Natural beauty remedies are the best for a proper skin regime and beauty treatment. Beauty experts suggest fruits as best skin polishers and scrubbers. As told by beauty expert Simmi Ghai, “Recent studies show that alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) present in fruits help fight harmful effects of pollution and delay the ageing of skin.” Now in this summer season where your skin gets affected, keep these natural skin remedies and skin tips in mind to protect your face and body while making your skin look best. Natural Summer Skin Care Papaya facepack wonder A papaya fruit pack for summer is good for all skin types. Papaya skin pack removes tan, reduces acne and minimises pores. Mash ripe papaya (may be half of it) with milk and apply it on your face. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water. Berry effects Dermatologist Dr Naresh Arora recommends a strawberry face pack for oily and dry skin. Strawberries have strong antiseptic properties. Mash strawberries and apply them on your face. If possible, you can also mix kiwis in the pack along with some oatmeal. Leave it on for 10 min and then wash it off with lukewarm water. Cool Watermelon pack Watermelon reduces sun tan and open pores when used as a face pack. Squeeze out the juice from grated watermelon and mix it with a little quantity of gram flour. Apply the mask and leave it on for 15-20 minutes and rinse. Handy Tip Dermatologist Seema Malik says, “Fruit packs, if used in a wrong manner, can harm your skin. If you keep them on for too long, they can cause wrinkles. Also, they must be used at once after preparation, as they can ferment.” Also, to avoid allergies, make sure that you go in for a patch test before applying a fruit mask. Home made Moisturizer Take cucumber juice and watermelon juice in equal proportions and apply on face. You can cool it in the fridge before use. Rose water is also a good moisturiser and it can be sprayed on the face to tone and refresh it. Sun Tan Removal Tips Long exposure to sunlight can lead to tanning. The following home remedies are effective in combating and reducing the tan. Take raw potato juice and apply it on face. It’s a natural bleaching agent and can show results in one week. Make a paste of fuller earth (multani mitti) and coconut oil and apply it smoothly over the tan. It is also helpful in smoothening those fine lines and age spots on your face. Aloevera or cucumber juice, mixed with yoghurt are very effective in soothing the sun-burned skin. Lemon juice and turmeric powder can also be used to improve your complexion. Natural Skin Scrubbers for Summers Be careful to clean your skin regularly with a good scrub. You can make a natural scrub in the following ways: Mix oatmeal, lemon juice and fuller’s earth. This is a good natural scrubber. A mask of sandalwood paste and cucumber will make your facial skin feel revitalized after scrubbing. Other Healthy Routine for Skin Care in Summer Drink plenty of water and fresh fruit juices, coconut and lemon water. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Milk is a cooling beverage that also supplies nutrients to your skin and helps to keep it from drying out. Drink a cup of milk every day, and also combine milk with ingredients like almond meal and rose water to make a balancing skin cleanser. Keep your skin nourished with a herbal moisturizer. Look for herbal formulations that contain skin-friendly herbs like turmeric, brahmi, sandalwood, amla and aloe vera. At least once a week, treat yourself to a fruit or vegetable mask appropriate for your skin type. Cucumbers, avocados, apricots and papayas lend themselves well to homemade masks. Also scrub your skin with natural scrubbers once a week.
Premature Graying of Hair Home Remedies, Home Remedies For Premature Greying, Henna for Premature Grey Hair
Premature greying of hair is a common problem faced by many today. It is very important to nourish your hair with a balanced diet rich in vitamins, proteins, minerals with regular oil massage, conditioning and cleaning. Besides this, there are various hair dyes available in the makrket to get rid off greying of hair. But they are no short of side effects. Well, if you are the kind of person who has an aversion to chemical hair-colors and dyes, then try out this simple home-made remedies to cover your gray and prevent your hair greying. Premature Hair Greying Causes of Premature Greying of Hair While many says that the reasons for premature greying of hair are genetic and hereditary, others say that it is due to stress, malnutrition, lack of vitamins, including pollution. Washing of hair with hot water and drying them with electric dryers are the other causes of premature graying of hairs. Other reasons of premature graying of hairs include diseases like anemia, sinusitis, chronic cold, and chronic constipation. Home Remedies For Premature Greying There are several home remedies that can be used to prevent greying of hair. Hair Oil Massage: Massage your scalp with your finger tips regularly using coconut oil / olive oil / mustard oil. This ensure good blood circulation in the scalp. Massaging of the hair should be done 1-2 hours prior to the shampoo. Even if you do not apply hair oil on a daily basis, you can still massage the scalp with the fingers everyday. Curry Leaves: This is a tradition that is followed by women in South India and that is why we see the South Indian women having thick, long black hair. Curry leaves can either be consumed or they can be used as a hair tonic. Boil coconut oil with some curry leaves. Let the mixture cool, strain the oil, store it in bottle and massaged your scalp with the oil. Amla / Indian Gooseberry: The Indian gooseberry or amla can be used as a hair oil to maintain the hair’s pigmentation as well as to promote hair health growth. Take an amla, dry it out and divide it into pieces. Boil the fruit pieces with coconut oil. Once the amla pieces have turned into the consistency of dust, let it cool. Apply that mixture into the scalp and keep it overnight. You can also mix the Indian gooseberry mixture with a teaspoon of almond oil and lemon juice. Regular application of Indian gooseberry paste on the scalp also reduces greying. Natural Hair Color for Premature Greying Rosemary: Rosemary give dark colour a rich glossy shine. Chamomile: This works great on blonde hair. Rhubarb root: This brightens and lifts natural colour. For rich tones: Few drops of acetic acid added to henna one teaspoon of catechu added to the henna for a dark colour. For brown: Walnut juice mixed with henna. One teaspoon of eucalyptus oil added to henna for a darker brown. Henna: This is the most natural form of vegetable hair dye. Read Make your own Natural Hair Dye Henna for Premature Grey Hair Let us now find out how we can use henna to color your premature grey hair: Ingredients Henna powder as per your need Lemon juice Curds – 1-2 tbsp Coffee-powder- 1tsp (optional) Tea leaves – 1 tsp Amla (gooseberry) powder – 2 tsp Mustard oil – ½ tsp Cloves (optional) Method: Soak amla powder in half a cup of water overnight. Boil 1 tsp tea leaves in 2 tbsp water. Sieve it and allow it to cool. Now take henna powder, around 4-5 tbsp if you want to apply it only around the area which has gray hair and more if you want to apply to your entire scalp. Make a thin paste of henna powder by adding juice of lemon, a tbsp of curd, the water of tea leaves, a tsp of coffee powder (optional) and amla mixture which you prepared earlier. Add ½ tsp of mustard oil in this mixture to avoid dryness. Leave this mixture in an iron vessel overnight or for about 2 hours. If it is winter, you can also add a finely grounded paste of 2 cloves to elude cold. Apply the mixture on the hair carefully, cover gray hair completely. Leave this on for about 3-4 hours. Then rinse off with cold water. After henna application After your hair has dried, apply any hair oil. Wash your hair the next day with a mild shampoo. Your hair will show a natural shining red-brown color. Do this twice a month on a regular basis. Natural Hair Conditioner A natural hair conditioner can also be prepared at home. Soaking 10 to 12 Indian gooseberry in a cup of water overnight. Pour some of this mixture in your hair after shampooing and leave it for a few minutes before rinsing it. You can also rinse your hair with a cup of strong black tea or even espresso. It can work wonders on your hair and leaving it looking black and shiny. Other Home Remedies Diet: Diet plays a major part in the prevention of grey hairs. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables like banana, carrot, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, cauliflower, cereals, yogurts, seafood, etc. Curry leaves are good. Drink butter milk. You should also include red meat, chicken, fish, dried apricots, eggs, parsley, sunflower seed, seafood, almonds and cashew nuts in your diet. Drink 8-10 glasses of water everyday. Daily morning intake of few black raisins with same amount of black pepper with hot milk is also beneficial for treating grey hair. Homeopathic Arnica oil is proven beneficial for treating as well preventing early grey hair.
Gall Bladder Home Remedies, Natural Cure for Gall Bladder, Natural Remedies for Gallstones
The gallbladder is a common problem faced by many. Ninety percent of the time that trouble is in the form of gallstones. The gall bladder pouch like object tucked behind the lobes of the liver. Its main function is to store up the cholesterol-rich bile that is excreted by the liver. Gallstones form when the bile contains a large quantity of cholesterol and the bile is not effective enough to saturate the cholesterol. In such acase, the cholesterol begins to crystallize, and you get a gallstone. The gal stone can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. Gall Bladder Pain Gall bladder symptoms The following symptoms are typical of a gallbladder attack: Moderate to severe pain under the right side of the rib cage Pain may radiate through to the back or to the right shoulder Severe upper abdominal pain Nausea & Vomiting Queasiness Gas Burping or belching Attacks are often at night Attacks often occur after overeating Pain will often but not always follow a meal with fats or grease Pain may be worse with deep inhalation Attacks can last from 15 minutes to 15 hours In some cases, you may not even know you have gallstones unless you happen to have an ultrasound or X ray of your tummy. If attack symptoms are accompanied by fever do seek medical attention immediately. Home Remedies for Gall Bladder Gallbladder attacks are no doubt very painful and frightening. That is why many people opt for gallbladder surgery after experiencing even one gallbladder attack. But there are both natural remedies and home made natural foods that can manage gallbladder disease to help prevent both surgery and the discomfort of gallbladder pain. Some of these are given below: Gall Bladder Flush This treatment is based on: Natural Liver Therapy by Christopher Hobbs, L. Ac., Botanica Press, Capitola, CA (1993). Eat only whole foods (un-refined foods) without fat for a whole day. On an empty stomach, about an hour before bedtime, drink ¼-cup of extra virgin cold pressed olive oil mixed with ¼-cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Repeat this process every 15 minutes until a total of 1 cup each of olive oil and lemon juice is finished. Instead of lemon juice, you can also use freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice. Go to bed immediately and lie on your right side. The next morning take 1 litre of warm distilled or filtered water containing two level teaspoons of un-iodized sea salt. Alternatively the addition of juice from half a lemon may be used in place of the sea salt. Eat only softly cooked vegetables and broth the second day. The gallstones should come out some time during the second day. Gallbladder flush with liver flush Based on Herbally Yours, by Penny C. Royal, Sound Nutrition, Utah, 1982 Day 1: Take 2 cups of 8 oz organic apple juice or apple cider every 2 hours from 8 am to 8 pm. Altogether 14 cups will have been taken during this period. Do not take any other food or drinks except plain water. Please note that the apple juice should not be taken cold from the refrigerator. Day 2: Repeat Day 1. At 8:30 pm, take ½-cup (4 oz) of olive oil (extra virgin cold pressed) mixed with ½-cup of lemon juice (squeezed from 3 lemons). Go immediately to bed and sleep on your right side. If there is a large amount of stones, nausea may be felt after drinking olive oil but this will disappear on the third day after taking some food. Day 3: Upon rising in the morning, take 1 litre of warm distilled or filtered water containing two level teaspoons of un-iodized sea salt. Wait for at least half an hour before eating. The stones should be passed in the stool any time between midnight of Day 2 and morning of Day 4 Foods to Prevent Gall Stones Raw Beetroot juice Lentils: An interesting study found that women who ate loads of lentils, nuts, beans, peas, lima beans, and oranges were more resistant to gallbladder attacks than women who didn’t eat much of the stuff. Red bell pepper. Getting loads of vitamin C in your diet can help you avoid gallstones, and one red bell pepper has 95 mg of the helpful vitamin. Wine. Half a glass of wine a day can avert gallstone attacks. Eat a low fat, low-cholesterol, high-fiber diet. Multiple studies show this is your best bet for a healthy body and a healthy gallbladder. Turmeric – About half teaspoon daily of the powder Radish – 6 a day Lime, Apple, Pear, Grapefruit – 1 a day Chamomile and Cleavers Tea Other beneficial herbs include barberry root bark, dandelion, fennel, ginger root, catnip, cramp bark, parsley, horsetail and wild yam. Coffee. New studies are finding that drinking a couple of cups of java a day can prevent gallstones. Alternative Medicines for Gall Bladder Alfalfa tablets: Alflafa cleanses the liver and supplies necessary vitamins and minerals. Take 1,000 milligrams in tablet or capsule form with a glass of warm water twice a day for two days. Peppermint capsules Castor Oil Packs for Reducing Gall Bladder Pain Castor oil packs help ease gallbladder pain and abdominal swelling. To make a pack, apply castor oil to a soft cloth, and put the cloth on your stomach. Put a plastic cover over the cloth, and add a heat source, like a heating pad on a low setting, on top. Leave the pack on your stomach for about 30 to 60 minutes. This remedy works best if it is used for about three days.
Cucumber for Skin, Skin Care using Cucumber, Cucumber for Eyes, Cucumber Benefits for Skin and Eyes
In our previous post “Cucumber Health Benefits, Cucumber Nutrition Facts, Low Calorie Cucumber Diet” , we had discussed in details about natural health remedies using cucumber, how cucumber is good for our health. With so many health benefits cucumber has become one of the most important parts of food diet as well as skin diet. Today, in this article we will discuss about cucumber for skin and eyes, how cucumber is helpful in skin and eye care. With 90% water content in cucumber , it has a cooling, hydrating and soothing effect on the skin. The cleaning and cleansing property of cucumber helps your skin tremendously making it soft and supple. As cucumber consists of silica naturally, it is a rich source of nutrients for healthy skin. This helps in skin replenishing and makes you look younger. The regular intake of cucumber juice is very useful both internally and externally. Cucumber for Skin Benefits of cucumber for skin and eyes Reducing dark circles and puffiness The abundance of antioxidants and silica within cucumbers can rejuvenate the skin and hence can quickly, safely and easily help reduce the appearance of dark circles.Due to the large amount of ascorbic acid in cucumbers, when they are placed under the eyes they can decrease water retention and thus reduce puffiness as well. Method Take round slices of fresh cucumbers and place them over your eyes. Your eyes will feel soft and smooth after just 5 or 10 minutes of use. Use them on a regular basis, you will notice your dark circles and puffiness reducing. Cucumber slice for eyes Help Reduce Freckles Freckles are often seen as as side effect when we are too much exposed to sun. Using cucmber can help in reducing freckles. Method Grate cucumber. Spread the grated cucumber all over the face and neck. It can reduce the overall appearance of freckles over time. Grated cucumber Improve Complexion with Cucumbers This is the most common, well tried and tested benefit of cucumber: to improve complexion and simply rejuvenate the skin. When cucumber is used as a facial mask, it allows your skin to be much more soft and subtle, leaving your skin glowing. Treat a Sunburn cucumbers can also provide benefits in treating sun burn. The cooling effect of cucumbers is a natural and gentle way to soothe your skin and speed up the healing process. Method Grate 1/2 cucumber into a bowl. Add 1 tsp. of rose water. Apply to the forehead, nose and chin, where skin is naturally more oily. The mixture can be used all over the face, including under the eyes and on the eyelids, for pore-reducing and skin-tightening affect. Tighten Open Pores Cucumber is an excellent toner. Method You can apply cucumber juice on your face and neck and rince off after few minute. You can also mix cucumber juice with apple cider vinegar, a few lemon drops, egg white, honey, aloe vera or tomato and use as a face mask for tightening open pores. Cucumber Face Mask Sweat / oily skin If your face gets sweaty, wipe it with a cucumber slice periodically throughout the day. Cucumber Facial Masks For a healthy glowing and smooth skin Blend 4 – 5 leafs of fresh mint, peel and deseed the cucumber. Add mint leaves to the cucumber to make a puree. Beat egg white and then add this to the cucumber mixture. Apply this evenly on your face for 20 minutes and then rinse it with water and pat it dry. Cucumber and aloe vera for sun burn Peel the cucumber and cut it in pieces. Put the cucumber pieces together with the aloe vera in a grinder and blend them until you have a nice smooth paste. Spread the paste with your fingertips on your clean face and neck: keep the eye area clear. Now lie down, relax and leave the mask on for about half an hour. Finally wash it off with cold water; pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Cucumber anti-blemish face mask Use a small chunk of cucumber (2.5 cm ), 1 drop rosemary essential oil and 1 egg white. Whizz the cucumber in a blender so that you get juice out of it. Add rosemary essential oil. You can also few drops of lemon juice if you are not using rosemary oil. Whisk the egg white until stiff, mix it in the cucumber mixture and smooth over the face avoiding the eyes and mouth area. Remove after 15 minutes using a clean, damp washcloth.
Home Remedies Using Cumin Seeds, Health Benefits of Cumin Seeds,How to use Jeera or Cumin Seeds in various Ailments?
Jeera or Cumin Seeds, the scientific name of which is Cuminum Cyminum, is a common spice used in various delicacies and curries, specially in Indian dishes. Several of the studies have shown that cumin seeds, cumin seed powder or extract have a number of health benefits and have been used as an essential home remedy for many ailments. Jeera / Cumin Seeds Medicinal Properties of Jeera Cumin seeds consist of protein 17.7 percent, fat 23.8 percent, crude fiber 9.1 percent, carbohydrates 35.5 percent and mineral matter 7.7 percent per 100 grams. The mineral and vitamin contents are iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorous, sodium, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C and A. Health Benefits of Cumin Seeds/Jeera One of the most popular and effective uses of jeera seeds is the treatment of diseases related to the respiratory system, including asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism and cold symptoms. The seeds help increase body tone, stimulate menstrual period, and increasing the flow of breast milk in nursing mothers. It also helps in removing colic pain in babies. It helps in improving sleep, preventing cold and fever. Jeera is very effective in treating digestive disorders like as indigestion, diarrhea, biliousness, morning sickness, malabsorption syndrome, and flatulent colic. Cumin or jeera is useful in the treatment of piles.Cumin seeds are also helpful in treating skin boils and acne, in improving memory etc. How to Use Jeera or Cumin Seeds in Various Ailments? Let us check below some home remedies using cumin seeds: For Digestion Take 1 tsp of cumin seeds and boil it in a glass of water. Add one teaspoon of fresh coriander leaf juice and a pinch of salt in it. This decoction can be taken two time daily after meals as a medicine for diarrhea. Piles Take 60 grams of the jeera. Roast and ground the jeera seeds. Take grounded jeera powder (about 3 gms) with water. Sleeping Disorder Take a teaspoon of the fried powder of cumin seeds. Mix this with the pulp of a ripe banana. This can be taken at night to induce sleep. Common Cold and Fever Dilute cumin seeds in boiling water for sometime and then strain the liquid. Have this liquid. This is an antiseptic beverage and very useful in common cold and fevers. You can also add a few small pieces of dry ginger in the water if you have sore throat. Bloating and Constipation Cumin Tea can be prepared by boiling a glass of water and adding a tea spoon of fennel seeds to it. The decoction should be cooled and filtered before consuming. You may add honey to it. This is good for people suffering from digestive disorders. Cumin tea relaxes the intestines and gives relief from constipation and bloating. Amnesia or dullness of memory Take 3 grams of black cumin seeds. Mix with 12 grams of pure honey and licked to get of in this condition. For Pregnant Women A decoction of jeera seeds mixed with honey and milk, taken once daily during the entire period of pregnancy. This helps the healthy development of the foetus, eases child birth and increases the secretion of breast milk. Skin Boils Black cumin ground in water is applied as a paste over boils with beneficial results.
Cherries Health Benefits, Cherries Nutritional Benefits, How to Choose Cherries, How to Store Cherries??
Having lots of vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, cherries are more than a sweet fruit – they are powerful, health boosters. Available ripe and fresh, dried, frozen and in juice and concentrate forms, cherries are known to have a unique package of antioxidants and beneficial phytonutrients, that have encouraged many studies and research work on this fruit. Scientists continue to uncover new and important benefits of this fruit. Cherries are easily available all years round in different forms — canned, frozen, jams… but the health benefit is more in eating them fresh. Ripe and fresh cherries are found in summers . Red Cherries Cherries Nutrition Nutrients found in Cherries are: Vitamin C Vitamin A Bioflavonoids Ellagic acid Perillyl Anthocyanins Melatonin Boron Health benefits of Cherries Fresh cherries are nutritious, delicious, for their vital nutrients that are a perfect match for today’s healthy lifestyles. Heart Disease; According to studies, a flavonoid found in cherries that has anticarcinogenic properties called quercetin can help to prevent heart disease. Cherries are considered a in important source of quercetin, containing large quantities per serving that surpass most fruits. Prevention of Cancer : A phenolic acid called amygdalin, also termed Vitamin B17 and laetrile, found in the kernels of cherries has been shown to reduce further spread of cancer and tumor size, as well as reduce the pains of the cancerous process, including preventing damaging lesions in the colon. Scientists believe that this fruit can be a powerful cancer prevention food. Pain Relief: Anthocyanins found in cherries also block inflammatory enzymes, reducing pain. In fact, 20 cherries are 10 times as effective as aspirin. If you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, muscle pain, or gout, eating cherries will help you immensely. Bone Health: Sweet cherries are also considered to be excellent sources of boron, which has been linked to increased bone health, together with calcium and magnesium . Boosting Immunity : Cherries are rich in vitamin C. So, a regular intake of cherries can help boost your immune system. Weight Loss: It is said that cherries are very low in fat and sodium and high in potassium. They also have a high percentage of water. So it can be considered as the ultimate weight loss fruit. Studies show that consuming fruits with high water content will help improve your metabolism and in turn help lose weight. Digestion: Cherries contain high amounts of pectin, a soluble fiber that aids in digestion and lowers bad cholesterol. Overall health: Cherries contain melatonin. This is a very powerful antioxidant and a natural hormone that helps regulate your body’s circadian rhythms which help you regulate your sleep patterns. It also helps neutralize the free radicals which do a lot of damage to your body. They are rich in iron, magnesium, folate, and fiber. A serving of fresh or frozen cherries every day or a few spoonfuls of its juice concentrate can improve your overall health. How to Choose Cherries? Look for cherries that are firm to touch. They should be without bruising or soft spots. Pick cherries with the stems on. The skin should be smooth, and free of tears, white spots or blemishes. Cherries damaged by heavy rain or hail may have cracks in the skin and should be avoided. How to Store Cherries? Store cherries in the refrigerator. They can last for up to a week. Cherries ripen quickly and should be consumed as soon as possible upon ripening. Avoid keeping cherries near strong-smelling foods. Avoid washing cherries until you are ready to eat them. Remove rotten cherries from the bag or box in order to preserve the rest. Avoid placing cherries in direct sunlight. You can freeze most types of cherries by first rinsing and draining them thoroughly.
Wine and Heath, Health Benefits of Wine, Red Wine Benefits, Wine for Health
Is wine good for you? In moderation and as part of an overall healthy diet, the answer is yes! Wine is an important and popular beverage that are used in a wide range of European and Mediterranean-style cuisines, from the traditional and simple to the most complex and sophisticated. There are 7 main classes of wines like red wine, white wine, sparkling wine, apéritif , table, cooking and dessert wine, out of which red, white and sparkling wines are the most popular. They contain approximately 10-14% alcohol and are also referred as light wines. For health purpose, red win, followed by white wine is the best. Wine has a long list of benefits. Thanks to its alcohol content and non-alcoholic phytochemicals (natural occurring plant compounds) wine is known to be heart healthy, reduce forgetfulness, boost your immunity, help prevent bone loss and in loss of weight. However, actual benefits of wine can only be reaped when taken in moderate quantity. Red and White Wine Health Benefits of Wine: Red Wine Benefits Reducing Cholesterol: Alcohol has a very powerful effect and increase HDL “good” cholesterol if used moderately along with healthy diet along with regular physical activity. Higher HDL levels are linked to lower risks of heart disease. Non-alcoholic phytochemicals in wine, such as flavanoids and resveratrol, act as antioxidants and prevent molecules known as “free radicals” from causing cellular damage in the body. Studies have shown that resveratrol can produce potent anti-thrombotic agents that can potentially improve cardiovascular health and lower the risk for coronary heart disease. Red wine provides much more resveratrol compared to white. That’s because the longer the skin is kept on the grape during the wine making process, the greater the concentration of resveratrol in the wine. Preserving Memory: Wine could preserve your memory. Wine helps prevent clots and reduce blood vessel inflammation. Keep the weight in control: Studies have also shown that people who drink wine daily have lower body mass than those who indulge occasionally. Moderate wine consumers have narrower waists and less abdominal fat than people who drink liquor. Alcohol may encourage your body to burn extra calories for as long as 90 minutes after you down a glass. Boost your immunity: In one British study, those who drank roughly a glass of wine a day reduced by 11% their risk of infection caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which cause diseases like gastritis, ulcers, and stomach cancers. Prevent ovarian cancer: When Australian researchers recently compared women with ovarian cancer to cancer-free women, they found that roughly one glass of wine a day seemed to reduce the risk of the disease by as much as 50 percent. And in a recent University of Michigan study, a red wine compound helped kill ovarian cancer cells in a test tube. Build strong bones: Alcohol content in wine helps to boost estrogen levels; the hormone seems to slow the body’s destruction of old bone more than it slows the production of new bone. On average, women who drink moderately seem to have higher bone mass than those who does not drink wine. Caution: There are also negative effects of drinking wine. To get the maximum benefits of wine, it should be taken in limited quantity. Drink more than what’s recommended, your health benefits are lost and your health risks go up. Here’s what’s considered safe and effective: Men: No more than two drinks per day. Women: No more than one drink per day. One drink is defined as a 5-ounce glass of red or white wine, 12 ounces of regular beer (1 bottle) or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. Tip Alcohol can stimulate the appetite so it is better to drink it with food. When alcohol is mixed with food, it can slow the stomach’s emptying time and potentially decrease the amount of food consumed at the meal.
Hair Care Myths and Truths, Some Common Hair Myths and Facts, Hair Myths
There are many beliefs related to hair like as brushing your hair 100 times before sleeping or frequent trims will make your hair grow faster. But do you think these are true? Well, sorry to say these are all myths. These hair care myths have been studied by hair experts and they have also found out the facts or truths related to these myths. Read below to find out the simple truths behind great hair. Some Common Hair Myths and Facts Hair Myths and Facts Myth: Frequent cuts or trims make hair grow faster Truth: According to hair expert John Barrett, owner of the John Barrett Salon in New York City, “Hair grows a half-inch per month, whether you cut it or not.” During summers, hair may grow slightly faster in the summer, but that has nothing to do with frequent trims. Myth: Split ends can be repaired Truth: No, though many suggests frequient oiling for split ends.Oiling is good but they cannot repair split ends. Infact, spilt ends should be cut off immediately. Or else, they will split more and do yet more damage. Myth: Keeping Oil in the hair for a long time reduces hair fall Truth: Oiling hair regularly is very good as it improves blood circulation but keeping oil in your hair for a longer time is not good for your hair. You should not keep oil in your hair for more than 2 hours. This is because too much oil leaves a coating on the hair shaft and stops the hair follicle from breathing naturally. Also, too much of oiling requires rigorous shampooing to remove it too. Myth: Stress can make your hair fall out Truth: Actually, as a matter of fact, your hair falls to the tune of 50 to 120 strands every day, irrespective of whether you are having stress or not. Maybe, you may lose a few more strands when you have a major stress problem due to a divorce, lost job, or surgery or due to problems like pregnancy or antibiotics. After a few weeks, hair will almost certainly grow back.” Myth: Changing shampoos can make hair look healthier Truth: Well, this is also a common myth. According to London-based hair and scalp expert Philip Kingsley, “Hair can’t tell the difference between brands or build up tolerance to any product. Your favorite shampoo will work the same every time you lather up, daily, weekly, monthly.” Myth: If you pluck out one gray hair, more grey hair will come out in its place Truth: Well, absolutely ridiculous. As a rule, plucking out those gray hair is a bad habit as it can damage the roots, causing infection or leaving a scar. Otherwise ithas nothing to do with growing more grey strands. Myth: You can’t make flat, fine hair look full of body Truth: Well, flat hair can look full and bouncy. You just need rollers. Five minutes with a set of large hot rollers will add life to straight hair. Myth: To get really clean hair, you must “lather, rinse, and repeat.” Truth: One thorough washing is helpful. Myth: Rinsing with ice-cold water after a shampoo will give you shinier hair Truth: Cold water rinsing will have no effect on the shininess of your tresses. Myth: Coloring your hair causes major damage Truth: Well, go for good quality products. They are gentle enough not to weaken hair. Myth: You should brush your hair 100 strokes every day. Truth: Well, too much brushing pulls hairs out of their follicles and possibly weakens individual strands. Brush only to get rid of knots in the hair.
Tips to Keep Flowers Fresh, DIY Flower Arrangements, Tips for Keeping Flowers Fresh This Valentine
Valentines Day is approaching. This is the time to show that you care, you love your partner. One of the most purest form of gift that you can shower on your beloved is flowers. Fresh flowers have always been the most popular gift on a Valentines Day. Even if not as a gift, you can simply make your own Do-it-yourself (DIY) flower arrangements at your home to surprise your partner.Well, roses have been all time favorite for many years. Don’t you think you can go for some other varieties of flowers this year. Given below are some expert tips by flower experts on how you can keep flowers fresh, how to choose the fresh flowers and how you can make your own flower arrangements: DIY Flower Arrangements Opt for a more unique and beautiful flower arrangement to show your sweetheart you care on this valentine: Shop the Foliage When you buy flowers, check out the leaves first, which are a good indicator of the condition of a flower. Bright green, perky leaves represent a fresh bloom. If the leaves are yellow or falling off the stem, then these are not fresh flowers. One of the things you’ll see in very cheap flowers is that they’ll have their foliage stripped or wrapped in paper so that you can’t see it” say, flower expert Eileen Johnson of Flower School New York. Go for Local Flowers For incredible fresh flowers at discounted prices, try going local. Flowers that don’t have to travel tend to be fresher and last longer. Particularly during the winter, you should use local blooms if you can find them. Inclement weather can result in the delay of flower shipments. This means that by the time they reach your local flower provider, the blossoms may have become pale. Say ‘no’ to the rose Sure, roses are traditional andbeautiful, but during this time, they also tend to be of poor quality and overpriced. You may not get the best flowers. Instead, go for flowers that tend to be in season, such as tulips or anenomes. If you can’t stand the idea of a Valentine’s Day sans fresh roses, look for roses with firm, hydrated heads. Get budget flower at wholesaler florist If you’re looking to save on flowers, buy the bulk of your flowers at, say a wholesale retailer. Then, head to your local florist to pick out just a couple of unique stems to complete the arrangment. Keep it simple If creating your own flower arrangement seems tough, flower experts suggest following one basic rule: Keep all your flowers within the same color palette. “If you keep flowers in the same color palette, you can use five different kinds of flowers, but the arrangement will still have a kind of unity about it,” says Johnson. Careful caring There are many tips and tricks to getting flowers to stay fresher longer. But then while these work, it is always better to take the advise of your retailer how they cared for the blooms and to keep the care consistant. You should also be sure to add food (if it’s included with your bouquet) to your water. Another useful tip is to keep vases away from extreme temperatures. A cool, but not freezing cold room is the perfect place to keep your blooms happy and healthy. Clean Water The real key to keeping flowers fresh longer? Simply changing the water frequently. Use a very clean vase and room temperature water to provide the best conditions for most flowers. Change the water at least every other day. If you’re worried about disturbing the flower arrnangement, simply hold the vase under the faucet and let the water flush out. Opt for a large collection Perhaps the easiest way to create an arrangement with impact is to present flowers in a lrage collection or cluster. Any simple flower looks beautiful this way. The key to this type of arrangement is to use a lot of stems. Read More http://www.ivillage.com/how-keep-cheap-flowers-fresh/7-b-316740#ixzz1llFFiHos
Heart Attack: Emergency First Aid, How To Survive a Heart Attack when Alone? First Aid Treatment for Heart Attack
Heart attack is never meant to be taken lightly. You never know when someone can suffer from a heart attack. It is very essential that if you are a heart patient you should know what safety measures or first aid must be taken when you suffer from an attack. Similarly, as an individual, it is also essential that we should be well tarined to give emergency first aid to a heart attack patient until profession medical help arrives. The following is a brief guide to the first aid help that can be given in the event of a heart attack or cardiac arrest. However, it is not intended as a replacement for a first aid or resuscitation course. Heart Attack Symptoms Someone having a heart attack may experience any or all of the following: Uncomfortable squeezing pain, pressure, fullness in the center of the chest Prolonged pain in the upper abdomen Discomfort spreading beyond the chest to the shoulders, jaw, teeth, neck, or one or both arms Shortness of breath Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting Sweating and Nausea Heart Attack How to Survive a Heart Attack when Alone? Well in many cases, people suffer from heart attack when alone. Suppose you are driving back home from office and you start experiencing pain in your chest. The pain gradually becomes severe and starts to spread out into your arm and up into your jaw. You know the way to the hospital but the pain is unbearable and you are not sure whether you will make it or not. You might also be trained in CPR, but you don’t know how to perform it on yourself. It is very essential in such cases that you act fast instead of panicking. Try to relax and loosen up your clothes. Take medicines if any. Chew and swallow an aspirin, unless you’re allergic to aspirin or have been told by your doctor never to take aspirin. When the pain subsides, visit your doctor immediately. Incase you don’t have any medicines with you, you can help yourselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, like as you are producing sputum from deep inside the chest. A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds till you are stable enough to get to a hospital or till help arrives. Why deep breaths and coughs work? Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and when you cough, the cough movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. First Aid Treatment for Heart Attack Patients First of all, you being the one to give first aid, don’t panic. Stay calm and help the patient to stay calm. Make him feel comfortable by loosening his clothes and make him to sit or lie down comfortably. Ask him to take heavy breaths. Ask him to cough vigorously. If the victim has been under medical care, help him with his prescribed medicine. You can also give him aspirin if he is not allergic to it. If the person is unconscious, check out whether he is breathing or not. Look at the patient’s chest to see if it is rising and falling. Check out the pulse. Begin CPR if the person is unconscious. CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Immediately place the palm of your hand flat on the patient’s chest just over the lower part of the breast bone and press your hand in a pumping motion once or twice by using the other hand. This may make the heart beat again. If you haven’t received CPR training, doctors recommend skipping mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing and performing only chest compressions (about 100 per minute). Chest Compression