The Do's and Don'ts of Using Drugs Safely

Drugs are chemicals, each one composed of molecules. For the most part, molecules composing drugs are not the kinds that occur naturally in the body. They intrude into the body's community of molecules and have a chemical influence on the way the body functions. According to medical records, many drugs influence the brain. They alter the thoughts, the sensations, the feelings, and the behavior. And this brings us to a serious consideration. Since some drugs can influence the user's mental activities, a person trusts part of his very personality to a drug, and many drugs sold over the counter are more powerful than we realize.

Drugstores handle two kinds of medicines: "over-the-counter drugs" and prescription drugs. The former are supposedly harmless preparations available to anyone. The latter, more profound in their effects, are dispensed only on a doctor's prescription. [Read Full Article]

What to Look for in a Weight-Loss Program before Signing Up

Some people can lose weight the right way on their own; others benefit from organized programs. However you achieve your goals, you'll want to learn the principles of sustainable weight loss and skip programs and products that don't work or are unsafe.

Nutritionists say that if you consume more calories than you burn, your body stores the excess as fat, causing you to gain weight. If you take in only as much as you use, your weight stays the same. But to lose body fat and weight, you'll need to burn more calories than you consume.

Experts suggest that if you want to slim down, a reasonable goal is to reduce your weight by 10 percent over six months. Most healthy individuals should aim to lose up to about 1/2 to 1 pound (about 500 grams) a week. To lose weight at this rate, you'll have to burn about 200 to 300 more calories each day than you take in. The best way to do that is to limit calorie intake while increasing exercise. [Read Full Article]

Bananas in Singles for Sale: Hooray to the American Consumers

Without a doubt, the banana is one of the most popular fruits in the world. And next to milk, it is considered to be the most complete food when it comes to providing our bodies with the needed energy and in preventing a substantial number of illnesses. It is not fattening and has no cholesterol. Bananas are rich in carbohydrates, contain phosphorus, potassium, vitamins A and C, and three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose, and glucose.

As an integral part of a diet, bananas can help prevent a number of health-related conditions. For example, since they are high in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and thus help in preventing anemia. As they are likewise high in fiber, they can help prevent constipation by restoring normal bowel action without resorting to laxatives. They can boost brain power, as researches have shown: as they are packed with potassium, bananas can assist in the learning process of students by making them more alert. Their large amounts of potassium can also help in preventing dehydration. Here's a good tip: If you are bitten by an insect (a mosquito, in particular), don't go outright for the insect bite cream. Instead, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin first. Many people find it surprisingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation. [Read Full Article]

Things we can do to Slow down Global Warming

Global Warming is in the news almost everyday - in newspapers and on television news broadcasts - around the world. Extreme weather conditions and climatic changes that are experienced across the globe have indeed become concerns of great proportion. Scientific records, in fact, indicate that the last 15 years have seen the 10 warmest years ever recorded on Earth. And in some countries, particularly those in Southeast Asia, people are seeing a trend that is now cause for worry - the periods between the occurrences of the El Nino phenomenon are becoming shorter and shorter. El Nino is an abnormal warming of sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean (as opposed to the La Nina phenomenon which is characterized by below normal sea temperatures). A few decades ago in the Philippines, for example, the periods between El Nino's used to be 5 to 10 years. "The intervals have become much shorter now - down to 3 years", according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. More instances of El Nino will mean more hot and dry spells for that country, causing drought on land and the destruction of coral reefs in the seas. [Read Full Article]

The Art of Questioning: A Guide to Teachers

Even in today's modern educational practices, the art of questioning has remained one of the best tools in promoting effective learning. In fact, questioning continues to be an essential component of good teaching. There are even some people who believe that the effectiveness of a teacher can be measured by his ability to ask good questions. And yet far too many teachers take this teaching tool for granted, or use it carelessly.

Skillful questioning involves knowledge of the various uses of the question, the characteristics of a good question, the techniques of questioning, and the techniques of handling the learners' responses. It often takes many years of classroom experience, professional reading, and self-evaluation for a teacher to be a proficient questioner. All the while, the teacher must make a constant and persistent effort to improve his questioning ability and technique. [Read Full Article]