Four Tips To Help You Keep Your Nails Healthy

Nails are tough material that covers the ends of our fingers and toes. Nails are found not only on humans, but also on animals, reptiles and birds. Fingernails and toe nails are made of tough protein called keratin. Human nails grow about 3mm a month.
In reality the nail plate is the dead cuticle that gets pushed outwards as the new cuticle grows. And to think we spend so much time and money on something dead!

The reason we spend so much time and money on nails is because clean and shiny nails are associated good grooming. Men tend to ignore the health of the nails as compared to women. Women think that getting manicure and pedicures takes care of nails. This assumption is wrong. Here are a few tips to keep your nails healthy.

1. Basic Cleanliness and Hygiene: Most health disorders in general and problems with nails arise due to bad hygiene. The dirt that collects under the them is a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. People that work in environments where their hands are constantly exposed to dirt, should keep their nails short and wash their hands regularly. A nail file can help get rid of any dirt lodged under the nails. Nail fungus is also a threat if you wear the same pair of shoes every day. The darkness and moisture from your sweat is the ideal breeding ground for fungi. The fungi can leave your nail looking thickened and discolored. Make sure your shoes and socks are not sweaty and wet and alternate your shoes every day.

2. Hydration: Women apply nail polish to get better looking fingers and toes. Applying polish constantly can strip it of its moisture and natural shine causing the nails to appear dull and dry. Try to keep your nails bare as often as possible. If you need to polish them, use only acetone-free nail polish. Applying natural oils or petroleum jelly to your nails will help keep them hydrated and shiny. Massage in the oil before going to bed. Also it is very important to drink plenty of water.

3. Protection: The nails are of a tough protein called keratin. This does not mean that they are strong and can be used as tools. Most of us use your nails to open lids, stapler pins, scratch and for many other tasks. Avoid doing this as far as possible. The right footwear plays an important role to protect your toenails and prevent nail infections. Wearing gloves to do housework and refraining from biting your nails will also help keep them healthy.

4. Nutrition: Just like you need to eat right to for good hair and skin, you also need to eat right for healthy nails. Luckily most foods needed for good nail nutrition are things that we eat on a daily basis. These include apples, cucumbers, eggs, garlic, grapes, nuts, onions, soy, salmon and whole grains.BX7QU4STVWTY

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Teaching Children With Autism to Read

Teaching your child the skills to read and being patient with the development can be quite painful and also a daunting task. The parents have to put more efforts multiple times the normal case in case the child is suffering from autism.
These children are weak and take time to grasp the texts and understand them. They are slow to read and absorb the meaning of alphabets and combine them as words and this where the parents have a role to play.

Teaching Children with Autism to Read: Understanding Your Child's Unique Needs

It is very unfortunate for few children to suffer from autism. They face with touch challenges since they are not able to express their feelings of thoughts. Their way of communication and their social interaction lags behind and this forms the biggest hurdle in their life. However, there are few special characteristics they are gifted with that serves as their strength. You must be very patient and interactive when you are teaching such children.

a) The child might be frustrated and highly discourages and often feel inferior in the society. They find it difficult to perceive things in and around the world.
b) They also lack the common social skills which is the biggest barrier.
c) They fear in facing people and often feel disconnected from the entire world and this is why they feel reluctant to appear in public.
d) They get irritated easily and it is difficult for you to fix any schedule for him. They follow their own needs and have their own specific wants.
e) Few children are also not comfortable with physical contact. They need the extra support and constant push for their activities.

To help them to learn and be able to comply with the society, you need a lot of patience and understanding.

Teaching Children with Autism to Read: The Importance of Reading Comprehension, Learning Words and More Tips!

It is quite evident that the reading is one of the weakest fields for the children suffering from Autism. They are not able to perceive and never feel comfortable with the letters. It is tough for them to understand and assimilate things properly. Even if they read the letters with difficulty, they find it very difficult to join the letters as words and understand the information they are reading. According to experts, the best way to interact with the children is to use stimulating and cheerful activities. Few songs and interactive books with touch and feel with mix of music is much more interesting for them.

You must learn to demonstrate the words and explain the real meaning though pictorial images since this is the way they understand better. If you know how to express the gestures and use the body to effectively pronounce the words or digest the meaning, it is more useful for the child.

These learning techniques are not generic for all the children. They may differ with others and you should be patient to find the right approach. It is quite unlikely that you can teach them with conventional teaching style. Few children find pictorial images to be more interactive, while others find pronunciation to be more helpful. The best way is to try different approaches and find the right method and apply the technique in teaching. Try to understand what the child expects and what is amusing for him. If you are expecting something realistic, you are going wrong.

They might also forget things and find it difficult to recollect past incidences or learning. So, you must put in habit of repetition and help them with learning so that they develop the art of remembering and applying thoughts. If you are able to act the words, it might be more helpful and useful for the child. Reading the words and trying to impersonate or describing them will help them a lot. Go slowly and try to figure out if they understand the words. For these children, learning should be more of a fun activity rather than a mandatory exhaustive exercise.

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Bob Hair Style - A Timeless Hairstyle

As short hair styles go, the bob is probably the most prolific. It's also among the most versatile. Women can fashion a bob cut from straight hair, wavy hair, curly hair, thick hair, thin hair... you name it!

Interestingly, as the bob style has evolved over the past 90 years, the original 'Page boy' style never really went away. It has been adapted and modified, but every now and then a famous actress will give the classic bob hair style new life.

In recent years, celebrities like Eva Longoria, Jessica Alba, Anne Hathaway, and Katie Holmes have all sported stunning bobs. Public reaction to these style changes has been almost universally positive and appreciative.

Probably the most appealing aspect of the bob - at least from an aesthetic standpoint - is how it accentuates facial features. A bob style focuses the eyes on the center of the face. This works to great effect for most famous people, but can be a reason to avoid wearing a bob haircut if you wish to cover up any facial flaws (real or perceived).

If you've never tried a bob cut before, it's usually best to start off conservatively. Get a medium-length inverted bob first. If you like the look and nothing really jumps out at you in the mirror, you should be good to take a deeper plunge and get a shorter bob style on the next visit to your favorite salon.

Just remember - there's not much you can do to make your hair grow out faster! Think with your head and don't let your excitement get the better of you.

As always, your best bet is to enlist the advice of a trusted hair stylist before you go with any version of the bob hair style. Ask him/her to be bluntly honest. Better to be told what you don't want to hear than to be saddled with a very short haircut like a bob and no recourse but to wait for it to grow out.

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Treating Acne - A Natural Approach

One of the most common health problems affecting teenagers is acne. Acne is a skin lesion which is prevalent around the ages of puberty (8-12 in females, and 10-14 in males). Almost every one at one point or the other must have had contact with acne.


There are different kind of solutions for treating acne in the market. They could be in the form of creams, lotions, gels, or even pills. Most of them are chemicals which are intended to alter the normal physiology of our skin. Have you ever considered using natural methods to treat your acne instead of just dumping chemicals in your body?

No one really likes to have these annoying bumps on their face. But since acne or pimples come at a particular period of one's life, there is really nothing we can do about its occurrence. We can however control its appearance and reduce the symptoms. A much better way to do this is to put an end to it naturally without torturing your skin with synthetic products. Some of the methods you can use to tackle acne are discussed below.

Diet and Exercise
Apart from doing anything external to the face, there is a way our diet affects our skin, especially in severe cases of acne (cystic acne). In situations such as this, one would need to follow a regulated diet in order to prevent further eruptions. Generally, it is best to avoid oily foods, especially fried foods. Also avoid ingestion of tobacco, caffeine, and carbonated drinks. What do you take instead? Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. As some people say, "one apple a day keeps the doctor away." Drink plenty of water, particularly with honey and lemon.

Apart from diet, exercise is also important in controlling acne. Exercise has been found to help your skin breathe. It also aids in removing oil, dirt and toxins away from your skin. This therefore provides a natural way of cleansing and purifying the skin. Another benefit of exercise is that it reduces stress, a major cause of acne eruptions.

Skin Care
Apart from diet and exercise, specific routines on how to work on your skin in order to treat and prevent acne is as follows:

1. Touch not: Avoid touching your face too many times. This is because repeated touching and picking of pimples would only lead to more scarring, which you would not want. If you would not touch, then wash your face as many times as possible. Try and limit the use of synthetic agents, such as cosmetics (make up).

2. Honey: Research as shown the usefulness of honey in the management of many medical conditions, acne inclusive. Honey serves as an emollient and also as a natural moisturizer. It also has antibacterial properties. Just apply it for a few minutes to your face, then wash it away. This can be done just before a shower.

3. Increase the intake of essential vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E daily. You can also supplement your diet with zinc and chromium.

4. Apply Aloe-Vera paste to your face, especially directly on the pimples and the scars. This is one of the fastest and best ways to treat pimple scars naturally.

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Action Plan For Asthma

Asthma is a condition that has to be taken very seriously unless you want to be stuck at home. That is why an action plan is so important when you decide to do something or go somewhere. An action plan needs to be developed with the help of your doctor or asthma specialist.
It will allow your family to know what to do when you or your child has an asthma attack away from home. The plan is designed to help your family to know when there is a change in the severity of their asthma attacks and worsening symptoms they might be experiencing. When your family knows what they can do when you or your child has worse than normal symptoms, is priceless. This kind of information can actually save your life or the life of someone you love very much!

You can organize your asthma action in a number of ways. The first thing to do is let everyone that will be with you or your child know the information of your daily treatment, such as what kinds of medications you take, how much you should have and when you should be taking them. Have the list of asthma triggers so they can be avoided or minimized. Next you should know how to identify worsening symptoms. The plan also needs to have peak air flow numbers so you can tell how bad the breathing has gotten. The numbers should include personal best peak air flow, moderate air flow and severe air flow to allow for the best response to an asthma attack.

If they have an asthma attack that lasts longer than normal and their lips or finger nails begin to turn blue. You will need to get medical attention very quickly. Someone needs to take them to the hospital or call an ambulance, as these signs are life threatening. The people that care for your child such as babysitters, workers at their daycare, schools and camps should know and follow your action plan. These care givers should have had training on how to identify symptoms of asthma that could be life threatening. They should also be able to adjust medications in response to particular signs and symptoms.

The best way to keep you or your child's asthma under control is daily monitoring and giving the right medications at the right time. The written plan makes it easier to take charge of you or your child's asthma and to track symptoms. Recognize and treat asthma attacks quickly. Know the warning signs so you can stay one step ahead of the attack. There are other important records that need to be kept with the action plan, these include the numbers to your doctor, the number to the hospital, the medications and doses they receive and when, a list of their asthma triggers, patient's medical chart including any allergies to medications and who to contact in case of an emergency.

A copy of this plan should be passed out to your worksite, your child's day care; the school also including their coach or physical education teacher and kept on the child at all times to be safe. The goal of the asthma action plan is to reduce or prevent flare-ups and emergency room visits with day to day management and education to care givers. Each plan will be unique, as is each person's experience with asthma. Using an action plan that is created just for you may also help you to increase your activities without suffering from increased asthma symptoms. An action plan is an easy way to keep you in control of your asthma.

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