Monthly Archiv: June, 2019

Garcinia Cambogia: 6 Health Benefits You Should Know

Garcinia Cambogia, brindle berry, Malabar tamarind or Garcinia gummi-gutta, this fruit has n number of names and health benefits. There are over 300 species in this genus but this one gets max attention due to its properties. Garcinia Cambogia is a little pumpkin-shaped fruit which is light greenish-yellow in color and has a sweet-sour taste. For centuries it has been used in the South-east Asian countries for making meals more filling. Multiple studies have shown that this fruit has the ability to burn oodles of fat in just a month. But besides weight loss, this fruit has many other health benefits to offer. This is one of the reasons why Garcinia Cambogia is termed as the ultimate fruit.

Also read: These Are The Healthiest Citrus Fruits: Know The Health Benefits

So let’s cut to the chase and take a look at 6 miraculous health benefits of Garcinia Cambogia.

1. Weight loss

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Kareena Kapoor’s Nutritionist Tells Us All About This Fruit That Can Prevent High Blood Pressure, Bloating And Much More

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One of the most talked about health benefits of Garcinia Cambogia is weight loss. When it comes to weight gain, certain enzymes do the damage. They slow down body metabolism and store the calories consumed in the form of fat. These enzymes need to be blocked in order to prevent the calories from being stored. This is done by hydroxy citric acid (HCA) in Garcinia Cambogia. This acid converts the calories into glycogen which is necessary for building muscles. Both the fruit and the supplement can promote weight loss.

2. Eliminating fatigue

Certain enzymes slow down your body metabolism and make you feel lazy. Other health conditions can also be blamed for chronic fatigue. This can be eliminated by regular consumption of Garcinia Cambogia. HCA in this fruit boosts your stamina and this acts as a motivation for you to move to a healthier lifestyle.

3. Keeps you safe from HIV

HIV happens to be one of the deadliest diseases in today’s world. This virus directly attacks your immune system and weakens it over time. It may sound strange that the properties of a fruit can fight back a virus as deadly as HIV, but it is true. Some researchers show that the Garcinol compound in this fruit has the ability to replicate HIV virus and to destroy them.

Also read: Tiger Nuts: Weight Loss, Anti-Ageing And Many More Health Benefits

4. Suppresses appetite

Garcinia cambogia promotes weight loss by boosting body metabolism and by suppressing appetite as well. Basically, the extracts of this fruit train your body in a way by which it eats limited food at specific times. For example, for those who are trying to lose weight, giving up on snacks is not such an easy task. To kill the temptation, the extracts of this fruit can be used.

5. Reduces stress and depression

Cortisol is one of the most common stress hormones. HCA in Garcinia Cambogia is helpful in regulating the levels of this hormone. It reduces the levels of this hormone in the body, thereby treating anxiety. Regular consumption of this herbal supplement can improve the functioning of your organs and reduce oxidative stress in the body. Besides this, the organic compounds of this fruit can be helpful in releasing the pleasure hormones in the body. This stabilizes the mood and can contribute in treating long-term depression.

Also read: 10 Awesome Health Benefits Of Mangoes

6. Lowers cholesterol

Bad cholesterol or LDL levels in the body need to be regulated in order to keep heart diseases at bay. Garcinia Cambogia optimizes cholesterol balance in the body. The compounds of this fruit are known to lower bad cholesterol levels and increase good cholesterol levels thereby keeping serious heart diseases at bay.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information. 


Article source: https://doctor.ndtv.com/living-healthy/garcinia-cambogia-6-health-benefits-you-should-know-1839381

The FTC Is Cracking Down on Fake Amazon Reviews — Here’s What That Could Mean for Shoe Brands

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is finally tackling the scourge of fake reviews on online marketplaces like Amazon, bringing its first successful case against a company that it said paid to artificially boost its product’s ratings.

The agency filed a complaint on Feb. 19 alleging that the company, Cure Encapsulations, Inc., and its owner, Naftula Jacobowitz, paid a website called Amazonverifiedreviews.com to post glowing critiques of a weight loss supplement called garcinia cambogia. In addition to maintaining a rating of at least 4.3 out of 5 stars, the reviews asserted that the product was a “powerful appetite suppressant” that “literally blocks fat from forming” — claims that the FTC found to be false and unsubstantiated.

As part of the terms of the settlement, announced Tuesday, the company must notify Amazon that it paid for fake reviews, violating the e-commerce giant’s terms of service, and must contact anyone who purchased the supplements to disclose the FTC’s findings.

Cure Encapsulations and its owner are also now barred from making “weight loss, appetite suppression, fat-blocking or disease treatment claims for any dietary supplement, food or drug unless they have competent and reliable scientific evidence in the form of human clinical testing supporting the claims.” If the company does continue marketing products, it is prohibited from misrepresenting endorsements. Finally, the agency levied a $12.8 million judgment against the company, of which it will have to pay $50,000, with the remainder due if it is found to have misrepresented its financial situation.

“People rely on reviews when they’re shopping online,” said Andrew Smith, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “When a company buys fake reviews to inflate its Amazon ratings, it hurts both shoppers and companies that play by the rules.”

Amazon’s fake-review problem has been widely known for years: The company banned incentivized reviews in October 2016 and has since shut down accounts suspected of abusing the system and even sued websites and individuals for selling fraudulent reviews online. Still, the issue has persisted, according to review audit sites like ReviewMeta and FakeSpot.

“We welcome the FTC’s work in this area,” an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement. “Amazon invests significant resources to protect the integrity of reviews in our store because we know customers value the insights and experiences shared by fellow shoppers. Even one inauthentic review is one too many. We have clear participation guidelines for both reviewers and selling partners and we suspend, ban and take legal action on those who violate our policies.”

Fake reviews are particularly rampant in high-margin categories like Bluetooth speakers and headphones, per the sites, but certain styles of shoes and accessories are targets, too. These categories will likely become even more competitive as an increasing number of shoppers turn to Amazon for fashion purchases.

Last year, a survey of several of the top Facebook groups showed that footwear had become a popular category for sellers looking to trade free or heavily discounted product for glowing reviews. For example, posts for knitted sneakers, LED kids’ shoes and platform stilettos have racked up dozens of comments from interested users, while many such items ultimately earned failing grades on more legitimate review websites.

Until now, federal regulators haven’t intervened to prevent the proliferation of fraudulent reviews, which can be used to promote dangerous products (the offending weight loss supplement has been associated with acute liver failure), counterfeits or poor-quality merchandise, but the FTC’s latest case should put unscrupulous sellers on watch.

Over the years, Amazon has had a strenuous relationship with some shoe brands, most notably Birkenstock, over alleged knockoffs on its platform. It made headlines in 2017 when Nike announced a trial partnership with the e-tail behemoth — a deal market watchers deemed an “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” move on Nike’s part, after it too struggled to rein in unauthorized sales of its wares.

Just this month, Amazon admitted to its challenges with controlling the proliferation of counterfeit goods on its site. While the firm isn’t legally responsible for third-party counterfeits, it has said that it has zero-tolerance policy on fake items.

Only time will tell whether the FTC’s involvement marks a significant step toward Amazon building and maintaining a higher level of trust for both shoppers and sellers on the site.

Want more?

Here’s How Amazon Is Doing When It Comes to Policing Counterfeits on Its Site

Article source: https://footwearnews.com/2019/business/retail/amazon-fake-reviews-ftc-case-1202753258/

Boom! Examining Explosions in Web Design

There are many ways to grab the audience’s attention. We are spoiled with choice, even though the current state of technologies is still imperfect. We are experiencing some browser compatibility issues, and not every device can deal with all those grandiose solutions that web developers bring to us.

Nevertheless, the days of static websites where images were the main driving force and sliders with fancy transitions were the only spice have gone. We are witnessing an era of bold ideas and extravaganzas.

Among the greatest aspects is that developers don’t limit their focus to big things. Yes, we can see numerous canvas animations, overwhelming VR and video experiments that require a full-screen mode, etc. However, today even the tiniest details get their own dose of attention.

Websites are teeming with microscopic solutions, especially those that are based on the mouse cursor. We can stumble upon numerous smart ideas. They are fantastic, but in the majority of cases they are (what’s the word I’m looking for?), “quiet”. I’m not talking about them making sounds since some of the mouse-based solutions actually do make a sound. I’m talking about their behavior.

Their behavior is smooth, calm and gentle. In some cases, it is so seamless that it is barely perceptible. And if you are too engaged with the content or there are some other distracting elements, the chances are you can even overlook them. So, why not to make them a bit “louder”, so that users won’t miss an opportunity to enjoy them?

How to do this, you may ask. I have one good solution: make things explode – literally and figuratively.

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Particles in space by Dean Wagman

Take, for example, this fantastic code snippet created by Dean Wagman. Although this is the first canvas experiment conducted by Dean, nevertheless it is highly inspiring. All you need to do is to click anywhere on the screen, and you will see a blast of hundreds of small bright particles that are flying right at your face. Even though it does not make a sound, it certainly feels tumultuous.

See the Pen
Particles in space
by Dean Wagman (@deanwagman)
on CodePen.

Explosion effects always awaken a feeling that something loud has happened. So, why not to use this to our advantage and add some noise without making an actual sound? The more so, we have a selection of fantastic code snippets here. Let’s explore them together.

Particle explosion by Aleksei / Kaboomerz by Christopher Lis

If the solution by Dean Wagman looks a bit too much, you can always try Particle explosion by Aleksei. Or if, on the contrary, you need to make a more significant impact you can always adopt Kaboomerz by Christopher Lis.

The first code snippet features a “little brother” version of Dean’s explosion, where dozens of tiny particles form a small blast that quickly appears and dies. In the case of Christopher Lis, you will be surprised by the size of the particles. The confetti that emerges from the mouse cursor is tremendously huge. However, thanks to their short lifespan, the overall effect is not overwhelming. It is just pleasing.

See the Pen
Particle explosion JS/CSS3
by Aleksei (@alek)
on CodePen.

See the Pen
#Codevember 5 – Kaboomerz
by Christopher Lis (@chriscourses)
on CodePen.

DOM explosions by David A.

If you like this idea but need something more digital-like and retro-inspired, then there is an amazing solution created by David. He uses rectangles of various sizes instead of circles to achieve a lovely 8-bit touch. As a result, we can witness a small blast with ‘80s charisma.

See the Pen
DOM explosions
by David A. (@meodai)
on CodePen.

WebGL Sparkles by CreateJS

If you seek a realistic version, WebGL Sparkles by CreateJS is a perfect example to consider. Even though all of the particles here are white, thanks to the well-thought-out behavior it looks like real celebratory gunfire when you click on the screen. What’s more, the cursor has a lovely trail that gives the scene a touch of magic.

See the Pen
CreateJS: WebGL Sparkles
by CreateJS (@createjs)
on CodePen.

Automatic Firework Launcher by Christopher Lis

Speaking of which, our collection of explosions won’t be complete without a dose of pyrotechnics madness. Automatic Firework Launcher by Christopher Lis is a fantastic example to consider. It is a cartoonish firework launcher. Thanks to colorful particles and carnation-like shapes, it reminds us of real fireworks that light up the starry sky.

See the Pen
Day 29 – Automatic Firework Launcher
by Christopher Lis (@chriscourses)
on CodePen.

Modal window destroy concept by LegoMushroom

Canvas experiments are not the only ones in our list. Explosion effects can be applied to various elements of the interface, like a modal window. LegoMushroom has vivid proof of that. Take a look at their modal window concept. When you close the window, instead of just disappearing, it breaks into several pieces. It is a perfect addition to all those fancy fully-illustrated websites that are quite popular these days.

See the Pen
Modal window destroy concept
by LegoMushroom (@sol0mka)
on CodePen.

SCSS Explosion Effect by Sylvain Garnot / SVG text explosion by Kacper Bawol / Canvas text explosion by Tim Horwood

Explosion effects can be beneficial for typography as well. Consider the SCSS Explosion Effect by Sylvain Garnot, SVG text explosion by Kacper Bawol and Canvas text explosion by Tim Horwood.

All three demonstrate an explosion effect applied to the text. Predictably, the mouse cursor triggers each one.

Sylvain Garnot lets users blow each letter up into a hundred tiny squares. The concept by Kacper Bawol looks almost the same, yet this time the symbol breaks into small triangles. And, Tim Horwood allows users to blow the entire text up into tiny particles that eventually come back and return everything to its original state. All three ideas are just incredible.

See the Pen
SCSS – Explosion Effect
by sylvain garnot (@sylvaingarnot)
on CodePen.

See the Pen
Svg text explosion
by Kacper Bawol (@Casperovic)
on CodePen.

See the Pen
Canvas text explosion, click to view
by Tim Horwood (@tdhorwood)
on CodePen.

House Explosion by Ko.Yelie

The explosion effect can be also applied to images. This concept by Ko.Yelie is a great example. By clicking on the picture, you blow it up to tiny pieces. Although it is difficult to find an application for this in real life interfaces, it is always great to have some extraordinary solutions at your fingertips that can make common things look one-of-a-kind.

See the Pen
House Explosion
by Ko.Yelie (@ko-yelie)
on CodePen.


An Explosive Feature

An explosion effect is a controversial tool. It is not suited for each and every interface out there because of its “explosive” nature and powerful charisma. Even though it seems harmless and even neutral when applied in tandem with the mouse cursor, it is pretty “loud” – so you need to be cautious.

Remember, not all people seek entertainment from websites. And not everyone is up to extravaganzas and overwhelming impressions. At the end of the day, content always remains the king.

However, if you are looking for some unusual ways to make for an exciting user interaction that is playful and so-to-say “loud”, then an explosion effect can undoubtedly come in handy.

The post Boom! Examining Explosions in Web Design appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

The FTC Is Cracking Down on Fake Amazon Reviews — Here’s What That Could Mean for Shoe Brands

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is finally tackling the scourge of fake reviews on online marketplaces like Amazon, bringing its first successful case against a company that it said paid to artificially boost its product’s ratings.

The agency filed a complaint on Feb. 19 alleging that the company, Cure Encapsulations, Inc., and its owner, Naftula Jacobowitz, paid a website called Amazonverifiedreviews.com to post glowing critiques of a weight loss supplement called garcinia cambogia. In addition to maintaining a rating of at least 4.3 out of 5 stars, the reviews asserted that the product was a “powerful appetite suppressant” that “literally blocks fat from forming” — claims that the FTC found to be false and unsubstantiated.

As part of the terms of the settlement, announced Tuesday, the company must notify Amazon that it paid for fake reviews, violating the e-commerce giant’s terms of service, and must contact anyone who purchased the supplements to disclose the FTC’s findings.

Cure Encapsulations and its owner are also now barred from making “weight loss, appetite suppression, fat-blocking or disease treatment claims for any dietary supplement, food or drug unless they have competent and reliable scientific evidence in the form of human clinical testing supporting the claims.” If the company does continue marketing products, it is prohibited from misrepresenting endorsements. Finally, the agency levied a $12.8 million judgment against the company, of which it will have to pay $50,000, with the remainder due if it is found to have misrepresented its financial situation.

“People rely on reviews when they’re shopping online,” said Andrew Smith, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “When a company buys fake reviews to inflate its Amazon ratings, it hurts both shoppers and companies that play by the rules.”

Amazon’s fake-review problem has been widely known for years: The company banned incentivized reviews in October 2016 and has since shut down accounts suspected of abusing the system and even sued websites and individuals for selling fraudulent reviews online. Still, the issue has persisted, according to review audit sites like ReviewMeta and FakeSpot.

“We welcome the FTC’s work in this area,” an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement. “Amazon invests significant resources to protect the integrity of reviews in our store because we know customers value the insights and experiences shared by fellow shoppers. Even one inauthentic review is one too many. We have clear participation guidelines for both reviewers and selling partners and we suspend, ban and take legal action on those who violate our policies.”

Fake reviews are particularly rampant in high-margin categories like Bluetooth speakers and headphones, per the sites, but certain styles of shoes and accessories are targets, too. These categories will likely become even more competitive as an increasing number of shoppers turn to Amazon for fashion purchases.

Last year, a survey of several of the top Facebook groups showed that footwear had become a popular category for sellers looking to trade free or heavily discounted product for glowing reviews. For example, posts for knitted sneakers, LED kids’ shoes and platform stilettos have racked up dozens of comments from interested users, while many such items ultimately earned failing grades on more legitimate review websites.

Until now, federal regulators haven’t intervened to prevent the proliferation of fraudulent reviews, which can be used to promote dangerous products (the offending weight loss supplement has been associated with acute liver failure), counterfeits or poor-quality merchandise, but the FTC’s latest case should put unscrupulous sellers on watch.

Over the years, Amazon has had a strenuous relationship with some shoe brands, most notably Birkenstock, over alleged knockoffs on its platform. It made headlines in 2017 when Nike announced a trial partnership with the e-tail behemoth — a deal market watchers deemed an “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” move on Nike’s part, after it too struggled to rein in unauthorized sales of its wares.

Just this month, Amazon admitted to its challenges with controlling the proliferation of counterfeit goods on its site. While the firm isn’t legally responsible for third-party counterfeits, it has said that it has zero-tolerance policy on fake items.

Only time will tell whether the FTC’s involvement marks a significant step toward Amazon building and maintaining a higher level of trust for both shoppers and sellers on the site.

Want more?

Here’s How Amazon Is Doing When It Comes to Policing Counterfeits on Its Site

Weight Loss: Here’s How To Use Kokum To Lose Weight And Burn Body Fat

If you are trying to lose weight, try the tarty and citrusy kokum fruit that is said to liven up any curry or dal. A favourite among the Konkans, it is majorly found in the Malabar regions of India. Regionally known as Sol Kadi, kokum is a delicious fruit that works as a natural weight loss aid and is fast becoming one of the favourites among health enthusiasts. Kokum also comes with a range of health benefits. The presence of vitamin C in it may help boost immunity; the garcinol it contains has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergenic properties. But what has brought kokum into the spotlight is the presence of hydroxyl citric acid (HCA) in it, which is said to shrink appetite and reduce fat in the body, further helping you lose weight, the healthy way. Let’s look at how kokum helps in losing weight and how to use it in your daily diet.

(Also Read: Tarty Kokum: The Wonder Ingredient That Shrinks Your Appetite)

Kokum for weight loss | Kokum to lose weight and burn body fat

 

Kokum or the herb of garcinia cambogia is said to lead to significant loss in weight and in the fat accumulated in the body. Here are some reasons that make it great for weight loss.

  1. Kokum is said to be great for your digestion, and is known to fight conditions like flatulence, acidity and constipation. A good digestive system is the key to lose weight efficiently.
  2. It contains hydroxyl acid (HCA), which is known to be an appetite suppressant, further preventing you from cravings and untimely hunger pangs.
  3. According to a study published in the Journal Nutrition, HCA is also attributed to not just weight loss, but also fat loss, thereby helping you stay healthy.
  4. Inflammation in the body can cause conditions like obesity. The presence of an active compound called garcinol has anti-inflammatory properties that prevent inflammation in the body.
  5. Kokum is known to reduce the conversion of food into fat. Therefore, the synthesis of fatty acids is inhibited to a great extent, thus preventing the build-up of fats in the body.
  6. Kokum has the tendency to convert most calories in our body into glycogen.
  7. The antioxidant vitamin C present in kokum prevents the growth of cell damaging free radicals in the body. Free radicals tend to cause oxidative stress, which further ups the chances of health conditions like diabetes and obesity.

 

How to use kokum to lose weight | How to use kokum for weight loss

 

Also a popular fruit among South Indians, kokum is generally available in powder form, and can be consumed by adding some water to it. If you have whole kokum, you can simply soak it in water overnight, extract the juice and store it for consumption for the next few days. You could also use kokum as a souring agent in most of your curries and dals and extract the benefits it has to offer.

(Also Read: How To Make Kokum Juice At Home)

Go on and enjoy the beautiful red and purple tarty fruit and lose weight, the healthy way. Make sure you consume a healthy and balanced diet and engage in exercises to stay fit.

 

Article source: https://www.ndtv.com/food/weight-loss-here-s-how-to-use-kokum-to-lose-weight-and-burn-body-fat-1954199

Stories by Liam Hammett on Medium: PHP Wishlist: Typing

PHP is a loosely typed language. It doesn’t care what types you throw around. Unless you want it to care.The language has come a long way in the last several years to bring in a robust type system, allowing developers to enforce types in both function parameters and what a function’s re...

PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor: PHP 7.1.30 Released

The PHP development team announces the immediate availability of PHP 7.1.30. This is a security release.All PHP 7.1 users are encouraged to upgrade to this version.For source downloads of PHP 7.1.30 please visit our downloads page, Windows source and binaries can be found on windows.php.net/download...

PHP IP Geolocation API Wrapper

Package:
PHP IP Geolocation API Wrapper
Summary:
Get IP address location or country information
Groups:
Geography, Networking, PHP 5, Web services
Author:
Dave Smith
Description:
This package can get IP address location or country...

Read more at https://www.phpclasses.org/package/11220-PHP-Get-IP-address-location-or-country-information.html#2019-06-02-00:05:02
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