Vitashower Vitamin C Shower Filter - Is This For Real?

Most people have never heard of a Vitamin C shower filter. There's a very good reason for this. This technology has primarily been used in the Asian market for many years with great success. It has only recently become available in the United States, but independent laboratory testing has shown promising results. Once you understand what the Vitashower Vitamin C chlorine shower filter can do for you and your family, the choice becomes crystal clear. The Vitashower Vitamin C shower filter can remove over 99% of chlorine and chlorine byproducts from your shower water for up to one year.

Some Food For Thought

Recently, municipalities around the world have begun to use chloramine (a mixture of chlorine and ammonia) to disinfect water. This is done to reduce free chlorine's ability to combine with organic matter in the water thereby producing potentially harmful trihalomethanes, or THMs. Because chloramine has less disinfecting ability than free chlorine, a higher concentration of chlorine is usually used to get the same bacteria kill rate. Yet chloramine's harmful effects are the same as pure chlorine, so the hazards while showering are greater.

The Vitashower Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid & sodium ascorbate blend) Shower Filter releases the exact amount of Vitamin C to neutralize nearly 100% of all chlorine as the water passes through the shower filter. As soon as the water is shut off, the Vitashower Shower Filter stops releasing the vitamin. This economy of Vitamin C release effectively increases the useful life of the Vitashower Shower Filter. Also, the Vitamin C Shower Filter works in any water temperature, any water pressure and the lifetime of the filter does not depend on the water quality. L-Ascorbic Acid & sodium ascorbate (Vitamin C) also has been shown to significantly reduce or eliminate chloramines from public water sources without the water temperature limitations observed with Activated Charcoal (AC) filtering methods.

All of the benefits discussed here will become clearer as you read on.

Free Chlorine & Chloramines

To better appreciate the power of using Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid & sodium ascorbate) as dechlorinating agents in the Vitashower Shower Filter, the hazards in our water supplies must be better understood. These dangers are real and should not be overlooked or accepted by the general public.

Chlorine is universally used to chemically disinfect public water systems because of its toxic effect on harmful germs, bacteria and disease-causing organisms. As defined above, chlorine is a toxic gas. With greater exposure to toxic chlorine contained in water supplies, the potential health dangers we face become more real.

During the bathing process, the chlorine evaporates out of the water and is inhaled. This toxic gas can also spread through the house and be inhaled by others. Some reports claim that as much chlorine enters the body by inhaling steamy chlorinated shower vapors or through the open pores of the skin as that which enters the body by drinking chlorinated water during the entire day. This increased exposure to the adverse effects of chlorine by household residents can be from 6 to 100 times more than medically recommended.

Chlorine also attacks the skin and skin oils, creating a dermal drying effect. Shower water can also cause or worsen skin irritations and rashes as well as drying the skin. Showering and bathing in chlorinated water will also result in the breakage of hair shafts. Because chlorine is absorbed into the body through the skin, additional physical problems can ensue. Chlorinated water can also irritate eyes, leaving them red, itchy and burning. Inhaling the toxic steam can aggravate the sinuses and lungs.

Chloramine, although a more stable compound, contains a combination of chlorine and ammonia and is also used to control bacteria in water systems. Its harmful effects cause the same dangers as pure chlorine. The Vitashower Vitamin C shower filter can effectively reduce or neutralize both free chlorine and chloramines with near 100% efficiency. KDF type shower filters cannot remove chloramines from your shower water.

Vitamin C and Sun Protection

Topical Vitamin C protects skin against harm caused by exposure to sunlight. It does this by neutralizing reactive oxygen species (free radicals), the highly reactive molecules produced by the interaction of sunlight, cell membranes, and other components of skin tissue. It does not absorb light, and hence, is not a sunscreen, so it should not be used in replacement of sunscreen, but rather is a good companion to sunscreen products. Plus, once vitamin C gets into the skin, it cannot be washed, rubbed, or perspired off.

Vitamin C is what is known as an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect skin by neutralizing free radicals, which would otherwise destroy skin and its components. These free radicals are stimulated by ultraviolet light and also occur naturally in the oxygen atmosphere.

Vitamin C and Skincare

The association between Vitamins and good healthy skin has been established for some time. Laboratory and clinical studies have indicated a very useful role for applied Vitamins in combating various skin disorders, especially to assist in preventing, retarding and arresting certain degenerative changes associated with the ageing process, such as dry and scaly skin and the formation of lines and wrinkles.

Vitamin C, the powerful and most potent antioxidant, has the proven ability to neutralize or counteract damage to the body's cells caused by free radicals which are understood to be the major cause of ageing. Scientific research has shown that applying Vitamin C to the skin helps to stimulate the production of collagen, an essential protein which forms the skin's supporting structure. As we age, collagen production slows down and as a result, the skin begins to show the visible signs of degeneration in the form of lines and wrinkles. Collagen plumps up the skin, resulting in a healthier, smoother and more radiant complexion. Vitamin C is known as the most important ingredient in Collagen Synthesis - it stimulates collagen production in the skin. It is very difficult to get high enough concentrations in the skin through diet alone. For optimal skin health & vitality, Vitamin C has to be delivered onto and be absorbed into the skin in order for it to be effective for skin rejuvenation, repair and protection.

The Vitashower Vitamin C shower filter utilizes only the highest quality, pharmaceutical grade L-ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate in crystalline form. This format reduces the tendency of Vitamin C to oxidize when exposed to oxygen or light. The superior crystalline form of Vitamin C found in our shower filters will ensure the maximum availability to your skin & hair cells, allowing for increased absorption.

Traditional Shower Filter Technologies

Activated carbon filtration (AC), sometimes referred to as Granulated Activated Charcoal (GAC), is effective in reducing certain organic chemicals and some chlorine in cold water. Chlorine is attracted to and held (absorbed) into the surface of the carbon particles. However, the efficiency of absorption is quickly nullified when the water becomes warm or hot. The lifetime of an activated carbon shower filter is very short. An activated carbon shower filter gets clogged very quickly by the dirt it is meant to stop. As soon as that happens, it immediately starts to supply dirty water. Activated carbon shower filters are also susceptible to bacterial contamination due the constant moisture and heat that is found inside the enclosed space of a shower filter. After time, the bacteria can no longer be held back and is inevitably released into your shower water.

KDF, another widely used dechlorination media, is comprised of copper and zinc. It removes free chlorine by reversing the electrochemical process that originally separated the chlorine from sodium in a brine solution. It can't, however, remove chloramines and its efficiency depends on water temperature, it doesn't work well in very hot or very cold water. KDF is considered very good with respect to free chlorine removal in a well designed shower filter within a certain temperature range (usually between 90-110 degrees F). However, all KDF shower filters are not created equal. Again, they are only effective at removing free chlorine and do nothing with respect to chloramines.

There are several other limitations of using KDF as a dechlorinating agent. KDF shower filters are also affected by water pressure. When the water pressure is not high enough, water simply can't pass through the KDF media. The major problem of KDF shower filters is that the lifetime of the filter depends on the quality of the water passing through it. This is truly a catch-22. Poor water quality and water pressure effectively lowers its ability to consistently perform at optimum levels.

Other shower filter manufacturers use sulfur-based compounds such as calcium sulfite or sodium sulfite (or sulfate) as dechlorinating agents. These sulfur-based compounds can be toxic to humans. The addition of excess sulfite and sulfate chemicals to our water supplies has always been a concern to public health officials. Shower filters of this type very quickly being discontinued due to their potentially dangerous side effects. Some of which are more dangerous than chlorine and its byproducts.

Another relatively new method of dechlorinating your shower water is known as FIC or Far Infrared Ceramics. These shower filters tend to be very expensive; however no evidence exists as to their chlorine removal effectiveness. They rely on questionable technologies that have never been proven to eliminate or even reduce chlorine in a shower filter application.

Many shower filters combine a number of these technologies into one shower filter design. Some popular combinations include KDF/AC, KDF/Quartz, KDF/Chlorgon in addition to numerous other minerals added to a shower filter to improve the feel of the water. This supplementary media has not been shown to be effective in respect to chlorine removal with the lone exception of Chlorgon.

The research by US EPA found that L-Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) reacts rapidly and stoichiometrically with active chlorine and has limited interactions with disinfection byproducts. They found no interference from L-ascorbic acid or its oxidation product (dehydroascorbic acid) in mutagenicity assays of chlorinated NOM using Salmonella typhimurium TA100, with or without metabolic activation.

*Urbansky ET, Freeman DM, Rubio FJ, JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING 2 (3): 253-256 2000, United States Environmental Protection Agency(US EPA), Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Water Supply and Water Resources Division, 26 W Martin Luther King Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45268 USA

The Vitashower Vitamin C chlorine shower filter may be one of the best products for the home you've never heard of. This technology is based on in-depth scientific research backed up by verifiable laboratory test results. Don't let this one pass you by. Welcome to the future of shower filters.

taken from www.buxzer.com

Tipologi Manusia Penyambut Ramadhan

Setiap bulan Ramadhan menjelang, kita bisa membagi kaum muslimin dalam beberapa kategori dan model, yaitu :

* Pertama, kalangan yang sangat antusias menyambut Ramadhan, karena sadar akan banyaknya bonus rahmat dan pahala yang akan mereka dapatkan di bulan itu.
* Kedua, mereka yang biasa-biasa saja dalam menyambut kedatangan bulan suci ini, tanpa ekspresi dan tanpa apresiasi apa-apa. Karena mereka tidak mengerti apa sebenarnya yang ada dalam Ramadhan.
* Ketiga, mereka yang gembira dengan kedatangan Ramadhan, hanya karena mereka diuntungkan secara materi walaupuan mereka miskin secara ruhani.
* Keempat, golongan yang merasa ketakutan dengan kedatangan bulan Ramadhan.



Terus terang, klasifikasi ini baru saja saya dapatkan dan tiba-tiba saja muncul dari benak saya, ketika saya membaca beberapa buku dan melihat fenomena sosial yang berkembang di masyarakat. Saya pun tidak tahu, apakah klasifikasi itu benar atau malah salah dan mungkin mengada-ada. Namun sekali lagi, saya katakan bahwa fenomena itu ada, minimal yang penulis tangkap dari gejala sosial yang ada.

Golongan pertama

Golongan pertama adalah mereka yang menyadari sepenuhnya makna dan nilai yang ada dalam Ramadhan. Sehingga, jauh-jauh hari sebelum bulan suci ini hadir di hadapannya, mereka telah berkemas-kemas untuk mengarungi perjalanan rohani yang demikian mengasyikkan.

Semua perbekalan untuk menjalani perjalanan rohani itu telah mereka persiapkan dengan sebaik-baiknya dan sematang-matangnya. Mereka menyadari bahwa perjalanan rohani yang akan ditempuhnya dalam sebulan itu bukan perjalanan yang mudah dan gampang. Ia memerlukan stamina fisik dan rohani yang mapan, sehingga perjalanan itu bisa dilakukan dan dilalui dengan baik.

Pembiasaan-pembiasaan pembuka sebagai latihan, akan dilakukannya. Termasuk melakukan puasa-puasa sunah di bulan Sya’ban, atau mungkin bahkan sudah dilakukan pada bulan Rajab. Pokoknya, kelompok ini betul-betul siap menghadapi perjalanan rohani selama bulan Ramadhan.

Mereka mengerti benar peta perjalanan rohani itu dengan sebaik-baiknya. Akibatnya, secara mental mereka tidak terkejut dan bahkan merasakan hentakan kenikmatan, kala akan memasuki bulan suci ini. Penulis kira, golongan ini bukanlah golongan mayoritas di tengah umat dewasa ini. Mereka adalah para pemburu takwa.

Golongan kedua

Golongan kedua adalah mereka yang biasa-biasa saja dalam menyambut kedatangan bulan suci ini. Tak ada riak spiritual dan gairah jiwa yang meluap-luap penuh gembira menyambut bulan ampunan dan suci ini. Kehadiran Ramadhan sama sekali tidak mempengaruhi kebangkitan spiritualnya, tidak menggairahkan “urat-urat” kepekaan nuraninya. Tak ada yang berubah. Tak ada yang bergeser. Jiwanya demikian dingin, walaupun suasana bulan suci telah memercikkan kehangatan-kehangatan. Hati mereka tak lagi terangsang untuk memeluk erat sang tamu agung ini.

Di bulan suci ini, bukan tidak mungkin manusia semacam ini banyak jumlahnya. Bahkan, bisa menjadi bagian paling besar dari lapisan umat ini. Namun, saya berharap dan berdoa, semoga tidak. Untuk mereka, bonus-bonus Ramadhan tiada guna dan mereka memang tidak berhak mendapatkannya.

Golongan ketiga

Kelompok ketiga adalah kelompok yang gembira dengan kehadiran bulan Ramadhan, karena mereka merasa bahwa kedatangannya dianggap akan membuat mereka menangguk keuntungan besar. Siapa mereka? Mereka adalah sosok-sosok pencari “nafkah” dengan kehadiran bulan suci.

Di benaknya, yang bertaburan bukan pahala-pahala yang Allah turunkan dari langit karena amal-amalnya yang sempurna. Yang terbayang dalam benaknya adalah “honor-honor” jutaan atau amplop-amplop dalam sekali tampil di publik, di media radio dan televisi, atau di mana saja yang dianggap mendatangkan uang.

Hatinya sama sekali tidak terpaut dengan “imaan dan ihtisaab” di bulan Ramadhan. Yang tertayang dalam benaknya adalah seberapa banyak penghasilan yang akan dia dapatkan dengan kehadiran bulan suci ini. Baginya tak perlu apakah bulan ini bulan ampunan atau bukan bulan ampunan, yang penting aliran uang mengalir deras ke kantong atau rekening.

Tak ada dalam kamusnya, bahwa malam-malamnya harus diisi dengan salat tarawih dengan khusyu’ dan penuh makna. Malamnya-malamnya malah dia sibukkan untuk tayang sana, tayang sini sambil tertawa bekakan, seakan Ramadhan adalah bulan tawa dan bukan bulan amal.

Malam-malamnya penuh dengan fatwa-fatwa dan seruan beramal, sementara dia sendiri tengah “membakar” dirinya dengan ucapan-ucapan yang sebenarnya dia sendiri tidak pernah, bahkan hanya untuk sekedar berniat melakukannya. Mulut berbusa-busa mengajak orang mentadabburi Al-Quran, namun dia sendiri untuk menyentuh, ya untuh menyentuh saja, demikian enggan.

Sosok ini bisa menimpa seorang pedagang, bisa seorang artis dan selebritis, bisa seorang kiyai, bisa seorang ustadz ternama, bisa seorang qari’-qariah, bisa seorang dai kondang, bisa seorang presenter, bisa seorang pengelola televisi, radio, pengelola pengajian, pengelola transportasi, dan siapa saja yang menjadikan uang sebagai target utama pada saat Ramadhan datang menjelang.

Saya yakin, kelompok ini ada dan bahkan jauh-jauh hari telah melakukan kalkulasi sejauh mana Ramadhan kali ini dia bisa eksploitasi sebaik-baiknya. Dia memang puasa, namun puasanya kosong dari makna dan spirit Ramadhan yang sebenarnya. Mereka memang puasa, namun puasa yang tidak memiliki bobot apa-apa. Hampa!!

Golongan keempat

Kategori terakhir adalah sosok manusia yang demikian ketakutan dengan kehadiran Ramadhan. Kelompok ini saya anggap sebagai kelompok yang sangat parah dibandingkan dengan kelompok kedua dan ketiga.

Kelompok ini menjadikan Ramadhan sebagai momok yang selalu menghantui dirinya. Sebulan sebelum Ramadhan datang, mereka telah menggigil karena akan tiba bulan suci ini. Mereka merasa ngeri karena harus menahan makan dan minum, harus sembunyi-sembunyi jika mereka tidak puasa, mereka harus malu jika kepergok sedang makan-makan.

Bahkan bukan itu saja, ada diantara mereka yang merasa terancam roda hidupnya dengan kedatangan bulan suci ini. Mereka merasa bahwa Ramadhan telah menyumbat rizkinya.

Mereka bisa saja terdiri dari pelaku bisnis haram, para pengelola night-night club yang diperintahkan untuk ditutup selama Ramadhan. Mereka bisa saja adalah para pelacur kelas kakap yang setiap harinya menjual kehormatan kepada para si hidung belang. Bisa saja mereka adalah para pedagang makanan di pinggir-pinggir jalan, yang seakan hidup menjadi kiamat karena penghasilan drastis berkurang. Mereka bisa saja pengelola restoran atau siapa saja yang menganggap bahwa Ramadhan bukan bulan penyucian diri dan jiwa.

Saya tidak berani berkomentar sosok macam apakah mereka. Yang jelas, mereka bukan pemburu takwa, bukan pula manusia yang mengharap ridha Tuhannya. Mereka tidak akan dapat nilai apa-apa di bulan mulia ini.

Kalau mungkin saya tambahkan, maka kelompok terakhir adalah kelompok pongah yang dengan terangan-terangan tampil di depan orang menampilkan “keberaniannya”, bahwa mereka tidak puasa tanpa alasan apa-apa. Untuk yang terakhir ini, hanya Allah yang bisa memasukkan ke dalam neraka.

Kita berdoa, semoga kita masuk pada golongan pertama. Golongan yang semangat menyambut kedatangan Ramadhan yang mulia. Semangat memeluk nilai-nilai dan semangat pula memaknainya.

Sumber : 30 Tadabur Ramadhan - Menjadi Hamba Rabbani - IKADI