Media, the Internet, Yellow Pages, and Your Business

If you are reading this article, chances are you could use a little extra money. With the advent of the internet and the migration of advertising dollars from print to electronic (and this time, it's the real thing, I swear! Not one of those 1999 tech busts!...Seriously!) If you own a small business today, you look at many advertising mediums. The majority of these mediums lump themselves into 2 categories, creative or direct.

Creative has always been the crapshoot for the small business owner. A sales rep walks into your business, espousing the greater good of television or radio advertising, quickly moves past the ratings, viewers etc and into the sexiness of hearing your name at 6:57am Monday, Thursday and Saturday if you are watching station X or listening to station Y. If this product didn't work, a Super Bowl commercial price tag wouldn't make headlines every December (for how much Geico paid) or late February (to hear which is most memorable). The key with creative is frequency. If you have realistic budget for frequency, you can make the phone ring with a creative campaign. If you have that budget you probably aren't reading this article. Realistically speaking, you don't have a ton of money to risk on creative advertising effectiveness, haven't backed it up with a call to action, and you need, pound for pound, the least amount of advertising money possible, with the most phone calls?

Raising Funds For Your Nonprofit Using An Annual Direct Mail Program

A good annual direct mail solicitation program can produce unrestrictive operating funds for your nonprofit organization year after year. And such an annual direct mail program, if done right, should produce more funding for your organization each year.

There are very few nonprofit organizations that couldn't benefit from an effective, and ongoing direct mail solicitation program. If you're currently using annual direct mail solicitations and would like to use it more effectively, or if you're not using this form of fundraising but would like to set up such a program. Then here are some steps to help you do this much more successfully:

Heard A Good Radio Ad Lately? Neither Have We

To many ad agencies, radio is considered advertising's ugly stepchild. It's not sexy like television and is treated as a necessary evil with little effort put into it. Unfortunately, that's exactly what the listener ends up hearing.

What advertisers and their ad agencies have forgotten is that radio truly is a "theater for the mind". Anything you can dream up can be in a radio spot. Elephants doing the back stroke in your soup? No problem. Landing on planet Neptune and finding the alien of your dreams? Done. Recreating scenes like that on television would cost a fortune for the computer graphics alone, not to mention the animal trainer.

Humor in Advertising

Many of the most memorable ad campaigns around tend to be funny. Advertisers use this strategy to attract customers to their product. Audiences like to be entertained, but not pitched. People will pay more attention to a humorous commercial than a factual or serious one, opening themselves up to be influenced. The key to funny advertising is assuring the humor is appropriate to both product and customer. The balance between funny and obnoxious can often be delicate; and a marketer must be certain the positive effects outweigh the negative before an advertisement can be introduced.

The best products to sell using humor tend to be those that consumers have to think the least about. Products that are relatively inexpensive, and often consumable, can be represented without providing a lot of facts, and that's where there's room for humor. Candy, food, alcohol, tobacco and toys/entertainment related products have proven to benefit the most from humor in their campaigns. One of the most important things to keep in mind is relevance to the product. An example of an extremely successful humorous campaign is the series of "Yo Quiero Taco Bell" commercials. The star, a tiny talking Chihuahua who is passionate about his Taco Bell got people repeating the company's name across the country. The repetition of the company name and the actual content of the commercial reinforce the message in a relevant manner. Taco Bell saw a substantial rise in sales and their own mascot became a pop icon.

The Internet and Beyond - 12 Tips on Writing Better Brochures

Every year thousands of online businesses fail. None of them begin with the idea they'll fail, in fact they have high hopes of success, but they fail all the same. One of the main reasons for the high failure rate is an over reliance on one marketing channel?the Internet.

Marketing isn't about using one medium. It's about getting and keeping customers. Yes, Internet marketing can help you can do that but only if you use it in conjunction with other tactical tools. In addition there are thousands of potential customers that are extremely cautious about placing important business or buying an expensive item from an unknown online vendor. That's one of the reasons why, in order to succeed, EVERY online company must have brochures and other forms of printed sales literature to hand out to customers and prospects.

Create Your Dynamic Elevator Speech

So, what's an elevator speech, and how do you get one?

What Is It?

Which is Better Digital or Offset Printing?

As technology continues to improve, the quality of digital prints also improves. Technology advancements have also made it easier for more and more businesses to enter the printing industry. Good digital printers cost a few thousands dollars?good offset printing presses may cost a few million dollars.

For those companies interested in conveying the best possible image at all times, it is important to evaluate which printing process will bring the greatest result.

How Can All the Radio Stations Be #1?

Are you confused by all the information you receive from various radio stations? Do they all tell you they are #1 and you don't know who to believe? Most of them probably are #1 so believe it or not, they aren't lying to you. The question is, "What are they #1 in and is it a group of ears you want to reach?"

Quite often a radio "Account Manager" or "Account Executive" which are pseudonyms for radio sales person, receives a call from someone who states they are gathering information for someone else, the real decision maker, someone who is looking at radio as a possible advertising medium. They ask for an information package to be mailed out to them; or faxed over if it's urgent (Ha!). When the rep asks questions that are essential to the provision of any information pertinent to the situation (demographics, psychographics, time frame, budget etc.), the caller says they know nothing. They were just told to call stations and gather information.

Joint Ventures Increase Profits Quickly

A joint venture is when two or more businesses join together to work on a project for a set period of time. Doing joint ventures with other businesses can increase your chances of beating your competition, increase your sales and increase your profits quickly. Plus:

-you can save money when businesses share operating costs

Clear Skin

Want clear skin?

Clear, beautiful skin is the object of desire for many, and thanks to modern nutraceutical and cosmetic technology, a new natural acne and blemish fighting supplement offers powerful skin clearing benefits as well as skin toning, smoothing and age prevention.

Acne - What Causes It?

Many individuals suffer from acne, not just adolescents. Acne is caused by normally occurring bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes. This bacterium gets trapped in plugged skin pores or follicles, especially in the face. In an attempt to escape, the bacterium produce enzymes used to break down the sebum (the excretion produced by sebaceous glands) blocking the escape routes. When the enzymes go to work one of the side effects is inflammation in the area.

Light to moderate cases of inflammation show up as pimples and bumps. This type of acne is known as superficial acne. If the inflammation is deeper within the skin and pores, resulting in cysts and nodules, it is called cystic acne.

Proactive Skin Care Products ? a Real Answer to a Difficult Problem

Acne is often seen as something of a trifling problem, a few zits that complicate a teenagers already confusing life, but nothing that's going to kill them ? and, of course, they'll grow out of it! Anyone who has ever suffered with acne however, whether as a teenager, or as one of the growing number of people who develop the skin condition during their adult years, will tell you that the problem is not quite so trifling. This is why so many of these sufferers have greeted the arrival to the market of Proactive skin care products with such enthusiasm. Most acne sufferers have spent years trying cleanser after cleanser in order to find something that will really make a difference ? and now customer testimonials would seem to indicate that they might at last have found their answer in Proactive skin care products.

A quick review of any acne sufferers' online forum or discussion group will highlight the usual fact that widely differing things tend to work for each individual ? but the Proactive acne solution increasingly boasts a marked improvement in skin quality for a large range of sufferers. For many years, acne patients have searched long and hard ? enduring the continuation in the meantime of a problem that can be physically painful and socially debilitating ? for a product that would make a real difference in the quality of their skin and their self confidence, and it seems that Proactiv might just have found the right combination of ingredients to achieve just that.

Treating Adult Onset Acne With Anti-aging Moisturizers

The development of anti-aging alpha hydroxy acid moisturizers is promising a new approach for adult onset female acne. To date thousands of women nationwide have successfully used the anti-aging acne treatment from Niora®, Alpha Clear®. Their experience with this moisturizing cleanser is compelling evidence that softening the skin and reducing wrinkles with alpha hydroxy acids can be an effective treatment for this persistent skin condition.

Niora® recognized over a decade ago the relationship between acne and anti-aging and has compiled thousands of testimonials, and completed two studies on Alpha Clear. The connection between anti-aging and acne first became apparent in the 1970's when two Dermatologists, Dr. Eugene Van Scott, and Dr. Albert Klingman begin investigating vitamin A as an alternative to benzoyl peroxide for the treatment of acne. The basis of most over-the-counter acne remedies such as Proactive, Clearasil and others, benzoyl peroxide has limited effectiveness and can be drying to the skin.

Acne

One of the most popular skin disorders, Acne, is the term used for plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples and even deeper lumps like cysts or nodules.

Though the affect of the disease is seen mostly on the face, it may spread on your neck, chest, back, shoulders and even on the upper arms.

Acne and Vitamin Supplements

For years, scientists, doctors, biologists, dermatologists, and dieticians have searched for and studied all of the various causes of acne. Since the majority of the worlds population suffer from acne at some point in their lives, there is no surprise that such efforts are invested in finding out how to it. While there have been some definitive answers on whether acne is hormonally induced (yes), and what can be done to prevent it (prescription drugs, certain herbal remedies, etc), there are still many unknown factors that cause acne.

However, of all the many acne questions that science is yet to find answers to, the most controversial is whether or not diet has an effect on acne.

Kawasaki Motorcycles - Independent in Thoughts and Actions

The story of Kawasaki Company goes back to 1924, at that time involved into metallurgy and the aircraft industry.

In 1949, they decided to enter the motorcycle industry producing engines that could be adapted to motorcycles.

Facts about MC Big Proof

Fact

Zen and the Art of New Age Piano

We all want to be in the moment. That's where real transformation takes place. For some, walking gets them there. Others like to play sports or watch movies. For me, it's playing the piano. When I'm in the moment, letting the music speak, it's like the world is new again.

The notes flow out of the piano into the air and I know that something magical is taking place. It may last a minute or a half-hour. No matter how long it lasts, I know that I've been transported to a special place. Many musicians know of this place - especially musicians who know how to improvise. There is no planning - only spontaneous invention.

How to Create an Original Melody

Here's a method I use that works. First, sit down at your piano or keyboard and just improvise. I suggest improvising first because music that is created in this way is at its freshest. It's not adulterated or thought up. It is pure inspiration. Now, there will come times during improvisation where you may say to yourself, "this is nice and I'd like to develop it." You see, now you have an original melody to develop.

The trick is you don't need a lot of material to begin with. JUST TWO BARS IS ENOUGH to start you on your way. I usually work within 8-bar phrases so I know that the melody will usually end or repeat itself after 8-bars. I say usually because sometimes, the melody does not want to fit nice and neat into a predefined 8-bar phrase. But more times than not, the 8-bar phrase will serve you well

How To Change Your Guitar Strings

Changing your guitar strings might make you feel a litte uncomfortable if you have never done it before, but it's really quite simple and should become a regular part of your guitar care routine. Before you do anything, first take time to make some personal observations such as:

1. Which way do you have to turn the tuning keys to tighten or loosen the strings?

How Can You Make A Rock Vocal Sound Better?

Admit it... you were expecting a magic answer to this one. You were going to get advice on what plug-ins and effects can turn an ordinary vocal into that of a true rock god. Or goddess.

The key fact about rock vocals is that they are an established musical form. If someone invents a better way of doing vocals for rock... well they will be some other style of vocal, and not true rock.

Tips on Performing Your Music for Others

Have you ever dreamed of performing a piece you created for others. Imagining that they are captivated and held spellbound by the music? If you have, you know that it can be a long road from actually coming up with something, practicing it, and then giving it to an audience. In my own case, I had a good opportunity to perform. It was in a coffeehouse that already had a decent piano.

The problem was that I was playing for people who had come to listen mostly to guitarists on open mike night. Young guitarists that sang and played mostly Rock music or a derivative of it. I didn't care so much about that because I had the chance to go in front of people and share the gift of music.

Why Do Music Lovers Still Prefer to Buy Records?

In the late 1940's, the 45-RPM record replaced the 78-RPM record. The 45 was smaller, less breakable and could be made and sold more cheaply. Despite these advantages, it took ten years before the 78 became obsolete, and in the meantime, record companies sold their product in both formats. In 1982, the major record companies introduced the compact disc, which offered a smaller size, "perfect" sound, and less likelihood of damage in day to day use. As the compact disc offered a much larger profit margin than did the long-play record album (LP) the record companies were eager to rid store shelves of records once and for all. Given that the 78 lasted ten years after the introduction of the 45, it seemed likely that the LP would be gone from the market by 1990. The expected disappearance of the LP never happened. Despite the efforts of the music industry, music fans and collectors not only continue to buy records today, but sales of records and record-playing equipment are on the rise.

Each year in January, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is held in Las Vegas. At this event, audio and video manufacturers show off the latest and greatest in their product lines. An unusual sight this year was not the large number of cutting-edge compact disc players, but the largest number of record turntables that had been seen at the event in years! Sales of both new and used records are hot, and equipment manufacturers are eager to reintroduce the turntables they quit making years ago. Why are record sales increasing when compact discs are supposed to provide perfect sound in an unbreakable format? There are several reasons:

Music For Self Improvement

Would you like to pop in a CD and have a better quality of life, and even self improvement? There are three ways you can use music to accomplish this.

Music For Motivation

Piano Lessons For Adults: More Fun, Easier, & Faster Than Piano Lessons For Kids

Piano lessons for adults is generally LOTS more fun than it is for kids, primarily because the only adults that play piano are people who really want to, which is certainly not true of most kids that take piano lessons because their parents want them to.

But that's not the only reason by a long shot.

What Works Best in New Age Piano Improvisation

Many students want to know how to improvise. What they really want to know is how to be able to keep an improvisation going.

It's not difficult to begin. You just play a chord or two and that's that. But what happens to many students after a few seconds is they don't know what to do next. They get "stuck." Why? Because they are thinking about what to play. Wrong approach!

The King of the Delta Blues Singers - Robert Johnson Still Stands at the Crossroads

Probably the most enigmatic Singer and Guitarist of the twentieth Century is now one of the most revered and respected of all Musicians who make up the Genre of the 'Blues'. I speak of course about the wonderful Robert Leroy Johnson. Born in 1911 in Hazelhurst, Mississippi, in a Deep South plantation, he, in his pitifully short life, has become one of the founding Fathers of the Blues.

He recorded only 36 sides over a period of a couple of months between November 1936 and June 1937 in San Antonio Texas. These remarkable recordings still bring tears to the eyes of Blues aficionados the world over and shaped the face of the music of today.

How To Dress Up Naked Music On The Piano

What in the world is "naked music?"

You know it when you hear it, but the words that describe it sound strange, don't they? We've all heard of popular music and rock music and gospel music and jazz music, but naked music?

Suppliers as Your Partners in Cost Reduction

This article is one of the many articles still to come in which I will discuss very basic yet proven techniques that you could use immediately in your encounters with your suppliers.

Oh but wait, to find any value in this article, you must be a firm believer that Purchasing strategies have evolved from just 1) focusing on price and 2) focusing on quality, reliability, responsiveness and total cost to a much broader focus of building supplier relationships.

Resolve Conflict In 6 Easy Steps - The BEDROL Method

The principles of Negotiation can work for you in any situation, but often people ask me, "Well, its often a fact that conflict happens unexpectedly. What if I don't have time to prepare? Can negotiation skills be used on the spur of the moment?" The answer is YES. The principles of Street Negotiation were created and battle-tested on the streets and it's power lies in its ability to be used to resolve any conflict anytime. Conflict can be resolved in six easy to learn steps, acronymed as BEDROL(TM). That is: Back-up plan, Emotional control, Defusing their anger, Reframing, Options, and Letting them choose their fate.

Step 1--Back Up Plan.

Finding The Right Business For You: Keep Good Company

If you're thinking about getting involved in network marketing, choosing the right company to work with is essential. Get involved with the wrong outfit and you will be doomed to failure from the off.

As an absolute minimum you need to be sure that the company you decide to work with is financially sound. If not how will they pay your bonuses and commission? And since you want them to pay you, and then keep on paying you, you will want to have some confidence that they will be around for a good long while.

Networking Tips for Moms at Home

Plenty of moms today stay at home. After a year of battling the decision to quit my job, I finally "put my foot down", as they say, and returned home to raise my daughter.

It wasn't the easiest decision, but, let me tell you, it sure wasn't the toughest! I enjoy every minute of being home to raise my child. Furthermore, being home has done wonders for my family as a unit, and drawn us closer together. When I was working my full time job I barely had time to prepare a decent meal. But today? I'm a health nut, and so is the whole family (ha)!

Do It! A Guide to Starting an Internet Business

The first thing I did was start searching the internet for a work at home business that would fit me. You name it and there are tons information on the Internet about every conceivable subject that you can possible think of. Each website has a "guru" who purports to teach you everything you need to know about starting online businesses.

As I searched the net for about 6 months, compiling ideas, thoughts and ways to start a business, I quickly became overloaded with information. I must have signed up with 100 or so newsletters, downloaded dozens of free eBooks, subscribed to untold numbers of free online courses, and the list just goes on. One smartest things I did during that time was I didn't spend a lot of money.

To MLM or Not to MLM?

I was posed a question the other day about MLMs, why it leaves a bad taste in some peoples mouth, the term MLM even triggers spam filters. Some programs even advertise "This is not MLM" as though that is a plus for it. Is MLM really bad?

And it got me to thinking.....

Why Register a Domain when Promoting an Internet Home Business

Many internet home business owners are lost when they first start out building their internet home business and spend time purchasing bulk popunder traffic that does not really work for them. This article will highlight 3 simple steps that any internet home business owner can take to effectively promote any internet home business.

Registering your own domain

Defining a Quality Networking Group

When it comes to quality, how do you choose the group that matches your expectations?

Defining a quality group is not as easy as it looks. You first need to conduct the research into meetings, type of attendance etc. The next thing you want to know is the size of the group. Size does count as a smaller group will not often have enough leads for each individual. You should also make sure that the level of the person belonging to the group is at the appropriate place. By level we mean: is the person belonging to the group an influencer on decisions or are they the person that makes the actual decisions? Often with these groups, it is the salesperson that attends, and they can only suggest something to the decision makers. The decision maker does not necessarily need to be the CEO, but it is likely that they are part of the administrative executive. Do not waste your time with groups that do not have access to the decision makers.

Savvy Networking: Grow Your Business and Your Career

Did you know that contacts are the bread of career life? In times of change, information and relationships are a source of power. Savvy networking will help you to tap into this power to grow your business and your career.

Savvy networking is a systematic process of establishing and maintaining relationships for seeking out information and resources in order to accomplish specific goals. Its focus is on the building of rapport and long term interactions rather than quick, short-term connections of 'here today gone tomorrow'. Its purpose is to access all kinds of information and a wide variety of resources in order to achieve one's individual career goals as well as one's team or work group's objectives.

How to Make the Most of Those First 30 Seconds

Did you just meet the most important person in your career/business? Tongue tied and not sure what to do about it? With advance planning and creative thinking you can be confident you will know how to handle this situation should the opportunity present itself.

We all have had the juncture when we run into someone that we have really wanted to meet. Those who are prepared for the occasion will find themselves a step ahead on the career ladder or at the front of the line for business opportunities. Consider this, we all are bombarded with information; we meet dozens of new people with regularity. Ask yourself who do you remember and why?

Even in 60 seconds you can make an impression. The key is to make that impression a lasting one or one that will trigger instant recognition. How do you do that? Practice, practice, practice.

The most important step is having a pitch and then practicing it over, and over, and over. You need to be comfortable with your words. You are conveying a powerful message and you need to sound sincere and convincing. Above all, you need to look the part (if you find that you smirk at your own words then others will too. If this is the case, no one is going to be sold on why they should remember you.)

Start by boiling down your core message.

Who are you? What do you do? Why do I need to know you? What will make me remember you? Now that you have answered these questions read the results back to yourself. Is your message compelling, memorable, or is it just plain uninteresting and dull?

It's easy to change your message so don't panic. What is it that you do best? What is your strength in your job? Do you make people money? Do you keep your company's X out of the fire? Has you best suggestion been implemented? Have you just invented a new product? The list goes on and on. Utilize words that make people want to ask a question, drive them to ask you to contact them, or compels them to ask for your business card.

Now let's prepare to tell someone what you do best.

Here are some examples:

My name is X. I'm a top-notch accountant. I save my client companies X dollars every year. When I meet your team, I can improve your bottom line. Let me share some examples of my work. When can we meet?

My name is X. My new product invention catapulted my company to #1 in the category. I'm so creative that I can come up with a new invention/product in record time. I would be happy to share some of my creative secrets with your team. When can we meet?

My name is X. My marketing skills are superlative. My nickname is the marketing maven. I can brainstorm with your team with examples on how we can transform your marketing efforts. Who should I speak with?

Notice the action verbs improve, catapulted, brainstorm, and transform. These are words that create an image and leave a lasting impression. Think about words that express a call to action. Words that leave the person you are meeting knowing they want to follow up.

Keep on working at your message toward distilling down the core elements. The simpler your message, the better it will be received.

Be sure and ask for a meeting or the appropriate contact name. Make an effort to get a commitment for follow up. Do not just hand them your business card and smile. Use these tips to solidify your first impression in the first 30 seconds of meeting someone. Your career might depend on it.

JoAnn Hines' specialty is PACKAGING PEOPLE. Whether you want to be paid more, you just lost your job, or you want to progress in the one you have, Ms. Hines advice and expertise can help you transform your personal brand. She can show you how to package yourself and make your brand a hot commodity. It's easy once you know the ropes and begin to utilize her insider's secrets. She shows you step by step how to increase your visibility, credibility and marketability with easy to use tutorials and templates.

It is time to get started "Packaging Yourself."

Email me the Chief People Packager @ pkgcoach@aol.com

Lesson 69 - When Networking Events Fail

The Story

In a quest to create strategic alliances, coalitions, and partnerships, we don't usually allow ourselves to imagine our efforts failing. We don't imagine faltering at building relationships with people, since working with others comes naturally to most people.

It's even harder to imagine that people would decline to help us with our work after they've gotten to know our reputations. It is unthinkable to consider that after doing all the right things, attending the right events, having a polished image, keeping lines of communications open, and establishing proper business rapport, that business ventures set up through network could fail.

We don't typically invest our time, effort, and money in attending events that in some way are not mutually beneficial. For example, frequently benefactors donate large sums of money to their favor charity for several reasons. First, because they support the work the organization is accomplishing, and second, to increase their reputation and prominence in the business community through establishing and advancing their niche in the market place through public relations. Monetary donations also provide tax credit to the donor's organization. So given all that we do to be successful in establishing networks to make our work and events successful, how do we handle networking efforts that fail?

A while ago I began attending an organization called the "Love Corporation's" yearly fundraising event. The first year a friend invited me to accompany her. Each year after that I began attended the event on my own. By the fourth year of participating, I had pretty much gotten to know certain people and these certain people knew me. Many of the relationships I found through this event blossomed into more permanent friendships, with people whom I would communicate with on a weekly basis.

During the fourth year an incident occurred. I asked a certain NBC Washington news anchor if I could interview him for my second book. He agreed, and we had the interview on the spot. Up to that point when we saw each other we would have great conversations. So, when Barbershop Talk was released I sent him a complementary copy. With that complimentary copy, I wrote up an idea for a news story and hoped that he would include my book and me in the story.

It is difficult to admit that through this incident I realized that for four years I read our relationship wrong. He liked my story idea and subsequently aired a story using my idea and suggested topic. However, he didn't include my new book or me, and gave me no credit for the idea! I sat angrily in front of the television and watched him interview other people using my idea without getting any credit as the person to whom the idea was attributed.

My years of networking with him at this yearly event failed. It failed for one reason, because I assumed that he was honorable and would help those who helped him. I was so wrong. Another reason the relationship failed was because I didn't know his work ethic well enough before trusting him with an idea. We never can exactly know what goes on behind the scenes of a news programming business, and journalism, like other professionals, are not always straight and honest.

Maureen Dowd described the way I felt through defining the Woodard-Darman Law that, "A friendship between a reporter and source lasts only until it is profitable for one to betray the other."

The Lesson

What is the best way to handle failed networking events or situations? The best thing to do is evaluate and learn from what happened, why it happened, and how to prevent it from happening again. Though one cannot predict what will happen in every situation, predicting consequences of certain situations comes easier with age and experience. Analyzing all the factors that lead to the specific outcome you desire will allow you to be prepared when the outcomes unfolds. So in retrospect, I was betrayed but in the long run given material to reflect on through which to teach others.

Melvin Murphy is a Consummate Speaker, Noted Author & Certified Seminar Leader. His latest book is title, It's Who You Know! Creating Alliances and Partnerships through Networking. Contact him at: MMurphy833@aol.com

How to Shmooze

Definition: talk idly or casually in a friendly way
Value: priceless

Gearheads like me have trouble understanding that great ideas and hard work aren't enough... you gotta shmooze too. Every day we deal with peculiar life forms called "humans", and they have needs beyond the performance of tasks. They like to connect on a human level, too.

Even non-gearheads need this reminder. Sometimes they are trying so hard to get the job done, or are just uncertain and uncomfortable, that they forget to blend this critical element into their work.

Have you ever been frustrated seeing a back-slapping moron doing very well in business, while you, the much more capable one, are struggling? Then these ideas are for you. When working with customers, vendors or co-workers, try this:

1. Don't start by diving into the task. Spend a couple sentences warming up first. A simple "How was your weekend?" followed by listening to the answer, will start the interaction on a human level.

2. When you listen, listen also for the emotional tone of the response and respond to it. Example: if the person is harried, consider saying, "Hey, you look like you are under a lot of pressure right now... what can I do to help?" And mean it. And try to help.

3. Sprinkle the person's name into your conversation once or twice. People pay more attention when they hear their name. And it brings you closer to her.

4. Smile and relax. Putting yourself in a good, balanced attitude will help her get there too.

5. Don't take yourself too seriously. Recognize that we are all imperfect and struggling. Share a bit of your struggle and recognize theirs. Example: "Wow, I tried so hard to get this done, but it was really tough. I know you must be having a hard time with your part of it, too. "

5. Create alliances as opposed to adversity. In business we are constantly trying to get someone else to do what we want them to do. Frame your request against a backdrop of mutual benefit. Instead of, "I need this...", try "In order for us to reach our goal, I can accomplish this if you can do that."

6. Observe people you consider to be good shmoozers. Note what behaviors are effective and try to add them to your skill set. The art here is to still be yourself at the same time. Think of it as an adjustment to your approach rather than a complete redo. If you have been a vocal non-golfer, don't suddenly morph into Tiger Woods overnight and expect to be taken seriously.

7. Try to gain a clear vision of the difference between who you are, and what you do. The former is called personality, the latter is called behavior. Personality is very close to your core. Behavior is actions which you undertake. Developing shmoozing skills involves experimentation with your behavior.

But the real beauty of working on your shmoozing is that the positive responses you will get from others will, in turn, be gratifying to you. And this response will make you happier and more successful, which in turn will go right to your core.

What started out as developing a business skill has a real chance of actually enhancing your life. Is there a reason to wait?

Copyright 2005 Mark Meshulam

Mark Meshulam offers a unique suite of productivity software at http://www.poingo.com, and an interesting, informative blog at http://www.poingology.com

Water, The Magical Drink

Glowing skin comes free of charge to you. Our simple water does it effectively. The effect of water is immediate, say overnight. Your skin not only glows but you also feel a lot better after having a glass of water. Your wrinkles will seem less pronounced and your body will work most effectively as the waste and toxins are washed away. This is what our free of cost renewable source of energy does to us.

Tip: Drink a glass or two of water if you are watching your diet. Dehydration triggers false feelings of hunger so its easy to confuse thirst with hunger.

Natural spring water, whether its fizzy or still, is full of natural minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium, which are so important for our growth and healthy skin, along with iodine copper and iron .Fizzy water is believed to be absorbed much quicker in body and is thought by some beauticians to aggravate cellulite.

Tip: People who drink a lot of tea, coffee, hot chocolate and aerated drinks tend to have tired-looking skin and have greasy skin and spots.This is because these drinks contain caffeine which prevents your body from making efficient use of minerals and vitamins.Try not to drink more than 3 cups of tea or coffee a day.

Alcohol and Smoking also effect the skin in great great way.Keep their intake low. Excessive intake of alcohol can lead to split veins. Smoking which has Nicotine doesn't help you keep healthy skin too. Try Giving up Smoking. Nicotine attacks the blood vessels that feed the skin with oxygen and nutrients, as well as those that drain away the body waste. Smoking also age the skin greatly and affect nail beds and hair follicles, which nestle the epidermis.

Tip: Try not to take more than recommended 21 units of alcohol a week and GIVE UP SMOKING. Learn more about the ill-effects of smoking and learn how to give smoking effortlessly and painlessly at http://www.weightloss-health.com/quitsmoking.htm.

So, I would advise you to increase your water intake. One of the best way is to start a day with a glass or two of water. These initial glasses are important as you are reversing any mind dehydration that may have occurred overnight. It is always advisable to have water empty stomach as it avoid unnecessary dilution of digestive juices. So half hour before your meal, do have water. Get into the habit of taking water bottle along with you when you go out so that you can refresh yourself whenever you want.

Benefits of Pure Water:

a) It doesn't create any false feeling of hunger if we have proper intake of water. Hence, no overeating.

b) Skin feels moist with the increase in energy levels.

c) Pumps you up, improves mental and physical performance.

d) Flushes out Toxins and unwanted substances.

e) Gets you rid of dark circle under eyes.

f) It also alleviates migraine headaches, high blood cholesterol, rheumatoid arthritis pain, allergies and high blood pressure.

Tip: Your intake should not be less than 8 glass of water per day

Jasdeep: for http://www.weightloss-health.com your complete and most comprehensive family guide on Health.

Also get free tips and tricks on Anti-Aging at Anti-Aging Tips, Products and Treatment

If you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and LIVE link to our website

An Open Letter to Mankind

In the last twenty years, a huge and growing body of research has been carried out into the role of the sugars that are an essential part of glycoproteins. These sugar-protein complexes are the building blocks of our immune system, and are the method by which cells "talk" to each other.

Research now runs to over 80,000 papers in many established medical journals. The accompanying papers in this pack discuss various aspects of sugar metabolism, from the scientific research to case histories, along with doctors own experience with the amazing healing qualities of these glyconutrients.

It has been conclusively shown that there are 8 essential sugars, and 6 are missing from our modern Western diet. This lack is caused by soil depletion, early picking of vegetables and fruits, processing of foods, and pollution. We all now face a very toxic environment, and we now lack the very things we need to cope with the toxic load.

When these sugars are missing, the cells either cannot "talk", or they mis-communicate. The result is disease. Yes it is true, our cells can make these sugars from glucose, but this is a very metabolically expensive process. It has been shown that dietary lack results in defective immune response, either too much or too little. Allergic conditions are examples of an over reactive immune system. An under reactive immune system could result in an inability of the natural "killer" cells (lymphocytes) to recognize diseased or cancerous cells, and dispose of them. The results of that may mean the death of the person! When the cells are given the nutrients they need, and begin to function properly, the resultant health benefits range from profound to amazing. In some cases, the so called laws of medical science have been overturned. I have spoken to people who had (past tense) multiple sclerosis, and who now do not have it. Their neurological lesions have disappeared from the MRI scan. To a natural skeptic like myself, the implication of this reversal was simple ? medicine is now facing the need for a total paradigm shift in its thinking, as deep a shift as that which occurred when bacteria were first shown to be the agents of infectious diseases.

As doctors, I believe we need to move from a "curative" view to a "wellness" view of what we do. Whilst modern medicine has made great strides in many areas, doctors, myself included, feel somewhat helpless when attempting to deal with the flood of degenerative disease and chronic illness that are the mark of our generation. All we can offer are drugs with very serious, and in some cases, life threatening side effects. In the year 2000, more than 100,000 people died from the effects of properly prescribed, properly administered pharmaceutical agents in the United States alone. This does not count the tragic accidents of improperly used medication.

Are these sugars safe? Well, they are food, not drugs. They have NO toxic or side effects. Five of the eight are found in human breast milk, (one of the reasons why babies are protected from disease by breast feeding).

The sugars are not pharmaceutical agents, and do not cure anything. They simply restore basic cellular functions to normal, and then the body can fend for itself. The killer cells will work to identify and destroy diseased or cancerous cells. The immune system can be restored to normal to modulate itself in response to attack.

I believe that we are going to see this profound change in medical practice over the next few years. As usual, I predict that the medical profession will be dragged kicking and screaming into this change. Every major medical advance, from simple hand washing between patients, to using limes to treat scurvy, to smallpox vaccination, the introduction of anesthesia, and surgical asepsis, has been first ridiculed, then opposed, until finally acceptance came when the truth became totally self evident. This is happening today with glyconutrition. There are now over 1000 medical practitioners in the USA who regularly use glyconutrients in their practices. The AMA in Australia has just release a paper acknowledging the patient's right to use complimentary medicine. That statement allows such things as acupuncture and yoga, techniques that may have benefit, but have no scientific validation. Compare that to the huge body of literature on glycoscience, including the (5) Nobel Prizes in Medicine (given to researches studying glycobiology). The case history data is growing into the tens of thousands of patients whose disease states have been improved, or in many cases eradicated, by the simple act of adding these sugars to the diet. This evidence will, in time, be overwhelming, and those who are skeptical and critical will be won over, by evidence that cannot be refuted. When you have CAT scan evidence of the lesions of multiple sclerosis disappearing, of metastatic carcinoma resolving, of the reversal of Alzhiemer's and Parkinson's disease, of increase in IQ of Down's syndrome children, along with positive effects in arthritis, infections, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibro-myalgia, what can you say? These are case histories presented by medical professionals, not snake oil salesmen. They are medically verifiable.

I think you will find the accompanying papers interesting. I hope that they will increase your understanding, and help you on the road to optimal health... glycoscience.org .

Best wishes, Iain MacRobert Updated for accuracy by Zach Thompson

Dr Iain MacRobert's CV Hong Kong Medical Registration MO5876 Hong Kong Specialist Registration SO7-0052

Curriculum Vitae: Graduated MB MS Sydney University 1975

Hospital appointments: Concord Repatriation Hospital 1976-1980 Medical Officer Sydney Eye Hospital 1981-1983 Ophthalmic Registrar The Westmead Centre 1984 Senior Ophthalmic Registrar Private Practice Penrith (West Sydney) 1985 Hong Kong 1986 to present

Post Graduate qualifications: Fellow ? Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists 1984 International Member ? American Academy of Ophthalmology 1991 Founding Fellow ? Hong Kong Academy of Medicine 1993 Founding Fellow ? Hong Kong College of Surgeons 1996 Founding Fellow ? Hong Kong College of Ophthalmologists 1996

Medical Memberships: International Society of Refractive Surgeons

Present Practice: General and pediatric ophthalmology Refractive surgery

Zach Thompson works internationally as a Glyconutritional Consultant. He serves primarily the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, & New Zealand. His clients range from Professional & Olympic Athletes to those with auto-immune disease & children with Learning Disabilities. You can get more information at: http://www.myglyconutrientstore.com .

Aggressive Behaviour Seems To Be Triggered By Early Age Diet

The fact that diet directly affects behaviour is no news, on the contrary, this reality has been perceived a very long time ago, as the old saying "a man is what he eats" proves.

Studies have been performed to ascertain the degree in which this happens. A study of the scientists and researchers from the University of Southern California shows that a lack vitamin B, zinc, iron from the diet during the first years of life seems to influence behaviour later on.

Malnutrition in early ages, shows the study, predisposes to neurocognitive deficits. These deficits will lead to behavioural problems, such as antisocial and aggressive behaviour, during childhood and adolescence.

It is common knowledge that the lack or the insufficient intake of certain substances influences body development and all the resulting aspects. Nutritive substances have certain specific nurture targets, namely they feed particularly some body parts. Thus, the nutrients for the brain play a crucial role in the subsequent development of the neural activity, affecting brain health and mental performance. The mental state is also influenced by nutrients, as they are essential ingredients in the biochemical processes that produce brain neurotransmitters. Serotonin and dopamine which are known to affect mood are such neurotransmitters.

It seems that behaviour and mental performance can be improved by a controlled diet. Especially at early ages, reducing malnutrition will help reduce later antisocial and aggressive behavior, as the study concludes. Results of such studies and researches are important for applying correct adjustments to diet beginning with early childhood not only to improve health state - or to help correct various illnesses generated by brain malfunctions - but also to enhance positive social behaviour of persons with a tendency towards violence and behavioural disordes.

To conclude, substances that are essential for the brain optimum functioning and that should be present in sufficient quantities in a balanced diet are:

• the B vitamin complex - essential for the brain cells health and the formation of neurotransmitters - B1: bread, rice, pasta, and fortified cereals, pasta, pork; B5: meat, poultry, fish, whole-grain cereals, legumes, milk, vegetables, fruit; B6: chicken, fish, pork, liver, and kidney, whole grain cereals, nuts, legumes; B12: eggs, meat, fish, poultry, milk and dairy products;
• essential fatty acids - Omega 3 - brain's composition is 60% essential fatty acids - fish, especially cold water fish, seafood, olive oil or canola oil;
• antioxidans (vitamin E, vitamin C, glutathione, coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid) - protect brain from free radicals that attack DNA, creating permanent cellular damage generating accelerated aging, memory loss and favoring chronic disease - fruit and vegetables, black tea, green tea, chocolate, red wine;
• folic acid - essential for metabolism of long-chain fatty acids in the brain - bananas, orange juice, fortified cereals, lemons, strawberry, cantaloupe, leafy vegetables, dried beans and peas;
• magnesium, potassium, calcium - necessary for good nerve functioning - magnesium sources: whole grains, legumes, nuts, and green vegetables; potassium sources: apricots, avocados, bananas, cantaloupe, grapefruit, honeydew, kiwi, oranges, prunes, strawberries, potatoes, meat, and fish, calcium sources: milk and diary;
• iron - needed to carry oxygen to the brain cells and used to make brain neurotransmitters - lean beef, whole grain breakfast cereals, whole grain breads, raisins, dried apricots, legumes, bean dips, and bran muffins;
• zinc - antioxidative role, important for memory - certain seafood - oysters, red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, and dairy products.

Laura Ciocan writes for http://www.dietsindex.com where you can find more information about the most popular diets and diet aids.

Please feel free to use this article in your Newsletter or on your website. If you use this article, please include the resource box and send a brief message to let me know where it appeared; mailto:lauracio@gmail.com

A Heart Healthy Diet Makeover

Heart Disease remains the number one cause of death in the U.S. among both men and women. Part of the problem is it is truly a silent killer. There are few warning signs of a heart attack and the signs that are there donâ??t necessarily make us feel bad. The good news is there are many lifestyle changes you can make to significantly decrease your risk of heart disease. Here are 9 simple steps to make over your diet for heart health.

1. Use the right fats: The good fats are found to preserve HDL (protective cholesterol) and lower LDL (Bad Cholesterol) levels. The good fats are found in foods such as olive, canola, and peanut oils as well as nuts, avocados and olives.

2. Decrease the Saturated Fats: These fats tend to increase the cholesterol made by your body. They can increase your total and LDL (Bad) cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are found in animal products such as dairy, poultry (especially the skin), meats, butter and cream based sauces and dressings. It is not necessary to omit these foods, just choose leaner options and have the higher fat foods once in awhile.

3. Remove all Trans Fats from your pantry! : Trans Fats are oils that have been hardened by the hydrogenation process, such as stick margarine and shortening used to make commercial baked goods, chips, and fast foods. Like saturated fats, these fats increase total blood cholesterol and LDL (Bad) cholesterol levels and may even lower HDL (Good) cholesterol levels. Food labels will be required to list the amount of Trans fats in a food product by 2006. Until then, if the ingredient list on the food label includes the term hydrogenated, or partially hydrogenated, it contains Trans Fats. Avoid these products!

4. Increase Your Fiber! : Soluble fiber helps lower cholesterol levels in the blood by binding to cholesterol in the intestine so it cannot be absorbed by the body. Good food sources of soluble fiber include beans and legumes, oranges, apples, prunes, broccoli, carrots, oat bran, oatmeal, and some cereals. Use whole grain products in place of their white counterparts. Eat at least 20-40 grams of fiber a day. (Most Americans only eat around 12 grams of fiber a day.)

5. Omega-3 Fatty Acids every day: Omega-3 Fatty Acids are essential fatty acids meaning we have to get them from our diet. These fatty acids may reduce the risk of blood clotting, decrease inflammation, lower triglyceride levels, normalize heart rhythms and improve the immune system. Consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids daily may reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death by 50-70%. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in: fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, lake trout, halibut, and sardines. Other sources include ground flax seeds, soybeans, canola oil, and walnuts.

6. Five To Eight Fruits and Vegetables a day: Eating fruits and vegetables can help to decrease your risk of heart disease, cancer, cataracts, and can help to lower blood pressure. Fruits and Vegetables are loaded in vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. The more fruits and veggies you eat, the more antioxidant activity in your body. How do antioxidants work? Every day we are exposed to free radicals from our diets, sun, chemical exposure, pollution, etc. These free radicals promote the plaque build up in our arteries leading us to increased risk of heart disease. Antioxidants work by neutralizing these free radicals before they can cause damage to our bodies.

7. Folic Acid: High levels of an amino acid called homocysteine in the blood have been associated with damage to the blood-vessel walls, increased blood clotting, and overall increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Folate is a B vitamin which has been shown to decrease these homocysteine levels in the blood. Good food sources of Folate include green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, beet greens, and chard as well as legumes, asparagus, broccoli, oranges, orange juice, whole and fortified grains, walnuts and peanuts.

8. Add some almonds! Studies show that eating an ounce of almonds a day can help to lower your cholesterol. A matter of fact, a recent study published in Journal of the American Medical Association found that eating a diet that included plant sterol margarine (such as Benecol or ProActiv), soy products, almonds and increase fiber was able to lower cholesterol levels as much as the statin drugs and in just 2 weeks time! Have an ounce of almonds as a snack, or sprinkle them in your cereal or salad.

9. Have a little soy: Soy has also been shown to lower cholesterol levels. Using soy on a weekly basis is a great step towards protecting your heart. If you are not a tofu fan, try soy milk or yogurt, garden burgers, edamme (soy beans), or soy sausage patties. There are all kinds of ways to include soy in your diet!

Sample Heart Healthy Meal Makeover:

Sample day
Before:
Breakfast:
- glass of orange juice
- 2 fried eggs
- 3 slices of bacon
- 2 slices white bread with 3 tsp butter

Lunch:
- roast beef sandwich on white bread
- potato chips

Snack:
- 1 cup Cheez It crackers

Dinner:
- fried fish strips
- 1 cup mashed potatoes cooked w/whole milk and butter
- ½ cup corn

Diet make over:
Breakfast:
-glass of calcium fortified orange juice
- scrambled egg beaters
- 1-2 slices of whole grain bread with 1-2 tsp Benocol or
ProActive spread
- 1-2 slices soy bacon or sausage links

Lunch:
-½ turkey, lettuce, tomato, and avocado sandwich
- 1 cup vegetable soup
- 8 oz vanilla non-fat yogurt with 1/3 cup of berries added

Snack:
1 ounce almonds

Dinner:
- 3 ounces baked or broiled salmon
- ½ cup broiled red potatoes with olive oil
- ½ cup broccoli
- 1-2 cups of salad with cut up pears and toasted walnuts with 1TB olive oil vinaigrette salad dressing

Results:
Day 1 = 2300 calories and 114 grams fat; 98 grams sat fat; 45% calories from fat
Day 2 = 1800 calories and 58 grams fat; 14 grams sat fat; 29% calories from fat.

Making small changes can go a long way to improve your heart health! What changes can you start making?

Â(c); Meri Raffetto, 2005

About the Author

Owner of Real Living Nutrition Services, Meri Raffetto is a Registered Dietitian and a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She has developed two online weight management programs, The Mini Diet Makeover and The Ultimate Diet Makeover, which focus on a healthy, non-diet approach to weight loss. For more information or to sign up for our free newsletter, visit http://www.reallivingnutrition.com

Death, Aging, Rejuvenation (Part 2)

Death

Death. Why it happens? Why do we die? Why do animals die? Why do plants die? What is the need of this? In my opinion mechanism of death was selected during Evolution.

From the position of Darwin's theory of Natural Selection everything, that benefits survival of species and gives advantage in Natural Selection, is preserved in following generations.

Improvements were often left unchanged from the moment of life appearance. Though there could be other ways, certain mechanisms were accidentally selected. These improvements are reproduced in the genome of more complex species. Billions of years ago, according to the theory of evolution, chemicals randomly organized themselves into a self-replicating molecule.

Lightings and UV-radiation helped to create first organic molecules. This phenomenon is reproducible in a lab. The experiments were described in 1950-60.

First self-replicating molecules were probably RNA. First enzymes were probably RNA - enzymes. Then proteins, DNA and more complex lipid molecules and polysaccharide came to the scene.

Death as it is did not exist at the stage of Primeval Soup . Sure some organic molecules were destroyed , some new created. But in general it was still that swirling and bubbling primary broth - quasi alive in our understanding as a mixture of biochemical reactions.

Everything in the evolution was build from the previous blocks selected sometime by accident.

Appearance of lipid membranes allows to compartmentalize the primary broth and create first cells.

At the cellular stage we could already talk about the Death. Cell is destroyed, membrane is broken, everything leaked out. This is the Death.

Content of cell inside lipid membrane is irradiated. Process of crazy molecular swirling is messed up by free radicals irreversibly. This is also signs of Death.

Yet at the cellular stage we cannot talk about Aging. Death at this stage is accidental, not programed.

Organic molecules may age (oxidation, conjugation, etc.) and cell would die. But damaged molecule are repaired or synthesized fresh usually. Hence, no good reason for a single cell organism to age. Irreparable damage from external cause leads to Death, not Aging. This is accidental death. For multicellular organisms, there is a parental organism that ages and eventually dies after next generation is born. For mono-cellular organism, there is parental organism that divides and becomes the next generation. There is no Aging leading to death of parental organism.

Mono-cellular organisms are practically immortal in a right environment.

Mechanism of division was selected during evolution. Cell has volume (3-D). Surface membrane is measured in square units (2-D). Growing beyond limits cause inadequate supply of nutrition from environment. Division solves the problem.

Microbes, bacteria are immortal. Some divide every 20 minutes. In a an hour they multiply 8 times.

Tumour cells divide slower. They are eukaryote. Most aggressive divide once a day. There is no need for Aging.

They would die if you do not feed them. They die when you kill them with undiluted bleach in a flask. Otherwise they grow unstoppable. No aging.

Multicellular organism supposedly has several control mechanisms to prevent excessive growth and division, to kill an extra cell. Apoptosis, programmed death, is used.

Cancer cells often loose the control mechanisms.

A scientist from Yale once pointed out to me that we can not say these cells are immortal. Maybe they divide and parental cell dies. Indeed. We do not follow the fate of every individual cell during experiments. They should give more children cells than parental cells die. Otherwise there would not be the multiplication. It is a possible scenario. We do not follow the fate of individual bacteria as well. Maybe they actually undergo aging.

From the other hand some experiments suggest that new cells contain roughly half of the parent cell after division. So it is not Death or Aging. Next generations contain 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 and so on of the parent cell. Any mechanism that is more complex than simple division would cause disadvantage in evolution and would be quickly eliminated. On the level of mono-cellular organism neither Aging nor Apoptosis make a lot of sense. Though Nature often have hidden reasons.

Flick's phenomenon and telomeres shortening make sense for a multicellular organism. Cells of multicellular organism do age. They stop dividing after 70 divisions or so.

A multi-cell organism has clear cut advantage over a mono-cell.

Why would mechanism of Death selected for multicellular organisms? Scenario could be the following.

Big organism have more advantages compare to smaller one - stability, protection, etc. There are not so many natural enemies for whale or elephant because of their size. Large animals could be brought down by bacteria, viruses, small parasites, and lack of available food. Rare predator attack whale or elephant.

No wonder that evolution was going into the direction of bigger animals - just look at giant bones of dinosaurs and you will feel some appreciation.

Millions years ago not only Dinosaurs but also insects or crustacean were enormous. Cockroaches, spiders or dragon flies with size of one metre (3 feet). Going back in time we find shells of enormous molluscs. Many things imply that bigger animal with unstoppable growth have a lot of advantages compare to small ones. New species often evolve in their size. An example is growth acceleration in humans. Females prefer taller mates that lead to taller children. Shorter plants usually cannot compete with the taller forms in the wild. A short mutant in a patch of tall plants would be shaded out

Mechanism of reproduction was also selected during the evolution. Any new animal, be it a mouse or a human, starts life as a single cell. That cell differentiates and develops into the complete animal. It assures that a rare advantageous variant sequence of DNA will be rapidly propagated by natural selection. It is much easier to reproduce and maybe get some new genes or favourable mutations starting from a single cell than starting from a whole multicellular organism. Functions of most genes will have been optimized by random point mutation and selection in any given species. Signalling between cells during the development process ensure that everything ends up in the right place. Tiny changes in these Signalling processes can have very large effects on the resulting animal. Genome, with at most forty-sixty thousands genes, is able to specify the creation of a human body containing trillions of cells, billions of carefully wired neurons and hundreds of different cell types all amazingly sculpted into organs as diverse as the liver and the brain. This is why mechanism of proliferation of fertilized oocytes was selected.

Hence, having younger (smaller) and older (bigger) animals make sense.

But there is the problem: adult animals (or plants) consume all the nutrition around and there is not much left for next generation.

Then it is why mechanism of Death was selected as a mean for next generation to establish.

Imagine the following:

First, mechanism of proliferation was selected . If mono-cellular organism does not have mechanism of reproduction it does not produce offspring with possible favourable mutations. Let say there are primitive bacteria spontaneously created in primeval soup. Just few of them. They consume nutrition, they live happily, practically immortal but they do not divide. Then set of enzymes appeared during mutations. The set allows bacteria to split. Synthesis of the new set is disadvantageous. It requires additional energy and nutrition. But advantage of splitting allows new mutants immediately overgrow non-proliferating cells. Selection is really cutthroat.

Bacteria growing in a tube represent mini evolution. Any bacteria that fit for the environment are also selected on the ground of simplicity. In a toxic environment (antibiotics) mutant bacteria having a new mechanism of neutralisation would survive. But the more simple bacteria will eventually overgrow complicated ones. Unless complication gives big advantage that outweigh the benefits of simplicity. Another example: HIV virus is very complex compare to some other viruses. But because of the complexity it evades immune response. This is why it is so successful. For humans there was some discussion that hernias are direct problem of erect posture. So erect posture leads to disadvantage. From the other hand erect posture frees the hand, that allows to produce the tools and this gives huge advantage in the survival in natural world by creating possibility to adapt to virtually any condition.

All high animals have just 4 extremities. Obviously it is enough in cutthroat environment. Growing additional couple of extremities will consume much more resources and take much more time, not giving big advantage in speed or protection of an animal. Thus, danger of losing one of the limb is not so big as the danger to not proliferate fast enough.

Bilateral design of majority of animals was chosen at the level of primitive species. Though lower multicellular organisms may have 3-side symmetry or 5-side symmetry like sea stars. Often something chosen in the selection becomes building blocks for higher species. Maybe 5-side symmetrical tiger would be possible but it requires intermediate chain.

The same is true for the mechanism of Death. Once chosen, it is replicated in all higher organisms. It should give an advantage in ultimate species survival. Otherwise it loses sense and species would be wiped out.

So, what is advantage for Death?

Immortal and childless animals are growing and growing. Mutations lead to species producing offsprings. They have disadvantage of been more complex. But advantage of proliferating animals is occupation of vaster areas. They displace immortal and childless species. Now, if proliferating animals are immortal they do not give offsprings enough space or food. Next steps of mutation brought mechanism of programmed death at certain age.

Let consider situation when out of two species one is immortal and producing offsprings, other is mortal with offspring production as well. Mortality looks like an obvious disadvantage in stable environment. Adult organism are more powerful and more protected compare to juvenile.

However, next catastrophe will wipe out all the species altogether. Only some mutants can adopt to new environment. But "mutant" for a multicellular organism imply that the mutation happened when the organism had only one cell (the stage of fertilized oocyte for example). Otherwise it needs precisely the same mutations on the level of several cells - infinitely impossible event.

Thus, any species that had the mechanism to allow next generation to flourish (mechanism of programmed Death) will have advantage. They produce more offspring than immortal species. Death of parents spares the space and nutrition. Immortals can die form accidents only. It is too long for children to expect a vacancy.

Then, having more offspring automatically means having more mutations (by mere number of events). Having more mutations means more probability for adaptation to the new environment.

Immortal multicellular organisms, even if they existed in the past, were quickly wiped out by accidents and overgrown by mortal multicellular organisms.

Again all this is just a hypothesis.

- continued in Part 3

About The Author

Aleksandr Kavokin, MD,PhD

http://www.geocities.com/aging_rejuvenation/

http://www.geocities.com/usmle_test

aging_rejuvenation@yahoo.com

Lesser of Two Evils: Splenda or Equal?

While packages of the artificial sweetener Splenda claim, "made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar," one competitor argues that this statement is nothing short of false advertising.

In fact, this rival, Equal manufacturer Merisant Co., has filed a lawsuit against Splenda stating the advertisement should read something a little more like, "made from dextrose, maltodextrin and 4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha, D-Galactopyranosyl-1, 6-dichloro-1, 6-dideoxy-beta, D-fructofuranoside." Merisant further disputed that the Splenda marketing company, McNeil Nutritionals (a division of Johnson & Johnson), has misled consumers and deceived them into believing that the no-calorie artificial sweetener is "natural," or made from raw sugar.

The lawsuit also stated:

* Splenda is not natural in any way

* Splenda is sweetened with a synthetic compound that is the result of a complex chemical process

However, a McNeil Nutritionals spokeswoman defended the Splenda marketing, saying that the lawsuit against them had no merit and that consumers were never misled. She also persisted that Splenda is made from sugar -- sucralose (key ingredient of Splenda) begins inside a pure cane sugar, which is then chemically altered during manufacturing to create a compound that does not have any calories.

ABC News December 1, 2004

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Talk about the proverbial "pot calling the kettle black!" Though I must say, it's no wonder why Merisant is going after McNeil: Splenda sales have soared way past Equal since it was introduced in the United States some four years ago. But I do find it quite odd that the manufacturer of an artificial sweetener whose primary toxic ingredient is aspartame (a.k.a. Equal) is suing another manufacturer of an equally artificial sweetener with the equally toxic sucralose (a.k.a. Splenda).

Therefore, isn't this REALLY a battle between who is the lesser of the two evils? Well, as far as I'm concerned, they are equally dangerous, equally misleading and equally detrimental to your health.

Let's take aspartame (the key to Equal and Nutrasweet) for starters. Research has found that the components of this deadly ingredient may lead to a wide variety of ailments including:

* Epilepsy/seizures

* Migraines and headaches

* Depression

* Brain tumors

* Autoimmune diseases

However, Splenda is not a day at the beach either, as research in animals has shown that consuming sucralose comes hand in hand with a plethora of health problems including:

* Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40 percent shrinkage)

* Enlarged liver and kidneys

* Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus

* Reduced growth rate

* Decreased red blood cell count

* Extension of the pregnancy period

* Aborted pregnancy

* Diarrhea

For these many, many reasons it is wise to avoid artificial sweeteners. In addition, eating too much REAL sugar will also adversely affect your health, as it will cause your blood sugar level to rise. If your blood sugar levels remain elevated (even mildly) over a period of time, your risk of diabetes will increase, which will increase your risk of cancer.

Therefore, to satisfy those sweet cravings of yours to devour cookies, candies and sweets this holiday season (and always), I have a perfect solution for you! Instead of giving in to temptation, satisfy your sweet tooth NATURALLY with stevia -- a healthy alternative to sugar.

Unlike aspartame, suclarose and other artificial sweeteners that have been cited for dangerous toxicities, stevia is a natural alternative that's ideal for diabetics, those watching their weight and anyone interested in maintaining their health. Stevia can be used in appetizers, beverages, soups, salads, vegetables, desserts -- virtually anything! It is, hands down, the best alternative to sugar you will ever taste.

Also, I highly recommend reading my review of the best video on the market on the subject of aspartame. In a short 90 minutes, this video will open your eyes up to the dangers of this perilous neurotoxin that should NOT BE CONSUMED BY ANYONE.

-------------------
Dr. Joseph Mercola
Author of Total Health Program
Founder of the renowned Optimal Wellness Center
http://www.Mercola.com - The #1 Natural Health Site on the Internet!

Childhood Epidemic Rises 6,000% What Can Be Learned About Autism?

The latest tallies show that over three million people in North America alone carry some type of autism diagnosis. With this increase the biggest question people are asking is why. Over 20 years ago the incidence was estimated to be 1 in 10,000. Now it's a whopping 1 in 166 according to the U.S. Center for Disease control and is still expected to rise. With the life long care of someone with autism costing approximately 2.2 million per person according to the MIND Institute, we need to start committing proper resources to early intervention now to enable this population to lead fulfilling and productive lives as well as contribute to society

The frustrating point in the above scenario is the lack of interest and resources allocated through government and other agencies towards a solution. This includes actively determining the cause and implementing adequate research towards curative and helpful measures. The US Government will happily spend 1.9 billion dollars for a single Trident nuclear submarine in a fleet of around fifty, yet is only spending 66 million on the entire special education area, which includes special teachers, training and proper equipment and supports.

While hosting an autism conference in Hawaii last month I received a call from a grandmother asking if I could help her thirteen-year-old autistic grandson who was still in diapers. This just shouldn't be happening in this day and age. Whether there is a cure for autism or not, there are programs and interventions that help all children with autism grow up to be productive community citizens especially through early intervention practices as mentioned earlier. This can happen when parents put their own egos aside and recognize very early that their child has autism, accept the diagnosis and get the treatment the child deserves allowing them to use their inborn strengths and talents to live to their fullest.

Methodologies also need to be more visible and understood. Yes there are successful ways to approach autism like Applied Behavioral Analysis, Greenspan, Daily Life Therapy, Miller Method, the SCERTS method and Relationship Development Intervention which may all sound Greek to some, however, most parents just hear of one and go with it. This could be due to the nature of the beast so to speak, in that many parents of children with autism even show signs of autism themselves such as structured, literal thinking. This forces them to have limited beliefs and be less willing to consider other options in a more abstract manner. Many of these methodologies and belief systems have become rigid and unchanging even though many more options are now available and even more are on the horizon.

As to the cause, many speculate that mercury in addition to other heavy metals could be a strong culprit though the proof is not in the pudding yet. Books like "Evidence Of Harm" by David Kirby, a New York Times writer clearly organizes all the facts for others to draw their own conclusion surrounding the issues around immunizations. Perhaps it's in the dental amalgams, the fish we eat or other environmental surroundings.

Then still others are pointing to the gene pool saying it is passed on from one generation to the next. I know in my case, I believe my Aeronautical Engineer father has a high functioning form of autism and I grew up thinking he was "normal". I was therefore attracted to someone who also has many symptoms of autism such as the lack of social skills in certain situations, an egocentric focus, and perseveration (doing the same thing over and over again), especially when it comes to working 7 days a week 12 hour days. And then, there's me. The more I learn about autism, the more I certainly can see signs in myself.

The best, most proven hope of helping children with autism to lead fulfilling and productive lives I know of, is early intervention. Also, many experience reduced symptoms in their children with autism when gluten and casein are removed or reduced from their diets. Other dietary strategies are being successfully implemented such as a modified Atkins type diet or even sugar and milk free diets. Even if it isn't perfect, it's a step in the right direction. Others are having luck by adding vitamins, minerals and glyconutrients back into their systems. Glyconutrients are the sixteen essential sugars missing from our diets due to the poor cultivation processes with our natural fruits and vegetables.

Our Sherwood Park, Alberta based firm, Autism Today is Western Canada's leading provider of autism conferences. Parents, teachers and professionals can go to: www.keystotreasures.com to learn about our upcoming "Keys To The Treasure Chest" conferences and workshops. Upcoming speakers include: Dr. Lori Ernsperger and Nick Martin, March 2005, Stephen Shore, June 2005, Dr. Steven Gutstein, October 2005, and Dr. Temple Grandin, Dec 2005. Autism Today also hosts online education and Tele-classes as well as a broad selection of books, videos and other learning material.

To wrap up, more studies need to be in place to prove the validity of certain hopeful interventions. Parents need to know what options are available to them instead of hopping on the first methodology train that comes along. Through autismtoday.com we are implementing two such programs. The first is an unbiased study for glyconutrients in a predetermined group of children with autism. The second part of the effort involves devoting a portion of our site, which will be geared to offering a way for parents to sample some different methodologies for their children before deciding on a particular approach of treatment for their child.

Karen Simmons, known to many as "The Autism Lady" is the mother of six, one of which as autism, author of "Little Rainman", "The Autism Experience", "Artism", "Surrounded By Miracle's and "Peace of Mind for Autism" (CD). She has been featured in local media as well as Woman's World Magazine, CBC Radio, The Donna Seebo Show and The Vicki Gabreau Show. Also she is the CEO and founder of Autism Today Online Magazine at http://www.autismtoday.com, which is host to the top autism experts in the field today.

Fasting & Enemas...For A Clean Body Detox

A hundred years ago, life was very different here on earth. The air was cleaner and the earth was rich in nutrients. Then, in our need to feed our ever-increasing population, we gradually changed the quality of the air we breathe and our once nutrient rich soil is now sorely lacking. We now live in world of chemicals and pollutants in our air, water and food.

Our bodies, amazing as they are, were not designed to handle this kind of constant onslaught. Is there anything we can do about it? You Bet! You may feel that you can't change the world, but you can minimize the effects all this has on your body.

Fasting is one of the quickest ways to detox your body and it can be done safely. A three-day fast can do wonders for your body. If you are pregnant or have some chronic health problems then fast only under the supervision of a health care professional.

Our bodies store toxins but wants to rid it self of them. When you do a fast it releases toxins from the tissues and they go into the blood stream. We then can experience things like headaches, fatigue and body aches, smelly stool, etc. Although this may seem unpleasant to experience, the results you get from doing the fast has its reward of a cleaner more alert you.

Have you noticed that when you are ill you don't feel like eating anything? That's the body's way of handling whatever is going on. It naturally fasts. Why? Because when you give the digestive system a break, the body can get rid of the toxins and concentrate on immune function, cell growth and cleaning out your colon.

There is a right and a wrong way to fast. Don't do just a water fast. There seems to be a misconception that you only drink water to fast. Not so. As well as 8 to 10 glasses of water you should drink diluted pure juices except for orange or tomato juice. Fresh lemon squeezed into water is great for helping detox the liver. Herbal teas a couple of times a day can be very soothing and satisfying.

As well as doing a fast, it would be very helpful in speeding up the healing and cleansing process by doing enemas. Getting rid of old or impacted feces will greatly aid in your health and well being. A coffee enema works great. Before you put the coffee grounds in the pot, open up a capsule of slippery elm bark and aloe vera and add it to the grounds. Make sure you use purified water, not tap water. Then follow with a lemon cleanse.

Between fasting and colon cleansing, you can detox and cleanse your body and feel great.

I hope this helps.

(This is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. If you need medical attention please see your doctor.)

About the author

Philip G Jones http://www.cleanbodydetox.com

Phil Jones is an author/researcher who has dedicated himself to helping people find the resources, books, news and information on health and wellness. Detox books, info, news, resources.

Getting Your Target

What is health? Everyone wants this thing called health, and yet most people have never thought about what their "target of health" actually looks like. If you and your family were healthy, what would it be like? It is like this: Imagine you are shooting a bow and arrow at a definite target and you have no idea what the target is. What do you think the chances are that you will hit the target? Not very good. Knowing what the target is dramatically increases the chances of you hitting the target. Everyone usually has some definition of health but that is kind of like saying the target is round. A definition doesn't help much.

What would you feel like, what would your kids do, and what would life look like? Get a clear target of what you being healthy would actually be like. Instead of just shooting for some ambiguous non-defined target, figure out your target. How much energy will you have, what will happen to your symptoms and disease, and how else will you be free? Simply knowing your target dramatically increases the odds of you hitting it.

So what is "true" health? Let me begin to show you by pointing out what is not health.

When you wake up in the morning, do you spring out of bed, full of energy and vitality? Or do you hit the snooze bar two, three, or even nine times before you get out of bed? This, my friend, is a symptom. It is something that you think is part of life, part of working hard, part of whatever, and you accept it as the way it is, when it is nothing more than a lack of health. Because if you were healthy, you would wake up in the morning and get out of bed easily, with abundant energy.

Are you in a good mood all the time? Happy and fulfilled? Your moods are in direct relationship to your health, and when you are not as healthy as you could be, you are not as happy or happy as often as you could be, because of your lack of health. Happiness is just a certain chemical state in your body. Emotions are literally just different chemical reactions in the body. Different chemicals present in different amounts, and this is what produces different moods and emotions. That is why the medical profession gives drugs to try to change peoples' chemistry when they are depressed. If you can change the chemistry correctly, the moods and emotions of that person will change. If you are not abundantly happy and happy most of the time, that is a symptom.

As you go through the day, do you have high levels of energy to do whatever you want to do? Do you have energy levels to carry you right through the day? Or do you get sluggish and tired during parts of the day, especially after lunch? This is a symptom.

Do you experience stress? This is a symptom as well. Why is it that one air traffic controller goes home stressed out of his mind, and another air traffic controller sitting right next to him goes home perfectly fine? What is the difference? It is not the job. They both have the same job. The difference is how the individual people respond to the different situations. The healthier you are, the less stress you experience, no matter what is happening in the environment.

There are many more things, just like this, that many people accept as something they "have to" have, something they just must deal with because of circumstances. And this is simply not true. The full potential of health, to me, is that of a four- year-old child.

When is the last time someone had to fight you to get you to go to bed at night? When is the last time someone had to bargain with you to get you to take a nap? When is the last time you ran to the car, just because you could? Or even better, had a contest to see who could run "over there" the quickest, and then when you got there, had a contest to run back to exactly where you started? Or just ran anywhere, simply because you could and because you were in love with life, and wanted to do as much as possible? You don't see kids getting up in the morning, rubbing their eyes, scratching their butts, staggering around with their cup of juice, reading their Fisher-Price books before they finally wake up. When kids get up, they are up, ready to take on the day. This is starting, and I mean only starting, to point to what having health really and fully means.

You can begin to start forming what your target of health actually looks like. In one of the later lessons I am going to help you form your target of health. But first, we need to help you discover the false beliefs you have happily accepted about health that are just not true. Because it is what you know that just ain't so that prevents you from achieving true health.

What is the true and full meaning of health? This and this article are Part of a Free e-Course on Dieting and Eating Healthy. Go to http://www.bazuji.com/ecourse to sign up for the free e-course. Do you want to be Sexy, Slim, Slender and Healthy for Life. Dr. Jamie wants to help give you this with his "non-diet." He is also giving you dozens of valuable free gifts to "ethically bribe" you into helping him make his new book, "The Ultimate Non-Diet" a #1 best seller. For details go to: http://www.TheUltimateNonDiet.com/free

5 Secrets of Reading Food Labels Revealed

Whether you're concerned about cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or simply losing weight, you want to eat a healthy diet and focus on foods that are high in vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, and balanced in fats, carbs, proteins.

There is only one way to incorporate healthy foods into our diet and that is to make the decision to do it! Practical information about the nutrition and safety of the foods we consume is absolutely vital in making this decision.

One way to learn more about what we eat, is to snoop around the supermarket. Check-out package labels to see what manufactures are adding (or removing) from the foods we eat. Read the information on the package and start making comparisons to determine which foods are the best for YOU. Know about nutritional labeling and the sometimes sneaky ways that manufacturers have of hiding what is in the food. Know and understand ingredient declarations, how they are used, and what a few of the "technical" terms mean. Are the unfamiliar ingredients good or bad for your health?

Since 1994 food manufacturers have been required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to include food labels (or Nutrition Facts labels) on product packaging so that consumers have accurate nutritional information about the food they purchase. But food labels are more than just a federal requirement ? once you understand the information they provide, you can use food labels as a guide to planning healthier meals and snacks.

Food labels are required on almost all foods, except those that don't provide many nutrients such as coffee, alcohol and spices. Although some restaurants provide information about the food they serve, they aren't required to have labels. The FDA recommends that sellers provide nutritional information on produce, meat, poultry and seafood, but it's strictly voluntary.

What Is a Serving?

At the top of a food label under Nutrition Facts, you'll see the serving size and the number of servings in the package. The rest of the nutrition information in the label is based on one serving.

Calories, Calories From Fat and Percent Daily Values

This part of a food label provides the calories per serving and the calories that come from fat. If you need to know the total number of calories you eat every day or the number of calories that come from fat, this section provides that information. Remember that this part of the label doesn't tell you whether you are eating saturated or unsaturated fat.

On the right side of a food label, you'll see a column that lists percentages. These percentages refer to the percent daily values (%DV). Percent daily values tell you how much of something, whether it's fat, sugar or vitamin A, one serving will give you compared to how much you need for the entire day. It will help you gauge the percentage of a nutrient requirement met by one serving of the product. One way to use this section of the label is when you comparison shop. For example, if you're concerned with sodium, you can look at two foods and choose the food with the lower % DV. Are you trying to eat a low-fat diet? Look for foods that have a lower percent daily value of fat.

The %DV is based on how much or how little of the key nutrients you should eat whether you eat 2,000 or 2,500 calories a day. So if you eat a 2,000-calorie diet, you should eat less than 65 grams of fat in all the foods you eat for the day. If you're eating 12 grams of fat in your one serving of macaroni and cheese (remember that's one cup), you can calculate how much fat you have left for the day. You can use the bottom part of the food label in white to compare what you are eating to the % DV you're allowed for that nutrient, whether it's fat, sodium or fiber. If you need more or less than 2,000 or 2,500 calories, you'll need to adjust this accordingly.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

Substitutes for Butter

Instead of Butter: Use top quality, cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil, from the first pressing, or flaxseed oil. The taste of virgin olive oil is appealing to millions of people around the world, so why not adopt it to your taste?

Flaxseed oil is prized for health reasons and not for its taste. You can always compensate for that by adding spices to the appropriate dish. Let's say you want to add a little flaxseed oil to mashed potatoes, instead of butter. You could add basil, oregano, rosemary, curry, garlic, or any other spice that agrees with your palate.

You can use a little virgin olive oil on mashed potatoes with basil and roasted garlic, but it's up to the individual's own taste. At home, we use a little olive oil on toast, instead of butter. Again, you could spice it, but try to avoid salting.

Depending on whose study you read, flaxseed oil contains Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 Oils.

Olive oil has some Omega-6 value, but it tastes great.

If you want to learn a lot more about beneficial oils, visit:

http://www.math.ucsd.edu/~ebender/Health%20&%20Nutrition/Nutrition/oil_good.html

To name a few of the many conditions improved by Omega-3 Oils: High Cholesterol Levels, Prevention of Strokes and Heart Attacks, Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Multiple Sclerosis, Allergies, Angina, High Blood Pressure, Arthritis, and Asthma.

To read a little more about the link between cancer prevention and Omega-3 fatty acids, please visit:

http://www.seapet.com/EFA_cancer.htm#AICR

It goes without saying any further, that omega-3 fatty acids should be boosted in most of our diets.

You will notice, I did not mention, margarine as a dietary recommendation. Trans-fats are formed as a result of chemical hydrogenation. Depending upon the brand you buy, margarine may contain up to 45 percent trans-fats.

"The problem with trans fatty acids is that your body doesn't know what to do with them," said Brian Olshansky, M.D., University of Iowa Health Care professor of internal medicine.

Trans fatty acids (trans-fats) are linked to diabetes, high cholesterol, sudden cardiac death, obesity, and heart disease.

Expect to see a warning on the labels of food containing trans-fats in the near future. New labeling for foods is expected soon, and total trans-fats contained within a product serving, will be listed. Believe it or not, at least one trans-fat, CLA (conjugated linolenic acid), is considered beneficial, but that is another story.

Suffice to say, it would be wise to avoid margarine until all the research is in. At that point, the composition of margarine will probably change for the better.

Paul Jerard, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher.

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

An Apple a Day, Does Keep the Doctor Away

Increasing the fiber in your diet has been shown to: reduce your cholesterol, reduce your hunger, lower your fat absorption, reduce surges in insulin levels, help with weight loss, lower the risk of colon cancer, and lower your risk of heart disease. WOW! Sounds like a miracle cure - where can I get this stuff? The answer: At your grocery store.

Old Ben Franklin, citing in Poor Richard's Almanac 250 years ago stated "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Well he was right. Not only because the apple contains vitamins and minerals, but also because it is a major source of fiber. Maybe three apples a day keeps three doctors away!

What is fiber? Well, it is basically indigestible complex carbo-hydrates that come from plant foods. What your Grandma called "roughage" is called fiber by scientists. When you look at some food labels, fiber is often listed under carbohydrates - but it is not a single food or substance and by itself has no calories because your body cannot absorb it.

There are actually two types of fiber and they have different health benefits. The two types are "water soluble" and "water insoluble". Soluble fibers include the skins of fruits such as apples, oranges (not the orange peel, but the white material after you peel it), pears, peaches and grapes; the skins of vegetables, seeds; oat bran, dried beans, oatmeal, barley, rye, and prunes. Insoluble fibers include the meat of fruits and vegetables, dried beans, wheat bran, seeds, popcorn, brown rice, and whole grain products such as breads, cereals, and pasta.

Bran of course does bulk up the diet and results in larger, softer stools. But it actually does more than prevent constipation - there are clear data showing that fiber also reduces the risk of colon cancers. The "stickiest" kinds of fiber are the gums and pectins (soluble fiber) and they help keep cholesterol under control by removing bile acids that digest fat. Bile acids, which promote better digestion, unfortunately also contribute much to the "reabsorption" from the bowel wall of our bodies own "home-made" cholesterol. Every gram of fiber intake per day reduces your total blood cholesterol by approximately one point. The same class of fibers may help regulate blood sugar as well. This latter feat is accomplished by coating the bowel's lining and delaying stomach emptying. As a result, fiber can slow sugar absorption after a meal and may reduce the amount of insulin needed to keep blood sugar at the right levels. Reducing the over-production of insulin is a major factor in reducing obesity.

Insulin "resistance" (abnormally high insulin levels) is common in very obese patients and may be a factor in "obesity begets obesity". Fiber is also a weight watchers dream since fibers called cellulose and hemicelluloses take up space in the stomach, making us feel full; thus lowering total caloric intake at meal time. Popular agents such as Metamucil are actually an important part of many weight reduction diets as they slow down absorption of sugars taken in as part of most meals - promoting further weight loss.

The average American gets only 14 grams of fiber per day in their diet. Most scientists agree that the optimal amount is closer to 35 grams per day. Increasing the consumption of "complex" carbo-hydrates is the best way to increase fiber intake. Fiber supplements are also available at the grocery. However, be aware that a large increase in your fiber intake over a short period of time may result in bloating, diarrhea, gas and general discomfort. It is important then to increase the fiber amount in your diet gradually over a period of time (up to three weeks) to allow your "gut" to acclimated and avoid abdominal side-effects.

Disclaimer: If you are under 18, pregnant, nursing or have health problems, consult your physician before starting any weight loss plan. The information here is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your physician before beginning any course of treatment.

Dr. John Rumberger is the Author of The WAY Diet, The complete lifestyle plan to live longer, reduce stress, and lose weight the healthy way. To purchase The Way Diet simply go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?path=ASIN/0974993387
&link_code=as2&camp=1789&tag=icobweb-20&creative=9325 or go to Empty Canoe Publishing http://www.emptycanoe.com and order your copy of The Way.