Wednesday 31 July 2013

Smoking is bad for health




Smoking effect

Smoking is a major issue because it affects people you in so many different ways. It is not good for your heath, it makes you have a bad appearance, and it has a bad influence on others. When I think of smoking I think of all the different ways that people each day are hurt by smoking. Sometimes, people don’t realize how bad cigarettes are, or how much it hurts your body. It also can hurt the ones around you too. After reading this paper, you should think before you light another cigarette.
The first reason why smoking is bad for you is because of all the health reasons. When smoking the risk of developing cancer is higher than ever. Out of all the people who die of lung cancer, 90% of men and 80% do so because they smoked. The tar and smoke in the lungs causes lung cancer. Furthermore, the smoke caught in your throat and mouth could lead to a cancer. There are about eleven cancers associated with smoking. After you smoke, chance of suffering from a heart attack can increase. The smoke from the cigarette affects the way that you breathe. If you are not breathing, then you would die.  People who smoke are about two to four times more likely to develop heart disease. Second hand smoke can affect you in the same ways as first hand smoking can. Your dental hygiene is affected as well. Leukoplakia is a disease that you get from smoking. It is basically white patches that you get all over your mouth. Also, your breath tends to smell after you smoke. Sometimes, people’s teeth can become different after they smoke.  People would be reckless to smoke and ruin their well-being.

The next reason why you should not smoke is because it affects your appearance. Yellow teeth are a result of smoking. After every time you smoke, your teeth become yellow because of the tar. Eventually, they become yellowish brown and are dirty. It makes it seem like you haven’t brushed your teeth in a few years! In my opinion, this is the biggest reason why I think people should never smoke. Also, those who smoke can have a deeper voice if they smoke. The vocal cords become damaged and the voice becomes a lot deeper than usual. Your voice could also become scratchy and raspy. It may seem like speaker needs to cough because of the raspy voice. If a woman is the smoker, her voice may sound more like a man’s voice. If you were a woman, would you like to have a manly voice? I know I wouldn’t. The last example of why smoking gives you a bad appearance is that you can get wrinkles around your mouth, and it ages your skin. Putting your lips around the cigarette can cause wrinkles. Wrinkles age your skin and make you look so much older than you really are. Wrinkles around your mouth are extremely hard to get away. But, smoking very often can cause deeper wrinkles rather than not smoking at all. Creases around the upper lip become worse after every smoke. I don’t think that many people realize that wrinkles are an effect of smoking cigarettes.  They make your skin look very poor and I don’t think that people would want any more wrinkles than they all ready have.  Obviously, you wouldn’t want to ruin your appearance by doing something as dangerous as smoking.

    
Lastly, smoking can affect you because it can have a bad influence on others. The first reason why it is a bad influence is because kids see you and think it makes you popular. Some kids say that it is “cool” to smoke and every “cool” kid does it.  I don’t agree with this statement and believe that “cool” kids don’t have to smoke. To me, smoking makes you look unintelligent and foolish. Also, some cigarette ads enforce this same “cool” idea. The ads usually have someone looking popular or having a good time. It makes people who want to try smoking think it is a good idea and that it is okay to smoke. Another example of why smoking can affect you is because of peer pressure. This is probably the thing that comes to most people’s minds when they hear the words kids and smoking. People smoke around their friends and they get influenced. Their friends say all good things about smoking. But, they don’t discuss all the bad things that can happen.  Your friends say that it will make them relaxed. Peer pressure can be avoided. The last and final example of why smoking can be bad is that if kids see their parents doing it, they think it is okay to smoke too. Parents usually set the example of what is good and what is not. So, if their children see them smoking, then they may think that it is okay. If your parents do not smoke and they tell you how bad it is, then kids may not want to smoke. The influence of smoking on people is bigger than you think it is.


Monday 29 July 2013

Food for healthy skin



Foods for healthy skin
Research on the best foods for healthy skin is limited. Still, antioxidant-rich foods seem to have a protective effect for the skin.
Consider these skin-friendly foods:
  • Carrots, apricots, and other yellow and orange fruits and vegetables
  • Spinach and other green leafy vegetables
  • Tomatoes
  • Blueberries
  • Beans, peas and lentils
  • Salmon, mackerel and other fatty fish
  • Nuts
On the flip side, some foods seem to be associated with skin damage. For example, some research suggests that a diet high in processed or refined carbohydrates and unhealthy fats promotes skin aging.
Remember, many of the best foods for healthy skin also promote good health overall. Rather than focusing on specific foods for healthy skin, concentrate on a healthy diet in general. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Include nuts, seeds and beans in your favorite meals. Opt for whole-grain breads and pasta. Limit sweets. Strive for variety as you're making healthy choices.

omega six faty acid for health and food



Omega-6 fatty acids
Omega-6 fatty acids are a type of unsaturated fat found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds. When eaten in moderation and in place of the saturated fats found in meats and dairy products, omega-6 fatty acids can actually be good for your heart and brain.
There had been some controversy regarding omega-6 fatty acids. Some researchers had believed that omega-6 fatty acids metabolize in your body to become a type of fatty acid that can cause the lining of your arteries to become inflamed and damaged. That damage causes narrowing in your arteries, which can lead to heart disease.
However, the American Heart Association (AHA) has said that this view is incorrect. The AHA recommends that people eat between 5 and 10 percent of their daily calories from omega-6 fatty acids. Most people already eat this amount of omega-6 fatty acids. If you're concerned about the amount of omega-6 fatty acids you're eating, talk to your doctor about replacing some of the saturated fats in your diet with healthier options.



Center for Young Women's Health

Center for Young Women's Health

Sunday 28 July 2013

Health benefits of modrate allchol use



Alcohol use: If you drink, keep it moderate
Alcohol use is a slippery slope. Moderate drinking can offer some health benefits. But it's easy to drink too heavily, leading to serious health consequences.

It sounds like a mixed message: Drinking alcohol may offer some health benefits, especially for your heart. On the other hand, alcohol may increase your risk of health problems and damage your heart.
So which is it? When it comes to drinking alcohol, the key is doing so only in moderation. Certainly, you don't have to drink any alcohol, and if you currently don't drink, don't start drinking for the possible health benefits. In some cases, it's safest to avoid alcohol entirely — the possible benefits don't outweigh the risks.
Here's a closer look at the connection between alcohol and your health.

Health benefits of moderate alcohol use

Moderate alcohol consumption may provide some health benefits. It may:
  • Reduce your risk of developing heart disease
  • Reduce your risk of dying of a heart attack
  • Possibly reduce your risk of strokes, particularly ischemic strokes
  • Lower your risk of gallstones
  • Possibly reduce your risk of diabetes
Even so, the evidence about the possible health benefits of alcohol isn't certain, and alcohol may not benefit everyone who drinks.
Moderate alcohol use may be of most benefit only if you're an older adult or if you have existing risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol. If you're a middle-aged or younger adult, some evidence shows that even moderate alcohol use may cause more harm than good. In fact, if you're a woman and drink alcohol, talk to your doctor about taking supplemental folate to help reduce the risk of breast cancer associated with alcohol use. You can take other steps to benefit your cardiovascular health besides drinking — eating a healthy diet and exercising, for example.
Guidelines for moderate alcohol use
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that if you choose to drink alcohol you do so only in moderation — up to one drink a day for women or two drinks a day for men.
  • Beer: 12 fluid ounces (355 milliliters)
  • Wine: 5 fluid ounces (148 milliliters)
  • Distilled spirits (80 proof): 1.5 fluid ounces (44 milliliters)
When to avoid alcohol use
Keep in mind that moderate use of alcohol doesn't mean that using alcohol is risk-free. For example, if you binge drink — such as having four or five drinks in the space of a few hours — you face serious health problems. Likewise if you drink and drive.
Here are other situations in which the risks of alcohol use may outweigh possible health benefits:
  • You're pregnant or trying to become pregnant
  • You take medications that can interact with alcohol
  • You've had a previous hemorrhagic stroke
  • You've been diagnosed with alcoholism or alcohol abuse
  • You have liver or pancreatic disease
  • You have heart failure or you've been told you have a weak heart or dilated cardiomyopathy
  • You're planning to drive a vehicle or operate machinery
Some situations are less clear-cut. Use alcohol only with great care and after consulting your doctor if:
  • You have a family history of alcoholism
  • You take prescription medications for a health problem
  • You use over-the-counter pain relievers or fever reducers
  • You have a family history of breast cancer
  • You have precancerous changes in your esophagus, larynx, pharynx or mouth
Consequences of heavy alcohol use
Although moderate alcohol use may offer some health benefits, heavy drinking — including binge drinking — has no health benefits. Excessive drinking can cause potentially serious health problems, including:
  • Certain cancers, including breast cancer and cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus and liver
  • Pancreatitis
  • Sudden death if you already have cardiovascular disease
  • Heart muscle damage (alcoholic cardiomyopathy) leading to heart failure
  • Stroke
  • High blood pressure
  • Cirrhosis of the liver
  • Suicide
  • Accidental serious injury or death
  • Fetal alcohol syndrome and other health problems in an unborn child
Drink alcohol only in moderation — or not at all
The latest dietary guidelines make it clear that no one should begin drinking or drink more frequently on the basis of potential health benefits. So don't feel pressured to drink alcohol. But if you do drink alcohol and you're healthy, there's probably no need to stop as long as you drink responsibly and in moderation.