INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Agar expands in your stomach, which tricks you into thinking you are full. It's know as the "kanten diet" in Japan and is used by many to try and prevent them from eating too much. People with type 2 Diabetes who supplemented their diet with Agar lost a significant amount of weight and improved their metabolism. It may also help stabilize blood sugar levels.  Make sure you check with your doctor before embarking on this diet. Make snacks using Agar to stay full throughout the day, or mix it into your meals so you stop eating sooner than you normally would. Be aware that Agar can also stimulate your intestines and make you need to use the bathroom.  Make sure you take Agar with at least 8 oz. of water, otherwise the Agar can swell and possibly block your esophagus or intestines. Agar is 80% fiber, so it can be helpful if you need to relieve constipation. It should never, however, be used when you have a bowel obstruction (a kink or blockage in your intestines that prevents you from passing gas or having a bowel movement), as this can make the obstruction much worse.  If you have sudden, severe pain in your abdomen, swelling in your abdomen, and vomit or become nauseous, do not take Agar. Call your doctor instead, as you may have a bowel obstruction.  Make sure you take Agar with enough water, at least 8oz, for it to work as a laxative.

SUMMARY: Use Agar as an appetite suppressant. Use Agar pills to stimulate bowel movements and act as a laxative.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Using a store-bought leather cleaner is the easiest way to prepare the cracked surface for repairs. Spray the cleaner on the cloth, then wipe away any grime on the leather. Rub along the leather’s grain to avoid deepening the cracks.  If you don’t have a commercial cleaner, mix together 1 part mild soap with 8 parts distilled water. Use baby soap or a liquid dish or hand soap. Using a small amount of water is a safe way to rinse off soap. Dampen the microfiber cloth, wringing out the excess moisture, then wipe the leather along its grain. Touch the leather to check its condition. Cracks form when leather dries out, so your item most likely will feel dry within 5 to 10 minutes. To speed up the drying process, wipe the leather with a microfiber cloth. Make sure the surface feels dry to the touch so the soap or cleaner doesn’t get in the way of the conditioner. Select a bottled conditioner designed to restore and rehydrate leather. Put a small dollop of the conditioner on your finger or a soft applicator like a sponge or cloth. Then, rub the conditioner directly into the cracks in order to clean out the fabric’s pores and prepare them for deeper conditioning.  Leather conditioner is available wherever leather items are sold, particularly online, at general stores, and at some clothing shops. The leather will absorb the cleaner right away. This happens with items that have dried out over time. Regular conditioning keeps leather soft and pliable. Apply a generous amount of conditioner to the applicator pad. This time, scrub over the cracks and the areas around them. Continue scrubbing along the grain. The leather will become a more consistent color, hiding the cracks. If the leather hasn’t been conditioned in a while, consider treating the entire item now. Conditioning it prevents new cracks from forming elsewhere. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the recommended drying time. The leather needs plenty of time to absorb all of the conditioner. Wait until it feels dry to the touch before continuing to treat it. If you have the time, let the leather dry overnight. Waiting a little longer gives the conditioner plenty of time to rehydrate the leather. Depending on the conditioner, you may need to treat the leather multiple times. Spread more conditioner on an applicator pad and scrub it across the cracks. Check the leather again the next morning after giving it plenty of time to dry. Continue treating the leather until the cracks are gone or the leather stops absorbing the conditioner. If it stops absorbing the conditioner but the cracks are still visible, you will need to try a filler or dye.

SUMMARY: Wipe off the leather with a cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Wait for the leather to dry before treating it. Dab a strong leather conditioner onto the cracks. Smooth out the cracked areas with additional conditioner. Let the leather rest for 2 hours until it feels dry to the touch. Condition the leather again if the cracks are still visible.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you want fresh pumpkin seeds, you may take the seeds straight from a pumpkin you purchase at a grocery store. To start, carefully use a knife to cut a circle around the top of the pumpkin near the stem. Then, remove the section you cut out.  Use your hands, or a spoon if you'd prefer, to scoop out the insides of the pumpkin. In addition to scooping out seeds, you'll find some orange pulp. You will have to wash this off the seeds later. Collect the seeds and pulp in a bowl. When you've fully cleaned out the inside of the pumpkin, you should clean the seeds until they're free of any pulp and juice. You can clean them by placing the seeds and pulp in a strainer. Then, run the strainer under cool water in your kitchen sink until most of the pulp is removed. It's okay to leave some pulp on the seeds, as some of it can be stubborn to get off. However, you should make sure to get most of the pulp off of the seeds, especially if you plan to roast the pumpkins later. Excess pulp could burn in the oven. Now, you can begin the process of removing the hard exterior shells from the pumpkin. These shells are non-toxic, so it's safe to leave them on, but many people prefer the softer seeds within. To start, spread the seeds out on a hard surface, like a counter top or cutting board.  Try to spread the seeds out evenly, so there's little overlap between seeds. Take a rolling pin. Gently roll the pin over the seeds, using enough force to produce light cracks in the shell. Do not use too much force here. You do not want to damage the soft seeds within. Just roll hard enough to lightly fracture the surface of the shells. Boil a pot of water big enough to hold all your pumpkin seeds. Take your seeds and pour them into the water. The boiling process should cause the shells to gradually fall off.  Keep an eye on the seeds as they boil and remove the seeds from the heat once most of the shells have shed. You'll notice the shells have slipped off of the seeds and are floating in the water or congregated at the bottom of the pan. This process generally takes around 5 minutes, but it may take slightly more or less depending on how many seeds you're boiling. Less seeds may be ready in a couple of minutes, while more seeds may take closer to 10 minutes for the shells to shed. Once the shells are gone, remove the seeds from the heat. Strain them over the sink, using a sifter or strainer, and then set them out to dry.  You can set the seeds over tray or countertop covered in paper towel to absorb the water. If there are any small bits of shell left on the seeds, you can pick these bits off using your fingers once the seeds are dry to the touch. Make sure to wash your hands first.

SUMMARY:
Remove the seeds from the pumpkin. Clean off the removed seeds. Roll a rolling pin over the seeds. Boil the seeds in water for about 5 minutes. Remove the seeds and let them cool.