The Dangers of Sodas and Diet Drinks

Sodas and colas are incredibly popular across the world. These beverages account for more than a quarter of all drinks consumed in the United States. More than 15 billion gallons were sold in 2000. That works out to at least one 12-ounce can per day for every man, woman and child.

Sodas are full of empty calories and will contribute to obesity, tooth decay, weakened bones and caffeine dependence. Studies have shown strong links between children who drink sodas and childhood obesity. No one can deny the ties to soda and tooth decay, and it isn't just the high levels of sugar that cause it. The acids in sodas begin to etch away the tooth enamel within 20 minutes. These acids also upset the gastrointestinal system and cause many stomach disorders, as well as disturb the acid/base balance in the body, making an acid climate in which disease flourishes.

Sodas are a huge contributor to caffeine dependence, and it often starts with young children. And diet colas are often packed with a lot more caffeine than their regular counterparts. With the popularity of stimulant drinks such as Red Bull, that contain extra amounts of caffeine, there is a reported rise in aggressive behavior and violence among youths that consume these drinks.

Besides acids and caffeine, sodas contain phosphorus, an ingredient shown to weaken bones by promoting the loss of calcium. Phosphorus contributes to bone breakage during childhood, and osteoporosis later in life.

Another danger is aspartame added to diet sodas as a sugar substitute. There are over 92 different health related side effects associated with aspartame consumption, including brain tumors, birth defects, diabetes, emotional disorders and epilepsy/seizures. Plus, when aspartame is kept in warm areas or stored for long periods of time, it changes to methanol, an alcohol that converts to formaldehyde and formic acid, both of which are carcinogens.

There really are no good reasons to drink sodas. Juices, herbal teas and water are much better substitutes.


Source:http://readbud.com/Articles/Nutrition/The-Dangers-of-Sodas-and-Diet-Drinks

Mind Power: The Ultimate Success Formula

What does it take to be successful?

Ask around and you will find different answers to the formula of success. The truth is, success leaves clues and you can achieve the success in the area you desire by observing the common qualities and principles. They are simple and considered to be common sense but most people simply do not follow them.

Let me share with you one of my favorite quotes:

"There are no secrets to success. It is the results of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure" Colin Powell

As stated in that quote, there are three key factors to achieve massive success in your life:

1.Preparation

You don't have to wait for everything to be perfect. Start with the first step and keep moving. Success doesn't happen over night. Prepare, prepare, and prepare. You must be ready to receive the success you desire. Set your sight to the destination that you want to achieve, then work and prepare for the moment when the opportunity knocks your door.

2.Hard Work

Success needs hard work. Don't listen to these 'get rich quick' schemes. You need to build your character and work hard on yourself and your business to achieve greatness. Work hard and work smart. Do the right things and do them in the right way. Don't procrastinate. Take bold actions. Work long hours and craft your legacy.

3.Learning from failure
Successful people do not see failures as failures. They see them as important learning lessons. Lessons that are capable of giving them insights to prevent such mistakes from happening again. By adopting this mindset of turning each failure into a learning lesson or opportunity, you can never fail until you yourself quit.

Infidelity Discovered? 10 Ways to Calm Your Powerful Feelings

When you find out about the affair, the first few hours, days and weeks can be emotionally wrenching to say the least. Or, if someone you deeply care about begins "pulling away" you may also experience intense feelings. Read through this list and pick out a couple things you can do to help yourself during these times.

1. Walk. Run, if you are fit enough to run. Work out. Get the blood flowing. Physical exercise drains off the adrenaline and physically you feel better. You also think better of yourself because you are caring for you.

2. Talk. If you typically handle problems by talking them out, find someone who will listen as you pour out your heart. Give them explicit instructions: "I need to talk, vent, cry, rage, and question. Just look me in the eye, nod your head and listen."

3. Write. Get a kitchen timer. Set it for 5 minutes. Spend that time writing...anything, everything that comes to your mind. Don't censor. When the bell goes off say to yourself, "OK, there it is. Now I need to get on to other things. I will come back later and write more." Put the writing in a safe place or destroy it.

4. Find a safe place and spend some time there. Do you have a favorite lake, wooded area, park, room, chair where you feel safe and can "get away." Intentionally spend some time there.

5. Use good "self talk." Tell yourself, "You are ok. You will be ok. This too shall pass. What you are feeling is normal and will not destroy you." Develop that "observing part" that can speak to6. Pray. Meditate. Use your spiritual resources, if you have them. If you don't have them, it can be a good time to develop them. Spirituality often affirms your worth and enables you to see the larger picture.

Why Is It Important For Women To Initiate Romance?

Oftentimes we, as women, leave our needs unexpressed and wait for our husbands to just guess what to do. Many men honestly don't know how to be romantic. And, when they do get up the courage to attempt romance, their efforts may not be expressed in a way that we appreciate or even recognize as romance.

Look how silly this sounds. If your son was attempting algebra and didn't understand it, you wouldn't cry because he didn't love you. As a mom, we'd sit down, and go over it again and again, for as long as it took until he understood. Yet, we expect our husbands to know something that they've never been taught. Instead of leaving your man to struggle, show him how to romance you. How will he know what to do if you don't show him?So, how can you teach him how to romance you?


1. Be romantic yourself.
If you show him that you value him and love him on a regular basis, instead of expecting him to be the romantic one, he'll be more receptive to trying it himself. The old saying "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" definitely applies. Yelling and crying because he isn't romantic isn't exactly going to put him in the lovey mood.

2. Tell him what you like. Do you enjoy expensive gifts or would you rather have him make something for you? Would you like him to go on walks with you? Give you cut flowers or live plants?

Make a list of every birthday, anniversary and holiday and include ideas for things he can buy or do for you. Set him up to succeed.

3. Learn what he likes.
The same thing stands for him. Know what makes him happy.

Please don't buy him an expensive gift if he's the frugal type. He won't like it.
Don't take him to a fancy French restaurant if he's a Burger kind of guy. It's ok to take him there for your birthday, but don't take him there for his birthday.
If he loves sports, then go to them with him.

Please initiate romance. So often, women just get more and more resentful that they aren't feeling romanced and their man has no clue what to do to fix it. There really should be a required romance course before you can get your marriage license. At least that way, men would, at some point in time, learn how to be romantic. Until then, it's our job to show him just what we want and need to feel special. Now go Romance Your Man!