Can Alcohol Affect Male Fertility - The Truth Revealed

There is little doubt that alcohol affects male fertility negatively. The more pertinent question is : how much alcohol is too much to threaten fertility and what damage to fertility will too much alcohol cause?

So how much is too much? Studies have shown that drinking more than four ounces of alcohol a day is bad for your reproductive system. As an example, a bottle of beer or a glass of wine contains about half an ounce of alcohol. Alcohol concentration depends largely on the kind of drink that is consumed but taking beer as a guide, 8 bottles of beer a day will give you 4 ounces of alcohol content. This is certainly going to do harm to your fertility.

Here's how alcohol actually affects male fertility :-

Can Alcohol Affect Male Fertility - The Truth Revealed

1. Alcoholism (excessive consumption of alcohol) raises the estrogen level in men. This will in turn interfere with his hormones and sperm development. Why? Because alcohol is a toxin that tends to kill sperm generating cells in men. Worse still, chronic alcoholism can cause atrophy in the testicles, gynecomastia and the lack of sexual interest.

2. Excessive alcohol consumption causes a disorder in the gonads resulting in changes in the structure of the testicles and decline in the T serum level. A drop in the is T serum level can cause male infertility.

3. The toxicity of excessive alcohol can reduce sperm density or sperm count. Typically the volume of a single ejaculate is 3 milliliters (sometimes reaching six milliliter per ejaculate) with 120 million sperm cells per ml. But alcohol can cause a drastic reduction in these figures. In addition, alcohol can result in abnormalities in sperm size, shape and the sperm tail. Sperm motility can also be affected negatively.

4. Excessive alcohol alters the regular oval head and a straight tail of the healthy sperm cell. This change in sperm shape can seriously compromise the viability of the spermatozoa. Also, chronic alcoholism damages the sperm morphology that often has irreversible effects.

(Note: Drinking too much alcohol can also cause impotence and liver damage)

If in doubt, do a semen analysis test to determine the state of your fertility. Sperms normally take about three months to develop. So if you want to have your sperm analyzed, you must abstain from sexual activity during this period to get a clearer and more reliable reading regarding the health and the condition of the sperm that is produced.

You don't always have to see a Urologist if you want to do semen analysis. You can save yourself a lot of money by using a laboatory technician instead. Another option is to use a semen analysis test kit which can do the job for you in the privacy of your home. You can get a good, basic information about the health of your semen and sperm.

Just like in men, alcoholism also can also affect the reproductive health of mothers too. Some of the causes are : ovarian dysfunction, amenorrhea, anovulation, luteal phase defect, hyperprolactinemia etc.

To conclude, if you are serious about getting a baby, then curbing your drinking habit is an important consideration.

Can Alcohol Affect Male Fertility - The Truth Revealed

Gary Toh is the owner of Ultmale.com, a site dedicated to male fertility treatment. Get free articles, tips and tricks on the related male enhancement blog

Do You Have Gout?

Gout is one of those conditions which can be aided considerably with a change in diet and lifestyle, and is a form of arthritis which is normally associated with "high living". This condition causes a rather painful accumulation of crystals of uric acid around the joint. I have seen many gout patients over the years, and I think I have seen one or two a women over the years in my clinic complaining of this rather painful condition.

I can still remember the first gout patient I ever saw, I was practicing in the student clinic in the 90's. A male aged mid forties came in complaining of a very painful right ankle and big toe. He was a mechanic who enjoyed a beer, in fact he said: "Eric, I'll do anything you suggest, I won't be stopping my beer however, but I can't live with this pain anymore".

A gout attack of pain usually strikes unexpectedly, but generally subsides in a few days with treatment. However, some guys can experience pain for several weeks with gout attacks often re-occurring and without the correct management the attacks of pain may become more frequent and can be very debilitating indeed. You should contact your doctor if really severe pain in a joint recurs or lasts more than a few days, especially if the pain is accompanied by chills or fever. Now let's have a closer look at gout, what it is and what causes it and more importantly, how we can help the gout patient with some good natural medicine suggestions.

Do You Have Gout?

Gout is arthritis

Gout is regarded as a form of rheumatism and is one of the most painful forms of arthritis. There are different types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis, the "wear and tear" arthritis of the larger joints like hips, knees, back, etc. Then there is rheumatoid arthritis which is the inflammatory (heat) arthritis affecting the smaller joints generally like the writs, fingers, etc. And then there is gout, what I call the "red-blooded male's arthritis". I can remember reading a book awhile ago about the era of the large ocean going vessels such as the Endeavour during the golden age of discovery. Many officers on board such vessels suffered terribly from gout. Mind you, they were the commanding men who drank plenty of rum and ate plenty of beef with lashings of gravy. So what has changed? Blokes still like to command, drink rum and coke or cold beer, and eat hot steaks and what red-blooded guy doesn't? I have never seen a committed vegetarian suffering with gout, and very much doubt they even exist in this country.

Signs and Symptoms of Gout

Recurrent, acute attacks of pain, tenderness, redness, inflammation and swelling around the smaller joints - especially the joint of the big toe. Why the big toe you ask? Common sense - because it is the joint at the lowest point of the body, the area where deposits of uric acid and other wastes tend to form due to gravity. If you are right-handed, the right big toe joint will be more likely affected than you left, and vice versa. This is because you step off and lead with your right foot as you walk, and is will have therefore a slightly better circulation of nutrients (and therefore also a little more deposition of wastes) than your left foot. Reflexologists often talk about "crystals" forming around the toe joints, and you can feel "crunching" sensations if you prod firmly under your toes or wiggle the toe joints at times. The patient can also feel quite a sharp and rather intense pain in a small joint, particularly the toe or wrist. The affected joint can be red, hot, swollen and even throbbing. It may feel "on fire". As earlier mentioned, the pain can be so unbearable that even a bed sheet can cause excrutiating pain.

Gout statistics

· Gout afflicts approximately up to 0.5% of the population of the western world.

· Over 95% of gout sufferers are men aged 30 or over.

· Gout is twenty times more likely in males than women.

· Gout is strongly associated with being overweight and having high blood pressure.

· Gout can also occur in women, more commonly after menopause.

· Maori (New Zealand indigenous peoples) and Pacific Islander peoples in particular tend to have high uric acid levels and are predisposed to gout, especially the Maori patients I see who love abalone, mussels, roe (fish eggs like caviar) and crayfish (like lobster). I would expect that indigenous American or African peoples would similarly be affected by gout, particulary when they live in the developed Western countries and eat foods high in purines.

· The type of individual most commonly affected by gout is an overweight man who drinks large amounts of alcohol, is a regular meat-eater, loves rich foods and who may have high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

What causes an acute gout attack?

· Certain medications, such as some types of diuretics, can cause gout. Aspirin and niacin (Vitamin B3) can also raise uric acid levels.

· Certain diseases can lead to an excessive production of uric acid in the body, including some leukaemias, lymphomas and some haemoglobin (blood) disorders.

· Some studies have indicated an increased prevalence of low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) in people with gout.

· Dehydration (alcohol & caffeine dehydrates).

· Injury to a joint.

· Excessive intake of purine-containing foods (see list below).

· Heavy alcohol intake.

· Recent surgery (this may be related to changes in the body fluid balance because of fasting before surgery).

· Family history - hereditary.

What is Uric acid?

Approximately 70% of gout patients have an overproduction of uric acid, the remaining 30% of gout patients have a poor elimination of uric acid, therefore it makes sense to eat fewer foods which help to produce uric acid, and improve uric acid elimination by way of the kidneys.

Uric acid is a by-product of the breakdown of certain foods in the body, and gout was once considered to be closely related just to diet. It is now understood that inheriting a problem with uric acid excretion from the body is probably one of the most common reasons for gout to occur. Improving a person's kidney function as much as possible has helped many gout sufferers I have seen over the years.

Uric acid is the end product of the metabolism of chemicals called purine that are found in many foods. Purines are also found naturally in the body, and normally, the body disposes of excess uric acid via the urine, but in people with gout uric acid accumulates in the body. This can be due to reduced excretion of uric acid by the kidneys or to overproduction of uric acid by the body. This accumulation of uric acid may also cause kidney stones, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that you need to improve the kidney function as much as is possible to help the patient overcome gout.

Gout can be very painful indeed

How come gout hurts, where does all that pain come from? Simple, when the uric acid accumulate in the blood and tissues it can crystallise out into a joint, forming a multitude of tiny, jagged, needle-shaped crystals. This triggers an intense inflammatory response that causes a painful arthritis attack called a gout attack. Have you ever stood on a pin or a needle, perhaps some broken glass and got annoyed and irritated by this? Then you will know how a gout sufferer will feel - they can be most irritated and annoyed like a child who has just stood on a pin cushion. Pain has a way of bringing out the worst in many people! As I mentioned, gout commonly strikes the big toe, but other joints can be affected, including the instep, ankle, knee, wrist, elbow and fingers. Acute pain is generally the first symptom and then the affected joint becomes inflamed (almost infected-looking): red, swollen, hot and extremely sensitive to the touch. I have many times seen a case of gout in the clinic that the patient's doctor referred to as "osteoarthritis", when in fact it had all the makings of gout. Signs and symptoms such as a needle-like pain affecting the small joint, male patient who enjoys alcohol drinker, crayfish and roe (fish eggs), enjoys barbeques and steaks, etc. Common things happen to people commonly, I have often said.

The funny thing with guys is, you see them once then you don't tend to see them again in the clinic. I believe that it is purely the pain that brings them ultimately to see the practitioner. This is especially so for some larger blokes I have seen where the pain was not helped to a large degree by the standard gout drugs, and then there is much more of an urgency to that appointment. I have often said that there is nothing more than a high degree of pain to bring a guy to your room as a patient. If you are a regular reader of my column, you may recall that I have often said that males belong to the "John Wayne School of Health": "I'll be alright, there's nothing wrong with me, and I'll just get right back on that horse and keep on riding". I can recall in one Western that even John Wayne himself went to see a doctor when the pain of a rather large shotgun blast in his shoulder was preventing him from actually getting on his horse, and even then the doctor's visit seemed was under duress!

Good thing that, the pain, it may be nature's way of getting guys off their horses (or out of their cars) and into clinics! If a woman experiences pain, let's say one out of a scale of ten - then she is off to get it investigated. She tends to be much more proactive, is it any wonder a woman will live longer than a man? Males tend to wait until the pain moves from four to five out of ten, and even then, the visit is seen as an "inconvenience". If a man would only start to improve his gout when he experiences the pain at a level of one out of ten, then he will find it a lot easier to turn gout around than when the pain is nine out of ten. This is because at low occasional pain levels, gout is not quite a disease process yet, it is a functional disturbance which can be much more easily corrected. An appointment with the naturopath at this stage will reveal that the man will probably be eating and drinking the wrong foods contributing to the progression of his gout, all he needs at this stage is a change of diet and an improvement in his kidney function to help the clearance of uric acid. Better still, if his blood can be cleansed with appropriate treatment such as a detox process, he will feel much better, reducing and even possibly eliminating his chances of developing full-blown gout.

A visit at high pain levels will only be sought in terms of pain relief, and there will be pathology or disease present. And the stronger the pain, the more urgent will be the pain relief naturally. Seriously bad gout pain can make the biggest blokes cry like the biggest babies, I have seen this on one occasion when a tough Aussie male burst into tears as he told me that even the thin sheet at night on his big toe was excruciatingly painful. This guy was into cold beer and hot pies and had plenty of both, the tears were real and no laughing matter folks!

These cases are harder to turn around because all the focus is purely on strong pain control. Supplements may work, but are not as powerful as pharmaceutical drugs when it comes to pain control, hence the reason why we only see the gout patient once. The drugs which control pain wreck the person's digestion in time, that's the real problem and the stark reality. And the underlying problem is not really sorted either, the offending ways continue and so does the gout. So convenient, just switch off that pain. Interesting if we compare the recent financial crisis which was due to "extending credit", I think medicine is going down the same path until we end up with the upcoming "health crisis" globally which will be due similarly to extending credit of a different nature. You temporarily solve a problem by taking away the pain but create the long term crisis and avoid treating the real underlying causes. I have to admit, this is one area in which natural therapists fail - strong pain control. We are the preventative medicine experts. Acupuncture will have some benefit here, but many patients are just not keen on the needles. Herbs or supplements? Not really, drugs do work well but why wait until you need strong pain relief is my question, why not address conditions like gout BEFORE you require the strong solution?

Conventional Treatment of gout Allopurinol is the pharmaceutical drug of choice used in long-term prevention of gout and decreases the body's production of uric acid. People experiencing gout attacks should, however, avoid medications containing aspirin as these can make gout worse. Pain relievers such as paracetamol or other more powerful analgesics, are often used to manage the pain. Anti-inflammatories, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are used to decrease joint inflammation and reduce the pain. If NSAIDs cannot be given because of an ulcer, your doctor may use colchicine may be used to settle an attack. I have found the homeopathic colchicines (30c) can be very useful for the gout patient instead of this drug. Do you take a "water tablet" or a diuretic? Pharmaceutical diuretics may cause gout in people who are genetically predisposed to gout by increasing the accumulation of uric acid within the body.

Resting the joint, possibly in a splint, and applying ice packs may help. Ice is a great acute gout treatment which I highly recommend.

Preventing further gout attacks

Prevention is the thing which you need to focus your attention to, and in my opinion is equally as important as treating the gout.

· Reduction or elimination of alcohol consumption, this is the BIG one in my opinion. Alcohol causes uric acid levels to rise and has a diuretic effect that can add to dehydration and bring on gout attacks

· Make sure you drink plenty of water to promote the excretion of uric acid;

· Weight reduction, is often necessary. This can be achieved by reducing dietary fat and calorie intake, which should be combined with a regular (walking) programme.

· "Crash diets" should be avoided as this can lead to an increase in uric acid levels through lowered uric acid excretion, you put more pressure on the kidneys and liver when you try to lose weight too quickly and end up with more problems than you can solve!

· Dietary changes to reduce uric acid levels in the blood. Avoid purine-rich foods such as shellfish, organ meats (liver, brains, kidney etc.), and fish roe, abalone, lobster or crayfish, crabs, anchovies and sardines.

· Limit the intake of dried beans and peas and yeast products like beer and bread.

· Try an ice pack on the affected area, sometimes a foot spa can help as well.

· Reflexology has helped many patients and is well worth a try, so is aromatherapy.

Eric's gout recommendations

• Water This is the BIG one, drink at least six glasses per day and make sure that you have one of the glasses before you go to sleep - it helps get rid of uric acid. The more you pee the more uric acid you get rid of.
• Reduce serum uric acid levels.Vitamin C in doses of 4000 up to 8000mg/day increased urinary excretion of uric acid and lowered serum uric acid levels in many trials. This effect would presumably reduce the risk of gout. However, it has been argued that rapid mobilisation of uric acid could trigger a gout attack; although such an effect of vitamin C supplementation has not been reported. To minimise this theoretical risk, I recommend the gout patient to start vitamin C at lower doses and build up gradually.Eat cherriesBlack cherries are the best (fresh or canned) up to 250gr aday or the equivalent amount of cherry juice, has been reported to relieve acute attacks, prevent recurrences, and reduce serum uric acid levels. Sweet yellow and red sour cherries were also effective. I have seen major improvements in more than a few males who stepped their intake of cherries up with acute attacks and have major pain relief (drug-free) within a week. Folic acid in doses of 10mg/day, when combined with unspecified doses of vitamin C, has been reported to reduce serum uric acid levels.
• Reduce fructose intake. High consumption of fructose (fruit sugar) may increase the risk of gout due to the ability of fructose to increase the body's production of uric acid.If you have bad gout, avoid these high fructose food items: Honey, dates, raisins, figs,
• Alcohol Daily drinking habits, lack of exercise, and dehydration enhance the increase in plasma concentration of uric acid induced by alcohol, and it is important to pay attention to these factors, as well as to the ingested alcohol volume and type of alcoholic beverage. An excess of alcohol should be avoided. Total abstinence and avoidance of alcohol may be required in severe cases. The worst alcohols to consume with gout are the ones you "can't see though" like whiskey, bourbon, rum, beer, etc. The alcohols which don't seem as bad are the "clear" ones like vodka and gin. You should avoid ALL alcohol if you have bad gout. See now why guys don't tend to come back to the naturopath now if they have bad gout? One male gout patient called me the "fun police", when I made the recommendations of abstinence. I expect his pain levels were not high enough, believe me, ANY male will do whatever it takes to get rid of that pain!
• Diet Consume a moderate amount of protein. Limit meat, fish and poultry to 100 - 120 grams per day. Try other low-purine good protein foods such as low fat dairy products, tofu and eggs.
• Body weightMaintenance of, or gradual reduction to, ideal body weight could prove helpful. Your blood pressure will drop, so will your cholesterol and not only your likelihood to avoid gout attacks, but you will reduce your chances of most chronic diseases.
• Diet Avoid as much as possible: anchovies, crayfish or lobster, shellfish, abalone, fish roe (or eggs live caviar), herring, mackerel, meat extracts, beef in general, kidney or organ meats, lamb, pork, mussels, paua, roe, sardines, yeast (baker's and brewer's, taken as supplement) coffee, tea and ALL alcoholic beverages, chocolate, cocoa, caffeine containing soft drinks, wheat germ, pastry, high fat biscuits and cakes, whipped cream, fried potato, potato chips, broth, bouillon, consommé, meat stock soups and gravies. Eat these foods with caution: Asparagus, dried beans lentils, meat, mushrooms, dried peas, spinach (silverbeet) To have in your diet: Milk and milk drinks, carbonated beverages, cereal/grain beverages. All breads and cereals, low fat biscuits, cakes, and puddings. Fat in moderation only, fruit juices such as cherry, blue berry are particularly good. Eat cherries and blue berries. Fish ok, but stick with younger fishes. Chicken and ham, soups, most all the common vegetables, condiments, herbs, nuts, olives, peanut butter, pickles, popcorn, relishes, salt.

Do You Have Gout?

Mr. Eric Bakker is a registered Naturopath with a Bachelor Degree of Science majoring in Complementary Medicine as well as separate diploma qualifications in Naturopathy, Herbal Medicine and Classical Homeopathy. Eric is past Vice President of the New Zealand Natural Medicine Association with almost 20 years of clinical experience in natural medicine and has had extensive post graduate training in Australia, America, New Zealand and India. Mr. Bakker lectures at natural medicine colleges and natural health conferences throughout Australia and NZ, writes for several journals and natural health publications and specialises in the clinical integration of natural and conventional medicine. Eric has practiced in conjunction with medical doctors for over 13 years in medical clinics in both NZ and Australia. Mr. Bakker specialises in the clinical integration of natural forms of healing and conventional Western Medicine. Eric is the Clinical Director of The Naturopaths and has a clinical practice in the Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Your best way to contact Eric is by way of email: eric@naturopath.co.nz His website is: http://www.naturopath.co.nz Eric's NEW website will be coming very soon, his old one is being revamped right now!

Scottish Wedding Folklore & Traditions

Traditional Scottish Wedding

The origins of the traditional Scottish wedding:

Scotland always seems to do things in it's own way and style - and a Scottish wedding is no exception to the rule. In the 21st century, the Scottish wedding is an intricate blend of ancient highland tradition mixed in with modern, streamlined rites. Present day Scottish wedding traditions have their origins as far back as the 13th century. Back then the medieval Celtic church would proclaim the 'banns of marriage' for three successive Sundays. This practice of announcing a forthcoming marriage lasted for 600 years - until in the latter years of the 20th century it became standard to 'give notice of intent' to a registry office several weeks before the intended event.

Scottish Wedding Folklore & Traditions

Medieval Scottish wedding traditions:

It was normal practice in olden times for an entire village to get involved in the preparations for the 'big day'. People would line the streets to the church to cheer on the happy couple before they took their vows. In pre-reformation times, there is evidence that two Scottish wedding services would frequently take place. One in which the priest would address the party in Scots dialect and lead a ceremony outside the church. Whilst the more formal Latin mass and nuptial ceremony would take place inside.

The exchange of the rings has always been a main feature in Scottish wedding ceremonies from ancient times . A ring has no beginning and no end and as such symbolises the love within a marriage. The kissing of the bride follows on from this exchange of rings, and often leads to a cheer from the body of the kirk.

Following on from the formal church ceremony, a piper or group of pipers would frequently lead the entire group of guests down the streets, often to a relative's house, for a non-stop night of celebration, feasting and enjoyment. Local musicians led by pipers would get the dancing started and tradition has it that the first dance, normally a reel, would involve the newly wed couple. Following on from their efforts, the rest of the guests would then dance all the way into the sma' hours. In this respect, little has changed over 800 years - maybe apart from the dress code and the type of beer on tap.

When the wedding celebrations were over, the married couple would then leave to spend the night in their new home. The ancient tradition of carrying the bride over the doorstep was linked to the superstition that evil spirits inhabit the thresholds of doors. Hence the bride is lifted over the thresholds - and into the wedding bed. In medieval times, a priest would often bless the house and bless the wedding bed at this time. Then for the first time, as man and wife, the newly weds would have some quality time on their own.

Other wedding rituals such as the Highland custom of 'creeling the bridegroom', involved the groom carrying a large creel or basket filled with stones from one end of a village to the other. He continued with this arduous task until such times as his bride to be would come out of her house and kiss him. Only if she did, would his friends allow him to escape from the 'creeling' otherwise he had to continue until he had completed the circuit of the town.

Modern Scottish Wedding Traditions:

In more modern times, a lot of the superstition and rituals have been replaced by more showpiece proceedings. However, many of today's traditions still hark back to the past.

The bagpipes can be used to add atmosphere and grandeur to a wedding. The piper, in full Highland dress, stands at the church door and plays as the guests arrive. Later he leads the couple from the church to the car. The piping traditions continue, the married couple are frequently piped to the top table of honour along with the bridal party. With the cutting of the cake, again a piper is often asked to perform and a dirk, 'sharp highland dagger', is traditionally handed over by the piper to start the 'cutting of the cake'. As the bride slices the first piece of cake, custom dictates that her hand is guided by that of her new husband.

The bride's 'show of presents' originates from the tradition of the 'bridal shower', where local female villagers would gift items that would help a young couple get started successfully in their own home. Nowadays, this often takes place in the home of the mother of the bride and the gifts have a touch more luxury than those in older times.

A bridegroom's stag night, likewise has ancient roots. The young man accompanied by his friends takes to the town and downs a fountain of beverages. One tradition has it that in smaller towns the groom to be would be stripped of his clothes and left in the street outside his home - or worse still tied to a lamp post! The good news is that he wouldn't realise what had happened till the next morning.

The wedding ring, until the late 20th century tended to be for the bride and not the groom. In later decades both bride and groom now wear rings for the most part. The traditional Scottish gold wedding band dates back to the 1500's. This style of ring is still popular as a wedding ring today - as also are Celtic knot work designed engagement and wedding rings.

Traditions in Scotland Before the Wedding Ceremony:

Often before a Scottish bride is married, her mother holds an open house for a traditional "show of presents." Invitations are sent to those who gave wedding gifts to the couple and the wedding gifts are unwrapped and set out for viewing. After the show of presents the bride-to-be is often dressed up and her friends escort her through her town, singing and banging pots and pans, heralding the bride's wedding day. This tradition has evolved into the legendary 'hen night'.

The groom, meanwhile, is taken out for a stag night on one of the evenings preceding the wedding. The Stag Night is meant to be a celebration of the last night of freedom, and a way of reassuring friends that being married doesn't mean that they are shut out of your life. The groom, like the bride, is dressed up and taken around town by his friends and work mates. There is often a great deal of harmless practical joking, of which the poor groom is the main target. When the night winds down, the groom is sometimes stripped of his clothes and covered in soot, treacle and feathers and left overnight tied to a tree or post. In some rural areas an open lorry is hired and the groom is paraded through his local area with much noise and celebration.

Traditional Scottish Wedding Dress:

There is little doubt that traditional Scottish outfits add a touch of class and splendour to the wedding day and its associated ceremonies. The use of highland dress and the kilt, jacket, dirk and sporran in Scottish weddings has continued over the centuries. Whilst the bride's white gown and veil has its roots in more modern times. A Scottish bride will usually wear a traditional white or cream wedding gown. The groom's party and her father may come to the wedding resplendent in full Highland dress in the traditional clan tartan of their clans. She might wear a horseshoe on her arm for good luck, or a pageboy might deliver one to her as she arrives at the ceremony. Bridesmaids may wear whatever the bride has chosen to match her dress and it may include a little tartan accessory. Bouquets may include tartan ribbons or bows.

A gent's highland wedding outfit in its entirety consists of the following:

Bonnie Prince Charlie jacket and waistcoat, kilt, tartan flashes to match kilt, white hose, gillie brogues, kilt pin, sgian dubh, black belt with buckle, formal sporran with chain strap, wing collar shirt, black or coloured bow tie, and a piece of lucky heather on the lapel. He also has the option of wearing a fly plaid, which is anchored under the paulette on the shoulder of the jacket and secured by a large plaid brooch, (Cairngorm).

For the bride 'something old .... something new' -

For the bride a universal custom is the 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue' - of course the 'something new' can be the bride's dress! The 'something new' at the wedding can become the 'something old' or 'something borrowed' at the next generation' s weddings. The bride sometimes wears a blue garter (symbolizing love) which plays a part later at the wedding reception. It was also traditional in some areas for the bride to put a small silver coin in her shoe to bring her good luck.

Something old -

A gift from mother to daughter to start her off for married life, and symbolising the passing on a bit of mother's wisdom.

Something new -

A gift symbolising the new start married life represents.

Something borrowed -

The idea here is that something is borrowed from a happily married couple in the hope that a little of their martial bliss will rub off on the newlyweds.

Something blue -

There are two likely sources for this. Roman women used to border their robes with blue as a sign of modesty, love, and fidelity. Also blue is the colour normally associated with Mary the mother of Jesus who is often used to symbolise steadfast love, purity, and sincerity.

After the wedding ceremony, it is traditional for flowers, petals, or pretty paper confetti to be thrown at the departing couple. In some rural areas the couple throw coins to the children who have gathered outside the church to watch. This is called a "scramble". This is the reason children make a bee-line for local weddings. As the couple leave the ceremony the groom dips his hands into his pockets (or sporran), and throws all his loose change out on the ground for the children to scramble for.

Another tradition frequently seen during the evening wedding festivities involves the bride throwing her bridal bouquet, usually white roses, over her left shoulder. Her female non-attached bridesmaids and other single women in the bridal party stand in a line behind her. The girl who catches the thrown flower posy is by tradition going to be the next in the group to get married.

Traditional wedding reception festivities can easily last all night and the newly-wed couple lead off the dancing. Before the evening is finished the bride and groom leave as quietly and secretly as they can and go to a pre -arranged destination for their wedding night - often leaving for the honeymoon the next day.

More Scottish Wedding Ideas:

Give a Scottish brooch (called Luckenbooth) as a token of your love or as a betrothal gift. This is usually made of silver and is engraved with two hearts entwined. Some couples pin this on the blanket of their first-born for good luck.

Weddings and receptions are sometime held at a Scottish castle if there is a suitable one nearby. For something simpler and less expensive, the village hall, an outdoor venue or, for an even more traditional option, the ceremony can be in the house. If money is very tight, try arranging a "Penny Wedding," in which guests are expected to bring their own food and drinks to the church to celebrate after the ceremony is over.

The difference between Scotland and the rest of the U.K. is that, in Scotland, it is the person who is licensed to conduct a marriage service and not the building that is licensed to hold a wedding.

Local Scottish Wedding Traditions:

Wedding customs have changed dramatically over the years. Some parts of weddings seem steeped in tradition whilst you will be glad to hear of some customs which have died out over the years!

In Aberdeenshire even now, the 'blackening' is a ritual performed with great relish. The engaged couple are captured one night by so-called 'friends' and covered with foul substances such as treacle, feathers, soot, etc. They are then paraded around the village and usually the pubs. It takes days to wash clean!

In the eighteenth century, the custom of hand-fasting was observed. A couple would live together for a year and a day, at which time they could decide whether to part or make a lifelong commitment. It was considered more important for the bride to be experienced and fertile than to be a virgin.

Tradition says sew a hair onto the hem of a wedding dress for luck, or let a drop of blood fall onto an inner seam. The bride must never try on a complicated dress in advance of her wedding day. To facilitate this tradition a small section of the hem is left unsewn by the dressmaker until the last moment.

Lastly, the bride, when she leaves home for the last time as a single girl, should step out of the house with her right foot for luck.

Penny Bridal or Silver Bridal:

These festivities, also known as Penny Weddings, were renowned for feasting, drinking, dancing and fighting and were enjoyed by all except the clergy - who disapproved of such raucous behaviour. Gifts were made to the newly-weds towards the cost of the wedding feast and the celebrations started on the eve of the wedding with singing, toasts and the ceremony of 'feet washing', which is described below.

Feet Washing

A tub of water was placed in the best room, in which the bride placed her feet, her female friends then gathered around to help wash them. A wedding ring from a happily married woman was previously placed in the tub and it was believed that whoever found the ring would be the next to get married.

The men folk were outside the door making jokes and attempting to watch through the doorway. The bridegroom was then seized by the women and made to sit at the tub. His legs were none too gently daubed with soot, ashes and cinders - quite a painful procedure as you might guess!

Wedding Procession

The following day, the bridal party made their way to the church with flower petals being thrown in front of the bride. If they encountered a funeral or a pig on the way, it was considered bad luck and they would return home and set out again. The first person they encountered was called the first- foot and would be given a coin and a drink of whisky by the bride. He would then have to accompany the bridal party for one mile before being allowed to continue on his way.

Adopted Scottish Wedding Traditions:

Tying shoes to a car bumper

This tradition represents the symbolism and power of shoes in ancient times. Egyptians would exchange sandals when they exchanged goods, so when the father of the bride gave his daughter to the groom, he would also give the bride's sandals to show that she now belonged to the groom. In Anglo-Saxon times, the groom would tap the heel of the bride's shoe to show his authority over her. In later times, people would throw shoes at the couple. Now folks just tie shoes to the couple's car.

The taking of each other's right hand

The open right hand is a symbol of strength, resource and purpose. The coming together of both right hands is a symbol that both the bride and the groom can depend on each other and the resources that each brings to the marriage.

Tying the knot

This wonderful expression originated from Roman times when the bride wore a girdle that was tied in knots which the groom had the fun of untying. As a side note, this phrase can also refer to the tying of the knot in hand-fasting ceremonies, which were often performed without the benefit of a clergyman.

Wearing of a veil

Originated with arranged marriages. In these, the groom's family informed him that he was to marry, but they very rarely let him see the bride. After all, if the groom didn't like the bride's looks, he might not agree to the marriage. With this in mind, the father of the bride gave the bride away to the groom who then lifted the veil to see his wife of all eternity for the first time.

Wedding cake

Like most rituals handed down through the ages, a wedding wouldn't be complete without fertility symbols, like the wedding cake. Ancient Romans would bake a cake made of wheat or barley and break it over the bride's head as a symbol of her fertility. Over time, it became traditional to stack several cakes on top of one another. The bride and groom would then be charged to kiss over this tower without knocking it over. If they were successful, a lifetime of good fortune was certain for the new couple. Finally, during the reign of King Charles II of England, it became customary for such a cake to be iced with sugar.

Leap year proposals

The right of every woman to propose on 29th February each leap year, goes back many hundreds of years to when the leap year day had no recognition in English law (the day was 'leapt over' and ignored, hence the term 'leap year'). It was considered, therefore, that as the day had no legal status, it was reasonable to assume that traditions also had no status. Consequently, women who were concerned about being 'left on the shelf' took advantage of this anomaly and proposed to the man they wished to marry.

It was also thought that since the leap year day corrected the discrepancy between the calendar year of 365 days and the time taken for the Earth to complete one orbit of the sun (365 days and 6 hours), it was an opportunity for women to correct a tradition that was one-sided and unjust.

For those wishing to take advantage of this ancient tradition, you will have to wait until February 29th 2008!

Throwing confetti

Throwing confetti over newly-weds originated from the ancient pagan rite of showering the happy couple with grain to wish upon them a 'fruitful' union. Pagans believed that the fertility of the seeds would be transferred to the couple on whom they fell. The throwing of rice has the same symbolic meaning.

The word confetti has the same root as the word confectionery in Italian and was used to describe 'sweetmeats' that is, grain and nuts coated in sugar that were thrown over newly-weds for the same pagan reason. In recent years, small pieces of coloured paper have replaced sweetmeats, grain and nuts as an inexpensive substitute, but the use of the word confetti has remained.

Carrying the bride over the threshold

Earlier we looked at the medieval Scottish tradition of carrying the bride over the threshold - to avoid contact with 'evil spirits'. The Romans similarly believed that it was unlucky if the bride tripped on entering the house for the first time. So they arranged for several members of the bridal party to carry her over the threshold. Nowadays the groom is expected to do the job himself.

Grey Horses

All the best bridal carriages used to be pulled by grey horses and it is still considered good luck to see a grey horse on the way to the church.

Lucky horse shoe

Horseshoes have always been lucky. There is a nice story about the devil asking a blacksmith to shoe his single hoof. When the blacksmith recognised his customer he carried out the job as painfully as possible until the devil roared for mercy. He was released on condition that he would never enter a place where a horseshoe was displayed. A horse shoe carried by the bride is considered a symbol of fertility.

Wedding Bells

A peal of bells as the bridal couple leave the church is one of the oldest traditions. Before the days of widespread literacy and newspapers this was how the local people knew a wedding had taken place. The sound of bells was also said to drive away evil spirits.

Lucky Chimney Sweep

Brides still consider it fortunate if they pass a chimney-sweep on the way to the wedding as the old fashioned soot-covered sweep had magical associations with the family and hearth - the heart of the home.

Lastly, Don't look in the mirror!

It is bad luck for the bride to look in the mirror wearing her complete outfit before her wedding day - old beliefs say that part of yourself goes into the reflection and therefore, the bride would not be giving all of herself to her new husband.

Scottish wedding traditions are memorable - and have influenced wedding day rites worldwide.

Scottish Wedding Folklore & Traditions

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How To Make Wind Chimes

Wind chimes actually originate from the chimes used as musical instruments in Ancient China for religious affairs and ceremonies. Other neighboring Eastern Asian countries adopted them as a powerful Feng Shui element. The music they produce as the wind blows is said to be transformed into energy that can bring in health, wealth, and prosperity.

Everyone can make wind chimes. They can be made using materials aside from the commonly used bamboo, metal, shells or glass; you can also use coconut, plastic, natural stones, steel, or ceramics that can be shaped and positioned in various forms, styles, and designs. Other materials can also be combined and can be arranged as lanterns or mobiles.

Handy Tips in Making Wind Chimes

How To Make Wind Chimes

It is preferable to use hollow wood tubes or rods in making wood wind chimes. You can have them painted or varnished for added protection and style. Wind chimes made from wood can be easily exposed to the negative effects of sunlight and harsh weather, which can speed up their damage. However, choosing the right types of materials can maximize their full use.

There are various types of glass materials that you can use in making glass wind chimes, ranging from simple used bottles, crystal and glass beads to stained glass, vintage glasswares, and depression glass. The string that secures the pieces of glass together must be of good durable quality or else you may end up with brittle string connections that can destroy or shatter your glass wind chimes.

Wind chimes made from metal can produce deep rich sound tones, although the sound may also depend on the position of the components, the manner of stringing the materials together, or the thickness of the metals.

Be sure to prepare all the materials needed before you start with your wind chimes project. You can pattern the wind chimes after designs in newspapers or magazines, or you can experiment and have your own style simply by using your imagination and creativity.

How To Make Wind Chimes

Wind Chimes [http://www.e-windchimes.com] provides detailed information on Wind Chimes, Glass Wind Chimes, How To Make Wind Chimes, Indoor Wind Chimes and more. Wind Chimes is affiliated with Wrought Iron Weather Vanes [http://www.e-weathervanes.com].

Top 20 Neil Diamond Hits

Brooklyn born Neil Leslie Diamond began his singing career with the folk group, The Roadrunners, between 1954 and 1956. While a senior at NYU, studying medicine, Diamond was offered a songwriting position, by a publishing company, for fifty dollars a week.

In 1962, Neil Diamond signed a recording contract with Columbia Records, but failed to produce any hits. So, it was back to songwriting for Diamond, whose first success came when Jay and the Americans recorded his song "Sunday And Me." They went Top 20 on the Billboard charts with it.

Other artists who recorded Neil Diamond compositions include: Elvis Presley, Mark Lindsay (of Paul Revere and the Raiders fame), Lulu, and Deep Purple. He also wrote for The Monkees TV show. Even though "I'm A Believer" and "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" were recorded by The Monkees, these songs were written by Diamond to record himself.

Top 20 Neil Diamond Hits

Diamond signed with Bang Records in 1966 and his first single, "Solitary Man" didn't break into the Top 40. However, it was released again in 1970 and went to #21 on the weekly charts. His next single, "Cherry Cherry" gave Diamond his first hit and he managed to have a Top 40 hit every year between 1966-1983.

Ironically, Diamond's biggest hit of all time is a duet with another Brooklyn native, Barbra Streisand. Both had recorded Diamond's composition of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" on separate albums. Two Detroit deejays, Jack Hood and Gene Krusewski, noticed the similarities in the recordings and mixed the two versions. The song's popularity sparked Diamond and Streisand to go into the studio and record it together.

Here's a look at Neil Diamond's twenty biggest hits, according to Billboard's weekly Top 40 charts.

1. You Don't Bring Me Flowers - 1978 - labeled as Barbra and Neil. In their early years, Diamond and Streisand sang in a school choir together.
2. Cracklin' Rosie - 1970 - written about a Canadian whiskey and it was Neil's first number one single.
3. Song Sung Blue - 1972 - one of three number one singles for him.
4. Love On The Rocks - 1981 - one of three singles from the film "The Jazz Singer" starring Diamond.
5. Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good) - 1969 - Diamond says it took him an hour to write this song, inspired when he saw a picture of Caroline Kennedy on the cover of Life magazine.
6. I Am...I Said - 1971
7. Heartlight - 1982 - inspired by the 1982 film "ET - The Extraterrestrial."
8. Longfellow Serenade - 1974 - from the "Serenade" album.
9. Holly Holy - 1969
10. Hello Again - 1981 - also from "The Jazz Singer."
11. Cherry, Cherry - 1966 - his first Top 10 single. A live version of this song from the "Hot August Night" album was released as a single and managed to reach #31 on the weekly charts.
12. America - 1981 - the third Top 10 single from "The Jazz Singer."
13. Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon - 1967
14. Yesterday's Songs - 1982
15. If You Know What I Mean - 1976
16. Play Me - 1972
17. I Thank The Lord For The Night Time - 1967 - legendary songwriters Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich can be heard singing backups on this tune.
18. Stones - 1971
19. Desiree - 1978
20. I Got The Feelin' (Oh No No) - 1966 - a song also covered by Cliff Richard.

Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand had plans for a movie version of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", but Diamond made the remake of the Al Jolson classic "The Jazz Singer" in 1980, for which Diamond composed the music. Neil Diamond continues to tour and record, including his third album of holiday music, "A Cherry Cherry Christmas", which was released in 2009. In September 2010, Diamond was nominated for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Top 20 Neil Diamond Hits

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Beer Drinkers, Do You Know Beer Contains Female Hormones That Cause A Beer Belly And Breast Growth?

If you have ever had the chance to smell a hops plant, then you know it has hypnotic effects. Harvesting any of the plants of the hemp family can make you quite sleepy. Cannabis, which is used to produce Hashish and Marijuana, is a close relative of hops. The relaxing effect that beer has on the consumer comes from the hops ingredient hopein, among other substances. Hopein is a form of morphine.

With the exception of Muslim countries, beer consumption is legal, yet taking morphine, marijuana, or other hallucinogenic drugs is treated as a criminal act. If a person regularly gets drunk by drinking large quantities of beer, he is not less 'out of himself' or physically and mentally incompetent than he would be under drug-induced hallucination.

It would not make a difference whether a hallucinating drug user runs over an innocent pedestrian or a drunk who has had a few bottles of morphine-containing beer. If a person is caught driving while drunk, he will receive punishment by law. If he gets drunk and is not driving, the law cannot touch him. If someone becomes violent under the influence of beer, it is due to reasons similar to a drug user becoming violent under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs.

Beer Drinkers, Do You Know Beer Contains Female Hormones That Cause A Beer Belly And Breast Growth?

Apart from their mind-altering effects, hops are known to work as an anti-aphrodisiac, suppressing sexual drive and performance in men. Hops contain the female sex hormones daidzein and genistein, which are generally used to fatten calves, sheep, and chickens. Contrary to general belief, the body cannot utilize any of the numerous calories contained in whiskey or other alcoholic beverages for producing energy or increasing fat reserves.

Beer contains another female hormone, an estrogen, which is also formed in a woman's ovaries. The typical beer belly and breast growth of a beer drinker is caused by these female hormones and has nothing to do with beer calories.

Besides the already mentioned mind-altering chemicals in beer, the malt in beer also has a substance in it that influences the psyche; it is called hordenin. Hordenin results from the germination of barley and is related to the well-known stimulants ephedrine and mescaline. It also has a strong diuretic effect, which causes frequent urination, especially during the night. To process one glass of beer, the body's cells have to supply at least three glasses of water. Hence beer can cause severe dehydration such as is typically found among heavy beer drinkers. When the beer drinker's body signals dehydration, he may be tempted to drink even more beer, which increases dehydration further.

All these factors may result in weight gain, tissue acidification, retention of toxins, and swelling of the body. In addition, if the beer production uses extremely 'hard' water, rich in inorganic (metallic) calcium, the result may be a high incidence of kidney stones and kidney problems among beer drinkers. Also, regular consumption of all alcoholic beverages causes gallstones in the liver and gallbladder. Alcohol is extremely acidic which alters the pH of the alkaline bile to the point of thickening, leading to blockage of bile ducts. Thus, alcohol consumption can become a cause for any illness in the body.

Beer Drinkers, Do You Know Beer Contains Female Hormones That Cause A Beer Belly And Breast Growth?

[This is an excerpt from the book 'Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation by Andreas Moritz]

Andreas Moritz is a writer and practitioner in the field of Integrative Medicine. He is the author of 13 books ( http://www.ener-chi.com/book.htm ) on various subjects pertaining to holistic health, including The Amazing Liver and Gallbladder Flush, Timeless Secrets of Health and Rejuvenation and Cancer Is Not a Disease.

His most recent book is titled 'Vaccine-Nation: Poisoning the Population, One Shot at a Time'. Moritz is also the creator of Ener-Chi Art and Sacred Santémony.

Much of his life's work has been dedicated to understanding and treating the root causes of illness, and helping the body, mind, spirit and heart to heal naturally.

Connect with Andreas at: http://www.facebook.com/enerchi.wellness

Copyright © 2011 by Andreas Moritz

Liquid Smoke - What it is and How to Use It

Ever since people have been cooking food over fire, they have known that smoke can enhance the flavor of a dish. It can also preserve food. Smoked meat and fish lasts longer than when it is not smoked or preserved in another way. Meat used to be smoked before the invention of refrigeration, in order to give it a longer shelf live. The organic acids and chemicals in smoked are able to lower pH and this acidity can destroy bacteria cell walls, which is why smoked foods last longer.

If you smoke food somewhere enclosed, the smoke will form a brown liquid. This liquid can be gathered up and then used to flavor and season food without the need for a smokehouse.

Smoke contains elements to provide flavor and other ones to give an antibacterial effect. Smoke, including liquid smoke, tends to be calorie free and fat free. Some kinds of liquid smoke contain a tiny amount but this is usually because of the ingredients added to the liquid smoke itself. Liquid smoke can be used if you do not have a charcoal grill but you enjoy the smoky flavor.

Liquid Smoke - What it is and How to Use It

Different Smoke Flavors

The main flavor in smoke is from the "pyrolysis" of the wood and this has a kind of burnt sugar taste. Alder wood is traditionally used in Europe for smoking and beech or oak are alternatives. In the United States, mesquite, hickory, apple, plum, cherry, alder, oak, and pecan are all popular woods for smoking. Each one can give a different flavor.

Some people use corncobs to smoke ham or bacon. Raw rice, tea, and sugar are sometimes heated in the bottom of a wok to smoke Chinese tea. Peat can be used for smoking barley malt, an ingredient in some beers and in Scotch whisky.

How to Use Liquid Smoke

You can apply liquid smoke to meat before you cook it to give the food a smoky taste. You can also use it with fish, poultry, or vegetables but remember that the taste is very strong so you will only need a couple of drops.

You can also spray it on to the lava rocks of a gas grill so that the food tastes like it was cooked on a charcoal grill. Do this before you ignite the grill though, for safety reasons.

An Easy Recipe for a Smoky Red Wine Sauce

Baste your steaks or chicken pieces with this sauce as they cook, for a really delicious flavor. You can also double this recipe and use half of it for basting and serve the rest with the steak or chicken.

What you will need:

• 1 minced clove garlic
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/8 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1/3 cup dry red wine
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder

How to make it:

Heat the olive oil in a pan over a moderate heat, and then add the chili powder, garlic, and cumin. Cook for one minute. Add the red wine and simmer for two minutes. Stir in the soy sauce, vinegar, liquid smoke, and ketchup and simmer for another couple of minutes. You can make the sauce two days ahead if you like. Simply cover it and refrigerate until you need it, then warm it up gently in a pan.

Liquid Smoke - What it is and How to Use It

You can do a recipe search for more liquid smoke recipes if you have a certain meat, fish or cuisine in mind. It is also possible to peruse food blogs for cooking inspiration and new ideas.

RecipeDirectory.org Where the Web Searches for Recipe Sites

Alcohol and Diets - How Does Drinking Affect Your Diet?

So you've committed to making the lifestyle change and have changed your eating habits for the long term. Or maybe your going on a short diet to shed a few extra pounds because spring and summer is on the way and you want to see if that swimsuit from last year still fits. But you also enjoy a drink or two with friends and neighbors. How will drinking affect your diet plans? Here are a few key point to remember when mixing alcohol and diets.

Since you're going to have an alcoholic drink, ORDER A DISTILLED PRODUCT like vodka, gin, or whiskey on the rocks or with a diet soda mix, a low-carb beer, or a glass of dry red or white wine. If you are on a low-carb diet, any alcoholic beverage with less than 7 carbohydrates per serving is considered low-carb, and remember that one serving of alcohol is 12 ounces of beer (not a six pack!), 5 ounces of wine (that's the small glass, not the goblet), or 1.5 ounces of a distilled spirit (that's definitely much smaller than my typical serving size!).

If you're going to have a couple of drinks, START WITH A GLASS OF WATER. Actually, don't stop there. Have more water between drinks but remember, the USDA recommends no more than one serving of alcoholic drink per day for women and two drinks maximum per day for men. Alcohol tends to dehydrate people - one of the reasons why you have the hangover in the morning - so drinking plenty of water before, during and after your one or two drinks will help keep you hydrated.

Alcohol and Diets - How Does Drinking Affect Your Diet?

If you're drinking wine and know the carbohydrate count for the brand, CONSIDER A WINE SPRITZER. Mix 2.5 ounces of wine with an equal amount of seltzer or soda water and garnish with a thin slice of lemon or lime. Now you can enjoy two drinks for the carb count of a single serving of wine!

Now here's where we really get into how alcohol affects your diet. There is a fuel hierarchy that your body uses for energy sources. ALCOHOL COMES FIRST IN THE FUEL HIERARCHY, followed by fat, protein, and then carbohydrates. WHEN YOU DRINK, YOU STOP THE WEIGHT-LOSS PROCESS. Sorry, but it is true. Your body needs between 1 and 2 hours to burn off a serving of beer, wine, or distilled spirits. Once the alcohol has been processed, your body will revert back to utilizing fat, protein, and carbohydrates for energy. Simply put, THE MORE YOU DRINK AND THE MORE OFTEN YOU DRINK, THE SLOWER YOUR WEIGHT LOSS.

Which means if you're working hard all week with your diet and exercise routine, eating right and taking your nutritional supplements, but then party like mad on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights then you are at best, just maintaining your weight. If you're not in the diet and exercise routine during the week, but still partying, then you're probably gaining weight due to the empty alcoholic calories. Moderation is the key.

Alcohol and Diets - How Does Drinking Affect Your Diet?

Ron Godlewski has written many articles on health, wellness, and maintaining vitality as we manage our weight through lifestyle diets. You can obtain more information on the importance of vitamin supplements while dieting [http://www.anfas.org/], receive a FREE quart of Body Balance or call him toll free at 1-888-LFI-CUST (1-888-534-2878).

Best Cold Remedies - 7 Popular Home Cold and Flu Remedies

During cold and flu season, it's normal to see commercials touting the latest cold and flu remedies on TV that claim to stop your suffering in their tracks. Most of these over the counter remedies treat the symptoms, but don't lessen the duration of a cold. Also, many of these medications can make you drowsy or feel drugged.

Home cold and flu remedies are more popular than ever and are an alternative to those who don't want to subject themselves to medicines with lots of mysterious ingredients. While there is no cure for the common cold or flu, there are several popular home remedies that can help lessen their duration and effects on your body.

Chicken Soup

Best Cold Remedies - 7 Popular Home Cold and Flu Remedies

Eating a bowl of savory chicken soup has long been one of the most popular home cold and flu remedies around. This old fashioned remedy has really stood the test of time. Chicken soup was prescribed for colds as far back as ancient Egyptian times. This remedy has probably survived so long because it does contains protein, which the body needs to get better, plus, it goes down easy and is warm and comforting. Recent research has shown that chicken soup does have anti-inflammatory nutrients. So, go ahead and make yourself a nice, warm bowl of chicken soup.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is prized for its immune boosting benefits to the body. When you get a cold or the flu, the virus tends to attack your healthy blood cells, which then have fight back - this makes you tired and drains you of energy. When you drink orange juice or any other citrus juice packed with vitamin C, you are literally giving your healthy blood cells a boost of power to repel those nasty cold germs. Many people choose to take the tablet form of vitamin C. Either way, vitamin C is one of the most powerful home remedies you can take to fight off a cold.

Echinacea

Echinacea is a popular herbal remedy that is used to lessen the duration of a cold. You can find Echinacea in capsule form, in lozenges or as an alcohol based tincture. While Echinacea does have curative benefits, its effect in cold fighting often has mixed results. Alcohol based Echinacea tinctures can last for several years, while the dry leaves found in many pills and capsules can lose their effectiveness over time. Also, the quality of the Echinacea varies greatly due to the nature of the plant. The upper part of the plant contains most of the benefits, while the lower part has little therapeutic benefit.

Spicy Food

Spicy foods that contain garlic, onions and cayenne pepper can help you recover quicker from a cold. These three foods contain powerful antioxidants and immune system compounds that will aid your body in expelling the virus. Eating a bowl of chili for lunch or dinner is a great way to eat your way to feeling better in no time.

Vaporizers and Personal Steamers

Hot steam rising up through your nasal passages and into your sinuses and lungs is a great way to clear congestion out of your system. One of the things that makes having a cold so miserable is that your nose is clogged and your chest if filled with gunk. Vaporizers and personal steamers work by adding water to a base and then heating it up until it becomes steam. You breath in the steam and it clears your system, allowing you to rest easier.

Steam Bath

Soaking in a nice, hot bath is relaxing anytime, but when you have a cold the steam rising up from the tub can have a soothing effect on your tired body. Steam is great for breaking up the congestion that clogs your sinuses and chest. To create an aromatherapy experience, add a few drops of peppermint oil or camphor oil to the hot water. Please do not use this remedy for babies and toddlers, as it may cause them injury.

Hot Toddy

Hot toddies are one of the long time favorite cold and flu remedies. Many people believe that curling up on the couch (or in a favorite chair) and drinking a hot toddy is a good way to fight off a cold or flu, but in fact, there is little evidence that this drink has any curative benefits.

A hot toddy is made with hot water, or tea, lemon juice, sugar or honey and either rum, brandy, or whiskey. While delicious, the American Lung Association cautions that drinking alcohol while sick with a cold will lead to dehydration, which can make a cold last longer. However, if you can't sleep and don't want to take an over the counter cold medication, drinking a hot toddy with alcohol will send you into a nice slumber.

Best Cold Remedies - 7 Popular Home Cold and Flu Remedies

Heal Yourself Naturally. Find the best tips and suggestions on natural healing remedies. [http://www.1MinuteSolutions.com]

Sinus Infection Congestion - The 3 Absolute Best Home Remedies For Sinus Infection Congestion

Sinus infection congestion is the worst! The unbearable sinus pain. The oh-so-attractive mouth breathing. We've all been there...an estimated 37 million people get at least one infection a year. That's a lot of tissues! There are ways to ease the discomfort without running to the doctor for antibiotics or developing an addiction to decongestant nasal sprays. After suffering with sinus congestion for years, I've compiled my top 3 go to remedies whenever my sinuses start to ache.

1. Hot Toddy! Yes, hot toddy is number one. Why? Because warm booze is the best thing ever when you feel like crap and have sinus infection congestion! And also, because they do work. A hot toddy is basically liquor, honey, lemon, and either warm water or tea mixed together. I usually reach for the Jack Daniels, but you can use any kind of brandy, whiskey or rum you like. I also don't feel like reaching for the measuring cup when I'm super congested, but if you must measure, here is a go-by:

The World's Best Hot Toddy

Sinus Infection Congestion - The 3 Absolute Best Home Remedies For Sinus Infection Congestion

1 ounce brandy, whiskey or rum (or 2 ounces if you really want to knock this sinus infection congestion out!) 1 tablespoon honey 1/4 of a lemon 1 cup of hot tea or hot water

Hold your nose and throw it down the hatch! A cinnamon stick, six to ten cloves, or a couple of teaspoons of brown sugar can be added to the mix if you're not as experienced with the hot toddie, or drinking for that matter. You should feel relief immediately, and if you don't, rinse and repeat!

2. The Newly Popular Neti Pot - I have to be honest. I don't understand what all the hype is about the neti pot. Although it does feel great, the relief is very short lived. In my experience, I'm congested again in about 5 minutes, no exaggeration. However, I am including it on my list because it has helped keep my allergies, cold, etc from turning into a full blown infection when used as soon as the tell tell symptoms appear - dripping nose, sinus congestion, etc. The neti pot has never done much of anything for me if I already have an infection. So, as soon as your nose starts to drip, use your neti pot twice a day or more.

3. Mucinex! Mucinex! Mucinex! People don't realize how important mucinex is when you have an infection. When I go to the doctor for a sinus infection, and I used to alot, he would prescribe me mucinex and send me home. That's right, no antibiotics, mucinex. Why? First, antibiotics are not the sinus cure like we once thought. More studies are showing that antibiotics may shave one day off the infection time, if that. In my experience, doctors try to avoid giving you antibiotics. So, back to the mucinex. If you have sinus problems yearly like I do, take mucinex as directed on the box as soon as your nose starts to drip. Most of the time the mucinex will prevent your cold or allergy from becoming a full on infection. Why? Because the bacteria that causes the infection lives in your mucus. Mucinex thins your mucus, making it easier for your body to get rid of, therefore, getting rid of the infection. Also, removing the mucus eases the sinus infection congestion.

Sinus Infection Congestion - The 3 Absolute Best Home Remedies For Sinus Infection Congestion

Want to Know More?

Click Here for FREE Information Sinus Infection Congestion

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The Meaning of Don McLean's "American Pie"

Don McLean's classic "American Pie" was released in November of 1971. By mid-January of '72, it had reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

"American Pie" may be the most analyzed pop song in history. (One of the most parodied as well.)

Like Dylan, McLean throughout his career has remained reticent to talk about what his songs "really mean."

The Meaning of Don McLean's "American Pie"

"'American Pie'" was issued as a double A-side single in November 1971 and charted within a month. Very quickly, the attention from media and public alike catapulted the single to #1 in the USA and Don to instant international superstardom. Every line of the song was analyzed time and time again to find the real meaning. Don has always refused to sanction any of the many interpretations, so adding to its mystery. The great 'American Pie debate' continues today on the Internet. Don once suggested that when he is old and poor he would open a pay-to-listen phone line on which he would tell all! Somehow, that is unlikely because Don has maintained the publishing rights to his songs. 'So when people ask me what "American Pie" means, I tell them it means I don't ever have to work again if I don't want to...'" --Don-McLean.com

Much about the song is agreed upon by fans and students. Clearly there are references to the death of Buddy Holly (along with Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson) in a plane crash in 1959.

The "jester" most likely is a reference to Bob Dylan. The Byrds are referenced by name albeit spelled "the birds." John Lennon's egalitarian politics are mentioned. The Rolling Stones and "Jumping Jack Flash" are in the mix.

The song is LONG (almost 8 and 1/2 minutes) and filled with enough cryptic language and imagery to have warranted a Joseph Campbell weigh-in.

The ONE message that does sound loud and clear, however, is that the song, and the times during which it was written, reflects the loss of innocence in American music.

Charles Manson and accomplices had been inspired by the Beatles "Helter Skelter" in the summer of 1969 to butcher innocents in Hollywood. Five people had died in the Rolling Stones San Francisco Bay area tragic "Altamont Speedway" concert in 1970.

Drugs, drug abuse and death by overdose were rampant in the late 60s and early 70s. America was at war with itself over the fighting in Vietnam. Popular music had become a vehicle for dialogue, if not for change. Its meaning, message and purpose, to a large degree, had become deeper, darker and in many ways, sadder.

"I met a girl who sang the blues

And I asked her for some happy news,

But she just smiled and turned away.

I went down to the sacred store

Where I'd heard the music years before,

But the man there said the music wouldn't play."

Bye-bye Miss American Pie.

American Pie Lyrics

(Words and Music by Don McLean)

A long, long time ago...

I can still remember

How that music used to make me smile.

And I knew if I had my chance

That I could make those people dance

And, maybe, they'd be happy for a while.

But february made me shiver

With every paper I'd deliver.

Bad news on the doorstep;

I couldn't take one more step.

I can't remember if I cried

When I read about his widowed bride,

But something touched me deep inside

The day the music died.

So bye-bye, miss american pie.

Drove my chevy to the levee,

But the levee was dry.

And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

Singin', "this'll be the day that I die.

"this'll be the day that I die."

Did you write the book of love,

And do you have faith in God above,

If the Bible tells you so?

Do you believe in rock 'n roll,

Can music save your mortal soul,

And can you teach me how to dance real slow?

Well, I know that you're in love with him

`cause I saw you dancin' in the gym.

You both kicked off your shoes.

Man, I dig those rhythm and blues.

I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck

With a pink carnation and a pickup truck,

But I knew I was out of luck

The day the music died.

I started singin',

"bye-bye, miss american pie."

Drove my chevy to the levee,

But the levee was dry.

Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.

"this'll be the day that I die."

Now for ten years we've been on our own

And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone,

But that's not how it used to be.

When the jester sang for the king and queen,

In a coat he borrowed from james dean

And a voice that came from you and me,

Oh, and while the king was looking down,

The jester stole his thorny crown.

The courtroom was adjourned;

No verdict was returned.

And while Lennon read a book on Marx,

The quartet practiced in the park,

And we sang dirges in the dark

The day the music died.

We were singing,

"bye-bye, miss american pie."

Drove my chevy to the levee,

But the levee was dry.

Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.

"this'll be the day that I die."

Helter skelter in a summer swelter.

The birds flew off with a fallout shelter,

Eight miles high and falling fast.

It landed foul on the grass.

The players tried for a forward pass,

With the jester on the sidelines in a cast.

Now the half-time air was sweet perfume

While the sergeants played a marching tune.

We all got up to dance,

Oh, but we never got the chance!

`cause the players tried to take the field;

The marching band refused to yield.

Do you recall what was revealed

The day the music died?

We started singing,

"bye-bye, miss american pie."

Drove my chevy to the levee,

But the levee was dry.

Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.

"this'll be the day that I die."

Oh, and there we were all in one place,

A generation lost in space

With no time left to start again.

So come on: jack be nimble, jack be quick!

Jack flash sat on a candlestick

Cause fire is the devil's only friend.

Oh, and as I watched him on the stage

My hands were clenched in fists of rage.

No angel born in hell

Could break that satan's spell.

And as the flames climbed high into the night

To light the sacrificial rite,

I saw satan laughing with delight

The day the music died

He was singing,

"bye-bye, miss american pie."

Drove my chevy to the levee,

But the levee was dry.

Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.

"this'll be the day that I die."

I met a girl who sang the blues

And I asked her for some happy news,

But she just smiled and turned away.

I went down to the sacred store

Where I'd heard the music years before,

But the man there said the music wouldn't play.

And in the streets: the children screamed,

The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed.

But not a word was spoken;

The church bells all were broken.

And the three men I admire most:

The father, son, and the holy ghost

, They caught the last train for the coast

The day the music died.

And they were singing,

"bye-bye, miss american pie."

Drove my chevy to the levee,

But the levee was dry.

And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

Singin', "this'll be the day that I die.

"this'll be the day that I die."

They were singing,

"bye-bye, miss american pie."

Drove my chevy to the levee,

But the levee was dry.

Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

Singin', "this'll be the day that I die."

The Meaning of Don McLean's "American Pie"

DA Jack Hayford is the editor of the popular music reference website, Events-in-Music.com, which features a special section on #1 Songs. Mr. Hayford is also the Program Director and co-founder of DurangoSong.com, the online home of the ten-plus-year old Durango Songwriters Expo, a premier annual educational and inspirational event for aspiring songwriters.