I’ve spent the past five years in China, first as an English teacher and then doing business. Although I still do believe that America is best, I came to oftentimes feel that we Americans could learn a lot from the wisdom that’s accumulated and is reflected in China’s four thousand year old civilization. Chinese culture has ways about it that are difficult not to admire.

One thing that’s always a little embarrassing to Americans living in China is to view scenes from American life that are displayed on Chinese TV. It’s because Americans always appear so fat. Not just overweight, but ridiculously fat-obese. I sometimes suspected that the Chinese propaganda machine was purposely depicting Americans in a negative light, and of course before I left for China I never really noticed-if most of those one sees around him day after day are fat it doesn’t seem so unusual. However, when I recently returned from China and stepped into the airport terminal at Los Angeles, what a shock! It’s true-Americans are mostly all fat, and even those one wouldn’t really call fat still seem to have a weight problem. Another impression upon returning came from seeing all the diet books being advertised and talked about in the stream of American media-saturated consciousness. The Atkinson Diet, The South Beach Diet, The Low-Carb Diet, The This Diet, The That Diet. Diet pills, diet clinics, weight loss remedies, “I lost 40 lbs. in 40 days” commercials. Gosh.

Well, I’m not fat. I was a little pudgy before I left for China five years ago, but not now. The idea of dieting never crossed my mind while I was there, in fact I ate more, a lot more, because the food is so good. The food in China is really, really good. In China food is art and it’s delicious, and it’s much better, more varied and different than the Chinese food here. There were also many opportunities for me to hang out with whomever and drink beer, and so I did a lot of that too, more than I should have, but I didn’t gain weight, I lost weight. Something else I should mention here is that few Chinese people are fat. They generally seem very fit and healthy, and extremely energetic.

A few days after arriving at LAX I drove down to San Ysidro on the US/Mexico border to see my old friend Wade. I was saddened when he told me that his fourteen year old daughter had been diagnosed with lymphatic cancer nine months earlier, but was quickly relieved when he added that the doctor treating her told him her cancer had apparently gone into remission as a result of chemotherapy treatments, and the prognosis for her was extremely optimistic. Wade also mentioned that this doctor definitely felt there was a link between his daughter’s cancer and all the fast food she and her friends were always consuming. Coincidentally, the next day I read a report on an internet website that claimed Americans suffer from cancer at twice the rate of the English, and that we experience heart disease and stroke at several times the rate of the French! It couldn’t be just the food though, I mean as in too much meat and fat or too much sugar, though it seems likely that that’s part of the problem. Reading the labels on cans and packages reveals long lists of esoteric chemical cocktails that we’re putting into our systems along with aerated potatoes and hydrogenated oils, in addition to the cows, pigs and chickens that have undergone treatments with hormones and antibiotics.

So it doesn’t take much to put things together. You can’t blame everything on tobacco since the English smoke more than we do, the French smoke more than the English, and the Japanese, who have the highest life expectancy in the world and suffer from cancer, heart disease and stroke at a fraction of our rate, smoke most of all, and they smoke everywhere. Although the hordes of class-action attorneys that converged on the tobacco companies (and everyone close to them with deep pockets), may be right now mapping out their next project, we don’t have to wait to be among those that will be suing the fast food restaurants, grocery stores and food processing companies that are making us look and feel awful, and killing us with disease. All we have to do is eat like the Chinese. Speaking personally, I’d rather eat like the Chinese even if it did make me fat, but it won’t, and it won’t make anyone else fat either.

As was mentioned, in China food is more than just food, it’s one of the great joys of life and it’s production is regarded as aesthetic expression. One problem is that I don’t think good Chinese food is that simple to make, preparing it right seems to be a pretty involved process. I’m resolved to make available a nice list of favorite recipes gleaned from my contacts in China and put them on my friend’s website who is also in China. It will be free, and I’ll try to focus on dishes that are not only very delicious and healthy, but easy enough that even I could do them (if I could make them anyone could). The list will include not so well known Chinese fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Until then, I’m hungry, I need to find where I can go for one of my favorites: Yunnan stir-fry wild mushrooms with onions and Cod, and seasoned to-fu along with a plate of fresh mixed young Chinese vegetables in spicy coconut sauce…

Rockland Zeiler, writing as Lai-En Xyler, earned his BA degree in anthropology from UW in 1981. Over the past five years he’s lived and worked in China where he’s started two small businesses and learned Chinese. He feels we Americans could learn from the accumulated wisdom reflected in China’s four thousand year old civilization. He asks that a link to his friend’s website, http://www.dreamsofchina.com, be included in reprints, and welcomes comments or questions at info@dreamsofchina.com.

What if I told you you’d able to eat all the juicy steaks, succulent seafood with butter and bacon and cheese omelettes and still lose massive quantities of weight? What if I also explained to you that you wouldn’t necessarily have to exercise to lose this weight? If I’ve got your attention and you’re willing to take the plunge, let me introduce you to the Atkins diet. The Atkins diet is known as a Standard Ketogenic Diet. The term ketogenic refers to the fact that your body must enter ketosis in order for this diet to work. Ketosis is when your body and more so your brain stops using glucose (sugar) to function and now adapts to using ketones. Is it safe? Well it’s a diet that has been used as far back as the 60s by bodybuilders to shed unwanted fat. The mistake most people make is assuming that this is a fairly new diet while all that’s really happened is that it’s become more main stream in the last decade or so. Many studies have been done not only on the long term effects but also on the overall efficiency of this diet and they all conclude that it does indeed work and there are no apparent short term health risks.

Before taking the Atkins diet for a test run you should contact your personal physician and talk it over with them. The initial stage of the Atkins diet is the hardest as it is the time when your brain tries to adapt to using ketones. Most people encounter a sort of brain fog where they feel a little lethargic and may encounter headaches. After the first 2 weeks this will subside and you’ll feel even better then you felt before. The first thing you’ll need to buy is ketone sticks. They sell them at most pharmacies and they are a vital part of your diet as they are the only indication of if you are in ketosis. The first stage of the Atkins diet is the induction phase and it last 2 weeks. This is where you will see the most significant weight loss while on the diet. After this phase is through you’ll evaluate if you’d like to stay in this phase or if you’d prefer to add some carbohydrates back into your diet and taper off the massive weight loss. First let’s look at how to get you into ketosis.

Both entering into and maintaining ketosis is amongst the most misunderstood aspects of the Atkins diet. Many people have a difficult time getting into ketosis and while in it they don’t quite understand what it is they’re doing to be knocked out of it. The ratio of protein to fat is what causes this confusion and the lack of explanation on this critical issue is why most people never succeed on this diet. When attempting to enter ketosis you must keep your daily protein intake at no more then 20%. Your fat intake must be at no less then 80% while your carbohydrate intake must remain at 0! Yes that is correct you can’t have any carbohydrates at all until you have successfully entered ketosis. This initial stage usually lasts 2- 3 days. After you have entered ketosis in order to remain in ketosis you must change your ratios to approximately 5% from carbohydrates, 30% from protein and 65% from your fat intake.

In the induction phase you will be relegated to eating mostly cheese, eggs and meat but as you progress to the next phase you will be able to add vegetables and even the occasional fruit back into your diet. As I stated before the initial phase of this diet lasts 2 weeks and now you’re faced with the decision of continuing the induction phase or moving on to more of a maintenance phase where you’ll gradually increase your carbohydrate intake, until you’ve noticed you’re being knocked out of ketosis. At that point you will have determined how many carbohydrates you can handle while still being in ketosis. The Atkins diet is definitely not for everyone but if you do feel you can handle it you’ll be able to lose sizable amounts of weight with a minimal effort. You will experience energy levels that you never knew you had and most importantly you’ll never feel hungry or deprived.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Weight Loss

The most common problem facing a majority of young people is acne. Acne is a skin disease that generally afflicts people in their 20s. However it is also seen in some people as old as 40. Many people tend to ignore the condition, as it is not a serious or a debilitating disease. However if the condition is not treated properly, it can lead to ugly and permanent scars on the face and other parts of the body.

The condition is caused by hormonal imbalance. Acne leads to closing of the pores and that leads to black and white pores. The condition if not treated can lead to permanent scars.

Acne is of two types, Inflammatory and noninflammatory. While the noninflammatory is generally mild, the inflammatory type of acne can be quite painful. The inflammatory glands turn into pimples and sometimes turn infectious. This condition if left untreated can lead to deep and permanent scars. The condition results in white and black pores
on the face, neck back and the chest.

The first and the foremost measure to tackle acne are to follow good hygiene. Excessive intake of coffee, alcohol and a sedentary lifestyle are also the major causes for acne.

A strict regimen of good personal hygiene will bring in good results. And if this coupled with a balanced diet and proper lifestyle, the problem can be tackled most effectively.

However, for any remedy to bring in good result, it should be followed up regularly and repeatedly. Temporary measure will only bring in temporary relief. Therefore do not neglect acne when it is in a mild condition this can deteriorate and lead to a far severe chronic condition that may require expert care and treatment.

By following a proper diet and simple remedies, acne can be completely cured.
You can follow any one of the following methods to treat acne.

Apply lemon juice on the affected area.
Apply mashed papaya on the affected areas.
Apply sandalwood paste.
Apply a pack of Multanimitti.
Wash the face with a sulfur based soap.

Along with the above treatment a healthy and balanced diet will go a long way in controlling acne. Drink at least one liter of water every day. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Exercise regularly and avoid a sedentary lifestyle.

Use a face pack that suits you skin regularly and then wash your face thoroughly with plain water. Apply antiseptic lotion on the pores and clean them thoroughly. The most effective method for preventing acne however is by following good hygiene, taking a balanced diet, proper exercise and leading a tension free and active life.

Venkata Ramana is the writer of Acne Solution blog.
Read his informative reports about Acne Scar and get rid of acne forever!