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 Versace does it again with another dazzling, show stopping creation. Their new metallic leather bag will definitely draw the right attention when worn at any social event. Both the metallic fuchsia and gold shoulder bags showcase signature palazzo pattern amongst silver nailhead details. The fuchsia bag has a fold-over flap with snap fastening, braided handle as well as a chain should strap, and two inner pockets. Whereas the gold metallic bag has a chain and leather shoulder strap, zipper closure on the top, and one inner pocket. Either bag would go great with a little black cocktail dress.

Enjoy the benefits of rooibos tea

by Michelle Koren, NaturalNews

Rooibos (ROY-boss) tea which means Red Bush is a South African plant that's actually part of the legume family. Commonly called red tea it's actually a green color until it's been fermented. This tea has been used for hundreds of years by African Bushmen but more recently has been making a name for itself here. According to the American Botanical Council in 2003 there is no other natural resource containing as many antioxidants as rooibos does including Nothofagin and Aspalathin. Nothofagin has been proven to protect against heart disease, cancer and stroke and Aspalathin is only found in this tea. Antioxidants are just one of many benefits this tea offers.

Rooibos is naturally caffeine free so you can drink it all day long. This also makes it a smart choice for pregnant and nursing women and children. In 1968 it was discovered that this tea had anti-spasmodic properties that soothed colic and stomach cramps in infants. Some mothers even use it as an alternative to water in baby formula. It's also low in tannins. The lower tannin level will enable the body to still absorb iron and is an added benefit to people with low iron or anemia problems. Other teas like black and green have much higher tannin contents which can cause iron deficiency, headaches in some people and possible interference with digestion.

In addition to the antioxidants which are considered anti-aging, rooibos contains many minerals such as copper, manganese, fluoride, zinc, magnesium and potassium. This makes it a great tea for strong teeth and bones. It also has alpha-hydroxy which is great for skin regeneration. In fact, studies are showing that you can use the tea topically to help with itchy dry skin like eczema or even acne.

Rooibos is also used to aid in digestive problems such as constipation, nausea and heartburn. It contains no oxalic acid which can cause kidney stones. Therefore people with kidney stone issues now have a tea to sip. A few other noted benefits are its natural sedative properties to help with tension and stress and its ability to boost the immune system and to hydrate the body.

All of these benefits are great but the taste is equally important to tea drinkers. Rooibos is said to have a naturally sweet and nutty flavor requiring no sugar. It comes in a variety of flavors too. People who like variety will enjoy this aspect of the tea as they will never be bored. There are fruity flavors with real bits of dried fruit, vanilla and chocolate flavors with real pieces of chocolate and even detox teas. The longer you steep the tea the more antioxidants and flavor your tea will have without getting bitter as other teas do.

Rooibos appears to be a healthier alternative to green and black tea or at least a welcome addition. It offers many health benefits which are just beginning to be recognized. It also offers many flavors for the tea connoisseur to enjoy.

Further research:

http://www.ehow.com/about_5379793_r...
http://www.montegotea.com/colic.htm

http://www.chelmsfordtea.com/rooibo...
http://www.articlesbase.com/alterna...
http://urbanclinic.net/2010/12/13/r...

Evidence grows of links between oral health and overall health

"The eyes may be the window to the soul, but the mouth provides an even better view of the body as a whole," The Wall Street Journal's Melinda Beck writes in her Health Journal column. "Some of the earliest signs of diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, immune disorders, hormone imbalances and drug issues show up in the gums, teeth and tongue—sometimes long before a patient knows anything is wrong. There's also growing evidence that oral health problems, particularly gum disease, can harm a patient's general health as well, raising the risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, pneumonia and pregnancy complications." (WSJ graphic; click on it for larger version)

Beck adds, "Such findings are fueling a push for dentists to play a greater role in patients' overall health. Some 20 million Americans — including 6 percent of children and 9 percent of adults — saw a dentist but not a doctor in 2008, according to a study in the American Journal of Public Health this month."

Beck urges her readers not to be fooled by shiny white teeth. "In fact, many dentists worry that people who whiten their teeth may have a false sense of complacency, since their teeth can still be harboring tooth decay and serious gum disease," she writs. "Even people who have no cavities can still have inflamed and infected gums." She quotes Mark Wolff, an associate dean at the New York University College of Dentistry: "Whiteness and the health of your teeth are totally unrelated." (Read more)

Pure hydrocodone pain pill in testing; critics worry about abuse

A new pain pill, one more powerful than OxyContin and 10 times stronger than Vicodin, is being tested on patients by four drug companies and could be out as early as 2013. The new medicine, which is a pure form of hydrocodone, has law enforcement in Eastern Kentucky worried, reports Ralph B. Davis of the Floyd County Times.

"In my personal opinion, a drug like that shouldn't be a prescription medication," Floyd County Coroner Greg Nelson told the Times. "It should strictly be an in-house medication."

Drug maker Zogenix of San Diego plans to apply early next year to begin marketing Zohydro, a time-released drug intended to manage moderate to severe pain, reports Chris Hawley of The Associated Press. The drug has completed three rounds of testing.

Critics worry abusers will simply crush the pill to get an intense, immediate high. "I have a big concern that this could be the next OxyContin," said April Rovero, president of the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse.

The companies defend the drug by saying pure hydrocodone "would avoid liver problems linked to high doses of acetaminophen, an ingredient in products like Vicodin," Hawley reports. "They also say patients will be more closely supervised because, by law, they will have to return to their doctors each time they need more pills."

But critics remain unconvinced and are worried about the larger ramifications of the pills being on the market. "Hydrocodone abuse is already a tremendous problem in Southern and Eastern Kentucky," Karen Kelly, executive director of the government-funded anti-drug program UNITE, told Davis. "When used properly, these medications help many who are experiencing moderate to severe pain. Unfortunately, we have seen how easily the system can be abused."

Davis expressed his own views in an editorial that ran earlier this week. "The pharmaceutical companies developing Zohydro and other copycat drugs clearly must know that their products will kill people," he wrote. "They see it happening every single day. And they have been warned that the problem is growing worse."

Davis referred to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which found that in 2008, an average of 40 people a day in the United States died as a result of prescription painkiller overdoses, a 400 percent increase over 10 years. "Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical companies raked in billions in profits, and financial speculators are taking note," Davis writes. "Since stories about concerns over Zohydro first began appearing over the weekend, Zogenix's stock has skyrocketing nearly 70 percent ... To put it bluntly, this is horrifying." (Read more)