As a young scientist Ancel Keys showed that among people in countries where fresh fruit, vegetables and olive oil were plentiful like Greece, southern Italy and southern France- heart disease was extremely rare. In other countries where people eat a lot of beef, cheese and foods high in saturated fat- like the United States- heart disease is a leading cause of death. Ancel Keys, who is now 96, promoted the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet, which has become synonymous with good health.

Recently some have started to question the diet. In the past few years, Italian scientists have linked bread, pasta and rice made from refined grains to an increased risk of certain cancers, particularly thyroid, colon and stomach cancers. The Center for Science in the Public Interest also issued an enlightening report on the food served in Italian restaurants- many laden with saturated fat and cholesterol. Like fettuccine alfredo which has as much saturated fat as three pints of butter-almond ice cream or a serving of fried calamari which has the cholesterol equivalent of a four-egg omelet. However the foods served in most Italian restaurants are a long way from the foods that Keys first promoted in his original diet. The original Mediterranean Diet was nearly vegetarian, with fish and very little meat, and was rich in green vegetables and fruits.

When the traditional diets were brought to America suddenly a lot of meat, sugar and cream sauces were added. In addition, many pastas and bread are no longer even prepared the traditional way. The original Mediterranean diet never included refined flours. By making careful choices, you can experience the true Mediterranean Diet and have the healthiest and most delicious meals. When buying breads choose loaves made with whole grains and flours as opposed to white refined flours. For the main course fill your plate with fresh fruits and vegetables. If you are dining out, look for entrees with plenty of vegetables and very little cream, or cheese. For dessert, choose something that provides one serving of fruit.

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Kelly Johnson writes for http://www.Fitness-Pulse.com where she covers diet, health, fitness and exercise related topics.

Acne scars are caused by injury to the skin as a result of the acne, and the way in which the body has tried to repair the damage. Different people scar in very different ways, some being much more susceptible than others. However irrespective of how vulnerable you are to scarring, it only happens when you have a severe outbreak of acne, and is rarely associated with the much more common ‘mild’ cases.

Acne scars are classified under two broad headings, one being where extra skin tissue is present and the other being where there is loss of normal skin tissue.

Scars where extra skin tissue is deposited are called raised scars or keloid scars. They are composed of extra collagen which has been laid down under the skin. Sometimes these scars can be bigger than the original spots and often last for years, with darker skin being more prone to this type of scarring.

When skin tissue is lost the scarring is often referred to as ‘sunken’. These are much more common than raised scars and are characterised as ‘pits’ in the skin. There are a whole range of further classifications associated with sunken scars, all of which describe the particular way in which the scar looks. For example ice-pick sunken scars look like wounds from an ice-pick (small with jagged edges and steep sides).

Irrespective of the type of skin that you have, there are some things you can do to reduce the occurrence of acne scars, these include:

1) Proactively seek out treatment for your acne before it becomes severe. See your doctor, start some topical medication, adjust your diet, do something to prevent a few spots becoming severe acne.

2) Try not to squeeze your spots; this single activity will dramatically reduce your chance of developing acne scars.

3) Don’t pick or poke your spots with instruments such as nail files, and tweezers.

4) Use a good oil free moisturiser as part of your skin-care regime, to keep your skin supple and flexible.

Following these simple tips will ensure you don’t do long term damage to your skin.

Peter Vine is a successful online publisher of Acne-Treatment-Expert.com
He provides practical advice and the latest information on all aspects of adult acne treatments, which you can readily research on his website.

Do you remember when you were a teenager standing in front of the mirror and staring at the huge zit on your face? I’m sure you can remember the self-conscious feeling and wondering how your acne got there. You probably also remember wondering how were you going to get it off of your face before somebody actually sees it! If you have a teenager that is experiencing acne, you are going to have to show some sympathy the next time they ask for five bucks to go get another bottle of acne medication, cream or face wash. The unfortunate part about acne is no one really knows what causes it, although scientists think a hormone called androgen plays a significant role. Androgen acts as a stimulant to the sebum-producing glands. Shortly after puberty, boys produce 10 times as much androgen as girls. It is for this main reason that boys usually have more severe acne and need a good acne treatment.

Eighty five percent of the US population between the ages of 12 and 25 develop some type of acne. For boys, acne starts around the age of 13 and girls, age 11. Although there is no documented scientific evidence that junk food or greasy foods cause acne, it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye on your teen after they eat these foods to see if their acne is affected. Once acne is detected, most use a good acne medication or at least develop better personal hygiene habits to help combat its spread.

There is also no direct evidence that oily skin or hair causes acne but if your teen is experiencing more pimples or blackheads under their bangs, it may be a good idea to change their hairstyle. Also, approximately 70% of all women notice their acne worsens the week before their period begins. Stress also seems to be a factor in acne breakouts, but there is no scientific evidence to back this up. Finding the best acne treatments and having perseverance with good personal hygiene is the best way to combat teenage acne.

By Terry Price- Remember to visit- http://www.acne-scar-removal-treatments.com/related-resources.html –Need an effective treatment for your acne scars? http://www.acne-scar-removal-treatments.com/110-treatments-for-acne-scars.html