You Are What You Eat

What ever we eat, directly results on our skin, our health and beauty are directly affected by the food we consume. The more the food is clean and toxic free the more the skin is protected from various damages and disease. Healthy diet increases longevity, and keeps us looking and feeling younger.

• ·       High consumption of sugar results in puffiness, redness, excessive oil or dryness and generally poor complexions.  Circulation of sugar in blood irritates the blood vessels and creates inflammation in the body, thus try to avoid food, which has high sugar value, and shift your diet to brown rice, brown bread and multigrain bread.
• ·       Adequate protein is necessary to make proteoglycans, such as hyaluronic acid. Proteoglycan molecules help moisturize the skin from the inside. You can pick up proteins from smoothies, egg white omelets or frittatas, lox, plain yogurt or low-fat, low-sodium turkey sausage. Vegetarians need to focus on eating a variety of plant proteins such as brown rice, nuts and legumes
• ·       Consumption of vegetables is essential as they are most concentrated source of antioxidants, which are necessary as they protect the cells from radical oxidative damages. Antioxidants also help in reducing aging by preventing cell death.
• ·       Consume at least 300 grams of fruits as fruits contains high nutrition value and compliments your body in various task of a day after all an apple a day keeps the doctor away.  

5 beauty habits which are bad for health

1. Stress Less : The more you take stress the more it affects your health, some of the health issues which are noticed are depression, diabetes, hair loss, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, obesity, obsessive-compulsive or anxiety disorder, sexual dysfunction, tooth and gum disease, ulcers and cancer
2. Sleep with your make- up on can result in dull, breakout-prone skin. Leaving on your eye makeup could cause eye irritation and broken lashes but above all restricts your skin to breath. So before going to bed one should rinse her face or should use make removers in order to clean the pores.
3. Steaming: To much of steaming results in more production and break out of oil in the body.
4. Over-plucking your eyebrows: over plucking of eyebrows results in weakening the hairs to the stage where they might not grow back, thus, eyebrows should be down in the beauty saloon by professionals in order to maintain adequate growth and retain the shape.
5. Putting rubber band around your hairs: The elastic band which is used by women on regular basis results in cuts into the hair shaft, but removing it also removes some of the hairs from the scalp.

SKIN RASHES AND THE HOME TREATMENT"

Skin rashes is one of the skin problems which generally bothers both the sex of the society. The red bumps on the skin which changes the textures are known as rashes which are the results of conditions. Some of the rashes which generally occurs are Seborrheic dermatitis ( It produces a red, scaling eruption that characteristically affects the scalp, forehead, brows, cheeks, and external ears), Atopic dermatitis (Commonly found in asthma and hay fever patients. They are red, itchy, weeping rashes on the inner aspects of the elbows and in back of the knees as well as the cheeks, neck, wrists, and ankles.), Contact dermatitis ( It is either caused by contact with a specific chemical to which the patient is allergic or with a substance that directly irritates the skin) and many more.
But one has to not to worry because the rashes can be easily treated at home following below mentioned tips.

• chamomile tea is one of the herbal tea which can be used to treat rashes, one has to wash the affected area with the tea. 
• Olive oil can be applied to the affected area as the oil contains complex characteristics.
• Apart from olive oil one can also eliminate the effects of rashes by applying  cod liver oil and vitamin E to the affected area.
• Like Sunburn, one can take oatmeal bath for relief.
• If almond grows in your garden than you can apply the leaves to the effective area and can enjoy immediate relief.
• Vitamin C strong antioxidant properties that can help heal rashes and reduce the chances of subsequent allergic reaction.
  

Trying hard to loose weight??

If you are trying really hard to reduce your weight but no results are coming up than i believe you should change a little bit of your daily routine and try the one which i believes will work.

Of course if we are looking forward to reduce weight one has to stop consuming high fat content food consumption and keep eating fresh fruits and vegetables which contains more of water.

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables balances the nutritious value in the body and helps reducing fat in a gradual and efficient way.

When it comes to exercise, one should at least dedicate an hour time to do exercises which can be either walking, jogging  and aerobics. Yoga is ultimately the best one to loose weight without effecting your health.

Never go out empty stomach in terms of shopping, work or personal because the more you are empty stomach the more you buy fatting snacks, beverages and alcholols etc which in returns add more weight to the body.

Our physical actions are based on our mental thoughts, thus, one should stay healthy in terms of his thoughts. Tend to keep the health concept instead of diet for better results. 

5 Easy Steps to Get Rid of Black Heads

Get rid of the black heads in five easy steps.
1. Apply a face scrub gently to the skin in order to remove dead cells.
2. Safe guard your skin from dust and dirt when ever you are out in the streets.
3. Cleanser should be applied regularly
4. Apply tomato pulp to the black head affected area for 5 - 10 minutes and wash off with water. Do it once a week, tomato has cleansing properties.
5.Black head indicates that your skin is dehydrated so drink good amount of water everyday.

Tips for treating sun burn at home...

Sun burn is one of the major skin issues faced by everyone in summers, but one can easily treat them at home using ordinary kitchen items. It is hard to stand in the heat and to resists the temperature with the hot flashes. For immediate relief one can  soak the sunburned areas in cold water (but not ice water) or with cold compresses for 15 minutes. The cold reduces swelling and wicks away heat from your skin but if  you’re burned all over, take a soak in a cool bath to which you’ve added oatmeal. You can either buy a colloidal oatmeal product, such as Aveeno, or simply grind up a cup of oatmeal in a food processor and add it to your bath.

If you are fond of green tea than you can brew up a pot of green tea and let it cool. Soak a clean cloth in the tea, and use it as a compress for sunburned areas. The tea contains ingredients that help protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation damage and reduce inflammation

 SItting at home one can use the cooling, aromatic qualities of peppermint to quell the scorch of a sunburn. Either make peppermint tea or mix two drops of peppermint oil with a cup of lukewarm water. Chill the concoction and gently bathe the sunburned area.

Interestingly one can apply sliced cucumber or potato. They contain compounds that cool the burn and help reduce swelling

If the sunburn itches, take a cool bath, but add two cups of vinegar to the bathwater before you get in.

but above all if you have aloe vera growing in your garden - BINGO !!  you can apply a light coating of pure aloe vera to the sunburned skin, using either a fresh piece from the plant and feel the relief.....

FLAWLESS BEAUTY NATURALLY….

Interest in what are perceived to be the healthiest skin care product ingredients has risen steadily over
the last two decades, spurring the emergence of terms such as “organic,” “natural,” “naturally-derived,”
and “botanical”. There is considerable confusion regarding the actual meaning of these labels, however.
The following brief discussion elucidates recent developments in personal care product labeling and
focuses on several botanical ingredients and their indications.

A product labeled as “organic” contains at least 95% organic ingredients. One that is “made with organic
ingredients” contains at least 75% and up to 94% organic ingredients standards. This regulation prohibits
the use of synthetic preservatives, and most chemical processing of ingredients. Organic personal care
products such as skin cleansers are therefore derived from organically grown plant products, rather
than conventionally grown plants, synthetic chemicals, or petroleum by-products. In order to meet this
standard, they also exclude or minimize ingredients that could be considered potentially harmful to
people, animals, waterways, or the environment.

The terms “natural,” “naturally derived,” and “botanical” are descriptive terms that have no legal
definition. Products that are labeled as “natural” may or may not be organic. These products contain
ingredients of plant origin but can also contain chemicals intended to act as preservatives or to improve
its texture. In addition, “naturally derived” ingredients often are plant-derived ingredients that have
been improved upon in the laboratory. In order for the consumer to choose the correct products for
their skin from this plethora of products, they must first define their Skin Type, learn what ingredients
are right for their skin type, and then evaluate the brands that contain that ingredient. There are several
effective botanical products on the market but, unfortunately, consumers may miss out when enticed
by copycat generic products with similar ingredients and packaging. The order of ingredients, pH, and
temperature at time of addition of ingredients are all patented trade secrets that influence the efficacy
of the product.

POWERFUL INGREDIENTS FROM NATURE’S BASKET:-

1-DEPIGMINTING AGENTS: -

•Kojic acid, a byproduct of the fermenting of malting rice, which is used in Japanese sake production,
is an effective chelator of transition metal ions such as iron and copper, which inactivates tyrosinase an
important rate limiting enzyme in the melanin production pathway.

•Aloesin- Isolated from the Aloe vera plant, aloesin has been proven to competitively inhibit tyrosinase
from. Aloesin penetrates skin slowly due to its hydrophilic nature. aloesin is thought by some to
have greater potential for this reason as a skin-lightening agent for cosmetic purposes. Aloesin has
been found, thus far, to be safest and most effective when used in hypopigmenting regimens for its
synergistic activity in combination therapies with two or more agents. You can reap the benefits of this

wonder aloe by simply using it’s fresh pulp from the leaves on your face and even body.

•Arbutin- A naturally-occurring derivative of hydroquinone, arbutin is extracted from the dried leaves
of certain plant species, such as wheat and bearberry. The Arbutin has been demonstrated in human
skin cultures to neutralize the hyperigmentary effect of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone and is
believed to be effective as a skin-lightening agent.

•Soy milk:- The soybean plant, a member of the pea family, has been used for food and in traditional
Chinese medicine for several thousand years and was among the first crops grown in ancient China.
Essentially, these small proteins block the transfer of melanosomes to keratinocytes. These results have
been displayed in vivo and in vitro, but have only been observed with fresh soymilk, not pasteurized.

2- ANTI- OXIDANTS:-

•Coffee berry:- The coffe plant Coffea arabica, source of the globally popular beverage, originates in
Ethiopia but is now cultivated worldwide. The extracts from the roasted beans have been shown to
possess antioxidant activity. You can use an instant glow with coffee beans crushes with some olive oil,
leave it on face for 10-15v minutes and enjoy the glow. Also you can make coffee bean scrub at home
by adding ½ cup fresh crushed coffee beans to it ¾ th cup brown sugar and 1 cup almond oil with some
vanilla extract drops. It’s an excellent scrub and is very well known for its anti cellulite properties sworn
by many celebrities.

•Green Tea:- Originating in China, green tea, a globally popular beverage. Green tea has been used
for centuries to boost the immune system, stimulate weight loss, and improve health. It is prepared to
preserve its polyphenolic components, known to deliver potent antioxidant and ant carcinogenic effects.
Simply refrigerate green tea bags and use them over face and eyes to remove the puffiness and give you
a refreshing glow before you go out. Or mix green tea with some rice flour to make an excellent face
scrub.

Interest in natural ingredients continues to steadily increase. A bevy of products touting such
components seems to enter the market on a continual basis. Nevertheless, some confusion remains
regarding the labeling of products, particularly the meaning of the term “organic,” since there is no
recognized standard definition. Research is ongoing to determine the most viable natural ingredients to
incorporate into skin care formulations and, as ever, new ingredients and products are on the horizon.

Spotless beauty!!!

Acne as we know are the familiar red and white pimples caused by blocked pores and is
often infected. Acne is often a very frustrating problem and also causes low self esteem.

Acne may be the scourge of the adolescent years, but it can follow some people into
middle age and beyond.” Women can have flare-ups at 25 or 35 years old and even older.
Acne is really a catchall term for a variety of symptoms such as pimples, whiteheads, and
blackheads. “It's a condition where the pores of the skin become clogged and the person
gets inflamed and non inflamed lesions.”

As most of us are aware now hormones play a significant role in acne. Today more and
more women are being diagnosed with PCOD (polycystic ovarian disease) which is on of
the major cause of acne. Various other causes of acne however is poor nutrition, food
sensitivities, emotional stresses.

Few tests that help in diagnosing the cause and choosing the treatment:

1-food allergies/sensitivities

2-hormonal blood profile especially estrogen/progesterone/testosterone.

3-nutrional testing

4-blood sugar testing.

Help Is here to get rid of Acne:

DIET:-

What to eat:-
In general a simple diet of basic unprocessed foods including dark green or orange
vegetables is very helpful due to their natural beta –carotene content.
Handful of ground flaxseed (1-2 table spoons oil) provides plenty of fiber for
detoxification as well as has helpful essential fatty acids.
Nuts and seeds, such as almonds, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds supply good sources
of skin healthy vitamin E and Essential fatty acids.
Quality protein sources- beans, peas, lentil, eggs, and fish.
Drink lot of water approximately a glass of water every 2 hours.
Include a vegetable juice in the daily diet this helps in sweeping away the toxic build
up. Mix carrot, apples, beet root, spirulina, wheatgrass, barley grass.
Take 50 gm of zinc with copper supplement twice daily with meals for at least three
months. Zinc is one of the best minerals to use for the treatment of acne.


What to avoid:-

Eliminate junk and processed food such as chips, colas and candy. Do not consume
foods which have added sugar. Avoid artificial sugar substitutes.
Stay away from fried foods and solid fats like margarine, butter.
Avoid alcohol, sugar, soda.


General recommendation:

Use a daily skin regimen according to the skin type which includes cleansing,
toning and moisturizing. Face wash containing salicylic acid can be used. Gel based
moisturizers which are ph balanced should be used for oily skin type. Lemon juice
is a natural astringent and mild antibacterial agent. Rose petals, from which rose
water is made, also have antibacterial properties. It is also a skin toner and helps to
mitigate the rather harsh, acidic quality of straight lemon juice.
Daily sun screen (non greasy) with spf 30 should be applied before stepping out in
the sun.

Change your Makeup

Makeup is the major factor in acne outbreaks. “Oil-based makeup is the problem.”
Use a non-oil-based makeup if you are prone to acne.
Rinse your Face“Wash your makeup off thoroughly every night.” Rinsing six or
seven times with fresh rose water should do it.

Scrub that skin.

Cleanse your skin with a scrub 2-3 times in a week with some good herbal scrubbers
followed by a good toner. These days there are lot of herbal and organic range
available, but if you have time then you can try some natural tips like the oatmeal
which cleanses pores by absorbing oil and exfoliates the skin.
Tea tree oil- Apply a solution by dabbing it on the spots twice daily it is very
potent in treating acne with much lesser side effects as compared to other acne
medications.


Home remedies:-

Garlic - Massage with raw garlic several times a day. Garlic is known to have cured
the toughest of acne difficulty. The outside use of garlic helps to clear the skin of
spots, pimples and boils. Acne can more be cured by intake of three seeds of raw
garlic once on a daily basis for a month. This purifies the blood stream and ensures
basic purification of blood keeping acne away.

Fenugreek (methi)-is a new useful therapy for acne. A paste made of the leaves of
this vegetable, applied over the face each night earlier than going to bed and washed
with hot water in the morning, prevents pimples and blackheads.

Aloe vera juice applied to acne is an effective treatment. It can also be taken
internally. Aloe Vera is known as a wonderful herb for skin care and treats acne.

To conclude a diet rich in nutrients free from processed food helps cleanse the blood of the
toxins is important in preventing and treating mild acne. In case of any hormonal imbalance
and failure in response to the treatments dermatologist’s advice should be taken. Acne can
be treated effectively if the cause is diagnosed in time because sometimes it’s a symptom of
disturbance inside the body and not the disease itself.

Show off your smooth legs this summer

If you have cellulite – those lumpy, bumpy, dimply areas of skin that often resemble cottage cheese or orange rinds – you’re not alone. Nearly 9 out of 10 women have some degree of cellulite on their thighs, buttocks, bellies and arms. Today, women spend millions a year on anti-cellulite treatments ranging from fancy creams to risky surgery. With so many products and procedures out there, it’s downright dizzying to try and figure out what really works.

What exactly is cellulite? Cellulite occurs when pockets of fat push up against connective tissue underneath the skin. This bane of many women’s existence is seen much less frequently in men. That’s because female skin tissue is thinner and less porous; therefore, when fat cells push up, they’re more noticeable.

While there is no known cure to completely banish cellulite, there are ways to help minimize its appearance, so you can don your bathing suit and head to the beach with confidence.

Secret Weapons to Fight Cellulite

Cellulite and Diet

Avoid Too Much Salt and Sugar

By eating a healthy diet, you can help reduce cellulite. First, avoid too much sugar, which gets stored in fat cells and causes them to expand. Second, limit salt intake, since sodium causes fluid retention, making cellulite appear even worse. Consume no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar each day, and stay away from foods containing more than 200 mg of sodium.

Drink 8-10 Glasses of Water Daily

Water helps flush out toxins that hide in the fat layers beneath the skin and make cellulite lumps even more visible. Drink 8-10 glasses of water every day. Hydration also works to plump the skin and make it look less lumpy.

Kelp

Kelp contains fucoxanthin, a xanthophyll compound found in green plants with chlorophyll, which helps the body burn fat. Studies show that ingesting kelp can help facilitate a 5-10% loss in body weight, thus reducing the appearance of cellulite. Add kelp to your diet regimen.

Cellulite and Topical Creams

Aminophylline Cream

This cutting-edge anti-cellulite cream contains the organic compound aminophylline, also used in many inhalable asthma drugs. When applied topically, this compound helps break down fat in cells so it can burn easier. Aminophylline cream, available online for about $40 a bottle, should be applied to the affected area on a daily basis. To supercharge this treatment, add vitamin C, which helps to build collagen. Make sure you get 75 mg of vitamin C each day. One kiwi or a cup of strawberries will do the trick.

Retinol Cream

Retinol is a form of vitamin A that reduces the presence of free radicals responsible for the breakdown of collagen. Retinol helps maintain skin smoothness and makes cellulite bulges less visible.  Look for 100,000 IUs of vitamin A per 2-ounce jar. For best results, use 100% retinol cream with added vitamin A, C and E.

Non-elastic Underwear

Elastic underwear pinches on the cellulite, exaggerating its appearance. Switch to non-elastic undergarments made of smooth fabric with an invisible edge. You’ll create even pressure on the skin, increase blood flow, and prevent fat from being pushed up and deposited in unwanted areas. Thongs and capri-length undergarments that reach just below the knee are also good choices.

The Truth Behind Top-Selling Cellulite Products

Most anti-cellulite products promise miracles in no time. But how many of these actually deliver? Here’s what you need to know:

Non invasive Devices:-

Massage devices: - Cellulite develops because fibrous connective bands between the skin and fat pull the fat to the surface, creating a rippled skin appearance. By creating friction, you can loosen or soften those bands temporarily. Massage helps by stimulating circulation and draining excess fluids. When the fat cells aren’t as “full,” the lumps appear smoothed. Try a massage product with battery-powered rollers.

Acoustic wave therapy devices like X- wave: - Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT) is a new painless treatment for reducing cellulite and making skin look smoother. It was originally developed in Europe where research proved that acoustic waves are effective in correcting connective tissue which dimple skin and increase skin's elasticity by stimulating collagen production.

This new treatment uses pressure waves which penetrate through the skin and underlying fat to smooth out dimples and firm skin. AWT can be used on most problem areas such as stomach, thighs, buttocks, or arms.

The procedure consists of a 30 minute session and patients usually need six treatments to notice successful results. Check with your dermatologist for details.

Diuretic Herbal Supplements

Diuretic herbal supplements DO NOT work. While they may reduce fluid buildup and make fat cells appear smaller for a very brief period of time, you’re basically only getting more expensive urine as they flush through your system. What’s more, these supplements can negatively impact your digestive system and other parts of the body.

Caffeine Creams

Caffeine creams DO work. Caffeine works on the spot by breaking down fat cells, making skin smoother and less lumpy. The caffeine actually dehydrates the area where the cellulite is, tightening and firming the skin for a temporary smooth appearance. When purchasing these products, examine the ingredients, which are always listed in order of concentration. You want to choose a product with about a 5% caffeine concentration. Caffeine creams typically range in price from about $20-$100.

The bottom line: There’s no permanent cure for cellulite, but there are ways to reduce its appearance. Don’t throw your money away on expensive products or treatments. Try one of these affordable, effective secret weapons first.

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