Archive for category Health Tips

Top 10 Health Tips for 2010



A little over a month into 2010 many of the resolutions that you made in January probably has fallen by the wayside. When the ball dropped on New Years Eve you might have resolved to go to the gym more often or to eat less fast food on, now, in February those promises seem as stale as the fruit cake in the back of your refrigerator. You might be feeling that you still want to change a few things this year but your earlier resolutions didn’t work out; below you will find 10 tips to bring a positive change to your life in 2010:

1.)  Make room for mini meditations through out your day, close the door at your office, hold your calls, and just relax for five minutes. Hubert Benson, the co-founder of Harvard’s Benson-Henry Institute for Mind/Body Medicine, recommends doing this a few times throughout the day. It allows you to turn everything off and recharge.

2.)  With states increasing cigarette taxes and cities banning smoking in bars and restaurants there has never been a better time to quit smoking. Many employers, faith groups, and even some local governments offer resources to help you stop smoking for good.

3.)  Make an effort to have a social life.  Getting bogged down in the stresses of daily life is easy to do. Make a promise to yourself to hang out with your friends at least once a week.

4.)  Be aware of your health. Get a physical this year, even if you had one last year you need to make it an annual event. Being proactive is the best way to maintain a healthy life.

5.)  Stay positive. It sounds simple, but if you try and keep a positive outlook on life you will find that you enjoy your work, family, and life in general a lot more.

6.)  Cut the calories back. This year instead of trying the next fad diet resolve to simply cut back your calorie intake.

7.)  Exercise daily. That doesn’t mean become a gym rat it means incorporate some kind of physical activity into your daily routine. It could be something as simple as going for a walk through the park every day, or going for daily bike rides.

8.)  Make “wellness” a verb. Don’t think of health and wellness as something to reach for, or something to achieve. Think of as the way you live your life.

9.)  Cut back the caffeine. Instead of drinking a pot of regular coffee every morning switch to a 50/50 coffee or caffeine free soft drinks.

10.)  Add a little “green” to your life. Mom really was right growing up, be sure to add fruits and vegetables to your meals every day.

These changes, for the most part, are easy to work into your daily life and maintain all year long.

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Combat Insomnia Without Medication

Insomnia 1Many people suffer from a sleep disorder known as insomnia. Insomnia is caused by many different factors including stress and an irregular sleep cycle. Most people opt for the chemical method of dealing with it because it doesn’t take any effort or thought. Take a pill, go to sleep. What they don’t consider is the side effects that come from these types of pills, not the least of which is addiction.

Natural remedies exist for dealing with insomnia, including research to find out the root of the insomnia. Relaxation is important to sleep quality. You need to learn to really relax your body in order to allow it to fall asleep naturally. Progressive muscle relaxation helps the body to systematically release tension, this means start at one point of your body and make it relax. Extremities like toes are a good place to start, or start from your center and radiate the relaxation outward picturing the stress releasing from your body through your fingers and toes, which ever works for you best. You may want to exercise before you begin the relaxation technique as exercise will strengthen, tire out, and help to relax the muscles, giving you a head start.

Follow the same routine every night so your body gets into a habit and is conditioned for a sleep response.

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Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Caffeine

cup of CoffeCaffeine is classified by the FDA and generally recognized as safe and there has been no evidence produced that shows caffeine to be harmful to health. The American Medical Association holds a similar view as long as the substance is consumed in moderation.

It has become a common belief that moderation and common sense when ingesting this substance as well as any other substance in anyone’s diet is the key to health. Moderation is considered the equivalent of about three cups of coffee, but of course it depends on the individual’s body mass and ability to process the substance.

Some people display a sensitivity towards caffeine and can only drink a small amount before they start feeling jittery and over stimulated, while others can drink a large amount of caffeine and fall right to sleep soon after. Caffeine does not accumulate in the blood stream or tissues, it is evacuated from the body within hours of consumption. This substance has been used to increase alertness in tired individuals in many different products including some in pill form. There appears to be no difference in the way a child’s body and an adult’s body reacts to caffeine other than the body mass compared to the amount of caffeine consumed.

Very basically, when consuming things that contain caffeine, do it in moderation, taking into account past history as far as its effects on your body.

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Need Help To Quit Smoking?

smokingSmoking not only affects your body physically, it affects your emotional stability. If you have been a heavy smoker and have not had a cigarette available when you wanted it, you know the feelings that lack of nicotine cause. There are many different triggers that make you want a cigarette and many of these triggers are simply habit, such as having one with a cup of coffee, having them after each meal, having one when socializing and a multitude of other reasons.

There are many reasons to stop. Some benefits of stopping would be immediate like making our breath, skin, hair and clothes smell better and being able to get that awful yellow stain to leave your teeth, increased energy along with a lowered heartbeat and blood pressure. You could end up with a lot more money in your pocket if you didn’t spend it on cigarettes. Long term benefits would be decreasing the amount of toxicity you are exposing your body to which increases the risk of cancer including lung cancer and also heart disease. Long term serious breathing problems are common in smokers, along with many other negative affects.

If you want to stop smoking, prepare yourself and your surroundings for the venture, get rid of the things that may trigger a desire to smoke. Some triggers you won’t be able to get rid of but with time will be able to overcome such as the desire to smoke after eating. Learn how to handle your stress and to diminish it without the help of cigarettes and if you need medication to help you resist, then get it. Be prepared for a possible relapse and forgive yourself should it happen, just keep yourself on the road towards quitting.

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Basic Health Tips To Practice Everyday!

Jumping GirlIn today’s world, we seem to be moving at a lot faster pace but not getting any exercise. Our movement seems to be by computer, telephone, car, train, plane and a multitude of other fast paced modes of transportation along physical and informational highways.

We never seem to have the time to actually exercise by riding a bike or swimming, hiking or just playing a nice game of football at the park down the street. We have a telephone, computer, gps and Ipod in one hand and a shake, hamburger and fries in the other. This is surely a recipe for unhealthy living.

We need to learn to empty both hands and let them relax a little. Sit down or lay down and let the world slow down around you. This doesn’t mean drop into your bed in exhaustion, it means take some time to yourself, sit by the pool, read a book or other form of literature (reading the Wall Street Journal doesn’t count). Listen to some relaxing music, practice some deep breathing techniques and really learn how to help your body totally relax.
Eat a more balanced meal ( this doesn’t mean balancing a shake and a hamburger in both hands while trying to control the steering wheel) and eat at regular intervals. Actually sit down and have a nice healthy bowl of soup, or a nice balanced meal with meat, veggies and other good for you items. Take time to yourself, get reacquainted with your family and friends.

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Recognize The Signs Of Depression

AloneMost of us suffer from some form of depression at times in our life. Live isn’t always easy and it isn’t always fun, it is normal to feel depressed once in a while. It’s when the feelings of despair and deep darkness take hold and won’t let go that you may be suffering from clinical depression. This is more than just the blues, it’s a feeling that affects every facet of your life, making it impossible enjoy your life and function well in society. You lose interest in things that used to captivate you, such as hobbies and friends, you feel tired and listless all the time and just getting through the day may seem like an insurmountable task. Many people that suffer from clinical depression don’t feel sadness, they feel empty and lifeless, apathetic. They may have a completely bleak outlook on life and have no interest in anything including eating and sleeping. They may suffer from self loathing and engage in harsh criticism of themselves. There are a whole host of negative feelings that come with clinical depression, even the possibility of suicidal tendencies. If you are suffering from what you believe is clinical depression, you need to get help from a professional that understands the symptoms, the feelings, and what steps to take in what progression in order to help you escape from the depression and regain control of your normal life.

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Alternatives To Medicating ADHD Children

Adderall XRThe quality of food we consume has a strong effect on our body health and function. This is profoundly true with ADHD. With some people, nutrition alone can effectively treat ADHD.

Essential fatty acids and amino acids are important in any diet, but studies have shown that they are even more so in individuals suffering from ADHD. For instance in one study, hyperactive children who where fed a meal high in protein did as well, if not better, in school than non hyperactive children. In another study, half of the children were given placebos and the other half were given essential fatty acids. The children that received the essential fatty acids significantly improved over those that received the placebo. There is a strong connection with essential fatty acid deficiencies and ADHD, especially Omega 3 fatty acids.

Physicians are not in business to prescribe natural remedies for problems, they are in business to prescribe prescription drugs that you can’t get except through a prescription from them. They normally prescribe stimulant medications such as Ritalin for ADHD, however, recent studies have shown that children under this type of medication regimine are at high risk of lawbreaking type mischief.

If you believe your child suffers from ADHD, you may want to find a holistic nutritional specialist and discuss the possibilities of essential fatty acid and amino acid deficiencies in your child’s diet and try to remedy the situation in a natural fashion.

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What You Might Not Know About OCD

Priority Mental HealthMany people suffering from OCD will not seek help even if they have known for a long period of time that they have a problem. Since therapy is a crucial part of treating OCD, this is detrimental to the person’s healthy life.

It can be hard to find a professional that has an insight and understanding of OCD that also has the strength to keep you moving forward.

Once you find a qualified professional, you will not get full benefit of their help unless you follow their advice. If you have questions, make sure you have them answered to your satisfaction and understanding. Once you are aware and understand what is expected of you, you will need to trust that person well enough to follow their instructions. Give the therapist feedback; while you are not a therapist, you are the only person that truly knows how the therapy is affecting you. Your therapist may not fully understand the effects of OCD because they’ve never had it; however, they have been trained to a certain extent and their interaction with you will allow them to tailor their therapy to your needs.

You may begin to feel that the psychiatrist is your friend and your confidant, but there are boundaries that can never be crossed in that relationship. The relationship is a professional one and no inappropriate behavior should be accepted from either party. If you lose trust in your therapist then you might consider finding another one. Follow your needs and your judgment, however, don’t discount the therapist because you don’t want to follow the therapy.

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Do You Suffer From Anxiety?

Sad EggMost of us have suffered from some sort of anxiety during our lifetime; many of us suffer from it much more often. Anxiety produces a large number of different symptoms. Some people become obsessive compulsive, washing their hands over and over again, even though they know they are already clean. Maybe they feel uneasy about something, don’t know why, and see that other people are not affected. Maybe the anxiety is about a certain thing like riding an elevator or crossing a bridge or even going to a social event.

Panic attacks are an intense fear that lasts a short period and are more intense than any other type of anxiety. Phobias are also a type of anxiety where the person suffers unwarranted fears.

When suffering from these types of problems a victim will often ask what the matter is with them. This can just intensify your anxiety and possibly your symptoms. Anxiety is considered one of the most common afflictions people suffer from and it can be so strong that it can have a limiting affect on a person’s entire perspective and life.

If you are suffering a debilitating form of anxiety it is a good idea to find a qualified professional that will allow you to interact with an openness and honesty that will allow you to recover.

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Best Fast Food For Weight Loss

BurgerWe live in a fast paced world where food is often consumed while driving down the highway over the speed limit and watching for police vehicles. Fast food restaurants have figured this out and are stepping up to the challenge of providing healthier food to all of the patrons that go whizzing by their drive up service windows.

Panera Bread came in first place for their comprehensive menu offering multiple healthy choices for every meal. Panera Bread also received top honors for their kids menu.

Jason’s Deli, located in the Midwest, came in second. This particular deli has a penchant for organic foods and with this in mind, approximately one fifth of all of its ingredients are organic.

Third place belongs to Au Bon Pain, which has been a pioneer in the idea of healthy fast foods. They serve sandwiches, soups, salads and even hot entrees made with whole grains, veggies and even hormone free chicken.

Noodles and Company doesn’t sound like a name you would expect to make it in a top ten healthy fast food list however this Asian food court eatery makes healthy its business, cutting out all the grease and using soybean oil in their cooking. Which puts them in fourth place.

Corner Bakery Café is a Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern based café that has a breakfast menu full of healthy choices. It also has healthy salads, sandwiches and soups. They use whole grains, lean meats and vegetables. They also practice portion control. They land solidly in fifth place.

Chipotle takes sixth place followed by Atlantic Bread and McDonald’s takes a surprising 8th place. Einstein Bagels takes ninth place followed by Taco Del Mar. That rounds out the top ten. As with any menu, you will find more and less healthy items in every location.

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Men, Look Your Best Regardless Of Age

For You EyesWomen aren’t the only ones that want to look their best; men are becoming more and more conscious of their looks as far as their skin, hair, and other cosmetic issues.

The first thing you need to do is make sure you are eating a healthy diet, the healthier your body is inside, the healthier your exterior will be.

Taking care of your hair is a multifaceted venture. Stress can cause such things as hair loss and graying, make an effort to deal with your stress by exercising, doing different yoga exercises, to relieve stress. Get yourself a massage, this will get your blood moving and help to remove impurities from your tissues including your hair follicles. Add to that the use of shampoo and conditioner containing moisturizers and you will help your hair maintain healthy vigor.

Skin care for men is as important as it is for woman. This means protecting it from UV rays, harsh chemicals, and any other of the many abuses men inflict upon their skin. Wear gloves if you’re dealing with harsh chemicals, put on UV rated sun screen if you intend to be out in the sun, even in the winter and treat your skin to a good moisturizing lotion.

This type of care will go a long ways towards keeping you younger looking no matter how old you are.

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What’s In Your Flu Shot?

Pharmacy Bottle Cap OceanSome flu vaccines as well as many other vaccines contain mercury. Mercury has already been proven to pose a serious health threat and has been removed from many things in our lives due to the risk. In times past, hat makers used mercury in their production which is where the term mad as a hatter came from. Now we are putting this dangerous substance in a needle and injecting it into our bodies. The amount of mercury contained in a normal multi-dose flu shot is shown to be 250 times higher that the legal classification of hazardous waste.

Flu vaccines also contain many antibiotics to eliminate unwanted bacteria present in the mixture. Antibiotics also wipe out the beneficial bacteria within our bodies that help us reach and attain optimum health. Antibiotics also have the effect of lowering the strength of the immune system, which you need at its best in order to fight the flu. Some vaccines also contain an emulsifier known as Polysorbate 80. This has been shown to be highly toxic and also lowers thestrength of the immune system. It can also cause anaphylactic shock which can be fatal. There are many negative things that this substance has been linked to, yet it is still injected into our bodies under the pretense of protecting us from the flu.

On top of all of this, there is no evidence that shows flu shots actually work. They are only able to protect against certain strains of the flu and may not even do that for you, yet they still subject you to all of the toxins within its recipe.

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Use Sunscreen Everyday- Even During The Winter

Blank Shampoo BottleIt is common knowledge that anyone going out into the sun in summer should wear sunscreen but many people don’t consider that when they go outside during the winter. Even in the winter skin is exposed to UVA and UVB rays and we are more apt to stay out in the open longer when the weather is cooler or even overcast. This exposes us even more to the harmful rays than we would be under summer conditions. UV exposure has detrimental affects on our skin in a multitude of ways. The danger of skin cancer is extremely strong with long term exposure. Short term exposure can cause aging of the skin, wrinkling and dryness.

In order to protect your skin, use a lotion that has an SPF rating of at least 15, higher if you intend to be out for long periods. Keep your skin protected with these lotions when you are out in the sunlight. Some may feel heavy or sticky, look for a product that feels comfortable on your skin so you won’t resist using it on a daily basis. Use one that is broad spectrum in order to ensure full protection. Whatever you use, wash it off on a daily basis and replace it with a quality moisturizer while you are out of the sun’s influence. This will ensure that your skin will stay well moisturized and protected, keeping it from aging prematurely.

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Avoid The Flu Without Getting A Flu Shot

Injection NeedleObviously, one of the first things you need to do is avoid people that appear to have the flu. Avoiding people with the flu isn’t as easy as it may seem, many people have it and don’t show symptoms till too late. When you are handling things other people have handled, make sure to wash your hands, disinfect the item or both. The more you disinfect things the better off you will be. Don’t rub your face or your eyes with your hands. Hands are wonderful carriers of germs and it appears that most germs we end up fighting have come from our hands. Wash your hands frequently and if you can, carry wipes or disinfectant for hands. Use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, then wash your hands, this will keep viruses from staying on them.

Eat right and make sure you get enough sleep, a body that is undernourished and is lacking in sleep will be more vulnerable to flu than a body that is well taken care of.

Avoid crowded public places. If you feel ill, stay at home and keep your child home if he or she feels ill. Don’t go into work, but don’t go into emergency unless you are having trouble breathing or high temperature. Remember, if you go into a hospital situation, you will be surrounded by infectious people.

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Keep Your Skin Looking Great All Winter

Portrait 26Keeping your skin healthy in the winter is not too much different than keeping it healthy other times, it just requires more of certain things in order to help adapt to the changing weather conditions. Winter tends to bring with it low humidity which has the action of drying out your skin. During these conditions you will want to have a more aggressive moisturizing regimen. Take a hot bath to open up your pores, dry off by patting your skin and before you are totally dry, apply your moisturizer of choice, this will help lock in moisture.

While taking your shower or bath, make sure that you exfoliate your skin, if you don’t remove dead or dried out skin cells then the living ones beneath can gain no benefit from your moisturizing program. You should exfoliate at least two times per week. Skin tends to reduce its oil production in the winter which makes your job of moisturizing much more crucial.

Drink water, drink water, drink water. Most people don’t drink near enough water to replenish what is lost through the skin. The Chinese have a remedy that is supposed to not only detoxify your skin but also boost your energy. This is a concoction includes warm water mixed with lemon.

Sleep. Sleeping lets your body replenish itself and get prepared for the upcoming day. Lack of sleep means lack of preparedness which leaves your body and your skin vulnerable to outside conditions.

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Yoga On The Go

Yoga Back ArchYoga isn’t just for pretzel people anymore, every day people in any physical shape can perform yoga positions, especially those that are specifically designed for people new to yoga. In the cat pose, you get on your hands and knees and take a deep breath, round up your back towards the ceiling, tucking your head down into your chest, then lower your back down and lift your head back into the starting position. In the dog pose, you stay on your hands and knees and basically reverse the cat pose, pushing your tailbone up towards the ceiling, lowering your mid section down towards the floor with your head and shoulders up. You can rotate between the cat and dog position making it all one yoga exercise. In the child’s pose, you start in the hands and knees position, then sit back onto your legs with your bottom pushing over your legs. Let your arms trail out over your head along the floor. Close your eyes and rest your face on the floor.

All three of these positions mixed together can help you stretch and relax your body, get your blood moving through your tissues and prompt your muscles to release impurities within them. Relaxing your mind at the same time, letting it float through these exercises will ensure a refreshed body at the termination.

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4 Easy Yoga Positions You Can Do At Work

YogaThere are many yoga positions that can be performed at work without any special tools or space. Many can be done at your desk.

Stretch your frame as straight as you can, press down through your sitting bones, and lift your chest. Roll your shoulders back a few times letting them pull and then relax. Inhale deeply through your whole body, and then exhale in the same fashion. Allow the breath to leave you at it’s own pace, let your body relax around the exhalation and stretch up slowly, swelling with the inhalation. Perform this exercise multiple times while you feel your body relax.

Your eyes are easy to overwork in an office environment and eye exercises can help to ease the stress and strain they are subjected to. Lift your eyes from your work or your computer screen and focus on a spot on a nearby wall. Imagine a circle on the wall and follow the line around its circumference, slowly circling, first in one direction, then in the other. Then focus your gaze further away and practice the same exercise. Then focus your eyes back onto something near (but not your computer screen). Repeat this process a few times.

Wrists are subject to repetitious work that can cause problems with the tendons and other parts of the wrist. To reduce the chance of this, do some wrist exercises many times a day. With pinkies facing towards one another, flat on your desk, keep your fingers as straight as you can. Sit back slowly, bringing your wrists closer to your chair. As you stretch your fingertips and wrist, inhale, then exhale as you release the stretch, letting out an audible soft sigh.

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Antioxidants In Your Skin Cream?

AvacadoWhen shopping for skin cream, it is important to know exactly what you are looking for, don’t take a sales person’s advice, their job is to sell you something that is on their shelves, their responsibility ends at that point. In order for your skin to fight off cell damage, you will need to supply it with antioxidants. You can do that through the food you eat, the supplements you take and through the cream you put on.

Your cream should have certain ingredients in them and a dearth of other un-needed ingredients. CoenzymeQ10 is found in every living cell throughout your body. It is responsible for providing energy and effective functionality; your cells cannot do their job and survive without this substance. Nanobelle CoenzymeQ10 is a nano-emulsion version of this nutrient. It penetrates deep into skin cells in order to fight free radical damage. It can also help to elevate production of collagen and elastin protein. Avocado oil is a fantastic anti-oxidant that contains many vitamins in addition to both omega 3 and 9 fatty acids. This means it can deeply moisturize and hydrate skin, improving its health. It is also known to increase soluble collagen within your dermal layer which lies below your epidermal layer (your outer skin layer). Jajoba oil is also packed with anti-oxidants and helps to minimize oxidation. There are many other very helpful ingredients and in order to find out all of them, research is a good idea.

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Make Your Skin Happy With The Food You Eat

Olive Oil 1Your skin is the largest organ of your body, the question is, why do we treat it so badly at times. We expose it to harsh conditions without protecting it. We don’t take the time to exfoliate it so new cells can come forward and we don’t nourish it properly, yet we expect it to be healthy, soft, clear and without issues. It’s easy to rub lotions and potions on our skin to make it appear softer and younger but why not nourish it from the inside.

Extra virgin olive oil contains essential fatty acids that help to keep our skin moistened from the inside. Olive oil and other seed based oils help to prevent flakey skin. It also helps reduce wrinkles. If you want to do your body a favor, remove the butter and switch to olive oil whenever possible. Olive oil is wonderful on bread instead of butter.

Dark leafy greens have long been known for their antioxidant properties and they generally also contain zinc. Zinc helps with the renewal of collagen and helps clear up acne problems.

Water is the least touted ingredient to good healthy skin, most people are dehydrated to some extent, they have dull, ashen skin. Be consistant with your water intake and be sure you are taking in enough for your body weight, location and exercise level.

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Ingredients Your Skin Cream Should Skip

Three CreamsNew skin care products are constantly showing up on the market touting all sorts of different qualities and benefits. This makes deciding on what skin care product to use a very difficult and mind boggling one.

There are many different ingredients that you need to avoid, one such ingredient is parabens. Parabens are used to give products longevity but they may actually have links to cancer. Choose a product that has a shelf life and just buy them in containers you can use within that period of time. Fragrances are also common ingredients; it makes your cream smell nice but can cause irritation or allergic reactions. They aren’t necessary so why subject your skin to them.

Amazingly enough, many moisturizers contain alcohol, alcohol in any form dries out the skin which means that it is working contrary to the purpose of the moisturizer. Mineral oil can indeed soften your skin and make it feel smoother; however, it can clog your pores. This can cause all sorts of skin issues that may require even more substances be applied to your skin.

It pays to read ingredient labels well and understand what is in the product before purchasing it and applying it to your skin. It has been proven that skin is very good at absorbing what has been put on it meaning that any non-desirable ingredients not only sit upon your skin, it infiltrates it and gets into the inner part of your skin surface.

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