Save Our Ocean!!

 

Our oceans are a place of great beauty, incredible wonders, and even a source of some of our deepest fears or thrills. Our oceans are important to us for many reasons, with food, transportation, recreation, medical sources, and energy being just some of the benefits we gain from them.

Yet, oceans are suffering from our activities too; our land practices cause agricultural run-off, sewage, and litter to end up in the oceans daily, and there is now so much trash in the ocean that we've created garbage vortexes where all the trash heads to. Learn some quick and easy ways to help prevent damage to our oceans.

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1. Start by learning what you can about the oceans. This will instill awe, respect, and most likely a passion in you for all things sea, and the more you know, the more you will understand the importance of doing our bit to care for the oceans. Some of the things to read up on include the problems of overfishing, the impacts of climate change on the ocean, the impact of agricultural/industrial/sewage waste in the oceans, and the ways in which ocean systems work. Learn about the species in the ocean, and the geological features and hazards, and finally, but importantly, learn about how much human beings rely on the oceans for everything from livelihood and nutrition, to relaxation and hobbies.

2. Know what not to put down your drains. Pollution from drains can often end up in the seas and it's here that you can do a great deal as a householder, by following these simple steps:

• Do not dispose of paint, solvents, cleaners, pesticides, or other chemicals down the drain. Know what is hazardous waste and find out about local collection and recycling programs in your area.
• Dispose of used motor oil properly. Find out if your city or town has a recycling program, or ask if local auto shops can help.
• Never dump chemicals onto soil or roads, or down storm drains.
• Use pesticides and herbicides sparingly or not at all. Even if you don't live near the sea, much of the run-off from your garden ends up down the drain, which wends its way down to the sea eventually. Tolerate a few bugs (many can actually help your garden) or use natural pest control methods. Crowd out weeds, smother them, or pull them by hand.
• Use ocean-friendly products. Paints, soaps, nail polish, and other chemicals can harm the ocean life.
• Dispose safely of mercury items such as old batteries and thermometers. Hand them in to your local mercury disposal center to make sure they are disposed of properly and efficiently.

3. Dispose of your trash with care. The manner in which you get rid of your household and business trash matters a great deal. Some items can create enormous harm if they reach the oceans, such as the plastic ring six-pack holders used for cans/bottles, and plastic bags. Sea animals and birds get caught in these items, or ingest them as "food", and suffer slow, agonizing deaths. 

4. Keep your plumbing in good shape and use water sparingly. Not only does this ensure that your house retains its worth and guards you and your family's health, maintaining your plumbing and having regular checks on it is important for ensuring that nothing untoward is leaking seaward. Moreover, don't waste water; water tends to find its way back to the sea eventually and the more fresh water you use, the more you are depleting a precious resource. And the more we add to water by way of cleaning products, personal hygiene products, medicines, and other added chemicals and items, the more we increase the potential for polluting the sea.

• If your house is served by a septic system, make sure it is inspected and pumped out every three years.
• Never allow raw toilet waste to enter the ocean from your property. Not only is this unhygienic for human users of the ocean (and therefore usually regulated) but it harms the sea life as well.
• Install water-saving toilets. These save you money and save on how much water is used and needs to be treated.
• Install shower heads that restrict the flow of water. Faucet flow can be likewise restricted.
• Take shorter showers, use timers in the garden for watering, turn off the water when brushing your teeth, and ensure that your washing machine and dishwasher are fill before doing a washing load.
• If you can install a gray-water system for your home, this can be of enormous benefit as you will be able to reuse a lot of your household water for watering the garden and other suitable external uses.
• Cover your pool to prevent loss by evaporation. A covered pool can cut the loss of water by up to 90 percent.
• Support budget measures as needed to upgrade municipal wastewater treatment systems to improve pollution control.

5. Keep your boat green. When cleaning and sprucing up your boat, think about the ocean. Most of what you're doing on a boat will end up in the ocean, so it's important to be thoughtful about the impact of your activities. Prefer cleaning solutions, paint, varnish, etc., that have been approved as ocean-friendly. If you're not sure, contact your local boating association or a local marine environment association for more details relevant to your area

6. Join a beach or underwater clean-up group. If you want to get hands on and do something really useful, clean-up is a great way to get involved. Beach clean-ups are usually organized locally by community groups or municipalities, and in some places they're even country-wide on specific dates. These are great for family outings because children will be able to help collect trash from the shoreline and will have a real sense of achievement once it's done. For underwater clean-ups, you'll need to know how to dive but this is just as satisfying, knowing that you're removing the plastic bags, plastic items, twine, containers, etc., that inevitably find their way to the ocean.

• Don't litter. This simple decision can make a huge difference; every piece of litter near the seaside has the potential to end up in the ocean, whether it makes its way there by wind, tides, or by animal carriers. Put all of your trash in designated trash bins or take it home for proper disposal.
• Volunteer at a local wildlife preserve located near a body of water to help out on a cleanup effort. Your work will be appreciated.
• Consider donating your time or money to a non-profit organization whose mission includes ocean conservation.

7. Carpool. This can help you take the fast lane to work or school, as well as helping you to conserve gasoline. You might consider buying a hybrid car, which uses regenerative braking and saves gasoline and money. Also, you could use mass transit, such as trains or buses. Doing this allows you to do things such as reading the newspaper or actually enjoy your coffee, which you couldn't do peacefully while driving. Diesel, gas, and smokestack emissions can lead to haze, toxic emissions, or acid rain, which can lead to harmful effects in the oceans.

soruce : www.wikihow.com

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Eat Healthy at a Fast Food Restaurants

Whether you're eating on-the-go, on a budget, or with friends who couldn't care less about their diets, you'll probably end up eating at a fast food restaurant despite your best efforts to avoid them. They're everywhere, they're cheap, and they're convenient -- so what's a dieter to do? Take the following steps to minimize the impact of fast food on your diet.  

1. Read the nutrition pamphlet. If there are certain fast food chains you tend to patronize, visit their websites for nutritional information. Determine what they have to offer that's more nutritious and lower in calories than other items on the menu. Make a list to keep in your wallet or purse, in case you forget ("...which one had 700 calories?"). If you don't have a chance to do your fast food homework, some places have nutritional information pamphlets available near the registers. If so, skim through one before ordering, if you can.

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2. Read the ingredients list. The nutrition pamphlet won't tell you everything. Trans fat from the process of hydrogenation is a major risk factor for heart disease. Due to FDA regulations, if a food item has less than 0.5g of trans fat "per serving," it will be rounded down to 0g on the nutrition facts sheet. The only way to make sure you aren't eating any trans fat is to scan the ingredients list for any hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, and avoid eating food items which contain them.

3. Plan ahead. Most major fast food chains have websites, and most now offer the nutrition information on-line. Select your meal and tally the calories before heading to the restaurant.

4. Cast away the condiments. A salad is a healthier choice until you soak it in high-fat salad dressing and sprinkle it with cheese. Avoid or minimize the following:

* Salad dressing - contains fats in the oil, but read the labels, because sometimes the fats are "good fats" like extra virgin olive oil. The lowest-calorie salad dressing is usually the healthiest choice. Don't feel like you have to use the whole package. A small drizzle may be all you need.

* Cheese - high in saturated fat, but if your diet is low in calcium and you cannot tolerate milk, one slice of cheese will help provide that.

* Sour cream

* Ketchup - many U.S. brands have high fructose corn syrup

* Sauces which are high in sugars and/or fat. If you need a sauce for flavor, look for the one with the fewest calories. Mustard is good for sandwiches, Vinegar is good for fries, and lemon juice is good for salads.

* Syrup

* Salt (in excess). Be aware that sodium is hidden throughout most fast foods, so the foods you would think have the most sodium (salted fries, for example) may actually not have as much sodium as other foods.

* Mayonnaise (a tablespoon of regular mayonnaise has almost 100 calories[1]).

5. Choose grilled chicken instead. Fried chicken contains a lot more calories and fat.

6. Ask for extra veggie toppings on your sandwich. Extra tomato, lettuce, and onion will add more vitamins, fiber, and flavor to the sandwich and only add a few calories. This can help turn a small burger into something more substantial.

7. Substitute a healthier side dish for fries. Some fast food chains allow this. For example, a small garden side salad with low calorie dressing or fresh apple slices. Choose these more often.

8. Eat no more than half of what's served to you. Fast food joints are well-known for their big portions. A single serving typically provides enough calories for two meals![2]" Split your meal with someone else. As soon as you get your meal, divide it in half and keep the other half out of sight. If you can't give it to anyone, save it for the next day's meal. You don't have to get the signature sandwich at the restaurant; you can get a regular hamburger (which is usually half the size of the signature 1/4 pound burger) instead.

9. Have water with your meal. A large soda (32 ounces) has about 400 calories that you can probably do without. Ask for water (sparkling, if it's available, and you won't miss the bubbles). At the very least, drink a diet soda to avoid the calories. If you have a sip between every bite, you'll also slow down your eating time. Numerous studies have shown that eating slowly results in eating less" which, when you're eating at a fast food joint, is definitely a good thing.

10. Continue avoiding fast food places. "Healthy" is relative term, especially in this context. Making the choices described above is only healthy if you visit fast food restaurants sparingly, when you find yourself with no other choice. If you get too comfortable and start thinking that you can eat at fast food places more often because you're confident in your ability to make "healthy" choices, the results won't be healthy at all if you become tempted by the large selection of unhealthy choices. The healthiest choice is to avoid fast food venues in the first place.

source : www.wikihow.com

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Cannabis Alleviates Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Emedicine.com "Ticks are arthropods, like spiders. There are more than 800 species of ticks throughout the world." I'm sure we all remember one time or another child or adult, discovering one stuck on us. Emedicine.com-"Ticks are the leading carriers (vectors) of diseases to humans in the United States, second only to mosquitoes worldwide." That is a staggering comparison statement considering West Nile Virus is at fault to so many lost lives through the years. Along with other life threatening illnesses mosquitos' carry pose a high threat as well. In schools nationwide, health classes teach children proper behavior to prevent Deer Tick bites. Promptly remove the tick with tweezers, making sure to remove all the legs from the skin, wrap it in foil, bring to your doctor to have it cleared as a tick with Lyme disease or not. Deer tick bites left untreated show a red, target like ring around the surface area of the bite, resulting in " Lyme Disease" or "Lyme Borreliosis." It takes away the enjoyable aspects of life and can make you're everyday routine miserable. We all know suffering from intense pain is no laughing matter, and being nauseous constantly is a burden within it's self. This is what this disease places in you're body, sucking precious time from your life, you're mind as well.Many doctors treat this disease with a regiment of antibiotics. This is the efficient way to cure this disease. Although antibiotics can upset you're stomach, affecting appetite severely. Which can result in weight loss as the disease progress. Regular sleeping patterns will be constantly interrupted causing chronic fatigue and disrupting ones circadian rhythm. Brutal sharp pains running all the way up your temples causing pain in your forehead and eyes. Stiffness down your neck, back, legs and joints can make you feel helpless, tired and irritable. In most severe cases, this is classified as " Chronic Lyme Disease" with people suffering constantly, not in spurts. Many people with Lyme disease may not think cannabis could be one of the more affective long-term medicines to help alleviate symptoms. Cannabis is a safer, more soothing medication that can eliminate pain in all forms. Medically, cannabis can be used for many reasons. It fights the aches in your joints and pain throughout your whole body. The more potent the strain brings on the more potent medication. This could be the answer to questions about cannabis being an alternative medicine with the people suffering from "Lyme Disease" who are looking for other, more natural methods of healing. After a great night sleep, you could wake up feeling refreshed instead of sore and tired. In the morning cannabis is an incredible way to help loosen your joints and stiffness from previous nights tossing and turning. Ingesting cannabis will make your appetite stronger, bringing some much needed nutrition. If all other methods of alleviating pain become hopeless cannabis could officially help you. Like a general, Lyme disease truly shows no mercy and no surrender; its time to show it whose going to be the last one standing. See additional articles in The Cannabis Times.
Source by ezinearticles.com

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5 Common Herbs To Help With Your Stress

The use of herbs for stress is getting much more common. Herbal treatments have become readily obtainable, from special teas to pills and capsules. A lot of people are looking to natural stress and anxiety remedies instead of the traditional medicine for a wide range of stress associated signs or symptoms. When it comes to reducing the side effects of stress on the body, herbs tend to be the ideal solution as they assist to decrease stress associated build ups of harmful toxins, to calm an over active mind and to help break down adrenaline as well as reinforce the heart and breathing system. All of which are under attack through continuing stress and anxiety.Here I have chosen 5 common herbs for stress that can help reduce your levels: Siberian Ginseng, Ashwagandha, Rhodiola Rosea, Valerian Root and Chamomile.Today taking natural herbs for stress is an easy and often inexpensive way to overcome stress.Siberian Ginseng is an especially useful herb in the treatment of stress. It can increase energy levels and diminish irritability. It can combat mental and physical fatigue, relieve depression and anxiety and increase resistance to stress by strengthening the nervous system.Ashwagandha is a famed Indian herb used against stress for thousands of years. It is an adaptive herb that improves our ability to adapt to change and to productively react to external and internal stress factors. It is particularly useful if you suffer from fatigue. The anti-inflamatory properties of Ashwagandha are very important in times of stress, as excess stress can cause systemic inflammation.Another of the important herbs for stress is Rhodiola Rosea. It also stimulates the immune system which helps fight off illness and disease.One of the most common symptoms of stress is insomnia. The benefits of using natural herbal remedies to reduce your stress are numerous. Most herbs for stress can be found in many different forms such as teas, tablets, capsules or liquids.
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The Risk Of Surgical Treatment Of Hemorrhoids

If you are suffering with hemorrhoids, you are not alone. According to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, you are among the 5% of people who seek treatment at any given time and among the 50% who suffer from the problem at some point in their lives. Hopefully, your condition will not require surgery.Surgery may become necessary if other treatments fail. Most long-term therapies require some degree of dedication on your part. You may need to take a fiber supplement for life. You might need to drink more water on a regular basis. You may be sitting too much.With surgical treatments, there is always a risk of complications and the procedures may not provide hemorrhoid relief. The two most popular procedures have a cure rate of only 70-87%.Complications that have occurred include severe pain, infection, excessive bleeding and nerve damage, loss of the ability to urinate and perforation of the rectum. Pain and infection are the most common complications.The risk of excessive bleeding varies depending on the selected procedure. Rubber band ligation is accompanied by the least risk of bleeding, but the highest risk of pain. The rubber bands are used to cut off circulation to the hemorrhoids. If the bands are not placed correctly, they cause severe pain.The loss of the ability to urinate is called urinary retention. It occurs because the nerves that lead to the bladder are very close to the rectum. Surgery can damage the nerves making it impossible to urinate. Perforation of the rectum occurs rarely and is due primarily to the shape of the surgical instruments.Oftentimes the surgical procedures provide only temporary hemorrhoid relief. People undergoing the procedures should be advised about the necessity of lifestyle or dietary changes. They might need to lose weight, walk more or change the type of exercise they do.The creams commonly used for hemorrhoid relief can cause irritation of the anus and the surrounding skin. The likelihood of irritation depends on many factors, including the ingredients in the cream and patient history of allergic reactions.There are natural and homeopathic remedies for hemorrhoids. Most of them are safe, effective and unaccompanied by side effects. The homeopathic remedies contain a variety of ingredients. Horse chestnut is a common one.Many people get hemorrhoid relief from dietary supplements or oral sprays. With the right treatments, painful hemorrhoids can be cured easily and naturally.
Source by ezinearticles.com

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