Experts Identify Causes of Antibiotic Resistance

Lack of adequate diagnostic facilities and poor education of doctors on appropriate use of antibiotics have been identified as factors responsible for the growing resistance of disease-causing organisms to most of the antibiotics in Nigeria and other countries in the West African sub region.

Experts at a workshop on antibiotic resistance, sponsored by the multinational pharmaceutical giant, GlaxoSmithKline Nigeria Limited (GSK), noted that using antibacterial agents or dosages that allow bacterial persistence increases the risk of recurrence and relapse and the potential for the selection for resistance.

In a paper at the workshop, Prof. Javier Garau, an associate professor of medicine, University of Bacelonia and Head of the Department of Medicine at Hospital de Terrassam Bacelona Spain, said antibiotic resistance had increased to an all-time high worldwide just as prescription had also increased at an all-time high level.

Garau also warned against inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. According to him, prescribing antibiotics for infections not caused by bacteria does not have clinical benefit, rather, he said, the practice promotes resistance, causing unnecessary adverse reactions.

Speaking on the six principles for the appropriate prescribing of antibiotics, Garau said the objective of the principles was to optimise therapy to reduce morbidity, therapeutic failure and cost and prevent resistance emergence.

He disclosed that the principles specifically targeted respiratory tract infections (RTI) because 80 per cent of antibiotics were often prescribed for RTIs.

"Reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing through the principles will require education of physicians and patients towards a change in behaviour, an understanding of the impact on resistance, time and resources - money," he added.

In a paper titled "Nigeria: antibiotic resistance, practice and clinical issues in RTI therapy," a medical microbiologist at the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Kenneth Iregbu said policies would enhance a rational use of antibiotics in the country, control spread of resistant strains, check wastages and the burden of unwanted effects.

He blamed the growing incidence of antibiotic resistance on lack of education on the part of doctors on the appropriate use of antibiotics and unrestrained access of the people to the drugs.

"Most drugs in Nigeria are available over the counter without doctor's prescription leading to antibiotic abuse. There is also the problem of fake drugs due to the lucrative nature of pharmaceutical drug sales," he further said.

In a paper titled Ghana: antibiotic resistance, practice and clinical issues in RTI therapy, a professor of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, University of Ghana and consultant physician, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana, Prof. Kenneth Adjepon-Yamoah noted that the problem of antibiotic misuse and overuse is a common occurrence worldwide.

According to him, the problem is worse in Ghana because a large number of non-medically trained persons are delivering health services. Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice President and Managing Director of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) West and Central Africa, Mr. Karim El-Alaoui expressed concern about the emergence of antibiotic resistance, adding that the company had led the rest of the pharmaceutical industry in providing positive solutions to the problem. He disclosed that GSK is funding a range of microbial susceptibility surveys in over 50 countries, including the Alexander Network initiated in 1992 and solely funded by the company. "GlaxoSmithKline currently occupies a leadership position in many therapeutic classes and is undoubtedly a leading healthcare company in the management and treatment of bacterial infections. We are not relenting in our efforts to fulfill this mission," he said. In another paper, the GSK Marketing and Business Development Director, Mr. Greig Baines observed that resistance to antibiotics is increasing rapidly in the West African region as in other parts of the world. According to him, the trend has reached to the attention of governments, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders adding that GSK is opposed to unnecessary and inappropriate use of antibiotics, the main factors responsible for resistance.

Solution For Dark Armpits

Why you have dark armpits and what is the solution for them? Try the home remedies for improving dark armpits and underarms.
•Clean under-arrm
1. Make a paste by mixing
gram flour (besan), yogurt (curd), lime or lemon juice and a little turmeric (haldi) powder and apply under the arms. Wash it off after half an hour. Repeat every second day. This treatment recipe is suggested by Shahnaz Hussain.

2. Apply a mixture of lemon
and cucumber juice (equal amount) with 1/8 teaspoon of turmeric powder. Leave for 20 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.

3. Make a paste by mixing 1
teaspoon of lime or lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of cucumber juice and some turmeric powder and apply on your armpits. Wash it off after half an hour.

4. Lemon, cucumber and potato
are bleaching agents so they offer good solutions for dark underarms and armpits. Rub a piece of lemon or cucumber or potato on the armpit and keep it for sometime. You can also apply juice of lemon or cucumber or potato to cure dark armpits.

5. Baking soda also acts
favorably in curing the darkness of the underarms. After bath, apply some baking soda onto the armpits.

6. Make a paste by mixing
some sandalwood powder and a few drops of rose water to and apply to your underarms.

7. General tips
Do not shave your underarms. Waxing is best for hair removal underarms. Wear cotton clothes. Use anti-fungal talcum powder or rub alum instead of deodorants and anti-perspirants. Follow proper hygiene techniques.

called from: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/06/25/solution-for-dark-armpits/

Respect: Critical Element In Relationships

Behind the scenes each week there is a special person who helps me edit my work. She has been there since I started this column. She adds tremendous value and depth to these weekly articles. Her name is Gayle Dulcey. Gayle is one of the most highly educated people I know a former high school and college English teacher, a seminary scholar, and an educational psychologist. Most important, she is my mom, my best friend and my trusted mentor.

My mom, (we will call her Gayle in this article), mentors hundreds of people each year. She helps them heal their relationships. I interviewed her this week as a way of introducing her to you. I hope that, as you read this article, you get a taste of her wisdom and the deep love she has for others.

Mom, what would you say is the most important aspect of a relationship?

Gayle (G): For me, the most important aspect of a relationship is respect. By respect, I mean first that a relationship must be mutual. It has to offer a win/win situation, something of value to each person involved. Let’s take the two of us. I can think of nothing I value more than having you see me deeply, having you see the real me. Similarly, I can think of nothing of greater value to offer you than to see the true you, to see you and accept you just as you are at any moment. I am speaking of looking beyond your bodily appearance and beyond your constructed (ego) identity–your personality. I am speaking of seeing your true Essential Self. I want to see the beautiful, distinct, ever-developing design that our Creator has given you. Seeing the essence of another person provides the foundation for a wholesome and productive relationship. That’s not just true in intimate family relationships. It applies to all types of relationships, even a casual, temporary one that you might share interacting with a neighbor, a fellow worker, a merchant at the market or even a passerby you greet on the street.

Patricia (P): When you talk about true being, are you saying that we need to see people and respect them not for their physical appearance, not for what they are wearing, not for what they are driving, but to go deeper than that–to look into the special gifts or talents or abilities, the special qualities they have, their soul-self, the love they have inside them? Is that what you are saying?

G: Yes. I look for the uniqueness each person brings into life. Every one of us has a contribution to make. Let’s take the teacher-student relationship as an example. My experience in teaching has shown me that every single student I have ever had is valuable. People yearn to be seen for their inner worth. They are hungry for that. When someone is seen truly, as worthy of life and is made welcome, it is a life affirming event. A person knows when that happens. People want you to look at them this way, and they want to feel that they are free to see you.

If I can see the worth in my students, a certain magic occurs. As authentic mutual seeing develops, it forms a foundation for a sacred trust. The relationship becomes a space in which both can relax and be open and express themselves without fear. When this magic is sparked, it ignites the flames of creativity. It makes way for success. I have found this to be true in teaching and in life. Respect nurtures friendships, relationships in the workplace, romantic relationships, marriages, parent-child relationships all relationships.

P: This magic that you are talking about, it’s almost as if, when we respect someone, and they sense that from us, it can actually bring out the best in them.

G: Exactly. That has been my experience. It can bring out the best in both of us. And furthermore, it does.

Initially, in relationships, we might depend on each other. In other words, you might think that because I see the true worth in you, you need me. But, if I will stay with you, continue to see the best in you, you will begin to grow. I must willingly allow you to be a work-in-progress, to express your humanness–your fears, your immaturity, your faltering, your misdirected attempts at life. You must allow me the same room for my immaturity and mistakes and insensitivities. We support one another as each moves beyond insecurity and experiments with life, to find areas in which he or she can shine.

This sort of respect takes patience and perseverance. It is an on-going “re-seeing.” If two people commit to this, each can develop a sense of personal confidence. If we choose to continue working together in this way, one day each will begin to realize, “Oh, wow, the value is in me! I enjoy our relationship, but I don’t need her (or him). I have the power to do well on my own!” This is the gift we can give to each other. If I give this, you will find yourself developing courage and enthusiasm. You will begin to take the new-found forms of expression you are using in our relationship and offer them to the world. The same will be true for me.

P: People might think, “I need the acceptance of another person.” But once they experience that acceptance and they see they have something to offer in themselves, they can begin to flourish and come into their own as well. Is that what you are saying?

G: That is what I am saying.

P: What are some of the ways we can learn to show other people that we respect and care about them?

G: There are some simple ways to show others you value them. Notice, I said “simple,” not “easy.” These practices take concentration and commitment.

The first way to show someone you care is to offer your Presence. Actually, giving the gift of your total attention is a form of respect. We need to find the beauty, the special gifts another has, the things that make us smile and focus on them as we interact. Expect to see the good. Then validate it as you see it.

P: So in other words, when you are interacting with someone, if you are expecting them to act in the “same old way” or if you focus on what annoys you or gets you worked up, you are likely to find that. On the other hand, if you can just relax and be present and watch for the good, you will actually begin to see the person in a new light. And what you focus on grows.

G: Right. What you seek you find. If you seek the best in the other person, you bring it out in them.

P: Then what else can we do?

G: The other thing we can do is listen. People like to talk. In a relationship, they are looking for a sounding board. They want an opportunity to say what they think, what they really mean. Often, expressing something is a way of finding out for ourselves, or clarifying, what we really think, what we really mean. Therefore, one of the greatest gifts we can offer to each other is to listen. Commit to paying attention without interrupting.

P: That’s tough to do!

G: Yes. It’s hard. I am definitely still a learner, not an expert.

To continue, we want to listen in a way that is not dismissive. Even if you say to me things that I don’t think are important, it is vital that I not give you the impression that, “Oh, this is stupid!” Also, I need to listen without trying to correct you or fix you. I want to you to feel safe in expressing yourself. I need to let you be you, to have your own views, your own journey.

Then, as you share ideas you have or problems or things you have done, when I do find something that is really of value, I can affirm you. But I need to resist the urge to correct you or to compete by turning attention to my own accomplishments, saying, “Well, I have done such and such,” and thereby making myself superior, outdoing you. Instead, I can say, “Wow, that was tough!” or “That was really kind,” or “How clever!” Or, ‘”That took guts.” As we encourage each other in our relationship, we help each other to see our own value. We are giving each other a gift the gift of understanding our individual worth.

P: These ways of relating are beautiful, but they seem ideal. What do you do about current relationships that are uncomfortable? How do you deal with difficult people?

G: Great questions. Perhaps these could be topics for our next conversation.

Your assignment this week is to take time to look at people in your life with new eyes. Don’t stop at their clothes or status. Look deeper. Notice their good qualities. Give respect. Ask for Help to see the unique gift they bring to life.

Food For Thought

“Every human being, of whatever origin, of whatever station, deserves respect.” U. Thant

“Respect a man, and he will do all the more.” John Wooden

Patricia G. Omoqui 2010, All Rights Reserved

Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr. ™, is an internationally recognized inspirational speaker, life coach and writer. Patricia’s mission in life is to inspire people to move beyond fear so they can reach their full potential.

To share your thoughts about this article, please email Patricia at allure@patriciaomoqui.com or visit her at her website: www.patriciaomoqui.com .

Eating Right For Your Blood Type

Do you know what your blood type is? If not, you may ask your physician to order a special blood test for you to determine what your blood type is. Unless you have been hospitalized, had surgery, or have given blood, this type of blood screening is not ordinarily done as a matter of routine.

There has been extensive scientific research over the past 30 years that shows evidence that your individual blood type determines your predisposition toward getting certain diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, lupus, muscular sclerosis, allergies, etc. Our blood type also determines what type of biochemistry our digestive systems are made of. "Your blood type is a powerful genetic fingerprint that identifies you as surely as your DNA".

There are four blood type groups: O, A, B, and AB. The majority of people are Blood Type O. Next comes Blood Type A, then Blood Type B; and, Blood Type AB is very rare and has only been around for about 1000 years. Less than 5% of the world's population have Blood Type AB.

Have you ever noticed that some people can eat a variety of foods with no problems, while others suffer from gas, bloating, indigestion and heartburn? The reason for this is that people with different blood types cannot eat or digest the same foods equally. The following is a brief overview of the peculiarities of each blood type group:

Blood Type O

Blood Type O is the oldest blood type in the world (evolved around 40,000 BC), and is traced back to CroMagnon man. People with Blood Type O have the hardiest digestive systems. They are the meat-eaters. Persons with Blood Type O need animal protein for good health, as well as vegetables and fruits. However, carbohydrates should be kept to a minimum, since the Blood Type O person cannot digest carbohydrates very well, especially wheat products containing gluten. This person will do well on a high animal protein, low carbohydrate diet; and, dairy products should be kept to a minimum. Persons with Blood Type O produce a lot of hydrochloric acid in their stomachs, and it is this great abundance of stomach acid that allows them to digest animal protein favorably. And, because their digestive systems already contain a lot of stomach acid, they should avoid drinking coffee, since coffee will cause them to produce even more stomach acid, and this tends to make them prone to peptic ulcers, especially if they are constantly under a great deal of stress. They should drink more green tea, instead of coffee. Persons with Blood Type O tend to have low thyroid and sluggish metabolisms; therefore, they should supply their diets with sea kelp and seafood to obtain natural iodine to stimulate their thyroids. The best exercises for these persons are the vigorous workouts like jogging, power walking, aerobics, weight training, etc. The harder they exercise, the better they will feel. Get the heart rate going, and sweat up a storm to burn calories, alleviate stress and eliminate depression!

Foods that encourage weight gain - Wheat gluten; corn; kidney beans; navy beans; lentils; cabbage; brussel sprouts; cauliflower; mustard greens; and, of course, sugar and white flour.

Foods that encourage weight loss - Sea kelp (iodine); Seafood: bluefish, cod, hake, halibut, herring, mackerel, pike, rainbow trout, red snapper, salmon, sardines, shad, snapper, sole, striped bass, sturgeon, swordfish, tilefish, white perch, whitefish, yellow perch, yellowtail; Red Meat: beef, buffalo, heart, lamb, liver, mutton, veal, venison; Vegetables: kale, spinach, broccoli.

Other foods to avoid

• Meat: bacon; goose; ham; pork. Seafood: barracuda, catfish, caviar, conch, herring (pickled), lox (smoked salmon), octopus.
• Cheeses & Dairy: American cheese, blue cheese, brie, buttermilk, Camembert, casein, cheddar cheese, colby, cottage cheese, cream cheese, edam, emmenthal, goat milk, gouda, gruyere, ice cream, Jarlsburg; kefir, Monterey Jack, munster, parmesan, provolone, Neufchatel, ricotta, skim or 2% milk, string cheese, Swiss cheese, whey, whole milk, yogurt, all varieties.
• Oils: corn, cottonseed, peanut, safflower;
• Nuts & Seeds: brazil nuts, cashew, litchi, peanuts, peanut butter, pistachios, poppy seeds.
• Beans & Legumes: copper, kidney, navy, tamarind, lentils (domestic, green & red).
• Cereals: cornflakes, cornmeal, cream of wheat, familia, farina, grape nuts, seven-grain, shredded wheat, wheat bran, wheat germ.
• Grains & Pastas: bulgur wheat flour, couscous flour, durum wheat flour, gluten flour, graham flour, soba noodles, semolina pasta, spinach pasta, sprouted wheat flour, white flour, whole wheat flour.
• Vegetables: avocado, cabbage (Chinese, red, white), cauliflower, white & yellow corn, eggplant, domestic & Shiitake mushrooms, mustard greens, olives (black, Greek, Spanish), potatoes (red & white), alfalfa sprouts, brussel sprouts;
• Fruits: blackberries, coconuts, melon (cantaloupe & honeydew), oranges, plantains, rhubarb, strawberries, tangerines;
• Juices: apple, apple cider, cabbage, orange.
• Spices: capers, cinnamon, cornstarch, corn syrup, nutmeg, black & white pepper, vanilla, vinegar (apple cider, balsamic, red & white wine).
• Condiments: ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles (kosher, dill, sweet & sweet pickle relish).
• Herbal Teas: alfalfa, aloe, burdock, coltsfoot, corn silk, echinacea, gentian, goldenseal, red clover, rhubarb, Saint-John's Wort, senna, shepherd's purse, strawberry leaf, yellow dock.
• Beverages: coffee (regular & decaf), distilled liquor, all sodas, black teas.

Blood Type A

People with Blood Type A evolved from the hunter/meat-eater to the agrarian, and were the farmers and grain gatherers. This blood type evolved between 25,000 and 15,000 bC. They have fragile digestive systems. These people cannot tolerate animal protein well, and should be the proverbial, classic "vegetarian" of the human species. They also are usually lactose intolerant, as well. Persons with Blood Type A should avoid animal protein and dairy products, and would do well with whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables. Tofu and Hawaiian Spirulina should become the Blood Type A person's best friends, as these foods contains high-quality vegetable protein! Persons with Blood Type A do not produce enough hydrochloric acid in their stomachs, and that is why they have a difficult time digesting animal protein well. This also gives them a predisposition toward getting stomach cancer, and should never eat smoked or cured meats due to the sodium nitrites in them. Animal protein and dairy products tend to rot and ferment in their digestive tracts, and the toxic bacteria backs up into their tissues and muscles, thereby causing digestive distress. A lack of sufficient hydrochloric acid in their stomachs is another reason that persons with Blood Type A do not absorb Vitamin B12 properly from the foods they eat. Vitamin B12 is normally found in red meat, although B12 is also found in superior vegetable protein foods such as Hawaiian Spirulina, soy products and sea kelp. This inability to absorb Vitamin B12 sufficiently from food tends to make the person with Blood Type A prone to pernicious anemia. Therefore, supplementing the diet with Vitamin B12 is critical. Also recommended is supplementation with digestive enzymes such as betaine, bromelain and papain. Bromelain is derived from pineapple, and assists with the digestion of animal protein. Betaine will help to increase the amount of hydrochloric acid in their stomachs. The best exercise for these persons is not the heavy, vigorous workouts, but more calming, centering exercises like Tai Chi, Hatha Yoga and golfing. These soothing types of exercises will relieve the Blood Type A person's stress in a more beneficial way.

Foods that encourage weight gain - Meat; dairy food; kidney beans; lima beans; wheat (in overabundance); and, of course, sugar and white flour.

Foods that encourage weight loss - Vegetables oils, such as olive and flaxseed; soy foods; spirulina; vegetables; pineapple.

Other foods to avoid

• Meat & Poultry: bacon, beef, ground beef, buffalo, duck, goose, ham, hart, lamb, liver, mutton, partridge, pheasant, pork, rabbit, veal, venison, quail.
• Seafood: anchovy, barracuda, beluga, bluefish, bluegill bass, catfish, caviar, clam, conch, crab, crayfish, eel, flounder, frog, gray sole, haddock, hake, halibut, herring (fresh & pickled), lobster, lox (smoked salmon), mussels, octopus, oysters, scallop, shad, shrimp, sole, squid (calamari), striped bass, tilefish, turtle.
• Cheese/Dairy: American, blue cheese, brie, butter, buttermilk, Camembert, casein, cheddar, colby, cottage, cream cheese, edam, Emmenthal, gouda, gruyere, ice cream, Jarlsberg, Monterey jack, Munster, Parmesan, provolone, Neufchatel, sherbet, skim or 2% milk, Swiss, whey, whole milk.
• Oils: corn, cottonseed oil, peanut, safflower, sesame.
• Nuts & Seeds: brazil, cashews, pistachios.
• Beans & Legumes: copper, garbanzo, kidney, lima, navy, red beans, tamarind beans.
• Cereals: cream of wheat, familia, farina, granola, grape nuts, wheat germ, seven grain, shredded wheat, wheat bran.
• Breads & Muffins: English muffins, high-protein bread, matzos wheat, multi-grain bread, pumpernickel, wheat bran muffins, whole wheat bread.
• Grains & Pastas: white & whole wheat flour, semolina & spinach pasta.
• Vegetables: cabbage (Chinese, red, white), eggplant, lima beans, mushroom (domestic), olives (black, Greek, Spanish), peppers (green, jalapeno, red, yellow), potatoes (sweet, red, white), tomatoes, yams.
• Fruits: bananas, coconuts, mangoes, melon (cantaloupe & honeydew), oranges, papayas, plantains, rhubarb, tangerines.
• Juices: orange, papaya, tomato.
• Spices: capers, plain gelatin, pepper (black, cayenne, peppercorns, red pepper flakes, white), vinegar (apple cider, balsamic, red wine, white), wintergreen.
• Condiments: ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles, pickle relish, Worcestershire sauce.
• Herbal Teas: catnip, cayenne, corn silk, red clover, rhubarb, yellow dock. Beverages: beer, distilled liquor, seltzer water, all sodas, black teas.

Blood Type B

This blood type developed between 15,000 and 10,000 BC. Persons with Blood Type B have tolerant digestive systems, and can tolerate most foods equally well, with some exceptions. They are the lucky ones who can digest all types of foods with ease. However, the foods they should avoid are corn, buckwheat, lentils, peanuts, and sesame seeds, as these foods will tend to make them gain weight. Just like the Type O's, Type B's tend to have a problem with gluten in wheat products and wheat germ, which can cause a drop in their blood sugar levels, causing symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Blood Type B's who want to lose weight should definitely avoid wheat products. These lucky people can handle dairy products okay, compared to the other blood types. However, easy does it; if you consume too many high-calorie dairy products, you will gain weight! If you get hypoglycemia after eating a meal, sipping licorice tea would be beneficial for you. It is not advisable to take licorice supplements, unless under the supervision of a doctor. However, sipping licorice tea is very good.

Foods that encourage weight loss - Green vegetables; red meat such as lamb, mutton and rabbit; liver; turkey; pheasant; eggs/low-fat dairy products, including eggs from chicken; seafood, especially deep ocean fish such as cod and salmon, also flounder, halibut and sole; licorice tea. (Licorice tea is great to sip after a meal, as this will prevent hypoglycemia); soy foods; olive and flaxseed oil; oatmeal; oat bran; millet; rice bran; spelt; puffed rice.

Other foods to avoid

• Corn; lentils; black-eyed peas; garbanzo beans; peanuts; sesame seeds; buckwheat; wheat; and chicken (chicken is bad for the Type B's); shellfish; tomatoes; tofu; artichokes; avocados; olives: black, green, Greek, Spanish; pumpkin; radishes; mung bean sprouts; radish sprouts; tempeh; oils: canola, corn, cottonseed, peanut, safflower, sesame and sunflower; coconuts; persimmons; pomegranates; prickly pears; rhubarb; starfruit; allspice; almond extract; barley malt; cinnamon; cornstarch; corn syrup; plain gelatin; black and white pepper; tapioca; ketchup; hard distilled liquor; seltzer water; all sodas; amaranth; barley; cornflakes; cornmeal; cream of wheat; kamut; kasha; rye; seven-grain; shredded wheat; wheat bran; wheat germ.

Blood Type AB

Very rare, and the gentle offspring of Type A and Type B blood. This blood type has only been around for about 1000 years; a modern adaptation and result of intermingling of disparate groups. Less than 5% of the world's population have Blood Type AB. You combine the best and the worst of Blood Types A and B. Most foods that are bad for the Type A and Type B persons, are also bad for the Type AB person, with the exception of tomatoes. The Blood Type AB person can tolerate tomato lectins well. Like Type A, you do not produce enough hydrochloric stomach acid to digest animal protein well, such as red meat and poultry, yet you do need some animal protein. Therefore, portion size is important, and with less frequency. Be sure to take bromelain, a digestive enzyme derived from pineapple, to assist with the digestion of your animal protein meals. The best meats for you are lamb, mutton, rabbit and turkey. Also, avoid smoked and cured meats.

Foods that encourage weight gain - Red meat; kidney beans; lima beans; seeds; corn; buckwheat; wheat.

Foods that encourage weight loss - Tofu; seafood; dairy; green vegetables; spirulina; sea kelp; pineapple.

Other foods to avoid

• Meat: bacon, beef, ground beef, buffalo, chicken, cornish hen, duck, goose, ham, heart, partridge, pork, veal, venison, quail.
• Seafood: anchovies, barracuda, beluga, bluegill bass, clams, conch, crab, crayfish, eel, flounder, frog, haddock, halibut, herring (pickled), lobster, lox (smoked salmon), octopus, oysters, sea bass, shrimp, sole, striped bass, turtle, yellowtail.
• Cheese: American, blue cheese, brie, butter, buttermilk, Camembert, ice cream, Parmesan, provolone, sherbet, whole milk. Oils: corn, cottonseed oil, safflower, sesame, sunflower.
• Nuts/Seeds: filbert; poppy seeds; pumpkin seeds; sesame butter (tahini); sesame seeds; sunflower butter; sunflower seeds.
• Beans: adzuke, black, fava, garbanzo, kidney, lima; black-eyed peas.
• Cereals: cornflakes; cornmeal; kamut; kasha; corn muffins.
• Grains & Pasta: buckwheat kasha; barley flour; artichoke pasta; soba (buckwheat) noodles.
• Vegetables: artichoke (domestic & Jerusalem); avocado; white & yellow corn; lima beans; black olives; peppers: green, jalapeno, red, yellow; radishes; sprouts: mung bean & radish.
• Fruits: bananas; coconuts; guava; mangoes; oranges and orange juice; persimmons; pomegranates; prickly pears; rhubarb; starfruit.

Credits:

Run The Planet thanks Hawaii Herbals for the permission to reprint the article "Eat Right For Your Blood Type" based on the book "Eat Right 4 Your Type" by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo. If you are interested in the blood-type diet, we recommend that you read Dr. D'Adamo's book ("Eat Right 4 Your Type", by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo, C.P. Putnum's Sons, New York, 1996). Illustration copyright © 2003 by Run The Planet.

25 difficult interview questions and answers

As Reprinted from FOCUS Magazine -- January 5, 1983 The 25 most difficult questions you'll be asked on a job interview

Being prepared is half the battle.
If you are one of those executive types unhappy at your present post and embarking on a New Year's resolution to find a new one, here's a helping hand. The job interview is considered to be the most critical aspect of every expedition that brings you face-to- face with the future boss. One must prepare for it with the same tenacity and quickness as one does for a fencing tournament or a chess match.
This article has been excerpted from "PARTING COMPANY: How to Survive the Loss of a Job and Find Another Successfully" by William J. Morin and James C. Cabrera. Copyright by Drake Beam Morin, inc. Publised by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Morin is chairman and Cabrera is president of New York-based Drake Beam Morin, nation's major outplacement firm, which has opened offices in Philadelphia.

1. Tell me about yourself.
Since this is often the opening question in an interview, be extracareful that you don't run off at the mouth. Keep your answer to a minute or two at most. Cover four topics: early years, education, work history, and recent career experience. Emphasize this last subject. Remember that this is likely to be a warm-up question. Don't waste your best points on it.

2. What do you know about our organization?
You should be able to discuss products or services, revenues, reputation, image, goals, problems, management style, people, history and philosophy. But don't act as if you know everything about the place. Let your answer show that you have taken the time to do some research, but don't overwhelm the interviewer, and make it clear that you wish to learn more.

You might start your answer in this manner: "In my job search, I've investigated a number of companies.

Yours is one of the few that interests me, for these reasons..."

Give your answer a positive tone. Don't say, "Well, everyone tells me that you're in all sorts of trouble, and that's why I'm here", even if that is why you're there.

3. Why do you want to work for us?
The deadliest answer you can give is "Because I like people." What else would you like-animals?

Here, and throughout the interview, a good answer comes from having done your homework so that you can speak in terms of the company's needs. You might say that your research has shown that the company is doing things you would like to be involved with, and that it's doing them in ways that greatly interest you. For example, if the organization is known for strong management, your answer should mention that fact and show that you would like to be a part of that team. If the company places a great deal of emphasis on research and development, emphasize the fact that you want to create new things and that you know this is a place in which such activity is encouraged. If the organization stresses financial controls, your answer should mention a reverence for numbers.

If you feel that you have to concoct an answer to this question - if, for example, the company stresses research, and you feel that you should mention it even though it really doesn't interest you- then you probably should not be taking that interview, because you probably shouldn't be considering a job with that organization.

Your homework should include learning enough about the company to avoid approaching places where you wouldn't be able -or wouldn't want- to function. Since most of us are poor liars, it's difficult to con anyone in an interview. But even if you should succeed at it, your prize is a job you don't really want.

4. What can you do for us that someone else can't?
Here you have every right, and perhaps an obligation, to toot your own horn and be a bit egotistical. Talk about your record of getting things done, and mention specifics from your resume or list of career accomplishments. Say that your skills and interests, combined with this history of getting results, make you valuable. Mention your ability to set priorities, identify problems, and use your experience and energy to solve them.

5. What do you find most attractive about this position? What seems least attractive about it?
List three or four attractive factors of the job, and mention a single, minor, unattractive item.

6. Why should we hire you?
Create your answer by thinking in terms of your ability, your experience, and your energy. (See question 4.)

7. What do you look for in a job?
Keep your answer oriented to opportunities at this organization. Talk about your desire to perform and be recognized for your contributions. Make your answer oriented toward opportunity rather than personal security.

8. Please give me your defintion of [the position for which you are being interviewed].
Keep your answer brief and task oriented. Think in in terms of responsibilities and accountability. Make sure that you really do understand what the position involves before you attempt an answer. If you are not certain. ask the interviewer; he or she may answer the question for you.

9. How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm?
Be realistic. Say that, while you would expect to meet pressing demands and pull your own weight from the first day, it might take six months to a year before you could expect to know the organization and its needs well enough to make a major contribution.

10. How long would you stay with us?
Say that you are interested in a career with the organization, but admit that you would have to continue to feel challenged to remain with any organization. Think in terms of, "As long as we both feel achievement-oriented."

11. Your resume suggests that you may be over-qualified or too experienced for this position. What's Your opinion?
Emphasize your interest in establishing a long-term association with the organization, and say that you assume that if you perform well in his job, new opportunities will open up for you. Mention that a strong company needs a strong staff. Observe that experienced executives are always at a premium. Suggest that since you are so wellqualified, the employer will get a fast return on his investment. Say that a growing, energetic company can never have too much talent.

12. What is your management style?
You should know enough about the company's style to know that your management style will complement it. Possible styles include: task oriented (I'll enjoy problem-solving identifying what's wrong, choosing a solution and implementing it"), results-oriented ("Every management decision I make is determined by how it will affect the bottom line"), or even paternalistic ("I'm committed to taking care of my subordinates and pointing them in the right direction").

A participative style is currently quite popular: an open-door method of managing in which you get things done by motivating people and delegating responsibility.

As you consider this question, think about whether your style will let you work hatppily and effectively within the organization.

13. Are you a good manager? Can you give me some examples? Do you feel that you have top managerial potential?
Keep your answer achievementand ask-oriented. Rely on examples from your career to buttress your argument. Stress your experience and your energy.

14. What do you look for when You hire people?
Think in terms of skills. initiative, and the adaptability to be able to work comfortably and effectively with others. Mention that you like to hire people who appear capable of moving up in the organization.

15. Have you ever had to fire people? What were the reasons, and how did you handle the situation?
Admit that the situation was not easy, but say that it worked out well, both for the company and, you think, for the individual. Show that, like anyone else, you don't enjoy unpleasant tasks but that you can resolve them efficiently and -in the case of firing someone- humanely.

16. What do you think is the most difficult thing about being a manager or executive?
Mention planning, execution, and cost-control. The most difficult task is to motivate and manage employess to get something planned and completed on time and within the budget.

17. What important trends do you see in our industry?
Be prepared with two or three trends that illustrate how well you understand your industry. You might consider technological challenges or opportunities, economic conditions, or even regulatory demands as you collect your thoughts about the direction in which your business is heading.

18. Why are you leaving (did you leave) your present (last) job?
Be brief, to the point, and as honest as you can without hurting yourself. Refer back to the planning phase of your job search. where you considered this topic as you set your reference statements. If you were laid off in an across-the-board cutback, say so; otherwise, indicate that the move was your decision, the result of your action. Do not mention personality conflicts.

The interviewer may spend some time probing you on this issue, particularly if it is clear that you were terminated. The "We agreed to disagree" approach may be useful. Remember hat your references are likely to be checked, so don't concoct a story for an interview.

19. How do you feel about leaving all your benefits to find a new job?
Mention that you are concerned, naturally, but not panicked. You are willing to accept some risk to find the right job for yourself. Don't suggest that security might interest you more than getting the job done successfully.

20. In your current (last) position, what features do (did) you like the most? The least?
Be careful and be positive. Describe more features that you liked than disliked. Don't cite personality problems. If you make your last job sound terrible, an interviewer may wonder why you remained there until now.

21. What do you think of your boss?
Be as positive as you can. A potential boss is likely to wonder if you might talk about him in similar terms at some point in the future.

22. Why aren't you earning more at your age?
Say that this is one reason that you are conducting this job search. Don't be defensive.

23. What do you feel this position should pay?
Salary is a delicate topic. We suggest that you defer tying yourself to a precise figure for as long as you can do so politely. You might say, "I understand that the range for this job is between N______ and N______. That seems appropriate for the job as I understand it." You might answer the question with a question: "Perhaps you can help me on this one. Can you tell me if there is a range for similar jobs in the organization?"

If you are asked the question during an initial screening interview, you might say that you feel you need to know more about the position's responsibilities before you could give a meaningful answer to that question. Here, too, either by asking the interviewer or search executive (if one is involved), or in research done as part of your homework, you can try to find out whether there is a salary grade attached to the job. If there is, and if you can live with it, say that the range seems right to you.

If the interviewer continues to probe, you might say, "You know that I'm making N______ now. Like everyone else, I'd like to improve on that figure, but my major interest is with the job itself." Remember that the act of taking a new job does not, in and of itself, make you worth more money.

If a search firm is involved, your contact there may be able to help with the salary question. He or she may even be able to run interference for you. If, for instance, he tells you what the position pays, and you tell him that you are earning that amount now and would Like to do a bit better, he might go back to the employer and propose that you be offered an additional 10%.

If no price range is attached to the job, and the interviewer continues to press the subject, then you will have to restpond with a number. You cannot leave the impression that it does not really matter, that you'll accept whatever is offered. If you've been making $80,000 a year, you can't say that a $35,000 figure would be fine without sounding as if you've given up on yourself. (If you are making a radical career change, however, this kind of disparity may be more reasonable and understandable.)

Don't sell yourself short, but continue to stress the fact that the job itself is the most important thing in your mind. The interviewer may be trying to determine just how much you want the job. Don't leave the impression that money is the only thing that is important to you. Link questions of salary to the work itself.

But whenever possible, say as little as you can about salary until you reach the "final" stage of the interview process. At that point, you know that the company is genuinely interested in you and that it is likely to be flexible in salary negotiations.

24. What are your long-range goals?
Refer back to the planning phase of your job search. Don't answer, "I want the job you've advertised." Relate your goals to the company you are interviewing: 'in a firm like yours, I would like to..."

25. How successful do you you've been so far?
Say that, all-in-all, you're happy with the way your career has progressed so far. Given the normal ups and downs of life, you feel that you've done quite well and have no complaints.

Present a positive and confident picture of yourself, but don't overstate your case. An answer like, "Everything's wonderful! I can't think of a time when things were going better! I'm overjoyed!" is likely to make an interviewer wonder whether you're trying to fool him . . . or yourself. The most convincing confidence is usually quiet confidence.

I wish u all the best during your interview

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