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The ages old common cold still has only guessing remedies. Common cold is one of the annoying diseases that pops-in once in a while. You sneeze, sniff and cough for at lease a week before it wears-off and doctors are not really helpful, they say just let it pass.

But now a new scientific review suggests that taking zinc may help shorten the duration and symptoms of common cold by several days.

This review was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. But watch out! They could be adverse effects.

To help tackle the question of zinc’s efficacy, researchers studied 17 trials that included more than 21,000 participants. Compared to adults taking placebos, those who took oral zinc saw a drop in the duration of their cold symptoms. There was no effect found in children.

“The common cold is a frequent respiratory infection that is generally benign and self-limited. However, colds can lead to substantial morbidity, lost productivity and school [or] work absenteeism resulting in substantial economic burden,” Dr. Michelle Science, who works at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and is a co-author of the study, told The Huffington Post in an email. “As such, a treatment that could shorten the duration of cold symptoms would likely be beneficial on an individual and societal level.”

In the U.S., more than 60 million cases of the common cold occur each year, resulting in the loss of 22 million days of work annually.

Science said that the new review showed a “relatively minor” reduction in the duration of cold symptoms. But most colds last between one and two weeks, so to many people, even just a few days can make a big difference.

“There are a myriad of over-the-counter medications, as well as herbal and homeopathic remedies, aimed at relieving common cold symptoms … but there is certainly no gold standard,” said Dr. Richard Lebowitz, an associate professor with the Department of Otolaryngology at the NYU School of Medicine who is not associated with the study.

“As with any medication, these cold remedies have potential side effects [that] must be weighed against the potential benefits, which for the most part have not been proven,” he continued. “For this reason, many patients choose to just ‘wait it out.’”

Indeed, the new review found that adverse effects were common among people taking zinc. They were approximately 65 percent more likely to experience nausea and a bad aftertaste than those taking a placebo.

The authors also caution that the quality of the individual trials studied for the new review varied greatly. Their overall conclusion aligns with a similar literature review by the Cochrane group, which found that zinc can help reduce the duration and severity of the common cold, but that more research is needed before experts can issue a general recommendation regarding its use.

“Although it is possible that oral zinc preparations impact symptoms of the common cold,” Science said, “there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend its use in children, and only a weak rationale for use in otherwise healthy adults.”

When I am attacked by common cold, I just drink lots of water it helps make we feel better and also wears-off the symptoms much faster.

What do you guys do when this annoying devil strikes you?

We all want to live a long and healthy life but simple tiny mistakes on our part robs us of that opportunity. Of course, in this world on randomness nothing is guaranteed. Scientific evidence has shown us that we can boost our chances of  living a longer, healthier life by tweaking our lifestyle.

Here are the top 10 Simple Ways towards a long and healthy life:

Eat Right. According to a study published in the “International Journal of Epidemiology,” eating a diet high in a variety of vegetables and low-fat protein leads to a longer life and one with less cardiovascular disease and cancer. On the other hand, lots of red meat, refined carbohydrates, sugars, and foods rich in saturated fats was associated with increased mortality rates from those diseases.

Eat Less.  Research published in the Rejuvenation Research reports the less eating you do as you age could add years to your life. According to the study, if we eat 15 percent less than we did from age 25 we couldadd 4.5 years to our life.

Exercise. Of course, we hear this constantly. Now a study published in the “Archives of Internal Medicine” reports that regular exercise slows the aging process.  For example, the study indicated that regular running reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, and neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.

Give Up Smoking. It’s not too late. If you’re having a tough time doing it, speak with your doctor about smoking cessation medication.

Don’t Oversleep. There’s been plenty of attention given to the lack of sleep, but a study published in the “Archives of General Psychiatry” found that people who sleep more than eight hours nightly had a significantly higher death rate. It’s also true sleeping less than four hours each night increases your chance of premature death.

Cultivate Friendships.Several studies have noted the health and happiness benefits of a social life, which include an increased feeling of self worth. Plus, friends are helpful in difficult times, reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, and may also encourage us to look after our own health.

Give The Boot To A Bad Attitude. A 2002 study published in the “Mayo Clinic Proceedings” reported people who expect misfortune and only see the negative side of life don’t live as long as those who hold a more optimistic view. Other rewards for an upbeat attitude?  Fewer problems with work or other daily activities because of physical or emotional health, less pain, increased energy, and a generally happier, more peaceful state of mind. If you’re not a naturally positive person, you can still inch towards a better attitude by trying to see bad events as temporary. Tell yourself: nothing lasts forever.

LOL. A study published in the “American College of Cardiology Journal” reports laughing increases blood flow by more than twenty percent. This has a similar beneficial effect to that of an aerobic workout. Further research suggests that the level of natural killer cells which attack virus and tumor cells, are increased through laughter. These cells are suppressed if the body suffers consistent long-term stress. Even if you force a laugh, it works. Turns out our bodies can’t distinguish between real and fake laughter.

Calm Anger. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that those who were classified as having the highest level of anger in response to stress were more likely to develop heart disease prematurely in comparison to those who reported lower anger responses.

Get A Pet. Numerous studies show that owning a pet can help you live longer and feel healthier. The benefits range from reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, better physical and psychological wellbeing, reduced stress levels, and lower blood pressure levels.

It is National Teacher Appreciation Week and May 8 is National Teacher Appreciation Day. It time to show all your hidden love and respect for your teachers. But are we doing enough?

Times are changing and we have began to perceive teachers more like we view any other people we pay money to do a job.  We have failed to realize that teachers are more than just doing a job, they are building a the future of this world. One good teacher can change a whole town for all generations forthcoming.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson urged all Californians to find ways to appreciate teachers during May 6-12, designated as National Teacher Appreciation Week.

“Teaching is the most important job there is,” Torlakson said. “Ask just about anyone about the person who made the biggest difference in their life, chances are that person is a teacher. Let’s all take a moment this week to say `thank you’ to California’s teachers.”

Here’s Torlakson’s top 10 list.

For students:

1.  Thank your teacher for all of his or her hard work.
2. Do your best on homework and in-class assignments.
3. Behave in class, so your teacher can devote more time to teaching.
4. Respect your teacher and your fellow students. This will create a better learning environment for everyone in the classroom.
5. Raise your hand to answer your teacher’s questions and participate in learning.

For parents:

1. Send an e-mail or a note with your children to school, thanking their teachers for their hard work.
2. Appreciate teachers for the professionals that they are, and give them the same respect you would give a good friend who takes care of your children.
3. Provide a helping hand in the classroom, during sporting events, on field trips, or at the school site.
4. Donate school supplies. Teachers often pay out of their own pockets to provide their students with the tools they need to learn.
5. Hold fundraisers and donate the proceeds to schools that have been hard hit by state budget cuts.

Seriously, have we stoop so low? We need the government giving us a point-by-point list telling us how we can appreciate our teacher?

This is the time we really need to sit down and think. Thanks to this materialistic world we have failed to value people for what they do. We only seems to care how much money they have.

Slowly, we are destroying all value based profession and so is the profession of teacher. Gone are the days where a teacher personally knew what each student was capable of and how bring out the best in them. Now everyone has to just get good grades.

What do you think? Are we heading for a disaster?

We all have dreams some remember more of it, some just don’t remember much of it. But the fact is everyone has dreams. But why do some people have more nightmares then others ? Why do some people most often have pleasant dreams ? Is it because they only remember those dream ?

Even when you hit the bed and your whole body is relaxing the brain just couldn’t do that it just wakes-up, maybe this is reason our brains just stop working in during the day in class rooms.

With your logic center turned off. Your brain is on a free-run  produce even more crazy, vivid and strange dreams.

Here are some facts about dreamland:

1. Violent dreams can be a warning sign

As if nightmares weren’t bad enough, a rare sleep disorder — called REM sleep behavior disorder — causes people to act out their dreams, sometimes with violent thrashes, kicks and screams. Such violent dreams may be an early sign of brain disorders down the line, including Parkinson’s disease and dementia, according to research published online July 28, 2010, in the journal Neurology. The results suggest the incipient stages of these neurodegenerative disorders might begin decades before a person, or doctor, knows it.

2. Night owls have more nightmares

Staying up late has its perks, but whimsical dreaming is not one of them. Research published in 2011 in the journal Sleep and Biological Rhythms, revealed that night owls are more likely than their early-bird counterparts to experience nightmares.

In the study 264 university students rated how often they experienced nightmares on a scale from 0 to 4, never to always, respectively. The stay-up-late types scored, on average, a 2.10, compared with the morning types who averaged a 1.23. The researchers said the difference was a significant one, however, they aren’t sure what’s causing a link between sleep habits and nightmares. Among their ideas is the stress hormone cortisol, which peaks in the morning right before we wake up, a time when people are more prone to be in REM, or dream, sleep. If you’re still sleeping at that time, the cortisol rise could trigger vivid dreams or nightmares, the researchers speculate. [Top 10 Spooky Sleep Disorders]

3. Men dream about sex

As in their wake hours, men also dream about sex more than women do. And comparing notes in the morning may not be a turn-on for either guys or gals, as women are more likely to have experienced nightmares, suggests doctoral research reported in 2009 by psychologist Jennie Parker of the University of the West of England.

She found women’s dreams/nightmares could be grouped into three categories: fearful dreams (being chased or having their life threatened); dreams involving the loss of a loved one; or confused dreams.

4. You can control your dreams

If you’re interested in lucid dreaming, you may want to take up video gaming. The link? Both represent alternate realities, said Jayne Gackenbach, a psychologist at Grant MacEwan University in Canada.

“If you’re spending hours a day in a virtual reality, if nothing else it’s practice,” Gackenbach told LiveScience in 2010. “Gamers are used to controlling their game environments, so that can translate into dreams.” Her past research has shown that people who frequently play video games are more likely than non-gamers to have lucid dreams where they view themselves from outside their bodies; they were also better able to influence their dream worlds, as if controlling a video-game character.

That level of control may also help gamers turn a bloodcurdling nightmare into a carefree dream, she found in a 2008 study. This ability could help war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Gackenbach reasoned.

5. Why we dream

Scientists have long wondered why we dream, with answers ranging from Sigmund Freud’s idea that dreams fulfill our wishes to the speculation that these wistful journeys are just a side effect of rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. Turns out, at least part of the reason may be critical thinking, suggests Harvard psychologist Deirdre Barrett who presented her theory in 2010 at the Association for Psychological Science meeting in Boston.

Her research revealed that our slumbering hours may help us solve puzzles that have plagued us during daylight hours. The visual and often illogical aspects of dreams make them perfect for the out-of-the-box thinking that is necessary to solve some problems, she speculates.

So while dreams may have originally evolved for another purpose, they have likely been refined over time for multiple tasks, including helping the brain reboot and helping us solve problems, she said.

A recent study has determined that watching pornography is really doing more damage to you than you could ever imagine. A new research finds that looking at erotic movies can actually stop the part of the brain that processes visual stimuli.

Most of the time, watching movies or conducting any other visual task sends extra blood flow to this brain region. Not so when the movies are explicit, the researchers found. Instead, the brain seems to shunt blood — and therefore energy — elsewhere, perhaps to regions of the brain responsible for sexual arousal.

Turns out, the brain may not need to take in all the visual details of a sex scene, said study researcher Gert Holstege, a uroneurologist at the University of Groningen Medical Center in the Netherlands.

“If you look, for example, at your computer and you have to write something or whatever, then you have to look specifically and carefully at what you’re doing because if you don’t, it means you make mistakes,” Holstege told LiveScience. “But the moment you are watching explicit sexual movies, that’s not necessary, because you know exactly what’s going on. It’s not important that the door is green or yellow.”

Wow, that is deep. So, its official people who watch too much porn is actually damaging their brain from functioning properly and might lose the ability to capture and register what they see.

The brain can either be anxious or aroused (or neither), Holstege said, but not both. During orgasm, he has found, activity in brain regions associated with anxiety plummets. This phenomenon may explain why women with low levels of sexual desire often have high levels of anxiety, Holstege said. It makes sense; if you’re looking around, focusing on visual details, scanning for danger, it may not be so easy to focus on arousal, he said.

After 6 years the first case of mad cow disease has been confirmed in the state of California. This has sparked fears of illness and has already started to cause damage the industry. A major South Korean retailer has suspended the sale of American beef.

A California dairy cow recently tested positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), more commonly known as mad cow disease. While the news has resurrected fears about the illness, the United States Department of Agriculture has been quick to highlight that the cow, located in California’s Central Valley, was not tied to the food chain, and that humans are not at risk of contracting the human form, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which causes rapid brain degeneration. This assurance has not prevented some South Korean retailers from halting sales of US beef into the country as memories of the massive UK outbreak in the early 1990s which claimed the lives of 180,000 cattle and over 150 people remain fresh in the consciousness of many.

The is the fourth instance of Mad Cow Disease to have been discovered in US history. It was long believed that cattle were infected with BSE by eating feed that included spine and brain tissue of other cows who had consumed the meat of sheep infected with scrapie. But some scientists have since hypothesized that the disease may develop spontaneously in cattle. Federal officials believe that the recent instance in California was a indeed caused by an atypical genetic malformation, as CBS reported. “It was just a random mutation that can happen every once in a great while in an animal,” Bruce Akey, director of the New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University, told the AP. “Random mutations go on in nature all the time.” Federal officials further emphasized that the infected cow had not eaten contaminated feed.

The AP described the discovery of the illness as a “stroke of luck,” since only 40,000, or 0.1 percent of cattle are tested each year for the BSE, but in light of the discovery, officials do plan to take additional precautions. “State and federal agriculture officials plan to test other cows that lived in the same feeding herd as the infected bovine,” said Michael Marsh, chief executive of Western United Dairymen, who was briefed on the plan. “They also plan to test cows born at around the same time the diseased cow was.”

As South Korean retailers exhibit caution, the Washington Post reports that “South Korea said it will strengthen quarantine inspections of U.S. beef after the case.” Other countries which import US beef, including the UK, Canada and Japan have not announced any changes to their import of US beef, as many await confirmation of additional tests to be conducted by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organisation for Animal Health.

In 2010, South Korea imported 125,000 tons of U.S. beef, a 97% increase from the year before, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

The cow’s carcass was at a Baker Commodities Inc. rendering facility in Hanford, California, according to company Executive Vice President Dennis Luckey.

The company renders animal byproducts and had randomly selected the animal for testing last Wednesday, he said.

“We are in the business of removing dead animals from dairies in the Central Valley,” he told CNN. “As part of that program, we participate in the BSE surveillance program.”

The sample was sent to the University of California at Davis for initial testing, which came back inconclusive. It was then sent to the Department of Agriculture’s laboratory in Ames, Iowa, where it tested positive, the agency said.

The carcass was in quarantine Tuesday night.

“We’re waiting now for USDA to tell us how to dispose of it,” Luckey said.

All Government assurances are seems find but in spite of that fear continues to spread as the Government usually isn’t really truthful about it’s statements.

Mother’s day is around the corner and as you scramble to meet your mom you have no idea what gift you should get her. We are here to help you out

Tech Stuffs :

1. Satellite TV : Whether your Mom’s Day gift recipient works outside or inside the home, when she wants to catch up on the news or a favorite show she doesn’t want to have to be rooted in one place. Dish Network’s (DISH) new Hopper satellite TV receiver lets Mom wander from room to room, pausing a show or movie playing on a TV set in one room, and resume playing it on a set in another room.

This is accomplished by attaching a small box — what the company calls a “Joey,” as in baby kangaroo, or hopper — to as many as three additional TV sets in the house. The Joeys allow the TV in one room to join a program in progress in another. The base satellite receiver contains six tuners, which can be configured to operate in different ways.

When a feature called “Primetime Anytime” is enabled, four of the six tuners record all primetime shows running on the major networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox), leaving two channels open to record additional shows, watch previously recorded shows, watch live TV or to order a show from Blockbuster On Demand. Monthly fees depend on what packages are ordered, but start at $39 a month with rebates and specials lowering the price for an initial period.

2. Camera : While many photos today stay in entirely digital format, there’s still a large market for printed images. If mom is really into photography, and has an expensive high-megapixel high-end DSLR camera, why not give her a printer of the same quality, like the Epson Artisan 1430?

Rather than the standard four ink colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black), the Artisan 1430 has six colors, adding light cyan and light magenta for more accurate reproduction of subtle hues.

And no wimpy 8 x 11 prints for this puppy (though it can print photos as small as 4 x 6 inches). The $299 Artisan 1430 is a wide-format printer, and can produce stunning prints as large as 13 x 19 inches, though at best quality, it’s going to take minutes per page to print them out, rather than pages per minute.

3. Mobile Phone : Pretty much everyone has a cellphone these days, and many of these are iPhones. There are almost as many case designs on the market as there are phones. One of the best-looking cases, for the Apple (AAPL) iPhone 4 and 4S, is Edge Design’s Alfa. Made of anodized aluminum, the Alfa is minimalist, with just the colored aluminum back and a same color thin front bezel showing.

A silicone band wraps around the outside edge and soaks up shocks. These bands, like the case itself, are available in different colors to provide an eye-catching contrast. At $99, the Alfa is one of the more expensive cases on the market. But it’s also one of the most attractive.

4. Tablet PC : Tablets are big this year, both physically and in price. But not everyone who wants a tablet needs one with a 10-inch screen and $500 price tag. Barnes and Noble’s (BKS) Nook Tablet fills the gap between an eReader and a large expense tablet. It runs on the Android operating system, providing the ability to download thousands of apps.

The Nook Tablet we tested costs $199 for the 8GB version and $50 more for the 16GB model. If more storage is needed, the Nook Tab accepts low-cost microSD storage cards to bump up capacity. With a 7-inch color touch-screen and a long battery life of up to 11 hours when used as a reader, the 14-ounce Nook Tab comes preloaded with popular apps including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora and more.

Built-in Wi-Fi lets mom access the Internet for browsing and email. The Nook Tablet isn’t the right fit for everybody. It’s noticeably slower than more expensive tablet models, so if mom’s the impatient type, you may want to reconsider the budget. But if mom is into Android apps on her phone, but frustrated with the phone’s small screen size, the Nook Tablet is a great step up.

General Stuffs :

1 – Summer sandals from Queen Anne Dispatch
Who can say no to shoes? It’s time to put those winter boots away and saunter into the sunshine with some pretty new sandals. Queen Anne Dispatch has some great summer styles in now plus, they offer complimentary gift wrap! Queen Anne Dispatch 2212 Queen Anne Ave. N.
(206) 286-1024

2 – An Ultra Age Defying Facial from the Spa at the Four Seasons
For busy moms who need a little rest and relaxation this comprehensive treatment provides immediate results. The 80-minute facial combines micro-currents with LED light therapy and ultrasonic exfoliation to re-educate muscles and hydrate skin. Jennifer Lopez swears by these facials and after getting my first one, I do too! The Four Seasons Seattle Spa (206) 749-7077

3 – A Wardrobe Styling Session with Styled.Seattle
Working with a stylist is not just reserved for the rich and famous. Anyone can  benefit from working with a pro who understands body type and works to help customize outfits that fit and flatter. Styled Seattle offers a Reduce, Reuse, Re-Style package that is perfect for moms on a budget who want to mix it up using pieces they already own. Styled.Seattle (206) 349-3401

4 – A full set of lashes from Noir Lash Lounge
Make her mornings a breeze with a full set of lash extensions from Noir Lash Lounge in Bellevue. Her eyes will be refreshed and ready to conquer the day and she won’t even bat an eyelash at the price of a fill. Having lash extensions is guaranteed to save at least 10-minutes from her morning “get-ready” routine which basically means she can hit snooze at least once without feeling guilty! $75 for a full set. $30 for a fill.
Noir Lash Lounge (425) 454-5274

5 – A Gift Certificate to Mane
Of course she can wash and dry her hair at home but why would she want to when she can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and slip into Mane for a relaxing $35 spa-style blow out instead? Mane has 5 signature looks to choose from and offers money-saving styling packages. Mane Blow Dry Bar 717 Pine Street (206) 352-6263

6 – A Gift Card to Calidora Skin Clinic
From Botox to Fillers, Facials, Lasers and Peels, Calidora Skin Clinic has all your skincare needs covered. Give mom a gift card she can use on whatever her little heart desires. Calidora Skin Clinic 2613 NE University Village (206) 522-2613

7 – A beautiful bracelet by Seattle artist Martha Driver of Rock Star Jewelry
You can’t go wrong this Mother’s Day with beautiful jewelry from Seattle-based Rock Star Jewelry. This beautiful pearl and turquoise bracelet is perfectly on-trend for the season and available now at Karan Dannenberg Clothier in Belltown. RockStarJewelry.com

8 – A signature cut & color from Rosaline Hampton Salon
Located in Bellevue the team at Rosaline Hampton salon focuses on giving clients their dream hair using customized cuts and super-flattering color. Pamper a special mom you know with a new hair style and signature make-up application. Rosaline Hampton 188 106th Ave. N.E. Bellevue (425) 614-6377

9 – Pretty Pedicure at Julep Nail Parlor
These candy colored polishes make the perfect spring accessory for your hands. DIY with a bottle of polish for $14 or splurge on a full manicure featuring reflexology-based massage, sea salt exfoliation, paraffin wrap plus a mini bottle of polish for $48. Julep.com

10 – A Shopping spree at Nordstrom
What would the Seattle shopping scene be without Nordstrom? Every woman loves to shop including stylish mom’s so why not treat her to a little retail therapy with a Nordstrom gift card? She can spent it on a Marc by Marc Jacobs travel wallet, make-up, or even a new dress. Nordstrom.com

This is just to help you get some ideas. The best gift is your very own special gift for your very special mother.