Welcome To Seeking Shade

Welcome to the Seeking Shade.

This is my blog, my random thoughts and ideas about all things to do with the sun and health related issues. With most of my ramblins I will also point you to the most interesting and topical websites that I could find on each subject. If you need to know something regarding the how to keep out of the sun, how the sun can cause good and bad things, and other health related issues then read on. Enjoy !

This Home Remedy May Work For Minor Scars

Many of us have dealt with acne in our lives that in the long run has turned into a scarring that is not only embarrassing but can also cause us to withdraw from the world. Acne scarring is an emotional as well as physical problem that many people deal with on a daily basis. However, there are many acne scar removal options out there for you to try and many of them can even be done in the comfort of your own home.

There are many acne scar treatments that can be done from home. They work well and are much less costly than the over the counter treatments or even treatments that your doctor can perform. Of course, as with any condition, you may want to consult your doctor first, just to be on the safe side.

You can use everything from calamine lotion to Vitamin E with proven results. Of course, in some cases, the scarring is too severe and you may need to seek other treatment options. However, for mild acne scarring trying the home remedies first is the best way to go. These home remedies and keeping your face clean plus eating healthy will go a long way towards a brand new you.

As mentioned, one home remedy that has been tried with great success is calamine lotion. It is easy to use and inexpensive. You simply take a cotton ball or swab and coat it with calamine lotion. Instead of caking the lotion on the acne scar, smooth it into the scar so that it reaches the pores, blending it in with your skin. Go to bed with the calamine lotion on the acne scars and wash it off in the morning with warm water and a soft washcloth. Repeat this procedure every night until the acne scars start to fade. You wont be sorry that you tried this home method.

Alkaline Diet Against Hair Loss

There are plenty of speculations about how alkaline diet can prevent hair loss. Experts say that maintaining the right pH level in the body through eating foods that are highly alkalizing, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, beans, and seeds, can greatly affect the general well-being of a person, and this can help against hair loss. Alkaline diet is also famous to help prevent cancers and to purify the skin as well.

The concept behind this is that the human body has a pH level of between 7.35 to 7.45, which is slightly alklaine. This means that we have to mintain this pH level in order for us to enjoy optimum health benefits. The only way to maintain this is through eating foods that are considered as alkaline foods, such as mentioned above.

We are also recommended to eat acidic foods, like most meats, dairy products, and processed foods. These foods can increase the acid level in the body, which will be the cause of pH imbalance. When the pH level is not balanced, this can cause several minor to major health issues, such as common diseases like colds and flu, to dreadful cancers. Too much acid is also believed to destroy the cells, and this can cause early signs of aging including skin blemishes and hair loss.

Making Changes For The Better

After speaking to several friends and family I think many of us come to same conclusions regarding our health and lifestyle when we hit a certain age.  I am not sure if it’s because we start to think of our mortality or if it’s because when we reach our late 30′s or early 40′s we don’t feel so indestructible.   My life has had cycles.  From my early twenties to my early thirties, my life revolved around sport and having fun with friends and my partner. Once I hit 30 and got married, it was time to start a family which brings a different type of fun (and worry), but a lot more fun than worry.  Life revolved around the children.  It was time to take life a bit more seriously.

During this time my fitness started to take a back seat.  I would visit the gym less frequently, go on fewer runs and play less football.  And before you know it you look and feel middle aged.

Well that was then and this is now.  I am ready to transform myself back to being fit.  Well ‘fitter’ anyway.  I have started running again and going to the gym.  I am no longer playing football, but I am playing golf which does count as exercise by the way!  It’s amazing how exercise can make you feel.  It can clear your head of the stresses of the day, it makes you feel healthier and for me it makes me feel a lot more happy.  I am making the change, and so are a lot of my friends – are you ready to transform?

Nourish Yourself For Better Life

Most people these days are victims of stress. There are plenty of factors that may cause the rise of one’s cortisol level, and when this happens, several health complications may take place. This is definitely something that we would absolutely like to get rid of. Stress is the major cause of several health problems these days, and obviously, we would never like such health issues to happen to us.

In order to beat stress, one should know how to nourish themselves all the time. Eating right is one of the most effective ways to have the right nutrition and balance that we need. After all, what we eat can have greater effects of our general wellness than we know. Fruits and vegetables are the best options for food, and so we have to eat plenty of them. We can even drink our fruits and vegetables through fresh juicing. Delicious fresh juice recipes can also help minimize the side effects of stress.

It is also recommended that we engage ourselves with healthy activities, such as doing physical exercises. One of the best form of exercise that is believed to be great when it comes to fighting off stress is Yoga, as this is a combination of body and mind workout that can relax our entire system.

2 Acne Myths Debunked

Acne can be the bane of any teenager’s existence and severe acne can lead to cost acne scar treatment sessions when older. While it is most common in teenagers, acne can attack adults as well. There are a few myths about acne that, like acne itself. need to be cleared up.

Myth #1
The myth that tanning clears up acne is totally unproven. The sun may hide the acne for a while but it doesn’t get rid of it. It actually dries out and can irritate the skin. On top of that the sun can cause skin cancer and premature aging. Always wear sun screen when out in the sun. However make sure that the sunscreen you buy is noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic so it does not clog your pores leading to future outbreaks.

Myth #2
It has long been a myth that the more you wash your face the fewer outbreaks you will have. This is not true. While it is good to keep your face clean constant washing can lead to the skin drying out and becoming irritated. This in itself can cause a break out. A good rule of thumb is to wash your face gently twice a day with a gentle cleanser and water. Never scrub and always make sure to pat dry.

Be Beautiful Through Alkaline Diet

Being beautiful is definitely one of the greatest goals of most individuals these days. And because vanity has become a popular trend, we cannot blame people from spending their money on creams or surgeries just to look young and stay beautiful. However, did we know that being beautiful can be achieved through eating the right foods? Yes, this is absolutely true. This is the reason why it is believed that because our diet can nourish our internal health, it can greatly affect our physical appearance as well.

It is really recommended that we bring balance to our pH level through eating foods that reflect our natural pH. Our body has a pH level of between 7.35 to 7.45 which is slightly alkaline, thus, this means that in order for us to maintain this healthy balance, we have to eat foods that are alkalizing. Most of the popular and healthiest alkaline foods that we can include to our daily diet are fresh fruits and vegetables, which are packed with vital nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that can help keep our skin nourished — making it look younger and more beautiful.

Thus, when it comes to improving one’s physical appearance, we do not need to spend more on beauty products. All we need to do is to nourish our body through eating right.

The Seeking Shade Competition

Welcome

Each day, over 1.1 million people enter into the United States. Many arrive by air, some by sea, but most cross our nation’s borders on land, through large and small ports of entry in a myriad of communities along our northern and southern perimeter.

As the builder for the Federal civilian government, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) wants you to help shape our country’s legacy and the way visitors regard our government, as expressed through our land ports of entry. GSA is proud to provide the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and their agents, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP), with award-winning properties that help them effectively execute their mission and properly welcome travelers to the nation.

Public buildings are part of a nation’s legacy. They are symbolic of what Government is about, not just places where government is conducted. Structures as diverse in scale and location as the Capitol in Washington or a remote border crossing, are monuments to the vision, leadership and commitment of the nation’s that build them. Though a seemingly straightforward challenge, this sun shelter is imbued with greater meaning. For many, it may serve as their initial introduction to our country. For returning visitors, it may become a familiar landmark. Whichever the case may be, We trust your submission will reflect your hopes and aspirations for the nation.

Thank you for participating in this competition and we look forward to your proposal for The San Ysidro Land Port of Entry.

Challenge
The San Ysidro Land Port of Entry is located 15 miles south of San Diego at the terminus of U.S. Interstate 5. The port is the world’s busiest land border crossing and serves as the primary point of entry into the United States from Tijuana, Mexico.

Constructed over 30-years ago, the existing facility is overwhelmed and can no longer support the operational mission of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). A three-phase expansion and reconstruction of the port—already underway—will result in a new facility incorporating the latest in security and antiterrorism enhancements. These improvements will allow CBP to better process the high volume of traffic that crosses the border daily by greatly facilitating pedestrian and vehicular processing. The changes will increase operational efficiency, improve officer and public safety, and decrease operational and maintenance costs, altogether creating a more welcoming and rewarding experience for travelers.

[above] Aerial of existing port looking North

Design Problem
The first phase of the port’s renovation involves constructing an east-west pedestrian bridge spanning U.S. Interstate 5.  The bridge will link the port facilities on the eastern side of the site with an existing Mexican crossing to the west of the port.   Nearly 900 feet in length, the uncovered path stretching across sixteen lanes of highway traffic and CBP operations exposes the pedestrians queued along its length to the elements as they travel south into Mexico.

This competition challenges entrants to develop a shading structure to offer visitors a measure of protection from the sun’s intense rays and to keep them dry on rainy days.  Shelter is a basic human need.  Correctly handled, such a structure could greatly enhance a visitor’s experience at the port and make a more welcoming arrival.

Competitors are asked to think through each element of their proposed structure, considering the tectonic aspects of the shading device and carefully documenting its assembly.  The impact of the solar path, seasonal variations in sunlight, and how the proposed structure heightens or transforms light is just one of the environmental aspects that should be taken into consideration.  The structure must mediate between the scale of the port and the scale of the individual traveling below it.  To successfully serve the community and port of San Ysidro, designs must also consider the impact and benefit that any intervention brings to the surrounding community.