Green Alternative Blog Post Date: Nov 29, 2006
Why does your body build up excess fat? By eating more food than we can burn up through physical exercise and our normal bodily processes.
Foods furnish the energy that is measured in units called calories. If we eat more calories from food and drink than we burn up through exercise, the extra calories are stored away in the form of body fat. The body acts as a bank for fat. If a person continues to take in excessive calories, the amount of fat in your bank grows.
You can reduce the amount of fat in your bank by making withdrawals. There are two safe ways to do this: (1) eat less high-fat foods; and (2) increase your physical activity to burn the excess calories.
The best way to reduce your fat storage is a combination of eating less high-fat foods and exercising your body.
Your body always counts the calories that you eat, even when you forget that you've taken in those calories. The body never lies! Everything that makes your body fat enters your body through your mouth. If you pay attention to what you eat, you gain control of the body fat storage that accumulates.
There are certain times in your life when you are more likely to retain fat in your body. The first is aging. As you grow older, your body requires fewer calories to fuel basic processes. Unless food intake is gradually reduced or physical activity is increased, the extra pounds are sure to pile up.
Most women gain extra weight during pregnancy and at menopause. A woman's metabolism helps to determine how easily she can lose the "baby" weight after her child is born.
There are many lose-weight-fast programs that "guarantee" that you can lose excess pounds without effort. Some of these may use drugs or herbs that can be harmful to your body. Some of them say you can eat a certain food or beverage because they are "ignored" by your body. But, calories always count toward your body fat storage no matter what foods they come from.
When you first begin a weight loss program, it seems you can lose weight faster at the start. A lot of that first weight that you lose is water weight. You may be exercising more strenuously and losing water weight by sweating it off. That doesn't mean, however, that you can go into a steam room and lose a significant amount of weight by sweating it off.
The moral of this story is: Eat smaller portions of healthy foods and give your body the exercise it needs to keep it fit and in shape.
About the Author
Jude Wright is the owner of "9 Weeks to Weight Loss" at 9WeekstoWeightLoss.com. Stop by and get your free report, "Losing Weight Without Starving Yourself."
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Green Alternative Blog Post Date: Nov 29, 2006
Yoga can help you in stress reduction, improved concentration and weight loss. Yoga results in increase in peace of mind and mental awareness. Yoga can not be considered as the best exercise for weight reduction but can help you out greatly. Different Yoga poses and meditations can be used basis upon their ability to adjust and balance hormones, emotions, or metabolism. Meditation is also an important part of Yoga exercises and works as an aerobics exercise for mind which tunes your thinking process, control emotions and bring happiness day by day.
Yoga improves digestion system, blood circulation and burns fat, which in turn eliminates constipation, water retention and controls your appetite, moods .It also controls your sleep patterns.
Various yoga postures are called as Asanas, Some basic yoga asanas are:
* Savasana * Sukhasna * Surya Namaskar * Sarvangasana * Pranayama
Involve deeply into micro-movements and pay more attention to your internal experience than to your outer performance. Yoga can reduce weight without using costly equipments and hard exercises and will also increases concentration and peace of mind. Yoga is helpful for all age peoples. Yoga can add number of years to your lifetime by regular practicing.
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Green Alternative Blog Post Date: Nov 29, 2006
The craze about low-fat diets and foods has given dietary fibre a back seat. Although people may pay less attention to fibre, its health benefits are not to be ignored. Fibre remains an essential nutrient and a vital part of healthy eating for everyone, including those with diabetes. In fact, soluble forms of plant fibre may help to check blood sugar swings.
Fibre plays a significant role in the digestive process and can dramatically affect our state of health. Although fibre does not supply calories or building blocks for the body, it is now considered an essential nutrient. A deficiency of fibre in the diet leads to many health problems.
Fibre's benefits are a result of its structure. Fibre does not get broken down by digestive enzymes in the stomach and small intestine. Because of this, fibre may lower blood cholesterol and can reduce the risk of diabetes. Fibre also speeds up the movement of digested food through the intestine, reducing the amount of time your colon is exposed to cancer-promoting substances formed during digestion.
Boosting your fibre intake is good for your health. In fact, boosting it at breakfast may be the key to staying lean. Putting fibre-rich foods on your morning menu is very effective at curbing afternoon binging on snacks like cookies or cakes. That's because fibre acts like a speed bump in your gastrointestinal tract, slowing everything way down, so you stay fuller for a longer period of time.
This way, you use your body chemistry, not willpower, to curb cravings for junk food and get to your ideal body weight. Enjoying a fibre-rich diet, especially at breakfast, can reduce your calorie intake for up to 18 hours a day. Fibre-rich foods help control blood sugar and lower insulin levels. It is recommended for one to consume 25 to 30 grams of fibre a day. If you are a man less than 50 years old, take up to 38 grams of fibre a day.
Diabetes, heart disease and bowel disease are rare in Africa due to the native diets rich in whole grains, seeds, roots, vegetables and nuts. The lack of dietary fibre is responsible for the high incidence of these disorders in Western countries. Coconut meat and coconut oil form an integral part of the diet of native Africans.
Coconut meat is one of the highest sources of dietary fiber. One small 2 x 2 inch piece of fresh coconut contains 5 grams of fiber. Adding fresh or dried coconut to your diet can significantly improve your daily fiber intake. Coconut meat may be hard to keep or get in your area but coconut oil can be stored in a bottle for a few months and is easily available. Changing your cooking oil to coconut oil can supply your body with enough fibre to stay healthy.
Protect your immune system and nourish your health with virgin coconut oil, Go to:
http://www.BuyVirginCoconutOil.com
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Green Alternative Blog Post Date: Nov 29, 2006
So what are the Benefits of Mangosteen?"
Well first, for those who dont know what the mangosteen is...
The mangosteen is a fruit grown primarily in Southeast Asia and is often called the "Queen of All Fruits". The scientific name is Garcinia mangostana and it is mostly known for its great flavor and the many folk benefits of mangosteen.
The dark purple rind was dried & ground and used to fight off infection. Ancient healers used the extract of the fruit to reduce fever. Poultices were made to treat parasitic skin infections. The benefits of mangosteen have been used for centuries to treat dysentery, diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and eczema.
Not many have heard of the mangosteen before because, until now the mangosteen fruit had never been talked about outside of its native region.
Researchers have identified dozens of biologically active compounds called "Xanthones" in the rind of the mangosteen fruit. There are many research papers on the benefits of mangosteen. In fact, there are stacks of existing mangosteen research in dozens of countries talking about the benefits of mangosteen.
Xanthones, the active compounds in mangosteen, have been proven in many scientific studies to promote healthy bodily function. The whole mangosteen fruit, packed with naturally occurring xanthones, can help:
-Maintain Intestinal Health , -Strengthen Your Immune System , -Promote a Healthy Respiratory System , -Support Cartilage and Joint Function , -Combat the effects of Free Radicals and Inflammation ,
But the benefits of mangosteen were a mystery for a long time. It wasn't until 40 years ago when scientists first put the Mangosteen Fruit under the microscope that they discovered these Xanthones.
Xanthones are 100 times more powerful anti-oxidants than vitamin A, C & E and also have shown incredible healing properties in reviewed scientific studies all around the world.
These supercharged anti-Oxidants, are found more in the rind of the Mangosteen Fruit than any other food source on earth. The benefits of mangosteen have been shown to include the following:
-Anti-aging -Anti-biotic -Alzheimers -Parkinsons -Anxiety -Antioxant -Anti-Allergy -Anti-depressant -Periodontal (gum health) -Eye health -Migraines -Skin rashes -Hypertension -Pan systemic -Energizer (Energy booster) -Anti-Inflammatory -Anti-Tumor -Analgesic (Pain reducer) -Nerve pain -Anti-pyretic (Lowers fevers) -Anti-viral -Stimulates red blood cell growth -Ulcers -Osteoporosis -Immune Modulator (help immune system) -Cardio protective (helps protect heart) -Cataracts -Irritable bowel syndrome -Anti-fungal -Anti-pathogenic (reduce pathogens) -Anti-parasitic -Supports weight loss -Hardening of the arteries -Anti-lipidemic (lowers blood fat) -Anti-diabetic (lowers blood sugar)
**Six Xanthones were even found to KILL CANCER Cells.
It's obvious that this fruit has amazing properties and the benefits of mangosteen can be reaped by many. I myself was turned on by the natural "energy boost", after experiencing bad caffiene withdrawals from coffee.
More and more people are seeking "natural" health alternatives, and the mangosteen just might play a huge part in fulfilling that void.
For more information on the Benefits Of Mangosteen, visit:
http://www.MangosteenCures.com
About the Author
David Schwind has read various sources of information on the mangosteen and takes it daily. Should you have any questions, call 888-742-9132. For more information on the benefits of mangosteen - visit www.MangosteenCures.com
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Green Alternative Blog Post Date: Nov 29, 2006
Do you remember the old saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away?" Well that saying is supported by the facts that we have gathered about apples. They are amount the most health giving fruits available and contain beneficial vitamins and minerals. Some of those included are potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, iron and the central ingredient, apple cider vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar breaks down fatty, mucous and phlegm that are in the body therefore improving the health and function of your liver, bladder, and kidneys. It also helps thin the blood, which prevents high blood pressure. It also promotes digestion, the assimilation in the body and the elimination process. It helps get rid of toxic substances that can be harmful. It has been said that if you take a mixture of cider vinegar and water before a meal it will help prevent diarrhea or digestive upsets. This works especially well for picnics when food is left uncovered and not refrigerated for long periods. The potassium in apple cider vinegar also is helpful in easing the symptoms of common colds and allergies. Potassium is essential to healthy bones and teeth and it's good for hair loss.
Apple cider vinegar can be taken in many different forms. The best method is by using it in its natural liquid form. You can use it in salad dressings, making mayonnaise, or sprinkled on chips and fries. It also can be used as a hot or cold beverage sweetened with natural honey.
Cider vinegar can detoxify the body of harmful elements that can cause such things as boils, blisters, and acne. It also helps in the clotting process and cleaning the blood in your body. Cider vinegar applied as hot compresses to the aching joints of the body can also reduce inflammation and pain. It has also been known to treat such ailments as nose bleeds, cancer, gallstones, kidney stones, hay fever, ear discharge, fatigue, muscle cramps, and diarrhea. Depression is also supposed to be helped by taking cider vinegar.
One of the latest crazes in weight loss is the use of apple cider vinegar. I see it as coming around in cycles as a weight loss tool. Since you can now find apple cider vinegar in tablets, it is easy to take as a supplement to help in your weight loss program. Of course, always check with your doctor before starting any weight loss program. It's been said that it helps increase metabolism, generates energy and reduces hunger. It is safe enough that even children with weight problems can take the supplements. Many diets advocate eating an apple before each meal. This gives the extra boost of the metabolism as well as lessens your appetite before eating.
For postmenopausal women, the risk of bone loss is greater than in younger women. A supplement of apple cider vinegar has magnesium, silicone and calcium and magnesium, which have all been linked to sustaining, bone mass.
In addition, Vitamin C, vitamin E, Vitamin A, B2 and B6, Vitamin P and beta-carotene is also found in trace amounts. These additional minerals and vitamins help your body by boosting metabolism, reducing the dangerous LDL cholesterol, reducing water retention in the body, and regulating blood pressure. It's said to also increase concentration and memory, blood circulation, regulating body temperature and gives us more energy.
Yeast infections can also be impacted by apple cider vinegar. It's caused by a yeast imbalance in your body sometimes caused by a change in diet or taking antibiotics. A douche of two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a quart of lukewarm water helps restore the acid balance in your body. You should do this twice a day until the symptoms go away.
In looking at all the benefits of apple cider vinegar, it seems that having an apple a day is a very healthy start to a good diet plan and healthy eating. It must be noted that apple cider vinegar can be bought in capsule form, but for those of you who are purist, you can make your own at home. You make apple cider vinegar from winter and fall varieties of apples. There are quite a few steps involving in making this at home; one of the important things to remember is to make this mixture in glass, plastic, wood, enamel or stainless steel containers. Don't use metal containers because the acid will cause corrosion of metal or aluminum.
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Are Allergies and Asthma Taking the FUN OUT OF LIFE? Who Else Wants To Learn One Simple Way To Totally Eliminate Asthma And Allergy Attacks, ALL Without Using Drugs And Inhalers Now.
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Green Alternative Blog Post Date: Nov 29, 2006
A quiet revolution is going on in the real estate sector. Many successful professionals are putting considerable money into building their own dream homes, and many of those professionals are choosing to build according to green principles.
Perhaps the first decision these new homeowners face is how to heat and cool their homes. Before even considering what sort of heating and cooling system they will choose, they need to decide on a design and materials for the exterior structure. Alternative building methods including rammed earth, straw bale, and flying concrete construction feature thick walls, often over a foot thick, which conserve heat in the winter and keep the home cool in the summer. Some homeowners are even opting for subterranean dwellings, using the natural insulating quality of the earth to lessen their need for additional heating. Even when opting for conventional wood structures, homeowners are choosing the latest insulation materials, which offer optimal heat conservation with little to no outgassing of toxic fumes.
Energy-conserving heating systems, some of which create radiant heat from hot water pumped through pipes beneath the floors, save on energy; passive solar construction - homes with south-facing exposure and large windows - allows the sun to warm the home. Solar panels provide electricity for lights and electrical appliances, and gray water systems recycle used water for additional use in the home. Some homeowners in colder climates opt for wood- or wood-pellet-burning furnaces rather than the conventional oil furnace, installing modern furnaces designed to minimize emissions.
Green-building homeowners and more and more developers opt for natural and sometimes manmade materials created from renewable resources, materials which do not expose residents to health risks. Vinyl, which is infamous for outgassing toxic fumes, is rejected in favor of safer materials; hardwood flooring, much of it harvested from old-growth forests, is replaced with materials like bamboo, and cork, two renewable materials providing two very different, attractive looks in flooring.
Those not in the position to design and build their own home still have the option of "greening" an existing home, using a wealth of safe, nontoxic natural materials. Conventional plywood, which is manufactured using urea formaldehyde, can be replaced with a number of new, safer materials, including "Plyboo," created from bamboo. Kiln-fired clay tiles, wood from sustainable forests, natural, safe interior and exterior paints, and a host of other materials help create a clean, healthy home environment.
Building and renovating green currently costs more than using conventional materials; some green builders estimate the difference at about 15 percent. However, recently wood prices have soared, and increasing transportation costs due to the rising cost of gasoline and diesel has impacted the price of building materials, so the difference in cost between conventional and green building may well even out. As it stands now, increasing numbers of prospective homeowners are willing to pay a premium for a home made of attractive, sustainable, and healthy building materials.
About the Author
Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire and frequently contributes to Tips and Topics. She has published numerous articles in local and regional publications on a wide range of topics, including business, education, the arts, and local events. Her feature articles include an interview with independent documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and a feature.
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Green Alternative Blog Post Date: Nov 29, 2006
Obesity has become one of the major health issues in our society today. More than half of the American population is overweight or obese. As a result, diet and weight loss plans have become increasingly popular. But not all diet plans work. And not all of them are necessarily risk-free. A safer alternative for people wanting to lose weight are green tea diets.
About Green Tea
For thousands of years, green tea diet has been highly valued by the Chinese as an herbal and medicinal drink. It was believed that green tea diet was first discovered by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung who was boiling water when the leaves of a nearby tree fell into his pot. The result was the first ever pot of green tea.
Like all three of the major Asian teas in the market, green tea comes from the plant called Carmellia sinensis. Much of the health benefits of green tea diets are owed to the steaming method of making it. Unlike black and oolong tea which undergoes full oxidization, green tea diet is only gently steamed, preserving the natural antioxidants in its original form.
The Green Tea Diet For Health Issues
There are many health benefits associated with having a green tea diet. One of these green tea diet benefits is preventing cancer. Certain substances present in green tea diets are said to help in destroying cancer cells without harming any neighboring tissues. This substance in green tea diets is called epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG.
EGCG in green tea diets is also helpful in increasing the 24-hour energy expenditure of the body. A study on green tea diets conducted by American and Swiss scientists in the University of Geneva showed an additional increase of four percent in the body's natural energy expenditure. People who were on a green tea diet were more likely to use up more fats than those not on a green tea diet.
Also, green tea diets are said to greatly help in lowering down cholesterol levels in humans. The study on green tea diets was conducted in China using 240 people with high cholesterol levels as subjects. These people were placed on a green tea diet of one capsule (equivalent to seven cups of green tea) or were given one placebo every day. After twelve weeks, those who were on a green tea diet dropped sixteen percent in their cholesterol levels.
The green tea diet is also good for health issues such as obesity. The catechin polyphenols present in green tea diets can delay the reaction of gastric and pancreatic lipases in the body. These enzymes are responsible for converting calories in the body into fats. By delaying these enzymes, green tea diets can therefore stop fat from being stored and prevent obesity in people.
Green tea diets contain substantial amount of caffeine that make it a mild appetite-suppressant. However, caffeine content in green tea diets is not as high as those found in other caffeine-based beverages, like coffee. Caffeine may be harmful for the body since an excess of it can cause heart palpitations, hypertension, and insomnia. Because green tea diets contain only very low levels of caffeine, there is no danger of experiencing these side-effects.
About the Author
As editor and author for many health related websites, Loman writes to provide helpful tips and information for the website visitors of Green-Tea-Benefits.net and MineralsandVitamins.net.
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Green Alternative Blog Post Date: Nov 29, 2006
They are the background of every room; they set the tone for your house; they are the first way that you begin creating your environment--they are your walls. With recent technological advances, fashioning a new mood has never been easier--or more fun. From paint to wallpaper to (yes) leather, today's wall coverings are only limited by your imagination.
Here is a list of products available to create your dream interior. (Do to the unlimited possibilities offered by wallpaper and paint we've given them their own space.)
Gypsum wallboard (aka plasterboard or drywall) is the most widely used wall covering today because of its flexibility. You can paint it or use it as a base for wallpaper, ceramic tie, paneling and most textured finishes. It is made from crushed gypsum sheathed in paper (smooth on the faced side and natural on the backside) and gives the appearance of plaster without the need for lath backer strips and it's easy to install because it's sold in panels. Regular gypsum wallboard (averages around 15 cents per square foot) is fire resistant, but you might want to a pay a few extra pennies (literally) to get fireproof (averages around 20 cents per square foot) and/or waterproof wallboard. (averages around 30 cents per square foot).
Plank Paneling represents natural beauty in solid pine and cedar planks. And, it is as versatile as it is beautiful. Plank paneling can be installed vertically, horizontally, diagonally or in a herringbone pattern for a more dramatic effect. It can be installed on walls, accent walls, wainscot and even ceilings. Plank paneling is usually priced by the square foot and varies depending on the manufacturer, but expect to pay between $3-$5 per square foot.
Sheet Paneling is available in a vast array of styles, colors and patterns. You can get it with or without grooves, real wood veneer or photo finish, light or dark - the choices are almost limitless. Generally sold in sheets of 4' x 8', this plywood-like product mimics the look of plank paneling, but at a lower cost.
Tile Board is a 4' x 8' sheet wall covering very similar to sheet paneling, except that it's made from hardboard instead of plywood, which makes it a great choice in high-moisture areas like the bathroom or laundry room. Tile board is available in solid colors, as well as a wide variety of stamped faces that mimic the look of ceramic tile.
Wainscoting is a perfect way to give your room some character. Not only is wainscoting popular in the dining room (generally installed a third of the way up the wall and capped by a chair rail), but homeowners are installing it on stairways, in the study, on a kitchen island or surrounding a breakfast nook - the possibilities are endless.
Traditional wainscoting is made of solid wood and uses a system of vertical and horizontal wood members that surround raised or flat wood panels of various styles and sizes. This older system is usually found in older homes because only a seasoned carpenter could properly install it.
Thanks to the growing popularity in wainscoting, manufacturers have created a new and relatively easy raised wainscoting system. Modern wainscoting is made up of thin veneers, applied to a dense core of either engineered wood or a unique wheat board core that recycles wheat straw. You can get these finished in cherry, oak and maple, as well as in a grade that can be painted. Another benefit to this modern method of making wainscoting is that it's a very stable product that won't contract and expand under humidity (a drawback to traditional wainscoting). Other modern systems blend solid wood and plywood raised panels covered with hardwood veneers. This allows for more species of wood like walnut, cherry, poplar, oak.
If you have your heart set on using solid wood, you might want to flip through the yellow pages and find a woodworking mill in your area that will customize a wainscoting system for you.
Ceramic Wall Tile isn't just for your bathroom or backsplash anymore. There's a lot more to ceramic and porcelain tiles than glazed and unglazed, now that homeowners are looking to enhance a room by adding a decorative tile section to its walls. New surfaces now range from deep texturing and high-definition relief tiles to hand-painted designs and pieces with a rugged, aged appearance. There are also many new shapes available so you can create a unique, mural-like look. It's very difficult to give an accurate price range for tile, because there are so many different variables - but on an average tile, tiles run from $2 to $75 per tile (remember that's not installed.)
Paint, Paint, Paint
Since decorating with color is always an adventure, it wouldn't hurt to let the pros help you brush up on the latest ways to pick a palette you'll love. Don't see what you like than have a color customized, because virtually all paint retailers will customize a color for you. They will match any color you bring to them, such as a shade on an area rug, a favorite pillow, a paint chip from an expensive designer brand--there's no saying no to mixing and making your dream colors.
According to the American Society for Interior Design (ASID) homeowners are going for comfort shades like red - which is very popular for the dining room - and serene - like soft blues and lilacs. Once you pick a shade for each room you can begin to create an environment that truly represents your personality and tastes. Because color is known to have psychological effects when used in rooms, you'll want to choose your colors carefully. The "warm" shades on the color wheel, including red, orange, and yellow, will make a room energetic and welcoming, and stimulate the appetite; the "cool" colors, such as blues and greens, are conducive to relaxation and sleep. This may be why red, for example, is so popular in dining rooms and blue finds its way into many bedrooms. Consciously or unconsciously, we tend to gravitate to colors appropriate for our emotional needs in our rooms.
While you're getting colorful, don't overlook the neutrals--browns, tans, grays, whites, and blacks--because they are vital colors that help balance the space in you home.
White, of course, is a perennial favorite on walls, and comes in hundreds of variations that are really just very pale tints of every shade. White breaks down into warm, creamy varieties--culled from tints of warm colors--and cool, crisp varieties--culled from tints of the cools.
No matter what color you think you want, be sure to test the color in the room (at least a foot) you plan on using it in, because every color looks different depending on the lighting conditions. Remember that paint is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to change your environment.
Faux Finishes
Faux (French for false) finishing techniques have been used to distress, age, and transform surfaces and objects and to simulate materials such as stone, marble, wood and even leather. With a couple cans of paint, you'll find that faux finishes are a surefire way to give the rooms of your home the views and textures you want. Faux finishes can be tricky, so that's why you should work closely with the artist and even request a sample board so there are no surprises. Prices for faux finishes vary, depending on the size of a room, the labor and detail involved, but expect the price tag to reach the thousands. If you have an artistic touch, you can purchase all the faux finishing products you need at most high scale paint stores, such as brushes, finishing tools, cheesecloth, stencils, trowels and wood graining tools. Gone are the old techniques of using a sponge and rag rolling.
There are many advantages to choosing a faux finish, the main one being a completely unique and custom look. Every finish is different, which means that only you will have the finish you've chosen. Durability is definitely another great advantage because artists paint on top of an eggshell base coat and use washable paints, clean-ups are simple.
Really Know Your Colors
Choosing interior colors can be a fun and rewarding experience if you know the basics. Next time you spread out your color palettes, think about some basic color codes.
Color affects our mood and emotions.
Colors are broadly divided into two categories - warm and cool.
Warm colors (red, orange and yellow) make us feel warm in a psychological way.
Cool colors (blue, green and purple) convey peace and relaxation.
Understanding the psychological meaning of colors will help you match each room's colors to your personal taste and the room's purpose.
Color can change the perceived size of a room. To make a room seem larger use a light color scheme.
When selecting a new color scheme, bring home a variety of samples to view them in context. Tape a color chip to your surface and check it out at different times and in different weather, because changes in light can give the same color many different looks.
Types of Wallpaper
Wallpaper is a popular alternative to painting a room because of its wide variety of patterns, colors and finishes. It can be dramatic... whimsical... comforting... stimulating... formal... casual. With tens of thousands of patterns on the marketplace, there is perhaps no other product that allows you to show off your personality. So, whether you want something traditional, transitional, contemporary or just plain "off the wall," try putting wallpaper on the wall.
There are 10 basic types of wallpaper from which to choose:
Printed wallpaper is the general category of manufactured wallpaper with printed patterns.
Unbacked fabric is one of the most difficult styles because you have to work carefully to smooth out the fabric as you apply it to the wall.
Relief has a raised texture that you can feel.
Solid vinyl is the most durable wall covering and because it's waterproof it's ideal for very humid areas.
Vinyl coated is the most common type of wallpaper, made of paper but with a protective coat of vinyl that makes it ideal (and scrubbable) for kitchens, bathrooms or wherever kids or pets might brush against a wall. Vinyl coated wallpaper is usually strippable, which makes it easy to pull off a wall and re-paper with a new pattern.
Flocked is the type of wallpaper (usually considered "old fashioned") which includes a raised felt pattern that contrasts with the background color.
Foil (known best by the brand name "Mylar") can be difficult to work with because it shows imperfections in the wall surface and because it wrinkles easily.
Cork-faced wallpapers are thicker because they have a surface of cork. They give a room a cozy, dark and woodsy effect.
Grass cloth/burlap wall coverings are exotic, but shouldn't be used in high-traffic areas or where there's high humidity, because they can stain.
Paper-backed fabric shows the high-quality look of a fabric wall covering but can be installed with the ease of a vinyl-coated paper.
Helpful tips: You might consider pasting a liner over your wall before applying the wall covering of your choice. The liner will hide many imperfections in the wall and make it much easier to strip later on. If you choose a wallpaper pattern that repeats, you'll have to order more than you would for a random pattern, a vertical pattern (like stripes) or a solid color because you'll have to shift each strip of the wallpaper to match up the patterns at the edges, which makes for considerable waste.
Wallpaper is back in a big way. Once out of favor, wallpaper is now back in vogue. The top trends include murals and textured wall coverings. Whether it be a street scene from Venice, a baseball field or a children's storybook fantasy, murals are a popular choice in customizing a room. Just as the possibilities are endless, so is the price range. Almost anything that can be glued can be made into a wall covering - cloth, sand or glass. Wallpaper, on an average, may cost between $20 to $30 per roll, but specialty wall coverings can cost more than $200 a yard.
Don't Forget to Look Up
Ceilings aren't usually the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your home's d?cor, in fact, ceilings are one of the most overlooked areas in the home. People don't realize the multitude of design and surface options available to them, so they settle for a safe, texture less, white ceiling - that screams - boring!
You can go for a drop ceiling, which is both attractive and easy to install. Drop ceiling panels (are available in 2'x2' and 4' x 4' panels) rest in a grid system suspended from the ceiling joists, which makes it easy to level any ceiling and easy access to pipes and wiring. For a sleeker look than drop ceilings you can have tiles and planks mounted directly to the ceiling. This allows for more head room and more design options.
Gypsum wallboard is one of the most common ceiling coverings because its smooth surface is suitable for painting or as a base for popcorn ceiling and most other textured finishes. If you want to create the effect of plaster or stucco than you'll want to spray on a thick coating of popcorn ceiling. Another way to achieve a popcorn, stucco or sand texture is to apply textured paint to the ceiling, which is a thick form of paint, infused with particles to give a three dimensional look. Textured paints are available in a wide range of colors, which can either be mixed into the paint or you can paint the ceiling after it dries. Plank paneling is also another way to achieve a unique, rustic look.
About the Author - Tammy Crosby is Editor and Author for Dream Designs, The Homebuilding Club, and TheHouseDesigners.
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Green Alternative Blog Post Date: Nov 28, 2006
Everywhere I read, I read that ethanol is the next fuel to save us from a fossil fuel dependant, over heated, polluted future.
This emphasis seems to be the case particularly in the USA. That's understandable when you consider that the USA is the one great industrial nation that until recently never really embraced diesel engines like Europe. So you can understand their infatuation with ethanol - but that does not make it the right or the only choice.
In September Renault demonstrated its new hydrogen fuel cell powered 207 cabriolet, 28 bhp electric motor, 81 mph and an operating range of 218 miles, producing nothing but water as its sole emission. This month it was BMW with their new hydrogen power 7 series. They already have 3 fuel stations up and running in Germany with more planed. In October another manufacturer announced their hybrid system which converts braking energy not into electricity, but into compressed gas which is then used to help acceleration.
So clearly there are other options - however all of this is rather misses the point. None of these technologies help the power generation industry, nor do they meet the needs of the merchant navy, road hauliers or railway companies, all of whom, at least outside the USA, run on diesel.
Ethanol is a fuel which is complicated to make and thus easy to regulate, it continues to be cost effective only because of the massive government subsidies that it receives, it singularly fails to encourage the use of more fuel efficient diesel engines which simply delays the inevitable.
Which brings us neatly to the next point. The majority of ethanol in the USA is produced from corn - a food crop, a crop which requires good soil if it is to be grown in quantity. Do we face a future where we choose between fuel and food?
As all owners of a betmax video machine can testify, it is not always the best product that wins through. In the 80's Sony's betmax technology finally lost out to VHS, not because VHS was better but because it was better supported. With luminaries such as Bill Gates investing upwards of $84 million in ethanol production and distribution it is almost bound to be a success, if not an exclusive one.
In the US led fossil fuel replacement debate ethanol is clearly gaining ground steadily. However the world at large needs a diesel replacement, and the USA will sooner or later have to grasp the concept of fuel economy.
The only contender in this space is biodiesel, a clean fuel that can been made from crops like Jatropha, grown on the most marginal ground not suitable for food crops, and easily manufactured in plants small enough to fit into most peoples back yards.
What is certain is that whichever way this debate goes there is sure to be a rise in demand for a good, dependable supply of hardy, high yield crops whether for food or fuel production. Undoubtedly good news for Monsanto with their GM seeds.
About the Author
Mike Copinger is an alternative energy enthusiast. Between speaking engagements he runs a number of initiatives including www.ultimate-biodiesel-guide.com and www.biodiesel-secrets-revealed.com
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Green Alternative Blog Post Date: Nov 28, 2006
Green Fuel by Crystal Chan
While gasoline-electric hybrid cars are currently the only green cars on the road, car-makers around the world continue to experiment with other technologies and fuels to further lower emissions.
The consensus of the auto industry is that fuel-cell technology, powered by hydrogen, is the best solution or zero-pollution vehicles. Although many prototypes are being tested, there's a long way to go before any become cheap and feasible enough for the average consumer.
Why Hydrogen?
The best pollution-free alternative to batteries, while still using clean electric motors, is the hydrogen fuel cell. Hydrogen is consumes by a pollution-free chemical reaction in a fuel cell to produce electricity, water, and waste heat. In fact, water vapour is the only thing you will find in the exhaust pipe.
Often called the perfect fuel, hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, constituting about 93 per cent of all atoms. It is an environmentally friendly fuel that could reduce our dependence on finite fossil fuels, but many challenges must be overcome before it can be widely used.
The Challenges Ahead Production
Hydrogen must be produced from fossil fuels or some other energy source, or from water by the process of electrolysis. However, power plants are needed to generate the electricity needed, which means emissions may be produced along the way if carbon-based fuels, such as coal, are used.
The ideal way to obtain hydrogen is to separate it from water by using alternative energy sources like wind and solar power, but this is not cost effective yet.
The most likely source for now would be "transition" hydrocarbon fuels such as natural gas, methanol or even petrol, and the fuels converted into hydrogen gas by a "reformer". With these methods, a small quantity of carbon monoxide is released, but it is much less than the amount produced by conventional vehicles.
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1st Cat Care is to provide information and tips on purchasing auto insurance and comparison of auto insurance online and online, car insurance quotes and more car insurance.
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