INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Drinking plenty of water keeps your skin healthy and reduces your chances of developing stretch marks. Try to drink approximately two liters per day. A balanced, nutritious diet is good for your overall health, and can also reduce your chances of developing stretch marks. Supplements are not necessary to prevent stretch marks, but you should try to get enough of certain vitamins and minerals that can help protect against stretch marks. Vitamin E helps to regenerate the skin and increase its elasticity, and to repair body tissues and promote blood flow. Vitamin E also encourages the production of collagen, a protein found in the skin and elsewhere that helps wounds heal, including stretch marks. You can get more vitamin E by choosing certain foods, and perhaps from certain skin creams. Foods high in vitamin E include: eggs, fortified cereals, fruit, green leafy vegetables (such as spinach), meat, nuts, nut oils, poultry, olive oil, and whole grains. Wheat germ is high in vitamin E, so you can include more of it in your diet. Anecdotal evidence suggests that wheat germ oil as an ointment can help your skin. Creams containing vitamin E aren't likely to prevent stretch marks as such. However, they may help with itching and skin dryness. The recommended daily allowance of vitamin E is 15 mg per day for both men and women. Exfoliating creams containing vitamin E can scrub away old skin and promote the growth of new skin. Vitamin C is the most plentiful antioxidant in the skin, and helps neutralize free radicals (damaging molecules) and promote skin health.Like vitamin E, vitamin C also helps the body make collagen. Foods high in vitamin C include: cantaloupe, citrus fruits and juices (such as orange and grapefruit), mango, pineapple, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, spinach, and cabbage. You can also use topical creams containing vitamin C. As with vitamin E creams, these cannot prevent stretch marks, but there is a chance that they may discourage them. Recommended daily allowances for vitamin C are 90 and 75 mg per day for both men and women, respectively. Riboflavin promotes healthy skin and skin function. It also widens blood vessels and increases blood circulation. Niacin helps deter many kinds of skin disorders. Foods high in riboflavin include: milk and other dairy products, fish, meats, green leafy vegetables, enriched cereals and breads, and whole grains. Foods high in niacin include: meat, fish, milk, eggs, green vegetables, and whole grains. Zinc helps prevent stretch marks by softening and tightening the skin. Foods high in zinc include: beef, pork, shellfish, peanuts, and legumes (such as beans and lentils). Excessive zinc intake can cause a range of health problems. While the amount of zinc consumed in common foods is perfectly safe, supplements and other products can be overused. Talk with your doctor about the proper dosage of zinc for you, given your age, health, and other factors. Zinc also plays an important role in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. Zinc toxicity has been seen in the consumption of greater than 225 mg of zinc. Some studies suggest that silica can improve the appearance and strength of skin. It is also associated with collagen production, connective tissue in the skin, and the repair of the skin. Dietary sources of silica include: whole grains, cereals, beer, and green beans.

SUMMARY: Stay hydrated. Eat a healthy diet. Increase your intake of vitamin E. Consume plenty of vitamin C. Make sure you get enough vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin). Get the right amount of zinc. Ensure that you get enough dietary silica.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Figure out how much you can reasonably afford to spend on a gift for your boyfriend. Be strict about it and don't get anything that goes over it. Contrary to what you may think, the monetary value of a gift doesn't have a huge impact on how much the recipient enjoys it. In fact, recipients enjoy cheap gifts just as much as they do expensive ones, as long as they're both thoughtful. Consider how long you've been dating. If you've been dating for six months or less, don't get him something expensive, even if you can easily afford it. You don't know how long the relationship will last. If you end up together for a long time, you'll have plenty more birthdays you can spoil him on. You may be able to get more bang for your buck if you buy something refurbished or hunt for sales. This is an especially good idea if you're thinking about getting him electronics. Most of the time they come with a warranty, and your boyfriend probably won't care or notice that someone used it for a little bit before he did. If you don't know a whole lot about what your boyfriend spends his time doing, then it's time to do a little research. You can learn pretty much anything on the internet in an hour. Spend some time searching his hobbies and interests and reading anything that talks about them. Read any websites dedicated to bringing hobbyists and enthusiasts together and see what's new in the field. You may need to take his level of experience and expertise when you're thinking of gifts. If your boyfriend has been skateboarding since he could walk, it doesn't make sense to get a beginner's board that he'll probably hate riding. At the same time, an expensive fly-fishing rod doesn't make sense if he's only gone fishing two or three times in his life. Ask people with similar interests for help if you're stuck. There are online communities for pretty much any pastime imaginable. Look for forums and other groups dedicated to discussing something your boyfriend likes to do. Make an account and explain your predicament. Chances are, the members will offer helpful advice that will guide you towards getting your boyfriend something he'll love. You may find lists that say something like "10 Great Gifts for Guys Who Love Hiking." These can be helpful, but sometimes they are just a marketing tool to sell stuff. If you get an idea from a list like this, try to find some actual reviews to see if it's worth it or not. As long as your gift fits into one of these categories he'll appreciate it. It shouldn't just be another addition to his collection of stuff. It should be something he will actually use or something that he can look at and remember all the happy moments you've shared together. Don't limit yourself to products. Sometimes experiences can make a much better gift. Make a video of all his friends and family sharing their favorite memory of your boyfriend. Schedule an activity that you know he'll enjoy that you can do together. He may not be able to show it off like he'd be able to with other presents, but it will mean a lot more to him. Stay away from classically bad gifts. It can be tempting to get your boyfriend something like a tie or shaving kit for their birthday. It makes sense, these are pretty common and obvious answers to the question of what makes a good gift for a boyfriend. In reality, these gifts pretty much always fall flat. If it seems like a stereotypical gift from a girlfriend, consider other options unless you're positive he'll love it. Lots of people make the mistake of getting one big gift and a bunch of small ones for their loved ones. It's easy to see why. After all, isn't more always better? In fact, giving small presents alongside your large one will make the main gift seem less special. It is better to put a lot of effort into one gift rather than no effort into multiple gifts.

SUMMARY:
Set a budget. Do some research on his hobbies and interests. Think of some gifts that are either sentimental or practical. Narrow it down to one idea.