Skin care Tip

If you're drinking alcohol, be prepared for some ‪#‎swelling‬, ‪#‎redness‬ or flare ups with your skin. To combat that make sure you're drinking plenty of water, and using a ‪#‎calmingmoisturizer‬with ingredients like cucumber, caffeine, green tea extract, photo corrective, or chamomile.

Do's N Don'ts for Soft N Silky Skin

Dry and flaky skin is most common problem in winter time for any skin types. Cold air does more damage than we think, it literally sucks the life out of silky and hydrated skin. Few other factors like food habits, smoking and alcohol contribute for skin damage.

We do know stores out there are filled with many lotions and moisturizers to combat this dry skin. Most of them may not suit you best or they have a price tag that you want to re-think on. Hence, natural remedies, these are not only affordable, but also more efficient than any chemical based products out in the market.

Let’s see what are some of the rules to maintain silky and smooth skin?

Don’ts

•  I understand you loving your hot showers for longer time during winters, but did you know that these hot showers are a big No No for skin? They wipe away protective oils from your skin leaving you dead and dry skinned person. 

• Never scratch your skin with your long and beautiful nails. It does longer term damage to your skin than you expect.

• Give yourself a holiday from smoking, sun tanning and sun bathing for a while.

• Have your hands off your face! Your hands touch a lot of surfaces which are a magnet of dirt and germs. Do you want them on your skin?

• Never rub your eyes, apply compresses instead. The skin on your face is extremely delicate, especially under your eyes. So use very light touch on your face every time.

·           

Do’s

•  Always treat you neck and chest as a part of your face. Your upper chest and neck area are covered by very sensitive skin just like your face. Hence, they tend to be one of the primer spot for spots and sun burns and sings of aging such as dryness and wrinkles start to appear soon in these areas.

• Aloe vera gel is the best cure for extra dry spots on your skin. The acids present in aloe vera eat away the dead cells and speed up the healing process.

• Use a loofah daily to keep a check to ingrown and dead cells on your skin.

• Always keep checking the dryness of your skin by scratching a small line on your leg. If it leaves a white mark then your skin is extremely dry and you need a moisturizer as well as exfoliation

• Nourish your body always. Keep your body hydrated from inside by drinking lots of fluids. Avoid salty snacks during your place, instead opt for some fresh fruit.

A complete guide for Healthy Joints

Did you know about 21 million adults have osteoarthritis -- the wear-and-tear condition that causes achy joints and may eventually lead to can't-get-up-from-the-sofa pain.

Depending on risk factors, joint pain can affect anyone, though osteoarthritis mostly starts as our bodies begin to show the effects of aging. In women, it occurs more frequently after age 50; in men, it's more likely before age 45. The sites of joint pain are different. Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis in their hands, knees, ankles, or feet, while men are more likely to develop it in their wrists, hips, or spine.

Let us first see why it occurs. The follwoing are some of the main reasons for Osteoarthritis

• Previous Injuries
• Aging
• Loss of muscle mass
• Inflammation
• Excess weight

Here are the basics of how to keep joints moving smoothly

1. Eat Healthy Food

Studies show the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish can help not only reduce symptoms associated with joint pain but also change the levels of inflammation that may be causing some of the pain. Fish oil slows the production of inflammation-signaling cells. The best sources are fish such as salmon and tuna. 

Calcium and Vitamin D helps keep bones strong. Dairy products are the best sources of calcium, but ther options are green, leafy vegetables like barcoli and kale,

2. Maintain Healthy Weight

Keeping your weight within a healthy range is the best thing you can do for your joints. Weight-bearing joints, such as your knees, hips, and back, have to support some, if not all, of your body weight. That's why so many overweight people have problems with these areas of the body.

Losing weight reduces pressure on your knees, hips, and back and helps prevent joint injury. In fact, a weight loss of as little as 11 pounds can reduce arthritis pain by 50 percent for many women. Research has shown that with every pound gained, a person puts four times more stress on the knees. 

3. Exercise for Healthy Joints

Exercise can help you lose extra pounds and maintain a healthy weight. Some research suggests that aerobic exercise -- activities that get yourheart rate up -- can reduce joint swelling. Experts suggest that varying your exercise will show best results in having healthy joints. Low- or no-impact aerobic exercises (swimming, walking, or cycling) twice a week, strength exercises (lifting light weights or household items) twice a week, mixed with stretching and relaxation exercises. You don't want to overtax any one area, because that'll increase pain, and then you might avoid exercise altogether. 

For more:  (CookingLight.com's Personal Coach: Weight training )

4. Add ice

Icing your joints after exercise can help you manage pain and prevent swelling. When you exercise, you draw a lubricant called synovial fluid to your joints. But if the fluid sticks around too long after exercise, it can cause cracks in the cartilage. Ice gets the fluid out of the joint and into the lymphatic system, the garbage disposal of the body.

5. Good Posture

A good posture protects your joints all the way from neck to down your knees. Best way to improve posture is by walking. Stand and sit up straight during your work. Swimming can also improve posture. Do consider your joints before lifting and carrying.

Better Hair at Home

Hair loss is a common problem in todays world. As hair is regarded as an asset that enhances one’s physical appearance, balding or thinning hair is a problem that many want to correct as soon as possible. No body wants dead and thin hair.

Some of the common factors contributing to thinning hair are excessive physical or emotional stress, hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, pollution, allergies, use of wrong hair care products, poor hair care routine, and heredity.

Better Hair at Home is possible with the following:

1. Healthy Hair - Egg Mask

Egg contains high levels of proteins which help in the formation of new hair. It is also rich in sulphur, zinc, iron, selenium, phosphorous and iodine. The high protein content makes eggs one of the best ingredients that promote hair growth.

How to use:

·         Take the white of one egg

·         Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil and honey to it

·         Mix it all well to form a smooth paste

·         Apply it all over your hair carefully and leave it for 20 minutes

·         Rinse with cool water and shampoo it off

2. Get rid of Split Ends - Banana Mask

Bananas are excellent ingredient for treating extremely dry and damaged hair. The high potassium and moisture content in bananas prevents split ends, and softens and improves the elasticity of your hair.

How to use:

• Mash one ripe or overripe banana and spread it thoroughly on your hair, from the roots to the ends. Leave it on for up to an hour and then rinse your hair with lukewarm water. Do this once a week for effective results.

•  Alternatively, mix one ripe or overripe banana, one tablespoon of almond oil and two tablespoons of honey. Apply this hair mask on your hair thoroughly. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes and then rinse well with lukewarm water. Follow this remedy once week to enjoy smooth and shiny hair.

3. Hair Growth - Fenugreek

Fenugreek has been used to treat hair fall since ages in many parts of the world. Even you can use this spice for growing hair.

How to use:

·         Soak the fenugreek seeds in the water for 24 hours.

·        Strain and use the water to rinse hair.

·       Do not immediately was hair with normal water. Let this water be there for at least 3 hours

·        After 3 hours, wash your hair with lukewarm water (never use hot water on your hair)

·        Repeat this daily for at a month to see your hair gaining strength and volume

4. Strong & Healthy Hair - Avacado

The saturated fats, vitamins A and E, protein and various other minerals in avocado are highly beneficial for dry and damaged hair. Avocado also helps add moisture to dry hair shafts and strengthen your hair.

How to Use:

•  Mash one ripe, peeled avocado
• Mix in one teaspoon each of wheat-germ oil and jojoba oil to make a smooth paste.
• Apply the mixture on freshly washed hair, from the roots to the ends. 
• Cover your hair with a shower cap. 
• Leave it on for half an hour and then shampoo your hair with lukewarm water. 
• Follow this remedy once or twice a week.

(or)

• Mash a ripe, peeled avocado and add two tablespoons of olive oil to it. Mix well until the consistency is thick and smooth. Shampoo and rinse your hair. Apply the mixture to your hair and leave it on for 30 minutes. Finally, rinse your hair. Do this once a week.

 5. Good Bye Hair Fall - Olive Oil

Olive oil helps in preventing as well as curing hair loss. It stimulates the formation of new hair. Regular use of olive oil prevents the formation of DTH hormone and thus facilitates hair growth. Rich in antioxidants, it is beneficial for overall hair health. Olive oil also acts as a natural conditioner by making your hair soft and silky.

How to use:

·         Include olive oil in your daily diet

·         Use it as a pre-shampoo treatment.

·         You can also mix it with lavender, sage and rosemary oil for hot oil treatment.

Proven Benefits of Green Tea (#4 The Best)

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Everybody talks about this. Everybody knows something about this. I am sure we all don't enjoy this drink as much as we enjoy our cup of coffee. Lets get down and see what benefits it has  and see if we can make it a delicious drink like our coffee.

Green Tea - The Healthiest Beverage on planet, as told by many researches & I definitely agree to this statement. I read a research paper the other day about the benefits of green tea and then decided to share The gist of it with you.

This miracle drink from China made all its way to America, India, Australia and most other countries with its touted health benefits. From weight loss aid to treating few types of cancer, this cup of miracle beverage does a make over to your skin as well. 

Here are few surprising healthy benefits of this Green Tea:

1. May lower the risk of various Cancers

Green tea is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants, so it makes perfect sense that it could reduce your risk of cancer, which it appears to do:

• Breast cancer: A meta-analysis of observational studies found that women who drank the most green tea had a 22% lower risk of developing breast cancer, the most common cancer in women.
• Prostate cancer: One study found that men drinking green tea had a 48% lower risk of developing prostate cancer, which is the most common cancer in men.
• Colorectal cancer: A study of 69,710 Chinese women found that green tea drinkers had a 57% lower risk of colorectal cancer.

2. Lowers Cholesterol

Replacing unhealthy snacks and drinks with green tea could actually help keep your cholesterol levels at bay. Green tea’s powerful antioxidant, EGCG, is believed to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol from the large intestine.

3. Tooth Decay

Studies suggest that the chemical antioxidant “catechin” in tea can destroy bacteria and viruses that cause throat infections, dental caries and other dental conditions. Some studies also show that they can kill bacteria and inhibit viruses like the influenza virus, potentially lowering your risk of infections. 

4. The Smarter You

Yes! It does more than just keeping you awake, it can also make you smarter. The key active ingredient is caffeine, which is a known stimulant. It doesn’t contain as much as coffee, but enough to produce a response without causing the “jittery” effects associated with too much caffeine. It contains more than just caffeine. It also has the amino acid L-theanine, which is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. The combination of the two is particularly potent at improving brain function. Hence it makes you smarter.

5. UV Protection

You may want to add a packet of green tea in addition to sunscreen and sunglasses when you visit the beach. The catechins in green tea can actually make the skin more resistant to the effects of UV rays and therefore premature skin aging. They can also lead to reduced skin redness after UV exposure.

6. Boosts Eye Sight

Carrots have long been associated as a food that promotes good eyesight, but science suggest there’s a new kid on the block. The antioxidants found in green tea can actually penetrate the tissues of the eyes and produce antioxidant activity. Catechins, an antioxidant in green tea, are capable of being absorbed into the tissues of the eye.

How do you make this?

Let me give you some of the awesome recipes of Green Tea

1. Iced Lavender Green Tea

Ingredients:

§  Dried Lavender  Blossoms (Fresh) – 11/2 tsp

§  Tea bags- 4

§  Sprig Lavender (Optional)- 1

Procedure:

Heat ½ cup of water in a saucepan until it gets simmer. Remove the pan from heat and add tea and lavender to the heated water. Steep for about 5 minutes, strain it into a bowl and let it cool for some time. Now, pour the prepared tea in ice filled glasses and season it with some lavender sprigs to make it more appealing.

2. Iced Green Tea

Ingredients:

§  Green Tea Bags – 6 to 8

§  Boiling water – 4 cups

§  Cold water – 2 cups

§  Artificial sweetener (non- caloric) – ½ cup

Procedure:

Pour boiling water into a saucepan over the tea bags and steep for about 5 minutes. Squeezing gently, remove tea bags from the water. Add sweetener to cold water and stir for 2 minutes until the sweetener dissolves. Let the tea come to room temperature and is now ready to serve.

3. Tulasi Green Tea

Ingredients:

§  Tulsi Leaves – 8 to 10

§  Green tea bags – 1

§  Honey – 1 tsp

Procedure:

Wash and chop the tulsi leaves roughly, add the tulsi leaves and the green tea bag in a cup. Pour warm water into the cup, cover it with a saucer and let it steep for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the saucer, take out the tea bag, add the honey, mix well and enjoy it warm or cold.

Always remember ,no one food will protect you from disease. Your health is just wrapped up in your lifestyle and your genes, so even if you drink green tea all day long, you also need to take care of yourself in other ways, like not smoking way too much, working out daily, and having a healthy diet.

The Wonder Leaf

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Neem Tree has been described in Ayurveda’s prime text, the Charaka Samhita, as sarva roga nivarini (that which keeps all diseases at bay) or arishtha (reliever of disease). The roots, bark, gum, leaves, fruit, seed kernels and seed oil are all used in therapeutic preparations for both internal and topical use.

Neem is an evergreen plant indigenous to India. It has benefits starting from hair and scalp to treating malaria etc., Some of the well known benefits of neem include:

1. Clears Acne & Pigmentation:

Boil a concoction of about 20 neem leaves in half a litre of water till the leaves are soft and discoloured, and the water turns green. Strain and store in a bottle. Use this liquid as a skin toner by just dipping a cotton-ball into it and wiping your face with it every night. Use this regularly to avoid acne and have even skin tone.

2. Prevents Recurrence of Blackheads:

In case you have a very sensitive skin and suffering from blackheads, dilute neem oil with water and apply it over the blackheads. Make sure that that you don’t use more than 2-3 drops of neem oil. Applying this regularly will help you in getting rid of blackheads and also prevent them from coming back.

3. Treats Skin Infection:

To get rid skin infection, prepare the concoction as mentioned above and add about 100 ml of it to your bathing water.

4. Get rid of Acne:

To get rid of acne, take about 10 neem leaves, boil them with small segments of orange peel in a little water. When they become a little soft, let them cook a little and then pound them into a pulp. Apply this to your face and let it sit till it starts drying after which you can rinse with cold water. This face pack will help in clearing acne and prevent breakouts.

5. Controls Excess Oils:

For oily skin beauties who are looking for some sebum control can make a paste by mixing neem powder with lemon juice and a little bit of yogurt. This will not only control the excess oil but also prevent acne and infections that are common problems associated with this skin type.

6. Adds Glow to the Skin:

For getting a glowing skin with clear complexion, mix neem powder with rose petal powder, yogurt and a little milk to make a smooth paste. Apply it and let it rest for 15 minutes and rinse with water that is mixed with 2-3 tbsp. of rose water.

7. Treats Dandruff & Hair Fall:

To reduce hair fall and to get rid of dandruff, boil a handful of neem leaves in 2 cups of water till the leaves changes colour and the water becomes greenish. Use this water as the last rinse after you shampoo your hair. The anti-septic and anti-bacterial properties of neem help in getting rid of dandruff keeping your scalp healthy and help in stimulating hair growth.

8. Reduces Scalp Itchiness:

To tackle the problem of dandruff and itchy scalp you can also apply a paste of neem powder and water and let it sit for an hour followed by your regular shampoo and conditioning

9. Treats All Scalp Related Problems:

Another hair mask that will help you deep condition your hair can be made by mixing neem powder with amla powder, shikakai powder and reetha powder with water and lemon juice. Apply this to your hair and let it sit for 30 minutes before you wash it off with your regular shampoo. The ingredients of the pack will help in keeping scalp problems at bay while retaining the moisture in the hair and preventing dryness.

10. Treats Malaria:

Neem offers the goodness of an antipyretic agent as well. Malaria is a lethal fever that affects the efficiency of the human liver. Eat few neem leaves daily to keep the liver safe of malarial side effects.

Neem is just about anti-everything:

• anti-bacterial
• anti-viral
• anti-septic
• anti-diabetic
• anti-fungal
• blood-purifying
• spermicidal

Benefits Of Neem For Animals

Wash your dog with neem soap or a neem shampoo, and you'll discourage biting insects,

ticks and fleas, ringworm, mange mites, any skin disorders or fungal infections.

Neem is just as fantastic for the skin and hair of your pets as it is for yourself. Again, you avoid nasty chemicals and harmful medications. They only increase stress for the immune system rather than helping it, whereas neem benefits the immune system and overall health of your pet.

References:

• Chandrika Mahendra, Senior Research Scientist, R & D, The Himalaya Drug Company

7 habits for Healthy 70 years

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I know habits die hard. But did you notice, they are just hard to die but they have a death too! Is there anything that one can't achieve when you have the will power to achieve? I doubt.

Let me pen down few Healthy Habits that can be sown right away in your lives with little efforts for a Healthy You! There are various habits that we hear and read everyday for a healthy living. I found these 7 habits to be magical when it comes to having at least 70 years of good health. Cant ask for more

     1. Find a Friend

Find a friend? Huh....I am coming there. We all have friends, at least I do. I have friends to go on a shopping, friends that I hang out for a coffee and the ones I work out with. Yes! I call them a 'Fitness Friend'. There you go, this is the first step towards Healthy You. A workout buddy will help you be motivated and focused towards exercises. Start your list of friends who would love to live a healthy life and start making your schedule for workouts. I read this somewhere "Happiness is going to Zumba classes with friends" LOL...I completely agree because there is a laughing therapy that happens when you are with friends doing the most simplest things, imagine zumba. Its so much fun to wake up half hearted and then be excited as you reach the gym entrance along with friends.

    2. Adios Amigos to your Cocktail Nights and your Dessert Evenings 

Who would want that spare tyre around the belly? Well, just because you started those workouts you are in no green cards to hit that corner dessert shop with cheese cakes and those cocktail nights to gain your beer belly. I don't say you should live without them but you should know where to draw a line because you know your body best. Remember to be a warrior over the weekend. You definitely need those extra 15 minutes of workout because we all know our diets over weekends.

     3. Must have's

I did write about the importance of dry fruits. Grab them next time you hit a super market and make a change in your body by making a change in your diet. Simple as such, just keep sprinkling a mix of dry fruits in your desserts and other dishes. For those who are trying to cut down your weight, you gotto police your plate. Thanks to zillion products that keeps getting added to the racks in stores, We always have a choice now. Yoghurt vs and Fat Free yoghurt pick up what best suits your health not your tongue. Ohh must haves should also include a good pair of sneakers and your gym attires.

     4. Go Organic!

Will this writing ever end if I start about the benefits of Organic food? Be it to you or to the environment Organic Always! I would just say invest in you, in your organic food today, to avoid investing in any hospital in the future (Prevention is always better than cure)

     5. Hello H2O

Best workouts happen when you stay hydrated. Not just for fitness but for a healthy skin as well. Those energy drinks after workouts are best when suggested by your fitness trainer. Again we do have plenty of options so go out grab your energy drinks that are low on carb. If you ask me, I would give a Heads-Up for XS Energy drink which is zero carb & zero sugar. Try It!

     6. Good Bye to Desk meals

Research states that people who eat at their desk end up eating more cookies 30min after their lunch and still feel hungry over the day. You can gift yourself a 20 minute lunch break, I  am sure your

machines need some breathing too. So pull that time out for yourself and have a Healthy Lunch.

     7. Be a mighty Magister

Last but Never the least I say. I have a last sister and that made me say 'never least'. Be Happy! this is key to half your health, beauty & success. Don't worry on the things you couldn't maintain a week ago or a month ago. Make healthy choices now and bring in the changes today. Don't let your healthy habits die, wither, because even if you don't have any more pounds to lose, you'll still be working on your overall wellness.

Stay Fit! Stay Healthy!