Your skin is your body’s largest organ and so it deserves your utmost attention when it comes to using the best care products and for skin cleansing generally.Many people ignore the fact that the it is your body’s largest organ and do so to their detriment. This is similar to their ignoring dental health when the mouth is so important to avoid the introduction of infection and the like through the mouth. There are a whole variety of skincare products in the massively booming skin care market – and we’re talking men as well as women here.The skin is a vital part of your body’s defense system just as the mouth is (and is therefore so important to maintain dental hygiene too). A healthy and clean skin means a healthy body and can avoid other, much more significant issues both immediately and in the long term.The skin is on 24 hour duty. It keeps infections at bay. It is the first line of defense for bodily attack. It can protect you effectively and when it is looked after properly it can also look good.So why would you not ensure you get the best skin care products to ensure you’re skin is properly placed to look after you and your health?Good skin cleansing and skin care goes beyond the simple task of making sure you don’t smell bad or look dirty when you go out.. Here are some of the things you need to do for proper cleansing to avoid not just acne and other issues, but for overall good skin health:o Take a look at what natural and simple (and inexpensive) skincare products are out there. These will often be on your kitchen shelves! You don’t need to go spending a whole lot of money, which is something you can very easily do in this area, believe me.o Get started! You need to get cracking with your skin cleansing efforts. Don’t put it off like you might with other things because procrastination can lead to contamination (in the case of your skin). Believe me, your skin and body will thank you for getting an early start in this process.o Start looking after your skin every day, just as you would clean your teeth every day. If you adopt a good skin cleansing routine you will make it far easier and more natural and you will also develop great skin.o Be careful of those chemical-laden, harsh skin cleansers that can add more to your body than they take away. And you simply don’t want to have a cleanser that’s putting chemicals into your body if you can avoid it (and some can’t, but not many in my view). You should not use deodorant soaps on your face! They are made of strong chemicals and also leave a detergent film behind and can irritate the skin and even block your pores.o The water used on your face should always be lukewarm and not hot. You want to avoid dehydrating your skin, making it more prone to damage. You may also scald or even burn your skin. If it’s too cold, the water will dry your skin out, although cold water does have its place in natural skin care.o Be gentle in cleaning. Some people think they ought to scrub their skin raw, but this is one of the things to avoid in skin care. You should instead be careful not to damage or tear your skin. Exfoliation is good because it will help remove dead skin cells, but be careful and so you will not hurt yourself.o Moisturize your skin. Moisturizers work by preventing the loss of water and keep yourself hydrated. They can help to coat the skin’s surface with a film of substance, thus sealing moisture into the skin.
Alternative Financing Vs. Venture Capital: Which Option Is Best for Boosting Working Capital?
There are several potential financing options available to cash-strapped businesses that need a healthy dose of working capital. A bank loan or line of credit is often the first option that owners think of – and for businesses that qualify, this may be the best option.
In today’s uncertain business, economic and regulatory environment, qualifying for a bank loan can be difficult – especially for start-up companies and those that have experienced any type of financial difficulty. Sometimes, owners of businesses that don’t qualify for a bank loan decide that seeking venture capital or bringing on equity investors are other viable options.
But are they really? While there are some potential benefits to bringing venture capital and so-called “angel” investors into your business, there are drawbacks as well. Unfortunately, owners sometimes don’t think about these drawbacks until the ink has dried on a contract with a venture capitalist or angel investor – and it’s too late to back out of the deal.
Different Types of Financing
One problem with bringing in equity investors to help provide a working capital boost is that working capital and equity are really two different types of financing.
Working capital – or the money that is used to pay business expenses incurred during the time lag until cash from sales (or accounts receivable) is collected – is short-term in nature, so it should be financed via a short-term financing tool. Equity, however, should generally be used to finance rapid growth, business expansion, acquisitions or the purchase of long-term assets, which are defined as assets that are repaid over more than one 12-month business cycle.
But the biggest drawback to bringing equity investors into your business is a potential loss of control. When you sell equity (or shares) in your business to venture capitalists or angels, you are giving up a percentage of ownership in your business, and you may be doing so at an inopportune time. With this dilution of ownership most often comes a loss of control over some or all of the most important business decisions that must be made.
Sometimes, owners are enticed to sell equity by the fact that there is little (if any) out-of-pocket expense. Unlike debt financing, you don’t usually pay interest with equity financing. The equity investor gains its return via the ownership stake gained in your business. But the long-term “cost” of selling equity is always much higher than the short-term cost of debt, in terms of both actual cash cost as well as soft costs like the loss of control and stewardship of your company and the potential future value of the ownership shares that are sold.
Alternative Financing Solutions
But what if your business needs working capital and you don’t qualify for a bank loan or line of credit? Alternative financing solutions are often appropriate for injecting working capital into businesses in this situation. Three of the most common types of alternative financing used by such businesses are:
1. Full-Service Factoring – Businesses sell outstanding accounts receivable on an ongoing basis to a commercial finance (or factoring) company at a discount. The factoring company then manages the receivable until it is paid. Factoring is a well-established and accepted method of temporary alternative finance that is especially well-suited for rapidly growing companies and those with customer concentrations.
2. Accounts Receivable (A/R) Financing – A/R financing is an ideal solution for companies that are not yet bankable but have a stable financial condition and a more diverse customer base. Here, the business provides details on all accounts receivable and pledges those assets as collateral. The proceeds of those receivables are sent to a lockbox while the finance company calculates a borrowing base to determine the amount the company can borrow. When the borrower needs money, it makes an advance request and the finance company advances money using a percentage of the accounts receivable.
3. Asset-Based Lending (ABL) – This is a credit facility secured by all of a company’s assets, which may include A/R, equipment and inventory. Unlike with factoring, the business continues to manage and collect its own receivables and submits collateral reports on an ongoing basis to the finance company, which will review and periodically audit the reports.
In addition to providing working capital and enabling owners to maintain business control, alternative financing may provide other benefits as well:
It’s easy to determine the exact cost of financing and obtain an increase.
Professional collateral management can be included depending on the facility type and the lender.
Real-time, online interactive reporting is often available.
It may provide the business with access to more capital.
It’s flexible – financing ebbs and flows with the business’ needs.
It’s important to note that there are some circumstances in which equity is a viable and attractive financing solution. This is especially true in cases of business expansion and acquisition and new product launches – these are capital needs that are not generally well suited to debt financing. However, equity is not usually the appropriate financing solution to solve a working capital problem or help plug a cash-flow gap.
A Precious Commodity
Remember that business equity is a precious commodity that should only be considered under the right circumstances and at the right time. When equity financing is sought, ideally this should be done at a time when the company has good growth prospects and a significant cash need for this growth. Ideally, majority ownership (and thus, absolute control) should remain with the company founder(s).
Alternative financing solutions like factoring, A/R financing and ABL can provide the working capital boost many cash-strapped businesses that don’t qualify for bank financing need – without diluting ownership and possibly giving up business control at an inopportune time for the owner. If and when these companies become bankable later, it’s often an easy transition to a traditional bank line of credit. Your banker may be able to refer you to a commercial finance company that can offer the right type of alternative financing solution for your particular situation.
Taking the time to understand all the different financing options available to your business, and the pros and cons of each, is the best way to make sure you choose the best option for your business. The use of alternative financing can help your company grow without diluting your ownership. After all, it’s your business – shouldn’t you keep as much of it as possible?
Blood Nutrition – Understanding Your Current Health and Nutritional Needs
No general screening test is more efficient, effective and affordable than a comprehensive blood chemistry panel. It allows the healthcare provider to establish a baseline of biomarkers to track the patient’s health and nutritional needs. Getting a blood test is essential to understanding your current health and your nutritional needs.What is Blood Nutrition? Blood NutritionTM, is an innovative, science-guided look at nutritional strengths and weaknesses through an individual’s blood test. This new scientific approach can offer a clear plan for your optimum health. As a result, a new generation of healthcare professionals is emerging with the tools and keys that can reveal the more subtle imbalances and assist in correcting them. Blood NutritionTM is a comprehensive approach to health. To address the true cause of symptoms, one should look for their origin from a science-generated perspective by considering:Physiological distress or disease conditionsNutritional distress or imbalancesMental/emotional distressAny of these factors may be the source or a contributing factor for the symptoms of imbalance. The cornerstone of an effective health strategy is a nutritional and lifestyle plan that is based on your biochemistry. Success here is dependent on the establishment of an accurate nutritional profile guided by scientific approaches such as a comprehensive blood test. Blood Nutrition and Science This advanced scientific approach identifies nutritionally significant information through the careful analysis of the various blood values. Certain indicators can reveal electrolyte, mineral and other nutritional imbalances. Once addressed, one can optimize the metabolic processes and help maintain the healthy performance of the body. A balanced nutritional state is essential for achieving and maintaining health. Nutritional analysis of your Blood Test may indicate the need for:Key nutrients such as vitamin A, B6, B12, DFluid and electrolyte balanceMinerals such as magnesium, calcium and ironTissue hydrationAntioxidantsEnzymesNutritional support of key organsNutritional support of metabolic pathwaysThe need for lifestyle changesNutritional Imbalances If you have nutritional imbalances, you may be experiencing the following:Mental/emotional symptoms including mood swings and anxietyStructural/musculoskeletal symptoms such as pain or stiffnessDigestive issues such as bloating, indigestion and elimination problemsOptical symptoms such as difficulty in night vision or blurry visionSymptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, insomnia, food cravingsCardiovascular health issuesDry skin, brittle nails, hair dryness or lossOthersAre you suffering from the effects of nutritional deficiencies or imbalances? Nutrients such as amino acids, enzymes, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and electrolytes are the building blocks of the body. They provide energy, support metabolism and are needed for many biochemical reactions to sustain health. Key nutrients may become deficient for various reasons. These may include:Disease processes, which may block metabolismPoor dietary habitsPhysical, mental and emotional stressOne of the most scientific ways to identify nutritional imbalances is to have your blood test evaluated by a nutritionally trained doctor or healthcare practitioner who is experienced in Blood NutritionTM assessment. A comprehensive blood test is affordable and results are normally received within a few days. When key nutrients become deficient, many metabolic processes are affected.The body may initially try to compensate for such imbalances. However, if they are prolonged, they may contribute to hormonal issues, metabolic disorders, increase in toxic load, oxidative stress, organ weaknesses and many other health issues. Many symptoms such as tiredness, fatigue and irritability may be effectively addressed with proper nutritional considerations.A blood test is one of the most efficient tests you can get to determine the quality of your overall health. Once you have received your test results, working with a specialist who is experienced in Blood NutritionTM will enable you to achieve the optimum health that is essential to a long life full of vitality.