September 13th, 2008

How Tocotrienols Can Benefit You

Tocotrienols are something which most people are not familiar with, yet they have a large number of benefits for the body. Along with tocopherols, they are part of the Vitamin E family and they come naturally in four different forms.

Where are Tocotrienols Found?

Tocotrienols are found in cereal grains such as rye, barley and oats and a good source of them for daily consumption is virgin crude palm oil. That is basically a type of vegetable oil that is trans-fat free that can be used in the preparation of various foods.

The Potential Health Benefits of Tocotrienols

Tocotrienols have a lot of potential benefits for the body. They are known to reduce the likelihood of you suffering from a stroke. Studies were carried out on rats and results showed that when given a tocotrienol supplement, the level of tocotrienols within the brain increased and there was a higher level of protection against strokes.

Another fantastic benefit which was found through human tests was that they can reverse arterial blockages. Palm-tocotrienol complex can reverse the blockage in Carotid Stenosis patients. In fact, it has been the only natural compound so far to be able to reverse arterial blockages. In order for this to occur, patients have to take roughly 240mg of palm-tocotrienol complex daily for a period of up to 36 months. This should reduce the amount of cholesterol plaque within the carotid artery.

One of the other main benefits is that they show excellent anti-cancer properties. It is more specifically the palm-tocotrienols that have the best benefits and they basically inhibit breast cancer cells. Whether you have estrogen-responsive or estrogen-nonresponsive breast cancer cells, Delta-tocotrienol is generally the best form of tocotrienols to induce cancer cell death. They can also deter tumor growth in certain cancers - and Alpha-tocotrienol as well as Gamma-tocotrienol have been shown to increase the life of mice that are suffering with cancer. To put it into perspective, Gamma-tocotrienol is three times stronger than tamoxifen when it comes to inhibiting the growth of human breast cancer cultured cells.

Another benefit which will interest women in particular is that tocotrienols can help with anti-aging. This is because they help to fight free radicals at a fairly fast rate. They can also protect against UV skin damage. If used alongside a good sunscreen, they can help to stop the harmful UV rays from absorbing into the skin.

As well as anti-aging, tocotrienols are excellent antioxidants. They help to prevent protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation as well. Whilst they are similar to tocopherols, they do tend to be slightly better for the body because of a slight difference in chemical structure. This difference causes them to have more anti-cancer and anti-oxidation benefits than tocopherols.

Overall tocotrienols are excellent for the body and they are vital if you want to stay as healthy as possible. They can even help to lower the blood pressure, which is a major concern for many people these days. So if you want to look younger, have better protection against cancer, strokes and high blood pressure or if you would like to reverse arteriosclerosis, then ensure that your diet includes plenty of tocotrienols.

September 12th, 2008

Can Chocolate Benefit Your Health?

If you’re a fan of chocolate you’re in good company. Chocolate is one of the most popular sweet-tasting treats in the world and has been for centuries. But part of the myth surrounding chocolate is that it tastes so good it must be bad for your health. Which gives it an air of the forbidden.

A beautifully wrapped box of chocolates has always been considered a very romantic gift. So if the special person in your life is a self-confessed chocoholic, you know one surefire way to please them on special occasions. But the surprising news from the scientific community is that this reputedly decadent treat actually has some health benefits, especially if you choose your chocolate wisely.

Is Chocolate A Health Food?

Chocolate contains over 300 chemicals, and has been the subject of a number of studies by universities and other scientific organizations. Here’s a quick rundown of the results. We have no way of proving or disproving these claims so we offer them here as a stimulus for further research. If you’re really interested in the subject, this may provide you with a starting point.

* Cacao, the source of chocolate, contains antibacterial agents that fight tooth decay. Of course, this is counteracted by the high sugar content of milk chocolate.

* The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.

* Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine, a mild mood elevator.

* The cocoa butter in chocolate contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat which may raise good cholesterol.

* Drinking a cup of hot chocolate before meals may actually diminish appetite.

* Men who eat chocolate live a year longer than those who don’t.

* The flavanoids in chocolate may help keep blood vessels elastic.

* Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood.

* Mexican healers use chocolate to treat bronchitis and insect bites.

* The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.

What Chocolate Won’t Do

There are many myths and half-truths about the effects of chocolate on the human body. Here are the latest findings on several of them.

* Studies show that chocolate is not a causative factor in acne.

* Cacao contains the stimulants caffeine and bromine, but in such small quantities that they don’t cause nervous excitability.

* Chocolate is not addictive.

* Chocolate contains stearic acid, a neutral fat which doesn’t raise bad cholesterol.

* Chocolate doesn’t make you ‘high’. You’d need to eat a huge quantity (about 25lbs at one sitting) to feel any noticeable effect.

But On The Negative Side…

1. Chocolate may trigger headaches in migraine sufferers.

2. Milk chocolate is high in calories, saturated fat and sugar.

What About Chocolate And Your Pets?

Chocolate is considered dangerous to animals because it contains a stimulant called theobromine, which they can’t digest.

Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are even more dangerous because they contain higher concentrations of the substance. This applies whether chocolate is in candy bar form, or an ingredient in cake, cookies, puddings or ice cream.

If a pet becomes ill after eating chocolate, take it to the vet immediately.

Dark Chocolate Versus Milk Chocolate

Dark chocolate contains more cacao and less sugar than milk chocolate. It follows that any health benefits would be more pronounced in dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate is allowed on the popular Montaignac diet while milk chocolate is not.

You’ll need to do a little research if you have any health concerns about eating chocolate. But with products like gluten-free and sugar-free brands finding their way onto supermarket shelves, you’re sure to find some form of chocolate you can enjoy with a clear conscience.

September 11th, 2008

Frugality and How Can it Benefit Us

Frugality simply means to abstain or go without, but it can also mean living a simpler less wasteful life and keeping within our personal finances without getting into debt. More and more people are starting to see the benefits of living this way, especially as prices of basic utilities and food are on the increase.

The most basic areas of our lives where living a frugal lifestyle can benefit us by helping us save money and reducing our impact on the wider environment are:

  • In our day to day shopping habits
  • In our use of gas and electricity
  • How we spend our holiday time
  • Gift giving and celebrating major yearly holidays such as Christmas and Birthdays
  • How we care for ourselves and our property on a day-to-day basis.

In all these areas we can not only reduce our spending but can also reduce the stresses of modern life by leading a more simple existence.

Often the main reason people turn to a frugal lifestyle is the desire or need to save money and so one of the first things that needs to be accomplished when first embarking on the a frugal way of life is to plan your finances. To do this you will have to look at your existing yearly budget. Then analysing every area of your budget to find where money is being wasted and how you can reduce those costs for the coming year. Finding cheaper suppliers for things like gas and electricity, telephone services and even grocery shopping is the first area to target. Once you see your spending written down it makes the whole process of reducing costs and wasting less a much easier and dear I say even pleasurable and freeing experience.

Living a simpler life of course does not mean going without, it just means taking a look at what you like to do and buy and perhaps looking for cheaper ways of doing and buying those things. A lot wasteful spending can simply arise from habit, like always buying the same brand of beans when the cheaper can next to it is just as good, or by not being aware of sales and offers, which could save you money in the long, run. Often living a frugal life is just a matter of making yourself more aware of the way you live and of the many opportunities around you to help you change for the better.

Apart from the desire to want to save money, a lot of people are turning to the frugal lifestyle to reduce the stress in their life. A lot of this stress stems from all the things we have in our lives, cluttering up our homes and creating more things to worry about. Clutter has often been sited as a cause of stress and by clearing the decks of all the things we don’t really need, helps to also clear our minds and rid us of worries and stresses.

Over all frugality is a positive way to live our lives, even in these modern times of technology and excess. You can still live in the 21st century and benefit from all it has to offer but you will be happier for not being in debt, less stressed and will be helping to keep our planet green and healthy for the next generations.

September 10th, 2008

Can Forbearance Benefit You?

Forbearance is when a lender agrees to let you delay your payments to them for a short period of time. That doesn’t mean the lender has forgiven the debt but just allows you to pay what you owe at a later date.

Forbearance can be an option to someone that is experiencing temporary financial difficulty. A forbearance agreement is most commonly applied to two kinds of loans, mortgages and student loans.

Forbearance Mortgage

A forbearance mortgage is when your lender agrees to let you delay your monthly mortgage payments for a short period of time. A forbearance mortgage is often combined with other programs that bring your monthly mortgage payments current after a negotiated period of time.

You sign a forbearance agreement that states the lender will require you to pay the amount you owe at a later date. This is a much better option than going into mortgage foreclosure.

Forbearance Student Loan

Most people have difficulty making student loan payments but your loan servicer may allow you to apply for a forbearance student loan. If they do grant you this option you will sign a forbearance agreement.

Under the forbearance agreement you are still responsible for interest as it accrues and any unpaid interest is added to your principal balance. That means that you will pay interest on a higher balance when you do resume your payments.

That can possibly make your monthly payment go up but is a much better option than defaulting on your loans. Defaulting on student loans can have negative effects on your credit score for years.

A lender will review and analyze your financial situation before offering the forbearance agreement. Once a lender or servicer agrees to allow forbearance, it’s very important that you follow through on any promises you make.

The best thing to do is ask your lender or loan servicer if forbearance is an option they will consider. Avoiding mortgage foreclosure or paying on your student loans is always a better choice and forbearance may be a good way to accomplish it.

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September 9th, 2008

Can HR Outsourcing Benefit an Organization?

This is a question that many organizations undergoing structural changes attempt to answer in the present business environment. Outsourcing functions such as production and developing software are perceived as “must-haves” for fast paced business plans. But HR, which has always been the heart of an establishment, is gradually opening up to outsourcing.”The HRO [Human Resources Outsourcing] market is set to grow to $3 trillion over the next five years, and just over a third of HRO potential has been currently delivered,” reported Dr. Anthony Hesketh, CRF (Corporate Research Forum) Project Researcher.

The phenomenal growth of the outsourcing industry in the current business environment is an outcome of the breakneck speed of competition among organizations. Most companies believe that an absolute focus on its core functions and goals could leverage its overall performance. Of course, this is possible only when outsourcing partners can satisfactorily deliver routine and affiliate tasks and processes. Earlier, with the expansion of the industrial sector, several businesses commissioned ‘job work’ to local, smaller outfits especially where logistics and manufacturing were concerned. However, when it came to HR functions, it was by and large left to the administrative department. On the other hand, big multinationals and diversified firms which had to manage a large number of employees at multiple locations and different levels in the hierarchy needed to set up a separate HR department. With the emergence of the internet and better communication technologies, the business environment underwent rapid changes. Today, offshore service providers find it worth their while to upgrade skills and move up the value chain to be able to deliver specialized services requiring managerial capabilities. Ongoing surveys reveal a major paradigm shift towards outsourcing strategic functions. Since the beginning of this century, Human Resource Management, perceived as an integral part of an organizations strategic profile, has attracted many outsourcing partners.

At present, pension/benefits, stock options, health benefits, and payroll are among the most popular HR programs being outsourced partially or completely. According to a survey by The Conference Board and sponsored by Accenture, more than three-fourths of executives in large North-American and European firms currently outsource more than one HR function.
The explosive industrial growth witnessed all over the world was also responsible for the evolution of ‘out of the box’ thinking in management practices. Across business schools and boardrooms, the Human Resource function is recognized as a component that can yield competitive advantages, especially in information and knowledge sectors. It is seen as a tool to attract and retain talent, build workforce capabilities, encourage leadership, develop successive management pipelines as well as handle grievances. With high attrition rates plaguing most people-intensive industries, an active and vibrant HR can catapult its organization into the “most coveted organization to work with” ambit.

From the organizational point of view, outsourcing this complex and specialized function needs to be handled carefully. Experts believe that HR functions need to be broken down and classified into those which can be outsourced and those which cannot. For example, placement firms play a vital role in attracting talent, but final selection and induction of a candidate cannot be outsourced since it involves direct and complete involvement of the core team to be able to work together. However, other functions like payroll management, training and skill development, and even conducting performance appraisals in coordination with the organization can lessen the workload considerably.

However, some espouse a contrary view. Unilever, an Indian company that broke out from the standard mold, decided in 2006 to outsource most of its HR functions to Accenture. Viewed by many skeptics as a foolhardy decision, its full impact is yet to be seen. One factor that may affect companies adversely were such a move popularized, is the loss of HR practices as a key differentiator. It may even affect employee morale and commitment as the sense of belonging in being associated with a particular brand or company may be lost. In the long run, in spite of savings in HR budgets, outsourcing this very integral function may not be received very well by the very workforce for whom it exists. For many, an absolute solution for this dilemma is yet to be found. Until then, the debate goes on.

September 8th, 2008

Green Tea Pill Benefit - Learn How Your Whole Body Can Benefit From A Green Tea Pill Starting Today

A green tea and green tea pill phenomena is taking over the western world. Millions of people are now making a green tea hot beverage a part of their daily regime. This article will give another option and reveal how the whole body can benefit from a green tea pill as an alternative to green tea.

If you loathe the taste of Green Tea, don’t worry, as marketers have listened to you and have now created a green tea pill. The Green Tea pill is a dietary supplement which needs to be taken on a daily basis. The Green Tea pill has additional benefits that are not found when drinking green tea. A green tea pill comes with no unpleasant after taste.

There has been a lot of news broadcast in recent years about Green Tea and the numerous health benefits of Green Tea. There are extensive health benefits for drinking Green Tea that most people are not even aware of or fully comprehend. These same benefits are enjoyed by people who opt to take a Green Tea pill.

Adding Green Tea to your diet in any form, in any Green Tea product has been shown to be extremely beneficial. Whether you decide to take your Green Tea as a pill or as a drink is a matter for you. Choose a Green Tea pill that is free from chemicals and made of all natural ingredients and take a Green Tea pill every day. However, every now and then take a moment to enjoy a delicious cup of Green Tea and relax and watch the world go by.

Green tea product manufacturers have begun to exploit all the miracle health benefits of Green Tea. They have managed to do so by creating numerous alternative Green tea products as a result of the increasing and surprising popularity of Green Tea and the Green Tea pill.

Consumers are now looking at other green tea product options and one of these is to take a Green Tea pill instead of having a hot Green Tea. A Green Tea pill contains all the same antioxidants and catechins plus a green tea pill has the added health benefit of being boosted with echinacea and ginseng.

Nowadays people are far less patient than they used to be and many people claim that they don’t even have the few minutes actually needed to make a delicious hot cup of Green Tea. As a result taking a Green Tea pill has made these people’s lives so much easier.

By simply adding Green Tea to your diet in any form, in any Green Tea product has been shown to be very beneficial. The health benefits of green tea are only now being understood, while people in the East have known about the amazing health benefits of green tea for thousands of years.

Whether you choose to add Green Tea to your diet in a pill or as a drink is a matter entirely for you and your individual circumstances. However, if you do decide to opt for a Green Tea pill I highly recommend that you choose a green tea pill that is free from harmful chemicals and made of 100 all natural ingredients and take a Green Tea pill every day. However, every now and then take a moment to enjoy a delicious cup of Green Tea and relax and watch the world go by.

September 7th, 2008

Esperanto: A Language For Everyone - How It Can Benefit You, How It Can Benefit The World

The Esperanto language was developed by Dr. L. L. Zamenhof in Europe over a hundred years ago. No one knows exactly how many people speak any language fluently. Some estimates put the speakers of Esperanto at more than a million. They live everywhere in the world. Zamenhof`s idea came from his experience in European communities which were made up of separate groups who gathered together because they spoke the same language. Next door to them was another enclave of people who spoke only their own language. There may have been ten or more different groups clustered near each other, yet they could not communicate outside their little language zones.

This led to great difficulties in trade and social interaction. Zamenhof felt that he could create a simple language which everyone could learn as their second tongue. Then they could peacefully and productively communicate.

As you can imagine, there was great resistance. Learning another language is time-consuming and difficult. But many people did learn Esperanto and communication did improve.

Today people around the world who speak only their native language and Esperanto can communicate fully with each other. With email and the internet, I can and do write to people in China, Mali, Russia, Italy, France, Korea, and any other country in the world where someone speaks Esperanto.

The subtitle of this article says that Esperanto can be good for you. Here`s how: Esperanto is so much easier to learn than a national language that you can be speaking and writing it within months. Because of its logical organization of roots and affixes, what you learn about Esperanto transfers easily to your study of other languages. It is estimated that a person who studies Esperanto first, can learn another language in about half the time it would usually take.

Esperanto, the word, is made up of the root -esper- hope, the noun ending -o-, and the suffix -ant- doer. So the word means - one who hopes.

Dr. Zamenhof published his book under the name, Dr. Esperanto, one who hopes for a better world through increased communication.

All Esperantists have the same hope and invite you to learn more.

Jack Wilson is an Esperantist and translator working out of Tempe, Arizona.