Most people become lousy at breathing. Our bodies are naturally designed to breathe properly, but we tend to override this advantage with bad breathing habits. Your shoulders should not lift. Your chest should not stiffen. Your stomach should not push out as you exhale. If you breathe in more than sixteen times a minute your breathing is too rapid and too shallow.

The rib cage and diaphragm are main parts of body involved in inhaling and exhaling. You can feel your rib cage, but you are probably unaware of your diaphragm. The diaphragm is a thick layer of muscle between lungs and intestines. When you breathe in it contracts, pulling downward on chest cavity and pressing down on stomach and intestines. When you exhale it relaxes.

Do you use your diaphragm correctly when you breathe? Try this exercise to find out. Lie on your back with your right hand resting on your upper chest, and your left hand on your abdomen. Relax for a while until your breathing becomes normal then notice what your hands are doing. When you breathe in your left hand should rise and your right hand should remain fairly still.

Breathing is also important because it can produce a calming effect when we feel anxious. Deep breathing is accepted as a way to calm nerves in many situations. Even professionals use technique before stepping on stage or standing up for a speech. Try following next time you feel yourself becoming tense.

Breathe in for a count of one, and then breathe out for a count of one.

Breathe in for a count of two, and then out for a count of two.

Breathe in for a count of three, and then out for a count of three.

Doctors and researchers are no longer calling a diet of chocolate and greasy food culprit. It has been shown through research that types of food eaten seem to have little effect on acne. Another myth that has been busted over years is that blackheads and acne are caused by dirt. Not so.

One of major causes of acne is now thought to be rising hormone levels. Hormones found in both sexes increase during puberty and are thought to enlarge sebaceous glands and increase oil (sebum) development. Acne forms when pores get blocked and sebum cannot drain to surface of skin. When sebum gets blocked, bacteria growth starts. Acne bacteria is called propionibacterium acnes. Some researchers think that acne may be hereditary and can be inherited from parents.

There are some external causes for acne. Heavy or greasy make ups can cause acne flair ups as can high humidity. Some prescription medications may have a side effect that causes acne.