Raw Milk A Key Ingredient in Some of the World’s Finest Cheeses

Based on their vehement warnings to the public, as well as their raids on small farms, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) want you to believe that raw milk is unsafe.

And if you listen to them, you would come away believing that raw milk is a filthy, disease-causing beverage that is virtually guaranteed to make you and your family sick…

Yet, this very same ingredient – raw milk – is used to make some of the world’s finest cheeses, from the Italian Parmigiano Reggiano to the famous French-made Camembert.

The traditional cheese-making process has been crafted over centuries in many cases, and is truly an art form, with each cheese carefully aged and ripened to develop a complex taste and texture that mass-produced cheeses cannot replicate – thanks, in large part, to their raw milk content.

Why Raw Milk Makes Cheese Better

Raw cheese has a richer and deeper flavor than cheese made from pasteurized milk because heat destroys the enzymes and good bacteria that add flavor to the cheese.

In fact, raw cheese has flavors derived from the pastureland that nourished the animals producing the milk, much like wine is said to draw its unique flavors from individual vineyards. As The Edmonton Journal recently reported:

“ … bacteria present in the raw milk creates a taste profile for cheese that cannot be replicated post-pasteurization.

‘It’s impossible to recreate what nature creates first,’ says [Bobby] Gregoire, part of a Slow Food campaign to educate the public about raw milk and its products. ‘If you pasteurize the cheese, you lose the link to the land. It’s impossible to have a terroir product if you pasteurize it.’”

Unfortunately, 90 percent of standard grocery store cheeses are made from the milk of CAFO cows, which are grain-fed cows. Raw-milk cheese is far more likely too come from grass-fed animals raised on pasture, rather than grain-fed or soy-fed animals confined to feedlot stalls. Raw grass-fed dairy products not only taste better, they are also nutritionally superior:

Cheese made from the milk of grass-fed cows has the ideal omega-6 to omega-3 fat ratio of 2:1. By contrast, the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of grain-fed milk is heavily weighted on the side of omega-6 fats (25:1), which are already excessive in the standard American diet. Grass-fed dairy combats inflammation in your body, whereas grain-fed dairy contributes to it.
Grass-fed cheese contains about five times the beneficial conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) of grain-fed cheese.
Because raw cheese is not pasteurized, natural enzymes in the milk are preserved, increasing its nutritional punch.
Grass-fed cheese is considerably higher in calcium, magnesium, beta-carotene, and vitamins A, C, D and E.
Organic grass-fed cheese is free of antibiotics and growth hormones.
Are the FDA and Canada Going to Ban Raw-Milk Cheese?

For years, federal regulators have been threatening to ban raw milk products, including raw cheese, due to what they claim are increased safety risks. In Canada, where unpasteurized milk is legal to sell, an E. coli outbreak linked to one raw milk cheese has experts calling for tighter regulations.

But the E. coli source has yet to be firmly identified, meaning it could be from fresh herbs used in the cheeses, tubing at the factory where the cheese is made or any number of sources, i.e. not necessarily the raw milk.

The Edmonton Journal continued:

“In light of such a tragedy, it’s easy to panic, and to view cheese made from unpasteurized milk — which is legal to sell in Canada — with a jaundiced eye. Ban it! Bring on irradiation! This sort of fear-based attitude is a mistake.

Food-borne pathogens exist. They are a fact of life — always have been, always will be. But to blame, or move to eliminate, an entire food culture, in existence for thousands of years, stimulating both the palate and the economy, would be an overreaction.”

Even a 2012 report from the FDA and Health Canada, which claimed that there is a 50- to 160-fold increase in the risk of listeriosis from eating soft-ripened raw-milk cheese, compared with cheese made from pasteurized milk, appears to be greatly overblown. As one journalist reported:

“The risk certainly sounds serious… until you read closely the full 189-page report and learn that the FDA-Health Canada conclusion about ‘a 50- to 160-fold increase in the risk’ is based entirely on estimates and mathematical predictions, rather than real-life data on illnesses from the soft raw milk cheeses.

Even more remarkable, the actual real-life data presented in the report of illnesses worldwide from listeriosis in soft cheese over a 23-year period between 1986 and 2008 show not a single documented illness in the U.S. from listeriosis due to tainted brie or camembert.”

Likewise, according to Grist, between 1973 and 1999 there’s not a single report of illness from either raw or pasteurized cheeses. However, since the year 2000, illnesses have begun to appear from raw and pasteurized cheese alike. Most outbreaks have been found to result from post-production contamination and laxity in quality control, not lack of pasteurization.

The truth is that raw cheese is not inherently dangerous, provided high standards are followed in the cheese-making process. Hard cheeses like cheddar dry out as they age, making them relatively inhospitable to invading bacteria. The FDA’s attack on raw cheese is not based on facts, but simply is an extension of their long-standing hostility toward raw milk in general.

Did You Know High-Quality Cheese Is Good for You?

Cheese is much maligned in America due to the saturated fat/cholesterol myth. Does eating high-quality cheese lead to obesity and heart disease? This is actually a myth that stems from an outdated and seriously flawed hypothesis, perpetuated by decades of wildly successful marketing.

Numerous recent studies have confirmed saturated fat is NOT associated with obesity or heart disease and is actually associated with improved heart health. Most Americans today are consuming inadequate saturated fat. In fact, the Greeks, French and Germans eat much more cheese than Americans but enjoy lower rates of hypertension and obesity.

Of course, there is a difference between natural cheese and processed “cheese foods.” Natural cheese is a simple fermented dairy product, made with nothing more than a few basic ingredients — milk, starter culture, salt and an enzyme called rennet. Processed cheese or “cheese food” is a different story. These products are typically pasteurized and otherwise adulterated with a variety of additives that detract from their nutritional value. When prepared traditionally, as most raw-milk cheeses are, cheese offers a wealth of good nutrition, including:

High-quality protein and amino acids
High-quality saturated fats and omega-3 fats
Vitamins and minerals, including calcium, zinc, phosphorus, vitamins A, D, B2 (riboflavin) and B12
Vitamin K2
CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), a powerful cancer-fighter and metabolism booster
Which Cheeses Are Best?

This is the million-dollar question, isn’t it? And one that’s virtually impossible to answer, as everyone’s palate is unique when it comes to cheese. From a health standpoint, your best option is cheese made from the raw milk of pasture-raised cows, sheep and goats, as opposed to feedlot livestock fed grain and soy. My top picks are Gouda, Brie, and Edam cheese, as these are good sources of vitamin K2, but you also can’t go wrong with high-quality cheddar, Swiss, Colby, Gruyere, and goat cheese.

Cheese is unique in that it offers a synergistic blend of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids, including the magic trio of vitamin D3, vitamin K2 and calcium. This nutrient triad is vitally important for reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, so don’t be afraid to include high-quality cheese in your regular diet. Also, don’t be afraid of raw cheese (as long as it comes from a reputable cheesemaker), which beats ordinary cheese in both taste and nutrition.

Love .................

The Prophet Muhammad ? ran home to Khadija and said, “Cover me, cover me!”  Khadija (radi Allahu `anha, may God be pleased with her) held her frightened husband close in her comforting arms. With her warmth and soothing words, she reassured him that she did not have a doubt he was the blessed by Allah, subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He). She said to him words that would be recorded in the books of Islamic narrations forever: “By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You uphold the ties of kinship, speak truthfully, help the poor and destitute, serve your guests generously and assist those who are stricken by calamity.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

Years after Khadija (ra) passed away, the Prophet ? still remembered her love for him, proclaiming that he would always be indebted to her: “She believed in me when people denied me, she trusted me when people belied me; she supported me with her wealth when people refused to support me and I was blessed with children by her when I was denied children by other women.” (Ahmad)

Allah (swt) decreed that Khadija (ra) would be from those who supported the Prophet ? and the establishment of His religion. They say that behind every successful man there is a supporting woman. Khadija’s love and faith in the Prophet ? is what gave him strength at the beginning of his message. With her reassurance, the Prophet ? went on to fulfill his prophecy. And thus – Islam emerged upon the most beautiful love story of all time. This shows us the place of love in Islam, and the permissibility of its manifestation within marriage.

We all want love. We want the kind of love that, when our world falls apart, we can turn to that ‘Khadija-esque’ person who will hold us close to ease our mind and heart while we are going through times of despair. We want someone who will never give up on us; who will strive to see us succeed; and who will be willing to make sacrifices to see us happy. However, is what we want what we actually need?

The Prophet Muhammad ? greatly benefited from the love of Khadija (ra). She gave him provisional and emotional support. This is the love that human beings crave for by nature. At times, it is vital to have someone love you; to have someone believe in you with full faith when the whole world turns its back on you. However, many of us cannot find that love in one specific person.

You may find yourself all alone with no one to love you and with no one to turn to. You may find your world crashing down, with no person to hold you up, wipe your tears, and hear you out. Don’t fret. You may long for that person at the time, but you don’t necessarily need them just yet. You have Allah (swt) and in Him you can find everything you wish for and need. Allah (swt) is the one who gave the Prophet ? what he needed when it was best for him. He didn’t always have Khadija (ra), but he always had and still has Allah (swt).

We tend to rely upon the means, and forget who facilitates the means for us. Allah (swt) is the One who willed for Khadija (ra) to propose to the Prophet Muhammad ?.  When a person puts their trust in Allah (swt), He provides for them from means that never crossed their imagination.  He was a devout believer, while everyone else around him associated partners with Allah (swt). He was steadfast in his beliefs and had the best of character; thus Allah (swt) gave him exactly what he wanted at the moment he needed it the most. If we abide by the Prophet’s ? example, Allah (swt) will give and take in our life accordingly, and Allah (swt) knows what is best for us. Allah (swt) says,“… We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein.” [Qur’an 50:16]“And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me…” [Qur’an 2:186]

Get to know your Lord, and strive to get closer to Him. Make a sincere effort to build your relationship with Allah (swt). We all know we cannot depend on anyone or anything in this world. And so, when your world comes falling down, and you don’t have what you want, know that you will always have what you need. You need Allah (swt), and He is always there for us no matter what. When Allah (swt) puts you through a hardship, know that every cloud has a silver lining.  While in the moment we may not understand why things happen, we at least need to realize they don’t happen without reason. The Prophet ? said: “Whoever Allah wants good for him, he puts them to the test. He puts them through difficulties; like a diamond or gold that has to be burnt after which anything bad from it is removed so that what you have is the pure diamond or the pure gold..” (Bukhari, Muslim)

Allah (swt) deprives us in order to give something better; something more. The longer we do not have what we want, the more we invoke upon Him in order to receive. All the while He elevates us, and brings us closer and closer to Him. He strengthens our iman to such an extent, that when we finally get what we want, we are not as excited as we would have expected. This is because, what we truly wanted all along was Allah (swt), and our nearness to Him gives us satisfying bliss that is bigger than our wants and desires.

When some people get what they want, they immediately neglect their Lord. So, if Allah (swt) does not give you what you want, take it as a sign to strengthen your connection with him. Allah (swt) says, “But if We give him a taste of favor after hardship has touched him, he will surely say, ‘Bad times have left me.’ Indeed, he is exultant and boastful…”–[Qur’an 11:10]

Allah loves you so much, He wants to make sure you have such strong faith, that when He does give you what you always yearned for, you will not disregard your Lord and thus suffer with worldly gain. Allah follows that verse with, “Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds; those will have forgiveness and great reward.” [Qur’an 11:11]

Even if your sins pile up to the sky, Allah (swt) says, turn to Him and He will be there for us. His mercy is greater than any sin ever committed.  Allah (SWT) says “…My mercy encompasses all things.”[Qur’an 7:156]Allah (swt) also says reassuringly, “I am as My servant thinks I am, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me to himself, I remember him to Myself; and if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering better than it. If he draws near to Me a hand’s span, I draw near to him an arm’s length; if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him with haste.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

There is no one who can love us more than Allah. Open your heart, and allow the love of the One who created you to enter where it belongs. Love Him more than you love anyone, and trust Him more than you trust anyone.

Finally, take notice that the Prophet ? did not chase women, money, or any matter in this world. The Prophet ? made strenuous efforts to get closer to his Lord, and Allah (swt)  sent to him the best of provisions. Prophet Yusuf (ra) was from the most beautiful of men, with women throwing themselves at him, yet he remained patient. He strived for Allah (swt), and Allah honored him with countless glad tidings. When you start to seek out only for Allah (swt), your world begins to fall into place. Know that it is possible to find true love in this life and to live a beautiful love story like the Prophet ? and Khadija (ra). But heed that true love cannot exist unless it is for the sake of Allah. We love for His sake because we ultimately want to be with our Beloved, our Lord, and our Creator.

how to look slimmer n younger in one week ?

Are you scheduled to go on a trip where you'll have to put on a bathing suit or are you desperately trying to fit into a bridesmaid dress before your friend's big day? If you want to achieve permanent weight loss, long term gradual weight loss through diet and exercise is the best option. However, if you need to look slim and only have a week to do it, there are some guidelines you can follow. Read on for tips and tricks on how to get skinny in a week.
Drink only water. One way to get rid of those pesky extra calories is to stop drinking anything but water[1].
Sports drinks, sodas and alcoholic beverages don't satisfy hunger and just add empty calories.
Even diet drinks can have negative consequences on your weight. Research has shown that diet soda is linked to weight gain[2].
Drinking two 8 oz. glasses of water before each meal will help you to fill up your stomach so that you don't overeat[3].
Purchase a refillable water bottle and bring it with you wherever you go. That way, you can continue to hydrate yourself throughout the day without going for sugary drinks or sodas.
Stop eating white grains and dairy products. By eliminating foods that cause bloating, you will be able to look skinnier in no time[4].
Carbs cause bloating, especially around your stomach where it will be most visible.
Simple carbs are also easier to digest, so they leave you hungrier even though you've consumed plenty of calories.
Dairy can also cause bloating, especially for those with lactose intolerances or allergies[5]. Look for dairy-free products when you're grocery shopping. If you can't live without cheese, there are soy-based substitutes that you can use to curb your cravings.
Eat fiber. Having a lot of fiber in your diet helps you feel full sooner and for a longer period of time. It also moves fat through the digestive system so that less of it is absorbed into your body[6].
Swap out your morning bowl of cereal with oatmeal or some fat-free yogurt sprinkled with flaxseed instead.
Instead of pasta, add fiber rich foods like lentils, dry beans and vegetables to your diet.
Eat plenty of vegetables. Complex carbs in vegetables are digested more slowly than the carbohydrates in pizza and bread[1].
Vegetables also have a lot of water, so they help get rid of excess water weight.
Because vegetables are high in volume but low in calories, eating them will help you feel full faster while consuming less calories overall.
Skip dessert. Not only does dessert usually add extra calories when you are already satisfied and full, the high amounts of sugars and carbs can also lead to bloating[7].
If you have a craving for something sweet, opt for fruit or a small square of dark chocolate instead.
Avoid places that can trigger your sugar cravings such as your favorite bakery, restaurant, the bakery section of the grocery store, or the candy section of the drugstore.
Slow down when you eat. When you lead a busy lifestyle, you often end up wolfing down food in your car, at your desk or while standing. This doesn't allow your body to let you know when it's full[8]
When you eat slower, you give your brain the time to communicate with your stomach and tell you that it's time to stop eating.
When you feel satisfied with your meal, stop eating.
Restrict calories. In order to lose weight you need to remove calories from your diet responsibly.
A reasonable caloric goal for each day is about 1,200-1,500 in order to steadily lose weight[9].
Even though you're cutting calories, it is important to make sure that you are still getting the nutrients you need. Cut out foods that don't offer many nutrients (sugary drinks, desserts, and junk food) and make room for fresh vegetables, fruits, and lean meats.
If you cut your calorie intake too severely, your body will go into starvation mode and store more fat.
Do cardio exercises. Doing a cardio exercise that gets your heart rate up is the best way to lose calories and shed the pounds. You will want to be consistent and work out every single day if you want to drop the weight in a week[10].
Choose a cardio exercise like running, swimming, biking or using the elliptical.
To keep yourself motivated, set an alarm for a time to go to the gym or start exercising. This will integrate the exercise into your schedule and remind you to go.
Ask a friend to work out with you. Going to the gym or jogging is easier when you have someone with you to hold you accountable. It also makes exercise more enjoyable.
In order to burn calories faster, you'll want to increase the intensity of your workout. If you're on an elliptical or treadmill, bring up the incline and level of your workout.
Cardio exercises are most effective when they are 40-60 minutes long[11]. Set aside about an hour to work out each day.
Do interval training. Interval training is the practice of alternating short bursts of intense activity with intervals of less intense activity as you're working out. Interval training helps you to burn more calories as you work out[12].
Integrate integral training into your existing workout. For example, if you like to job lightly, insert short bursts of sprinting into your workout. If you use an elliptical, set it up so that every 5-10 minutes, the level of your workout goes up.
Interval training improves cardiovascular fitness and also increases the body's ability to burn fat[13].
3Do push-ups and lunges. Doing a few sets of push-ups and lunges every other day will help tone your muscles and make you look skinnier at the end of the week[1].
If you are going to be wearing something that reveals your upper body (a bikini top or a strapless dress), do more push-ups. They will target your upper body and make your arms and shoulders look more toned.
If you are going to be wearing something that reveals your lower body (shorts or a skirt), doing lunges will firm up your butt, hips and thighs.
4Take the stairs. Try to incorporate as much exercise as you can into your daily life so that you can continue burning calories and toning your muscles.
Take away the lazy shortcuts. For example, if you usually take the elevator, start taking the stairs. If you drive to the post office even though it's a block away, walk instead. If the lights are on in the kitchen, get up and turn them off instead of asking your spouse to do it.
EditTips
Avoid chocolate and crisps.
Try to eat a meal about the size of your fist. If you are still hungry, drink water.
Crunches, obliques, and squats will help you achieve your body do 50-100 per day.
Don't starve yourself, but try to cut down on unhealthy foods.
It's important to get a good healthy meal. Don't starve yourself!
Don't push yourself too hard, make sure you know your limits and use that knowledge to your advantage. If you know you can only do 40 push ups, aim for 41 or 42. Even though it's a small step, it's still a step in the right direction.
Don't eat within three hours of bed time. Eating food before going to sleep will prohibit the calories from food being burnt.
Drink lots of water. You may think you are hungry, but really you might be thirsty. Remember to drink a glass of water half an hour before eating, it will cut down your appetite.
When you are full, stop eating. Never force yourself to finish the food on your plate.
Plan your meals out in advance for the week and do all your grocery shopping at once. That way, if you get any cravings for unhealthy food, you can eat something healthy that you have at home instead.
Show 2 more tips
Get enough sleep during the week so that you don't experience cravings the next day. Research shows that when you don't get enough sleep, your leptin levels go down and you want more food[14].
EditWarnings
Restricting too many calories can be dangerous for your health. Remember to stay within a healthy range for your body type.
If you find yourself getting dizzy or lightheaded when you are working out, you should sit down, drink water, and eat something. Do not push yourself too hard.
EditThings You'll Need
Fresh produce
Fiber rich foods
A water bottle
A gym membership (optional)

How to Keep skin Moisturized during Winter

Dry, scaly skin and all-over itchiness can make you uncomfortable in your own skin. Luckily, you can combat that feeling by adding one simple step to your skin care regimen -- moisturize.

A daily coating of lotion or cream can mean the difference between dull skin and smooth, supple skin. Moisturizers can treat dry skin, protect sensitive skin and even improve tone and texture. In fact, moisturizing year-round can help improve the quality and appearance of your skin. Moreover, the right moisturizer can provide relief to cracked, itchy skin during winter months.

Moisturizers often include one or both of two specific types of ingredients: humectants and emollients. Humectants such as alpha hydroxy acids, glycerin and urea work by absorbing water from the air around you and drawing it into your skin. Emollients include ingredients like lanolin, mineral oil or petrolatum, which fill in spaces between skin cells to smooth the appearance and feel of rough, dry skin [source: Mayo Clinic].

To find a moisturizer that will be the most beneficial to you, you need to consider your skin type. Use a water-based product if you have normal or oily skin, an oil-based moisturizer for dry or mature skin, and a product free of fragrances and dyes for sensitive skin [source: Mayo Clinic]. Once you find something that works, stick with it. However, if it starts to fall short, don't hesitate to find something new. For example, during the winter months, you might find that your skin is super dry and the lotion you loved all summer just isn't doing the trick. So, for the winter months, you might consider a richer product like a body cream. Just be careful to review the ingredients and continue to consider your skin type. If you have oily skin, that doesn't preclude you from taking advantage of a heavier cream during the winter. Just make sure it's made up of noncomedogenic ingredients (things that won't clog your pores) like avocado oil, almond oil or mineral oil [source: Davis].

When it comes to moisturizers, other than selecting products suited to your skin type and avoiding ingredients you're allergic to, there are no fixed rules. You should try a variety of products until you find one that leaves your skin feeling fresh and silky smooth.
top 10 tips for boosting your winter skin care regimen, so that your skin stays moist and healthy through the winter months.
1. Seek a Specialist
If you go to your local drugstore, you'll be hard put to find a salesperson who can give you good advice. That's why going to an esthetician or dermatologist even once is a good investment. Such a specialist can analyze your skin type, troubleshoot your current skin care regimen, and give you advice on the skin care products you should be using.
But that doesn't mean you'll be stuck buying high-end products. "Inexpensive products work just as well as high-end ones," says David Voron, MD, a dermatologist in Arcadia, Calif. "In fact, the extra price you pay for the expensive stuff is often just for packaging and marketing. What's most important is how your skin responds to the product -- and how you like its feel, not how much money you paid for it."
2. Moisturize More
You may have found a moisturizer that works just fine in spring and summer.  But as weather conditions change, so, too, should your skin care routine.  Find an "ointment" moisturizer that's oil-based, rather than water-based, as the oil will create a protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture than a cream or lotion. (Hint: Many lotions labeled as "night creams" are oil-based.)
But choose your oils with care because not all oils are appropriate for the face. Instead, look for "nonclogging" oils, like avocado oil, mineral oil, primrose oil, or almond oil. Shea oil -- or butter -- is controversial, because it can clog facial pores. And vegetable shortening, LaPlante says, is a really bad idea. "It would just sit on the skin," she says. "And it would be really greasy."
You can also look for lotions containing "humectants," a class of substances (including glycerine, sorbitol, and alpha-hydroxy acids) that attract moisture to your skin.
3. Slather on the Sunscreen
No, sunscreen isn't just for summertime. Winter sun -- combined with snow glare -- can still damage your skin. Try applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face and your hands (if they're exposed) about 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply frequently if you stay outside a long time.
4. Give Your Hands a Hand
The skin on your hands is thinner than on most parts of the body and has fewer oil glands. That means it's harder to keep your hands moist, especially in cold, dry weather. This can lead to itchiness and cracking. Wear gloves when you go outside; if you need to wear wool to keep your hands warm, slip on a thin cotton glove first, to avoid any irritation the wool might cause.
5. Avoid Wet Gloves and Socks
Wet socks and gloves can irritate your skin and cause itching, cracking, sores, or even a flare-up of eczema.
6. Hook Up the Humidifier
Central heating systems (as well as space heaters) blast hot dry air throughout our homes and offices. Humidifiers get more moisture in the air, which helps prevent your skin from drying out. Place several small humidifiers throughout your home; they help disperse the moisture more evenly.
7. Hydrate for Your Health, Not for Your Skin
If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Drinking water helps your skin stay young looking. In fact, it's a myth. Water is good for your overall health and "the skin of someone who is severely dehydrated will benefit from fluids. But the average person's skin does not reflect the amount of water being drunk," Kenneth Bielinski, MD, a dermatologist in Oak Lawn, Ill., tells WebMD "It's a very common misconception."
LaPlante agrees. "I see clients at the spa who drink their 10 to 12 glasses of water a day and still have superdry skin. It just doesn't do that much."
8. Grease Up Your Feet
Yes, those minty foot lotions are lovely in the hot summer months, but during the winter, your feet need stronger stuff. Try finding lotions that contain petroleum jelly or glycerine instead. And use exfoliants to get the dead skin off periodically; that helps any moisturizers you use to sink in faster and deeper.
9. Pace the Peels
If your facial skin is uncomfortably dry, avoid using harsh peels, masks, and alcohol-based toners or astringents, all of which can strip vital oil from your skin. Instead, find a cleansing milk or mild foaming cleanser, a toner with no alcohol, and masks that are "deeply hydrating," rather than clay-based, which tends to draw moisture out of the face. And use them a little less often.
10. Ban Superhot Baths
Sure, soaking in a burning-hot bath feels great after frolicking out in the cold. But the intense heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. "You're better off with just warm water," LaPlante advises, "and staying in the water a shorter amount of time."
A lukewarm bath with oatmeal or baking soda, can help relieve skin that is so dry it has become itchy, Bielinski notes. So, too, can periodically reapplying your moisturizer. If those techniques don't work, go see a dermatologist. "You may need a prescription lotion to combat the dry skin," Bielinski says. "Or you may have a condition that isn't simply dry skin and that requires different treatment."

Benefits of Drinking water

Americans seem to carry bottled water everywhere they go these days. In fact, it has become the second most popular drink (behind soft drinks). But water lovers got a jolt recently when we heard that a new report had found that the benefits of drinking water may have been oversold. Apparently, the old suggestion to drink eight glasses a day was nothing more than a guideline, not based on scientific evidence.

But don't put your water bottle or glass down just yet. While we may not need eight glasses, there are plenty of reasons to drink water. In fact, drinking water (either plain or in the form of other fluids or foods) is essential to your health.

"Think of water as a nutrient your body needs that is present in liquids, plain water, and foods. All of these are essential daily to replace the large amounts of water lost each day," says Joan Koelemay, RD, dietitian for the Beverage Institute, an industry group.

Kaiser Permanente nephrologist Steven Guest, MD, agrees: "Fluid losses occur continuously, from skin evaporation, breathing, urine, and stool, and these losses must be replaced daily for good health," he says.

When your water intake does not equal your output, you can become dehydrated. Fluid losses are accentuated in warmer climates, during strenuous exercise, in high altitudes, and in older adults, whose sense of thirst may not be as sharp.

Here are six reasons to make sure you're drinking enough water or other fluids every day:

1. Drinking Water Helps Maintain the Balance of Body Fluids. Your body is composed of about 60% water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.

"Through the posterior pituitary gland, your brain communicates with your kidneys and tells it how much water to excrete as urine or hold onto for reserves," says Guest, who is also an adjunct professor of medicine at Stanford University.

When you're low on fluids, the brain triggers the body's thirst mechanism. And unless you are taking medications that make you thirsty, Guest says, you should listen to those cues and get yourself a drink of water, juice, milk, coffee -- anything but alcohol.

"Alcohol interferes with the brain and kidney communication and causes excess excretion of fluids which can then lead to dehydration," he says.

2. Water Can Help Control Calories. For years, dieters have been drinking lots of water as a weight loss strategy. While water doesn't have any magical effect on weight loss, substituting it for higher calorie beverages can certainly help.

"What works with weight loss is if you choose water or a non-caloric beverage over a caloric beverage and/or eat a diet higher in water-rich foods that are healthier, more filling, and help you trim calorie intake," says Penn State researcher Barbara Rolls, PhD, author of The Volumetrics Weight Control Plan.


Food with high water content tends to look larger, its higher volume requires more chewing, and it is absorbed more slowly by the body, which helps you feel full. Water-rich foods include fruits, vegetables, broth-based soups, oatmeal, and beans.

3. Water Helps Energize Muscles. Cells that don't maintain their balance of fluids and electrolytes shrivel, which can result in muscle fatigue. "When muscle cells don't have adequate fluids, they don't work as well and performance can suffer," says Guest.

Drinking enough fluids is important when exercising. Follow the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for fluid intake before and during physical activity. These guidelines recommend that people drink about 17 ounces of fluid about two hours before exercise. During exercise, they recommend that people start drinking fluids early, and drink them at regular intervals to replace fluids lost by sweating.

4. Water Helps Keep Skin Looking Good. Your skin contains plenty of water, and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. But don't expect over-hydration to erase wrinkles or fine lines, says Atlanta dermatologist Kenneth Ellner, MD.

"Dehydration makes your skin look more dry and wrinkled, which can be improved with proper hydration," he says. "But once you are adequately hydrated, the kidneys take over and excrete excess fluids."

You can also help "lock" moisture into your skin by using moisturizer, which creates a physical barrier to keep moisture in.

5. Water Helps Your Kidneys. Body fluids transport waste products in and out of cells. The main toxin in the body is blood urea nitrogen, a water-soluble waste that is able to pass through the kidneys to be excreted in the urine, explains Guest. "Your kidneys do an amazing job of cleansing and ridding your body of toxins as long as your intake of fluids is adequate," he says.

When you're getting enough fluids, urine flows freely, is light in color and free of odor. When your body is not getting enough fluids, urine concentration, color, and odor increases because the kidneys trap extra fluid for bodily functions.

If you chronically drink too little, you may be at higher risk for kidney stones, especially in warm climates, Guest warns.

6. Water Helps Maintain Normal Bowel Function. Adequate hydration keeps things flowing along your gastrointestinal tract and prevents constipation. When you don't get enough fluid, the colon pulls water from stools to maintain hydration -- and the result is constipation.

"Adequate fluid and fiber is the perfect combination, because the fluid pumps up the fiber and acts like a broom to keep your bowel functioning properly," says Koelemay.

5 Tips to Help You Drink More

If you think you need to be drinking more, here are some tips to increase your fluid intake and reap the benefits of water:

Have a beverage with every snack and meal.
Choose beverages you enjoy; you're likely to drink more liquids if you like the way they taste.
Eat more fruits and vegetables. Their high water content will add to your hydration. About 20% of our fluid intake comes from foods.
Keep a bottle of water with you in your car, at your desk, or in your bag.
Choose beverages that meet your individual needs. If you're watching calories, go for non-caloric beverages or water.

AL -HAQ Absolute Truth

Allah is al-Haqq, the Absolute Truth. Al-Ghazali says:

“Al-Haqq—the Truth—is the one who is the antithesis of falsehood, as things may become evident by their opposites…

“Therefore, ‘true’ applies to existence in individuals, to existence in the intellect, which is knowledge; and to existence in speech, which is utterance. The thing which most deserves to be [called] true is the one whose existence is established by virtue of its own essence, forever and eternally, and its knowledge as well as the witness to its truth forever and eternally. So all that pertains to the essence of the truly existing One, and to nothing else.”

If Allah is the Truth, then His Words are the truth; His Promise is the truth; His Threat is the truth; and His Acts are the truth.

Thus if we are the creation of the Ultimate Truth, and we worship Allah the Truth, then we have to live this life by the principles of truth. As Allah tells us in the Qur’an:

“For that is Allah, your Lord, the Truth. And what can be beyond truth except error? So how are you averted?” [Qur’an, 10:32]

If we truly love Allah and His attributes, then we need to be sincere lovers of truth over all else—even over our own selves and interests. Some may wonder what the difference is between truth and justice. Justice is the implementation of the truth. Truth is a value, and justice is its implementation.

Be a Truthful Person

So what are the practical effects of this Name? Allah says in the Qur’an:

“And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].” [Qur’an, 2:42]

As we know, the Prophet ? (peace be upon him) was known as as-Sadiq al-Ameen; the truthful and the trustworthy. He had a deep conviction in his principles, and revelation only made him stronger in them. When he wanted to publicly announce the message of Islam, he called out to the people. He said to them, “If I were to tell you that there is an army behind this mountain ready to attack, would you believe me?” and their answer was, “We never heard you tell a lie before.”

Being truthful means being truthful in our speech and in our actions. So we are not dishonest in our interactions because we know truth is something to be lived, and not simply spoken. We strive for justice in all our actions because that is true living in accordance with the principles of truth. Being truthful in words means saying the truth but also being wise with it. Remember that the Prophet ? taught us to “show gentleness, for if gentleness is found in anything, it beautifies it and when it is taken out from anything it damages it.” (Abu Dawud) There are truths that have to do with justice, and these must be said in a manner that is in the spirit of the way of the Prophet ?.

A man once came to the Prophet ? and asked him, “When is the Hour?” He said “Wait for the Hour when trust will be destroyed.” One of the signs of the ends of time is that these principles are lost.

Understanding the Truths We are Taught

We believe that Allah is the Truth, and we believe that His Words are true. Therefore, what He has promised us is also true. So what truth does the Qur’an teach us? The truth of purpose, of accountability, of return to our Lord, of benefitting humanity, of cooperating with others for good, of standing up for the oppressed, and of the fact that Allah is with us and protecting us when we stand for truth, no matter what Pharoah is standing before us.

If we truly believe in the truth of the Qur’an, then we need to understand the purpose of our lives. We must work for something greater. We must take comfort in Allah’s promise when things are difficult for us.

Recognize Small Truths

The beauty of Islam is that it recognizes small truths. The Prophet ? tells us, “The statement of wisdom is the lost property of the believer, so wherever he finds it then he has a right to it.” (Tirmidhi) So we shouldn’t dismiss something because it is does not seem to be, in our view, as emanating from Islam. It is actually our duty to seek the truth as an affirmation of Allah’s Truth.

Be a Seeker of Truth

Try to seek truth in all its forms. As al-Ghazali says, realizing this Name means that a person “is so absorbed in the Truth that he has no room for anything else.” Imagine if all you ever wanted from your dealings is to ascertain the truth. It doesn’t matter if the truth is for or against you, whether revealing the truth means your co-worker would get the promotion and not you. What is important to you is that you are a follower of the truth.

Salman al-Farisi, one of the companions of the Prophet ?, was a sincere seeker of truth. He came from a wealthy Persian family. He was even entrusted with keeping the fire that they worshipped. But one day, he heard some Christians speak about their faith. And he was astounded. He wanted to convert to their religion, so his father put him under house arrest. When he finally escaped, he accompanied a seemingly pious Christian leader. But that man turned out to be corrupt, taking people’s charity meant for the poor for himself. At that point, Salman radi allahu `anhu (may God be pleased with him) could have turned away. He could have said “What a hypocrite! What a religion! I don’t want anything to do with this!” But he didn’t. He knew that the Truth had nothing to do with the evil actions of men. He left the corrupt man, and continued seeking.

He finally found a pious Christian monk. He accompanied him and learned much from him, until that man was about to die. Salman asked him for advice concerning what he should do and whose company he should seek. So the monk told him of some of the signs of a prophet who was coming: a man who did not take charity but would accept gifts, in a place between two mountains, who had a seal on his back. So Salman (ra) set out to go to Arabia. He met some Arabs and told them he would give them money if they would take him to Arabia. But they took his money and kidnapped him in order to sell him as a slave! A Jewish man bought him, and eventually he was taken to Madina to serve one of the men from the Banu Nadheer tribe, one of the Jewish tribes of Madina. This was before the Prophet ? arrived.

Imagine how you would have felt at that point. What do you think was going through his mind? ‘O God! I did all this for you, to seek the truth, and then you turn me into a slave?? I used to be a nobleman!’ But again, Salman wasn’t concerned with his hardships. He was concerned with seeking the truth. When the Prophet ? arrived, Salman (ra) heard that a man who people believed to be a prophet had come. So Salman tested the Prophet (pbuh), looking for the signs he was told about. And they were all there. So Salman (ra) wept, and kissed the hands of the Prophet ?, and told him his story. The Prophet ? collected money from all the companions in order to buy Salman’s freedom.

For this reason, all the companions wanted to claim him. The Muhajireen (immigrants from Makkah) and the Ansar (the supporters in Madina) both said that Salman was from them. When the Prophet ? heard them, he said “No. Salman is from us, the people of the house,” i.e. the family of the Prophet ?. Imagine arriving at such a station, by being a seeker of the truth.

A Beautiful Du`a’ (Supplication)

Allahumma  arina al-haqqa haqqan warzuqna ittiba’ah, wa arina al-batila batilan warzuqna ijtinabah

O Allah! Show us Truth as Truth and give us ability to follow it and show us Falsehood as Falsehood and give us the ability to avoid it.

May Allah make us seekers of The Truth.

17 Reasons Why You Need a Mango Every Day

Mangoes may very well be the king of all fruits. They fight cancer, alkalize the body, aid in weight loss, regulate diabetes, help digestion, clean you skin, and make the perfect snack. Here are 17 healthy reasons why you should be eating a mango every day.

Nutrition chart

One cup of mangoes (225 gms contain) contains the following percentages that apply to daily value.

105 calories

76 percent vitamin C (antioxidant and immune booster)

25 percent vitamin A (antioxidant and vision)

11 percent vitamin B6 plus other B vitamins (hormone production in brain and heart disease prevention)

9 percent healthy probiotic fibre

9 percent copper (copper is a co-factor for many vital enzymes plus production of red blood cells)

7 percent potassium (to balance out our high sodium intake)

4 percent magnesium

1. Fights cancer

Antioxidants like quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat present in mango protect the body against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers.

2. Keeps cholesterol in check

Mango has high level of vitamin C, pectin and fibres that help to lower serum cholesterol levels. Fresh mango is a rich source of potassium, which is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps to control heart rate and blood pressure.

3. Skin cleanser

Mangoes help you unclog your pores and add freshness to the face. Mangoes are applicable to any skin type. They help clear clogged pores that cause acne. Just slice a mango into thin pieces and keep them on your face for 10 to 15 minutes and then take bath or wash your face and see the results.

4. Alkalizes the body

According to natural health school.com, mango is rich in tartaric acid, malic acid and traces of citric acid that primarily help in maintaining the alkali reserve of the body.

5. Weight loss

Mango has a lot of vitamins and nutrients that help the body feel fuller. Also, the fibrous fruit boosts the digestive function of the body by burning additional calories, helping in weight loss.

6. Regulates diabetes

Not only the fruit but the leaves of mangoes are healthy too. For people suffering from diabetes, just boil 5-6 mango leaves in a vessel, soak it through night and drink the filtered decoction in the morning. This is helps in regulating your insulin levels.

Mango has a low glycemic index (41-60) so going a little overboard will not increase your sugar levels.

7. Aphrodisiac

Mango has aphrodisiac qualities and is also called the ‘love fruit’. Mangoes increase the virility in men. Vitamin E, which is abundantly present in mangoes, helps to regulate sex hormones and boosts sex drive.

8. Eye care

Did you know that mango is rich in vitamin A. One cup of sliced mangoes equals 25% intake of your daily need of vitamin A. Mangoes help in promoting good eye sight, fights dry eyes and also prevent night blindness.

9. Helps in digestion

Mango contains enzymes that help in breaking down protein. The fibrous nature of mango helps in digestion and elimination. It is is rich in pre-biotic dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals.

10. Heat stroke

When the sun is bogging you down this summer, just chop of a mango in a juicer; add a little water and a tbsp of sugar free or honey. This juice will instantly cool you down and prevent heat stroke.

11. Strengthens your immune

The deadly combination of vitamin C, vitamin A and 25 different kinds of carotenoids keep your immune system healthy.

12. Body scrub

Make a paste of mashed mango, honey and milk and use as a body scrub, you will feel that your skin is tender and smooth.

13. Aids concentration and memory

Studying for exams? This fruit is rich in glutamine acid– an important protein for concentration and memory. Feed mangoes to children who find it difficult to concentrate on studies.

14. High iron for women

Mango is rich in iron, hence it is a great natural solution for people suffering from anemia. Menopausal and pregnant women can indulge in mangoes as this will increase their iron levels and calcium at the same time.

15. Reduces Kidney Stones 

In Chinese medicine, mangoes are considered sweet and sour with a cooling energy also capable of reducing the risk of kidney stone formation.

16. Perfect Snack

Instead of snacking on unhealthy chips and cookies, why not feast on slices of mangoes instead. They are perhaps one of the tastiest dehydrated fruits of all.

17. Stomach Tonic 

Before going to bed put some 10 or 15 mango leaves in warm water and close it with lid. The next day morning filter the water and drink it in empty stomach. Do this regularly.

10 Reasons You Should Be Eating Olives

Even though more attention is usually given to their delicious oil than the whole food itself, olives are one of the world’s most widely enjoyed fruits. Yes, they are fruits even though most of us think of them as zesty vegetables. Here are 10 reasons why you should be eating these little delicacies every day.

1. Cardiovascular Benefits
When free radicals oxidize cholesterol, blood vessels are damaged and fat builds up in arteries, possibly leading to a heart attack. The antioxidant nutrients in black olives impede this oxidation of cholesterol, thereby helping to prevent heart disease. Olives do contain fat, but it’s the healthy monounsaturated kind, which has been found to shrink the risk of atherosclerosis and increase good cholesterol. When diets low in monounsaturated fat are altered to increase the monounsaturated fat content (without becoming too high in total fat), research study participants typically experience a decrease in their blood cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and LDL:HDL ratio. All of these changes lower our risk of heart disease.

Recent research studies have also shown that the monounsaturated fat found in olives (and olive oil) can help to decrease blood pressure. The oleic acid found in olives–once absorbed up into the body and transported to our cells–can change signaling patterns at a cell membrane level (specifically, altering G-protein associated cascades). These changes at a cell membrane level result in decreased blood pressure.

2. Weight Loss
It appears that monounsaturated fats, the kind found in olives, may encourage weight loss. Olive oil consumption has been shown to breakdown fats inside fat cells, get rid of belly fat and reduce insulin insensitivity.

People who have the highest olive consumption eat fewer calories overall and are rarely overweight. Blood tests show they have higher levels of serotonin, a so-called satiety hormone that makes us feel full.

The aroma extracts from olive oil can leave us feeling fuller, cutting our calorie intake by almost 200 a day, they said.

3. Cancer Prevention
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of olives make them a natural for protection against cancer because chronic oxidative stress and chronic inflammation can be key factors in the development of cancer. If our cells get overwhelmed by oxidative stress (damage to cell structure and cell function by overly reactive oxygen-containing molecules) and chronic excessive inflammation, our risk of cell cancer is increased. By providing us with rich supplies of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients, olives can help us avoid this dangerous combination of chronic oxidative stress and chronic inflammation.

Black olives are a great source of vitamin E, which has the brilliant ability to neutralize free radicals in body fat. Especially when working with the stable monounsaturated fats found in olives, vitamin E can make cellular processes safer. When such processes such as mitochondrial energy production are not well protected, the free radicals produced can cause oxidation, damaging a cell’s mitochondria, and preventing the cell from producing enough energy to supply its needs. If the DNA of a cell is damaged, it may well mutate and become cancerous. Studies have shown that a diet supplemented with olive oil leads to a lower risk of colon cancer, almost as low a risk as a diet rich in fish oil.

4. Less Pain 
Spanish-style green olives, Kalamata-style olives, and many different methods of olive preparation provide us with valuable amounts of many different antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients which can act as a natural Ibuprofen. Their oils contain oleocanthal, a substance with anti-inflammatory agents. Similar to classical NSAIDs, they are a type of non-selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX). 50g (more than three and a half tablespoons) of a typical virgin olive oil per day contains an amount of oleocanthal with similar anti-inflammatory effect as 1/10 of the adult ibuprofen dose.

5. Skin and Hair Health
Black olives are rich in fatty acids and antioxidants that nourish, hydrate and protect. Chief among those is vitamin E. Whether applied topically or ingested, vitamin E has been shown to protect skin from ultraviolet radiation, thus guarding against skin cancer and premature aging. You can gain a healthy, glowing complexion by washing your face in warm water, applying a few drops of olive oil to vulnerable spots, and letting it work its magic for 15 minutes before rinsing it off. In fact, you can moisturize with olive oil before any bath, and even condition your hair with it by mixing it with an egg yolk and leaving it before rinsing and washing.

6. Less Allergies
New research may help explain how olives work to provide us with anti-inflammatory benefits, especially during circumstances involving allergy. Olive extracts have now been shown to function as anti-histamines at a cellular level. By blocking special histamine receptors (called H1 receptors), unique components in olive extracts may help to lessen a cell’s histamine response. Because histamine is a molecule that can get overproduced in allergy-related conditions and can be a key player in the inflammatory process, it’s likely that the anti-inflammatory benefits we get from olives involve this anti-histamine pathway. It’s also possible that olives may have a special role to play as part of an overall anti-allergenic diet. Your circulation will improve and you’ll be able to breath easier with olive consumption. They can increase blood flow and help lessen the effects of illnesses such as asthma through its anti-inflammatory properties.

7. Digestive Tract Health
Frequent consumption of both vitamin E and the monounsaturated fats in black olives is associated with lower rates of colon cancer. These nutrients help prevent colon cancer by neutralizing free radicals. Olive oil’s protective function also has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis. Olive oil activates the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones much more naturally than prescribed drugs, thereby lowering the incidence of gallstone formation. A cup of black olives also contains 17% of the daily allowance of fiber, which promotes digestive tract health by helping to move food through the system at a healthier pace. This keeps any one part of the digestive tract from having to work too hard and supports the ideal balance of chemicals and populations of microorganisms required for a healthy digestive system.

8. Good Source of Iron
Olives, especially black are very high in iron. The ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body is due to the presence of iron in the blood. If we suffer from a lack of iron, our tissues don’t get enough oxygen, and we may feel cold or weak. Iron also plays a vital role in the production of energy. It is a necessary part of a number of enzymes, including iron catalase, iron peroxidase, and the cytochrome enzymes. It also helps produce carnitine, a nonessential amino acid important for the utilization of fat. To top it all off, the proper function of the immune system is dependent on sufficient iron.

9. Eye Health
One cup of olives contains ten percent of the daily recommended allowance of vitamin A which, when converted into the retinal form, is crucial for healthy eyes. It enables the eye to better distinguish between light and dark, thereby improving night vision. Furthermore, Vitamin A is believed effective against cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma and other age-related ocular diseases.

10. Increases Blood Levels of Glutathione
Olives have shown the ability to increase blood levels of glutathione (one of the body’s premier antioxidant nutrients). Consumption of olive pulp is associated with significantly increased glutathione levels in the blood and improvement in antioxidant capacity.

How to Select Olives
While olives have been traditionally sold in jars and cans, many stores are now offering them in bulk in large barrels or bins (often called an “olive bar”). Buying bulk olives will allow you to experiment with many different types with which you may be unfamiliar and to purchase only as many as you need at one time.

While whole olives are very common, you may also find ones that have been pitted, as well as olives that have been stuffed with either peppers, garlic or almonds. If you purchase olives in bulk, make sure that the store has a good turnover and keeps their olives immersed in brine for freshness and to retain moistness. Some grocers will also use genetically modified oils such as Canola which should be avoided.

Avoid purchasing olives in cans. FDA data has shown levels of acrylamide as high as 1,925 ppb in some canned, nationally distributed brands of black pitted olives. Based on this data, higher acrylamide levels in select canned black olives may be related to specific handling, storage, processing (especially preservation and darkening methods), and heating steps that favored formation of acrylamide.

When selecting olives, beware of the label description, “hand-picked.” This description does not necessarily tell you anything helpful about the olive harvesting. Many olives are hand-picked, even though the product label makes no mention of this fact. Conversely, olives with have been mechanically harvested with a hand-held pneumatic rake are sometimes labeled as “hand-picked.”

As far olive oils go, the best processing come from ice-pressed oils which is in the complete absence of heat; a dramatic 20-30 times colder than the cold-pressed olive oil; a critical distinction in terms of maintaining the oils’ nutritive and healing potential and to staking claim as one of the world’s only RAW producers of olive oil. Taste the distinct refreshing taste!