http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/the-colour-blue-is-not-good-for-you.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/the-colour-blue-is-not-good-for-you.html Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Why you and your kids should void the color blue in your food and drinks. Because there is increasing evidence that food colourings cause hyperactivity, reflux, and gas in children. Some people believe that any parent who suspects their child's behavior and health is linked to foods containing bright food colorings, such as blue, should ban these from their diet. Foods which are causing concern include fizzy drinks, party cakes, luridly colored sweets and popular drinks.

Researchers examined the impact of six artificial colourings blue, yellow, carmoisine, red, tartrazine and ponceau. They found the activity of children who consumed a mixture of these colourings was measurably affected. Some food industries have already taken action to remove colourings from food and supermarkets have introduced labeling on products that are free from artificial colourings. Parents whose children show signs of hyperactivity and reflux might want to think about removing these artificial colours from their diets. Use of blue colourings should be restricted in all foods, not just those for children. Other additives below should also be eliminated from children¢s diets as well:

Tartrazine: Found in: Soft drinks, ice-cream, and sweets, fish fingers. What it is: Synthetic dye mixed with blue dyes to produce shades of green Effects: Linked to allergic reactions, migraine, gas and blurred vision. With benzoic acid may cause hyperactivity in children.

QUNOLINE: Found in: Sweets, soft drinks. What it is: Synthetic dye derived from coal tar? Also used in cosmetics and as pigment for tattoos effects: Linked to dermatitis. It is also believed to cause hyperactivity and temper tantrums in children.

SUNSET YELLOW: Found in: Sweets, yoghurts, packet bread crumbs, cheap jam. What it is: Coal tar dye Effects: Blamed for triggering stomach upsets, colic, nettle rash and swelling of the skin and has been linked for some time with hyperactivity in children CARMOISINE Found in: Sweets, yoghurts, ices, blancmanges, marzipan What it is: Coal tar dye Effects: Said to trigger reactions such as nettle rash and water retention in people allergic to aspirin. Campaigners have argued that it can cause hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder in children.

PONCEAAU: Found in: Sweets, tinned fruits, jellies, deserts, cough medicines. What it is: Derived from coal tar Effects: Linked to difficulties for asthmatics and for people allergic to aspirin, as well as being said to cause hyperactivity in children.

ALLURA RED: Found in: Sweets, soft drinks, and condiments. What it is: Coal-tar-derived dye, often mixed with yellow dyes to produce an orange colour Effects: Linked to adverse reactions to people intolerant to aspirin and to hyperactivity in children as well.A multitude of food colourings should be banned from use in food and drink products, which would force manufacturers to find healthy alternatives. The government should launch an investigation to re-evaluate the safety of all authorized food additives, with colours the first ingredients to be under review.

Maybe the food and beverage industry could supply data on food colours as part of a government review. Among the colours that should be reviewed are the infamous tartrazine, brilliant blue and sunset yellow, which some experts have linked to hyperactivity in children, asthma, migraines, reflux and certain rashes. Also in the spotlight is cochineal, a red dye obtained by crushing beetles. Many companies are unable to find a natural alternative to the artificial blue colouring. I read that a three year survey on the impact on children of additives such as blue, yellow and tartrazine had shown that children tested were better behaved when the substances were removed from their diet. But an independent expert stated this evidence was not conclusive.

Also, blue food colouring are popular in food and drinks because blue is described as a favorite color by many people and is the color most preferred by children. Blue is often described as peaceful, tranquil, secure, and orderly. Some weight loss plans even recommend eating your food off of a blue plate, but blue rarely occurs naturally in food aside from blueberries and some plums. Some researchers suggest that the color blue can also lower the pulse rate and body temperature. So maybe that is why food and drinks blue in color attract people to purchase them.

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Andrew is a father and author of numerous articles on childcare, education, natural health, parenting and pregnancy. He is a Western distributor of Colic Calm, the highly acclaimed all natural Gripe Water available for colic babies and baby gas. More information can be found by visiting http://www.coliccalm.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/a-gluten-free-diet-can-affect-autism.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/a-gluten-free-diet-can-affect-autism.html Sun, 25 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The triggers of this disease are on the rise. More susceptible kids come in contact with triggers such as gluten. Kids exposed to toxins such as mercury, lead, pesticides, and second hand smoke have higher levels of autism. Some studies have reported many nutritional deficiencies in autism patients. Numerous studies have reported that supplemental nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, vitamins, and magnesium may provide moderate benefits to autism patients. Avoidance of glutens and other food chemicals may also provide some relief to autism patients.

• Evaluate the Diet
  
• Rebalance the nervous System
  
• Improve Intestinal Health

Allergies and intolerances to food and food additives may also play a role in autism. Elimination of potentially allergenic foods such as gluten has been tried on autistic children with mixed results. A Norwegian study found that 10 children with autism on a gluten-free diet for 1 year improved on autistic traits, cognition, and motor skills to a much greater extent than 10 children given a standard diet. Other studies have reported that children with autism have a significantly higher rate of increased intestinal permeability ("leaky gut syndrome") compared to controls.

I read that some researchers have suggested that oral probiotic bacteria supplements may be helpful in treating autism. The effect of refined sugar, food additives and gluten on autism patients is controversial, some studies showing that sugar and food additives can trigger worsened autism symptoms. A review of 16 studies with autism children found that sugar challenges were associated with worsened symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity in 4 studies, little change in 11 studies, and improvement in Autism symptoms in 1 study. Diets free of food coloring, food preservatives, and gluten have been widely used to treat children with autism since they were introduced in the 1970s. I also read that a meta-analysis of 15 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in patients with autism reported that artificial colors such as tartrazine significantly increased autism symptoms. Of the 15 individual studies, 5 stated that food colors and gluten were associated with significantly increased autism symptoms, 8 showed that food colors and gluten were associated with no significant increases in autism symptoms, and 2 showed that food colors an gluten were associated with no significant decreases in autism symptoms.

Besides gluten and food colors, other dietary components that could possibly worsen autism symptoms include food preservatives such as benzoate, nitrates, and monosodium glutamate as well as food that naturally contains salicylates (such as almonds, oranges, raspberries, apples, cherries, grapes, peaches, strawberries, cucumbers, plums, and tomatoes).

Autism appears to involve a broad range of genetic, prenatal, social, developmental, nutritional, and environmental factors and it is unlikely that only 1 single cause will be found for either disorder. Multiple treatment modalities are probably needed to treat patients with autism and may include nutritional, environmental, pharmacologic, and psychosocial interventions.

All children born to this wonderful planet have obstacles to overcome. To children with autism, these obstacles may appear more difficult. These beautiful and wonderful children require tender coaxing back into the world so that they might experience the magnificence that life has to offer.

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Authors:

Andrew Van Vooren, a husband and family man whom firmly believes in natural colic remedies for infants. Andrew has authored numerous articles on the topics of colic in babies and infant reflux. He confidently believes in using homeopathic products to relieve many infant discomforts

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/internet/security/how-does-document-management-software-help-business-results.html http://www.articletrader.com/internet/security/how-does-document-management-software-help-business-results.html Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500
We look at this issue in the following sections, starting first with a look at exactly what document management software does.

What Does Document Management Software Do?

A good document management system captures all kinds of documents with little difficulty. Thus paper documents can be scanned and OCRed and electronic documents can be captured by browsing to its location on the local computer. The documents captured are stored in a central computer so that all the workstation computers connected to it can access them.

The documents can be indexed by different criteria such as document name or date of creation and they can also be indexed by their contents. It's then possible to retrieve documents by specifying the document name, date, words included in the content, etc. The retrieval takes no more than a few seconds at most.

Security is maintained by restricting document access. Granting different kinds of permissions to authorized persons restricts access. Some might have the 'read' permission; others might also have the 'write' permission.

After retrieval, documents can be modified, appended with new pages, replaced, or even deleted, provided necessary permissions are granted.

What Business Benefits Can Be Expected?

The ease of access to relevant documents makes it more likely that decision makers would indeed access them and make informed decisions.

For example, before passing a supplier invoice, concerned persons will retrieve the relevant order and verify the price, delivery date and other terms with little delay. In a non-computer system, this involves locating the order stored in an inconveniently-located filing cabinet. It might even happen that a copy of the order has not yet been received by the invoice-passing department. The verification could get unduly delayed (leading to supplier displeasure) or even omitted (probably leading to excess payment) in such cases.

Another immediate benefit is the speed of actions. When needed information can be obtained in minutes, actions also tend to be quicker. Instead of verifying 20 or so invoices a day, it might be possible to verify 200 or more invoices a day.

Better business results follow when quick and correct decisions are taken on a regular basis. In the above case, a supplier who is accustomed to prompt and correct payments from your company is quite likely to oblige you with increased and higher-quality service if necessary.

The above illustration of invoice passing is only a simple example. All key business-result areas can benefit from speedy and convenient access to reliable information. Good document management software makes it easy to capture, review and edit documents, leading to more reliable documentation.

Document Management Software Leads to Better Document Security

It is easy to implement a system of read/write permissions and password-protected access in a computerized document management environment. By making printing possible only on a closely-monitored network printer, even printouts (that can be removed) can be checked.

Paper documents can be stored in more inaccessible places, with greater security. Because copies are available in the computer, these would not be needed as frequently.

Considering that business secrets constitute a competitive advantage, the above kind of increased security could also lead to better business results.

Conclusion

With good document management software, you can make information easily accessible to all persons who need that information for their work. Easy access means that the information will be used to make business decisions. Informed business decisions, when they accumulate, lead to significantly improved business results.

Document security is also easier to implement with good document management software. It's then possible to minimize the harmful damage from unauthorized access to business secrets and competitive advantage.

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About Author:

Ademero, Inc. develops enterpise content management and document management software. Visit their web site devoted to document management and enterpise content management. Browse the resources section which includes the largest collection of posts from real users reviewing all of the most popular document management systems available.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/computers/software/document-management-software-and-confidential-information-protection.html http://www.articletrader.com/computers/software/document-management-software-and-confidential-information-protection.html Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500
On a separate front, confidentiality laws stipulate that strict confidentiality should be maintained for certain kinds of data that come into the possession of a business.

It's easier to comply with these legal requirements with good document management software.

Awareness of Legal Requirements

The different laws and regulations can be kept updated in the document storage area and referred to quickly whenever necessary. This makes compliance with the laws much easier. Document management software makes it easy to capture these documents and retrieve the needed document in minutes, if not seconds.

What Are Confidentiality Requirements?

Document management software by itself won't protect confidential information. You have to take specific action in the form of developing policies and implementing them, using the software features where available.

To aid this, we take a brief look at typical confidentiality requirements.

The basic premise is that every individual has the right to privacy. Personally-identifiable information that comes into the possession of a business should be kept under tight security and used only for the purposes for which it was collected.

Medical conditions, educational levels, personal beliefs, financial position and sexual orientation are examples of personal information that an individual would not like to be freely distributed. Even other kinds of information should not be disclosed to third parties.

Other Kinds of Confidential Information

There are business secrets, such as product designs, marketing strategies and software codes that the business would want to keep confidential.

However, much of this confidential information needs to be disclosed to others in the course of business. The usual protection in such cases is to impose confidentiality obligations on the recipients. For example, employment contracts would invariably contain an obligation not to divulge business information to unauthorized persons.

Policies such as keeping the information secure and using only a secure means to transmit it applies to these kinds of information also.

How Do You Maintain Confidentiality?

First of all, identify which information is confidential and mark it as such. Develop and implement policies like those listed below:

• Collect only the minimum amount of information


• Collect certain kinds of information only with the free consent of the individual


• Keep it under tight security with restricted access and secure transmission


• Use the information strictly for the purposes for which it was collected (as clearly indicated to the individual when it was collected)


• Keep it only as long as it is needed, and then destroy it


• Impose confidentiality obligations on any recipients to whom it has to be disclosed


• Train staff to handle information confidentially

How Document Management Software Helps

Good document management software contains components to restrict access to information stored in the central computers. Different levels of permissions for access, modification and deletion are granted to authorized persons. Use of passwords and audit trails not only restrict access, but also keep track of who accessed the information.

Destruction of information after the required period of storage is also easier with a document management system. Documents can be flagged with expiration dates and periodical reviews of expired documents can be reviewed and removed systematically.

Speaking of document-retention periods, laws also impose obligations to keep certain records for specified periods. For example, business accounts, employee records, health and safety records, etc. need to be maintained for a specified numbers of years. Here again, a document management software can help you keep track.

Keeping documents beyond the periods they're needed is a waste of resources. In the case of confidential information, it might also be against the law.

Conclusion

There are two main kinds of confidential information. One consists of business secrets that you don't want to get into the hands of competitors. The other is personal information you collect, or that comes into your possession, in the course of business. The law imposes confidentiality obligations regarding the second kind of information.

Good document management software helps you protect your business interests or comply with the law by restricting access to confidential information.

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About Author:

Ademero, Inc. develops enterpise content management and document management software. Visit their web site devoted to document management and enterpise content management. Browse the resources section which includes the largest collection of posts from real users reviewing all of the most popular document management systems available.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/computers/software/document-management-software-and-cost-control.html http://www.articletrader.com/computers/software/document-management-software-and-cost-control.html Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500
After sales volumes, costs are significant in generating profits. In a competitive market selling prices tend to be inflexible; you have to sell at the market prices.

That means you have to control costs to achieve profitability. By controlling direct costs of sales you increase the margins on each unit sold. By controlling fixed establishment costs, you make it possible to recover these with the margins on a lower volume of sales.

Now let us see whether document management software can help control these costs.

Ready Access to Information Helps Cost Control

Good document management software contains components to capture all kinds of documents and retrieve these in little time. You would thus be able to store, say, spreadsheets for different cost categories and examine the details.

You can review cost trends: compare them with relevant volumes and against budget estimates. Such reviews would focus your attention on problem areas like a sharp increase in costs per unit produced or per time period.

Investigating further, you can identify the factors that contribute to the deviations from standard. In most cases, you can also take remedial action that would bring costs back to desired, or at least more-acceptable levels.

It's systematic use of information like the above that helps achieve control over costs (and other business result areas).

Let us now take a broad look at some major categories of costs and the factors that influence their levels.

Material Cost Is Likely to be the Major Constituent of Merchandise Costs

If you're a retailer, the costs you incur for buying merchandise and getting it to display racks is your major direct cost. If you are a manufacturer making some product, the costs of materials that go into the product are likely to be the major element of the production cost.

Even a small percentage reduction in these costs is likely to have a significant impact on your profitability. A good document management system helps you retrieve and review the performance of different suppliers.

Some suppliers have consistently-supplied goods of dependable quality while others might be responsible for frequent rejections on quality grounds leading to cost increases.

You will also find that certain suppliers are able to supply reliable quality materials at lower costs. By cultivating your relationship with these suppliers, you can procure all or most of your supplies from these suppliers, leading to a reduction in costs.

Without document management software that lets you select what you want when you want, you have to depend on scheduled reports that pile up on your table (and probably remain ignored).

Fixed Establishment Costs Might Not Be All That's Fixed

We tend to view establishment costs like rent, depreciation, etc. as permanently fixed. However, a close review might reveal possibilities for reducing these costs to some extent.

There might be idle facilities like plants for which no profitable use is foreseen. By disposing of these, depreciation costs can be reduced. Other idle facilities like floor space can be rented out or utilized for some profitable activities.

A close review, facilitated by good document management software, can reveal such possibilities to management.

By reducing fixed costs in this manner, it becomes possible to lower the "breakeven point" - the point at which fixed costs are fully recovered through gross margins.

Other Cost Categories Can Also Benefit From Serious Reviews

Marketing costs, payroll costs, costs of power & fuel, etc. might also prove capable of reduction. While scheduled management reports give an overview of trends and deviations, it's the details available on the documents that provide specific guidance for actions.

And it's the document management software that really makes reviews of document details a practicable proposition. If you have to visit filing cabinets and search through folders every time, this kind of review is quite likely to be neglected.

Conclusion

Good document management software makes it practical to go into details when management reports reveal adverse trends and deviations. If you use the components provided by the software to focus on major cost elements like materials and marketing costs, it's quite likely that you'll find possibilities to reduce costs and improve sales margins to a significant extent.

Any improvement in sales margins leads to earlier and greater profitability.

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About Author:

Ademero, Inc. develops enterpise content management and document management software. Visit their web site devoted to document management and enterpise content management. Browse the resources section which includes the largest collection of posts from real users reviewing all of the most popular document management systems available.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/computers/software/document-management-software-and-sales-volumes.html http://www.articletrader.com/computers/software/document-management-software-and-sales-volumes.html Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500
And good document management software can help you achieve higher sales volumes. We look at some specifics of how this becomes possible.

Significance of Document Management to Business Operations

In a business of more than a few employees, numerous documents (of varied kinds) are likely to be generated in the course of business operations. Unless these are organized and stored efficiently, subsequent retrieval becomes a highly time-wasting exercise (if not an impossible one).

And time is very valuable in business. You have to go after sales, economic sources of supplies, shipping arrangements, cash collections and so on. A small business is more than likely to be pressed hard for time. If that precious time is wasted in searching for unorganized documents, you will indeed be harming your business.

Good document management software allows you to capture all documents efficiently, store them in a central computer and make them retrievable in seconds from workstation computers. You will then be able to locate any document whenever it is needed.

Searching and retrieval are reported to be the most-frequently carried out document management operation. This is not surprising because it's information that is the key input needed for making business decisions and taking business actions. And search and retrieval provides just that; it provides relevant information.

Therein lies the significance of document management software for successful business operations.

How DMS Helps Sales Volumes

Sales volumes are achieved through organizing an effective marketing setup, timely deliveries, prompt attention to customer care requests and constant monitoring to identify fast and slow moving merchandise.

All these tasks are document-intensive. Correspondence and contracts are essential components that go into organizing a good marketing setup.

Correspondence, e-mails, invoices and shipping documents are integral to the day-to-day marketing operations. You must be able to retrieve any document immediately to ensure that good customer relations are maintained.

For example, a major distributor might call you and complain about the non-receipt of a shipment he had requested more than a month ago. If you can't immediately retrieve the details of the relevant shipment, you will fumble in attending to the complaint. And that could mean losing a highly effective distributor to a competitor.

A good document management system will capture all the relevant details, invoices, shipment documents (even images of paper documents) and store them under the distributor's name or ID. You can retrieve full details in a minute or so, and respond to the complaint with full information.

A DMS will also enable you to get in touch with the relevant carrier and find out what happened to the shipment. A DMS might even provide the tracking number so that you can find the status of the shipment yourself.

It's actions like these, and not accounting reports, that maintain good customer relations and contribute to higher sales volumes. Your document management software helps you take informed actions, as clearly illustrated above.

A regular stream of such informed actions can help achieve much higher volumes of sales than would be the case otherwise.

Conclusion

Good document management systems are essential for effective marketing operations. You should be able to retrieve relevant documents in a minute or less, on a consistent basis, to satisfy today's customers. This is what good document management software helps achieve. It captures all the documents, both paper and electronic, and makes them retrievable in seconds.

The result would be a great improvement in customer relations, and create much higher sales volumes.

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About Author:

Ademero, Inc. develops enterpise content management and document management software. Visit their web site devoted to document management and enterpise content management. Browse the resources section which includes the largest collection of posts from real users reviewing all of the most popular document management systems available.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/computers/software/how-does-a-good-document-management-software-help-small-business.html http://www.articletrader.com/computers/software/how-does-a-good-document-management-software-help-small-business.html Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Good document management software can take over much of the work and free the small businessperson to focus on the business. We look at this issue in more detail below.

Managing Documents is Something the Businessperson Cannot Escape

Managing documents can be a major task for any business that's not a tiny operation. The process begins even before you start the business.

Project reports need to be prepared to evaluate the business proposal as well as to show to various agencies. Applications for business licenses have to be completed and submitted. Bank loans need to be applied for, along with a lot of supporting documents.

Once the business starts, document management becomes a critical issue. Unless properly managed, total chaos can result. You might not be able to bill for the deliveries you have made, or get paid for the bills you managed to get out. Suppliers might start pressuring you for payment just when your cash has run out. Tax inspectors might be breathing down your neck for details of your business transactions.

The resulting problems can invariably affect your business. You'll be fighting fires on various fronts instead of going after sales, locating low-cost sources to arrange deliveries, and doing all the other really important things.

Invest in Good Document Management Software

Trying to manage documents by hand is not only obsolete, but also affects your competitiveness. With any volume of documents to handle, manual document management takes an unduly long proportion of your time even if you have a good document management system in place.

Those competitors who have installed a computer and document management software have a great advantage over you. The software makes all the document management tasks fantastically easy and the competitor has far more time for key business activities.

Just What is Document Management?

Documents have to be created, retrieved when needed, and stored safely from loss and unauthorized eyes.

Elaborating a little, good document management involves the following key tasks:

• Capturing the details at the most convenient points for creating the document


• Organizing the documents in a manner that facilitates their retrieval whenever needed and convenient storage


• Arranging for proper security against such dangers as loss, theft, and leakage of sensitive business data

Done manually, these are all time (and space) consuming tasks. Done electronically using a computer, all of these tasks become amazingly efficient and speedier.

For example, many business transactions involve accessing the same document by different departments and persons. In a manual system, this would mean passing the document from person to person or making expensive copies of the original. In a computerized system, the document is captured in a central computer and concerned persons can access it from their workstation computers.

For security, the original paper documents (if any) can be stored safely away and access to the electronic equivalent in the computer can be restricted to authorized persons by the use of such devices as permissions and passwords.

Retrieval of the documents also becomes recognizably faster because the document management software can retrieve any document in seconds, using search facilities or meta information. Compare this with going to a filing cabinet, locating the particular folder, finding the needed document in the folder, and bringing it to the workstation.

Conclusion

Document management is an "unavoidable evil" in any business that is more than tiny in size. Done properly, it can achieve better business results. Neglected, it could lead to chaos and endless troubles.

Good document management software attends to this function effectively and saves you an amazing amount of time and cost.

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About Author:

Ademero, Inc. develops enterpise content management and document management software. Visit their web site devoted to document management and enterpise content management. Browse the resources section which includes the largest collection of posts from real users reviewing all of the most popular document management systems available.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pregnancy/how-to-improve-your-chances-of-getting-pregnant.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pregnancy/how-to-improve-your-chances-of-getting-pregnant.html Sun, 15 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Keep a Positive Attitude

Research has shown that physical health is not the only issue, where conception is concerned. Having a positive mental attitude can make an enormous difference. Negative thoughts will often hinder your chances of conceiving. As stress level rise, fertility levels can fall. Try not to worry too much about getting pregnant quickly. Take time out of your busy schedule to unwind. Everyone has different methods of relaxing, so think about what you can do to achieve this.

For some, it can be as simple as taking a warm, candlelit bath. Others may need more help. Aromatherapy massages and reflexology are wonderfully calming and can make a huge difference to your state of mind. Aromatherapy may also be used to regulate menstrual cycles. Certified aroma therapists can be found on the internet or in your local business directory.

Just spending some quality time with your partner can help. Try to do activities together in your spare time and make sure that you both enjoy them. This alone can heighten the emotional aspects of your relationship and remove some of the stress that so easily builds up when you are trying for a baby.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been known to have a very positive affect on fertility, when used in conjunction with IVF. Research in to its effects on fertility alone, are incomplete. Though, smaller studies have shown that it can be beneficial.

Acupuncture has been used by Chinese medics for around 5,000 years and is renowned for having amazing effects on a variety of ailments. However, its benefits have only been recognised by American medics for the past few decades.

If you are interested in trying out acupuncture, always find a reputable, certified acupuncturist. The National Institutes of Health and The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture are reliable sources for finding licensed acupuncturists.

Ovulation

Your chances of becoming pregnant greatly depend on your menstrual cycle and its regularity. Ovulation usually occurs between the twelfth and eighteenth day of your cycle. During this time, you are at your most fertile and your chances of falling pregnant are maximized.

It is thought that ovulation is most likely to happen on day fourteen (this is based on a regular, twenty-eight day cycle.) A way of predicting your most likely day of ovulation is to subtract fourteen from the total length of your own menstrual cycle. For example, if your cycle is twenty-eight days, subtract fourteen to arrive at your optimum date of fertility, (in this is case, it would be day fourteen.) Nevertheless, women’s menstrual cycles do vary greatly; consequently, your day of ovulation may either be before or after day fourteen.

Ovulation predictor tests can also be bought from a pharmacy or drugstore. Having sexual intercourse when you are ovulating will obviously increase your chances of getting pregnant. Although, couples should try to have sex at least three times per week if they are trying for a baby. The human body is a miraculous thing and ovulation does not always occur when it should take place. Regular sex not only strengthens a relationship, it is a way of making sure that no opportunities are missed.

After you have had intercourse, try not to get up or move around for at least twenty minutes, this will help to keep your partner’s sperm inside your body, again, increasing the likelihood of falling pregnant.

Nutrition and Diet

Having good nutrition and eating a sensible, healthy diet plays a hugely important role. Try to eat a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, lean protein and wholegrain, fiber-rich foods, such as brown bread, rice and pasta.
The vitamins and nutrients that are found in certain foods can also help you become pregnant. Here are some examples:

• Leafy, green vegetables, such as cabbage, kale, broccoli, lettuce and spinach, are high in folic acid, a vitamin which is incredibly important for both mother and child. Folic acid supports the development of a fetus and can prevent debilitating defects, including spina bifida. It is also essential for the reproductive and general health of a woman. Folic acid can also be found in bread and cereals and taken as a vitamin supplement.
  
  
• Lean meat or beans and pulses are very rich in protein and iron. These important nutrients help to keep iron levels high in the body. A blood count low in iron, can affect the general health of the ovaries, and may interfere with ovulation.
  
  
• healthy eggs and can be found in nuts and seeds, dairy products, yeast, wholegrain foods, lean meat and shellfish.
  
  
• Dairy products are rich in calcium, which everyone needs to maintain healthy bones and teeth. If you are trying to get pregnant, make sure that you consume enough calcium, in order for your body to support a developing fetus
  

If you have been trying to get pregnant for more than one year, or you are feeling very unhappy. It is best to make an appointment, to discuss any issues you may have, with your doctor. If your doctor thinks there is a genuine complication, they will arrange for you to see a fertility specialist as soon as possible.

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Sophie Cosic is the mother of two girls and the author of many articles concerning childcare, education, natural health, parenting and pregnancy. Sophie is a European distributor of Colic Calm, an FDA Registered Homeopathic Medicine for Colic. Colic Calm is an all natural remedy for babies with colic, as pains or infant reflux. More information can be found on our website or contact us directly if you have questions.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/society/dating/romance-101-your-guide-to-the-perfect-night-in.html http://www.articletrader.com/society/dating/romance-101-your-guide-to-the-perfect-night-in.html Wed, 14 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Many couples enjoy going out (you know, the "traditional" dinner and a movie) for a chance to reconnect, but a night in can be much more conducive to intimate connection—at the dining room table, on the living room couch, and especially between the sheets.

Getting started

Planning your perfect night in starts with picking a date so you can make preparations. You may even want to consider surprising your lover with a night in to really juice things up.

If you're going with the surprise option, make sure you leave work early on the day of (and that your lover isn't home) so you can set everything up. Got kids? No problem. Arrange for a babysitter ahead of time and drop them off. Even if your hot night in is sans surprise, getting the kids out of there is necessary.

Surprise or not, you'll need to pick up a few things for the big night: flowers, candles, incense, bubble bath, massage oil, a bottle of wine or champagne, grocery items for dinner, some aphrodisiac foods like strawberries and chocolate, a romantic or sexy DVD, some playing cards, and some costumes-you'll find out why in a minute.

You'll also need to clean the house up a little and clean yourself up a little (shower, dress up, smell nice) before getting started.

Set the "mood"

Next, set the "mood"—a critical part of your big night in. Light candles and incense, put fresh flowers (red roses recommended) in a vase on the table, and play soft, sexy music in the background.

Prepare the bedroom in advance by turning it into a sexy love haven. Get rid of the mess, add candles (light them later), throw rose petals on the bed, and have some sexy lingerie or kinky costumes and chocolate-covered strawberries (or the like) ready.

Your perfect night in:

1. Dinner

Start your night in by either surprising your lover with dinner, or cooking it together. If you can't cook or don't enjoy cooking, order your favorite takeout (like Chinese) and set it up with fancy china, and eat together with chopsticks and wine by candlelight.

2. Movie

Move from dinner to the living room where you can watch a sexy or romantic DVD together. Get nice and cozy on the couch, and allow yourselves to enjoy each other rather than the movie as needed.

3. Bath & Massage

Take a candlelit bubble bath together, complete with incense, champagne, and a nice, long, sensual massage session complete with yummy-smelling massage oil to tantalize your senses.

4. Sex games

Now it's time to crank it up a notch, moving from romantic to sexy and downright naughty. Get competitive and creative with sex games or role-playing. Strip poker is a favorite—here's where the cards come in handy.

Act out a scenario together and dress the part. Here is where kinky costumes come into play. You can try scenarios like doctor and patient, teacher and student, employer and employee, master and slave, artist and model, stripper and client. Be creative and let your sensual imagination run away with you. The possibilities are endless.

The obvious goal of the entire evening is to end up in bed together, but if your romp ends up in the bathtub, the livingroom couch, or even the dining room table, just go with the flow. Even though you may have planned the evening out, spontaneity almost always wins over structure, so just enjoy wherever the evening takes you.

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Randy Gardner is Romeo-Your Romance Resource and is the exclusive writer for Got To Have It Romantic Gift Creations. Visit http://askromeoblog.gottohaveitromanticgiftcreations.com/ask_romeo_blog/ to read more of Romeo’s articles about dating, romance and romantic gifts. To find that perfect unique romantic gift for that special someone, go to http://www.gottohaveitromanticgiftcreations.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/society/dating/five-top-tips-to-snare-the-object-of-your-affections.html http://www.articletrader.com/society/dating/five-top-tips-to-snare-the-object-of-your-affections.html Wed, 14 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Unfortunately, there is no "magic formula" to snare the object of your affections (don't we all wish). Fortunately, however, there are a few tips you can follow to increase your chance of landing your dream girl or guy.

1. Tip #1: Be patient

First, and always, be patient. This tip applies to a myriad of situations, but is essential for getting a guy or girl to like you back. Why? If you're not patient, it's really going to show, and you're going to seem annoying at best and desperate or crazy at the worst.

Remember that real relationships take time to develop. Let things happen as they happen, even if they're not progressing in the way or at the pace you'd hoped.

2. Tip #2: Get noticed

You have to get noticed somehow. If your crush never notices you, you're kissing your chances of hooking up goodbye. But don't overdo it just to get attention—be natural, be confident, be interesting, be yourself.

Some tips for getting your crush to notice you include smiling and making eye contact, talking with his or her friends (if appropriate), getting a new look (haircut, makeover, new clothes), looking hot (but not slutty), and the oh-so-brave act of actually approaching him or her and making conversation.

3. Tip #3: Hang out

Whether or not you want to try being friends first (let's face it, some of us are terrified of getting stuck in the "just-friends" zone), it's essential that you at least try to make it work to hang out together.

Be bold and invite him or her to a party, show, or other event. Act casual but inviting, not desperate or aloof.

Find out what his or her interests are. Brainstorm ideas for what you could do together in a non-threatening environment.

If you are both at an event with a lot of people, muster up the courage to approach your crush and strike up a safe but interesting conversation.

4. Tip #4: Flirt

Be subtle yet noticeable. Restrict your flirting to your crush so they don't get confused. Smiling and eye contact work great, as does gently touching his or her arm or shoulder while you're talking.

Sometimes flirting like this with a guy is enough to get them to finally ask you out.

5. Tip # 5: Drop the bomb

If after some considerable time and effort, you still haven't managed to lure in the object of your affections, it's time drop the bomb. That's right—'fess up. You have to flat out tell them how you feel and ask if they're interested.

Hopefully they'll say "yes" and ask you out. But, just in case, be prepared for rejection and the more-likely evasive "non-response" where you don't get a straight answer. If this occurs, it could mean one of three things:

1. Not interested, but doesn't want to hurt your feelings;
2. Interested, but not ready for a relationship;
3. Still unsure

Give it some more time (tip #1), but if after awhile your crush isn't moving in any noticeable direction, move on.

If the two of you are already close friends, but you've moved into the "I-wish-we-were-more" phase but you're not sure about your pal, this can be a bit complicated. Your best bet here is to jump straight to tip #4 (flirting) and #5 (bomb-dropping) and see what happens, after which you'll need to backtrack to tip #1 (patience) for awhile.

These techniques should help you to attract that special someone. But remember that if things do not work out as you want them to, then that person probably was not compatible with you and your relationship would not have lasted. In that case, get right back into the dating scene so you can find Mr. or Ms. Right. Never forget that you are special and deserve the best.
HAPPY DATING!

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Randy Gardner is Romeo-Your Romance Resource and is the exclusive writer for Got To Have It Romantic Gift Creations. Visit http://askromeoblog.gottohaveitromanticgiftcreations.com/ask_romeo_blog/ to read more of Romeo’s articles about dating, romance and romantic gifts. To find that perfect unique romantic gift for that special someone, go to http://www.gottohaveitromanticgiftcreations.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>