progress on habits I am developing -- for example, consistent exercise. I end my tuck-me-in process with a blessing before turning out the light.

Completing the day with yourself celebrates you and reminds you that you are worth being tucked in with loving. And what if it is the answer you have been looking for to a good night's sleep?

The upcoming book has been recorded as an mp3 and is available for $.99 on Amazon or iTunes.

The book on ITunes

The book on Amazon

For more by Martha Ringer, click here.

For more on sleep, click here.

FOLLOW HEALTH AND FITNESS

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Tips on How to Choose the Right Daily Facial Moisturizer

Choosing a moisturizer can be quite a daunting task. There are literally dozens of brands to choose from at the drugstore and a hundred more brands at the department store. While choosing the right moisturizer for your skin may seem overwhelming and confusing, it is actually very simple as long as you follow these simple guidelines. Here are some of them. Read more

10 Simple Tips for Glowing Skin

This article discusses 10 simple tips that give you glowing skin. For example, you will learn about the importance of a healthy diet to your skin, how practicing yoga gives you better skin and so on. Source

Helicobacter Pylori Can Cause Rosacea

If you are struggling to figure out why you are suffering from skin disorders such as rosacea, you must look at the health of your gut because the health of your "internal" skin, known as the mucosal barrier, reflects in the health of your "outer" skin. The medical and scientific literature demonstrates a clear association between Helicobacter pylori bacteria and several skin conditions. Rosacea is one of the skin diseases that appears to have one of the strongest associations with H pylori. Others include urticaria (hives) and atopic dermatitis. This article explores the link between H pylori and rosacea and offers hope for you if you seem to be hitting a dead end with your treatment options. Complete article

Beauty Steps on How to Smooth Out Facial Skin

Beauty Steps on How to Smooth Out Facial Skin
If you want to know how to smooth out facial skin you must be prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve your purpose. Having smooth facial skin requires consistency in keeping up with a beauty regimen in order to achieve the best results. Having a good skincare routine will definitely produce faster results that you have always dreamed of.
Source: EzineArticles.com

What Do You Know About Botox?

Botox has been used clinically for various purposes since 1989. It is actually a purified version of botulinum toxin, a bacterial substance that can be used to treat humans medicinally. Its main course of action is that it decreases muscle activity by blocking the release of acetylcholine. Given in tiny doses and injected directly into the muscles that are underneath the wrinkle or line, it weakens and relaxes the muscle, giving the skin a smooth surface where it is injected for a period of up to three months' time. Complete article

The Benefits Of Herbal Skin Care

The nice thing about herbs is they come with little or no side-effect. This is one reason they are preferred over prescription medicine. Herbal treatment are also popular because they can be created at home which makes them less costly than their commercial counterparts. Source

Featured Interview: From Organic to Veganic with the Veganic Agriculture Network

Featured Interview: From Organic to Veganic with the Veganic Agriculture Network
The organic movement is growing, and happy gardeners and conscious consumers all over are celebrating. However, many people don't realize that even the “organic” produce they buy at the store may have been grown with fertilizer from factory farms where the animals may have been fed chemicals and hormones—the exact thing that organics is trying to avoid. What's a conscious consumer to do? Enter veganics, the totally plant-based agriculture movement. To get the inside scoop, Vegan Mainstream chatted with Stéphane Groleau and Meghan Kelly of the Canada-based Veganic Agriculture Network.

�

photo courtesy of the Veganic Agriculture Network

�

The organic movement is growing, and happy gardeners and conscious consumers all over are celebrating. However, many people don’t realize that even the “organic” produce they buy at the store may have been grown with fertilizer from factory farms where the animals may have been fed chemicals and hormones—the exact thing that organics is trying to avoid. What’s a conscious consumer to do? Enter veganics, the totally plant-based agriculture movement. To get the inside scoop, Vegan Mainstream chatted with Stéphane Groleau and Meghan Kelly of the Canada-based Veganic Agriculture Network.

Vegan Mainstream: The idea of veganic agriculture is novel to most people. What does it mean?

Meghan Kelly: Veganic gardening and farming does not use any animal products at all. In organic farming, fertility can be maintained with animal, mineral or vegetable matter. We break that link between organic growing and livestock production by using only plant-based matter and minerals.”

Stéphane Groleau: We also avoid all chemicals.

VM: If the movement spreads, how will it change the agricultural industry?

MK: Really, it’s two things in tandem. One big reason there are so many animal products in organic and conventional farming is that there is a surplus of manure, because we eat so much meat. So if we cut back on factory farming, and move toward organic plant-based farming, there will be less animal waste being used.

photo courtesy of the Veganic Agriculture Network

SG: One aspect is with oil and the cost of transportation. If we look into more alternative options, like eating local, things will really change, not only in the money being spent, but in what we grow. There are so many different things we could be growing.

VM: Can you talk a bit about gardening for biodiversity?

SG: There are 3 aspects of gardening for biodiversity:

1) Soil biodiversity, which is the use of methods that will improve soil, as well as the number of animals and insects living in the soil. [An example of this would be] using mulch or green manure and reducing tillage;

2) Plant biodiversity, which avoids monoculture and supports a wide variety of plants that will be different from year to year; and

3) Environmental settings, which encourage people to have ponds, or more trees, or other biodiverse settings that will create natural habitats for animals, snakes, birds, and insects. All of this will create a more balanced ecosystem.

MK: We really support gardening for biodiversity, which is gardening to serve the animals as well. Like the permaculture movement, veganic gardening imitates nature and allows nature to do much of the work for us.

SG: It shows the world and environment not only as something for humans, but for animals too. We need to leave some nature for them, and this means in the garden, too.

MK: When part of your harvest gets eaten, it’s not a big deal. [Humans] have such a possessive mindset about what we plant in the garden, so when insects or animals eat some of what we have planted, we get upset. It’s a reactive mindset. The vast majority of animals and insects have a positive impact on our garden, and support the natural ecosystem. When we intervene, we can disrupt this delicate balance.

Experimental bicycle garden: photo courtesy of the Veganic Agriculture Network

VM: How do you work to support veganic farmers and gardeners?

SG: We support the movement by starting discussion groups and information exchanges. Everyone is very spread out, so direct contact is difficult. We are trying to facilitate the sharing of information across North America.

MK: We also provide as much information as possible on our website, and help put people in contact with veganic farms in their area.

VM: What do you think is the biggest misconception about gardening, in terms of sustainability?

MK: People are missing the information that many farms that grow organic use manure from factory farms. They don’t realize many organic farmers are using slaughterhouse byproducts. Also, the idea that you need manure to fertilize is a myth. People think that the nutrients in manure come from animals, but the animals are getting nutrients from the plants they eat.

SG: Also, not many people realize you can garden without tilling your soil. If we work the soil too much, we lose nutrients. If we have a good ecosystem in our soil, we can avoid working it.

MK: Another thing people don’t understand anymore is what vegetables actually look like, since we are so used to seeing perfect veggies in the grocery store. We don’t realize how much was thrown out to get those perfect vegetables, or how many chemicals were added to their fertilizer. We have a warped image of what food is supposed to look like.

We are in favor of organics, but veganics is ideal. Back in 2000, the term organic was just starting to spread. We hope that veganics will spread, too. We encourage organic over conventional, but we want people to understand that often their “organic” fertilizers are coming from factory farming, so they are indirectly supporting factory farming. If they really want to go fully organic, veganic is the way to go.

Source: feedproxy.google.com

Five Tips to Get the Perfect Shave Every Time

Five Tips to Get the Perfect Shave Every Time
A smooth face can make you look more youthful, cleaner and more respectable. Most men need to shave but how can you get a closer shave? Here are five tips to get a closer shave.
Source: EzineArticles.com

The Best Botox Alternative - Natox Organic Anti-Wrinkle Cream

Natox by Richibrown is a natural, organic Botox alternative. It produces the same effects as Botox but without the discomfort of injections. Natox works on the same principle as Botox as it can stop facial muscle contractions, and consequently, it can eliminate fine lines, reduce wrinkles and prevent new ones from forming. Source

Men Skin Care: The Essentials

Men skin care should begin with cleansing, preferably with water-soluble cleansers. This cleanses the skin of grease, dirt and pollutants and prevents pore clogging. Male skin is generally oilier than female skin and cleansing is thus an indispensable part of the men skin care procedure. Read more

What Did You Do To Keep Your Mom Up At Night?

What Did You Do To Keep Your Mom Up At Night?

Get Healthy Living Alerts:

If there is one thing your mother probably needs for Mother's Day, it's sleep. Children are notorious for making their moms lose quality shut-eye -- and that's why we recently asked our readers, What did you do growing up to keep your mother awake at night?

Our community question was in conjunction with a giveaway of TEMPUR-Traditional Pillow Soft from Tempur-Pedic -- a chance to redeem yourself from years of being the cause of your mom's restless nights.

The responses made us shake our heads and laugh at the same time, so we put together a slideshow of some favorites. Click through and then tell us: What did you do to keep your mom up at night?

Contribute to this Story:

If there is one thing your mother probably needs for Mother's Day, it's sleep. Children are notorious for making their moms lose quality shut-eye -- and that's why we recently asked our readers, What...

If there is one thing your mother probably needs for Mother's Day, it's sleep. Children are notorious for making their moms lose quality shut-eye -- and that's why we recently asked our readers, What...

Filed by Gina Ryder  | 

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Christiane Northrup, MD: The Miracle Of Motherhood Your Way

Christiane Northrup, MD: The Miracle Of Motherhood Your Way

From the moment I gazed into the eyes of my firstborn child, Annie, I was enchanted. Given what I teach now (and how I practiced medicine), I think you will find this ironic: Up until the moment that I actually went into labor, I treated my impending motherhood in a detached, clinical way and managed to stay totally immersed in my career. Talk about a mind-body split! Then happily, suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, at age 31, my innate nurturing and mothering skills were awakened in me as I went through the process of labor and birth.

Even though I had spent much of the five years prior to Annie's birth delivering babies and marveling at how infinitely varied were the ways in which their mothers responded to them, I was completely unaware of what my own response would be. I share this with you, because every woman, no matter how maternal she is, has doubts. And every woman arrives at the place she needs to be for herself and her family at the right time. And that includes women who never have children of their own.

Like my mother, I had not been particularly interested in babies, but I always knew I wanted to be a mother someday. One of the things that amazed me at the time was that I instantly had the urge to have a whole lot of children. I was thrilled with my ability to create this beautiful baby, a fact that both surprised and delighted me, given my prior take-it-or-leave-it attitude toward babies. I was caught up in the wonder and abundance of biologic creativity at that moment in a way that I will never forget.

Like my mother before me, I had never doubted my ability to care for a baby. It seemed like common sense. What I wasn't prepared for was the amount of heart-bursting, unconditional love I felt for this little being. The very day she was born, Annie laughed -- a tiny laugh, I'll admit, but coming out of her perfect rosebud lips, it sounded like the voices of the angels themselves. I had the distinct feeling that she had spent a good deal of time with the angels. And she looked as though she hadn't quite left the spirit world behind. I knew that I would do everything in my power to protect her, provide for her, and let her know that she was loved. I thought she was the most precious child ever born.

But despite my immediate postpartum enthusiasm for making babies, it was 2.5 years before I gave birth to my next child, my daughter Kate. And by the time I turned 37, with two small children in the house, I realized that although I felt a strong biologic urge to have a third, I didn't have enough life energy to carry, birth, and mother an infant in a way that I considered optimal while also tackling another huge project that I was gestating -- Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom.

I chose the book.

I adore my children and have found motherhood fulfilling beyond my wildest dreams. But being a mother is only one aspect of who I am. And that's OK. As a physician and a writer, I have strong needs for inward focus, solitude, and scholarly pursuits -- lifestyle qualities not easily available to the mothers of large families. To be a truly happy and healthy woman, and therefore a happy mother, I needed a focus other than my home and family, just as my own mother had.

When I was a young mother, my spirit urged me to create a life that encompassed all the aspects of my personality. I didn't know if I could find the right balance between the joys and demands of motherhood and the joys and demands of a practicing physician, especially one who delivered babies in the middle of the night a few times a week. Later, the question became what percentage of my time should be devoted to practicing medicine vs. writing? Later still, how much time did I want to be away from my teenage children, traveling to speaking engagements or pursuing my own hobbies?

And so it goes. Thousands of women were -- and still are -- asking the same kinds of questions and making the same kinds of decisions in their work and personal lives.

Here's my advice: There is no right answer, just the answer that is right for you. And that answer is likely to change. Let it! Know that it's OK to want and even need the satisfaction that comes from creating a home and a family, from being cherished in an intimate partnership. It's also natural to crave the personal power that comes from having a career and financial clout. Your soul will direct you and help you to be the best kind of mom you can be, if you let it.

Adapted with permission from Mother-Daughter Wisdom.

This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. All material in this article is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise, or other health program.

© Christiane Northrup, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

For more by Christiane Northrup, MD, click here.

For more on emotional wellness, click here.

Follow Christiane Northrup, MD on Twitter: www.twitter.com/drchrisnorthrup

FOLLOW HEALTH AND FITNESS

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Natural Skin Care Treatment for Any Skin

Natural Skin Care Treatment for Any Skin
When you look down at your skin, the only thing you see is the skin itself and all the hairs, freckles, moles and dimples that cover your body all over the place. What you don't see is a living, breathing organ that performs vital functions for the body even when you are sleeping. Deep down under that top layer of skin cells you have an intricate network of dermal tissues, fatty tissues, veins, arteries, nerves and bone.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Some Of The Best Acne Treatment Products Available Today

Some Of The Best Acne Treatment Products Available Today
Finding the best treatment for acne wash, or acne body wash for that matter, can be quite a struggle because of the too many choices available in the market. A type of acne, back acne, also called "bacne" for short, is a skin condition which can be just as embarrassing as facial acne. For one, a woman who needs to attend a party may find it extremely tough to wear a truly sexy, backless dress. In addition, she may think twice about going to a beach party because she feels embarrassed about her back.
Source: EzineArticles.com

10 Celebs Who've Been Touched By Skin Cancer

10 Celebs Who've Been Touched By Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that one in five Americans will develop some form of the disease in their lifetime. According to the foundation's web site, "nearly 800,000 Americans are living with a history of melanoma and 13 million are living with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer, typically diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma."

The famous faces on the list below are amongst those ranks -- celebrities who have either had skin cancer themselves or are spreading the word after a very close call.

The good news is that even melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, is treatable under the right circumstances.

"Melanoma is almost always curable when it is found in its very early stages," according to the American Cancer Society.

So this May, National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, take a moment to remember to protect your own skin -- seek shade during midday hours, wear protective clothing, hats and sunglasses, slather on the sunscreen and skip indoor tanning. And be vigilant about regular screenings.

• Ewan McGregor

  A few years back, the star had a cancerous mole removed from under his eye, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7360233.stm" target="_hplink">telling the BBC</a> that he knew his fair skin -- and years spent enjoying the sun -- upped his risk. "I went to see a specialist who thought they were better to be removed, and indeed he was correct,"<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7360233.stm" target="_hplink"> McGregor told the BBC.</a>

• Michelle Monaghan

  <a href="http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20532015_2,00.html" target="_hplink">The actress told <em>Health</em> magazine</a> that her Aussie husband was instrumental in keeping her skin cancer from progressing. "A few years ago I had a mole on the back of my calf, and he was adamant that I get it checked," <a href="http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20532015_2,00.html" target="_hplink">she told the publication.</a> "In Australia, they're very aware of skin cancer. I finally went and it was skin cancer."

• William H. Macy

  After appearing on her show with a small bandage on his nose, the actor told "Live! with Kelly" host Kelly Ripa he'd recently had a basal-cell carcinoma removed <a href="http://blog.sfgate.com/dailydish/2012/01/03/william-h-macy-recovering-from-skin-cancer-surgery/" target="_hplink"> (via SFGate)</a>. "I'm Scots/Irish heritage and (that's what I get) for spending a misspent youth in Georgia with no sunscreen," Macy said.

• Melanie Griffith

  The actress once underwent surgery to remove "the early stages of skin cancer from her face," <a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2009-12-18/entertainment/melanie.griffith.cancer_1_melanie-griffith-skin-cancer-surgery?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ" target="_hplink">CNN reported. </a> According to <a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2009-12-18/entertainment/melanie.griffith.cancer_1_melanie-griffith-skin-cancer-surgery?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ" target="_hplink">CNN,</a> Griffith's spokesperson explained that the surgery was done early enough to prevent any future complications.

• John McCain

  The politician has had at least four melanomas, <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/24/science/sci-melanoma24" target="_hplink">the <em>Los Angeles Times</em> reports.</a> "Melanoma can almost always be cured in its early stages. But it is likely to spread to other parts of the body if it is not caught early," <a href="http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/SkinCancer-Melanoma/OverviewGuide/melanoma-skin-cancer-overview-what-is-melanoma" target="_hplink">The American Cancer Society explains.</a> "Melanoma is much less common than basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers ... but it is far more dangerous."

• Brooke Shields

  Though the actress is skin-cancer free, <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20280761,00.html" target="_hplink">she told <em>People</em> magazine</a> that her doctor once removed a precancerous mole from her face, which served as a real wake-up call. "All my girlfriends and I would go up on the roof in New York; we didn't have to be at the beach," <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20280761,00.html" target="_hplink">Shields told<em> People</em>,</a> explaining that she stopped tanning years ago. "You think that because you're not in the sun anymore, it's all in the past. And then something like that crops up and you're made aware of how dangerous it really can be."

• Laura Bush

  The former First Lady had a tumor removed from her shin several years ago, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/12/18/wh-laura-bush-had-skin-ca_n_36672.html" target="_hplink">the AP reported.</a> It was a squamous cell carcinoma -- a non-melanoma skin cancer -- the main symptom of which is a "growing bump that may have a rough, scaly surface and flat reddish patches," <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001832/" target="_hplink">the NIH explains.</a>

• Troy Aikman

  The former NFL quarterback was told he had 100 percent chance of survival after a malignant melanoma was removed from his shoulder back in the late 1990s,<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1013047/index.htm" target="_hplink"> according to <em>Sports Illustrated.</em> </a>

• Anderson Cooper

  The star reporter had minor surgery to remove a cancerous mole from his face, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/19/anderson-cooper-has-surge_n_92338.html" target="_hplink">the AP reported.</a> <a href="http://www.accesshollywood.com/anderson-cooper-has-small-spot-of-skin-cancer-removed_article_8823" target="_hplink">As Access Hollywood explained,</a> he mentioned the procedure on his blog explaining that he had "a small spot of skin cancer removed from under my left eye."

• Lisa Gastineau

  The former reality TV star (who may be returning to it again soon) had a basal cell carcinoma inside her nose removed, which required doctors to remove part of her nostril, <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20348105,00.html" target="_hplink">according to <em>People.</em></a> She's also had melanoma removed from her thigh, and now is very careful to avoid the sun.

Contribute to this Story:

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

13 Celebrities Who Have Lost Weight On 'Dancing With The Stars'

13 Celebrities Who Have Lost Weight On 'Dancing With The Stars'

Marie Osmond

The singer and actress had a troubling time in 2007 with the loss of her father and her son entering rehab, but her stint on "Dancing With The Stars" helped her stay healthy. "I'm <a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21889394/ns/today-entertainment/#.T6ApX59Ytdp" target="_hplink">down 31 pounds so far</a>," Osmond told <em>OK!</em> magazine in November, 2007. "I've lost about five inches off my hips and five inches off my waist. I've added muscle mass and I am much more toned. It's incredible."

Nancy Grace

The TV personality was sent home <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20543966,00.html" target="_hplink">25 pounds lighter</a> than she was when she started the show, she told Anderson Cooper. <br><br> After gaining weight while pregnant with twins, Grace said "I never really cared about it, or bothered to lose it. I lost it like this, so I'm happy about that."

Chaz Bono

Bono <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20524807,00.html" target="_hplink">lost five pounds</a> in his first six days of dancing, partner Lacey Schwimmer told <em>People</em>. <br><br> He continued to lose, totaling at least <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/dancing-stars-diet-contestants-lose-weight-14896427" target="_hplink">18 pounds shed</a>, ABC reported. "It's getting me into <a href="http://www.accesshollywood.com/chaz-bono-dancing-is-getting-me-into-the-best-shape-ive-ever-been-in_video_1360637" target="_hplink">the best shape I've ever been in</a>," Bono told Access Hollywood.

Kirstie Alley

The actress told "Entertainment Tonight" she <a href="http://www.organicliaison.com/videos/kirstie-alley-dramatic-weight-loss-ive-lost-100-pounds" target="_hplink">lost 100 pounds on "Dancing With The Stars"</a> and 10 dress sizes. <br><br> "I feel like I'm back in my element," she said of her transformation.

Kelly Osbourne

The TV personality (and Ozzy's daughter) discovered just how unhealthy her eating habits were, when French fries and pizza were causing her to get sick during "Dancing With The Stars" rehearsals, she told <em>SHAPE</em>. <br><br> While on the show, she made over her diet and <a href="http://www.shape.com/celebrities/interviews/kelly-osbourne-weight-lost-confidence-gained" target="_hplink">shed 20 pounds</a>. After the show, despite a few-pound setback, Osbourne lost another 30 pounds, and has kept it off.

Ricki Lake

The TV personality, famous for her weight struggles, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/01/nancy-grace-ricki-lake-weight-dancing-with_n_1069727.html" target="_hplink">dropped more than 20 pounds</a> during her time on "Dancing With The Stars", the AP reported. <br><br> "I've <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20537443,00.html" target="_hplink">lost a lot of inches all over</a>," she told <em>People</em>. "Definitely in my arms, and my arms were particularly one of the things I hated most about my body, so it's nice to see them slimming down."

Margaret Cho

The comedian admitted to <em>People</em> that she had <a href="http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2010/09/29/dancing-with-the-stars-margaret-cho-i-went-40-years-without-any-exercise/?xid=fitsugar" target="_hplink"><em>never</em> exercised before joining "Dancing With The Stars"</a>! <br><br> She said she wasn't tracking the weight loss with a scale, but could feel the difference. "I can see it in my face," she said. "I can feel it in my whole body. I have lost a lot of weight. It's the first time I've ever been there, and I feel great about it."

Gladys Knight

While already eliminated from season 14, Motown legend Knight is one of the season's biggest success. She <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/watch_with_kristin/dancing_with_stars_backstage_scoop_alum/311183" target="_hplink">dropped 60 pounds</a> during her six-week "Dancing" stint, she told E! Online! "I feel amazing," she said. <br><br> She told reporters backstage it was a combination of <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20590125,00.html" target="_hplink">physical activity and the right diet</a> that did the trick. "You've got to eat healthy and you've got to put a little movement into it," she said, People.com reported.

Tia Carrere

The actress, who joined the <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/03/03/dancing-stars-weight-loss-competition-dancing/" target="_hplink">second season of "Dancing With The Stars"</a> seems to have been the first celebrity to get attention for her dramatic slim down, reports FoxNews.com. <br><br> "Tia was not svelte at that moment," wellness coach Jackie Keller, who helped Carrere lose, told the website. She found DWTS to be a great <a href="http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20156647,00.html" target="_hplink">whole-body workout</a>, telling <em>People</em>, "The waltz works different muscles from the rumba, which works different muscles from the cha-cha, so you're getting a whole-body thing. The twisting through the midsection is quite taxing."

Katherine Jenkins

The Welsh-born singer and actress told the <em>Daily Mail </em>she'd lost a stone and a half, or about 21 pounds, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2127651/Katherine-Jenkins-loses-stone-half-Dancing-With-The-Stars-2012.html" target="_hplink">while competing on "Dancing With The Stars"</a>. "I'm burning so much energy now that it's hard to put the weight back on," she said.

Mya

The R&B singer told <em>OK!</em> magazine "Dancing With The Stars" helped her <a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/news/mya-works-it-out-gets-fit-dwts" target="_hplink">shed fat and build muscle</a>. <br><br> "I started at 138 pounds and went down to 127 within a month, then down to 121 pounds," she said. "Now, I am back at 127 because I've gained muscle from dancing."

Jane Seymour

The actress, who sticks to a diet of "fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, lean protein, no sodas or alcohol", she told <em>People</em>, <a href="http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20160674,00.html" target="_hplink">lost too much weight </a>on "Dancing With The Stars". After shedding 20 pounds, she was trying to put healthy weight back on, according to the magazine.

Lisa Rinna

While we're not sure of how many pounds she shed, the actress told CBSNews.com that her body definitely changed during her time on "Dancing With The Stars". <br><br> "I think the highlight for me was the body that I got while doing it. It was pretty nice," she said. "The byproduct of that show is you just get in the <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/20/entertainment/main6503660.shtml" target="_hplink">most amazing shape of your life</a> and you feel so good."

Related Video

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Emma Gray: Is Make-Up Sex Like Cocaine?

Emma Gray: Is Make-Up Sex Like Cocaine?

Make-up sex is just like cocaine? So wrote clinical psychologist Seth Meyers (not the one on SNL) in a recent blog for Psychology Today titled "Make-Up Sex Hurts: Why and How to Avoid It."

Meyers argued:

In a healthy relationship, two people can come together after a disagreement and share physical intimacy because they feel close. However, the search for greater intimacy and trust isn't what motivates most make-up sex. The truth is that most make-up sex results from having felt and expressed extreme negative emotions during a heated argument, without any true resolution afterward. Because these individuals get sick of feeling the negative extreme end of the spectrum, they hunger to switch gears and jump to the opposite end of the spectrum -- to feel the high that comes with making up. Honestly, it's not that different from an addict who needs a hit of cocaine.

He went on to say that couples who have make-up sex inevitably use it as a band-aid for larger intimacy issues. And according to Meyers, this creates the illusion that sex can solve relationship problems that it can't -- which only leads to greater dissatisfaction and disappointment. He suggests that, should you find yourself having angry make-up sex, you "gently pull back and explain to your partner that you want to stop and try again later."

Not everyone agreed with Meyers' harsh reading of post-argument sexual activity -- especially when it comes to interrupting said sexual encounter to chat. "Talk it out before the encounter begins, by all means. Have a chat after the encounter ends. But why put your blinkers on in the middle of the autobahn?" wrote Gawker's Caity Weaver.

In a piece for Health magazine published in 2008, Jennifer Berman took on the topic of make-up sex and came to a very different conclusion than Meyers. She wrote that make-up sex is not only normal and healthy (in most cases), but it can also spice up your sex life: "It be madly pas¬sionate, but it can also sustain intimacy during tough times. Besides, it's natural to feel turned on after an argument," she writes. She does however include the caveat that couples shouldn't be sexually intimate only after a fight -- that is indicative of a larger issue.

Personally, I'm more in Berman's camp than Meyers' -- cocaine addiction strikes me as a wholly different beast than the occasional anger-fueled sexual encounter. However, encouraging couples to communicate with one another when they argue, and not just jump into bed to solve every problem, seems like a reasonable suggestion.

What do you think? Is make-up sex problematic?

Follow Emma Gray on Twitter: www.twitter.com/emmaladyrose

FOLLOW HEALTH AND FITNESS

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Genital Warts: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted disease, which inflicts approximately half of the population of sexually active people at some point. The infection affects the moist parts of the genital area. The warts have the appearance of flesh-colored bumps, but it can vary from person to person. Usually, the warts are very small and may be hard to see. There is no such thing as a genital warts cure, but the infection may go away on its own. Source

World Laughter Day: The Healing Benefits Of Laughter Yoga

World Laughter Day: The Healing Benefits Of Laughter Yoga

When it comes to laughter yoga, faking it ‘til you make it is just fine.

At least, that's what Vishwa Prakash said at the start of the session that HuffPost's health news editor Amanda Chan and I wandered into recently.

It was one of a few guidelines Prakash offered, as well as keeping our eyes locked on our fellow attendees, some 20 men and women dressed in street clothes and standing in a circle in his textile design company's midtown Manhattan offices.

And with that, we were off.

Prakash traded with other leaders who led us through several "exercises" -- we clapped, we milked imaginary cows, we blew up imaginary balloons, threw them on the ground, and exploded into laughter as we popped them with our feet. In between each set, we walked around clapping and chanting, "Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha!"

"It's bizarre, it's plain weird. Adults do not behave this way," said Sebastien Gendry, who founded the American School of Laughter Yoga, the country's largest laughter yoga training program.

"You laugh, you clap and you breathe," he continued. (You also drive imaginary bumper cars, pretend to be lions and hug perfect strangers.) "Suddenly you find yourself really laughing and you don't know why. It's fun, and you feel good."

The goal of laughter yoga is to breathe and to laugh, not because anyone has cracked a joke, but because laughter is a playful, social, contagious thing. The "yoga" label is a bit of a misnomer. There are no downward dogs or inversions, just people coming together, usually for free, for a short session of laughter. And it has become something of a global phenomenon.

According to Laughter Yoga International, a group led by the founder of Laughter Yoga and Mumbai-based physician Dr. Madan Kataria, there are about 6,000 laughter clubs across the globe. In the past decade, more than 400 have cropped up here in the U.S., and organizers expect a few thousand will celebrate "World Laughter Day" on Sunday.

How and why people find laughter yoga varies. Many come to connect with a community, Gendry said, others come for catharsis or to feel better physically.

Jody Ross, now a certified laughter yoga leader, started attending formal laughter workshops several years back to help heal herself. She had chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and depression so severe she lost her job and lived, for a time, in a homeless shelter.

"I went to a seminar on laughter yoga, and I felt elated for hours later. I didn't have any pain," Ross said. "When you combine laughter and breathing, there's healing there."

Indeed, as research probes the intricacies of the mind-body connection, investigators have developed a particular focus on the possible health benefits of laughter. Some of the more prominent work has come from the cardiovascular arena.

Dr. Michael Miller, the director of the preventive cardiology program at the University of Maryland's Medical Center, previously investigated the effect laughter can have on the vascular system. In a study presented to the American College of Cardiology, Miller and his colleagues found that showing healthy adults a funny movie scene increased blood flow by more than 20 percent.

"I can tell you that if you have active emotion, it works," Miller said. "How that parlays into reducing the risk of heart attacks is still to be determined, and to what extent passive laughing, like a simple chuckle, makes a difference remains to be established."

Other studies have suggested that laughter helps burn calories and increases one's heart rate. In another, researchers from Japan found that laughter may help lower blood sugar levels -- a boon for diabetes patients.

But while such findings show promise, experts caution that the science is not fully there.

"The science of laughter is in its early stage," said Dr. Robert Provine, author of "Laughter: A Scientific Investigation." He explained that laughter is an ancient vocalization stemming from the panting of animals' rough-and-tumble play.

"It's difficult to separate the cognitive, from the social, from the physical aspects of laughing," Provine added. "Is simply going 'ha ha ha' going to give you the same presumed benefits of genuine laughter?"

We definitely had our moments of faking it.

"I had definitely never experienced anything like it before," said Amanda, who is notably nicer and more diplomatic than myself. "I must say, though, that the experience seems to be dependent on the sort of people there. Everyone was so into it and so enthusiastic. It made me feel more comfortable about laughing, too -- even though in any other circumstance, I would've surely felt self-conscious about just laughing for a half-hour straight."

As for me, I'd been dreading the class all week (I'm shy and a little prickly), but it wasn't as bad as I'd feared. I did genuinely lose it at the end, laughing so hard I cried as we lay on the floor, stared at the ceiling and guffawed together for minutes. And minutes. I couldn't get over how weird it was. Does that somewhat judgmental laughter count? I don't know. Amanda and I hightailed it out of there before the period when people chatted about their experiences.

Of course, one session can't give you much a taste of anything and the experts agree with Amanda -- it's important to find a club that feels right.

"It's really about community," said Marlene Chertok, a registered nurse and breast cancer survivor who has seen her St. Louis-based club grow from single to double digits in the past few years. "It's just a place where people can come in and laugh, regularly. It needs to feel safe."

And that safety can come even in the least likely places.

Rebecca Foster, who works for the Prison Mindfulness Institute teaching mediation and emotional intelligence skills in Rhode Island, teaches laughter yoga in men's and women's jails.

"The aggressive energy dissipates," Foster said. "You can't be tight and laugh at the same time. Who knows how profound a difference it will make -- it may not make any difference at all. But at the very least there's a sense that in this moment, in this one place, I can be a kid again."

And for all of the promise of laughter's health benefits, many not yet scientifically proven, that may be the method's greatest strength.

"Laughter feels good while we do it," Provine said. "Isn't that enough?"

Contribute to this Story:

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

In Season: 7 May Superfoods

In Season: 7 May Superfoods

Now that the weather is a wee bit warmer, many of us are thinking about getting outdoors to enjoy the spring air and sunshine.

May offers a welcome chance to get out there and be active, whether it's by taking a walk with friends (good for the body and the soul!), enjoying a bike ride or -- depending on the temperatures where you live -- taking a refreshing dip in the nearest body of water.

All of those activities require fuel, which can come from eating healthy foods -- particularly the fruits and vegetables that are at their peak this time of year.

So what are our picks for May superfoods? Take a look at our list. Then, as always, let us know if there are any in-season favorites you can't believe we overlooked.

• Boysenberries

  <strong>Why we love them:</strong> They're a cross between a raspberry and a blueberry -- both nutritious and delicious fruits (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/26/cognitive-impairment-study-berries_n_1453557.html" target="_hplink">check out that recent study on how eating berries may help stave off cognitive decline</a>). The question is: what's not to love? <br><br> <strong>How to enjoy:</strong> Look for berries that are plump and firm and then just eat them as-is. You can also add them to oatmeal or yogurts at breakfast, toss 'em into fruit salads or make them into jams.

• Apricots

  <strong>Why we love them:</strong> So tasty! So sweet! So superbly summery! Apricots typically start to come into season in mid-May. To top that all off, this juicy fruit is a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as dietary fiber and potassium. <br><br> <strong>How to enjoy:</strong> Apricots are another great grab-and-go option, or you can add a few to a sweet (or savory) salad. Apricots are also great in tarts or healthy desserts.

• Radishes

  <strong>Why we love them:</strong> Radishes are a crisp, low-calorie spring snacking option, which, <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/524874-how-nutritious-are-radishes/" target="_hplink">according to Livestrong,</a> are packed with vitamins and have a high water content. According to that site, they'll help keep you fuller longer. <br><br> <strong>How to enjoy:</strong> Chop them up and toss a few radishes into a salad for a bit of peppery crunch. To shake it up a little bit, try throwing a few onto the grill.

• Avocados

  <strong>Why we love them:</strong> They're creamy, delicious and satisfying. Plus, <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/8-healthy-facts-about-avocados" target="_hplink">as WebMD reports, </a>they're a great source of fiber, potassium, vitamins C and K, folate, and heart-healthy unsaturated fat. <br><br> <strong>How to enjoy:</strong> With so many varieties, many people find that avocados are basically in-season all year round in their grocery. However, this is May, a.k.a. the month of Cinco de Mayo, which brings up a great, fresh way to enjoy avocados: in guacamole. They're also a good option on sandwiches, providing a bit of the creaminess that we often try to get from less nutritious options, like mayonaise.

• Morels

  <strong>Why we love them:</strong> <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/433633-how-to-cook-morel-mushrooms/" target="_hplink">Livestrong puts it perfectly</a> when it says: "Morel mushrooms are a much-anticipated springtime treat in the United States." While they can be a bit pricey (meaning eating a lot in order to get serious nutritional benefits may not be a possibility), they do supply B vitamins, potassium and phosphorus. <br><br> <strong>How to enjoy:</strong> Use these spongy mushrooms to help flavor whatever protein you're serving for dinner (the Internet is chock full of recipes for morels and chicken, for example). Another option -- try throwing them on the grill.

• Dandelion Greens

  <strong>Why we love them:</strong> In case you haven't heard, leafy greens are seriously good for your health -- and dandelion greens pack a particularly strong punch. They're high in folate and magnesium, as well as phosphorus and copper. And <a href="http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/dandelion-greens-nutrition-selection-storage" target="_hplink">as Fruits & Veggies -- More Matters</a> (the public health initiative) points out, these slightly peppery, bitter greens are loaded with beta-carotene. <br><br> <strong>How to enjoy:</strong> <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/How-Enjoy-Dandelion-Greens-2950313" target="_hplink">YumSugar offers up plenty of options,</a> from just washing, trimming and tossing a few into your next salad to the slightly more involved provencal soup. Other options? Saute with garlic or try stewing them.

• Arugula

  <strong>Why we love it:</strong> Arugula is another stand-out leafy green. <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/5381-need-health-benefits-arugula/" target="_hplink">As Livestrong points out,</a> arugula seriously beats out other salad bases, like iceberg lettuce. "Arugula contains about eight times the calcium, fives times the vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin K, and four times the iron as the same amount of iceberg lettuce," that site<a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/5381-need-health-benefits-arugula/" target="_hplink"> reports.</a> <br><br> <strong>How to enjoy:</strong> Two words: spring salads. You can also try adding arugula to pasta dishes or atop bruschetta.

Contribute to this Story:

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com