What Exactly is the Mediterranean Diet?

By its name alone, the Mediterranean diet attracts a lot of current and would be dieters due to its exotic name. But what is it exactly? One concern of the Mediterranean diet is that it allows 40% fat consumption compared to the 30% of the American Heart Association. Let's go into more detail as it seems a waste to just let it go without giving it a fair reading.

The Mediterranean diet evolved from the respective diets of countries surrounding the Mediterranean basin. Among the countries surrounding the basin are the south of France, southern Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Cyprus. Originally introduced by American doctor Ancel Keys, the diet failed to gain popular recognition until the 1990's. Based on scientific data, people around the Mediterranean basin had lower rates of cardiovascular disease compared to Americans who, for all intents and purposes, consumed the same relative amount of fat. One possible explanation is the presence of olive oil and red wine. Olive oil lowers cholesterol levels in the blood while red wine contains flavonoids. Flavonoids are anti-oxidants that also help the body when dealing with allergenic material, viruses and cancer causing agents.

Another contributing factor to a European's better health could be the fact that they tend to walk more than Americans do. Questions have also been raised as to whether the Mediterranean diet contributes enough iron and calcium to the diet. Green vegetables and goat cheese have been found to contribute these nutrients respectively.

The thing about the Mediterranean diet is that its foods are often rich and tasty thanks to olive oil. Normally, margarine and hydrogenated oils lack the flavor that olive oil gives out. Another part of the diet is regular but moderate consumption of red wine. Saturated fat consumption is low as opposed to high amounts of monounsaturated fat and dietary fiber. This is due to the fact that the diet includes big servings of fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, olive oil and fish.

In comparing the food pyramid of the United States against the Mediterranean diet, people of the Mediterranean consumed fruits, vegetables and grain just as Americans do. The main difference lies in the fact that Americans consume more red meat. Consumption of cold water fish is also prominent in the Mediterranean diet. This results in reduced risks of heart disease, cancer and improved immune system functions. Compared to the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) pyramid, the Mediterranean diet contains little saturated and trans fat that raise cholesterol in the blood. The USDA's pyramid does not differentiate from healthy and unhealthy fats.

Characteristically speaking, the Mediterranean diet has high consumption of olive oil. Breads, cereals, fruits and vegetables likewise have a high rate of consumption in the diet. Fish and poultry as well as wine are moderately consumed while eggs and red meat are rated as very low in consumption.

The problem with most diets is that they tend to be extreme. Some diets, like the vegetarian diet, limit a person to just eating fruits, tofu, yogurt and vegetables. Other diets would require high protein intake while severely limiting intake of the other food groups. Like a user friendly computer, the Mediterranean diet does not go to extremes to achieve a desired result. The diet allows for consumption of tasty foods. This allows the dieter to actually enjoy the gastronomic delights normally prohibited by other diets. A solid testament to this fact rests on the presence of wine in the diet.

The most surprising aspect of the Mediterranean diet is that fat is regarded as a healthy dietary component. Keep in mind that it is the fat that gives food most of its flavor. Two substances, omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats, are considered to be healthy and are not restricted in the diet. Olive oil, canola oil and nuts are good sources of monounsaturated fat while fish, vegetables and nuts contain the healthy omega-3 acids. Saturated fats and trans fat, on the other hand are considered to be unhealthy as they contribute to heart disease. Red meat, butter cheese and milk are sources of saturated fat while processed foods contain hydrogenated oils from which trans fat comes from.

From what has been written so far, and from all the sources and references where this article was taken from, the Mediterranean diet comes highly recommended by health professionals. The Mediterranean diet maintains a healthy but tasty, smorgasbord of delicious foods with which you can maintain a healthy diet without the need to sacrifice flavor and variety. While we appreciate the people who struggle and strive to come up with healthy diets, good food carries more weight in our stomachs.

Top Ten Tips for Parenting ADHD and Spirited Kids from The Gift of ADHD

1. Advocate for your child. This means you need to “spin” your child’s behavior to friends, family and teachers. Has your child’s antics been any worse than our leading politicians? Probably not. Imagine the spinmeisters on talk shows who try to get their politicians elected. Do the same for your child.

2. Coach your child to name and feel ok with all their emotions. Kids act bad when they are mad, sad or ”scared”. When you coach your child to tell you what she feels, her bad behavior will heal.

3. Look inside yourself. Sometimes kids act out unexpressed conflicts of their parents. Are you struggling with depression, anxiety, rage? Get help for yourself and your kids will shape up.

4. Think of yourself as a coach. Your job is to coach your child to success in social, emotional and educational settings. Sometimes the answer is practice, practice, practice. Don’t get discouraged if you have to repeat yourself over and over again.

5. Ask yourself: “If my child’s most frustrating behavior was meant to teach me something, what would it be?” Many parents find themselves half distressed and half impressed at their child’s indifference to people pleasing. Sometimes this is just the lesson parents need to learn in their own lives -- many parents have become imbalanced in attending too much to seeking approval from others.

6. Forget about the competition. Your child can still strive to be outstanding without it being about comparisons to other children. ADHD and spirited children are sensitive to tension produced by parents’ competitiveness and the fear based motivation inhibits them.

7. Keep Yourself Alive! It takes a lot of energy to keep up with ADHD and spirited kids. You need to become your own energy source. Feed your own passions. If you are married, work to increase your intimacy with your partner. If you are single, keep your own love life alive.

8. Honor the kernel of self-reliance in all acts of defiance. Every time your child doesn’t do what you asked them to do, ask them for an explanation. Honor their independent thinking and consider what part of it you may want to incorporate into your discipline. Continue to insist that your child respect your rules while demonstrating respect for their own rhythm and logic.

9. Practice preventative medicine. Many times children’s bad behavior is a misguided attempt to get some precious attention. Fuel your child up with the highest octane energy you can early in the day. Spend a few minutes being entirely present with your child. Look them in the eyes, touch them lovingly and listen closely to your child. This intense presence will give them what they need and head off desperate pleas for attention. Sometimes just a few minutes will prevent large energy draining hassles.

10. Connect with your child’s teacher. Research has shown over many decades that your child’s educational outcomes are very closely linked with how much the teacher likes your child and how much they expect from your child. This is why you need to advocate for your child at the same time as you connect with your child’s teacher. Show enormous respect for your child’s teachers and try to forge a close alliance with him or her. They will go the extra mile for your child.

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Shooting For Your Dinner - Food Photography Tips

The hit TV series, MasterChef, has led many of us to call ourselves amateur foodies, whipping up beef wellingtons, handmade gnocchi with burnt butter sauce, delightful black forest cakes - even a croquembouche or two in our home kitchens. Of course, to show off your gourmet creations, you need some professional looking photographs to do them justice.

Food photography can be tricky and requires some careful preparation - in fact food stylists can spend days preparing for a single meal shoot or buy 200 heads of garlic to find three that are perfect for the shot. Here are some tips and tricks to get the tastiest and most tantalising morsels in your food photographs:

Play with angles - your natural inclination will be to look down on the food from a 45 degree angle as that's how your dinner plate arrives at your table. But different types of food have their own good and bad sides and not all food presents at its best when you're looking down at it. Get close up macro shots for detailed texture and experiment with angles and perspective.

Style your shot - food styling is a laborious chore but you can take some good tips on board. Style your food to look its best by presenting it on white crockery against a relevant background. Consider pairing dishes with their ingredients or include interesting looking utensils and cutlery in your shots. Cut into your food to present beautiful cross sections and tasty looking morsels.

Work quickly, but thoughtfully - food stylists recommend working quickly as food starts to wilt, dry out and go limp with the passage of time. However, take advantage of the fact that your subject matter won't walk away from the set. Spend time setting up your shot, moving around and changing positions to maximise your time.

Experiment with equipment - digital cameras let you take plenty of shots and experiment with different settings. Digital SLRs like EOS cameras allow you to adjust the white balance as you go, which can brighten up the colours of your food and make dishes look more appetising. Get up close with your zoom lens and with your feet.

Cheat - if you're not going to be eating the food, you can try some nifty cheats and tricks from the pros. Use mash for ice cream that won't melt, glue for milk that won't make cereal soggy or motor oil on pancakes instead of syrup. Meanwhile, for the fresh out of the oven steam, microwave water soaked cotton balls and place them behind food.

When it comes to great looking food photos - practice makes perfect. You can take photos of beautifully plated meals at your favourite restaurant or cafe. With the right food styling and photography experience, even the most boring takeaway box can be made to look like a gourmet feast.

Helpful Tips In Focus And Concentration

The ability to focus and concentrate on something is a gift that is possessed by a few people who have developed the art of putting their heart and mind into a single purpose. Achieving focus and concentration is a feat in itself because it is difficult to get to this state of mind due to the various disturbances.

The modern world’s technological inventions have made it very difficult, sometimes impossible, for man to focus and concentrate on a single thing. Wherever a person goes, there will always be a disturbance that will veer away his attention, focus, and concentration.

Even the remotest areas now have television sets or radios to disturb man’s ability to focus and concentrate. If not these inventions, there are people, things, or just about anything that will succeed in getting man’s attention.

While achieving focus and concentration may seem very difficult if not outright impossible in today’s world, it gives man a ray of hope to note that focus and concentration can be acquired through practice. A person can attain the state of being focused on a single goal if he is disciplined and willing to learn.

A good example is a person cramming for an exam. During this time, that person‘s adrenaline is at its highest level and he is forced to train and discipline himself into focusing and concentrating on one single thing - and that is the act of studying. With proper motivation, man can learn to take control of his mind and achieve focus and concentration.

A man who wants to focus and concentrate on something should make sure that he has the best environment possible for his intended task. A person‘s ability to control his mind and focusing in a single thing may depend on the quality of his surroundings. However, people have different preferences. What may work for one person may not work for another, and vice versa.

There are people who can remain focused on a thing despite loud surroundings. It is really just a matter of disciplining and taking control of one’s mind, and making it perform a seemingly difficult task. There are people who easily get distracted even by the slightest noise. On the other hand, there are people who can remain focused despite loud music in the background.

If a noisy room is not your cup of tea especially when you have to do some focusing and concentrating, then try to find a place that is more conducive for your style. It is hard to discipline a person’s mind, particularly if it has been used to a certain setting. However, you can will yourself into focusing and concentrating wherever you may be although this may take some time. If you discipline your mind and refuse to be distracted by anything, you will be able to focus and concentrate anywhere in the world.

Psyching yourself into believing in the importance of what you are focusing and concentrating on will ultimately get you into the habit of being focused no matter what. It is important to focus your eyes and your mind on a single thing and ignore outside forces. The mind can easily do this by blocking other information or matters that are not related to the thing being focused on.

A trick that is sometimes used by public speakers who have to deliver speeches in front of many people is to focus on a single person and bid the mind not to get distracted by any noise or movement coming from the rest of the crowd. You can create your own techniques just so you can get yourself to focus and concentrate on just about anything.

Focus and concentration is important in anything a person does like studying, planning a business strategy, or even just preparing a guest list. The last example may be trivial but if your mind flies, you will never be able to accomplish even a list of ten people.

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Female Self Pleasuring Tips For The Adventurous Woman

Unlike men, whose sex organs are available for self pleasure by stroking and stimulating any time of the day, women have to contrive to entice their clitoris out of hiding and available for pleasuring. One of the most common female self pleasuring tips is the use of sex toys and gadgets.

Luckily for us, female self pleasure toys can be found in our very own kitchen. Sure, jokes have been made about this, but it’s true. The usual suspects here are any penis-like vegetables and fruits, like carrots, cucumbers or zucchinis. Bananas are too soft to do the trick. Sometimes, un-penis-like fruits and vegetables can create another type of female self pleasure as a form of taste aphrodisiac: cherries, grapes, or sections of oranges. Feel free to use different female self pleasure techniques to enhance your arousal. Inserting any of the penis-like items inside your vulva, as you would a dildo will add to your self pleasure. As a female self pleasure technique, the use of fruits and vegetables has a lot going for it: It will not endanger you physically, in contrast to, for example, using a bottle, which might break inside you, or, a piece of wood, which might splinter--ouch! I am not sure that anyone has ever used an open bottle for this purpose, but it is worth cautioning all women against it: An open bottle will form a-suction inside you and it would be quite impossible to remove it without the embarrassment of explaining to a doctor why you are depositing strange objects inside your vagina.

After you’ve pleasured yourself with just about everything you can from your fridge, you might want to try a dildo. Dildos have been manufactured to be sold and used especially for female self pleasuring. They were not merely created to aid men in their sexual fantasies when they watch all those erotic movies. Erotic movies, however, are very informative when it comes to learning how to use dildos. Use a dildo to massage your clitoris and slide it in and out and around your vagina. Even better are the men, who possess the lingual skillfulness similar to a dildo but more importantly, they are selfless enough to aspire to that ability. Either way, these great female self pleasuring techniques will open up a whole new world of female self pleasuring ideas.

Copyright 2005 – E.J. Davis

Health Benefits of Olive Oil

Why should you use olive oil? Well there are several reasons. Substituting olive oil, a monounsaturated fat, for saturated fats or polyunsaturated fats can:

• Reduce blood pressure
• Inhibit the growth of some cancers
• Benefit people at risk for or with diabetes
• Lessen the severity of asthma and arthritis
• Actually help your body maintain a lower weight

healthY HEART BENEFITS

Atherosclerosis, also called hardening of the arteries, occurs when particles of LDL cholesterol stick to the walls of the arteries. Eventually these particles build up and form plaque. This plaque narrows the blood vessels and increases the work load of the heart in an effort to get oxygenated blood to the entire body. The result can be a heart attack or stroke.

Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat and antioxidants like chlorophyll, carotenoids and vitamin E. Scientists have identified a compound in olive oil called oleuropein which prevents the LDL cholesterol from oxidizing. It is the oxidized cholesterol that sticks to the walls of the arteries and forms plaque. Replacing other fats in your diet with olive oil can significantly lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack.

CANCER INHIBITOR

A study published in the January 2005 issue of Annals of Oncology has identified oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid found in olive oil, as having the ability to reduce the affect of an oncogene (a gene that will turn a host cell into a cancer cell). This particular oncogene is associated with the rapid growth of breast cancer tumors. The conclusion of the researchers was that oleic acid when combined with drug therapy encouraged the self-destruction of aggressive, treatment-resistant cancer cells thus destroying the cancer. Olive oil has been positively indicated in studies on prostate and endometrial cancers as well.

Unlike other fats, which are associated with a higher risk of colon cancer, olive oil helps protect the cells of the colon from carcinogens. A study published in the November 2003 issue of Food Chemistry Toxicology suggests that the antioxidants in olive oil reduce the amount of carcinogens formed when meat is cooked.

BLOOD SUGAR CONTROLLER

Diabetics or those at risk for diabetes are advised to combine a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet with olive oil. Studies show this combination is superior at controlling blood sugar levels compared to a diet that consists entirely of low-fat meals. Adding olive oil is also linked to lower triglyceride levels. Many diabetics live with high triglyceride levels which put them at risk for heart disease.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES

The body uses the healthy fats in olive oil to produce natural anti-inflammatory agents. These anti-inflammatory agents can help reduce the severity of both arthritis and asthma. Uninflammed cell membranes are more fluid and better able to move healthy nutrients into the cells and move waste products out. A lower incidence of osteoporosis and dementia is found in areas where people consume large quantities of olive oil.

A FAT THAT HELPS YOU LOSE FAT

Sounds impossible, right? A study conducted on eight over-weight men published in the September 2003 issue of the British Journal of nutrition yielded results that indicate a significant loss of body weight and fat mass can be achieved without increasing physical activity and making only one change in eating habits: the substitution of olive oil for saturated fats. The eight men were divided into two groups and for four weeks ate similar foods with the exception that the first group ate more saturated than unsaturated fats. The second group consumed the same number of calories as the first group, but the fats were mostly monounsaturated fat (olive oil). At the end of four weeks, the men from the second group were lighter and had a lower body-fat index than the men who ate the saturated fats.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON BUYING AND STORING OLIVE OIL

Exposure to light and heat can turn olive oil rancid. This destroys the healthy, antioxidant properties of the oil. Look for olive oil that is sold in darkly tinted bottles. Also, look carefully at the display in the grocery store. Are there glaring lights or sunny windows nearby? If so, you will want to check out some different stores. My favorite grocery store keeps the olive oil on the shelves closest to the floor and away from the fluorescent lights.

When you get home, find a dark, cool cupboard for storage. One suggestion is to pour some of the oil from the original container into a smaller container. The original container can be kept in the refrigerator for maximum protection. (The oil will become cloudy and more solid in the refrigerator.) The smaller container you select for your weekly supply of olive oil should be opaque and have a tight-sealing lid. Exposure to air is another enemy of the fragile antioxidants.

Confused about the different grades of olive oil? Extra-virgin olive oil is produced from the first pressing of the olives. It has the lightest flavor and contains the richest array of antioxidants. The next pressing of the olives produces fine virgin oil. Refined means that chemicals were used to extract the oil instead of pressing. Avoid refined olive oils. Pure olive oil is a blend of refined and virgin olive oils. I don’t recommend pure grade either. If you see the words cold pressed on a bottle of olive oil that means heat was not used when extracting the oil. Remember, heat destroys antioxidants, so cold pressed is a good thing.

One last thought on this subject. If you are considering switching to olive oil from other oils, you might be shocked when you first look at the differences in price. I’m a serious bargain hunter. I always buy generic and look for bulk discounts whenever possible. But even the most determined penny pincher understands that there are simply some things that are worth the extra money. Olive oil is one of them.

Jean Fisher - http://www.whatsfordinner.net

The Joy of Soy: Health Benefits

My husband has MS, and I have Diabetes. Researching health issues has become a "hobby" of mine. I am always interested in health issues. I am especially interested in soy because I am constantly looking for protein to balance my diabetic meals. I am not a meat eater, although I am not a vegetarian either. I believe that knowledge is my best defense.

Soy milk (also called soymilk, soya milk, soybean milk, soy bean milk, or soy drink) is a beverage produced from soybeans.

Soy milk originated in East Asia, a region where soybean consumption in food and beverages is common.

Although its English name uses the word "milk", due to its common use as a milk substitute in Western societies, it is actually a juice extracted from soybeans after soaking, grinding, cooking and straining. It is generally opaque, white or off-white in color, and approximately the same consistency as cow's milk.

Soy Low in fat, rich in protein, soy has become a staple in vegetarian diets. Soy contains essential fatty acids, phytoestrogens, vitamin E and natural anti-inflammatory agents.

Eating enough soy protein and soy isoflavones is essential to obtain soy’s full benefits. An international panel of leading soy researchers determined that 100 to 160 milligrams of soy isoflavones per day are likely needed to achieve all of the potential benefits of soy isoflavones. The FDA states that 25 grams of soy protein per day, with a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Studies show soy isoflavones, the active components of soybean, help increases bone density, thus maintain bone health. Soy isoflavones act as mild estrogens that provide support through menopause. In addition, soy isoflavones promote healthy cholesterol levels without lowering levels of beneficial HDL cholesterol.

Another study shows that soy consumption supports healthier metabolism of dihydrotestosterone and testosterone in younger men. This is critical for support of healthier prostate tissues and prostate function. I hope you have a good weekend.

RESEARCH UPDATE: Soy Protein Exerts Minor Effects on Serum Reproductive Hormones in Healthy Young Men

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of dietary soy with different isoflavone concentrations on serum hormones in healthy young men.

STUDY DESIGN. This study was conducted as a randomized, crossover trial with three groups. Young adult men 20 - 40 years of age were randomly assigned to consume either (1) a milk protein isolate (MPI) (0 mg isoflavones/day), (2) a low-isoflavone soy protein isolate (SPI) (~2 mg isoflavones/day), or (3) a high-isoflavone SPI (~62 mg isoflavones/day) for 57 days. Blood samples were collected on days 1, 29, and 57 of the study and serum reproductive hormones were quantified.

RESULTS. Both the low- and high-isoflavone soy groups had lower levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and lower ratios of DHT/testosterone compared to the group receiving the milk protein isolate.

CONCLUSION. The results of this clinical trial indicate that soy with low or high isoflavone content can lower serum concentrations of DHT and reduce the DHT/testosterone ratio. The authors suggest that these changes may have beneficial effects on prostate health support, but that this requires further investigation.

MEDICAL REFERENCE: Dillingham BL, McVeigh BL, Lampe JW, Duncan AM. Soy protein isolates of varying isoflavone content exert minor effects on serum reproductive hormones in healthy young men. Journal of nutrition 2005; 135:584-591.

Soy milk is found in many vegan and vegetarian food products and be used as a replacement for cow's milk in most recipes. Such substitution has a low impact on foods like pancakes, but there is a noticeable difference when making foods such as macaroni and cheese or quiche.

"Sweet" and "salty" soy milk are both traditional Chinese breakfast foods, usually accompanied by breads like mantou (steamed rolls), youtiao (fried crullers), and shaobing (sesame flatbread). The soy milk is typically sweetened by adding cane sugar or, sometimes, simple syrup. Tofu is produced from soy milk by further steps of curdling and then draining.

Health benefits aside, I love Soy and it's various products. Especially the soy drinks. I find they work perfect into my personal diet. They're also low in calories and carbs. They have become my personal favorite protein.

Medical Disclaimer: This site is designed for educational purposes only and should not be used in any other manner. This information is not intended to substitute for informed medical advice.

Diet Programs And Meals - The Montignac Diet

The Montignac Diet was invented in the 1990s by Michel Montignac, a pharmaceutical industry executive. In addition to helping you lose weight, this diet has the goal of improving your pancreatic health but to do so you must follow it for at least two months. The initial phase is dedicated to losing weight and is followed until you reach your desired weight. The longer this phase lasts, the better off you will be. The following phase is devoted to stabilization; it may last the rest of your life. Here are some of the diet principles.

During Phase 1 stop eating several foods. These include sugar, bread, glucides such as potatoes and processed rice, alcohol, and drinks other than fresh fruit juice, skim milk, and decaffeinated coffee. Eat as little fruit as possible and eat it only before breakfast or late at night. Add fiber to your breakfast. Eat a balanced lunch that includes vegetables, animal proteins, and cheese. Supper should be based on lipids and fibers. Start with vegetable soup. Try not to eat meat except for poultry. Eat a glucide-rich supper three times a week. During Phase 2 you may add certain items to your diet. Fruit mousse, chocolate mousse, and ice cream are acceptable as are red fruits. Don't eat cake or pastry because they contain bad glucides. Red wine is allowed, but must be drunk after the entree.

The Montignac Diet may have a favorable effect on those suffering from hypoglycemia by suppressing the production of excess insulin and thus stabilizing the level of blood sugar. Advantages of this diet are the general lack of hunger and its ease to apply. It can be unpleasant for those with a sweet tooth.

Here are two sample menus:

Menu 1 (Phase 1)

Breakfast: A bowl of oatmeal. A bowl of skim milk. Decaffeinated coffee.

Lunch: A plate of ham. Grilled salmon. A plate of zucchini. A yogurt.

Supper: Onion soup. A herb omelet. Green salad. A slice of mimolette cheese.

Menu 2 (Phase 2)

Breakfast: An orange. Two slices of whole-grain bread with margarine. Decaffeinated coffee.

Lunch: Avocado with dressing. Chicken. A plate of ratatouille. A chocolate mousse.

Supper: Cabbage soup. A mushroom omelet. A green salad. A yogurt.

Some information in this article comes from a fascinating new book, La Bible des Regimes, written by Jenny de Jonquieres and published by Amerik Media. Her book describes over 80 diets and weight reduction programs. Each diet is presented with 5 menu plans, a detailed discussion of its advantages and disadvantages, and a whole lot more. La Bible des Regimes is available only in French at present.

Banish Depression with Massage Therapy from a Therapeutic Massage Spa in St. Paul, Ramsey County MN

Depression is experienced by most people at some point in life, or even more often. It is good to know that there are natural treatments available and affordable for everyone. One of the most effective natural treatments against depression is massage therapy such as reflexology massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, sports massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy. Make sure, though, that you get your massage therapy from qualified massage therapists at a reputable therapeutic massage spa in St. Paul, Ramsey County MN.

According to the National Institute of Mental health clinical depression hits over 20 million Americans above the age of 18 every year. That refers only to diagnosed clinical depression and does not even cover the usual depressive mood that hits most people every so often.

Clinical depression is a diagnosed illness that can be quite serious. It is characterized by a feeling of hopelessness and anxiety. The patient has sleeping problems, headaches, loss of appetite, digestive disorders and general fatigue.

Once clinical depression has set in, it interferes with the normal activities of daily life more and more each day to the point that the patient may find it difficult to function in the most severe instances. Some patients may even attempt to commit suicide. Non-clinical depression, or what is often referred to as the blues, could develop from a simple mood to severe clinical depression if ignored.

One of the primary chemical triggers of depression has been found to be the depletion of serotonin levels in the patient’s brain. This is why most antidepressants prescribed by doctors are actually meant to increase levels of serotonin in the patient. The Northwestern health Sciences University has experts, however, who caution against medication and prefer natural methods to increase serotonin levels in the body.

One of the first things that need to be done to increase serotonin levels is to eliminate or at least drastically reduce stress. Stress has been found to trigger a vicious cycle of causing depression which heightens stress even more and further deepens depression. To relieve stress naturally one should practice mindfulness or focusing on the moment. This can be done through meditation, yoga, tai chi or just by spending quiet relaxed moments thinking positive thoughts.

Proper nutrition is also crucial. Omega-3 fatty acids from cod liver oil, flax seed, flax seed oil, salmon, mackerel, herring sardines and trout are required by the brain for serotonin production. The amino acids of protein are also building blocks of serotonin. These should, however, be properly balanced with complex carbohydrates. While protein should be consumed at daytime, complex carbohydrates should be eaten at night to induce better sleep.

Massage therapy has been found to be most effective in both preventing and treating depression. Massage therapy can relieve stress and can trigger the production of feel good body chemicals such as endorphins and serotonin.

Of course you have to choose a highly qualified and professionally trained massage therapist. Do not risk your health and well being by going to an uncertified masseuse or masseur. Without proper massage therapy training, such a masseuse or masseur may leave you with aches and pains that you never had before. This will only further worsen your depression.

You can choose any massage modality since all massage modalities are equally effective for the treatment of depression. If you happen to be pregnant, then the most appropriate choice would be pregnancy massage therapy. Otherwise you can avail of reflexology massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, sports massage therapy or Swedish massage therapy from a therapeutic massage spa in St. Paul, Ramsey County MN.

Boat Launching Tips For The Beginning Boater

When it comes to launching a boat your entire success depends on how well you’re prepared. Everyone will benefit if you take the time to prepare your boat before you even reach the ramp.

You should conduct an inspection of your boat prior to using it since there is always the possibility of damage or failure on the hull. Then, before backing down the ramp you should raise your outdrive or outboard motor and remove all tie-down straps and binders. It is also important to make sure that the boat winch is engaged and that it is attached to the eyebolt on the bow of your boat.

While waiting in line to launch your boat take the time to check your fuel level, vital fluids and make sure all your safety equipment is on board. Make sure the drain plug is installed, without the drain plug you won’t be going very far in your boat.

Once it’s your turn to launch it would be a good idea to have a partner so the entire process can go smoother. It’s best to have one person down the ramp while another holds a pre-attached line to help guide the boat off the trailer. It’s also a good idea to have someone in the boat so they can drive it away from the trailer after it’s in the water.

Backing The Trailer Up

One of the hardest parts of launching a boat is reversing with a trailer. To do this you should first position your vehicle and trailer in as straight a line as you can manage and stay about a trailer’s length from the place where you are going to reverse to. While you slowly reverse, keep your eyes on the trailer from the driver’s window, then start turning the steering wheel to the right slightly.

To steer gently and progressively you should grab the wheel at the bottom, this makes it easier to add more steering to correct after turning too much. Grabbing at the bottom will also prevent you from over-turning the wheel. It also provides you with an excellent reference point without having to look, you always know that at the lowest point your wheels will be straight again.

Once you notice the trailer start to turn then you should straighten slightly while reversing. The trailer will jack-knife if you straighten too late or move the wheel too quickly. Soon you will be steering in the opposite direction while reversing. Have the front of the vehicle follow the trailer and watch where the trailer is in case you need to make corrections.

Look in both mirrors and continue to reverse in a straight line. Back up carefully and slowly. If you notice more of the trailer in one mirror then steer towards that side in order to get the trailer to move the other way. When correcting only use small steering movements.

You can also move forward to straighten the trailer if needed. Be sure to practice some at home until you are confident with your ability so that you won’t have to learn the hard way at the ramp while people wait in line behind you.

Launching Your Boat

When launching your boat there are a few simple suggestions you should follow to make it easy and simple. Make sure you observe the direction signage. Keep the rear wheels of your tow vehicle out of the water, which means you are also keeping the exhaust pipes out of the water.

Immersing the exhaust pipes in water may cause the engine to stall. Make sure you set the parking brake and have the transmission in park. Start the boat motor to make sure water is passing through the engine cooling system and that there are no fuel leaks.

Once the boat operator is ready you can release the winch and disconnect the winch line from the bow. By now your boat should easily launch with a simple shove or just by backing off the trailer under power.

As soon as you launch your boat return your towing vehicle and trailer to the parking lot so the next person can launch. If there is any final loading required you can do that at the transient mooring float so that you aren’t in anyone’s way.

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Fitness: Improve the Health of Your Diet by Avoiding White Flour

I’d like to share some research with you that may make you think twice before eating your next sandwich on white bread. It will also help your efforts to lose weight and will improve your health.

Eliminating white flour in favor of whole wheat has long been the foundation of healthy eating and is a big part of the latest eating right pyramid put out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Studies now show that there is a chemical in white flour, called alloxan that makes it look “clean” and “beautiful”. The problem is that alloxan damages the beta cells of the pancreas so they no longer produce enough insulin and the cells malfunction and die. So you may be devastating your pancreas and putting yourself at risk for diabetes by eating “beautiful” flour.

In fact, the Textbook for Natural Medicine calls alloxan “a potent beta-cell toxin”.

Scientists have known about this for years because diabetes researchers commonly use the chemical to induce the disorder in lab animals. In a research sense, giving alloxan to an animal is similar to injecting that animal with a deadly virus because alloxan and the virus are both being used to cause illness.

It also applies to brown rice compared to white rice. The unprocessed brown rice is more natural and therefore has a higher nutrient content, better protein digestibility and a lower insulin response.

It’s also wise to get in the habit of checking the labels of grain products because they’re not all created equal. Although originally they were until we started tampering with it to make white flour and other enriched products.

The bottom line is that whenever you take a natural food and change it by deleting nutrients or adding chemicals, you will always have less nutritional benefits. Whole grains are just another example that nature knows best.

5 Tips For Buying Cosmetics Online

Buying cosmetics online can be a tricky thing. There are so many purveyors of different kinds of cosmetic goods that you may at first feel overwhelmed by your options. There are a few different things you can do make the process easier.

Tip 1. Consider what it is exactly that you're looking for. Do you need age fighting moisturizers or a new lipstick? Are you interested in classic colors in nail polish or the hottest new sparkle lip gloss?

Depending on what you want, you may find that certain companies manufacture specifically what you are looking for. Entering a specific term into the search engine keyword box like 'eye cream' or 'lip gloss' rather than 'cosmetics' or 'lotion.' You'll find a more targeted return of choices in websites to choose from.

Tip 2. Be careful of purchasing from individuals or non-manufacturers. You don't know how long the store has had the product in storage or how it is stored.

Unless it is a general store that you trust and you are just looking for something basic like hand lotion, then well known chains will work well for you. Drugstore.com, for example, is a general purveyor of cosmetic goods as well as many other things. Make sure that there is a return policy that allows you to get a full refund if you find that the product is sub par.

Tip 3. Never buy used cosmetics online. Auction sites like eBay are popular places for people to list 'lots' of mixed cosmetic items, some used and some not. Considering the fact that lipsticks and mascara has a shelf life of only six months in your own makeup kit, it doesn't make sense to spend money on someone's used items that are probably already passed their expiration date. Not to mention hygiene. Just don't do it.

Tip 4. Purchase cosmetics like lipstick and mascara directly from the manufacturer. If you choose to go through a company like Aloette or Mary Kay that has sales representatives, then locate a local representative ask to have a show at your home for you and your friends.

This way you can get facials and try many of their products before purchasing. Should you decide to purchase from the company, they usually have a personal website for each sales representative so you can support her and still have the convenience of buying cosmetics online.

A recommended site for information on beauty products is: tips.com" target=new>http://4beautytips.com

Tip 5. Word of mouth is a powerful thing. There are websites online where women have posted their experience with different online cosmetics companies. Your friends most likely have purchased from a specific company that they like. Many sites even have beauty advisors that can help you find the right color and look to suit you.

No matter where you choose to purchase your cosmetics, take into account that the prices do not reflect shipping and tax. These can add quite a bit to the bill, but some sites offer free shipping for purchases over a certain amount. Keep an eye out for 'web only' clearances and sales and save while you enjoy the convenience of online shopping.

Important Tips On How To Control Dog Aggression

* There are 2 situations in which aggression between dogs occur.

* 1-When one dog is unfamiliar with another dog.

* 2-Aggression between familiar dogs that live in the same household.

* Dogs may encounter other dogs while their owners are walking them. A dog that is not well-socialized might have dominant body language and stare other dogs straight in the eyes, which is conceived to be a direct challenge. Dog's that are otherwise friendly when not on a leash will more likely bark and lunge at another dog.

* To avoid these confrontations owners should stay alert and keep their dog on a short leash. They should have voice control at all times and not let their dog sniff or come in contact with another dog. To prevent aggression when a dog is on a leash is to train the dog early on he can't visit with every canine he meets. Owners should also teach their dog to sit and wait for permission before approaching another dog. They should also train their dog not to pull on the leash. Behavior and basic obedience training along with voice control can help in preventing aggression and fights.

* Along with keeping their dogs on a leash and with proper training owners can also avoid fights by keeping their dogs from roaming free, neutering them before one year of age, and start socializing their dogs when they are in the puppy stage between 5 and 10 weeks of age.

* There are 4 behavioral clues to look for if a fight is threatening to start:

* 1-A stern, deliberate, and targeted stare.

* 2-Body language; the tail held stiffly up or down; lips pulled tight against the teeth.

* 3-Rigid body movement.

* 4-A dominating posture stance.

* When dogs first meet they tend to establish a social hierarchy and determine whose top dog. They become involved in loud barking and growling. Sometimes the aggression escalates and a fight ensues where one dog latches on to another dog.

* If you intervene don't put your hands or get between them to avoid getting bitten yourself. If another person is there you can take your dog by the tail or hind legs and the other person takes the other dog and both pull back until one of the dogs loosens its grip. You should then move away quickly. This can be risky since dogs will sometimes bite whoever is hanging on to them.

* Fights and aggression that occur between dogs in the same household will be about those resources that are considered most important to dogs. These include territory, possession, food, sleeping-quarters, and favored people.

* Fights often come about over their sleeping territory near their owners, treats, food, owner attention (or greeting the owner upon return).

* Dogs of the same sex occur most often than those of the opposite sex and seems to be most intense between female dogs. Fights can also start between familiar dogs where one is obviously dominant.

* There are some familiar characteristics when it comes to fighting between dogs in the same household.

* A-Adult dogs over 3 years old.

* B-Dogs fight only when the owner is present.

* C-Dogs are of the same sex.

* D-A clash often between dogs is which one will be the dominant dog in the family pack.

* An owner might try punishment but typically this only promotes more aggression and creates new problems. Any breed of dogs can get into fights, and it depends more on the dogs training, temperament, and socialization.

*Some fights can start so quickly the owner is caught off guard, but many times you can spot behaviors that signal problems ahead. Keeping a watch out for these signs can keep a fight from starting.

*Of course the best approach is prevention and giving your dog proper training and providing good leadership.

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Softball Coaching Tips � Quick Nutrition Tips for Your Players

I’m sure that majority of softball coaches appreciate the importance of good nutrition to their players. However, as a softball coach, your players may not have the same level of appreciation you have for nutrition, much less the same level of understanding.

That’s perfectly normal, of course, especially if you’re training younger players. They still don’t appreciate the fact that what they eat will ultimately have an effect on how they perform not only on the field but on their daily activities such as going to school, doing their homework, etc.

So here are some quick nutrition tips you could teach your players. I made them easy enough to remember so that your players would be able to integrate it with their daily routine and make it into a habit.

Here you go:

Never Skip Breakfast

It may sound trite but the truth is that really, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Many players miss breakfast because they’re running late for class or for practice.

But without having breakfast, your players will have a huge deficit when it comes to their required calories to function. And as athletes, they need more than the usual amount of calories in their body. With calorie deficit come feeling of sluggishness, slow reaction times, etc.

So remind your players on the importance of having breakfast daily.

Stay Well-Hydrated

Most players never drink enough fluids. Usually, they wait until they feel thirsty before loading up on water or sports drinks. But by the time they feel thirsty, they are already dehydrated and the effects of dehydration may already manifest itself on their performance.

That’s why you should tell your players to stay well-hydrated before going to a game. Also have sports drinks or water ready in the dug out to keep your players supplied with fluids. I know it’s obvious, but hydration becomes even more important when you’re playing during very hot conditions.

Stock Up on Carbohydrates During Games

Carbohydrates are the main fuel that your body uses to perform different activities. That’s why it’s important that your players are well-stocked on carbohydrates before the game.

But how about protein and fat? Protein is good for repairing damage on your body. Meanwhile, fat can also be an energy source, albeit an inefficient one. That’s because fat burns more slowly than carbohydrates.

Aside from that, fat is also difficult to digest. So eating fatty foods during a game would be a bad idea because it will make your players feel sluggish.

Load Up After Games

Your body needs to recover after every game or practice. So you need to refuel with carbohydrates. As a guide, eat 0.3-0.5 gram of carbohydrates for every pound of your body weight. That should keep you with enough fuel to do your activities for the next day and the next game.

So let me summarize everything we discussed here. When it comes to sports nutrition, the easiest for your players to remember include never skipping breakfast, keeping well-hydrated, having enough stocks of carbs during games and eating enough to help you recover after games and practice.

Making Homemade Carp Baits And Essential Nutritional Fishing bait Ingredients!

So-called food baits are very effective for modern carp fishing; especially where extreme fishing pressure on many waters means that using quality nutritional bait equals success instead of failure! But how would you make an effective homemade carp bait by using the optimal proven nutritional protein food ingredients levels? What is the starting point for working out what ideal bait protein levels are?

Carp have essential carp dietary requirements for proteins, and the aim is to provide a balanced profile of amino acids in your bait. This sounds technical, so a scoring system is used to measure the nutritional biological value of an individual ingredient.

It is best to notice that this value is based on digestion by humans. There is little data of this type from directly testing carp baits in carp digestion.

However the latest and most accurate method of measuring biological nutritional value, and most importantly for carp baits, food protein nutritional value is the new American measurement called:

The fixed dietary protein percentage:

When we mention protein carp baits it’s often misunderstood that the amount of protein type ingredients we use in our baits need to be in very high levels to be effective, as in the old high protein baits. Such protein baits were estimated to have a carp biological convertible protein content as high as 75 % protein or even as high as 95% protein.

This content was often achieved by using milk protein extractions and derivatives such as casein, lactalbumin and sodium caseinate, among others, mostly having a protein value, in human consumption of over 70% protein.

Since those times it has been observed that carp baits with much lower protein values are very effective in both the long and short-term. Today baits are often made with an estimated carp convertible protein content of just 30%, but are still termed high nutritional baits and in fact are superior in design to the old high protein baits because their nutritional properties are more balanced and efficiently used by carp while maintaining very high attraction.

The dietary protein a carp essentially needs, can be tested scientifically, using a mixture of high quality casein and gelatin, supplemented with crystalline amino acids. This is fed to the carp in graded levels, and over time, the carp are measured for optimum growth per graded protein level.

All this can be shown on a graph with Growth Response (vertical line), and Dietary Protein Level (horizontal line).

There will be a Maximum Growth Response at the point where the Optimum Dietary Protein Level is reached.

In carp nutrition tests, it’s called the Break Point and allows for the fixed dietary protein percentage to be calculated; as a percentage of the carp’s essential diet. This is the type of figure that is used to design specific proprietary, carp and koi dietary feeds.

Please notice, in the tests, food fat content was always supplemented when not present in sufficient levels in the protein and carbohydrate sources.

These provide essential fatty acid groups, needed especially for cell wall structure and maximal protein synthesis, among other uses.

Fat levels never read over 5 % to 10 % and averaging 2.5 to 5 % of the total dry feed.

There are health consequences for fish as a result of excess fat in bait, for example Vitamin E deficiency.

The protein to carbohydrate to fat ratio is extremely important in producing the healthiest carp; resulting in optimum protein digestion and assimilation. This converts to the fastest carp growth and weight gains.

More energy is released in digestion when the protein, carbohydrate and fat levels are in optimum levels. This balance has proven to catch more big fish in the long-term.

Anglers have found they caught as many carp on baits of only mid-low protein, for example: 40 % to 60 % protein, as a bait of very high, protein 85 % for example. However, much below 30% protein, (for example 25 %,) and the catch rates started to drop by comparison to higher protein baits.

The subject carp bait nutritional value bait success, hinges around the carps essential daily dietary requirements and key dietary deficiencies. If a carp water is very rich and carp have very few dietary deficiencies, then the bait that offers the best nutritional value at the least energy in digestive cost would most likely achieve the most success long-term as the carp will instinctively gain benefits from the bait an this encourages them to keep eating it.

This would be a big advantage over using low nutritional value bait on the same rich water. A great diversity of carp baits are being fed to the fish on many carp waters today. And in amounts that were unheard of 25 years ago. There are many more carp anglers feeding up the fish with free baits these days.

Consequently, the fish in different waters respond differently to this free food. This reaction may depend more on the water quality, or availability of natural food, or on the consistent level of fishing pressure or on high or low stock levels. Some waters will still produce bigger fish, regularly on poorer quality baits or instant attractor flavored carbohydrate based baits.

By far the majority of big fish waters, certainly the pressured ones in the UK and in Europe, produce the very biggest fish more and more consistently on nutritional food baits.

This is no coincidence and relates back to carp essential dietary requirements that must be met for basic survival. This does lead to many big fish treating nutritional baits as an essential ‘naturalized food supply’ since they are fed them permanently 24 hours a day on many hard pressured waters!

So in remembering that a low protein, carbohydrate based bait may only contain: 6 % to 14 % protein, as in the case of a semolina based bait for example. This is not enough to sustain a big carp healthily without supplementation with other nutrients and natural foods sources.

This is compared to fish meal based bait for example, with high levels of predigested protein ingredients incorporated. Such bait is far superior nutritionally and big fish will tend to eat this preferentially, especially in a highly stocked fishery.

So, by providing carp with the optimum ratios of nutrients at the least digestive energy cost, gives more energy to the carp to eat more food, therefore giving you more opportunity for more takes and more fish!

Arnold Schwarzenegger built his body using the principle of a high nutritional value diet with an intense exercise regime. He regularly consumed the highest muscle convertible biological value proteins, like whey and caseins. Such dietary supplements represented the very highest quality available to body builders in the world, at that time.

He consumed high levels of carbohydrates, only for extra energy, while he trained, so that his protein nutrition was maximized and converted for repair and growth and building of those huge muscles to win his Mr Universe Titles!

A very high profile UK fisherman, Julian Cundiff, achieved outstanding and very consistent big carp catch results for years, by regularly feeding his waters with high nutritional value food bait.

This approach was used extremely successfully, and the bait he used remained basically unchanged for years. It was designed using the balanced protein food and amino acid profile bait principles, derived from scientifically proven carp dietary requirements.

The appliance of scientific research may sometimes be hit and miss and there are certainly few proven absolutes in carp bait making and nutrition, due to lack of direct scientific testing.

However, nutritional carp baits have proven themselves by their catches over the decades, and the ability to understand, make and correctly apply these baits, is a massive edge in big carp fishing indeed! This fishing bait secrets ebooks author has many more fishing and bait secrets to share though his unique ebooks at his site - so read on!

By Tim Richardson.

Your Mouth Has A Lot To Say... About Your Health!

Dental health... what does it mean?

You have been taught that dental health has to do only with your teeth. You have been taught to see health in your mouth as separate from your general health. You have been taught that dental health is achieved by the use of a tooth brush (and regular check-ups) to the extent that parents see it as an a sacred duty to get on to their children incessantly to brush their teeth. This has become the bedtime norm in most homes. Yet is it the “great fake”. You have been, albeit unwittingly, induced to invest your power in a product and in what others can do for you while giving up your own personal power. This is the situation that I seek to rectify. I would return the power where it belongs, - I would return the power to you.

Your dental health has very little to do with your teeth?

This sounds like a ridiculous statement but wait a little and consider this. What if I told you that the state of repair of your car has nothing to do with the car? You will not argue here seeing that the car cannot fix or clean itself. So the state of repair of your car depends on what you, the owner, do with it. In the same way, leaving genetic defects aside, the state of repair of your mouth has to do with the owner’s use or otherwise of it. Now the notion can make sense. Your dental health has little to do with your teeth.

Let’s keep the car analogy going a while longer. If I told you that cleaning your car is all you need to do to keep it in good repair, you would be quick to point out that cleaning will not service the engine, change the sparkplugs or change the oil for you. No more will it prevent the damage of reckless or careless driving. Cleaning is relatively important for its own sake but it cannot and could never be expected to maintain the vehicle of itself.

The toothbrush is your humble servant.

Why should you then believe that using a toothbrush alone will maintain the health of your mouth? Yet so many people do believe this and the notion is rarely if ever challenged in health awareness campaigns. You are given the impression that if you brush your teeth and visit your dentist regularly you can expect that you will never suffer any disease in the mouth. This is simply not true! Attending a dentist or doctor regularly may help you to spot signs of disease earlier but it will not prevent you from contracting disease. Yet the notion persists. So many people still say in all sincerity to me “I just can’t understand how I could have a cavity. I had a check-up 6 months ago.” Another common one is “I can’t possibly have a cavity, I brush my teeth four or five times daily”. These people in all genuineness have placed their faith in brushing (and check-ups) as the answer to all dental ills. And they are often distressed and bewildered to find that their faith was misplaced. Is it any wonder that they end up blaming their dentist for their woes. Imagine the sheer frustration of finding yourself in trouble despite your firm belief that you are ‘doing everything right’.

The Mouth is the Mirror of your Body... your Body the Mirror of your Mind

This seems a very large statement indeed, yet within these few words is your power returned to you. As you begin to see in this new light and begin to understand the very nature of disease, you reclaim your power and make new choices that will serve you better by allowing you to prevent disease not only in the mouth but in your body as well. It is with this goal in mind, that I offer “Something To Chew On: A Mouth Map To Health“. In this unique book, I will take you on to a very simple and jargon-free journey. We will begin by bringing some light to the darkness of the unconscious mind and from there we will follow a clear path to the mouth and the manifestations of dental disease. With each step the light gets brighter and soon we see the whole body and its health issues simply as reflections of those we have seen in the mouth. In this way, general health and dental health are established as one and the same thing. This is the true spirit of wholism.

The Gentle Light Of Understanding

In the gentle light of understanding, we recognise, probably for the first time, established childhood patterns of fear-based belief (mind) as the primary source of our discontent and disease. These notions and beliefs give rise to the emotional stress of our lives. This stress is then shown to be the supporting matrix of our negative habits and behaviours. While our current methods for dealing with problem habits and behaviours are seen clearly for the abject failures that they are (and must continue to be) our new found wisdom and understanding allows us to create a clear map to excellent health of mind and body.

Contact Philip at philip.christie3@ntlworld.ie

How To Write Content For Publication Online

Learning how to write content for the purpose of increasing your exposure online is essential for anybody using this very effective marketing strategy! Due to the time and effort typically invested in writing, you also need to do what you can to make sure people read what you wrote! Having said that here's a 5 step guideline to use for composing content that will help ensure people find and read what you wrote!

The Idea

The subject or topic you select needs to be popular or interesting while also reflecting some type of relevance to what you represent! If what you composed is both interesting and relevant to your needs, and I'll assume it is, it will be that much more effective marketing whatever it is you offer! The relevancy will appeal to your targeted audience while the interest or popularity will get them to read what you wrote!

The Research

The content you publish MUST be accurate insofar as any 'facts' stated and this generally calls for a bit of research! In fact, assuming you're not a walking encyclopedia, in the vast majority of cases you'll need to do a little 'digging' around to better educate yourself on what you're writing about! Fear not since you have at your fingertips quite possible the largest collection of facts and figures known to mankind, the internet!

The Composing

This step may present the biggest challenge of all to anybody using content to increase their exposure online! Not many are naturally 'gifted' at putting their thoughts into words however you'll find that the more you write the easy it becomes, just like walking, talking or riding a bike! Practice makes perfect or at least brings dramatic improvements!

The Editing

Of course this aspect also involves a bit of your fretting about how what you composed looks to others! Let's face it none of us want to publish anything online that makes you look less than intelligent to the people who read what you wrote! One important note here however is to resist the temptation to edit while you're in the middle of writing since it can disrupt your train of thought! If there are errors to be corrected, trust me, they'll be there for you when you get around to editing!

The Optimizing

This particular step is of critical importance for helping you increase your exposure online with anything you've written! Strategically placing keywords throughout your content helps the search engines find it, rank it and deliver it to people looking for information like what you have published!

Learning how to write content for the internet is as simple as 1,2,3, well OK, 4 and 5 as well! The 5 steps reviewed above focus on helping you get the most out of a very viral and effective marketing strategy! To maximize your exposure online you'll also never what to overlook the use of keywords or the importance of editing your work before it's published! After all do you want the people who read what you wrote to think it was composed by a trained chimpanzee? Me neither although I have developed a strange urge for a banana right about now!

TJ Philpott is an author and Internet entrepreneur based out of North Carolina.
For more tips about how to write content for online viewing and to also receive a free instructional manual that teaches valuable niche research techniques for your online marketing needs simply visit:http://affiliatequickstart.com/