Advantages: Gives you an all year tan
Disadvantages: Remembering to take the tablet

...I was round a friends recently, moaning about being pastey, when we started talking about tanning. We were discussing different methods, the usual: fake tans, tan accelerators, holidays and sunbeds, when she mentioned that her dad had a book about herbal remedies. She had a look in there and there is a product called Beta-Carotene (provitamin A). I had heard about this before and decided to give it a go. It is supposed to reduce certain risks of cancer (how true this is, I don't know), but it has the same effect as if you eat lots of carrots! It will give your skin a bronze glow. I have taken it for about two months and it's starting to show now. I've had no side effects either, which is great. I am taking the 6mg caps. (250 capsules in a container) The antioxidant properties of Beta-Carotene can help neutralise cell... Read review

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Advantages: Helps with skin disorders, promotes healthy skin and heart, powerful anti-oxidant, particularly important to men's health!
Disadvantages: None

...If you suffer with spots, scarring or excessive sunburn then this product is for you. It also helps with skin disorders and menopausal hot flushes, promotes a healthy skin and heart, is a powerful anti-oxidant and is particularly important to mens health. I suffered for many miserable years until coming across this product. You know the scene, a face like a lobster and having to lay in bed for the next week with sunstroke. Although I am not in anyway advocating going out to sunbathe but if you do tend to catch the skin this product is excellent. I first wanted to try Beta Carotene after seeing my friend who every time the sun came out turned the wrong side of red suddenly start to turn an enviable brown. ‘How come?' I asked, her answer was simple ‘Beta Carotene' she said. She explained how it made your skin less... Read review

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Advantages: A superb album, very catchy, entertains throughout
Disadvantages: Still Tragicly underrated

...It seems strange that its been a couple of months since my last music review. So to get myself back into music reviews again I’ve decided to go for a recent addition to my music collection. The third album from, The Beta Band. They are one of the best kept secrets in the country, that in fact everyone will probably have heard at some point. I’m sure your probably wondering how that’s possible, well they appear on a number of soundtracks. Most notably one of the main tracks on Trigger happy TV was by The Beta Band and they also get a mention in High Fidelity. Coming out of Edinburgh they have risen slowly with 2 previous albums and a collection of their EP’s. It’s the appearance on Trigger Happy that really brought them to my attention and inspired me to seek out some music by the band. Although they receive a lot of coverage they seem... Read review

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Advantages: Everything.
Disadvantages: Nothing.

...Anyone who heard the Beta's debut album proper and thought "What the hell is this load of old toss?!" would do well to backtrack and check out this collection. Quite simply, it was the best album of '98. The imagination, songwriting talent and range of influences displayed herein puts pretty much every other band to shame. Rock, folk, reggae, dub, dance, hip-hop...it's all here. You can see why everyone from Blur to Radiohead has admitted to going through a "Beta Band pahase". The bobbing, acoustic shuffle of Dry The Rain sets the tone perfectly. There are lyrics like "Spray-on noses are the greatest thing...since the light". It sounds almost introverted until it explodes into a full-grown anthemn, complete with trumpet fanfare. From then on you're hooked. Thrill to the mantra-chant of B+A. Chill to the mournful Dr.Baker. Slap your... Read review

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Advantages: Touches your emotions
Disadvantages: None

...Citing influences ranging from the decidedly serious Martin Sheen to the asinine Chevy Chase to funkmaster Bootsy Collins, the Beta Band is a delight. This aptly titled compilation of three separately released EPs is sure to leave music fans scratching their collective head while trying to define this Scottish band's intricate aural hodgepodge. The Beta Band makes a very distinct and exciting impression. There's the unusual coupling of acoustic guitar, horn, sampled beats, and a catchy refrain on "Dry the Rain"; the hypnotic instrumental "B+A"; and "She's the One," which opens with a chaotic, hippyish drum circle that segues first to an anthemic chorus and then to a highly processed breakdown complete with a Jew's harp. The Three EPs will dominate the CD player, becoming somewhat of an obsession, with each listen revealing some brilliant... Read review

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Advantages: dreamy groove based sound
Disadvantages: diminishing returns

...The Beta-Band started their career by releasing 3-EPs of droning, hypnotic, lo-fi rock that secured them a reputation as rare musical alchemists. The band dislike media attention but that didn't stop them from reaching the ears of discerning music fans and developing a cult following, especially when The 3-EPs were collected onto one disc; the rather boringly titled "The Three EPs". Highlights included "Needles In My Eyes" and "She's The One", songs that were as charming as the band were publically surly. That compilation sold even more copies after the opening track "Dry The Rain" appeared in the film High Fidelity. Unfortunately the band have been unable to conjure quite the same magic since. Even the band dismissed their self titled debut LP as rubbish and the follow up "Hot Shots 2" had an overproduced slick sound that didn't quite... Read review

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Advantages: Great snapshot of a great indie band
Disadvantages: not heard enough to be appreciated

...Review of The Beta Band - Music (Best Of) Ever since I have started writing reviews on Ciao I have tried to find things that haven't been reviewed to death by others, in the hope of maybe creating something to inspire someone to buy something I have had enjoyment from. Music is my usual bag and this band, The Beta band are one of my all time favourites. The first time I had heard of them was way back in the day (mid to late 90s) when they fronted the latest NME claiming their new album (imaginatively titled 'the beta band') was "rubbish". They may have claimed it was rubbish but with the track 'Round the bend' being constantly played by Jo Whiley at the time; it was difficult to find any criticisms of that song in particular. The Beta Band are one of the most unique and innovative bands of their generation, its just a shame... Read review

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Advantages: see op
Disadvantages: see op

...Here is a top ten of fruit and how they assist in maintaining health and fitness. I have taken my sources from ' The Food Doctor - Healing foods for the mind and body' written by Vicki Edgson and Ian Marber.The book costs £14.99 and is usually on offer in Book Clubs. I borrowed acopy from my mum and never returned it! Ooops! I havent written a review on the book because it gets very complex and goes into things I really dont understand. The following fruits are not in any particular order, as some people will like different fruits to others. Hope it helps to improve your diet and give some advice as to what to eat more of. 1) Strawberries Full of Vitamin A, C and K. Also conatin beta-caroten, folic acid and potassium Anti-cancer, antiviral, antibacterial 2) Apples Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, Vitamin C , Beta... Read review

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Advantages: Well chosen cast, strong comedic performances, a greatly amusing film.
Disadvantages: The humour here will not appeal to all.

...Having been a huge fan of the first three American Pie films in the series I thought I'd give 'American Pie Presents: Beta House' a try when I noticed it available for rental. I was put off the series by the fairly awful direct-to-DVD 'American Pie Presents: Band Camp' film and decided I'd probably not watch any further films in the series. For some reason I decided to change my mind when it came to the latest slice of the pie, I tried to forget about how disappointed I had been with 'Band Camp' and rented this with renewed optimism for the series. When 'American Pie Presents: Beta House' began I thought to myself I'd probably done good in avoiding the series for three years. This film appeared to be a gratuitous display of the naked female form and the humour seemed completely out of kilter with what I had seen and loved... Read review

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Advantages: Free
Disadvantages: Still to be tested

...... Read review

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