What is Sleeping Dept?

Sleep Dept can develop when a person does not get the amount of healthful sleep needed for its well-being. This may be caused by either voluntary sleep deprivation resulting from a person's lifestyle or by involuntary sleep deprivation on account of an illness. Because of the fast moving time at present, people seems to forget the importance of sleep on their daily routine. However, this negligence can cause damaging result in their possessions, careers, family and their very own health. This deficit could contribute to immune suppression, creating susceptibility to some infections. Sleep deprivation has been linked into various illnesses as well, such as heart disease, diabetes and extreme obesity. Medical researchers estimate that earth's population is now getting, on average, an hour less sleep per night than what is required.
Insomnia, as some would determine as the chronic inability to sleep. However, a commission created by the U.S. Congress recognized 17 distinct sleep disorders. Just as fever warns for some sort of infection, insomnia might also be a symptom of much serious ailments.
Dangers of the occasional sleep deprivation can be disastrous as the occupational danger that lies when you're with a sleepy co-worker. According to an Australian researcher Ann Williamson: “After 17 to 19 hours without sleep, (participants') performance on some tests was equivalent or worse than that at (a blood-alcohol concentration of) 0.05%.”

There have been several factors that may contribute to sleep debt such as:
• Social Phenomenon often called 24/7. This is operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. According to USA Today, “(24/7) is a cultural earthquake that is changing the way we live”. It added, “A new wave of round-the-clock retailers and services is profiting by mocking the clock”. In present; pharmacies, bars, malls etc had been offering their services for 24 hours a day. In this account, workers of the following businesses are obliged to work at their given shifts. Workers that are on the grave yard shift might be more prone on having a sleeping disorder. Many workers agree on working on this (grave yard) shift since the payment is higher than usual.
• Television. As for the moment, television isn't just giving us entertainment in the morning till midnight; moreover, they are online the whole day and night.
• Internet. Surfing the net is the most accessible thing that you can do whenever you have insomnia. You usually got lost of the time when you're in front of the computer's monitor, right?
• Emotional disorders. These may involve anxiety heightened by stress and the pace of life. Being bothered by our problems always, prevents us from getting a goodnight zzzz….
• Physical disease. As what I had mention earlier; diabetes, obesity and heart disease can cause a sleeping dept.
At some point, doctors find it hard to convince their patients to take sleep dept seriously. As one doctor has complained, having a chronic fatigue is now considered as a status symbol. Some victims of sleep deprivation may not know that they suffer from sleep disorder since this worsens gradually. Some might give out comments such as “I'm just getting old” or “I can't cope with life, so I tend to shut down” or “I'm tired all the time because I can never get the long rest I need”.
Fighting for this illness requires a lot of effort. However by understanding how a healthful sleep cycle works and learning to identify the signs of sleep can provide the motivation to change. And by recognizing the symptoms of a serious sleep disorder can save countless of lives.
How will you know if you already have sleep deprivation? And, what are the risks of having it? The chronic insomnia that lasts more than a month is often related to more serious problem such as depression. Chronic insomnia is at times a symptom of a more serious illness. These are the kinds of sleep dept:
1. Sleep Apnea. Apnea means no breath. An episode of apnea may last from 10 seconds to 2 or 3 minutes. Usually, the victim thrashes around gasping for air and then falls asleep again, but apnea repeats hundred times per night. An apnea patient could also end in virtually the same condition as someone who stayed up all night, every night! There are three types of apnea or no breath:
• Central Apnea. This type of apnea occurs when the brain's respiratory control center doesn't give the command to breath regularly.
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This type of apnea characterizes when the upper airway at the back of the throat actually closes, blocking movement.
• Mixed Apnea. This is a type of apnea that is a combination of the two and is the most common diagnosis.
Usually, people with apnea tend to blank out while on the job or worst, at the wheel of their automobile. They are more prone to high blood pressure, an enlarged heart, and an increased risk of stroke or heart failure. According to study made by Dr. William Dement of Stanford University, estimates that 38,000 American die each year from the cardiovascular consequences of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea isn't just isolated from adults, it can also occur at any age. Though, there are several treatments that are available for this ailment, it is still best to consult to a medical sleep specialist. The use of a device to create a continuous positive air way pressure (a mask worn over the nose at night, with a pressure regulator) that have been under the prescription of the doctor delivers just the amount of air needed to prevent apnea. However, if this device doesn't seem to work, there are several surgical procedures that include the use of laser or a radio-frequency waves that remove excess tissue from the throat.
2. Narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a neurological condition that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and this require medical attention. Narcolepsy is as complicated as its victim can develop other problem as well.
• Cataplexy is a condition that causes victim's knees to become weak and tend to collapse in time that he is excited.
• Sleep Paralysis is an occasional hallucination just before going to sleep.
This ailment usually starts at the age of 10 to 30. Patients under this illness sometimes develop what is called automatic behavior, wherein they appear to behave normally but do not remember the passing of extended periods of time. The down point of this is that it often goes undiagnosed for years, while the victim is thought to be lazy, mentally slow or strange. Though, Narcolepsy is an incurable, its symptoms can be treated with medication and adjustments in life style with varying degrees of success.
3. Periodic limb movement disorder is the jerking and twitching of legs or at times the arms while sleeping. This disorder appears in combination with “restless leg syndrome”, these directly affect the limbs, resulting in chronic insomnia. Test has done with patients suffering from this case proved the episodes of periodic leg movements awakened them some 350 times each night.
4. Restless leg syndrome is when the sensation deep within the leg muscles and knees cause a powerful urge to move, thus preventing the sufferer from falling asleep. This is caused by lack of exercise, poor circulation, and caffeine intake or alcohol consumption.
5. Bruxism is a disorder characterized by grinding or clenching the teeth during sleep. This can cause abnormal wearing of the teeth and an extreme jaw discomfort that results into serious insomnia. Treatments may vary from oral surgery to the use of a mouth guard at night.
These may just be some of the ailments concerning your sleeping habits. If you feel like the sleeping disorder that you are experiencing seems to affect your daily life, then maybe it's time for you to seek medical help. I hope that by tackling these, all of us can see how sleep can affect our lives. So, we should give adequate value and attention to this. Have a good night and pleasant sleep!

What is Albinism?

Albinism is a genetic disorder in which one’s eyes, skin, or hair (in some cases one’s eyes alone) have little or no pigmentation. Questions such as; how widespread is albinism? How does it affect an individual’s daily life? What can help those with albinism to live with their conditions? Are what we are going tackle in this article.

Albinism isn’t just seen among dark-skinned people, it can also be found among all races, nations and people. It is estimated that the case of albinism is as vast as it affects 1 out of every 20,000 persons. The defective genes for albinism can be passed on for generations without any of its telltale signs being manifest. Some seems to features the word albinism to 17^th century Portuguese explorers. As they sailed along the West African coast, they sighted both black-skinned and white-skinned people. Assuming these represented two different races, they called the black Negroes and the white albinos (Portuguese for black and white in that order).

People nowadays don’t seem to care about the case of albinism. Though for most light-skinned people, mild exposure to the sun results in a tan since a pigment called melanin is produces to protect the skin. Albinism patients doesn’t have melanin to protect their skin, hair or eyes, so, without pigment an albino’s skin is easily sunburned or worst (if they don’t sufficiently protect their skin) they’ll develop skin cancer.

There are several types of albinism and these are some:

· Oculocutaneous albinism. The pigment melanin is missing from the skin, the hair, and the eyes. There are about variants of this type.

· Ocular albinism. Its effects are limited to the eyes. The skin and the hair usually appear normal.

· Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS). Those with HPS have some tendency to bruise or bleed easily.

Protecting your skin, hair and eyes against the sun is the most important thing that albinism patients must take into consideration. Wearing suitable clothing, using sunscreen lotion (a lotion with a sun protection factor of at least 15 is best, and it should be copiously applied 30 minutes before sun exposure and every two hours thereafter), wearing caps (albino’s iris is nearly translucent, which allows stray light to pass through it and cause irritation), a visor, UV-protective sunglasses and tinted contact lens.

Some thought that albinos have reddish eyes, but this is a misconception. Most of the albinos have irises that are tinted with dull gray, brown or blue. So, then, why do their eyes looks reddish? According to About Albinism: “Under certain lighting conditions, there is a reddish or violet hue reflected through the iris, which has very little pigments. And this reddish reflection in the eyes that sometimes appears in photographs taken with a flash.” Abnormalities of the eye are common among albinos. One of the conditions is the alteration of the nerves connecting the retina to the brain. The result may be that the eyes do not synchronize properly, causing reduced depth perception. And this condition is called strabismus, the treatment for this case include the use of eyeglasses or corrective surgery.

Nystagmus is an involuntary jittery movement of the eyes that can result from albinism. This may lead to impaired vision, though they do not correct the underlying condition. Though, some have learned to reduce the nystagmus while reading by placing a finger by the eye or by tilting their head.

For children with ocular albinism, going to school can be challenging. So, it is wise for parents to take the initiatives in consulting your child’s teacher or school authorities in advance telling them about your child’s condition.

Social discrimination can also be a challenge for albinism patients, especially in children. In some parts of West Africa, some children with albinism are jeered or mocked with racist expression. In some Yoruba-speaking areas, they are called “Afin,” which means “horrible”. Though adult is less commented by this than children, it can still affect their growth, confidence and self-worth as a person.

In present time, people are more aware of the needs and conditions of albinism. Science never stopped in developing treatments and assistance for albinism. Self-help groups offer a forum for exchanging experiences and improving understanding of the condition. For normal people, we should always think of a way to help these kinds of people. And one way of doing that is making an effort to make friends with them. We are all humans; we are fair in God’s eyes. So, we must show favor in this kind of people.

Home Remedies for Athletes Foot

Athlete's foot is the most common fungal infection of the skin. It's a fungal infection of the feet. It's also known as tinea pedis, or ringworm of the feet. The Trichophyton fungus is responsible for the redness, itching, cracking, and scaling of athlete's foot can also infect the scalp, where it causes hair loss and scaly patches; the body, where it causes round, red, scaly patches that itch; and the groin, where the so-called jock itch causes itching and thickening of the skin. It affects more men than women since men typically wear heavy, often airtight shoes, and fungus loves hot, dark, moist environments.

In most cases, the athlete's foot cause only bothersome redness, itching, flaking, ad scaling on the soles of the feet and between the toes. Though in severe cases, blisters form in the soles of the feet; fissures, or cracks, that weep fluid can as well open between the toes. These fissures are vulnerable to secondary infection. When the infection involves the toenails, it can cause the nails to become discolored and thick. Also, if left untreated, athlete's foot can infect other parts of the body.

Though some severe cases of athlete's foot require a doctor's care, most can effectively treat at home. The book "The Home Remedies Handbook" provide strategies that can help you soothe and heal athlete's foot and keep it from cropping up in the future.

• Avoid moisture. Fungus are often found in moist, dark environment/areas. So the first step includes keeping your feet as dry as possible.
• Dry between your toes too!
• Wash your feet twice a day with soap and water and dry them thoroughly.
• Try to go barefoot or wear open sandals whenever possible.
  
• There are available over-the-counter anti-fungal preparations that are very effective for most cases of athlete's foot.
  
• Mostly, people stop using the anti-fungal preparations as soon as the symptoms of athlete's foot infection go away. But the fungus may still be present. Persistence is important for a total rejection of fungus. Use the medication for three to six weeks to see improvement.
• The tannic acid found in tea is very soothing and helps kill the fungus. Soak your feet in quart of warm water containing six black tea bags.
• If the infection has caused redness and cracks between the toes, the fungal infection may be compounded by a bacterial infection. Soak your feet once a day for 20 minutes in two cap fulls of Betadine to one quart of warm water. And after the Betadine soak, dry your feet well, and apply anti-fungal medication.
• Don't use bleach. While the idea is to dry out the infection, avoid home remedies that involve strong chemicals and solvents, like bleach, alcohol, and floor cleaners.
  
• Ultra violet rays can help dry up the infection and kill active fungus on your skin. So tan your tootsies!
• If you have fungus on your feet, you have fungus on your shoes too. Treat your shoes with Lysol spray or an anti-fungal spray or powder every time you take off your shoes.
• On sunny days, take the laces out of your shoes, pull up their tongues, and set them in a sunny, well ventilated place. The heat and sunshine will help dry out the shoes, eliminate odor, and kill the fungus.
• Switch foot at least every other day. Wear one pair for a day, while you treat the other pair for a day, while you treat the other pair with sunlight and an anti-fungal spray or powder.
• When you have to wear shoes, opt for sandals or other opened-toed shoes, if possible.
• Socks made of natural fibers, like cotton and wool, help to absorb perspiration and keep feet dry.
• When you're in a public places likely to harbor athlete's foot fungus, like the locker room of your favorite gym, wear thongs to limit your exposure to fungus.
  

Home Remedies for Asthma

If you have asthma, you know the dreaded chocking sensation, the faintness, the anxiety. And when asthma attacks, it won't go away by itself. There are about five to ten percent of the population suffer from asthma. Asthma patients usually have trouble breathing properly since their lungs are supersensitive and easily provoked into constriction by a wide variety of outside factors, called triggers.

A scent of perfume, smoke-filled room, a friendly dog, a flowery garden, a strong wind or even a good laugh can set an asthma attack in motion. Triggers can be allergic or non-allergic, and reactions can be immediate or delayed. Whether asthma is severe, moderate or mild it is still possible to manage it. Doctors who specialize in treating asthma should see a doctor to be sure another cause of wheezing is not present and, if true atopic asthma is present, to develop a therapeutic program for managing the disorder.

In addition to working with your doctor, you can take measures to help control asthma. Tracking down the triggers and eliminate them from your life is the key. And here is how you can counter an asthma attack before it happens:

• Dust-proofing is a must. Since mites are the most common allergic asthma triggers.
• The spores of the fungi are the real problem, as millions of them float through the air to be inhaled in every breath, touching off an allergic reaction that can contribute to asthma.
• Avoid cutting grass or even being outside while grass is being mowed. Keep your windows closed as much as possible- pollen can get through screens, too- and use an air conditioner to cool your home instead. Room air purifiers are also available that can purify recirculated air, removing particles of all sorts that are suspended in the air and further cleansing the air by passing through a charcoal filter. After being outside in the midst of pollen, take off your clothes and wash them or at least run a vacuum over the articles of clothing. Wash yourself, too, and don’t forget your hair.
• The best thing to do is not to have a pet that can trigger your asthma. The dander, the dead, dry skin that flakes off, is the one that triggers asthma.
• Tobacco smoke can be irritant that trigger asthma as well as an allergen that touches off an allergic response leading to asthma.
• Rain tends to wash away roving allergen, pollutants and irritants. While each person responds to weather conditions and weather variations differently.
• Some foods like nuts, shellfish, milk, eggs, and strawberries, can result in an array of allergic responses, including asthma symptoms.
• A problem in the upper airways- like a respiratory infection- can cause trouble in the lower airways- the bronchial tubes and precipitate an asthma attack. For a person with asthma, having a good health can mean a dramatic lessening of symptoms.
• Research has shown that the more asthmatics exercise, the more exercise they can tolerate. Begin with short workouts and gradually increase them. At least at first, keep a bronchodilator with you. If you feel tightness in your chest and can’t work through it, use the device.
• Aspirin and certain products that contain aspirin can trigger asthma attacks in certain people.
• Breathing exercises provide a form of relaxation and can be of benefit to some patients during an asthma attack.
• If you are overweight, you and your doctor should work together to establish a diet plan that will reduce your calorie intake without depriving you of necessary nutrients.
• Asthma is an illness with both physical and emotional aspects. A positive attitude works wonders to enhance your other coping methods.
• Since stress and emotional upsets can trigger asthma attacks, it may be helpful to set aside time each day- preferably the same time- to practice some form of relaxation.

How to cope up with Arthritis?

Almost everybody with the age of 40 and above suffer from arthritis. Though arthritis has no cure, there are some remedies in easing discomfort caused by this. This was based in the book, "The Home Remedies Handbook".

Osteoarthritis is primarily marked by a breakdown and loss of joint cartilage. Cartilage is the tough tissue that separates the cushions the bones in a joint. As cartilage is worn away and the bones begin to rub against each other, the bones become aggravated. In osteoarthritis, this breakdown of cartilage is accompanied by minimal inflammation, hardening of the bone beneath the cartilage, and bone spurs around the joints.

On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis is an inevitable aspect of the aging process. The synovial membrane or lining of a joint becomes inflamed, so pain, swelling, heat, and redness occur.

In the case of gout, needle-shaped uric acid crystals collect in the joints, due to a fault in the body's ability to metabolized, or process, purine. These purines are naturally occurring chemical found in certain foods, such as liver, kidney, and anchovies. The disease primarily affects overweight, fairly inactive men over the age of 35.

Lupus, on the other hand, affects many more women than men. It is a condition in which the bodies own immune system attacks healthy cells. The symptoms are wide ranging, from joint pain to mouth sores to persistent fatigue.

There are some techniques to consider that will leave you more active and in control of your life. These are ways in easing stiffness and discomfort:

• Keep moving. Maintain movement in your joints as best as you can.
• Exercise, exercise, exercise. Exercise work best when inflammation has calmed down.
• Give your hands a water workout. Try doing your hand exercises in a sink full of warm water for added ease and comfort.
• Don't overdo it. See how you feel a few hours after you exercise and then again after 24 hours. If your pain has increased considerably during that period of time, then it's time to cut back on the frequency and amount of exercise that you're doing.
• Play in a pool. If you fine even simple movements difficult, heated pool or whirlpool may be the perfect environment for exercise.
• Don't overuse over-the-counter creams. Frequent use of pain-relieving rubs may activate enzymes that can break down the cartilage in the joints.
• Put on the scarf. Not around your neck, but around the elbow or knee joint when it aches.
• Pull on a pair of stretch gloves. The tightness caused by the stretchy kind may, in fact, reduce the swelling that often accompanies arthritis.
• Get electric gloves. The gloves may keep your hands warm and pain-free.
• Try a water bed. The slight motions made by a water bed can help reduce the morning stiffness.
• Try slipping into a sleeping bag. The cocoon-like effect of a sleeping bag traps heat.
• Your weight matters. Being overweight puts more stress on the joints.

There are some ways on how to protect your joints.

• Plan ahead. Prepare a realistic, written schedule of what you would like to accomplish each day. That way, you can carry out your most demanding tasks and activities when you think you’ll have the most energy and enthusiasm.
• Spread the strain. Grasp your goods in the crook of your arm - the way a football player holds the ball as he’s running across the field – and you won’t be tackled by as much pain.
• Avoid holding one position for a long time. Keeping joints locked in the same position for any length of time will just add to your pain and stiffness.
• Use your arm as much as possible. Use your arm in carrying out an activity.
• Take a load off. Sitting down to complete a task will keep your energy level up much longer than if you stand.
• Get long handles doorknobs and faucets. They require a looser, less stressful grip to operate, so you’ll put less strain on your joints.
• Build up the handles on your tools. For a more comfortable grip, tape a layer or two of thin foam rubber, or a foam-rubber hair curler, around the handles of tools like brooms and mops.
• Choose lighter stuff. Lightweight eating and cooking utensils can keep your hands from getting heavy with hurt.
• Use Automatic appliances instead of doing it yourself.
• Do not scrub. Spray pots and pans with nonstick surface. Consider getting a dishwasher too, to save your joints some work.
• Keep your stuff within easy reach.
• A long handled gripper will help you reach stuff placed in high places.
• Do just one major cleaning chore a day.
• Interlocking cloth closures on clothing and shoes can save you the frustration of buttoning and lacing.
• Use the stairway and do it starting on your stronger leg going up and lead with your weaker leg in going down.
• Bend your knees in lifting or reaching something that’s on the ground, and always straighten your back.
• You can put your heavy load in a wagon or in a cart.
• Read with ease. For instance, while reading the newspaper, instead of holding it, you may just lay it on the table.
• When having a shower, a stool can give you a steady place and can ease your way in and out of the tub.
• Sitting, rather than stooping. Over your flower beds or vegetable garden may help reduce the stress on your back and legs.
• Ask for assistance when you need it.

Allergies- Ways to Feel Better

In many cases, allergy symptoms are difficult to differentiate from the symptoms of other disorders and illnesses, such as cold, a deformity of the nose, or a food intolerance. For this reason, many doctors suggest that allergies be properly diagnosed by
a board-certified allergist to avoid the self administration of inappropriate medication or other remedies. Also, some allergy sufferers can benefit from today's wide range of available treatments, such as new treatment antihistamine that won't cause drowsiness, nasal corticosteroids, and allergy injections that can provide immunity to a specific allergen.

Some mild allergies, like seasonal hay fever or an allergy to cats, can be treated with a combination of properly used, over-the counter antihistamines and a wide range of strategies to reduce or eliminate your exposure to particularly annoying allergens.

There are some ways to help reduce the discomfort caused by the most common allergies. The following ways may be used in combination with an allergist's treatment or, if your allergies are mild, by themselves.

• Avoid the culprit. At times, the best way to reduce discomfort is to avoid exposure to allergen as much as possible.
  
• Rinse you eyes. If your eyes are itchy and irritated and you have no access to allergy medicine, rinsing your eyes with cool, clean water may help soothe them.
• Try a warm washcloth. If sinus passages feel congested and painful, a washcloth soaked in warm water may make things flow a bit easier. You can place the washcloth over the nose and upper-cheek area and relax for a few minutes.
• Use saline solution. Irrigating the nose with saline solution may help soothe upper-respiratory allergies by removing irritants that become lodged in the nose, causing inflammation.
• Wash your hair. If you spent long hours outdoors during pollen season, wash your hair after you come inside to remove pollen.
• Take a shower. If you wake up in the middle of the night with a coughing, sneezing allergy attack, a hot shower may wash off any pollen residues you've collected on your body throughout the day.
• Wear your sunglasses. Sunglasses may help shield your eyes from airborne allergen.
• Beware of the air. Since air pollution can augment allergies and may actually induce people to have allergies.
• Make your house a no-smoking zone. Tobacco smoke is a notorious irritant, either causing or aggravating respiratory allergies.
• Keep the window shut. Close windows will keep pollen out of the house apartment.
• Filter your vacuum.
• Dust with a damp cloth. Avoid using feather dusters, which tend to spread dust around.
  
• Don't dust at all. If dusting only aggravates your allergies, it's better not to do it at all.
• Dehumidify. Dust mites grow very well in humid areas.
• Think before you burn. Wood that is treated with heavy metals or other chemical-laden materials will irritate everybody, but the person that is allergic or asthmatic will have proportionally more difficulty.
• Cut through the smoke. Many people with respiratory allergies find that wood smoke poses a particular problem.
• Leave the lawn mowing to someone else. During pollen season, a grass-allergic person is better off letting someone else-anyone else-mow the lawn.
  
• Wash your pet.
  
• Make sure that your final rinse really rinses. Make sure that your final rinse cycle on your machine thoroughly rinses the detergent from your clothes.
  
• Call ahead. When planning a vacation or business trip, call ahead to find a room that will be easier on your allergies.
  

Home Remedies for Acne

Acne has been a major concern of most teenagers and some adults. Though new acne treatments allows a faster and scar free removal of acne.

Let us know first some factors where we can get acne. First factor is genes, you may inherit some skin characteristics that can make you likely to develop acne.

You have thousands of oil glands in the skin; on your face, chest and back that lubricate the skin by producing sebum, or oil. There are 2,000 oil glands per square inch in the central part of your face. The oil from the glands flows through tiny ducts to the skin surface. At times, the oil ducts become plugged with sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells that are shed from the lining of the duct and that is acne. This condition often appears in adolescence because of changing hormone levels, which enlarge the oil glands and encourage them to produce more oil. The increase in oil appears to fuel acne, perhaps by stimulating the production of sticky skin cells that, when shed, tend to plug the duct. this situation usually settles down by the end of the teen years or during the early 20s.

Adult could develop acne from hormones, stress, cosmetics, occupational exposure (numerous chemicals can also cause acne), and certain medication.

There are steps you can take to help clear up your skin.

• Do no harm. Don't prick, press, rub, or otherwise manipulate those pimples. The plug at the top of the pore is like a balloon. You can pop it, but below the surface, the sebum, bacteria, and skin cells may leak into the surrounding tissue, causing inflammation.
  
• Use benzoyl peroxide. Some over-the-counter product contain this ingredient, which helps break up the plug of dead skin cells, bacteria, and oil in pores and cuts down on the bacteria as well. Start with the lowest concentration, and work your way up, especially if you have sensitive skin, because the higher concentration, the more irritating it may be. Use it once or twice a day. If it dries the skin too much, apply a mild moisturizers.
• Give one of the over-the-counter product a shot.
• Apply over-the-counter products for prevention. Don't just spot the product on existing acne, put it on acne-prone areas.
• Go easy on your face.
  
• Wash properly. Use a mild soap. Rub lightly with your fingertips and warm water. For oily skin, use a soap with benzoyl peroxide for its drying properties. And wash once or twice a day.
• Don't exfoliate. That refers to removing the top layer of skin cells.
• Watch out for oily products. That goes for oily pomades on your hair, heavy oil-based moisturizers, and even oily cleansers.
• Use water-based makeup.
• Fore go the facial. Since most people giving facial aren't trained to treat acne-prone skin properly and may end up doing more harm than good.
• Don't rest your chin on your hands.
  
• Soak up the oil. There are paper product that can be pressed onto the skin to soak up oil. Though it doesn't help acne, it helps relieve the oiliness which is disagreeable.
• Screen out the sun.Protect your skin by means of sunblock with SPF 15 or higher.
• Don't worry about diet. Chocolate, french fries, and other foods have not been proven to have anything at all to do with causing teenage acne.
  
• Watch out for iodine. High levels of iodine, found in some multiple vitamins and in iodized salt, may encourage acne.
  

Cabbage and Tomato Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp Butter
• 2 cups Coarsely cut cabbage
• 2 cups Water
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 Tbsp Flour
• 1/4 Cup Cold Water
• 2 Medium Tomatoes, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped
• 1 tbsp Dried Parsley
• 1/2 tsp Dried leaf basil
• 1/4 tsp Celery Salt
• 1/8 tsp Garlic Salt
• 1/8 tsp Pepper
• 3 cups Milk

Procedure:

Heat Butter in large saucepan. Add cabbage and cook gently 3 minutes, stirring. Add 2 cups ( 500ml ) water and salt, bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Bring back to a boil. Shake flour and 1/4 cup ( 60 ml ) water together until blended in a small jar with a tight lid. Stir into boiling liquid gradually. Add tomatoes and seasonings. Bring to a boil, turn down heat and simmer gently 5 minutes, stirring often. Stir in Milk. Heat to scalding. Serve Immediately.

*******Good for 6 servings*******

Corn Soup

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp Butter
• 1 medium Onion, Sliced thin
• 1/2 Cup Diced Green Pepper
• 2 Medium Potatoes, sliced thin
• 2 Cups Boiling water
• 2 Cups Milk
• 1 tbsp Flour
• small piece Bay leaf
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Pepper
• 19-oz can Cream Style Corn
  

Procedure:

Heat butter in medium saucepan. Add onion and green pepper and cook gently 3 minutes, stirring. Add potatoes and water and bring to a boil. Turn down heat, cover and boil gently 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Mix about 1/4 cup ( 60 ml) of the milk with the flour until
smooth and stir into the boiling mixture. Add remaining milk, bay leaf, salt, pepper and corn. Simmer 15 minutes. Discard bay leaf.

Whirl in blender ( half at a time ) until nearly smooth. Serve hot or chilled.

*****Good for 6 serving********

Bean and Macaroni Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried kidney beans (250 ml)
• 4 cups cold water (1 L)
• 1 tbsp olive or other cooking oil (15 ml)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped finely
• 1 1/2 cups very finely shredded cabbage (375 ml)
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 28-oz can tomatoes (796-ml can)
• 1 cube beef bouillon (1 cube)
• 1 1/2 tsp salt (7 ml)
• 1/4 tsp pepper (1 ml)
• 1/2 tsp dried leaf basil (2 ml)
• 1 cup shell macaroni (250 ml)
  
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley (30 ml)
• grated Parmesan cheese

Procedure:

1. Soak beans in cold water overnight. Drain, measuring soaking water and adding enough to make 5 cups (1.25 L). Put beans in large saucepan and add the 5 cups (1.25 L) water. Bring to boil, turn down heat, cover and simmer 1 hour or until beans are beginning to get tender.
   
2. Heat oil in small skillet and cook onion and garlic gently 5 minutes, stirring. Add to beans along with cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, bouillon cube, salt, pepper and basil. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
3. Cook macaroni in plenty of boiling salted water 3 minutes. Drain. Add to soup along with parsley. Cook gently 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve topped with a generous sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.

****Good for 6 to 8 servings****

Barley Soup

Ingredients:

• 8 cups Beef stock
• 3/4 cup Pearl Barley
• 4 pieces Carrots, cut in 1-inch
• 2 pieces Onions, coarsely chopped
• 2 small White turnips, cut in 1-inch cubes
• 2 stalks Celery, cut in 1-inch pieces
• 1 Leek ( white part only), chopped
• 1 cup Sliced mushrooms
• 1/4 cup Butter
• 1/4 tsp Pepper
• Salt to taste
• 1/4 cup Chopped Parsley
  

Procedure:

Heat beef stock to boiling. Rinse barley under cold running water and add to boiling stock. Bring back to a boil, turn down heat, cover and simmer until barley is beginning to get tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add vegetables and continue cooking about 30 minutes or until vegetables are just tender. Stir in butter and pepper. Taste and add salt if necessary. Stir in parsley.

6 servings

Brazo De Mercedes

Fillings:

• 1 can (Big) Condensed Milk
• 1 can (Big) Evaporated Milk
• 8 pcs. Egg yolk
  
• 1/2 C Sugar
• 1/4 C Corn Starch
• 4 T Butter

Procedure:

1. Dissolved corn starch in evaporated milk then add condensed milk, sugar, egg yolk.
2. Cook in a double broiler in a slow fire until sticky then add butter. Remove from fire.

Meringue:

• 8 pcs. Egg white
• 1/4 t Cream of Tartar
• 3/4 C Sugar

Procedure:

1. Beat egg white, cream of tartar until frothy then add sugar gradually. Beat until stiff but not dry. Then pour in the baking pan lined with wax paper with much oil. Bake until brown.
2. Invert egg white and pour the fillings then roll like jelly roll.
   

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Ingredients:

• 1/2 C Melted Butter
• 2 t Crushed Garlic
• 1 T Minced Parsley
• 1 T Seasoning Savor
• 1 C Dry Bread Crumbs
  
• 1/2 C Grated Cheddar Cheese
• 4 pcs. Chicken Breast de-boned and cut into halve
  
• 2 pcs. Chicken Broth cubes
• 4 slice Cooked sweet ham cut into halves

Sauce:

• 2 T Butter
• 1 t Cooking oil
  
• 1 C Slice Button mushroom
• 2 T Minced Parsley
• 2 (170 grams) Can cream
• 2 T nutmeg
• Salt, pepper to taste

Procedure:

1. Combine first 4 ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside. Mix together bread crumbs and grated cheese. Pound chicken breast to flatten, rub with chicken cubes and let stand for about 10 minutes.
   
2. Arrange 1 slice of ham and cheese on chicken breast. Roll chicken as in jelly roll, dip in melted butter and dredge with bread crumbs and cheese mixture. Round up edges and arrange in an oven proof dish. Bake for about 1 hour or until golden brown.
3. Heat butter and cooking oil in a small pan. Saute mushroom and parsley for about 2 minutes. Put off fire and stir in Cream season with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Pour to oven baked chicken breast.

Chocolate Mouse

Ingredients:

• 2 C Sweetened Chocolate powder
• 4 T Unflavored Gelatin
  
• 6 T Butter
• 1 Big Can Cream
• 6 T Brandy
• 6 Pcs. Egg white
• Individual Cape

Procedure:

1. Combine chocolate, gelatine and 1/2 C water in top of double boiler. Cook until melted. Turn off fire. Stir in butter 1/2 C of Cream, sugar and brandy. Cool.
2. Beat egg white until stiff, cut and fold into cold chocolate mixture. Pour into individual cup. Chill. Top with more cream before serving sprinkle chocolate on top.
   

Pasta Shell with Basic Genoise Sauce

Ingredients:

• 2 T Salad oil
• 1 lb. Package Pasta Shell

Procedure:

1. Bring 4 quart heavily salted water to boil, then add oil. Add the pasta shells slowly and cook for about 12 minutes in the desired degree done. Drain well. Place shell and sauce in serving dish garnish with chopped basil and freshly Parmesan cheese.

Basic Genoise Sauce
(French Sauce)

Ingredients:

• 2 T Butter
• 1/2 C Olive oil
• 1 1/2 C Finely Chopped Onions
  
• 1 pc. Carrot grated
• 1/2 C Finely diced celery
• 1/2 lb. Button mushroom finely chopped
  
• 1 lb. ground meat
• 2 C Skinned Tomatoes
• 2 T APF
• 3/4 C Red wine
• 1 C Beef broth
  
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

Procedure:

1. Combine butter and oil in a heavy fry pan and heat until sizzling. Add the onions and cook for 3 minutes. Add the carrot, celery and the mushroom then cook, stirring frequently for about 5 minutes. Stir then add meat and cook stirring constantly until well broken up and lightly browned. Add the tomato stirring to mix well. Sprinkle the flour over the meat mixture stir to mix well. Stir in wine gradually then stir in the beef broth. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for about 1 hour or until thick, stirring occasionally then make about 4 C sauce.

Chicken Chasseur

Ingredients:

• 1/4 Butter
• 2 T Cooking oil
• 1 K Chicken cut up in serving size
• 1/4 C Chopped Shallots / onions
• 1/2 C Slice buttons mushroom
• 1 C White Wine or Vino Blanco
• 2 T Brandy (optional)
  
• 3 pcs. Chicken Broth Cubes
• 1 t Tomato paste
• 1/2 t Dried Tarragon
  
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Chopped parsley for garnishing

Procedure:

1. Heat butter and cooking oil. Stiff fry Chicken until brown. Set aside.
2. Saute Shallots and mushroom in same pan until lightly browned. Pour in Wine, Brandy, 2 C water and Chicken Broth Cubes, simmer uncovered until liquid is about 1/2 of its volume. Stir in tomato paste, tarragon, fried chicken and seasonings. Simmer for about 30 minutes or until chicken is tender. Place in a serving plates and sprinkle with parsley.
   

Chocolate Marble Cake

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 Sifted Cake Flour
  
• 1 1/2 T Baking Powder
  
• 1/2 t Salt
  
• 1/4 C Cocoa
• 2 C Refined Sugar
• 1 C Butter Cup Margarine
• 1 t Almond Extract
• 4 pcs. Eggs, well beaten
• 1 C Recon. Milk

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease bottom of a inch tube pan and lined with wax paper. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together.
2. Sift together cocoa ans sugar (1/2 C) . Cream butter and add remaining sugar until light and fluffy. Add almond extract and eggs beating until smooth.
3. Alternately add flour and milk beginning and ending with flour.
4. Divide the mixture in two (2) portions. Add cocoa mixture to half of the butter. Spoon butter in alternate layers. Cut through with a spatula to create a marble effect.
   
5. Bake for 60 minutes.
   

Chocolate Marble Cake

Devils Food Cake

Ingredients:

• 2 C Cake flour
• 1/2 C Dry Cocoa
  
• 1 t Baking Soda
• 1 t Salt
  
• 1 1/2 C Sugar
• 1/2 C Shortening (Butter / Margarine)
• 1 t vanilla
  
• 3 pcs. Eggs
  
• 1 1/4 C Whole milk combined with 1 T vinegar

Procedure:

1. Sift flour, cocoa, soda and salt. Set aside.
2. Add sugar gradually to the shortening creaming well. Blend in vanilla. Beat in egg, one at a time.
3. Thoroughly blend in flour mixture beginning and ending with flour. Pour into prepared pan.
4. Bake. Cool. Moisture top of one layer with chocolate, butter Icing. Top with remaining layer frost all around with chocolate butter icing.

Frosting

Ingredients:

• 1 C Butter
• 1 1/2 C Confectioner sugar
• 3/4 C Evaporated Milk
• 1/2 t Cocoa
  

Butter Cake

Ingredients:

• 3 1/4 C Cake flour
• 4 1/2 t Baking powder
• 3/4 C Butter
• 1 1/4 C Sugar
• 4 pcs. Eggs
• 3/4 C Evaporated milk
• 1/2 C Water
• 1 1/2 t vanilla

Procedure:

1. Sift together flour and baking powder. Set aside.
   
2. Cream butter and sugar. Blend in eggs one at a time.
3. In another bowl, combine milk, water and vanilla.
4. Add the flour mixture alternately to the cream mixture, starting and ending with flour. Pour into prepared pan.

Baking Temperature: 375 degrees F
Baking Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Pans: 9 1/2" X 5 - 1/2" X 3" loaf Pan

Leche Plan

Ingredients:

• 8 pcs. Egg yolk (2 whole)
• 1 Can Condensed Milk
• 1 Can Evaporated Milk
• 1 t Vanilla
• 1 Can Water

Procedure:

1. Beat egg yolk, add condensed milk, evaporated milk, vanilla and water.
2. Syrup sugar and pour mixture and steam.

(Note: Covered the pan by foil while steaming.)

Puto Cheese

Ingredients:

• 6 C Cake flour
  
• 3 T Baking Powder
• 2 C Sugar
• 4 T Butter
• 2 t Vanilla
• 4 pcs. Eggs
• 2 C Evaporated Milk
• 1 C Water
• Cheese
• Baking Cup

Procedure:

1. Sift flour and baking powder. Set aside.
2. Cream sugar and butter very well, then mix well. Make a well at the center and pour milk in water and vanilla. Beat well until smooth and fluffy. Pour in baking foam and drop 1 slice of cheese. Steam for 5-10 minutes.

Banana Cake

Ingredients:

• 2 C Cake Flour
  
• 1 T Baking Powder
• 3/4 C Central Sugar
• 3 pcs. Whole Egg
• 1/2 C Oil / Margarine
  
• 1 T Rhum
• 1 T Vanilla
  
• 2 C Mashed Banana
• Baking Cup

Procedure:

1. Sift flour, baking powder and sugar. Make a well at the center and add egg, oil, rhum and vanilla. Mix well until floppy then add mashed banana again mix well. Set aside for 15 to 20 minutes. Pour in your muffin pan and bake until golden brown.
   

Chocolate Chiffon Cake

Ingredients:

• Flour Mixture

1. 3 C Cake Flour
   
2. 1 1/2 T Baking Powder
3. 1 t Baking Soda
4. 1 1/2 C Sugar
   
5. 10 T Cocoa Powder or Milo
   

• Egg yolk Mixture
  

1. 1 C Vegetable oil
2. 10 pcs. Egg yolk
   
3. 1 1/2 C Water
   
4. 1 1/2 t vanilla
   

• 1 C Sugar
• 1 t Cream of Tartar
• 10 pcs. Egg white

Procedure:

1. Mix all dry ingredients. Make a well at the center and add oil, egg yolk, water and vanilla. Mix well until smooth and fluffy.
2. Beat the egg white and cream of tartar until frothy. Add sugar gradually and beat until stiff peak are formed. Peak should be wet but not dry.
3. Pour the egg yolk mixture to the egg white by using cut and fold stroke. Mix well then pour to the pan and bake.

Chocolate Icing

Ingredients:

• 1/2 C Cocoa powder
• 1/2 C Sugar
• 2 1/2 C Evaporated Milk
• 1/2 C Condensed Milk
• 2 T Butter

Procedure:

1. Mix all the ingredients except butter to pan. Stir gradually with a low fire until thick then add butter.
   

Orange Chiffon Cake

Ingredients:

• 3 C Cake Flour
• 2 T Baking Powder
• 1/2 t Salt
• 1 C Sugar
• 1/2 C Vegetable Oil
  
• 3/4 Orange juice
• 1 t vanilla
• 10 pcs. Egg yolk
  
• 10 pcs. Egg white
• 1 C Sugar
• 1 t Cream of tartar
• 1 Box Food Coloring
  

Procedure:

1. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
2. Put flour mixture in mixing bowl, make a well in the center then add oil, yolks, juice and vanilla.
3. Beat with wooden spoon until smooth
   
4. Beat egg white and cream of tartar in large bowl until frothy. Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff peak are formed. Peak should be wet.
5. Pour egg yolk mixture over entire surface of eff white, gently cutting and folding in with rubber scrapper.
6. Fold gently, bringing scrapper across bottom bowl, up the slide and over. Fold until completely blended. Pour into greased pan, lived with wax paper or glacine. B
7. Bake until tester inserted in middle comes out clean.

Cooked Icing:

Ingredients:

• 4 pcs. Egg white
  
• 1/4 t Cream of Tartar
• 4 pcs. Calamansi
  
• 2 C Sugar
• 1/2 C Water

Procedure:

1. Boil sugar and water until becomes syrupy. Beat egg white and cream of tartar. Gradually add syrup sugar until stiff peak are formed, add calamansi.
   

Shrimp - Melon Salad

Ingredients:

• 150 g. medium shrimps
• 1 can (439 g) of Fruit Cocktail, drained (reserve syrup)
• 1 medium (1/2 kilo) melon (contaloupe), cut into tidbits
• 1/2 cup mayonaise
• 1/4 cup of Tomato Ketchup

Here's How:

1. Cook shrimps in fruit cocktail syrup for 10 minutes. Peel and slice crosswise into tidbits. Combine with fruit cocktail and melon.
2. Mix mayonnaise and Tomato Ketchup. Season with 1/4 tsp. iodized salt and 1/8 tsp. pepper. Add to the fruit mixture. Blend well. Chill until ready to serve.
   

****Makes 8 servings****

Beef Caldereta

Ingredients:

1kg Beef Cubes
6 cups Water
2 Mediums Onions, quartered
3 Tbsp Cooking Oil
2 Tbsp Garlic, Minced
1 Medium Onion, Sliced
1 Cup Tomato Sauce
1 Cup Water
1 Cup Red Bell Pepper, cut into squares
2 tsp Pepper Flakes
1 tsp salt
1/2 Cup Green Peas
1/3 Cup Liver Spread


Procedure:

Cook beef in water and onions until tender. Set aside. Saute Garlic and onions. Add Beef, tomato sauce, and water. Let boil for 5 minutes or until sauce is slightly thick. Add red bell pepper, pepper flakes or hot sauce and salt. Stir in liver spread and mix until well blended. Add green peas and remove from heat. Garnish with green olives, fried potatoes and cubed cheese on top. Serve in a bowl and enjoy.

Ham Casserole

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Butter
1/2 cup Spring onion chopped
1/2 cup Chopped Celery
1 T Flour
2 Pcs. Maggi beef cubes
3/4 cup Carnation Evap
4 cup Cubed Sweet Ham
1 cup Frozen Peas
5 Large Potatoes Boiled and Mashed
1 Egg Beaten
1 cup Grated Quick melt Cheese
1/2 cup Green bell pepper (chopped)

Procedure:

1. Heat Butter and suate onions, bell pepper and celery.
   
2. Add in flour and beef cubes.
   
3. Pour in 1 cup of hot water and evaporated milk.
   
4. Cook until thick and smooth then stir in ham and peas.
   
5. Pour into an oven proof dish.
   
6. Combined mashed potatoes, egg and cheese, spoon mixture or pipe through a cake decorating tubeon top of ham mixture and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 mins.
7. After that serve and Enjoy.

Pineapple Pork Estopado

Ingredients:

600 grams Pork Cut into serving Portion
1/4 Cup APF
1/4 Cup Cloves garlic crushed
1 Piece Onion sliced
8 Pieces Pepper Corn ( Recado )
1 Piece Bay Leaf
1 Piece Medium carrot cut into cubes
1 Piece Medium Banana sliced and fried
1 Piece Green Bell Pepper, cut into stripes
1 can (234 grams) Del monte Fresh Cut Pineapple Chunks, Drained ( Reserve Syrup)


Procedure:

1. Marinate pork in Pineapple Chunks Syrup, 2 tbsp. soy sauce and 1/2 tsp. pepper for 30 minutes. Reserve marinade dredge pork in flour and fry until golden brown. Set aside.
2. Saute garlic onions and pork. Season with 1/3 tsp. iodized salt, peppercorn and bay leaf. Add 1 cup water and Marinade. Simmer until pork is tender.
3. Add carrots , banana, del monte, fresh cut pineapple chunks and bell pepper. Simmer until carrots are cooked.
4. Serve in a bowl, Enjoy!!