INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Many herbs have not been tested for safety during pregnancy, so if you are pregnant or dealing with gestational diabetes, make certain you speak to your physician before adding any herbs or supplements. Also, even though these herbs and supplements are natural, they CAN interact with various medications. You can also ask your pharmacist about drug-herb/supplement interactions. Make sure you buy national brands of herbs and supplements and that the companies follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). For herbs, make certain that the suppliers use pesticide and herbicide free organically and sustainably grown herbs. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is often recommended for diabetes control. However, bitter melon has been associated with miscarriages and induced abortions in animals, so it should be avoided if you are pregnant or want to get pregnant. Bitter melon has been shown to improve blood glucose levels, increase the secretion of insulin and decrease insulin resistance. Gurmar, also known as Gymnema sylvestre has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine and has been shown to improve the control of blood sugar. Gymnema is generally taken in doses of 200 mg twice a day. Gymnema appears to be safe in pregnancy, but speak to your physician before using. Prickly-pear cactus or nopal has been shown to improve blood sugar control. Prickly-pear cactus has not been tested in pregnancy, but has been used for centuries as food, suggesting but not proving that it is safe. Cinnamon has been used to help control blood sugar levels and is considered safe for pregnant women in the amounts used in foods. This corresponds to approximately 1 gm (1000 mg) every day. 500 mg of cinnamon taken twice a day has been shown to improve A1c levels (and the levels of blood fats). A1c is used to determine average glucose levels for the previous 3 months. Lowered A1c levels reflect improved diabetic control.

SUMMARY: Ask your doctor before adding herbs. Buy quality herbs and supplements. Try bitter melon to possibly help with insulin. Consider Gurmar to possibly help regulate your blood sugar. Look into prickly-pear cactus. Add cinnamon to help with your blood sugar.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Bleached hair is fragile, especially when it's wet! Instead of ripping through snarls with a regular hairbrush, use a wide-tooth comb. Begin at the ends of your hair and work your way carefully to the roots. Cotton pillowcases actually draw moisture out of your hair. Smooth fabrics, like silk or satin, do not. These pillowcases also reduce tangles and frizz, leading to smoother hair and less styling time in the morning. If you have plans to spend a day at the beach or pool, you should rinse your hair before getting in the water. Salt water can dry out hair, while chlorine can turn it green. Wetting it with fresh water first keeps your hair from soaking up the salt water or pool water and will keep it healthier.

SUMMARY: Comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb to reduce breakage. Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase. Wet your hair with fresh water before swimming.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Know what a fair price is for what you're buying. You can use comparison sites or simply look up prices on some of the major retail sites. For cars, you can find the approximate value on Kelley Blue Book. Check out the price of what you're buying at competing stores and dealerships. Think about profit margin. You're seller may be willing to mark the item down more if they have a high profit margin. For instance, you may be able to find out how much a dealership actually pays for a car, which gives you room for negotiation. You may not feel like you can negotiate in a certain situation, but it never hurts to try. You may be able to get away with it in smaller, locally owned stores especially. For instance, at a local store you could say, "I really like this item, but I was wondering if you ever give discounts for items like this one?" Know what you're willing to pay, and don't go above it. If the seller wants you to pay more, you can always walk away. Make sure the person you are negotiating with has the authority to cut you a deal. If he or she doesn't, you may need to go higher. You don't have to guard all your secrets. Opening up a bit will create trust and a rapport with the person. Essentially, you're creating a relationship, and that will benefit you, as it will make the person more likely to give into you. As an example, you could talk about why you're shopping for a new car. Maybe you just lost your old one, or you need to buy one for your mother. Negotiating means making counter offers, and both of you will be happier if you feel like you settled on a fair price. Don't be afraid to offer another price. For instance, you could say, "That's a good offer but not quite what I'm looking to pay. Would you take (insert offer)?" That is, stop talking for a few minutes to consider the offer because silence makes people uncomfortable. The seller will try to fill the space and may talk him- or herself into accepting a lower price. You may not get the exact price you want, but the seller may be willing to throw something else in, such as a free gift. If you're trying to buy a car, maybe you can negotiate free oil changes at the dealership. Don't give up just because you're tired, and don't signal to the other side that you're ready to stop unless you have the deal you want. The seller will zero in on that weakness and try to get you to accept the deal as is.

SUMMARY: Do your research. Don't be afraid to ask for a lower price. Determine a target price. Talk to the right person. Be open. Don't accept the first offer. Take a moment of silence. Accept other compensation. Be persistent.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you have a few items that always need to be ironed, try buying a garment steamer. Steaming takes about a quarter of the time ironing does and is a great option for large or special items that need to be pressed. Garment steamers have different water capacities depending on their size, so check your steamer's instructions before filling it. Don't fill it up beyond the maximum fill level--this can cause a leak that can damage your steamer. Get a hanger and put the item that needs to be ironed on it so that it's hanging upright. Most hangers will be fine, but avoid using hangers made of wood or that have cloth coverings--steam and water can damage them or leave marks on your clothes. If you're trying to steam curtains, leave them on the rod. You can use a garment rack, door sill, curtain rod, or anything that gets your item hanging vertically. Don't try to steam garments that are lying flat--you'll just get them wet! Check your label to be sure the item can be steam-cleaned before starting. Gently run the steamer head across the wrinkled areas until there are none left. Don't press it too hard against the garment--just hold it against the fabric and gently move it downward. You can hang up clothes on the shower bar to steam while you're taking a hot shower. This is less effective than using a steamer or dryer, but you'll be able to get some wrinkles out.

SUMMARY:
Buy a garment steamer. Fill the steamer and turn it on. Put the item on a hanger. Hold the steamer head up to the wrinkles. Hang your clothes in the shower.