Functioning as the bodys fighting chance against any type of infection and disease that enters the body, the "immune system is a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from infection (The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases). Most individuals claim to know all about their immune systems; however, several surveys conducted within the past decade prove that the majority do not. Even if you havent been diagnosed with an immune disorder or deficiency, it is important to take active steps protect the important body system. Rather than turning to medication or other synthetic treatments in order to cure ailments or aid in recovery, focus on adapting a lifestyle that will support and strengthen a healthy immune system.
Chronic stress is a common factor that leads to a variety of immune deficiencies. There is no doubt that everyone experiences a certain amount of stress here or there, but it is only considered a direct cause of a weakened immune system when that stress becomes chronic. Put in medical terms: when stressed, the brain tells the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol - a steroid hormone that reduces inflammation within the body. Chronic stress in the body results in an overactivation of this immunity response, harming both the metabolism and immune systems rather than helping them. As stress continues to prompt cortisol to fight inflammation, it eliminates the need for the immune system to do so. As a result of inactivity, the killer T-cells (lymphocyte that plays a major role in cell-mediated immunity) fail to replicate, and the amount of macrophage activity in the body decreases.
Although not identified by the CDC as a proven medical condition, Adrenal Fatigue is the term doctors refer to as a weakened immune system brought on by chronic stress. A patient is said to be suffering from this syndrome when their body has endured so much mental, emotional, or physical stress, that their adrenal glands no longer function correctly. Primary symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue are: feeling rundown, overwhelmed, exhausted for no reason, you feel more awake and alert after 6pm than you do throughout the day, you have difficulties bouncing back from stress/illnesses, or constantly craving sweet and salty snacks. After reading the symptoms, you fear you may be suffering from Adrenal Fatigue, do not ignore them. Although there are no tests existing to specifically identify Adrenal Fatigue, there are other tests that will tell you the level of adrenal function within your body. If your adrenal glands are indeed fatigued, seek the help of a physician, dietician, or any medical book focusing on adrenal function - but first things first: take a deep breath and relax your body and mind.
2. Be an Optimist
From now on, live every day viewing the glass as half full! Over the past century, several doctors have conducted experiments that prove just how powerful and important a the connection is between one's body and mind. If you are having a hard time believing this idea, doctors compare the effects positive thinking has on the immune system to those of patients being treated using "the placebo effect." In both situations, the belief that they are healthy and getting better causes the brain to release endorphins throughout the body. For example, there are two types of endorphins produced by the body - interleukin and interferon - that fight cancer cells naturally. In fact, cancer patients are often prescribed courses, beginning at $40,000 per treatment. According to Deepak Chopra, M.D., your body naturally naturally produces more than a million dollars worth of Interleukin-2 during your lifetime"... and it all begins with a smile and a happy thought.
In addition, those who embrace every day with a positive attitude tend to take better care of themselves than pessimists. When positively motivated, a person is more likely to take the necessary precautions to stay fit and healthy. On the opposite hand, those who suffer from depression or chronic stress, are more likely to contract a simple cold, and stay sick longer than optimists would. With this knowledge, practices such as biofeedback, hypnosis, guided imagery, meditation, and deep breathing are practiced in order to reduce stress, reduce the risk of heart disease, and strengthen the immune system. For those who are uncertain about spending money for such treatments, there are plenty of websites that have been created with the simple purpose of providing affirmations for those whose negativity is most likely affecting their immune systems. Check out sites like freeaffirmations.org if you are ever in need of motivation, and live every day with a smile on your face and your glass half full.
3. Eliminate Alcohol
It isn't a secret that alcohol has negative affects on your body and mind; however, most people overlook the complications it creates for a person's immunity. After alcohol is consumed, it travels into the bloodstream via the stomach and immediately begins attacking white blood cells. White blood cells (aka lymphocytes) serve as one of the body's primary defense systems against inflammation. The reduction in white blood cells caused by alcohol consumption, weakens the body's natural ability to fight off disease. In addition, alcohol also attacks the body's red blood cells, causing them to clump together. In this process referred to as "blood sludging", the clumps of red blood cells block the smaller blood vessels throughout the body, preventing oxygen from reaching all parts of the body. When the cells, organs, tissues, and systems within the body aren't supplied with sufficient oxygen, their poor performances all result in a weaker immune system.
Do not be alarmed! Although this information does seem scary, it does not mean you need to completely eliminate alcohol from your diet. The data above applies to consumers who drink excessively, and you know your body the best. On average, a drink or two won't hurt you; however, consuming three drinks or more in one night have proved to have a different effect. If one chooses to drink until drunk, they are impairing their bodies by creating a nutrition deficiency. When the body lacks the nutrients it needs, the immune system will in turn suffer. Most importantly, an excessive amount of alcohol impairs the function of the lymphocytes in charge of producing antibodies that fight diseases and viruses. In summation: drink in moderation, or your immune system will suffer!
4. Soak Up the Sun
Primarily absorbed through the sun's rays, Vitamin D is a key factor for improving the immune system. Most commonly known for strengthening bones and teeth, Vitamin D allows the body to absorb calcium. In addition to these purposes, Vitamin D is also known to have anti-cancer properties within the body. According to the University of Copenhagen, tests now prove that Vitamin D has a significant impact on the immune system. With an impact on the body's ability to fight pathogens, the lack of Vitamin D has some very serious risks. When the body lacks the necessary amount of Vitamin D, it makes the body more vulnerable to cancer, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, and diabetes.
The easiest way to supply the body with the amount of Vitamin D it needs is from the sun's rays. As the body is exposed to UV-B radiation, the body turns the light into Vitamin D. Although very important to use, sunscreen prevents the body from absorbing the sun's ray; and thus, producing Vitamin D. During the summer, spend about 10-15 minutes outdoors and unprotected; however, two-three hours of unprotected sun exposure is necessary during the winter for the body to maintain accurate levels of Vitamin D. Although these suggested time limits seem doable, it can often be difficult for those with office jobs, or students stuck inside all day. If this is the case, make sure to add Vitamin D-rich foods to your diet (i.e. fish liver oil, oily fish, fortified milk, egg yolk).
5. Gobble Up The Garlic
Since ancient times, garlic has not only been used to enhance flavors in cooking or ward off vampires, but has been used for medical purposes as well. The properties in garlic have proven to play an important role in immunity, whether ingested in supplement form or in a regular diet. According to one study posted on pubmed.gov, over 50 of the chemicals that make up garlic stimulate the bowels to eliminate waste, manage fevers, fight bacteria and control disorders within the blood. In addition, the chemical components that make up garlic detoxify the liver - an important part of the immune system. Often overlooked when discussing the immune system, the liver plays a huge part in determining the wellness and immunity of an individual. A part of the body's endocrine system, the liver is home to lymphocytes, natural killer, and killer T cells, which essentially work together to form the body's immune system.
Addressed in over three thousand medical publications, the chemical makeup of garlic improves the health of both the mind and body. Studies show garlic is used to reduce fatigue and stress through a variety of ways, most of which still remain a mystery to scientists studying the effects of garlic. In addition, garlic is often added to ones diet in order to strengthen the heart, stimulate waste removal, expel worms from the body, positively effect the spleen, lungs, and stomach, reduce the risk of life-threatening diseases, or control a fever. Garlic is also known to prevent platelet accumulation, so it is also used when dealing with blood disorders. In fact, garlic is useful in so many ways that it can even act as an insect repellent if combined with olive oil and applied to skin. Whether taken as a supplement, worn as a necklace, or added to your dinner, there is no denying that garlic is a superfood!
6. Sleep is Necessary
If you pulled a muscle, what is the first thing the doctor says to do in order to heal? Rest. Your immune system is the same exact way. Throughout the day, your body comes in contact with a countless number of pathogens. In fact, the simple act of opening a door exposes you to over ----- germs when touching the handle. Even though you are constantly exposed to bacteria, the immune system works 24/7 in order to keep you from getting sick. Feeling tired is the bodys way of letting you know that your body needs time to rest and recover at the end of a long day.
No matter how super it is, the immune system will exhaust itself and fail to work properly if the body does not receive adequate rest. In addition to improving memory, helping your metabolism, and recharging your body, sleep plays an important role in immunity. According to Diwakar Balachandran, MD, the director of the Sleep Center at the University of Texas, A lot of studies show our T-cells go down if we are sleep deprived, Balachandran says. And inflammatory cytokines go up. ... This could potentially lead to the greater risk of developing a cold or flu. In simple words, lack of sleep reduces immune function. Sleep deprivation has been linked to countless mental and physical illnesses, and even reduces the effectiveness of vaccines, medication, and other treatments.
7. Take Probiotics
Medically defined, probiotics are: "live microorganisms (usually bacteria) that are similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut that are taken as dietary supplements or found in foods. In simpler terms, probiotics are used to replace/increase the microorganisms within the digestive tract. A form of good bacteria, they are typically prescribed for patients suffering from digestive issues; however, everyone should take probiotics on a daily basis. Taking care of your gut should be a priority, since the intestinal tract contains 90% of the bodys immune system. As it continuously works to fight disease and protect the body, your gut is under a lot of stress and works 24/7.
Additional supplements aid in repairing the intestinal lining from damage caused by a variety of factors, and should be complimented by a healthy lifestyle. Probiotics can be found in yogurts and other fermented foods. While increasing consumption of such foods is beneficial, taking a daily supplement will ensure that you are always receiving enough probiotics to support your immune system. You can purchase supplements at any health-food store, pharmacy, and most grocery stores. Make sure to do your research before you choose your supplement, in order to ensure that it is the best one for your body, lifestyle, and immune system.
8. Socialize and Strengthen Relationships
Research shows that the outgoing individuals who invest in personal relationships have a significantly stronger immune system than those who keep to themselves. In fact, this evidence even suggests that social people will outlive introverts. This information can seem confusing, more people mean more germs right? Wrong. In a study discussed on HealthStatus.com, a participants immunity was determined by measuring the level of antibodies produced by the veiled Herpes virus, which typically exists without causing any symptoms. Using this technique, scientists were able to test how the stress caused by loneliness negatively affected the immune system in their participants.
Even though there are countless studies focusing on the relationship between stress and immune function, this study was the first to actually associate loneliness with stress, and this stress to immunity. When exposed to stress, the Herpes virus is activated, increasing the production of antibodies and reducing immune function. When participants were faced with a challenge, the unsocial participants felt more stressed than those who identified as outgoing. Research shows that social individuals are more likely to cultivate strong personal relationships, which provide them with support and happiness that prevent an increase in stress when when challenged. The evidence from this study finally provided statistical evidence for why loneliness can negatively affect ones immunity: by identifying stress as the factor. Even if you prefer to be alone, being social even once a week, will help strengthen your immune system.
9. Make More Love
In addition to a plethora of other perks, sexual relationships have a significant effect on the immune system. According to research gathered from numerous case studies, being intimate at least twice a week will increase your immunity. If these sexual encounters are purely intimate, the body produces 30% more of the disease fighting antibody immunoglobulin A. An increase in this antibody will significantly improve immune function, since immunoglobulin A is the bodys first line of defense when fighting a cold or flu. In addition, the body will produce more T-cell antibodies if the sexual encounters are followed by time spent cuddling, talking, laughing, or doing other things known to deepen the relationship. Relationship specialists say that spending quality time together after sex allows partners to be more vulnerable and creates an intimate relationship rather than just a physical one.
Whether you have learned from movies, books, or personal experience, intimacy and physicality are both large factors that lead to love. There are numerous case studies in which the scientists unanimously agree that love is incredibly beneficial for your heath. The National Longitudinal Mortality Study reported that married couples live longer than unmarried couples, and are at a lower risk for heart attacks, diabetes, Alzeiheimers, lung disease, and psychological disorders. In addition, the aerobic activity of sex promotes pain reduction, improved sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, and decreases the risk of depression and anxiety. All of these benefits contribute to a healthy body and immune system. Knowing that intimacy and sexual encounters benefit both your mental and physical health, dont be afraid to up your dose when it comes to making love.
10. Use Common Sense
As medical resources continue to improve and increasing in complexity, the ideas regarding illness prevention taught to you often get tossed to the side. Even if you are actively taking supplements, exercising, or finding other ways to live the healthy lifestyle possible, think back to proper etiquette you learned as a toddler. From the very beginning, teachers, parents, babysitters, and everyone else around you taught you ways to fight illness and increase immunity using common sense. These tips and tricks you may have learned from watching educational television or in a middle school health class, are still free, easy, and available 24/7. For example, icons from Obama to Elmo teach and promote the "Dracula Cough", especially during cold and flu season. This simple act of coughing into the pit of your arm rather than your hand characters such as Elmo reduces the amount of germs you can spread to others by touching items around, or to yourself by touching your food or face before washing your hands.
You can improve your immunity with countless other fail-safe practices that people often tend to ignore. Make sure to get your annual flu vaccine, wash your hands, and always maintain healthy hygiene practices. For example, the CDC enforces the importance of good hygiene states with facts like: "Within the first 15 minutes of bathing, the average person sheds 6 x 106 colony forming units (CFU) of Staphylococcus aureus", "Trachoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, is related to the lack of facial hygiene", and "The spread of pinworms can be reduced by proper hygiene, including clipping nails and showering children immediately after they wake in the morning." If all else fails, be considerate to those around by avoiding close contact with others or staying home when you aren't feeling well. No one wants to be stuck with a cold, so be considerate and respectful to others while you recover, and do your best to keep the amount of germs you spread to a minimum. These fail-safe tactics should feel like second nature to individuals maintaining a healthy lifestyle, since working to prevent illness is just as important to your immunity as treatment and recovery when feeling under the weather. By following these guidelines, in addition to additional ways to maintain good hygiene set out by the CDC, you are reducing your risk of exposure and contraction of infections, illnesses, or diseases that weaken your body's natural immune response.
You have heard time and time again that the positive effects exercise has on the body. In addition to weight management and improved sleep, regular exercise has the potential to support and strengthen the body's natural immune functions. According to conclusive evidence available from countless case studies and medical journals, making yoga a part of your daily routine improves immunity. A case study posted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information establishes that yoga helps both the mind and body because it reduces stress. The negative effects that stress places on the body increase the risk of being diagnosed with immune deficiencies, autonomic disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Reducing the negative results chronic stress has on the body will increase the production of killer T-cells, and other disease-fighting lymphocytes that make up the immune system. This ideas is supported by a wealth of significant and supportive evidence that has allowed researchers to claim that "Yoga resists the autonomic changes and impairment of cellular immunity seen in examination stress" (NCBI).
In another theory examined by YogaJournal.com, completing immune-supportive yoga routines does more for the body than just reduce stress.Originating from the ancient practice of yoga to increase ojas (subtle energy produced by practice that increases vitality), immune-targeted yoga routines are a guaranteed way to improve the natural immune function produced by any or all of the body's complex systems. The body's health and ability to fight disease is not by any specific factor, but by a combination of all effects on the body from all its components. There is conclusive evidence that the right yoga poses and movements positively stimulate the nervous, endocrine, digestive, and circulatory systems of the body, which all play significant parts in the body's ability to fight disease. When a body system is stimulated but not overworked, the systems ability and strength is enhanced, making it stronger when fighting future threats. Through the right sequence of poses and exercises, there is no limit to the mental and physical benefits yoga can have on your body.
12. Flush Out Inflammation
Anytime you are suffering from an illness, you are told time and time again to "Drink plenty of fluids." Every medical professional will Hydration is essential for healthy immune function, and should be maintained 24/7 rather than just when you are feeling under the weather. While thirst primarily seems like the most inconvenient result of dehydration, the fundamental impact water has on the immune system may surprise you. Drinking enough water provides the blood with enough oxygen to ensure proper function of all body parts. In addition, hydration improves the body's ability to detoxify itself. On the other hand, dehydration causes toxins to build up in the kidneys, dramatically increasing the amount of inflammation within the body.
Playing a vital part in immune function, the body's ability to produce lymph would be impossible without water. Without lymph, your body would be unable to deliver enough white blood cells and nutrients essential for vitality. Since water consumption supports adequate production of both immune and blood cells, there is significant evidence to claim that water is linked to preventing and treating chronic ailments. For example, an increase in blood cells and oxygen lubricates joints, easing joint pain and issues related to arthritis. In addition, when you drink more water, you are increasing your body's natural ability to prevent germs to enter into the body. Specifically, water allows the eyes and nose to remain moist, which allows them to trap or repel any foreign agents attempting to enter the body. As you increase your fluid intake, make sure only increase your amount of clean, preferably filtered and distilled water.
In an in-depth study conducted by researchers at the University of California, researches believe that they have found a way to regenerate your entire immune system. The results provided by the study provide significant evidence that fasting will essentially leave you with an entirely new immune system. While most medical professionals emphasize the importance a balanced diet has on immunity, USC researchers have explained the autonomic effect fasting has on the body. Fasting is so successful because it triggers stem cells to produce more white blood cells. Sine white blood cells are responsible for preventing and fighting disease, fasting is especially effective for people with damage immune systems. For example, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were protected from the harsh and toxic impacts of treatment during the fasting process.
With a goal to improve immunity, it is important to undergo the fasting process safely. When undergone correctly, stem cells actually have the potential to rebuild the entire immune system. Valter Longo, professor gerontology in the biological sciences at USC even reports, "the body actually removed parts that were damaged, old or inefficient during the fasting process, creating literally, a new immune system." The most fascinating part of the entire experiment is the process by which regeneration occurred. When starved, the blood cell count in all of the conducted trials initially dropped; however, scientists recorded that the dangerous reduction in blood cells caused the body's stem cells to essentially "flip a regressive switch" leading to the positive results. In addition to immunity, research shows that fasting has the potential to increase weight-loss (intermittent fasting), improve digestive system function, and speed up metabolism. The surprising effects fasting has on immunity provides a promising possibility of a personal "reset" button.
14. Dry Brushing
There is a new holistic technique quickly gaining attention in the medical community for having numerous beneficial effects on the body. Dry brushing involves using a soft, dry brush (available for purchase online or any beauty supply store) on the entire surface of your body. In addition to removing dead skin cells and improving circulation, dry brushing cleanses the lymphatic system and strengthens the immune system. When the brushes dry bristles exfoliate the skin, it improves the skins ability to remove noxious gases and toxins from the skin. As the bodys dead skin cell count goes down, it increases the amount of both blood and lymph throughout the body. Since an efficient circulation of lymph is the key to a healthy immune system, studies show that dry brushing actually improves the bodys available to fight infection.
As the bodys largest organ, skin acts as the first layer of defense against germs. The well-known Clarisonic® Facial Brush functions in the same way, by using soft bristles to exfoliate the skin in order to remove dead cells and improve detoxification of the face.This easy, inexpensive technique increases the bodys ability to transport lymph - which is responsible for supplying the body with nutrients and absorbing vitamins needed by the body. When trying to strengthen the immune system, medical professionals often suggest detoxing to reduce inflammation; however, these typical detox methods or treatments only cleanse the inside of the body, forgetting about the largest detox organ of the body - the skin! In order for dry brushing to be most effective, specialists suggest dry brushing in the morning and after exercising. Starting with the soles of the feet, use vigorous counter-clockwise strokes moving upward and ending with your arms and hands several times, until you have addressed every part of the skin head-to-toe. The detoxifying power of exfoliation is constantly underrated, since the increase in circulation improves the elimination of toxic threats before they even enter the body.
15. Don't Smoke!
It is no secret that smoking kills. In addition to negatively impacting the respiratory system, the toxic chemicals in cigarettes trigger harmful and life-threatening changes to immune cells within the body. In addition to nicotine, smokers inhale over 7,000 chemicals with each puff of a cigarette. These toxic chemicals not only include numerous cancer causing agents, but chemicals that depress antibodies that protect against infection. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), smokers increase their risk of malignant diseases, respiratory infections, and death. As the inhaled toxins move throughout the lungs and into the bloodstream, it replaces the bloods supply of oxygen necessary healthy bodily functions.
Interfering with oxygen levels within the body will lead to damaging effects on the cells, tissues, muscles, organs, and systems of the body. Instead of oxygen, the brain is being supplied by toxins such as carbon monoxide, tar, cyanide, formaldehyde, etc., threatening all important bodily functions. Focusing on its threat to immunity, cigarettes lower levels of protective antioxidants, increase susceptibility to very severe diseases and infections, and lower the bodys ability to recover. Dont freak out just yet though - if smokers quit, the body will slowly repair itself and reverse the damaging processes. Slowly but surely, the bodys will produce increasing levels of natural killer cells and activity related to fighting cancer-specific toxins. In addition, always be aware of your surrounds, and avoid second-hand smoke whenever possible.
Its likely that the women in your day to day life are pretty "normal" in appearance. So when you see someone whose appearance differs from what you expect it to be, it can be kind of a shock. The ladies in the following slideshow are definitely far from average. Some of these women spent thousands of dollars on plastic surgery, tattoos, or body piercings. Others are born with strange birth defects such as excessive facial hair, a gigantic butt or even an 8 inch tongue. See for yourself!
4 Foot Long Legs
Lauren Williams has the longest-known legs in the United States, with her eye-catching limbs measuring an incredible 49 inches from hip to heel. Lauren's height and long-legged genes can be attributed to her family as her father, mother and twin sisters are all 6ft or taller.
She has US size 11 feet (UK size 10), and revealed that she can find it tricky to buy clothes that fit. When modelling, single Lauren - who has worked on campaigns for global brands such as Nike - does everything from sports and fitness to high fashion and swimwear.
Having played volleyball in college, as well as being extremely active, Lauren also enjoys shooting sporty campaigns. As well as modelling, Lauren works as an educator at a children's museum in Houston and enjoys travelling. When out and about, her striking looks and long limbs mean she gets comments about her legs on a daily basis.
Dangerously Small Waist
Swedish born Pixee Fox had already spent more than $80,000 on plastic surgery attempting to sculpt the perfect hourglass figure. But now she has taken her obsession even further by having 6 of her lower ribs removed - so she can shrink her waist to a record-breaking 14 inches. Pixee, from Sweden, said: "People often come up to me and say, "don't take this the wrong way, but you look like a cartoon" - but for me that's a compliment, that's what I want to achieve.
With 6 of her lower ribs removed, Pixee's lower internal organs, including the liver, have lost some of their natural protection - but she isn't worried. She said: "Before if I was in a car crash I would normally break my ribs. If that happened now I'm probably going to break my spleen instead. In total she has had four rhinoplasties costing $14,000; four breast augmentations of 200cc, 525cc, 800cc and 1400cc costing $28,500; two rounds of liposuction at $5,000; two upper eyelid surgeries at $6,000; a labiaplasty costing $4,000; a Brazilian butt lift at $9,000 and cool-sculpting, cheek injections, and lip injections at about $12,000.
One Armed Pro Surfer
Bethany Meilani Hamilton-Dirks is an American professional surfer who survived a 2003 shark attack in which her left arm was bitten off, but ultimately returned toand was victorious inprofessional surfing. On October 31, 2003 Hamilton, aged 13 at the time, went for a morning surf along Tunnels Beach, Kauai, with best friend Alana Blanchard, Alana's father, Holt, and brother Byron. Around 7:30 a.m., with numerous turtles in the area, she was lying on her surfboard with her left arm dangling in the water, when a 14-foot tiger shark attacked her, severing her left arm just below the shoulder.
Despite the trauma of the incident, Hamilton was determined to return to surfing. Three weeks after the incident, she returned to her board. Initially, she adopted a custom-made board that was longer and slightly thicker than standard and had a handle for her right arm, making it easier to paddle, and she learned to kick more to make up for the loss of her left arm. After teaching herself to surf with one arm, on January 10, 2004, she entered a major competition. She now uses standard competitive performance short-boards. The broken surfboard that Hamilton was riding during the attack is on display at the California Surf Museum
World's Largest Fake Breasts
Mayra Hills also known as Beshine measures at 59-28-36 and says shes the proud owner of the worlds largest fake breasts. And its not hard to believe her claim to fame, considering each of her breasts have 10,000 cc of saline implants and weigh 20 pounds a piece! As you can imagine, its difficult for Beshine, who wears a size 32Z bra, to find clothes that fit, so the German-born woman has a lot of her items custom-made.
But bra shopping isnt her only woe. She can no longer tie her own shoes and has run into trouble when shes knocked things over with her chest but it appears shes satisfied with her body, troubles and all. "Some people maybe think the sheer size of my t-ts bring too many handicaps in my everyday life, but hey, having big boob problems is amazing," she wrote on her blog.
Real Life Anime Girl
Its official, this real-life anime trend has gotten completely out of hand. Hardly a day goes by that we dont stumble upon some photos of girls going to any lengths in order to look like real live anime characters. Todays example, Anastasiya Shpagina, an Ukrainian girl who has even taken a Japanese name Fukkacumi. 19-year-old Anastasiya (Nastya) Shpagina has been called "the new Barbie" by national news outlets, but she later revealed shes striving to become a real-life Japanese anime character, not a doll. She even posted "I am not like a doll, a doll is like me."
Apparently, Nastya has been passionate about makeup even as a young child, always experimenting with it in the mirror. Over time she also developed a thing for Japanese cartoons and it was only a matter of time before she started using her make-up artist skills to transform herself into a real-life anime girl. But just putting on makeup wasnt enough to attain that coveted look, so she decided to lose weight in order to seem more genuine. At 1.58-meters-tall, Anastasiya weighs just 39 kilos and is trying to lose one more in order to look just right.
World's Longest Tongue
The longest female tongue measures 9.75 cm (3.8 in) from the tip to the middle of lip and was achieved by Chanel Tappe on 29 September 2010. Chanel, from Houston, US, shot to fame aged 13 when she was spotted sticking out her monster tongue in a YouTube video. In September Guinness invited Chanel to Los Angeles where they measured her tongue and she narrowly beat two other female contenders to the record.
She said: "I have always been silly and goofy. I love sticking my tongue out at people. I started doing that back in school. Ive never had a problem with having a long tongue, its just fun." Chanel now has set her sights set on Hollywood after finishing her studies. She said: "Id love to be in a movie. Im certainly pretty dramatic, so I think I could have the acting gift. "Really, Id love to meet Adam Sandler, hes my favorite."
World's Largest Butt
Sarah Massey would be just another 33-year-old mother-of-two from Chicago if it weren't for the fact that she also happens to have the world's biggest butt. Though not officially recognized by the prudes at Guinness, Massey's massive 7-foot wide keister requires a pair of 10XL trousers that would comfortably fit all of the Kardashian sisters combined.
Massey insists the condition that resulted in her museum-sized bubble butt is hereditary "there's nothing I can do about it," she says but that her love of ice cream certainly contributed to its maintenance. Massey would still like to lose some weight, but says she now has a new-found appreciation for her natural assets, and fervently defends them against anyone who calls them fake. "Some people can't believe one person can have this much butt," she told Barcroft. "Because I've got a relatively small frame on top they say, 'that can't be real.' I carry this weight with me all the time, everywhere I go, it's definitely not fake. Big booties are just in my blood."
Russian-born former gymnast Zlata, 29, posed in leather and lingerie to adopt a series of poses that seem to defy every law of biology. Zlata, who now lives in Germany, is able to create astounding shapes with her body and is so flexible she can cram herself into a 50cm square box. One of her favorite acts is to bend backwards at a 90 degree angle, so the back half of her hands touch her feet and she can also peer through her own legs from behind.
Zlata's gift of flexibility was discovered when she was four years old and by six she was training as a contortionist at a circus school. She has a rare condition which makes all her tendons extremely pliable, which helps in her profession. The former gymnast now spends most of her day working out and training for shows around the world. In 2011 she set the Guinness World Record for the most beer bottles opened in a minute using only your feet.
Kim Goodman is a woman who is able to pop her eyes out of her eye sockets by 12 millimeters (0.47 inches). She holds the world record for the farthest eyeball protrusion. She lives in Chicago, Illinois. She discovered her eyeball popping talent one day when she was hit on the head with a hockey mask. Her eyeballs popped out much further than usual and ever since that day she could pop them out on cue, as well as when she yawns.
She has appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. In 2004, Goodman was included by Guinness World Records in their 50th anniversary list of top ten "feats" of all time. Kim originally had the record for being able to extend her eye balls beyond her eye sockets by 10mm. This was matched a few years by a new contender, but when Kim was re-measured she found she could now reach 12mm - breaking her own record and keeping the title.
One Armed Table Tennis Champ
Natalia Partyka (born 27 July 1989) is a Polish table tennis player. Born without a right hand and forearm, she participates in competitions for able-bodied athletes as well as in competitions for athletes with disabilities. Partyka reached the last 32 of the London 2012 Olympic women's table tennis. Partyka began playing table tennis at the age of seven. She won her first international table tennis medal in 1999 at the disabled World Championships. At the age of 11, she competed at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, becoming the world's youngest ever Paralympian. In 2004, she won a gold medal in the singles event and silver in the team event at the Athens Paralympics.
Partyka competed for Poland both the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing one of only two athletes to do so, the other being Natalie du Toit in swimming. They were her third Paralympic Games, and her first Olympics. Competing in class 10 at the Beijing Paralympics, she won gold by defeating China's Fan Lei by three sets to nil. In 2008, she won a gold medal in the singles event and a silver in the team event at the Beijing Paralympics, repeating her Athens Paralympics result.
World's Hairiest Girl
Her nicknames may include "wolf girl" and "monkey face". But 11-year-old Thai girl Supatra Sasuphan today insisted that she was after being officially recognised as the world's hairiest girl. Although the schoolgirl from Bangkok has faced merciless teasing at school, Supatra says being given a Guinness World Record for her hair has helped her become extremely popular. "I'm very happy to be in the Guinness World Records! A lot of people have to do a lot to get in," she said. "All I did was answer a few questions and then they gave it to me."
Supatra is one of just 50 known sufferers of Ambras Syndrome - caused by a faulty chromosome - to be documented since the Middle Ages. Before the disease was understood, sufferers were branded "werewolves." She has thick hair growing over her face, ears, arms, legs and back. Even laser treatment has failed to stop the hair growth. But while most sufferers have been shunned, Supatra has gradually been embraced by her community, and became a popular and outgoing child.
Woman With 3 Breasts
There's really no other way to put this so we're just going to dive in: Meet Jasmine Tridevil. She has three breasts. Tridevil (no that's not her real name, but that's what she wants to go by) is a 21-year-old licensed massage therapist and die-hard Criss Angel fan from Florida who decided to undergo a shocking and controversial $20,000 surgery to add a third breast to her chest.
Tridevil also stated that she's hoping to bank a reality show from this, and has already put the wheels in motion to make something happen. "I was making really good money [being a licensed massage therapist] but now I'm trying to star in a reality show instead. I don't like that job," she shared, and later added, "My whole dream is to get this show on MTV. I hired a camera crew individually, so I'm the producer of this show right now."
World's Longest Neck
Lyudmila Titchenkova is a 16-year-old living in the city of Nikolaev, Ukraine. After she turned 10, Lyudmilas parents noticed that their daughters body began developing at an accelerated growth rate. She was taller and had longer arms than other children her age, but of particular concern was the length of her neck and abnormal curvature of her spine.
As it got to the point where Lyudmila began feeling embarrassed to go out because of her appearance, her parents took her to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder of the connective tissue that can affect many parts of the body, most often the heart, blood vessels, bones, joints and eyes. In Lyudmilas case, the disorder affected the connective tissue in her spine, causing it to curve at an angle of 30 degrees. This seems to be a rather uncommon symptom of the disorder, which usually affect peoples arms, legs and fingers. After undergoing corrective surgery and extensive rehabilitation to straighten her spine, Lyudmila can now live normally and says she wants to study for her future without letting herself be affected by her disorder.
Abigail and Brittany Hensel
Girl With Two Heads
Abigail Loraine "Abby" Hensel and Brittany Lee Hensel (born March 7, 1990) are dicephalic parapagus twins, meaning that they are conjoined twins, each of whom has a separate head, but whose bodies are joined. They are highly symmetric for conjoined twins, giving the appearance of having just a single body without marked variation from normal proportion. In fact, several vital organs are doubled up; each twin has a separate heart, stomach, spine, lungs, and spinal cord.
In conversation, the twins are clearly distinct persons, with distinct likes and dislikes. Their preferences in food, clothing color, etc., differ. Some of their clothes are altered by their seamstress so that they have two separate necklines in order to emphasize their individuality. They will usually have separate meals, but sometimes will share a single meal for the sake of convenience (e.g. each taking a bite of the same hamburger). Abby is better at mathematics, and Brittany is better at writing. For tasks such as responding to email, they type and respond as one, anticipating each other's feelings with little verbal communication between them.
Natasha Veruschka has the world record for most swords swallowed simultaneously by a female. She swallowed 13 swords, each at least 38.1 cm (15 in) long, at the 3rd Annual Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers Convention in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA, on 3 September 2004. Natasha was born in India of white russian and british heritage. She has lived, studied, and performed her art around the world and also speaks several different languages.
Natasha now lives in New York City. She is an amazing performer who uses many different types of swords in her act or as she likes to say "Swords On The Menu." The swords on the menu are - "The Red devil" 29 inches long, "The Big Sword" 27 1/2 inches long, "The Bradshaw Sword" 25 inches long, "The Sai Weapons" two 24 inch long eight-sided weapons of steel. Natasha trained with a "Sai Master" in order to use them in her act. Also on the menu is the unbelieveable "Sword Sandwich" where she swallows 13-22 inch long swords simultaneously.