About Soap

On one of my visits to my chiropractor, he suggested I pick up the book The Well Adjusted Dog by Dr. Daniel Kamen. The book is written by a chiropractor who also does adjustments on animals, although he doesn't advertise this. Apparently, chiropractors are not allowed to practice on animals in many states, which I didn't realize, since I live in Canada and this doesn't seem to be a problem here in my province. However, what is good to know is that veterinarians in the U.S. are allowed to do adjustments on animals… that is if you can find one that's studied chiropractic medicine. Not an easy task.

In any case, Dr. Kamen wrote this book (among others) so that a dog owner could learn to do their own adjustments on their dogs. The book is very informative and walks you through the anatomy of a dog's spine, teaches you how to feel for misalignments and provides a variety of techniques that you can do at home. Many of the techniques focus on how to release tense muscles, especially if you're not comfortable with actually working on spinal column.

While reading the book, I came across a very interesting section which talks about dog collars and how they can easily cause neck problems for a dog. Most of it boils down to our (ie human's) improper handling of leash control on certain collars. Here's what Dr. Kamen has to say about dog collars:

“The improper use of collars is the number one cause of cervical (neck) subluxations in dogs. Of all the places to put undue stress, the cervical region, especially the upper two cervical vertebrae, is the most harmful. It is at this point that the body meets the brain.” (Dr. Daniel Kamen, The Well Adjusted Dog, p. 24)

** What Types of Collars Are Available **

I thought I was doing well by using a dog harness. Ha! I quickly learned that this might actually be the cause of my dog's disc problems located where her neck meets her shoulders. I was even more surprised at what he said was the best collar to use.

Basically, you will find that there are five major types of collars in use by most dog owners: the regular flat nylon and leather collars, the choke collar, the prong collar, the leader or head collars, and the harness.

** Flat Collars **

The regular flat collars are what most dog owners often choose, however they can also be the most dangerous type. These collars are used for hanging your dog's tags and for simply attaching the leash to the metal loop. This collar type should never be used for dog training… nor should they be used if you have a hard time controlling your dog while out walking.

When frustrated, owners tend to pull back on the leash to stop the dog from pulling and running, or in many cases, to get them to move along if they've stopped to sniff something. This yanking will cause tremendous muscle tightening in the cervical neck area, which in turn results in cervical subluxations. This is one of the largest causes of disc and other neck problems in dogs. Unfortunately, most of these disc problems don't show up until much later in life. At this point, dog owners either put their dogs on medication for pain control and muscle relaxation or resort to surgery to try to repair the damage of degenerating discs.

** Leader Head Collars **

These appear to be an ideal way to train your dog. A leader collar fits over the head of your dog, much like a muzzle does. The leash attaches to a metal loop located on the collar under the dog?s chin. The idea behind it is to turn the dog?s head to ?lead? them where you want to go. Sometimes humans may turn the head too sharply or too hard in frustration when trying to train their dog. This, like the regular collar, can cause upper neck problems.

** Choke Collars **

This is the type of collar most often used by dog trainers. The idea behind it is that if a dog pulls too much, it starts to choke and therefore will ease back and release the tension of the collar. In reality, the instinct of a dog when it feels the tightening of a chain is to pull away from it, effectively tightening the collar even more. Your dog could literally choke itself into a coma! Improperly trained dogs and more importantly, improperly trained owners, could cause extreme damage using a choke collar.

** Harness **

A harness is designed to fit over a dog's shoulders and be secured around the chest area. While a much better choice over a regular collar or a choke collar, these harnesses can cause subluxations in the lower neck, shoulder, chest, and foreleg area. Again, the primary cause to this is often attributed to frustrated owners yanking back on the leash, which causes the harness to put a large amount of stress on the shoulder and chest areas.

** Prong Collar **

This collar looks like some medieval torture device. Made of metal, the prong collar has a circular ring of spikes on its inner surface. When training the smallest amount of resistance distributes pressure evenly around the neck area effectively restraining the dog. As Dr. Kamen states in his book: “Some trainers liken the prong collar to “power steering” where even the slightest touch will produce the desired result.” He has found that dog's that use this particular collar have far less upper cervical subluxations than with any other collar type. So in essence, this is actually the best collar to use when training and walking your dog, believe it or not.

** What Else May Cause Cervical Subluxations in Dogs? **

There are many other issues that can also cause problems with cervical subluxations. The requirements of how dog's are trained (taught to sit on the left and look up at the owner causes neck strain) is one area of concern. Mismatching dog size to dog owner size, dog obesity, improper bedding, dangerous play practices, leash length, and the way certain dogs are bred, are a few of the other causes of canine neck problems.

Of course, you would be hard pressed to monitor every move your dog makes. Perhaps he likes sleeping on the hardwood floor near the fire rather than the comfy dog mat you bought. Maybe you played a little too hard today with the Frisbee and caused your dog to jump too high, causing neck pain. The important thing is to try to correct possible activities that could cause neck subluxations in your pet so they don't continue to do more damage. You may also want to pick up the book - The Well Adjusted Dog - and learn how you can check for possible misalignments in your dog's neck and spine, then learn how to do some of the corrections yourself. By doing so, you'll be giving your dog a much happier and less painful life.

by Rose Smith, (c) 2005

About the Author:Rose Smith owns http://www.CaringForCanines.com where dog owners can explore the benefits of holistic dog medicines and remedies. Find information on topics such as: dog nutrition, dog health problems, herbal & vitamin supplements, dog grooming, and more.

In Part I of this article we discussed the options available to you if you wish to create a custom website or baby blog for your baby. The conclusion reached in that article was that it is best to go with any online service like babyblogger.com, which lets you build a custom web site for your baby. In doing so, you get a complete customizable baby website with great features:

• Custom Baby Home Page - share the latest baby photos, journal entries and email alert sign up
• Baby Journal - online diary or “baby blog” all about your baby
• Baby Photos - unlimited albums for your digital baby photos
• Baby's Vitals - baby's height, weight, birthday, first steps, first words, etc.
• Baby Guestbook - your invited guests leave their thoughts and wishes as often as they like
• Email Alerts - friends and family sign up to be notified of new baby photos or journal entries
• Password protection security
• Custom features and professionally designed templates
• Advertising free
• Prices as low as 50? a week
• No special computer skills required — point and click simplicty

Buyers Beware

If you decide to go with an online service for creating your baby website, remember that all baby website services are not created equal. Here are somethings to look out for:

• FREE Baby Websites - like the old saying goes, “You get what you pay for”. Many *free* offerings are insecure, poorly designed and lack any real features, like unlimited photo albums, password protection, etc. These *free* offers typically have ulterior motives:

1. Bait &amp Switch - the free site is to get your attention, but you'll pay to upgrade for unlimited photos, email alerts, and no advertising.
2. Shell Game - the free site is often a promotion (distraction) to sell some other baby product or service.
3. Ad Game - see next item!

• Advertisements - many services which offer web sites for babies will run ads on your baby's site. If it is a free service, you can almost guarantee it. They have to make their money some how. If you don't mind subjecting your family and friends to an unrelenting barrage of ads across your baby's site, then it shouldn't be a problem.
• SPAM - unsolicited email is a major problem that just about anyone with an email address can relate to. Beware of any baby website offer, especially the free ones, which require that you and your guests enter your email address, but don't offer a privacy policy or opt-in/opt-out option. It is very likely that in addition to your free baby web site, you will get spammed without mercy.
• Security - websites which leave your baby website open to the public cause several problems. First, you may not want millions of strangers and search engines finding thoughts and photos of your baby. Second, if your site has a guestbook and/or contact page, you are likely to have negative experiences. Unfortunately, there are people who have nothing better to do than leave unwanted comments in your guestbook or use your contact page to send spam.

Conclusion?

Shop wisely when looking for a web site for your baby, and be aware that many services place their advertising concerns above the security of your baby's site, features you receive, and ease of use.

Michael is an expert-level web designer and Internet marketing professional. His baby website creation is called http://www.babyblogger/com/

A bathroom sink vanity can be a focal point and establish the style and decor of your bathroom. Bathroom sink vanities come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and styles and can look like pieces of art besides being functional. Colored bathroom sink vanities will cost more as will units that have delicate designs that are hand-painted.

A bathroom sink vanity can be made of the following materials:

? Vitreous China
? Ceramic
? Stainless Steel
? Porcelain
? Metals
? Culture Stone or Faux Stone
? Solid-Surface Materials
? Enameled Cast Iron or Steel
? Fiberglass and Acrylic Sinks

A bathroom sink vanity made of porcelain or vitreous china finish will be heavy, durable, imprevious to water and mildew, but it can chip if you drop a heavy object on it. Stainless steel and metal bathroom sink vanities are durable and easy to clean, but they tend to become scratched with daily use and show spots obtained from hard water and soap. Fiberglass, acrylic sinks, culture stone or marble can all be molded into very beautiful shapes, colors and patterns, but they are more susceptible to scratches and chipping than other bathroom sink vanity types.

Sinks for a bathroom vanity cabinet can be mounted on the countertop in several ways:

1. Self-Rimming or Surface-Mounted Sinks - the sink bowl gets dropped into a hole, but the hole is slightly smaller than the outside rim of the sink, forming a seal with the countertop surface.
2. Rimmed Sinks - the sink is dropped into a hole in the countertop, and the rim joins the sink and the countertop, forming a seal with a metal strip.
3. Undermounted Sinks - the rim is attached to the bottom of the countertop creating a very clean look to the vanity.
4. Integral Sinks - one piece sink and countertop unit made from the same material. The only disadvantage to this style is that if any part gets damaged, the entire unit needs to be replaced. These sinks are usually made of stone, faux stone or solid surface-type material.

A bathroom sink vanity cabinet provides countertop space, a place for the sink and faucets and storage below — these are called vanity-mounted sinks. You can also find pedestal sinks, wall hung sinks and freestanding sinks. Vanity mounted sinks are popular because they provide storage, a place for the sink and the most countertop space. Pedestal sinks use very little floor space, they can be placed in corners and they have a classic look, but they lack storage space. Wall hung sinks have the advantage of being easily installed at various elevations which accomodates children, short or tall adults.

Bathroom sink vanities provide a perfect place for shaving, washing, shampooing, brushing your teeth and personal grooming. Sizes of sinks vary from 12×20 inches to some that are as large as 33 inches in diameter, depending on the shape. If you and others in the household will be using the bathroom sink vanities considerably on a regular basis, consider the sizes and styles carefully before making your selection.

Whether upgrading an existing bathroom or planning a new one, the bathroom is a good home improvement investment. You and your family and guests will enjoy the bathrooms in your home every day. And should you ever sell your home, attractive and functional bathrooms will add value to the selling price. Before you buy, read as much as you can on choosing the bathroom sink vanity online or in stores that will be the best for you and your bathroom.

Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about bathroom storage cabinets and bathroom lighting, small bathrooms, childrens bathrooms and more. David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com - a popular website with articles and resources for homeowners.

Camomile
Matricaria Chamomilla

Common Names: German camomile, chamomilla, wild camomile.

Medicinal Part: Flowers

Description: German Camomile is a Southern European annual plant found wild along roadsides, in fields, and cultivated in gardens. The round, downy, hollow, furrowed stem may be procumbent or rise upright to a height of 16 inches. The leaves are pale green, bipinnate, sharply incised, and sessile. The flower heads are like those of Roman Camomile, and the white ray-flowers are often bent down to make the disk-flowers even more prominent.

Properties and Uses: Anodyne, Antiphlogistic, antispasmodic, calmative, carminative, diaphoretic, tonic. German Camomile tea is valuable in many nervous conditions, insomnia, neuralgia, lumbago, rheumatic problems, and rashes. It also tends to reduce inflammation and to facilitate bowel movement without acting directly as a purgative. Use it as a wash or compress for skin problems and inflammations, including inflammations of mucous tissue. Keeping a mouthful in the mouth for a time will temporarily relieve a toothache. To help asthma in children or to relieve the symptoms of a cold, try a vapor bath of the tea. German Camomile can also be used as a relaxing, anti-spasmodic, anodyne bath additive. Use it for a sitz bath to help hemorrhoids, or as a foot or hand-bath for sweaty feet or hands. For hemorrhoids and for wounds, the flowers are also made into a salve.

Preparation and Dosage: Use 2 tsp. Dried (or fresh) flowers with ? cup boiling water. Take a mouthful at a time. Or add 2 tbsp. flowers to 2 cups cold water and heat to just short of boiling.

Bath Additive: Use 1 lb. Flowers with 5 qt. Cold water. Bring to a boil then steep covered for 10 minutes. Strain and add to bathwater. A less effective way is to hang a linen bag containing the flowers in the tub. Use proportionately smaller amounts for partial baths.

Chamomile is perhaps one of nature?s most benign herbs. Its calmative and restorative properties make it one of those rare ?any time? cures for whatever might ail you. For parents, whose children might be going through one of ?those days? a weak cup of chamomile tea can help to calm an overwrought child. Chamomile has been used for hundreds of years as a cure for stomach problems from lack of appetite to an upset stomach. In my grandmother?s house, a cup of camomile was always the cure for a restless mind at bedtime.

On rare occasions, people have complained of allergic reactions to chamomile. However, because chamomile is a low growing plant, ragweed can easily become mixed with chamomile and this is where most allergic reactions occur. It is always wise to exercise caution when you are purchasing herbs. Be certain that you are using a reputable supplier that guarantees both the quality and purity of the herbs you are purchasing. You can find many quality suppliers at our website: UsingHerbs.Com

Chamomile also plays an important part in skin and hair care. Chamomile is an excellent tonic for fair hair. Use it as a rinse after shampooing to restore shine and bring out your hair?s natural highlights. Or better yet, steep together a pot of chamomile flowers and nettles for 20 minutes, then add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Place this mixture in a spray bottle and generously spray on your hair after shampooing. Do not rinse. The slightly vinegary smell will go away in a few minutes. This hair tonic is absolutely fabulous for blond hair. It will remove tangles, strengthen the hair and prevent breakage and split ends. The vinegar will also help to restore the hair to its natural ph balance and you will love the results.

For soap making, chamomile flowers can be added to any mild handmade soap. Its properties make it an excellent addition to olive oil soap and are excellent for treating dry, problem skin and soothing rashes and inflammation.

MK Welty hosts an informational website for herb enthusiasts at http://UsingHerbs.Com where visitors can find natural remedies, herbs, and instructions for their use. Or visit the sister-site http://YouCanMakeSoap.Com to learn how you can make your own handmade herbal soaps.

As our knowledge continues to grow so too do what at first sight appear to ludicrous claims and this one certainly seems to fall into this category. Can anyone honestly believe that the soap we use in the bath, or the shampoo, can actually be adding to the growing problem of obesity? Well, the answer appears to be that it just might be.

One thing we do know is that the body is a complex chemical factory and that good health is largely a result of keeping the chemicals in the body in the correct balance. If we introduce chemicals into our system that balance can quickly be upset and our health can suffer in a variety of different ways. We also know that there are many ways in which chemicals can enter the body, including through our skin which is of course porous. Against this background it would seem quite feasible that chemicals contained in soap could indeed enter the body. So just what are these chemicals and why might they be a problem.

The chemicals in question are known as phthalates and appear in thousands of household products including children's toys, detergents, food packaging, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, such as nail polish, hair sprays, soaps, and shampoos.

These chemicals have been under investigation for some time now and, although the connection is not yet fully understood, it is widely believed that phthalates play a part in producing low sperm counts and low testosterone levels in men. It is also known that men with low testosterone levels are also prone to insulin resistance and to abdominal obesity. The initial conclusion therefore might be that phthalates produce abdominal obesity in men indirectly by lowering testosterone levels.

Now at this stage there is not a great deal of evidence to support this theory, apart from a few studies such as one which showed that men with high levels of phthalates in their urine did indeed display higher than average levels of body fat, and further studies need to be carried out to see whether or not this is actually the case.

So ladies, you appear to be in the clear. Or are you?

As with most things in life this is likely to turn out to be a very complex multi-factor problem with the link between phthalates, testosterone and abdominal obesity being just one facet. As research continues it is highly likely that phthalates will be found to produce a whole host of other reactions including almost certainly an effect upon the thyroid gland which could also cause obesity, this time in both men and women.

Before you stop washing though and spark another epidemic, remember that it is very early days in this investigation and, even if the connection is proved, it is unlikely that phthalates will account for anything other than a tiny part of the obesity equation.

GastricBypassFacts.info is a substantial resource center providing information on all aspects of gastric bypass surgery and includes a number of articles covering such things as lap band surgery.

Most people in the United State are looking for a way to make a little extra money. One popular way to make extra money is to sell homemade products. If you are interested in selling your homemade soap then you will need to take a few simple steps.

The first thing that you will need to do if you are interested in selling your homemade soap is to develop a line of unique homemade soaps that will appeal to consumers. Your unique angle may be a special recipe, an organic recipe, a unique color scheme, or a unique soap shape.

The second thing that you will need to do if you are interested in selling your homemade soap is to develop your advertising campaign. This campaign should focus on the special features and benefits of using your handcrafted bath and body products. For example you may offer aromatherapy soap that is designed to relax or invigorate the consumer.

The third thing that you will need to do is to get your handmade body products and soaps out in front of consumers. To do this you may want to design a website with online shopping capabilities, you may rent space at a craft fair, or you may try marketing your products to local specialty and gift stores.

Finally, if you want to sell your homemade soaps you will need to be able to produce your soaps in quantity without sacrificing quality. Repeat business is as important to your company?s success as new customers are. To ensure that your customers become repeat customers you will want to make sure that your soap is made from quality ingredients and you will want to make sure that you don?t alter your recipe or alter the quality of the ingredients that you use, unless it is for the better.

For more information on how to make homemade soap as well as soap making recipes visit the PureandNaturalSoaps.com

Check out the soap making forum to discuss techniques, share ideas and post your favorite soap and candle making recipes.

It all started by two business men. There names were William Proctor and James Gamble. William Proctor was a candle maker and James Gamble was a soap maker. They formed the soon to be billion dollar company named Proctor &amp Gamble.

William was an immigrant from England and Proctor was an immigrant from Ireland. These two met by a weird twist of fate, they married each other?s sisters. On April 12, 1837 they started selling there products candles, and soaps. There business bloomed even more during the Civil War where they were given multiple contracts to supply the union army with there products.

Once the war was over the soldiers continued purchasing their products. James Norris Gamble, made an inexpensive but yet very high quality soap, he named the product IVORY. Over time the company chose to shift there interest into soap making, because with the invention of electricity, candles were no longer needed. The business started to bloom again and the demand for their products exceeded their production so they started to diversify and focused on a lot of different products. One of these products was the famous Crisco invented in 1911 that would forever change the world. This was an ingenious invention, and Proctor knew that so that?s why he urged his business partner to push for advertising and marketing of the new product.

They traveled all over the country and promoted their product through free cook books. Most of these recipes consisted of cookies and cakes, and were an instant hit. American women love the pie crust because it was an easier and longer lasting crust. Soon these pioneer hydrogenated oils started re-placing butter and lard. Soon margarine was invented and was supposedly healthier for you. These oils lasted longer than other oils.

They no longer had to go door to door like they did for milk and eggs. These oils were like a miracle, and it soon change the health of America. Some people will argue that trans fat don?t have any effect on humans. Well, people are entitled to think what they want but the facts are there. In 1900 America was the healthiest nation in the world! That?s right the healthiest nation. Today we are the wealthiest nation, but we are extremely far from even being in the top ten healthiest nation. We have advanced technology and medicine, but that won?t save people from killing themselves through the food they eat.

Doug Purcell
Certified Personal Trainer
Alternative Medicine Expert
Owner of www.cardiacgym.com

Most women are obsessed with taking care of their skin. They spend hundreds and thousands of dollars to make their skin look young, healthy and vibrant. The cosmetic and skin care industry has been having a heyday because no matter how the economy goes down, women will always spend for beauty to maintain that youthful look.

Advancement of technology has, too, been contributing a lot in improving the skin care industry by coming up all sorts of machines for skin treatments and medications. There are ways for predicting facial lines and wrinkles, pimples and treatments to prevent them from coming out or for medicating acne problems. Products like moisturizers, creams, facial wash, exfoliants and toners are continuously popping out of the market to somehow offer answers to different skin problems.

But most women these days cannot afford such hi-tech medications and treatments and just rely on their own skin care regimen hoping the products they have can at least solve half their skin problems away. Actually, you do not have to spend so much as celebrities do.

Your simple skin care routines at daytime and nighttime may just be the right choice. You just have to be guided on the products you use and of course your basic knowledge of your own personal skin type. It is important to know if you have very sensitive skin or not because anything that you might apply on your skin may lead to a high or a disaster. It is always best to take care of your skin using natural organic ingredients and products. You may even have them inside your kitchen rather than going to skin shops that often offer hi-end products.

Accurate information from credible sources can also be a great help. Skin care for young and aging women vary because as your skin matures, it becomes more and more vulnerable to physiological changes and environmental factors. Therefore, you need to be very careful in your application of treatments and medications.

Taking care of a 20-year old skin

After the adolescence stage, your acne problem has diminished leaving the skin of a young lady with a youthful glow, healthy, acne-free and vibrant. This is the stage when your skin is at its lovely peak. But this is no reason for you to lax in your skin regimen. It is at this stage that your skin needs most care because it is maturing meaning skin cell renewal drops to 28%, your dead skin cells does not come off easily and your skin becomes more vulnerable to external conditions making it a little bit drier.

The best way to take care of your skin at this stage is to regularly exfoliate your skin to eliminate old skin cells and start growing new ones. Also, avoid direct sunlight. It is better to inform you that exposure to sunlight accounts for most of the aging problems. If you cannot avoid going out in mid-day, be sure to bring an umbrella with you to cover up your skin and use a good natural moisturizer and apply it before and after your exposure.

Be cautious, too, of your smoking habits because this also contributes to the dullness of your skin. Smoking does not allow oxygen to get into the outer layer of your skin thus causing a premature aging effect meaning unwanted wrinkles around your mouth and god knows where. If you cannot quit smoking, be sure to counteract its effects by a regular cardio-vascular exercise.

Taking care of a 30-year old skin

If at 20, you are cautious in taking care of skin, much more during this stage because the external factors like pollution, smoking and sunlight start affecting the dermis making skin cell renewal even slower, collagen fibres loosening thus wrinkles are starting to appear.

At this age, it is very important that you have already regularized your skin care regimen which includes exfoliating, cleansing, moisturizing and protecting your skin from direct sunlight. It is also good to maintain a well-balanced diet ? regular intake of vegetables, fresh fruits, grains and fish, foods that are rich in antioxidants like Vitamin A, B, C and E. An abundant supply of these nutrients help the skin rejuvenate, repair itself, produce collagen, moisturize and stay healthy. Maintain your food as natural as possible and avoid those that are processed.

If you are drinking, try to lessen your habit already because alcohol has a bad effect on your skin. Alcohol deprives your skin of the needed nutrients and can cause the appearance of the red ?spider? veins on your cheeks.

One of the most inexpensive skin care regimen that can be advised to you is drinking lot of water in a day at least 3 liters. It maintains your skin?s moisture. Try to also be cautious of your water intake. Only take filtered water to avoid excessive impurities like chlorine enter your body system.

Exposure to sunlight

Since direct exposure to sunlight is the primary cause of premature aging, it is best to know how you can protect yourself while outside under the sun.

- Avoid sunlight exposure after 10 am as the heat becomes fiercer at mid-day.

- Always bring with you your sunscreen and apply it whenever you are outside, sunbathing or skiing.

- Keep in mind to wear clothes that will protect you from the harmful UV rays.

- Always drink plenty of water.

- Do not strain yourself too much with strenuous activities especially on a hot day.

- If you do get over-heated or sunburned, do the following procedures:

- Cool yourself under a lukewarm bath

- Apply a cold compress on your head and neck

- Have a glass of cool water beside you and sip frequently

- Take a rest

- Loosen tight.

If you religiously follow all these skin care regimen, then you do not have to worry of wrinkles soon. In fact, you may allow growing old gracefully and accept that your youthful skin will fade naturally and slowly enough to enjoy your life as a young woman and welcome your aging happily.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://naturalskincare.unique-articles.com where you can find more articles on skin care.

The use of natural or synthetic cosmetics to cover the appearance of the face and condition of the skin is common among many cultures. There are a number of excellent natural treatments to help heal your dry skin, virtually overnight.

The outermost layer of epidermis consists of 25 to 30 layers of dead cells. The blood vessels in the dermis provide nourishment and waste removal to its own cells as well as to the epidermis. The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin.

Forced-air furnaces may make skin even drier than it already is. Nutritional deficiencies, especially deficiencies of vitamin A and the B vitamins can also contribute to dry skin or result in a chronic dry skin condition that's not relieved by anything else. Serious skin complications, including a dry skin condition, can arise for people with type 2 diabetes.

When the oil glands do not supply enough lubrication to the skin, the skin becomes dehydrated. The symptoms most associated with dry skin are: scaling, which is the visible peeling of the outer skin layer, itching, and cracks in the skin. Dry skin can be due to a genetic condition but it's not common.

Eating fruits that are red or orange in color will help improve you skin health and help to prevent acne. Eat at least two organic apples a day while working to clear up your skin apples are good for skin health - organic so you can eat pesticide-free skin (most of the apple pectin is in the skin), which helps with constipation too. The next time you want to have a snack, instead of junk food, help your skin - have an apple, orange, peach, pear, banana, plum, grapes, cherries, berries, cantaloupe or any other fresh fruit.

Drink plenty of pure, filtered water or spring water every day at least a quart or more. Use as little soap as possible, if you have to use any, limiting its use to the armpits and genital area. Apply cool compresses to any itchy areas.

When you buy coconut oil, make sure you get the kind that hasn't been refined, processed and deodorized. Use a thin layer of coconut oil under your make-up, if you wear it, to moisturize and soften your skin throughout the day. If you have acne, eczema or any type of dermatitis coconut oil will treat and quickly heal these skin conditions too.

Dry skin contributes to fine lines and wrinkles coconut oil helps prevent the onset by keeping the skin soft and supple. Coconut oil is very inexpensive - a great, cheap home remedy for all skin conditions.

Many skin conditions can be converted into clear, healthy skin by using natural home remedies. Functions of the skin are disturbed when it's not clean it becomes more easily damaged, the release of antibacterial compounds decreases and it's more prone to develop infections.

Continue using coconut oil and you'll see the benefits in good, clear skin, free of dryness and other skin conditions. Call your skin doctor if dryness and itching are preventing you from sleeping. If nothing seems to work it might be more than dry skin, so you should see your doctor.

For more information on coconut oil treatment for dry skin and dry skin care treatments go to http://www.Best-Skin-Care-Tips.com Helen Hecker R.N.'s website specializing in care for skin conditions with tips, advice and resources for women, men, teens and babies, including information on the best natural products

Type 1 diabetes, or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM), is a disease characterized by ?auto-destruction? of the pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin. Overtime, your body silently destroys these cells creating an insulin deficiency. IDDM appears to stem from an inherited defect in the immune system, triggered by some environmental stimuli. The exact cause of the disease is still unknown however, scientists have isolated a few factors that may be related to development of the disease. The purpose of this review is to provide insight on where research is headed and what we already know about the progression of IDDM.

GeneticsRecent mapping of the human genome has opened many areas to explore in the field of diabetes research. Animal models and large population studies have led to some possible genetic links. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6 is a regulator of immune response because it recognizes ?self? and ?not-self? things in the body. If something is seen as foreign, the MHC will stimulate antibody production. Genes encoded on the MHC are associated with IDDM, particularly the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles, DQ and DR (1). Although the HLA-DQ locus appears to be the best single marker for susceptibility among Caucasians, at least 40% of family-related diabetes cases have combinations of both DQ and DR alleles (2,3). DQ and DR alleles are almost always found together on a chromosome and the risk is associated with them not being in equilibrium. Many combinations have been documented, some showing both increased and decreased susceptibility, however it has been difficult to determine the contribution of HLA-DQ independent of DR. The insulin gene region at chromosome 11 is also associated with IDDM risk.

Studies conducted in the 1970?s established an HLA association and contribution of IDDM while comparing siblings with the disease (4,5,6). When comparing the relationship between family members, results are inconsistent. Current estimates suggest that HLA is 40-50% related to genes passed down by family members (7,5). The risk of developing IDDM for a twin of someone who already has the disease is about 70%, and this rises depending on the specific HLA alleles that the twins share (8). When comparing the risk of developing the disease for first-degree relatives vs. the US population, the risk is 1/20 and 1/300, respectively (1). Research in the area of HLA has been extremely difficult. Definitive answers cannot be drawn because not everyone holding these ?susceptible? genes develops IDDM. Actually, less than 10% of genetically susceptible individuals progress to diabetes, implying that other factors are responsible for progression of the disease. Researchers have explored these other factors, particularly environmental factors such as early introduction of cow?s milk, dysregulation of the gut immune system, viral infections, drinking water and a number of others.

Cow?s Milk Several population studies have found a link between exposure to cow?s milk and increased risk for IDDM in genetically susceptible individuals. A few studies have also shown an increased risk for infants exposed to cow?s milk or cow?s milk based formulas within the first 3 months, and also later in life. It has been found that infants fed cow?s milk had increased levels of bovine insulin anti-bodies compared to those that were breast-fed (9,10,11). Bovine insulin is found in the milk of cows. The antibodies binding to bovine insulin appear to cross-react with human insulin (9,10). Bovine insulin is considered immunogenic because it differs from human insulin by 3 amino acids.

Insulin-specific antibodies (ISA), those specific for IDDM, and increased T cell levels from exposure to cow?s milk have been found in those carrying diabetes associated HLA risk alleles. Of all the studies to date however, levels of insulin binding antibodies seem to decrease as the child approaches 9-18 months. This suggests that the infant is building a tolerance to dietary antigens (12). However, Vaarala et al. discovered that infants who developed ISA?s, also had increased levels of bovine insulin antibodies, suggesting that insulin specific immune responses in children prone to develop autoimmunity cannot be prevented (12). Other studies have found bovine insulin antibody levels to decrease when human insulin was presented in the body.

Early weaning (2-3 months) from breast milk has been shown to increase the risk for IDDM. Maternal milk contains colostrum, a light fluid that contains a variety of protective factors for the infant. Infants have an immature and easily penetrable gut system allowing food, in this case cow?s milk, to easily cross into the bloodstream. The gut system works in one of two ways: it will either accept (build tolerance to) or reject (develop immunity to) food and its dietary components (13). Several cow?s milk proteins have been shown to be related to IDDM such as bovine albumin, beta-lactoglobulin, and beta casein (14,15,16)

A study by Karjalainen et al. in 1992 was conducted to assess whether bovine serum albumin (BSA) was a trigger for IDDM (14). Researchers measured the levels of anti-BSA and anti-ABBOS (specific part of the albumin protein) antibodies in the serum of children with newly diagnosed IDDM, children without IDDM, and blood donors? (14). Antibodies that react to the ABBOS also react with a beta cell surface protein that may represent a target for autoimmune attack (14). All children in the study with IDDM had the highest amount of both antibodies, especially ABBOS, compared to the children without IDDM and blood donors? (14). Antibody levels declined after one or two years of exposure to cow?s milk (14). This suggests that albumin has a section that is capable of reacting with ?beta-cell specific surface proteins?, which could contribute to islet cell dysfunction because of molecular mimicry (14). What is molecular mimicry?

When an antigen is present in the body, T cells latch onto a short segment, consisting of about 10 amino acids. T cells then present the antigen to macrophages that engulf it and break it down into smaller protein fragments. The macrophages bring the fragments to the cell surface where capable T cells can bind to it. This activates the T cells, leading to stimulation in other areas to attack all proteins with similar amino acid segments. Bovine serum albumin has a short amino acid sequence similar to a beta cell surface receptor ICA69 (17) and beta casein shares a similar sequence with a glucose transporter. If molecular mimicry occurs here, then presentation of BSA or beta casein in the body would lead to autoimmune destruction.

Contrary to Karjalainen et al.?s study, Vaarala et al. found no association with BSA, but did find an increased risk for newly diagnosed IDDM with beta-lactoglobulin, another cow?s milk protein (15). A study conducted by Cavallo et al. found an association with increased risk of newly diagnosed IDDM with beta casein, another milk protein (16). However, no differences were noted with BSA and other proteins assessed (16). Despite these conflicting results, it does appear that some form of ?cross-reactivity? may occur with cow?s milk proteins and islet-cell antigens, leading to ?auto-attack? of the beta cells.

The role of cow?s milk related to IDDM is not clear. The hypothesis of molecular mimicry has been questioned. Few studies have found a link between cellular immunity to BSA and IDDM. A recent study found that reactivities to beta casein were similar between newly diagnosed individuals with IDDM, their immediate relatives without the disease, and non-related healthy subjects. One confounding factor of the previous study was the lack of appropriately matched subjects, because researchers failed to use HLA matched relatives. Also, when comparing breast-feeding vs. cow milk formula, it is unclear at what point there is an increased risk, as well as the actual amount needed to induce an immune response. Despite all of the evidence presented here, exposure to cow?s milk and risk for IDDM is only suggestive because the exact cause is unknown (18).

Viral InfectionsViral infections have been considered to be ?more? responsible for diabetes development, than milk proteins. Identifying the exact virus responsible has been extremely daunting for several reasons. Individuals are exposed to many viral infections within their lifetime. Although IDDM is primarily a juvenile disease, by the time the disease is diagnosed, children have been exposed to many viruses. Thus, pinpointing the exact one would be every difficult, if not impossible to link. Another problem is that immunological damage often occurs after the virus is gone, leaving no trace of the virus responsible. However, large population studies, as well as human and mice studies, have led to some possible viruses responsible.

Coxsackie B VirusCoxsackie B virus is an enterovirus, a virus part of a group of picornaviruses, related to those that cause polio. Several studies have found that after or with exposure to Coxsackie B that individuals developed IDDM. Also, large population studies have found antibodies against the virus in children with newly diagnosed IDDM. Coxsackie B viruses have been isolated from the pancreas in children who have developed IDDM very rapidly. Plus, inducing certain mouse strains with the virus has caused these mice to develop the disease.

Molecular mimicry has been postulated in the case of Coxsackie B virus. The virus increases the expression of an enzyme GAD in the pancreas. GAD is a highly potent autoantigen of the autoimmune response in humans and mice models. Coxsackie B and GAD share a similar sequence that may lead to cross reactivity.

Other, but not limited to, factors that may be responsible for Coxsackie B and IDDM are altered immune system regulation because of viral infection, altered memory of the T cells causing them to forget which are ?self? and ?not self? in the presence of viral infection, and persistent infection of the beta cells because of viral antigens expressed within them.

Although this all sounds promising, several other studies have not found conflicting results such as no difference in Coxsackie B antibodies between those with IDDM and those without it, along with no differences in prevalence and amount of antibodies responsible.

Rubella VirusAbout 12-20% of fetal infected individuals with rubella will develop diabetes within 5-20 years (19,20). In some adults, development of diabetes has occurred after infection with rubella. Although this poses a threat to genetically susceptible individuals, vaccination programs have decreased the amount of rubella cases.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)There have been individual case reports of children developing IDDM after exposure to CMV. There have been recent studies done showing that newly diagnosed individuals with IDDM were recently exposed to CMV. It has been suggested that molecular mimicry may be partly responsible because CMV proteins share a resemblance with a protein in the islet cells of the pancreas. Pak et al. discovered that about 20% of individuals with IDDM have CMV DNA in the islet cells (21). Despite all this evidence however, a large Swedish study found no correlation between CMV infection and risk for IDDM (22). Besides all of this, vaccinations against the virus have lowered the prevalence of CMV infections.

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)Individual cases have been noted where those infected with EBV develop diabetes. However, IDDM development as a result of EBV infection is probably not responsible for the disease in the majority of subjects. Little research and single cases are not enough to consider this a major cause.

Other VirusesThere have been reports of individuals developing IDDM after exposure to influenza, hepatitis A, varicella zoster, mumps, measles, rotavirus, polio, and Coxsackie A virus.

Other Environmental FactorsRecent studies have found a positive association between zinc levels in drinking water and protection against diabetes. Magnesium levels in tap water have been shown to be related to diabetes protection as well, however conflicting evidence resides with this. The protections that zinc may provide is unclear. Despite possible relationships with heavy metals and diabetes, more research must be done to ascertain the actual relationship.

Of all the evidence presented here, researchers have been unable to find the exact cause for development of IDDM. What we do know is that genetically susceptible individuals have an increased risk for diabetes. As displayed here, researchers have located genes that seem to predispose individuals to diabetes. Genes are not enough however, because not everyone who has these genes develops diabetes. Environmental factors are another part of the picture. Whether it is milk proteins, viral infections, or impaired gut function, those with genetic susceptibility tend to develop the disease after exposure to these. Identifying which factor is responsible has been difficult because exact mechanisms of the body are still unclear and tests to determine these things may not be specific or have not yet been developed. Plus, isolating one factor is not reasonable because there are a lot of overlaps in immune functions and genetics. All in all, research is headed in the right direction, but for now there is still no known cause for IDDM.

References

1. Gottlieb MD, P.A., Eisenbarth MD, Ph.D., G.S. Diagnosis and Treatment of Pre-Insulin Dependent Diabetes. Annual Review of Medicine. 1998 49: 397-405.

2. Nepom G.T. Immunogenics and IDDM. Diabetes Review. 1993 1: 93-103.

3. Pugliese A, Eisenbarth G.S. Human Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Genetic Susceptibility and Resistance. In Type 1 Diabetes: Molecular, Cellular, and Clinical Immunology, ed. G.S. Eisenbarth, K.J. Lafferty. New York: Oxford University Press. 1996 pp.

4. 134-152.

5. Singal DP, Blajchman MA. Histocompatibility (HL-A) Antigens, Lymphocytotoxic Antibodies and Tissue Antibodies in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes. 1973 22: 429-432

6. Thomsen M, Platz P, Andersen OO et al. MLC Typing in Juvenile Diabetes Mellitus and Idiopathic Addisons Disease. Transplant Review. 1975 22: 125-147

7. Nerup J, Platz P, Andersen OO et al. HLA Antigens and Diabetes Mellitus. Lancet. 1974 ii: 864-866.

8. Risch N. Assessing the Role of HLA-Linked and Unlinked Determinants of Disease. American Journal of Human Genetics. 1987 40: 1-14.

9. Verge C.F., Gianani R, Yu L, et al. Late Progression to Diabetes and Evidence for Chronic Beta Cell Autoimmunity in Identical Twins of Patients with Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes. 1995 44:1176-1179.

10. Vaarala O, et al. Cow Milk Feeding Induces Antibodies to Insulin in Children-A Link Between Cow Milk and Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus? Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 1998 47: 131-135.

11. Vaarala O, et al. Cow Milk Feeding Induces Primary Immunization to Insulin in Infants at Genetic Risk for Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes. 1999 48: 1389-1394.

12. Paronen J, et al. The Effect of Cow Milk Exposure and Maternal Type 1 Diabetes on Cellular and Humoral Immunization to Dietary Insulin in Infants at Genetic Risk for Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes. 2000 49: 1657-1665.

13. Vaarala O, et al. Cow's Milk Formula Feeding Induces Primary Immunization to Insulin in Infants at Genetic Risk for Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes. 2000 49(10):1657-1665.

14. Strobel S, Mowat A. Immune Responses to Dietary Antigens: Oral Tolerance. Immunology Today. 1998 19: 173-181.

15. Karjalainen J, et al. A bovine albumin peptide as a possible trigger of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. New England Journal of Medicine. 1992 327(5):302-307.

16. Vaarala O, et al. Cellular Immune Response to Cow?s Milk B-lactoglobulin in Patients with Newly Diagnosed IDDM. Diabetes. 1996 45: 178-182.

17. Cavallo M.G., et al. Cell-Mediated Immune Response to B Casein in Recent-Onset Insulin-Dependent Diabetes: Implications for Disease Pathogenesis. Lancet. 1996 348: 926-928.

18. Virtanen S.M., et al. Cow?s Milk Consumption, HLA-DQB1 Genotype, and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. A Nested Case-Control Study of Siblings of Children with Diabetes. Diabetes. 2000 49: 912-917.

19. Vaarala O. The Gut Immune System and Type 1 Diabetes. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2002 958: 39-46.

20. Menser M.A., et al. Rubella Infection and Diabetes Mellitus. Lancet. 1978 1: 57-60.

21. McIntosh E.D., et al. A Fifty-Year Follow Up of Congenital Rubella. Lancet. 1992 340: 414-415.

22. Pak C.Y., et al. Association of Cytomegalovirus Infection with Autoimmune Type 1 Diabetes. Lancet. 1988 2: 1-4.

23. Ivarsson S.A., et al. The Prevalence of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus at Follow-Up of Swedish Infants Congenitally Infected with Cytomegalovirus. Diabetes Medicine. 1993 10: 521-523.

Chris Theberge is the founder of the Nutrition and Food Web Archive, NutriWeb Designs, and Dietitian Designs. Visit http://www.nafwa.org for free nutrition and food-related resources.