Coffee Health Benefits : Coffee may protect against disease

It’s surprising when something that was once considered questionable for your health turns out to have health benefits, usually with the proviso to use it “in moderation.” That happened with chocolate and alcohol, and now it is coffee’s turn, reports the February issue of the Harvard Health Letter. Here’s some of the mostly good news about coffee:

Blood pressure. Results from long-term studies are showing that coffee may not increase the risk for high blood pressure over time, as previously thought. Study findings for other cardiovascular effects are a mixed bag.

Cancer. Coffee might have anti-cancer properties. Last year, researchers found that coffee drinkers were 50% less likely to get liver cancer than nondrinkers. A few studies have found ties to lower rates of colon, breast, and rectal cancers.

Cholesterol. Two substances in coffee — kahweol and cafestol — raise cholesterol levels. Paper filters capture these substances, but that doesn’t help the many people who now drink non-filtered coffee drinks, such as lattes. Researchers have also found a link between cholesterol increases and decaffeinated coffee, possibly because of the type of bean used to make certain decaffeinated coffees.

Diabetes. Heavy coffee drinkers may be half as likely to get diabetes as light drinkers or nondrinkers. Coffee may contain chemicals that lower blood sugar. A coffee habit may also increase your resting metabolism rate, which could help keep diabetes at bay.

Parkinson’s disease. Coffee seems to protect men, but not women, against Parkinson’s disease. One possible explanation for the sex difference may be that estrogen and caffeine need the same enzymes to be metabolized, and estrogen captures those enzymes.

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From Donald Hensrud, M.D.

Coffee has a long history of being blamed for many ills — from the humorous "It will stunt your growth" to the ot-so-humorous claim that it causes heart disease and cancer. But recent research indicates that coffee may not be so bad after all. So which is it — good or bad? The best answer may be that for most people the health benefits outweigh the risks.

Recent studies have generally found no connection between coffee and an increased risk of cancer or heart disease. Why the apparent reversal in the thinking about coffee? Earlier studies didn't always take into account that known high-risk behaviors, such as smoking and physical inactivity, tended to be more common among heavy coffee drinkers at that time.

However, the research appears to bear out some risks. High consumption of unfiltered coffee is associated with mild elevations in cholesterol levels. And another study found that two or more cups of coffee a day can increase the risk of heart disease in people with a specific — and fairly common — genetic mutation that slows the breakdown of caffeine in the body. So, how quickly you metabolize coffee may affect your health risk.

Newer studies have also shown that coffee may have benefits, such as protecting against Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes and liver cancer. And it has a high content of antioxidants. But this doesn't mean you should disregard the old maxim "Everything in moderation." Although coffee may not be very harmful, other beverages such as milk and juice contain nutrients that coffee does not. Also, keep in mind that coffee accompaniments such as cream and sugar add fat and calories to your diet. Finally, heavy caffeine use — on the order of four to seven cups of coffee a day — can cause problems such as restlessness, anxiety, irritability and sleeplessness, particularly in susceptible individuals.

source http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/coffee_health_benefits and http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coffee-and-health/AN01354

Taking care of your wooden furniture

Wooden furniture is the most commonly found accessory around your home and whether it is the antique furniture in your living room or that gorgeous dining table that you feast on, all of them require care.

While most people believe that dusting them once in a while helps keep them in shape that could not be more far off from the truth. Wood is vulnerable to temperature changes, light and moisture. This makes it all the more important that the extensive wooden furniture around your home is pampered adequately from time to time

Here are a few tips to help keep that gloss and shine on your wooden furniture last much longer than usual. Here’s how to take care of furniture, the right way.

• Do not use cheap household cleaners and solution with ammonia

While money does not guarantee quality, it is also true that most cheap furniture cleansing agents in the market cause more damage to your wooden furniture than good. Make sure that whatever you use to clean the surface is not too strong, does not have ammonia and will not cause long term damage to the surface. Most often a wet cloth followed by a dry one will do. Depending on the surface you can use very small amount of mild detergent.

• Know about the wood and the finishing before you clean it

Wood is varied in its configuration and wooden furniture comes in a multitude of styles, composition and finishing. It is important to know what you are dealing with and what the surface is that you need to take care of before actually looking for methods to do so. In this regard, the best person to talk to would be the guy who sold you the item and if you are buying wooden furniture from a designer firm, then the catalogue that comes along will give enough information in this regard. Furnishings with old finishing need plenty of care while some of the more modern finishes like pre-catalyzed and post-catalyzed lacquers offer plenty of protection.

• Keep your wooden furniture away from Sunlight

Just remember that as a general rule, direct sunlight is not that good for any type of furniture, paintings or photographs. It is always advisable to keep stuff away from sunlight and in conditions that are stable. Use a window treatment if needed, but make sure that the sun stays away as the UV rays can cause very quick and direct damage to wooden surfaces.

• Taking care of temperature and humidity

Good coasters are a must when it comes to using wooden furniture for a long time and it is as simple as that. Glasses and containers that are too hot or too cold, discolors the surface and any moisture that is left behind will eat away into the surface. Temperature and moisture are essential for managing wooden furnishings and unless they are kept at a constant value, it is hard to expect the furniture to look good and last long. Wood expands absorbing moisture and over a period of time excess humidity will lead to cracks.

• Get them polished once every year or two by a professional

Polishing is a specialized job that requires plenty of care. While you might fancy your hand at it, leave the majority of the work to a professional and ensure that he redoes your furniture once each year. This might appear as a costly venture, but the number of years it extends the life of your furniture will ultimately make it a profitable option. Just like you need a proper vacation once in a while, so does your furniture!

• Use simple and smart ideas to prevent long-term damage

Care for the parts of the furniture that is not visible as well, as this is generally neglected leading to the start of damage that will eventually spread. Also use smart home remedies to cover up minor defects that appear once in awhile. One part of lemon oil along with three parts of olive oil is generally considered a good polishing agent. Similarly you can find many such effective and simple methods to keep the shine on the furnishings bright.

Taking care of wooden furniture is not really that hard if you just keep it simple and regular. Wooden furniture has a certain classic appeal to it that makes it timeless. That is exactly why it is still preferred to all the metallic alloys that are coming up and require far less maintenance. There is a certain old-age charm in wood and caring for it makes sure that the charm lasts longer!

source : http://freshome.com/2009/01/21/how-to-take-care-of-furniture/

How to Taking Care of My Leather Jacket

A leather jacket, though costly and a bit difficult to maintain, looks extremely suave and stylish. In fact, it lends a very sporty, yet sophisticated look to the person who dons it. If you are planning to buy a leather jacket for yourself, remember that you will be required to care for it also; otherwise it will end up being spoilt much sooner than you expect. In the following lines, we tell you how to care for leather jackets. Just follow these tips and ensure that your jacket remains looking as good as new, forever.

Leather Jacket Care Tips

• A wet or damp leather jacket should be allowed to dry naturally, without exposing it to heat or air.
• After you buy a leather jacket, apply a ‘water and stain’ protector to it. It will help avoid any water spots or stains.
• Always hang leather jackets on wide padded hangers. They will help in maintaining their shape.
• Caustic household chemicals should never ever be used to clean leather.
• For removing any salt deposits from a leather jacket, sponge it with clean water.
• If your leather jacket gets wet, let it dry complete and add a coat of leather conditioner or moisturizer to it. After the first coat gets dry, add another one.
• If, by chance, you spill something on your leather jacket, remove it with the help of a gentle brush. Thereafter, sponge it gently, with warm water and mild soap, and let the jacket dry.
• In case of dry environment, regularly condition the leather jacket. Otherwise, it will start drying out and cracking.
• Mink oil or other animal fats should not be used on leather, since they tend to darken it.
• Never ever store a jacket in a damp place. It will lead to occurrence of mildew.
• While storing leather jackets, make sure not to fold them.
• Do not store a leather jacket in plastic bags or other nonporous covers. If by chance you have to store it in a garment back, keep the zipper open, to ensure proper ventilation.
• Make sure not to use waxes, silicone formulas or other leather preparations on a leather jacket.
• Too much oil and wax should not be used on leather, since it can clog the pores and interfere with the ability of the leather to allow air in and moisture out.
• While cleaning leather, avoid cleaning preparations that contain alcohol, along with turpentine and mineral spirits.
• Depending on the frequency with which you wear your leather jacket, get it cleaned from a professional at regular intervals.

When a Man Loves a Woman

Starring: Meg Ryan, Andy Garcia, Tina Marjorino, Mae Whitman, Ellen Burstyn

Director: Luis Mandoki
Producers: Jon Avnet and Jordan Kerner
Screenplay: Ronald Bass and Al Franken
Music: Zbigniew Preisner
Released by Touchstone Pictures

The previews for When a Man Loves a Woman do this film an injustice. Heavy on poorly-edited melodramatic sequences, they give little inkling of the level of emotional honesty attained. Luis Mandoki's film succeeds not because it tackles alcoholism, but because it faces up to the trauma that eats away at the lives of the non-alcoholics in the family.

One failing of the script is that it assumes an unlikely level of ignorance from its audience. Alcoholism is such a pervasive social problem that it's hard to accept that anyone likely to see When a Man Loves a Woman wouldn't have a better understanding of the disease than the movie gives them credit for. After all, everything from high school health classes to Oprah have, at one point or another, addressed the issue. Unlike AIDS, alcoholism is not a new disease that the public needs to be educated about.

When a Man Loves a Woman centers on a seemingly-happily married couple. Michael Green (Andy Garcia) and his wife Alice (Meg Ryan) have, at first glance, the perfect relationship. But take a peek beneath the veneer, and there are problems. Alice is a habitual drinker, and her periods of sobriety are getting fewer and fewer. Meanwhile, Michael's duties as an airline pilot take him away from home for weeks at a time, keeping him ignorant of the extent of his wife's problem.

Completing the family unit are Jess (Tina Marjorino), Alice's daughter by another man whom Michael has adopted as his own, and Casey (Mae Whitman), the four-year old child of the Greens. The presence of these children, and their importance to the development of the story, is what elevates When a Man Loves a Woman. As potent as some of the scenes between Michael and Alice are, those featuring Jess or Casey invariably have greater impact. It helps that both young actresses are believable.

Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia were probably given the lead roles more because of box office appeal than an ability to bring superior depth to their characters. Surprisingly, while neither turns in an exceptional performance, they are both solid, and each has a few scenes in which they shine.

The ending is too facile, and When a Man Loves a Woman may take longer than necessary to arrive at its resolution. There are moments throughout when the script is apt to strike a raw nerve with some, as is often the case when a "real" issue is probed with any degree of sincerity. Whatever else it may do, this film does not play it safe, and the risks it takes keep the audience engaged by the drama.

When a Man Loves a Woman is about pain. This is not an original topic for a movie - especially one about alcoholism - but the script does a good enough job establishing the dynamics of the Green family that we never doubt that the story deserves to be told. The film's poignancy is its strength, even as occasional didactic tendencies are its weakness. In balance, the former by far outweighs the latter, making this a worthwhile picture.

© 1994 James Berardinelli